The Weekender: Guns and ‘Butter’

IN THEATERS:


Taken 2 (PG-13)
Starring Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace
Screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Directed by Olivier Megaton
This revenge-filled sequel to the original surprise hit isn’t bad, just completely unnecessary. Liam Neeson kicks some more bad-guy butt, but you can see that on FX on a regular basis.


Frankenweenie (PG)
Starring the voices of Robert Capron, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder
Story by Tim Burton and Leonard Ripps
Screenplay by John August
Directed by Tim Burton
What does it say about Burton that he’s getting the best reviews of his career for remaking his own short film? This stop-motion (an area Burton always succeeds) film plays right to families, as a boy tries to resurrect his dead pooch.


Butter (R)
Starring Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Olivia Wilde
Written by Jason A. Micallef
Directed by Jim Field Smith
Likely to be another festival misfire, which is a shame considering its talented cast. Garner plays a Type-A Tea Partier who tries to win her town’s butter-sculpting competition. She faces stiff competition from a stripper (Wilde) and an orphan (Yara Shahidi). Also look out for Ashley Greene, Alicia Silverstone, Hugh Jackman and, in a rare non-asshole role, Rob Corddry.
PLAYING AT BOTH ANGELIKAS


The Oranges (R)
Starring Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener
Written by Ian Helfer & Jay Reiss
Directed by Julian Farino
Do you like your family comedies extra-creepy? Then take a bite out of The Oranges, about a couple’s young daughter (Meester) who starts dating her dad’s married best friend (Laurie). The all-star cast also includes Allison Janney, Oliver Platt, Adam Brody and Alia Shawkat.
PLAYING AT THE ANGELIKA DALLAS and CINEMARK PLANO

Also opening:

Angelika Dallas: How to Survive a Plague (NR)

The Magnolia: The Revisionaries (NR)

AT HOME:
Top Pick:


Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection
Expanding on the DVD set that came out in March, Universal is releasing this massive Blu-ray box set. In addition to monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mummy, this collection also includes other ghouls like The Invisible Man and the one that scared me the most as a kid: The Creature from the Black Lagoon. The set also features a coffee table book on the history of the studio’s spooky successes.

To rent (click the link to watch on Netflix):
Dark Shadows (38%)
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (67%)
Free Men (75%)
General Education (0%)
The Hole (81%)
Iron Sky (37%)
The Lady (34%)
The Milk of Sorrow (80%)
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (29%)
People Like Us (57%)
Red Lights (29%)
The Road (71%)
Runaway Slave
Sound of My Voice (75%)

To buy:
Comedy: Demetri Martin: Standup Comedian*

TV: 90210 (Season 4), Drinking Made Easy (Season 2), Hart of Dixie (Season 1), How I Met Your Mother (Season 7), Magic City (Season 1), New Girl (Season 1), Nikita (Season 2), Rules of Engagement (Season 6), Vexed (Season 1), VR Troopers (Season 1, Vol. 1)

Blu-ray: Annie (1982), Cinderella (1950)*, Cyborg, Dark Star, Death Warrant, Double Impact, Masters of the Universe, Pet Sematary, Pete’s Dragon, Train of Life

Criterion Blu-ray: In the Mood for Love

*recommended
(Release dates and locations subject to change.)

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