Publicity stills courtesy of IMDB

21

Written by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, based on the book by Ben Mezrich.

MIT students learn to count cards and go to Las Vegas on weekends to make millions. You can guess what happens. Even though card-counting isn't illegal, casinos frown on it because it costs them bags of money. So they get caught, beat up, and kicked out. Told you so. (Photo still of Kevin Spacey and Jim Sturgess)

Baby Mama

Written and directed by Michael McCullers.

An infertile 37-year-old businesswoman hires a surrogate mother who fakes the pregnancy for the money. Sustaining humor for two hours is harder than performing a Saturday Night Live sketch. Although the actresses are friends in real life and Steven Martin does a hilarious turn as a woo-woo guru, even that isn't enough to save this comedy. (Photo still of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) 

Deception

Written by Mark Bomback.

A regular guy accountant joins an anonymous sex club but falls in love. There was some deception and a bit of sex, but with no suspense and no on-screen chemistry between the male leads, I found myself paying attention to everything but the story. (Photo still of Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Written by Jason Segel.

When his actress girlfriend dumps him, a guy goes to Hawaii to forget. Too bad she's staying at the same hotel with her new boyfriend. I could hear the screenwriter thinking, And then what could happen in Hawaii? There was no strong thread pulling the story forward. Acting from Segel and Kunis was spot on, though. A cute date movie if you don't freak out at frontal nudity. (Photo still of Mila Kunis and Jason Segel)

Harold and Kumar 2

Written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg.

The same numbskulls that went to White Castle end up at Guantanamo Bay for taking a bong on an airplane, escape, and skydive in to smoke pot with the president. If you don't expect too much, just relax and have fun. (Photo still of John Cho and Kal Penn)

Horton Hears a Who!

Written by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul based on a book by Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss.

So beautifully animated that you'll almost forget it isn't real and you'll almost accept the socio-political messages. The little boy sitting behind me liked best JoJo, the boy who didn't want to do anything his father said. Go figure. (Photo still: Horton holds Whoville in a fluff ball)

My Blueberry Nights

Written by director Kar Wai Wong & Lawrence Block.

Well, if you cast Jude Law and David Strathairn, I don't care what happens in the movie or who else is in it. I'm satisfied for two hours just watching them act. Which is a good thing, because this movie is totally character- and dialogue-driven and this director is known for carrying on without much of a script. Cutesy camera tricks should amuse independent filmmakers. Watch also for a very grown-up Natalie Portman as a bad girl. (Photo still of  Jude Law and Norah Jones)

Nim's Island

Written by Joseph Kwong & Paula Mazur, Mark Levin & Jennifer Flackett, based on a novel by Wendy Orr.

Like Swiss Family Robinson, this film will please ocean and animal lovers and fans of Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin. If you don't mind characters who talk to themselves or to birds or seals, this movie's for you. The story's completely unbelievable on so many levels, but little kiddies in the audience laughed. I think the script suffered from too many writers. (Photo still of Abigail Breslin) 

Smart People

Written by Mark Poirier.

A widowed professor fumbles through life until he meets a former student. Complications are his college-bound daughter is used to taking care of him, and his bumbling step-brother shows up and moves in. What could be a so-what story is strengthened by the acting talents of the cast. (Photo still of  Thomas Haden Church and Dennis Quaid)

Summer blockbusters are on their way!  Patience, grasshoppers!

Mary J. Schirmer is a professional writer who writes screenplays and teaches screenwriting. Her e-mail is awarenessprod@yahoo.com.

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