BAD TEACHER Review

Cameron Diaz channels her inner Billy Bob Thorton in "Bad Teacher" and delivers her version of the world's worst educator. In all honesty this is a movie that could have been just as horrible as its main character. Sure, there is plenty of talent here, Diaz herself headlines and is best known for being the pretty girl who isn't afraid to "go there" or make herself look like a fool in front of the camera. It's what made her famous in the first place. We also have the ever expanding appeal of Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel is always golden, and the only inspiring moment of last years comedy dud "Dinner for Schmucks," Lucy Punch gives another great showing here as well. Whether it is due to the buffet of talent or my low expectations for this low brow premise, this film is overall much better and more consistently funny than it ever should have been.

While "Bad Teacher" is ultimately a showcase for Diaz to show she still has what made her a movie star in the first place the movie is able to get past its recycled feeling and instead turns into a pretty enjoyable politically incorrect comedy. As Elizabeth Halsey, Diaz is a gold digger who is discovered by her well off dork of a husband and then divorced thus forcing her to return to public school where she shows inspirational "teacher movies" during class so she can sleep, drink, and do drugs. Halsey is an almost disgusting character who would certainly be fired in an instant were this based in any kind of reality, but in movieland we are of course made to root for this unsympathetic, seriously bad teacher. In a somewhat refreshing turn, our central character never really learns to gain anything from her students but instead embraces her own missteps and applies them to getting these students ready for the world as she sees it.

It may be really going against the grain to say that "Bad Teacher" is a worthwhile film to spend money on and to waste an hour and a half on, but the truth is that the movie delivers what it advertised itself to be. Nothing more, nothing less. Director Jake Kasdan has made a career out of delivering awkward comedies that center around characters who don't want to adapt to the conventions of their natural surroundings. Whether it be Colin Hanks jaded high school student in "Orange County" or John C. Reilly's small town boy who yearns to make it big in "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story". Kasdan follows Diaz's Halsey just as loyally. It is with his unflinching faith to his main protagonist or antagonist (whichever way you choose to view her) that allows "Bad Teacher" not to slip into conventions itself. The movie finishes just as awkwardly as it begins. The story lines with Timberlake and Segel never become that of a romantic comedy. They are kept true to their origins and it is with unabashed performances from both actors that we enjoy a trip that is as superficial and as organic as any movie could perpetrate.

That may again sound like giant praise for a sophomoric summer comedy, but you have to take into account all things here and the fact is that Timberlake builds a real character here, granted it is a fairly mild one, it is still good to see him try rather than scoot by on his name and his reputation. Segel delivers where it need be and adds a sense of comedy credibility that might have been lacking had this purely been a Cameron Diaz vehicle. As for the real reason this movie works and has a complete feel to it is the performance as Ms. Squirrel from Punch who completely anchors the film that would have otherwise been toppled by the dirty performance of Diaz's teacher. This isn't the best comedy you'll see this year, it's probably not even going to be the best comedy of the summer, but it's not a bad one and its much better than it had to be.

BAD TEACHER Review

Cameron Diaz channels her inner Billy Bob Thorton in "Bad Teacher" and delivers her version of the world's worst educator. In all honesty this is a movie that could have been just as horrible as its main character. Sure, there is plenty of talent here, Diaz herself headlines and is best known for being the pretty girl who isn't afraid to "go there" or make herself look like a fool in front of the camera. It's what made her famous in the first place. We also have the ever expanding appeal of Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel is always golden, and the only inspiring moment of last years comedy dud "Dinner for Schmucks," Lucy Punch gives another great showing here as well. Whether it is due to the buffet of talent or my low expectations for this low brow premise, this film is overall much better and more consistently funny than it ever should have been.

MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS Review

When Jim Carrey decided he was going to make a family comedy starring penguins it seemed like a safe bet but sadly it also seemed like the only route Carrey could trust to possibly revitalize his slumping career. Lets face it, not that many people turned out for "Yes Man" and did anyone outside the cinephile set see "I Love You, Phillip Morris"? No? Didn't seem like it. But alas, Carrey has landed himself in a family film that takes a childrens book, modernizes it, and though it throws in cliches, stock characters, and well worn lessons galore the movie still works because Carrey is so appealing and dedicated to his part. This might have been a stunt a la Vin Diesel or The Rock when they made "The Pacifier" and "Tooth Fairy" but at least this appears as more than a paycheck. Carrey is the consumate professional and he does his best to lift this material to its greatest potential.

What feels best about "Mr. Popper's Penguins" is the classical type elegance it has about it. This is simply a good-old fashioned family comedy. Yes, it may rely on one too many penguin poop jokes, but besides that there isn't much not to enjoy here. Not if you are able to let yourself go, forget all those rules that tell you you're not supposed to enjoy a film that doesn't have and over abundance of metaphors in its images and all that crap. This is a movie aimed at the ten year-old crowds and below, the biggest metaphor they have to understand is that it sometimes takes something crazy to realize something so simple. That a bunch of penguins could make a too busy for his own kids father realize the time he is letting slip away as his own father did with him.

