2008 Woodie Awards
Capsule reviews of feature films
Carrie Rickey and Steven Rea
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Opinion
GYPSY CARAVAN 3 1?2 stars. This lively and lovely documentary follows Gypsy musical groups on a six-week North American concert tour. 1 hr. 51 No MPAA rating (adult themes) _ Steven Rea
HAIRSPRAY 3 1?2 stars. Inspired by the 1988 movie and 2002 Broadway sensation, this popsicle-hued dance party of a film stars newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy, a plus-sized Baltimore girl with high hopes and higher hair, who in 1962 integrates a TV dance show. With John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes and Zac Efron. 1 hr. 34 PG (language, sexual innuendo, teen smoking) _ Carrie Rickey
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX 2 1?2 stars. Until now, the Harry Potter pictures were that rare franchise where every subsequent picture topped the prior one. In this one about Harry's coming of romantic, political and wizarding age, director David Yates shows rapport with actors and not much skill with integrating the characters with the special effects. Instead of igniting Potter fever it induces Potter fatigue. 2 hrs. 18 PG-13 (fantasy violence, nightmares) _ Carrie Rickey
HOT ROD 1 star. Andy Samberg as an accident-prone stuntman in this mashup of the random violence of Adam Sandler movies with the dimwittage of Will Ferrell comedies, ad lacking the charms of both. With Isla Fisher. 1 hr. 28 PG-13 (profanity, drug humor) _ Carrie Rickey
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY 2 stars. Lame, intermittently funny comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James as straight firemen who pose as gay partners to be eligible for benefits. 1 hr. 54 PG-13 (sexual content, sexual innuendo) _ Carrie Rickey
INTERVIEW 3 stars. Eminently watchable performance piece starring Steve Buscemi (who also directed) as a journalist contemptuous of his subject, a starlet (Sienna Miller) whose pretty vanilla face masks a Rocky Road determination. 1 hr. 23 R (drugs, profanity, sexual candor) _ Carrie Rickey
THE INVASION 2 1?2 stars. Nicole Kidman stars as a D.C. shrink on the run from threatening mobs and dark conspiracies in this feverish remake of the sci-fi scare classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." With double-0-7 Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam and Jeffrey Wright. 1 hr. 33 R (violence, profanity, adult themes) _ Steven Rea
HAIRSPRAY 3 1?2 stars. Inspired by the 1988 movie and 2002 Broadway sensation, this popsicle-hued dance party of a film stars newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy, a plus-sized Baltimore girl with high hopes and higher hair, who in 1962 integrates a TV dance show. With John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes and Zac Efron. 1 hr. 34 PG (language, sexual innuendo, teen smoking) _ Carrie Rickey
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX 2 1?2 stars. Until now, the Harry Potter pictures were that rare franchise where every subsequent picture topped the prior one. In this one about Harry's coming of romantic, political and wizarding age, director David Yates shows rapport with actors and not much skill with integrating the characters with the special effects. Instead of igniting Potter fever it induces Potter fatigue. 2 hrs. 18 PG-13 (fantasy violence, nightmares) _ Carrie Rickey
HOT ROD 1 star. Andy Samberg as an accident-prone stuntman in this mashup of the random violence of Adam Sandler movies with the dimwittage of Will Ferrell comedies, ad lacking the charms of both. With Isla Fisher. 1 hr. 28 PG-13 (profanity, drug humor) _ Carrie Rickey
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY 2 stars. Lame, intermittently funny comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James as straight firemen who pose as gay partners to be eligible for benefits. 1 hr. 54 PG-13 (sexual content, sexual innuendo) _ Carrie Rickey
INTERVIEW 3 stars. Eminently watchable performance piece starring Steve Buscemi (who also directed) as a journalist contemptuous of his subject, a starlet (Sienna Miller) whose pretty vanilla face masks a Rocky Road determination. 1 hr. 23 R (drugs, profanity, sexual candor) _ Carrie Rickey
THE INVASION 2 1?2 stars. Nicole Kidman stars as a D.C. shrink on the run from threatening mobs and dark conspiracies in this feverish remake of the sci-fi scare classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." With double-0-7 Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam and Jeffrey Wright. 1 hr. 33 R (violence, profanity, adult themes) _ Steven Rea
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