Oh yes it’s “ladies night” at the movies this weekend as South Florida moviegoers will have the opportunity to choose between not one, not two, but three female-fronted pictures at the multiplexes. Megastar Angelina Jolie leads the way with the action-thriller “Salt” which sees her returning to her comfort zone of playing a “badass” action heroine. Expect it to easily be the weekend’s big movie (unless “Inception” holds strong in its second weekend). The other wide release hitting cinemas this weekend is the family film “Ramona and Beezus,” starring young stars Selena Gomez and Joey King. Don’t expect that one to make too much of a dent in the marketplace as it looks more like a rental. Finally, the acclaimed independent comedy/drama “The Kids Are All Right” starring acclaimed Oscar-nominated actresses Annette Bening and Julianne Moore also opens in South Florida this weekend in limited release after wowing audiences in New York and Los Angeles. The following is my preview of the major movies opening in South Florida theaters this weekend and my thoughts on whether they’re worth your time and money or not.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko

Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska

Rated: R (for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol abuse)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? “The Kids Are All Right” is the heartfelt new comedy from acclaimed director Lisa Cholodenko, starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. Two teenaged children (“Alice in Wonderland’s” Mia Wasikowska and “Journey to the Center of the Earth’s” Josh Hutcherson) get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening and Moore) have built for them. Once the donor (Ruffalo) is found, the household will never be the same, as family ties are defined, re—defined, and re—re—defined.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ LIKE? This one looks to take the spot of the break-out indie summer comedy, which in previous years has been occupied by stuff like  “Little Miss Sunshine” and “(500) Days of Summer.” “The Kids Are All Right” premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it received universal acclaim from critics and audiences and then went on to be bought by Focus Features for $4.8 million, the biggest sale of the festival. The film made its official debut in cinemas in New York and Los Angeles earlier this month to glowing reviews and sizzling box office. With its strong cast of acclaimed actors, interesting subject matter and strong critical reaction don’t be surprised if the film catches Oscar buzz later this year, especially for the performances of Bening, Moore and Ruffalo.

WHAT’S MY TAKE ON IT? Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are All Right” is one of the strongest films of 2010. Not only is it a funny and thoughtful look at family relationships in the 21st century but it’s also a showcase of wonderful writing, assured direction and powerful acting. Though its subject matter might not be for everyone, anyone who appreciates a strong independent vision will find themselves enjoying this wonderful movie. Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo should all see themselves among the shortlist of Oscar contenders by the year’s end. GRADE: A-

WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING? “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” has been receiving universal acclaim. The following is a sample of the grades it has been receiving from critics around the nation.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%; Top Critics: 94%; Average Rating: 8/10
Rotten Tomatoes General Consensus: “Worthwhile as both a well-acted dramedy and as a smart, warm statement on family values, ‘The Kids Are All Right’ is remarkable.”
Metacritic: 86/100 (Universal Acclaim)

SHOULD YOU SEE IT? Beautifully acted, written and directed, “The Kids Are All Right” is a wonderful film that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best films of the year. MUST SEE.

“The Kids Are All Right” is now playing in limited locations across South Florida. Click here for showtimes.

*****

SALT

Directed by: Phillip Noyce

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Rated: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who Is Salt?”

WHAT’S THE BUZZ LIKE? Originally envisioned as a star-vehicle for Tom Cruise, “Salt” was remodeled into a role for Jolie after Cruise dropped out citing too many similarities with his Ethan Hunt character from the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. Indeed, if Cruise would have done this film, it probably would have been a big career mistake (probably not as big as “Knight and Day” though). After Jolie boarded the project, the character was renamed from Edwin Salt to Evelyn Salt and underwent re-writes to accommodate the gender change. With action hits like “Wanted,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and the “Tomb Raider” films under her belt, Jolie is probably the only actress who can open an action movie as well as her male counterparts – and with next year’s spy thriller “The Tourist” co-starring Johnny Depp, on the way, she’ll more or less have a monopoly on that market. Although I do think “Salt” comes off a little too similar to the “Bourne” franchise or even “Mission: Impossible,” director Phillip Noyce is a capable filmmaker accustomed to the spy genre, having directed both Harrison Ford Jack Ryan pictures and the political dramas “The Quiet American” and “Rabbit-Proof Fence.”

WHAT’S MY TAKE ON IT? As far as action-packed summer blockbusters go, you could do far worse than “Salt.” For the most part, this action thriller is a well-crafted and good-looking spy movie in the vein of the “Jason Bourne” and “Mission: Impossible” franchises. But even though Angelina Jolie is strong as usual, there’s nothing outside her performance that’s worth watching. The action sequences are far too ridiculous, the story is far-fetched (yes, even with what’s going on in the news), the characters are glorified caricatures, and by the time all is said and done, there’s an excellent chance you won’t remember or care about any of it. GRADE: B-

WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING? “SALT” has been receiving generally reviews. The following is a sample of the grades it has been receiving from critics around the nation.
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%; Top Critics: 58%; Average Rating: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes General Consensus: “Angelina Jolie gives it her all in the title role, and her seasoned performance is almost enough to save ‘Salt’ from its predictable and ludicrous plot.”
Metacritic: 65/100 (Generally Favorable Reviews)

SHOULD YOU SEE IT? While Angelina Jolie is good as usual in the title role, “Salt” is a bit of an uneven thriller that tries too hard to be like the “Bourne” movies and “Mission: Impossible.” The problem is that it’s far too silly and preposterous to be taken seriously. WATCH AT A MATINEE.

“SALT” is now playing at most multiplexes in South Florida. Click here for showtimes.

*****

RAMONA AND BEEZUS

Directed by: Elizabeth Allen

Starring: Selena Gomez, Joey King, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan

Rated: G

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The adventures of young Ramona Quimby (newcomer Joey King) and her big sister Beezus (Selena Gomez) come to life in this all new film based on the best-selling books (over 30 million…and counting) by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident-prone antics keep everyone she meets on their toes. But her irrepressible sense of fun, adventure and mischief come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family’s home.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ LIKE? To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have heard of this movie if I weren’t on the studio press lists. As far as I know, the movie is based on a best-selling series of children’s novels that made their debut more than 40 years ago and it stars Disney Channel star Selena Gomez in her first major big screen leading role. Adding a little weight to the cast are a group of name actors including John Corbett, Sandra Oh, Ginnifer Goodwin and Bridget Moynahan.
WHAT ARE THE CRITICS SAYING? “RAMONA AND BEEZUS” has been receiving generally mixed reviews. The following is a sample of the grades it has been receiving from critics around the nation.
Rotten Tomatoes: 54%; Top Critics: 50%; Average Rating: 5.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes General Consensus: “Ramona and Beezus is sunny, sweet, and wholesome, but it fails to capture the essence of its classic source material.”
Metacritic: 53/100 (Mixed or Average Reviews)


SHOULD YOU SEE IT? Unless you’re a big fan of the books or of teen star Selena Gomez, you’re better off ignoring the existence of “Ramona and Beezus.” While it’s not a bad movie, it’s not really worth spending $10 on either. If you remain curious to see it, RENT IT.

“RAMONA AND BEEZUS” is now playing at most multiplexes in South Florida. Click here for showtimes.

*****