Hurricane Punch

Lovable serial killer Serge Storms is back with his substance-abusing buddy Coleman. In this one, they track a whirlwind hurricane season, 'riding' the storms by driving in the eye. People die along the way of course - but Serge is not the only serial killer on the loose. Someone else is killing people, and Agent Mahoney thinks it's Serge's personality splitting. The ending surprised me, actually. I didn't figure it out until just before it was revealed. It's hilarious, as expected from Tim Dorsey. Excellent.

Grade: A

The Heartbreak Kid

This is the newest Ben Stiller movie. A guy rushes into a marriage with a girl that seems perfect, only to become someone else entirely on their honeymoon. During these horrors, he falls in love with another woman. It's pretty funny. No, not a great message or anything. I didn't like the ending. But it was decent.

Grade: C+/B-

Be Kind, Rewind

Michel Gondry's latest shows that, yes, his movies have been going downhill. Of his major films: Human Nature was quite good, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was amazing. But then there was Science of Sleep. It was mostly just strange, and not all that great. And now there is this. It doesn't even have any of Gondry's signature weirdness. It's plain, basically. Not all that funny. Doesn't develop in the way of many things: there is a hinted romance which never gets fleshed out, the plot doesn't even get resolved, etc. Basically, this movie was quite disappointing. Isn't Jack Black always funny? Apparently not.

Grade: C-

Waitress

I watched this for the second time with my mom today. It was just as good as the first time, in theaters over the summer. It is very heartfelt, sweet, and awkwardly funny. Nathan Fillion is great. So is Keri Russell. I am creeped out by the Earl character - reminds me a little too much of what one of my exes may have become... anyway, I love the pies... wish I could eat them. I really like this movie.

Grade: A

Juno

My first movie of '08! Also, one of my favorites of all time! It was hilarious, while also having a great message throughout. The characters were very human, incredibly real, and amazingly well acted. Ellen Page is amazing in it. The character Juno has a quirky, funny way of talking, and the whole movie just sticks with you. It's very heartwarming also. I can't tell you enough that you must see this! I guess I should also mention what it's about: basically, a 16-year-old girl gets pregnant and decides to give the baby up for adoption. Plus the soundtrack was great!

Grade: A+

Mean Girls

Yes, I've seen this before (several times) but since I watched it last night I thought I would review it. It's quite funny, though as Jeff pointed out it gets a little unfunny in the middle. The part where the main character gets way obsessed with being a Plastic is not my favorite. But, overall, it's quite funny - especially Tina Fey and Tim Meadows. Also the health class... "Now, chlamydia - K, L..."

Grade: B