Summer Movie Reviews

I loved the first Night at the Museum, so I had great hopes for the sequel. Those hopes were not realized. The story begins with Larry returning to the museum only to find that its displays are being packed to send to the Smithsonian. In short, Larry sneaks into the Smithsonian and helps his old friends battle it out with a British-accented Egyptian king. The movie had its funny moments, but for the most part, it was predictable and dry. I give this movie a D because it had far more foul language in it than the first one and it was rather boring, in my opinion--an unacceptable weakness considering its setting, the Smithsonian, which has an endless supply of good material for a movie.

Up now ranks on my list of favorite Pixar movies, the other two being Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc. The story is about an elderly man whose wife recently died. He is about to be sent to a nursing home when he sets off on an adventure by tying helium-filled balloons to his house. A little boy tags along because he is trying to earn his 'helping the elderly' badge. What follows is fast-paced fun and suspense as Mr. Fredrickson and Russell travel to a foreign country, find strange animals, and fight an old, bitter explorer. The movie was funny, sweet, sad, and even inspiring at times. I give Up an A+ because it accurately and humorously portrays the way elderly people and young children tend to interact. Futhermore, it did not have a single bad word or innuendo in it--a pleasant surprise these days when most movies, even animated ones, have at least something questionable about them.

I didn't know what to expect with this movie. The previews were funny, but I've learned not to put too much stock in previews. The story is about a workaholic dad who doesn't want to spend time with his seven-year old daughter until he realizes that she knows information about stocks and companies by way of her imaginary friends that could help his career. As he spends time with his daughter, he slowly realizes that his most important job is fatherhood. This movie is hilarious and so true to life in the way that the dad is clueless as to how to take care of a little girl. I give Imagine That a B+. It would have received a higher grade, but it had a few bad words mixed in.