Movie of the Week
Mr. Peabody & Sherman*
Starring the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter
Screenplay by Craig Wright
Directed by Rob Minkoff
It’s certainly not in the upper echelon of animated films, but it’s refreshing to see a movie this unabashedly corny. It’s sentimental and loves puns, but it’s also committed to being as goofy as possible. That’s fitting since it originally began during Rocky & Friends. Ty Burrell is a little disappointing, considering we once could have had Robert Downey, Jr. playing the world’s smartest dog, but Max Charles does great work as young Sherman.
Also opening:
WIDE RELEASE
300: Rise of an Empire
LIMITED RELEASE
• After Tiller – Texas Theatre
• Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me – The Magnolia
• Visitors – Angelika Dallas
Blu-ray Pick
12 Years a Slave (96%)
While there are plenty of worthy releases out this week, including the year’s biggest and best blockbuster (Catching Fire), there’s no reason you should keep putting off what the Academy deemed the year’s Best Picture. It’s often grueling to watch, but every aspect of the film – from the acting to the production design to the cinematography – is of an extremely high caliber. However, this is not a cathartic experience. In fact, Steve McQueen’s direction makes the film somewhat emotionally detached. Your mileage may vary.
New Releases
• Cold Comes the Night (43%)
• The Grandmaster (75%)
• Hours (61%)
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire* (89%)
• The Last Days on Mars (19%)
• Oldboy (44%)
TV
The Venture Bros (Season 5)
New to Blu-ray
• An American Tail*
• Big Fat Liar*
• Boiler Room
• Far and Away
• Fried Green Tomatoes*
• Garden State*
• Hairspray (1988)*
• Harry and the Hendersons*
• Johnson Family Vacation
• A Simple Wish
• Somewhere in Time
• The Visitor (1979)
*recommended