Opening Friday
"Arthur" PG-13, 2:05, Kaahumanu 6 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
It's all Russell Brand all the time at the movies as the British party boy follows his vocal star turn in "Hop" with this remake of the Dudley Moore classic. Brand plays a maturity-impaired billionaire who's arranged-marriage plans to dragon lady Jennifer Garner are rearranged when he falls in love with the lovely but poor Greta Gerwig. Helen Mirren changes the gender of the original John Gielgud role to play his tough-love nann. TV's "Modern Family's" Jason Winer makes his debut as a big-screen director.
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Warner Bros. photo via AP
Russell Brand and Helen Mirren do a new spin on the comedy classic “Arthur”
"Hanna" PG-13, 1:54, Maui Mall Megaplex and Kukui Mall 4.
Part fairy tale heroine, part 16-year-old killing machine, young Saoirse Ronan does a star turn in the title role. She plays the daughter of former CIA operative Eric Bana, who is brought up in isolation in the frozen north where she learns to hunt, fight and speak many languages. It helps her when she comes back to civilization in territory familiar to watchers of the "Bourne" series. Joe Wright, who guided her to an Oscar nomination in "Atonement," directs a cast co-starring Cate Blanchett, Olivia Williams and Jessica Barden.
"Soul Surfer" PG, 2:00, Kaahumanu 6, Kukui Mall 4 and Front Street Theaters.
Bethany Hamilton's inspiring true story, well-known in Hawaii where it continues to take place, comes to the screen with AnnaSophia Robb playing the surfing heroine. A 2003 attack by a
14-foot tiger shark may have taken her arm, but not her spirit, as she was back in the water a month later competing in a professional surfing contest. Now 21, she still is. Carrie Underwood plays Bethany's youth group leader in this story that also touches on the deep faith of the Hamilton family. Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt co-star as dad and mom; Sean McNamara directs and co-writes.
"Your Highness" R, 1:57, Maui Mall Megaplex and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
See review on Page 8.
Still playing
"The Adjustment Bureau" PG-13, 2:01, Kaahumanu 6.
Matt Damon stars in this romantic political thriller adapted from a Philip K. Dick story. He plays a charismatic senatorial candidate who encounters the ballerina of his dreams (Emily Blunt), before finding himself pursued by a political team trying to keep them apart. George Nolfi directs and co-writes, pitting political forces against fate and love in a chase across modern Manhattan. Lisa Thoreson co-stars with Jon Stewart and Chuck Scarborough playing themselves.
"Battle: Los Angeles" PG-13, 2:11, Maui Mall Megaplex.
Allegedly inspired by unexplained events over Los Angeles some time ago, this sci-fi adventure pits of platoon of Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton against -ta da! -aliens from outer space. Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynahan lead the cast; Jonathan Liebesman directs.
"Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son" PG-13, 2:02, Kaahumanu 6.
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.
"The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman" PG-13, 1:35, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6.
This Chinese martial arts comedy mashup charts the journey of three misfits as each encounters a mystical blade. The Butcher, a simple man frustrated with love, the Chef, a handsome loner obsessed with avenging the death of his family, and the Swordsman, the son of a legendary warrior consumed by the desire to eclipse his father, soon find that the blade possesses power to change the fate of its owner. But the men also discover the cleaver's double edge: Its great power yields even greater danger. Directed by newcomer Wuershan, the film stars Kitty Zhang, Masanobu Ando, Lu Xiaoye and Swanson Han.
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid:?Rodrick Rules" PG, 1:36, Maui Mall Megaplex; ends tonight at Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Wimpy is the new cool in this chart-topping sequel to 2010's surprise hit based on the best-selling follow-up "Wimpy Kid" novel by Jeff Kinney. Starting 7th grade, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) has to deal with school, his geeky - yet endearing - friends and his parents's efforts to make him bond with older brother and chief tormentor, Rodrick (Devon Bostick). David Bowers directs the family-oriented fun, that's pretty wimpy itself, but somehow strikes familiar chords en route to a laugh or two.
"Hop" PG, 1:34, Maui Mall Megaplex, Kukui Mall 4 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Russell Brand tones down the outrageousness to star as an Easter Bunny on the run in this cute blend of live action and animation targeted at family audiences. He doesn't want to follow his dad into the Easter Bunny business, it seems, and enlists reluctant human James Marsden as his ally in the rainbow-hued tale full of warm, fuzzy co-stars. Tim Hill directs. (See review on Page 2.)
"Insidious" PG-13, 1:42, Maui Mall Megaplex.
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne play a couple who move into a charming old craftsman with their three young children only to discover way, way too late that they've got company. "Saw" director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell reportedly play all the haunted-house cards in the deck very skillfully, using creaking floors, ticking clocks, doors flying open and just plain silence to make the audience very uncomfortable before the relief of the final frame.
"The King's Speech" PG-13, 1:58, ends tonight at Kaahumanu 6.
