“Hop”
A slacker (James Marsden) helps the Easter Bunny recover.
The film, a blend of animation and live action, has enough silliness to entertain young viewers. It’s when the film tries to equally entertain adults that it goes down the wrong rabbit hole.
Part of the problem is the script by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It repeats a lot of elements from their “Despicable Me” screenplay: troubled father-child relationships, a crazed character’s efforts to be in charge and a hoard of lovable yellow minions. A little more originality would have been nice.
Grade: B-
“I, Claudius”
A 35th anniversary edition of the magnificent series starring Derek Jacobi in his career-defining role is being released. It is one of the most popular and acclaimed dramas ever to air on “Masterpiece Theatre,” and for good reason.
The 12-episode series is based on the novels by Robert Graves. Jacobi plays a stuttering scholar who learns early to play the fool and stay alive during the lust and corruption rampant at the height of the Roman Empire.
Grade: A
Also new
“Casablanca”: The Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film is being released to mark its 70th anniversary.
“In the Land of Blood and Honey”: Angelina Jolie makes her directorial and screenwriting debut with this tale of love and survival set against the Bosnian War.
“The Bodyguard”: 20th anniversary edition of the Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner film.
“Extremely Loud &Incredibly Close”: A young boy looks for clues to a final message from his father, who was killed in the 9/11 attacks.
“A Dangerous Method”: A Russian woman (Keira Knightley) seeking help for hysteria looks to test Freud’s theories.
Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)
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