These are Maui Scene Editor Rick Chatenever's mini-reviews, excerpts of wire service reviews and previews provided by studios and other sources.
Opening Friday
"Drive Angry" R, 2:00, (3-D), Maui Mall Megaplex and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Article Photos
Being a free married man doesn’t quite live up to expectations for Owen Wilson after striking up a conversation with Alexandra Daddario in the new comedy “Hall Pass.”
Warner Bros. photo via AP
Nicolas Cage plays a grandpa with major attitude in this action-thriller combining muscle-car chases and stunts with supernatural cultism in an adrenalized thrill ride that doesn't take itself too seriously. Cage plays a mysterious stranger looking for vengeance against the satanic cult who killed his daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter. Amber Heard rides shotgun with William Fichtner as a mysterious "Accountant" on their tail. Patrick Lussier directs.
"Hall Pass" R, 2:00, Kaahumanu 6 and Front Street Theaters.
With Bobby and Peter Farrelly directing, it doesn't take Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis long to head for the R-for-raunchy side in this crude comedy. They play a pair of bored husbands given the supreme gift from their wives: permission to take a week off from their monogamous wedding vows. Imagine their surprise when they discover that their appeal falls well short of their fantasies at the same time their wives (Christina Applegate and Jenna Fischer) are having a lot more fun striking the same bargain.
Fact Box
It's Showtime
Times in the movie ads are subject to change on the weekend. For up-to-date movie time changes visit www.mauigate way. com/~rw/movie/ online.
Special screening
"Great Grandfather's Drum" premieres at 5:30 and 7:30 tonight at the Historic Iao Theater with a live performance by Maui Taiko. Tickets are $5 for senior citizens and students, $10 for adults. The shows are expected to sell out; tickets are on sale at Omochaya, Party Paradise, The Box Shop, Hamai Appliance and Credit Associates of Hawaii.
This locally made documentary is sure to be upbeat as it traces the origins of Maui Taiko from its origins in Japan. Besides focusing on the lives of the members of this wonderful Maui musical institution, it also tells the history of Americans of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii. The timeline from 1850 to the present encompasses the plantation era, World War II and the vibrant role and contributions of Maui's Japanese-American community through these eras of change.
Still playing
"Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son" PG-13, 2:02, Kaahumanu 6 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Martin Lawrence once again puts that red dress on -that very large red dress -reprising the role of FBI agent Malcolm Turner. This time he's got his stepson, Trent (Brandon T. Jackson), with him as they go into drag and into hiding in an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. Jessica Lucas, Michelle Ang and Portia Doubleday co-star; John Whitesell directs.
"Blue Valentine" R, 1:34, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex.
Michelle Williams absolutely wins her best actress Oscar nomination; Ryan Gosling was robbed of his in this brilliant look at a marriage imploding. She plays a nurse and young mother; he plays her house-painter husband who loves his family with more heart and humor than ambition to improve their lives. Director and co-writer Derek Cianfrance charts their relationship over a span of years, bouncing back and forth through time to show the array of factors that bring them together and drive them apart. Gut-wrenchingly honest, pushing the limits of its R-rating with its sensuality, it's both heartbreaking and instructive, full of truths about relationships that will be intimately recognizable to anyone who's ever been in one. Recommended.
"The Eagle" PG-13, 1:54, Kaahumanu 6.
Channing Tatum plays a young Roman centurion in 140 A.D. in this bit of ancient action. Traveling across Hadrian's wall accompanied only by his faithful slave (Jamie Bell), his mission is to solve the mystery of a legion that disappeared 20 years earlier, and restore the reputation of his father (Donald Sutherland). But first he must deal with all those savage tribes in the highlands of Caledonia to retrieve the eagle emblem of the lost legion. Kevin Macdonald directs.
"Gnomeo & Juliet" G, 1:39, Maui Mall Megaplex (3-D and 2-D) and Front Street Theaters.
Taking its cues - not to mention various plot devices, characters and even lines from Shakespeare -this animated comedy avoids any sign of tragedy as it updates the Bard's most famous love story. The hero is a broken gnome (voiced by James McAvoy) glued back together who finds the love of his life (voiced by Emily Blunt). Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham and Ozzie Osbourne add voices to the mix with Elton John providing the music. Kelly Asbury directs, sharing the writing credit with the Bard.
"I Am Number Four" PG-13, 2:05, Maui Mall Megaplex, Kukui Mall 4 and Front Street Theaters.
Adapted from Pittacus Lore's best-selling sci-fi novel, the story follows a teen alien (Alex Pettyfer) trying to blend into high-school anonymity to evade pursuers trying to destroy him and his fellow visitors from another planet. Having super powers helps. The title refers to where he falls on the hit list. Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron and Callan McAuliffe co-star; D.J. Caruso directs.
"Just Go With It" PG-13, 2:12, Maui Mall Megaplex, Kukui Mall 4 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Filmed at the Grand Wailea last spring, this romantic comedy stars Adam Sandler as a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who pretends to be married to avoid making real commitments with the women he dates. Finally finding Miss Right (Brooklyn Decker), his ruse backfires, forcing him to enlist his office assistant (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his soon-to-be-divorced wife after he takes her and her kids on a Maui vacation. Some 500 Mauians show up in supporting roles and as extras, with the Valley Isle providing backdrops sure to be familiar to local audiences. Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson and Dave Matthews co-star, with musical artists Hapa and Led Ka'apana in the background. Dennis Dugan directs.