The big winner Oscar night with well-deserved statues for screenplay, direction, best actor and best picture. With Colin Firth leading fellow Oscar nominees Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, the wonderful historical drama tells of England's future King George VI, 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. 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 doorstepR. It's the rare case of a feel-good movie that makes you feel smarter, too. Recommended!
"Limitless" PG-13, 2:00, Maui Mall Megaplex and Front Street Theaters.
Bradley Cooper plays a dead-end aspiring writer who turns his life around after happening onto a magic pill. Before he knows it, he's smart, rich, famous and hooked. It turns out the path to the top has a slippery slope heading down on the other side. A guilty pleasure, the film interweaves two cautionary tales -about drug dependency and striking bargains with the devil - but is fun anyway. Abbie Cornish and Robert De Niro head the supporting cast, directed by "The Illusionist's" Neil Burger.
"The Lincoln Lawyer" R, 2:14, Maui Mall Megaplex and Front Street Theaters; ends tonight at Kukui Mall 4 .
Matthew McConaughey brings his Southern drawl and natural swagger to the role of a confident L.A. defense attorney in this action drama. The title refers to his car -a Lincoln Continental -that doubles as his office. The star's charisma is in high gear in the script that fills his life and career with moral dilemmas in and out of the courtroom. Ryan Phillipe, John Leguizamo, Frances Fisher, Michael Pena, Marisa Tomei and William H. Macy co-star. Brad Furman directs.
"Mars Needs Moms" PG, 1:43, Kaahumanu 6.
Like an even younger companion piece to "Battle: Los Angeles," this animated comedy revolves around a young boy named Milo (Seth Green), forced into action after aliens from Mars arrive on Earth to kidnap mothers and bring them home to their planet. Dan Fogler, Joan Cusack, Elizabeth Harnois, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Cahoon and Tom Everett Scott provide voices; Simon Wells directs and co-writes.
"Paul" R, 2:01, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex and Front Street Theaters.
Seth Rogen provides the voice of Paul, an actual visitor from outer space who's been held in a secret government program since 1947 but makes a break for freedom with a pair of English comic book nerds (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost). The zany pair behind the zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead" pay skewed winking tribute to all the sci-fi classics, along with silly Americans, co-starring with Kristin Wiig, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio. Greg Mottola directs.
''Rango'' PG, 1:47, Maui Mall Megaplex.
Johnny Depp reteams with "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinsky for this wiggy, offbeat Western comedy that has more in common with"High Noon," "Chinatown," Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns and Depp's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" than with your usual cartoon. Unrelently clever in both dialogue and visual effects, it features a would-be actor who happens to be a lizard, who somehow becomes the sheriff of the Old West town of Dirt. Not only does he have to solve the mystery of who's stealing the town's water, but he has to prove himself an archetypical hero in the process in a script that will go right over the kids' heads, but will provide nonstop diversions for film fans. Isla Fisher, Alfred Molina, Ray Winstone, Stephen Root, Claudia Black, Abigail Breslin and Ned Beatty provide voices for the ragtag co-stars. Recommended.
"Red Riding Hood" PG-13, 1:55, ends tonight at Maui Mall Megaplex.
As portrayed by Amanda Seyfried, the familiar heroine heads for the dark side of the woods in this fairy tale updated for the "Twilight" audience. It's a werewolf rather than a wolf making things dangerous for life in her medieval village. In ways the Brothers Grimm never imagined, she's torn between an arranged marriage with a wealthy villager and her attraction for a mysterious woodcutter. "Twilight's" Catherine Hardwicke directs a heavy hitting supporting cast that includes Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Virginia Madsen, Lukas Haas and Julie Christie.
"Source Code" PG-13, 1:33, Maui Mall Megaplex, Kukui Mall 4 and Front Street Theaters.
Jake Gyllenhaal is the latest action hero to find himself dazed and confused -not having a clue what's going on, actually -in this sci-fi action thriller directed by Duncan Jones. He plays an Army captain decorated for his service in Afghanistan who wakes up on a commuter train traveling with beautiful Michelle Monaghan, who acts like she knows him better than he knows her. And that's only the beginning of the brain-tickling puzzle as the brings the audience along on his mission to figure out who he is and what's going on. Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright co-star. Recommended. (See review on Page 2.
"Sucker Punch" PG:13, 1:09, Maui Mall Megaplex, ends tonight at Kukui Mall 4 and Lahaina Wharf Cinemas.
Pretty girls weilding samurai swords in virtual warfare could be every teenage boy's dream. "Sucker Punch" makes the dream come true onscreen, by following Babydoll (Emily Browning) and four other young girls (Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens and Jamie Chung) in a battle against their captors, which blurs the lines between a perilous dream world and an even darker reality. Punches, kicks, gunfights, mascara and midriffs abound in the tale of freedom found within the depths of imagination - a message that finds approval with possibly more than just the Comic-Con crowd. Zack Snyder directs.
* Times in the movie ads are subject to change on the weekend. For up-to-date movie time changes visit www.mauigateway.com/~ rw/movie/online.
