Click

Michael Newman is married to the beautiful Donna and they have two terrific kids, Ben and Samantha. But he doesn't get to see them much because he's putting in long, hard hours at his architectural firm in the elusive hope that his ungrateful boss will one day recognize his invaluable contribution and make him a partner. When he goes looking for a Universal Remote to make his life simplier, Morty, gives him a remote that can control his universe.


Adam Sandler gives us what seems to be a combination of the crude humor of his previous movies with The Family Man and It's a Wonderful Life. Throw in the remote as a plot driver and there's your movie. The ability to fast forward, pause, rewind or even mute our lives is something that he thinks he wants but finds out that he really doesn't. Jumping from milestone to milestone of his life makes him realize how important it is to not just get through life to get to the next promotion but to really LIVE life day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. I love it when a movie hits home for me personally. There are some movies that stimulate the brain but others that touch the heart. This is definitely the latter. I couldn't help but think about decisions that I make in my own life in regards to priorities while watching this movie as well as the consequences of those decisions. I love the imagination and vision that went into what his life would be like in the future and how his life decisions make such an impact. What a great lineup of talent too. Adam Sandler is great as comic relief in this movie; Kate Beckingsale is beautiful and perfect as his wife; Henry Winkler is perfectly cast as Sandler's dad; Hasselhoff as Sandler's boss; Sean Austin as a constant gag; and Christopher Walken takes this movie to the next level as Morty. Great casting.

This is the humor you would expect in an Adam Sandler movie thus sex jokes and language throughout. PG-13 rating is earned.

I hate it when previews for a movie tell the entire story. However, a preview is perfect when it spotlights one aspect of the movie while not giving it all away. That is what is done here. I walked in thinking "light-hearted comedy" and walked away re-examining my life and my priorities. I can't say that this will be the case for everyone but you'll soon discover that Click is more than just a good laugh.

4.2 out of 5

Cars

Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs.

From Toy Story, to Monsters Inc., to Finding Nemo and more recently The Incredibles, Pixar has distinguished itself as an animation studio that is committed to releasing top quality movies that while appealing to children, are something adults can sit through as well. Cars is an excellent addition to the Pixar library and gives me hope as we begin Pixar's "Disney-Owned" era.

It is apparent from the opening scene of this movie that you are going to enjoy a great family film. The excitement of the races that Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) participates in will keep you on the edge of your seat yet give you plenty of comic relief. Don't think, however, that this movie is all about racing. Lightning, while traveling to the big race, is stranded in the small town of Radiator Springs. There he learns that you are responsible for your actions no matter who you think you are as well as how important friends can be. Larry the Cable Guy is excellent as tow truck, Tow Mater and provides constant laughs throughout the movie.

The G-rating of cars is well deserved as there is really nothing here that is inappropriate for children.

One of Pixars better movies, and the best movie I've seen so far this summer, Cars is one of the rare types of movies that parents won't be falling asleep in yet can feel comfortable that the movie will still be completely appropriate for their kids. Cars is a great movie for families to enjoy together this summer.

4.7 out of 5

X-Men: The Last Stand

A cure for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants have a choice: retain their uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their powers and become human

I wouldn't consider myself a X-Men purist. I have only read a few of the comic books and most of my background in the X-Men is either from the animated series on Fox or the X-Men Legends games. However, even I found things in this movie that were a big step away from the X-Men storyline conceived by Marvel. Unfortunately I can't really be specific without giving away major plot twists. First of all there is a major and extremely powerful being that is reduced to the status of Magneto's henchmen. That is wrong. Juggernaut is not a mutant thus Leech's power wouldn't work on him. Also wrong. Honestly the way this film is left I don't see how they can stop there. There is a perfect opening now to introduce the Astral Plane in the next film and thus perhaps an introduction of Emma Frost. Other things bothered me about the continuity of this storyline. Wolverine's role in this movie as the leader of the team really bothered me. Wolverine is not a leader, Storm is a leader, Cyclops is a leader, Wolverine is an animal. I realize that Wolverine sells big time but making him into something he's not cheapens the character and ruins the continuity. Also I understand that Halle Berry is a big name that has to be at the forefront of every movie that she's in, but her "street talk" as Storm about killed me. If Halle wants to be a major part of a movie she should at least study the character she is supposed to be. That being said, I think Brett Ratner did a respectable job coming into this movie midstream. Also Beast was perfectly cast and extremely well done. I just wish this movie would have been more like X2

Nothing different here in the way of violence or language than the previous films. At least there is continuity there.

The first X-Men movie excited me because it was a X-Men movie! Nothing spectacular. X2 blew me away from the beginning with Nightcrawler's scene, impressed me by not only introducing new characters but actually developing them, and ended perfectly leaving moviegoers satisfied yet eager for more. X-Men: The Last Stand feels like they forgot everything that was done right in X2. Characters like Juggernaut, Kitty Pryde, Angel and Moira McTaggert were introduced yet all but ignored. If the studio had decided to introduce less characters, get acquainted with the characters and prepare us for X4 I think this movie could have been as good as its predecessor.

3.4 out of 5