Jason Segel and Emily Blunt in The Five Year Engagement look just adorably awkward enough that you will love them, and love to hate them all at the same time. This movie is going to rest on the chemistry between these two, and if it translates to the film I think it will be an enjoyable two hours with some laughs…laughs are always good. Speaking of laughs, The Pirates! Band of Misfits also comes to theaters this weekend and, yup, I expect more of those things that make you make funny noises and smile. Hugh Grant plays The Pirate Captain, but actually disguises his voice enough that you aren't even aware that it is him. I like that. Safe starring Jason Statham, The Raven starring John Cusack , and Bernie starring Jack Black are also all released this weekend to a bit less fanfare. While each look as if they could be "sufficiently" good, don't think we have any "best of careers" in this category. In fact, it seems like that can be said for a lot of the movies this weekend...a lot of very solid choices, but nothing that will probably blow your socks off (except for maybe a pirate cannon).
In Theaters
 | 1. The Five-Year Engagement Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller, the team behind Forgetting Sarah Marshall, come together once again in this romantic comedy starring Segel and Emily Blunt (Directed by Stoller, Co-Written by Stoller and Segel). Picking up where most movies end, the film explores what happens when a couple that is in love has trouble getting to the altar. I'm all for a different perspective on what can be the stale RomCom genre and this couple looks just charming enough that I will want to root for them. |
 | 2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits A movie about Pirates that DOES NOT star Johnny Depp. This animated feature stars the voice of Hugh Grant as The Pirate Captain who, might not be the best of all pirates, sets out on a mission to defend his rival and win the Pirate of the year Award While it looks safe enough for the children, the appearance of characters like Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria make me think it will be fun for all ages. |
 | 3. The Raven John Cusack is the dark and macabre author Edgar Allen Poe who joins forces with a detective when a madman starts to commit murders that are similar to and inspired by Poe's literary works. Sounds cool, right? Unfortunately, I think this is a case of great concept, not so great execution. |
 | 4. Safe A Jason Statham movie, that looks like, well, a Jason Statham movie. When a 12 year old girl becomes "the most wanted girl in the city" after memorizing a code that it seems every bad guy ever wants, he protects her and kicks the ass of a lot of people in the meantime…a lot. Probably worth seeing, or more accurately, probably worth renting in few months. |
 | 5. Bernie There is a Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey Richard Linklater movie coming out this weekend? Who knew? Jack Black strikes up a friendship with a wealthy widow (Shirley MacClaine) and then kills her in a dark comedy about a small town and the antics that follow their relationship. |
 | 6. The Giant Mechanical Man Awww, a girl (Jenna Fischer) falls in love with a street performer who dresses up like a robot (Chris Messina). But, when her overbearing sister starts to meddle will they find their way to each other? My bet is yes, and looks like it will be a sweet journey to that point. |
 | 7. Sound of My Voice A couple that is a documentary filmmaking team go on a mission to inflitrate a group that is led by a mysterious woman that claims that she is here from the future. As they go deeper in to the mystery surrounding "Maggie" they begin to find more secrets than they bargained for. I must say, this looks interesting and intriguing and if they can pull it off, might be a sleeper hit. |
 | 8. Headhunters Based on the best-selling international thriller by Jo Nesbo, Askel is Norway's most talented headhunter who steals art to subsidize his life of luxury. When he encounters a former mercenary in possession of an extremely valuable piece, he risks everything and gets tangled up in a big scary mess. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (aka Jaime Lannister) stars as the mercenary and a 91% fresh, puts this over the top to a yes please for me! |
 | 9. Citizen Gangster Based on a true story, Scott Speedman is a war vet in Toronto turned gangster when he can't fulfill his dreams or provide for his family. Next logical step is to put on make-up and steal from people, right?! |
Love me some Jason Segal, the other movies on this list could bomb for all I care though
Wow! An altogether solid set of flicks this week. It's always a great feeling when the majority of movies listed are things I wanna see.
And I'm especially glad to ring in the first of 3 (completely unexpected) wide-release stop-motion movies. It's a great year for animators! (well... hopefully) ;)
Also, am I the only one who thinks "Citizen Gangster" sounds like a genre parody? I'm guessing it might be tied into the story somehow, but man, it's hard to think of a more generic title.
Something tells me we're getting so many releases this week because all the studios went "eh, maybe we'll just wait a week to... wait the Avengers come out when? Screw it, get it out there, get it all out there before that hits."
Safe! I demand a review of only Statham and the awe-inspiring kills.
@obscurefan: Lol, I'm suddenly imagining a "stop the presses" sort of moment, "Screw the McDonald's toys, get it out now!"
Saw Five Year Engagement tonight with my wife. She enjoyed it a lot more than I did. I was hoping for more laughs but the laughs that were there were good.
Screw all these movie, I'm going to see the Avengers tonight!
Sound of my voice looks interesting.