A pair of must-see summer films hits theaters this weekend, joining a packed multiplex filled with popcorn epics and Scum Bucket blockbusters. Thankfully, Rolling Stone movie critic Peter Travers is once again your guide for what to see and what to avoid.
Despite its ridiculous title, Travers says there's no reason to feel guilty about seeing the guilty-pleasure horror film Drag Me to Hell, which marks Evil Dead trilogy director Sam Raimi's return to his scary roots after helming the blockbuster Spider-Man series. The film, which stars Alison Lohman as a banker afflicted with a demonic curse, stretches the limits of PG-13, but its Raimi's dark humor that hit almost as hard as the shocks. Travers recently sat down with co-star Justin Long, who plays Lohman's fiancé in the film, for an upcoming episode of the new online series Off the Cuff, so keep an eye on the Travers Take tomorrow to see the series' debut.
Also in theaters is Up, the latest masterpiece by animation giants Pixar. Travers gave the film four stars in the new issue of RS, and notes that Up more than keeps Pixar's 1.000 batting average when looking at their 10-picture filmography.
The story of an old man, a chubby boy scout, a house afloat thanks to thousands of balloons and a journey to South America, Travers says this film will be considered one of the best movies of 2009 by year's end. Screening in both 2D and 3D, Travers says the standard version is the way to properly experience the film and its incredible colors.
Since only two movies — two great movies — are out this week, Travers revisits Memorial Day weekend to find some fodder for his Scum Bucket, selecting a film that flew under the radar of badness: Dance Flick. The latest film from the Wayans Brothers and the newest in a terrible series of spoof films like Superhero Movie, Epic Movie, Date Movie, Dance Flick doesn't fail in reaching the same unfunny heights as its predecessors, pumping out one skit after another that doesn't work. Seriously, the only reason you can have for seeing Dance Flick over Up is because your cousin is an extra in it or something and you feel obligated. Avoid.
Read this week's movie reviews:
Up
Drag Me to Hell
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find adipex | August 21, 2009 6:18 PM
It is the coolest site, keep so!
xanax xr forum | August 8, 2009 7:38 PM
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
bob | June 5, 2009 3:17 PM
this is the gayest movie in the world!!!!!!! like mason lewman
Kristoffer | May 31, 2009 8:05 AM
No more podcasts? The podcasts havn't been updated for two weeks. =(
Regards Kristoffer
Diana Jones | May 30, 2009 12:01 AM
What were you affraid of ?? Just wnated to say well done...wasn't Phil to work on a piece within your "classic" genre?? The premise of the movie was good and scary. Keep up the good work. My daughter makes me watch all of your movies which haunt me well beyond viewing. Thanks for scaring us yet again (;
The younger more scared and girly Jones
Jake | May 29, 2009 3:40 PM
Ditto the Wolverine defense. Haven't seen the movie yet, but come on, you can't put Wolverine with the chihuahuas. And as Ryan pointed out, you didn't. Get Wolverine out of there!
Is Travers the Man? | May 29, 2009 1:42 AM
Yes he is and Long plays girlfriend again. Mr T. is full of shit when saying Long "bitched" about his role: he was completely led into it and gave a jovial response. I'm laughing at this because I think it's a good example of Travers' humor, but I'm not sure he meant it as such.
Travers is the man | May 28, 2009 10:47 PM
You say this movie is horror movie heaven but you only give it 3 stars, be a little bit more generous. 3 and 1/2. The movies this year have sucked, except Observe and Report.
Ryan | May 28, 2009 8:18 PM
Mr. Travers, I believe you've been busted. In your scum bucket segment, you said "everything from the Chihuahua's to Wolverine, welcome Dance Flick." In the video for your Wolverine review, you didn't actually put it in the scum bucket, you put Ghost of Girlfriends Past in. Now I'm not defending Wolverine by any means, but I am defending my ability to call them when I see them. Wolverine is indeed scum bucket worthy, but in your video you specifically said "this is just OK, I'm not going to throw it in the scum bucket, that is where Australia should've gone."