“Fanboys”
Three years after graduating from high school, Eric (Sam Huntington), Hutch (Dan Fogler), Windows (Jay Baruchel) and Linus (Chris Marquette) are still living with their folks and working at dead-end jobs.
When a terminal illness strikes one of the four and they fear he won’t make it until the official release of “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace,” they decide to drive from Ohio to George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in California. There, they’ll break in and watch a rough cut of the movie that they’ve been yearning for and dreaming about for years.
Stops along the way include the birthplace of Capt. James T. Kirk, a gay biker bar, a snack of peyote-laced guacamole and the obligatory stopover in Las Vegas.
Director Kyle Newman doesn’t capture the sense of landscape and movement that a good road movie needs, and two slapstick chase scenes are lethargic. The Force is not strong with this one.
Rated: PG-13; contains strong language, sexual humor and drug use.
DVD extras: Deleted scenes; commentary by cast and producers.
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop”
Even though this film was co-produced by Adam Sandler, it never sinks to scatological humor.
That’s pretty much where the accolades end for this mediocre, unmemorable comedy, one with such obviously humble intentions that busting on it is a bit like harassing the junior high school outcast who just wants to eat his Tater Tots in peace.
Kevin James plays an overweight mall security officer named Paul Blart. On a particularly unfortunate Black Friday, a posse of thieves assumes control of the mall and starts to take hostages.
Will the man who can’t even break up a catfight at Victoria’s Secret step up when it really counts?
James gamely pratfalls and stumbles through all 90 minutes of these proceedings, but his clumsy somersaults and silly Segway maneuvers elicit few giggles.
More intriguing is Raini Rodriguez, a 15-year-old actress who conveys a believable sweetness as Blart’s daughter and, with luck, will score a better part in a better movie someday.
Rated: PG; Contains violence, mildly crude and suggestive humor and language.
DVD extras: Commentary with Kevin James and producer Todd Garner; deleted scenes; featurettes.
Also
“24: Season 7,” “Driven to Kill,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (Centennial Collection),” “Monsters, Inc.” (Blu-ray), “Outlander,” “ÂPufnstuf,” “True Blood: The Complete First Season.”
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