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FILM CLIPS
Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk-leheads: Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos and Sean Hayes are Curly, Moe and Larry in the Farrelly Brothers’ “The Three Stooges.”
Updated: April 16, 2012 4:52PM
OPENING FRIDAY
BULLY
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Alex Libby, Kelby Johnson, Ja’Maya Jackson
The stories of five kids victimized by school bullies — with two ultimately taking their own lives — are explored in this controversial documentary, co-written and directed by Lee Hirsch (“Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony”) Reviewed in this section.
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS
Rated: R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, drug use and some sexuality/nudity
Stars: Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly
Five young friends go to a cabin in the woods for a vacation, but find the setting far from restful. Screenwriter Drew Goddard (“Cloverfield”) makes his directorial debut with the horror, co-written by Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).
THE THREE STOOGES
Rated: PG for slapstick action violence, some rude and suggestive humor including language
Stars: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos
Moe, Larry and Curly (Diamantopoulos, Hayes and Sasso) uncover a murder plot while trying to save their childhood orphanage. Bobby and Peter Farrelly (“There’s Something About Mary”) directed the comedy.
STILL PLAYING
AMERICAN REUNION
★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use and teen drinking
Stars: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott
Proof positive that no matter how pointless and painful and ignominious high school might have been, you can look forward to an equally mortifying experience at your high school reunion. While creative dividends have diminished steadily in the “American Pie” franchise, box office returns have not — hence this fairly predictable but still reasonably charming entry that sees our horndog heroes approaching middle age. Fortunately, Eugene Levy is still around to make things work.
CASA DE MI PADRE
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for bloody violence, language, some sexual content and drug use
Stars: Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez
The funniest movie of the year may also turn out to be the strangest. In addition to the most intentionally awful. Ferrell stars as Armando (and speaks Spanish throughout) in this dead-on-target parody of a truly bad 1970s-era Mexican action/melodrama. Hilarious.
THE HUNGER GAMES
★ ★ ★
Rated: PG-13 for intense, violent, thematic material and disturbing images — all involving teens
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
The much-anticipated movie version of “The Hunger Games” does little more than faithfully replicate the mega-best-selling original, yet, this proficient and generally satisfying adaptation gets the job done and then some. Primarily because of the perfect casting of Lawrence as the bow-hunting heroine of a dystopian-future televised competition in which only one of 24 teenage participants can survive.
DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX
★ ★ ★
Rated: PG for brief mild language
Stars: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Betty White, Ed Helms
A young boy who learns how a mysterious old hermit (Helms) turned a natural paradise into a wasteland decides to make a difference in his home town. Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda (“Despicable Me”) directed this animated Dr. Seuss adaptation.
MIRROR MIRROR
★ ★
Rated: PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor
Stars: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane
Since it was directed by Tarsem Singh (“The Fall,” “Immortals”) you can be sure this so-so fairy-tale comedy looks good. But is it funny? Not so much. A pale imitation of the whimsical style of “The Princess Bride,” this faux-witty Snow White update gets a fair amount of traction thanks to Roberts and Lane; otherwise it’s slow, predictable and uninspired.
TITANIC
Rated: PG-13 for disaster-related peril and violence, nudity, sensuality and brief language
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
Writer-director James Cameron’s Oscar-winning, record-setting box-office smash rises from the depths for another fateful voyage: this time in 3-D.
21 JUMP STREET
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence
Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
This parody of the late-’80s TV show that launched Johnny Depp is considerably better than you might expect — despite being rude, politically incorrect and insanely violent. The directors of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” make the most of the surprising chemistry between Hill and Tatum.
WE HAVE A POPE
★ ★
Rated: No MPAA rating
Stars: Michel Piccoli, Nanni Moretti
A gentle comedy that also wants to be a serious drama, and eventually lurches at the last moment into semi-tragedy, “We Have a Pope” doesn’t quite know where it’s going — and as a result, never quite gets there. Nanni Moretti (“The Son’s Room”) wrote and directed this tale of an obscure cardinal (Piccoli) who’s elected Pope, much to his dismay, and paralyzed with fear (and righteous doubt) at the prospect.
