This week at the movies…you’re going back in time—just choose your adventure: a cute animated dog, or a hot lady warrior. It’s a toss up.
Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
Pair one adorable smarty pants dog (Mr. Peabody) with two curious kids and a time machine, and you have yourself a mash-up of Back to the Future in an animated kid’s flick. Peabody is the intellectual dog with access to a WABAC (way-back, get it?), which the boy, Sherman, uses to impress a girl (of course). When Mr. Peabody realizes that they’ve been seen in the past, they have to retrace their footsteps to correct history. Cute idea.
Perfect For: You have small people.
What the Critics Say: Cute concept, but not an amazing movie. New York Times: “This DreamWorks Animation production, directed by Rob Minkoff (“Stuart Little,” “The Lion King”) from a screenplay by Craig Wright, is not perfect, but it is fast-moving, intermittently witty and pretty good fun.”
Our Take: It looks cute. We’d go.
300: Rise of an Empire
Another movie set in some vaguely historical setting with gladiators fighting with swords and horses and lots of men, men, muscles, men—wait—is that a female person? Yes, that is a female person, being tough and demanding, and in charge and also really, hot and sexy. Eva Green stars as Artemisia, leader of the Persian army seeking vengeance. There’s another lady, too, Lena Headey, she’s on the other side, the Greeks. They are fighting. I’m not sure why…after all, it’s only loosely based on history. Whatever, Eva, Eva, Eva.
Perfect For: People looking for mindless fun. Fans of Frank Miller’s graphic novel on which this is based, or Xerxes.
What the Critics Say: Pretty to look at, no discernable plot, but Eva, Eva, Eva. Village Voice: “Mere mortals of Athens, Sparta, and every city from Mumbai to Minneapolis, behold the magnificent Eva Green, and tremble!”
Our Take: Somebody make me a supercut of Eva Green being awesome.
