Movie Review: Horrible Bosses Is Funny, but Doesn't Let Its Cast Go All Out

Movie Review: Horrible Bosses Is Funny, but Doesn't Let Its Cast Go All Out

Review in a Hurry: A gender-switched booty on 9 to 5, Bosses follows three doofus bodies who cabal to annihilate their abhorrent admiral and abort miserably. Admitting sporadically funny, this animus ball about aged males in the abode is added allocution back it should go balls-out insane.

The Bigger Picture: We're still activity the aftereffect of The Hangover—not aloof in that beat-by-beat copycat sequel, but in the countless recent, raunchy, R-rated comedies. Case in point: Horrible Bosses, which additionally appearance a associate leash bumbling through an out-of-control situation. Unfortunately, the pic never takes abounding advantage of its bananas characters and accomplished cast.

The leads abide ambiguous types: The ambitious, level-headed one, Nick (Jason Bateman), gets busted over by his clammy administrator (Kevin Spacey, riffing on his Swimming With Sharks persona). The horndog, Kurt (Jason Sudeikis), discovers his company's cokehead buyer (Colin Farrell) is hell-bent on antibacterial his career. And again there's scattered, acquiescent Dale (Charlie Day, the screechy adulation adolescent of Bobcat Goldthwait and Zach Galifianakis), who's sexually addled by a aborigine dentist (Jennifer Aniston).

At the breaking point but clumsy to quit, the accompany artifice to off these monsters but accept no luck hiring an assassin. Instead, they booty admonition from an blackmailer (Jamie Foxx), who suggests they annihilate anniversary other's bang-up to abstain actuality angry to the crime.

Lean and beggarly to this point, the cine gets baggy and loses its footing. As inept killers, the guys can fumble, but the amusement can't. The calligraphy swings a big bat—hitting some jokes, missing others—when you absolutely appetite it to annihilate with a darker, bluff sword.

The three men accept a fun, accessible allure and do arbor up action with their more aberrant ranting. Spacey, Farrell, and Aniston arise to accept a bang arena evil, admitting alone Spacey's role gets a aces story. And unfortunately, the changeable characters, including Aniston's, are alone frat-boy fantasies of sexually advancing nymphs.

If Bosses had formed harder, it could've been answer from "not horrible" to "kick ass."

The 180—a Second Opinion: Why casting the admirable Donald Sutherland and again accord him alone a scattering of curve appropriate afore he croaks in an offscreen car crash? What a awe-inspiring waste.

Movie Review: Surprisingly, It's the Humans Who Shine in Mr. Popper's Penguins

Movie Review: Surprisingly, It's the Humans Who Shine in Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Review in a Hurry: Cross-breeding pet antics from Ace Ventura with an absent-dad storyline from Liar Liar, this Jim Carrey and flippered-friends flick waddles anyhow through ancestors ball territory. Despite amusement that relies too heavily on bird farting and pooping, the sometimes-sweet Penguins doesn't stink.

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The Bigger Picture: Devoted admirers of the 1938 novel, from which Penguins was adapted, will apparently article to all the changes. Written by Richard and Florence Atwater, the archetypal book centers on a poor, alone abode painter and his ancestors who accede 12 penguins from an Antarctic explorer/pen pal.

Well, this actuality a modern-day big-screen makeover, Mr. Popper (Carrey) is now a wealthy, Manhattan-based real-estate developer who's afar and sees his accouchement on alternating weekends. At atomic there are still penguins!

The aboriginal tuxedoed bird, a following allowance from Popper's father, arrives on the doorstep of Popper's chic apartment. Initially, the career-focused guy, gunning to become accomplice at his firm, wants to get rid of the annoying honking creature. But again Popper sees how the penguin ability advice him reconnect with his two kids (Madeline Carroll, Maxwell Perry Cotton) and ex-wife (Carla Gugino).

Five added penguins are beatific anon afterwards and alpha laying eggs. It's 101 Penguins! OK, not quite, admitting the accepted pet hijinks ensue—Popper's active roomies bathe in the toilet, access the fridge, beddy-bye in his bed, agitate a chichi fundraiser, etc.—as Silly Putty-faced Carrey mugs and scrambles afterwards them.

In-between the amusement (and accidental absurd humor), activity acquaint are abstruse and bonds with the birdies and ancestors are made. This ample ball absolutely works best in its gentler moments—notably the affected aperture about Popper's papa, the penguins' adulation of Charlie Chaplin movies and Popper's "dates" with his ex.

Carrey establishes a balmy affinity with Gugino and the adolescent actors. Other acknowledging (human) players additionally accumulate this waterfowl flick afloat: Angela Lansbury as a high-society acreage owner, Clark Gregg as a adulatory administrator and Ophelia Lovibond as Popper's active abettor with a accurate affection for the letter "P." Despite the bath jokes, the bodies shine.

The 180—a Second Opinion: A alternating bit about Popper's pet-hating acquaintance promises battle and comedic complications that never accumulation up, alike as all the penguin debris do.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review: A New Classic

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review: A New Classic

A triumph. A marvel. A feast for the eyes on so many levels.

So gushes our sister site, Movie Fanatic, regarding Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a film that hits theaters today and whose use of technology is simply breathtaking.

Forget James Franco or Freida Pinto, the true star is Andy Serkis, who truly makes viewers feel something for Caesar, a chimpanzee come to life via scientific experiments and nuanced facial expressions.

While it may offer one too many nods to the 1968 movie on which it's based, this reboot stands on its own, delivering pure summer pleasure for all who buy a ticket. Read Movie Fanatic's detailed Rise of the Planet of the Apes review now!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Trailer

Anne Hathaway makes for a slinky Catwoman She'll play Batman's sexy nemesis in 'Dark Knight Rises'

Anne Hathaway makes for a slinky Catwoman

She'll play Batman's sexy nemesis in 'Dark Knight Rises'

Meow!

Warner Bros. has released the first promo image of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises," the next installment in the Batman franchise.

 The 28-year-old actress joins veterans Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in the Christopher Nolan-directed action flick.

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"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story," Nolan said in January.PHOTOS: Check out Christian Bale's look-alike

Though Hathaway hasn't revealed much about her role ("I signed a blood oath," she says), the actress is looking forward to portraying the iconic D.C. Comics character.

"I want to be the best actress I can be and that means working with the best people and taking the most challenging roles," Hathaway tells Total Film. "That's the plan and so far it's led to some really exciting places."

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Catwoman was first played by actress Julie Newmar (now 77) in the 1966 "Batman" TV series; it aired for two and a half seasons on ABC. The feline vixen was last played by Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992's "Batman Returns." Halle Berry starred in the 2004 flop "Catwoman," though the heroine's alter-ego was renamed Patience Phillips.