Popper, as everyone in the film calls him even his kids and ex-wife, is a businessman looking to get his name on the front of the building and in the process has forgotten all that is really important in his life. He has two loving children, a fasinated young boy and a tween girl who gets the advantage of being played by the always great Madeline Carroll here. As for the ex-wife, Carla Gugino makes a fine foil for Carrey, we completely buy their short hand relationship and it is a highlight of the film how effortlessly these two vets make their situation seem to work even when it reaches levels of complete absurdity. When Popper's globe-trotting father passes away and leaves him six penguins is when things begin to turn around for our central character, but it is not without complications that Popper tries to balance his professional (which entails impressing a golden Angela Lansbury enough to sell him her estate) and his new personal life.m Of course, what Lansbury's Mrs. Van Gundy is really looking for is an individual she can trust to continue her business while enriching the same family values Popper is now also learning to appreciate.

Carrey has played this role before, the busy dad who doesn't have time for his kids was funnier in "Liar, Liar" but at least here Carrey is able to make us believe he would go as far as sitting in the cold with a penguin egg just to let his kids know how much he values the new relationships that have grown out of the black and white fellas showing up. Plans are also foiled when a conspicuous Clark Gregg shows up wanting to take the penguins away. Gregg's role here is mostly pointless and only adds to the climax of the film. The scene shows both Carrey and his penguin counterparts overcoming the odds and attaining their hopes and dreams. It may all sound mushy and sweet, and it is, but that is what is so nice about it. Though this may feel more like a Christmas release, Jim Carrey brings an extra warmth to the summer that is no doubt a relief for parents who are tired of sitting through countless animated movies with their children. It doesn't hurt Carrey's charm is in full throttle either, giving everyone in the theater a few genuine laughs and a constant reason to smile.

MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS Review

When Jim Carrey decided he was going to make a family comedy starring penguins it seemed like a safe bet but sadly it also seemed like the only route Carrey could trust to possibly revitalize his slumping career. Lets face it, not that many people turned out for "Yes Man" and did anyone outside the cinephile set see "I Love You, Phillip Morris"? No? Didn't seem like it. But alas, Carrey has landed himself in a family film that takes a childrens book, modernizes it, and though it throws in cliches, stock characters, and well worn lessons galore the movie still works because Carrey is so appealing and dedicated to his part. This might have been a stunt a la Vin Diesel or The Rock when they made "The Pacifier" and "Tooth Fairy" but at least this appears as more than a paycheck. Carrey is the consumate professional and he does his best to lift this material to its greatest potential.

GREEN LANTERN Review

Never should have thought this might have the will to turn itself around from that initial instinct. Back in November when the first trailer appeared I had the feeling this just wasn't going to work. I didn't know much about the history of the Green Lantern and that first glimpse peaked little interest, if anything it made me wonder who's idea it was to make Ryan Reynolds a super hero and why in the world they might think that would be a good career move for him or how that would make their movie any more credible. Turns out Reynolds is probably the best thing about this computer animated mess of a movie. If not for his good natured approach to the role of Hal Jordan, a cocky test pilot with a soft spot for his long lost father who is given a magical ring by a dying alien, this movie might have actually been the worst attempt ever to bring a comic book hero to the big screen (here's lookin at you "Punisher: War Zone").

There is just not enough going on here to justify everything that seems to be happening. With all the exposition that we are dealt in the first ten minutes as well as everything from two villains (Peter Sarsgaard as big headed Hector Hammond and a puff of smoke called Paralax) not to mention the whole green lantern corps thing where there are thousands of chosen protectors who never get the time they deserve in this uneven story. Oh, and there's a girl, Blake Lively plays the heir to the company Hal flies for and also happens to be his biggest competition when it comes to maneuvering those jets and the closest thing he's ever had to a real relationship. I mean, I'm guessing that's what it was, the movie never spends enough time on any of its multiple story lines for the audience to ever become fully invested or involved in them thus, we feel nothing for these characters or their predicaments. And what the world are Tim Robbins and Angela Bassett doing here? Anyone?

"Green Lantern" does have its moments, as limited as they are. The scenes in which Hal Jordan discovers his destiny as a protector of the galaxy are nicely contrasted with the evolution of Hammond from meek college professor to evil scientist mode even if his appearance on the other side of the spectrum is funnier than anything else we've seen in theaters this summer. There is also Mark Strong, making a mean impression as Sinestro, the green lantern that allows a yearning for power to overtake his morals that made him a candidate for the job in the first place. Director Martin Campbell, or at least Warner Bros, were probably banking on this as the beginning of a series of films (stay after the credits for Sinistro's bid for the baddie in part 2) but with reviews as harsh as they've been, box office underwhelming and a general lack of quality to the film overall, I doubt if we'll be making another trip to outer space with Mr. Jordan, at least with Reynolds in the lead and Campbell behind the camera.

Though the Green Lantern is certainly one of the more difficult comics to adapt into a serious if not at least appealing film, but with such stiff competition from Marvel this summer with both "Thor" and "X-Men:First Class" already setting the bar pretty high this just looks like a joke. It is an extended Saturday morning cartoon, and a good one at that. Despite its budget and vision it feels strangely rushed, pieced together with no coherence or real substance but worst of all it isn't even as fun as it should be. It is pure summer sugar, a piece of eye candy that delights for too brief a moment and leaves you feeling underwhelmed by the time the credits begin to roll. Reynolds tries, but nothing else comes together, if only the Green Lantern might have taken a few cues from his fellow DC hero Batman, this movie could have really been something. Instead, it is a missed opportunity at its finest.