DALLAS —
MEAN GIRLS
It's 20 years later, and "Mean Girls" creator Tina Fey has recycled 'the Plastics' as a movie musical! Same basic storyline.
"Kady" had been home-schooled in Africa. Now, she faces the real animal world of high school ... where the "cool girls" are also the mean girls. Angourie Rice is especially watchable as Kady - Lindsay Lohan in the original. Renee' Rapp plays queen bee "Regina" - originated by Rachel McAdams. (Rapp also starred in the Broadway* version. This is her first feature film.)
Jenna Fischer and Busy Philipps play their look-a-like moms to perfection. Also strong, Jaquel Spivey (Broadway's "A Strange Loop") as Kady's ally, "Damian."
In a nice twist, the story is told from the point of view of him and "Janis" ("Moana's" Auli'i Cravalho). Like the stage version, they also incorporate social media - a nice update. Speaking of old school, Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles.
Musicals have become a dirty word at the box office because they don’t tend to make money. So much so, promotions on this movie play down the music. (They did the same with "The Color Purple" which made the same journey: movie - musical - movie musical.) There are musical numbers in "Mean Girls," fewer than on stage and some of them different. None are off-putting. So, get your leftover Barbie pink out of the closet and grab your 'Burn Book' (shame on you!).
You'll likely to call it "fetch."
(Paramount Pictures. Rated PG-13. Running Time 1 hr. 58 mins. In Theaters Only)
THE BOOK OF CLARENCE
I call this Mel Brooks meets Mel Gibson in what has to be the oddest films opening.
"The Book of Clarence" is the brainchild of writer/director Jeymes Samuel, who also did most of the music. It's ancient Jerusalem, and LaKeith Stanfield plays doubting Clarence. Sure, Jesus Christ is around performing miracles, but is he really who he claims to be?
Clarence sets out to pose as an alternate Messiah, performing sleight-of-hand miracles. Soon, though, is all becomes too real.
This is a clever premise, and Stanfield's performance is strong, especially toward the end. He's supported by an all-star cast that includes James McAvoy, Alfre Woodard and Benedict Cumberbatch. But the tone is all over the place, comic to tragic. It's hard to really embrace what's going on. I’d be surprised if it draws much of a following.
(Legendary Entertainment. Rated PG-13. Running Time 2 hrs. 16 mins. In Theaters Only)
THE BEEKEEPER
Jason Statham starred in one of last year's more entertaining movies "Operation Fortune: Ruse de Gurerre." I thought he might be turning the page, but I should have known better.
In "The Beekeeper," he's back to one-dimensional action. Yes, he keeps bees on the side (add a half-dimension). When the only person who's ever cared for him (Phylicia Rashad) is scammed out of every bit of her life savings, he methodically goes after everyone responsible, right up the chain. Josh Hutcherson stars as a bratty corporate cog.
This movie is all about vengeful violence. Period. I ended up closing my eyes for a long stretch. It's just not good movie making to me, though I know it's what his fans expect.
(Amazon MGM Studios. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 45 mins. In Theaters Only)
ALL OF US STRANGERS
"All of Us Strangers" has been getting well-deserved awards season attention.
Writer/director Andrew Haigh has come up with a compelling story of a screenwriter, played by Andrew Scott " ("Fleabag's" 'hot priest'). He befriends one of his few neighbors, a mysterious Paul Mescal, in a sparsely occupied apartment building, and they begin a relationship. As Scott's character tries to reconcile where he is in life, he visits his boyhood home. There, his parents, who were killed in a car wreck 30 years ago, (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) are just as they were. The three of them are able to talk things through, including their son's homosexuality. It sounds weird, but it's actually touching.
It’s a haunting love story, beautifully acted, though sometimes slow.
(Searchlight Pictures. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 45 mins. In Theaters Only)
FREUD'S LAST SESSION
The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, is said to have met with an Oxford professor at his London home shortly before his death.
"Freud's Last Session" surmises that person was author C.S. Lewis. Freud (Anthony Hopkins) doesn't believe in God, Lewis (Matthew Goode) does. And that's the basis for a film-long debate.
Based on a play, the movie seems like it's on stage, in parts. But it's enhanced by flashbacks of Lewis in World War I, as World War II now begins to threaten Britain. The storyline of Freud's lesbian daughter also offers scene changes.
Hopkins always gives a master class acting, but this movie seldom allows him to delve deeply, and the audience is shorted, too.
(Sony Pictures Classics. Rated PG-13. Running Time 1 hr. 48 mins. In Theaters Only)
ROLE PLAY
In the mood for a light, escapist movie at home?
"Bass Reeves" himself, David Oyelowo, is far from Western adventure in "Role Play." He and his wife, played by Kaley Cuoco, decide to spice up their marriage by meeting in a hotel bar for a hot role-playing date. Things don't go as planned when a shifty guy played by Bill Nighy moves in on them. Turns out, he's a bounty hunter, and Cuoco's an international assassin he's hunting down!
Kaley is a producer on the film and was eager for the action the role called for – something she'd never done before. Oyelowo enjoyed supporting her in this action-comedy romp that’s just right for home viewing.
(Prime Video. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 40 mins. Streaming Only)
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