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" (3-D), G, 2:00, Kaahumanu 6; ends tonight at Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Go on tour with the young music sensation in this 3-D concert tour filmed at performances in 2010. You'll be surrounded in the audience by the tween-age fans of the boyish sex symbol, whose co-stars include Boys II Men, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Ludacris, Jaden Smith, Usher and more. Directed by Jon Chu, there's also behind-the-scenes humor and old photos and home movies illuminating Justin's path to the top.
"The King's Speech" R, 1:58, Kukui Mall 4; opens tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex.
Cheers for Colin Firth's Golden Globe in this wonderful historical drama that now leads the Academy Awards field with 12 nominations. It tells of England's future King George VI (Colin Firth), whose path to the throne is detoured by personal demons and debilitating speech impediment, and the treatment he receives from an unconventional Australian speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush). Superb performances laced with great humor make the film both inspiring and fun, even with the menace of Herr Hitlet preparing for war on England's doorstep reminding us of the grave matters at hand. Nominations for Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, director Tom Hooper and the film itself are all richly deserved. It's the rare case of a feel-good movie that makes you feel smarter, too. Recommended!
"The Mechanic" R, 1:48, Maui Mall Megaplex.
No-nonsense English action star Jason Statham reinvents the methodical assassin role first played by Charles Bronson in 1972 and makes the role his own. Moving the action to New Orleans, he plays the professional killer who makes his work look like accidents. Despite his difficulties forming relationships, he gets drawn into a few amidst all the razor-sharp murders and random explosions going on periodically in the background. Donald Sutherland, Ben Foster and Tony Goldwyn co-star; Simon West directs.
"No Strings Attached" R, 2:03, Maui Mall Megaplex.
Fresh from her Golden Globe victory and Oscar nomination. Natalie Portman lightens up considerably for this romantic comedy in the age of "friends with benefits." She plays a young doctor who gets back in touch with Ashton Kutcher, a friend from childhood and college days who's now an aspiring TV writer. The title refers to their sexual agreement; the novelty is that it's her idea and he's the one who goes all mushy on her. Veteran Ivan Reitman directs a cast featuring Kevin Kline, Lake Bell, Greta Garwig, Ludacris and Jake M. Johnson. Despite so-so reviews, film is actually full of charm and wit, with Portman shining in the role usually reserved for Anne Hathaway or Katherine Heigl, and Kutcher displaying a good heart and nice comedic touch.
"The Roommate" PG-13, 1:46, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6 and Front Street Theaters.
Leighton Meester, who seemed so sweet and innocent in the recent "Country Strong," shows a different side of herself in this thriller. She plays the roommate who turns into a nightmare for college coed Minka Kelly. Showing strong similarities to "Single White Female," Christian E. Christiansen directs the escalating suspense, with Cam Gogandet, Alyson Michalka, Danneel Harris, Frances Fisher and Tomas Arana co-starring.
"Sanctum" R, 1:48. Maui Mall Megaplex (3-D).
An expedition mapping vast, mile-deep caves in Papua New Guinea encounters freak conditions that add to the dangers in this genre adventure piece directed by Australian Alister Grierson and produced by "Avatar" auteur James Cameron. Richard Boxburgh plays the cold-fish expedition leader, Rhys Wakefield plays his kinder-hearted son with Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Parkinson co-starring. Cameron, a fan of subterranean action ever since "The Abyss," tries out his 3-D techniques in this new realm, keeping the audience guessing who's next to go in the endless fight with the forces of nature.
"Unknown" PG-13, 2:08, Maui Mall Megaplex, Kukui Mall 4 and Front Street Theaters.
Although he is one of the most noble movie stars of our time, Liam Neeson is more fun as the greatest action hero since Matt Damon wandered into Bourne territory. Neeson is back in "Taken" mode as an American biologist in Berlin for a conference who barely escapes a harrowing car accident, spends four days in a coma in a hospital, then returns to find his wife (January Jones) pretending she's not his wife and Aidan Quinn claiming to be him. Once again, despite the reserved demeanor Neeson shows he's not the kind of guy to mess with, mixing his intelligence and nuance as an actor with a no-nonsense, no-regrets, no-prisoners approach to evening the score with whoever does him wrong. Diane Krueger is an able partner in all the action with Frank Langella, Bruno Ganz and Sebastian Koch co-starring and Spain's Jaume Sollett-Serra directing. Although the plot has some holes that reveal themselves after rethinking it all, the film still provides a fun-filled, adrenalized ride to the top of the box-office charts with Neeson shining once again as an action figure with a brain. Recommended.
"Yogi Bear 3-D" PG, 1:55, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex (in 3-D).
Dan Aykroyd provides the smarter-than-average voice of the title character and Justin Timberlake gives voice to trusty sidekick Boo Boo in this computer-generated, family-friendly update on the old TV series. Their missionthis time is to save Jellystone Park from the mayor's devious plan to close it. Anna Faris and Tom Cavanaugh co-star; Eric Breviq directs.
