Movies of 2011: Relatively underwhelming
The year that was, cinematically, held more promise than was delivered. It was not a total bust, but despite the amount of hype indicating this year held big blockbusters, audiences, by and large, were underwhelmed and rather bored. In 2011, sighs, not size, mattered.
The worst
We have come to expect a number of entries in subpar kids' films ("The Smurfs," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: When the Chip Hits the Fan," "Hoodwinked Too" and "Judy Moody and the Bummer Adaptation"), teen movies ("I am Number Four," "Abduction") and superhero films ("Green Lantern," "Green Hornet"). But who'd have thought we'd have more than one Nicolas Cage film ("Drive Angry," "Season of the Witch" or "Trespass"), two Kevin James films ("The Zookeeper," "The Dilemma"), or three Mickey Rourke flicks ("The Immortals," "Passion Play," "13")? Or even a worst costumed epic selection ("The Immortals" or "The Eagle") to choose from when compiling the bottom dwellers of the year?
• Sucker Punch/Red Riding Hood/Beastly: Hollywood's fascination with "adult" takes on fairy tales is sadly far from over (2012 brings two "Snow Whites," "Hansel and Gretel" and a "Jack and the Beanstalk" adaptation), but this three-fer was a Grimm reminder to leave some stories on the page.
• Jack and Jill: Next, Adam Sandler's going to fart in the tub for 90 minutes to see if audiences will still flock to his flicks. It would certainly be funnier.
• The Dilemma: Ensuring Kevin James' "The Zookeeper" was not his crappiest film this year is no easy task, but this somehow pulled it off. James spends an entire film trying to inform his buddy Vince Vaughn his wife is cheating. Here's a thought: just sit down and tell him, thus saving us an entire movie about it.
• Apollo 18: A "found-footage" fiasco in which the hideous beast terrorizing our NASA crew turns out to be a legged moon rock. Yup. Oh, sorry: Spoiler Alert!
• Twilight: I often deride the franchise for not staying faithful to vampire lore, but I must confess that this film is quite accurate: it both bites and sucks.
• The Hangover II: This "Hangover" was just another headache.
• Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star: Starring comedian Nick Swarson, who shows no discernible talent outside of being fortunately connected to the film's producer. It should be retitled: "Lucky Swarson: Born with the Good Fortune of Befriending Adam Sandler."
• The Change-Up: Would someone please hurry the "Arrested Development" film so that poor Jason Bateman can find material worthy of his comedic talent?
• I Don't Know How She Does It: Starring Sarah Jessica Parker: "I Don't Know Why She Did It."
• New Year's Eve: Despite the unending list of celebrities in this ensemble pic, it leaves us with the overwhelming urge to spend the holiday alone.
Best:
• Drive: Ryan Gosling plays a man of few words, but not many are needed when an actor of his emotional range is in the driver's seat. A 'Taxi Driver' for a new generation.
• Rango: Not only the best animated film of the year, "Rango" was as rich with characterization as it was with its animation.
• Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: Fourth films in a franchise often feel utterly superfluous ("Scream 4," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Cash-Grab"), but director Brad Bird bested the previous trilogy by keeping things taut, simple and furiously fun.
• Moneyball: Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill made a winning odd couple that landed straight over the plate.
• We Need to Talk About Kevin: So, technically, this is not released for another couple weeks nationwide, but it is so engrossing, darkly comedic and darkly terrifying that it merits mention in the top of the pack. Forget condoms; this film is the most effective birth control since "The Omen."
• The Descendants: George Clooney's most "normal" role to date is also one of his best. He's a man in a very complex emotional state, but under director Alexander Payne, there is not a moment that feels too complicated or inauthentic.
• The Muppets: Even Statler and Waldorf would have a tough time hating on this sweetly nostalgic and thoroughly engaging return of our puppet pals.
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes: The chimps were the champs of unexpected delights of 2011.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: The boy wizard becomes a man, and he left us on a truly magical note.
• Hugo: For everyone who enjoys the art of filmmaking and the act of film going, it's difficult to find fault in director Martin Scorsese's paean to pictures.
