Date Night @ Empire 7

That was fun, I thought to myself leaving the theatre.  This is a movie more in the mold of comedy-with-a-heart-Judd-Apatow film instead of crazy-antics movie, a la Hangover or Something About Mary.  At times the writers seemed to not have decided whether to go crazy misadventures or understated fun/heartwarming and got caught in some in between nether world.  Even so if you like Steve Carell and Tina Fey, like I do, they really carried this movie.  They were likable and silly and if you accepted you were watching a comedic hijinks movie and not a thriller (since the action/adventure part was beyond unbelievable) then you’d come away entertained.  All of the characters seemed to be well cast.  Mila Kunis, James Franco, and Mark Ruffalo had some small parts, but shone in them.  I’ve become a fan of Mark Wahlberg (especially since I Heart Huckabees) and his character in this one is a lot of fun.  So while definitely rent-able, I was well satisfied with my movie ticket purchase.

Captain Abu Raed @ Bytowne

A movie that grew on me.  The basic story of this Jordanian film is of a janitor that works at the airport and lives in  a poor neighborhood.  One day he finds a captain hat and when he wears it home, the neighborhood children assume he really is a captain.  Heartwarming hijinks ensue. The start of the film, in content and film style (with its sweet strings over heartwarming montage), pegged it as just the sort of movie that I don’t care for.  As it progresses; however, the story becomes more nuanced and mature.  The janitor is spurred by these events to become more fully engaged with life; however, he must navigate the limitations of reality.  The kids’ acting gets the job done, but the janitor/main character actor is excellent.  A good little tale, that rewards those able to get through the start of the film.