A Previous Engagement

By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service A Seattle librarian (Juliet Stevenson), on holiday in Malta with her dull, inattentive husband (Daniel Stern), plans to rendezvous with her suave French lover (Tcheky Karyo) from 25 years earlier. Even allowing for its often farcical structure, writer-director Joan Carr-Wiggin’s story, which strives for a light, whimsical tone, never seems remotely grounded in reality as the best comedies should be, the generally capable cast is undermined by dialogue that rarely rings true, and the narrative is marred by a shallow moral tone. Adultery, rough language, crude expressions, the acceptability of premarital sex and divorce, and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Buccaneer)

What Happens in Vegas

Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher star in a scene from the movie “What Happens in Vegas.” (CNS photo/20th Century Fox) By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service An inebriated couple – a commodities trader (Cameron Diaz), dumped by her longtime boyfriend, and a womanizing slacker (Ashton Kutcher), fired from his closet-building job – get married in Las Vegas, much to their later regret, and must live with the consequences when they return to New York and a judge orders them to try to make the marriage work for six months, if they are to decide who keeps the $3 million jackpot they won at the slots. Director Tom Vaughan’s romantic comedy is lame, tasteless and unfunny, despite a premise that could work in better hands, while the warm-if-predictable ending fails to erase the sophomoric ineptitude of what has come before it. Pervasive vulgar humor, implied premarital cohabitation, scatological elements, some skimpy costuming, much crude language and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Fox)

Speed Racer

Emile Hirsch stars in a scene from the movie “Speed Racer.” (CNS photo/Warner Bros.) By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service Overly long and only so-so live-action adventure yarn – based on the 1960s Japanese animated TV series – about a young race car driver (Emile Hirsch) who, with the loving support of his parents (John Goodman and Susan Sarandon) and girlfriend (Christina Ricci), stands up to the corrupt race sponsor (Roger Allam) and other baddies to compete in the race that killed his big brother. The Wachowski brothers, co-writers and directors, employ colorful animated backgrounds, and the positive family values and nice performances are added pluses, but the alternately chaotic and sentimental plotline will be of most interest to diehard fans of the cartoon, while some of the violence and language are a tad strong for those youngest viewers who might appreciate it most. Imax and conventional. Some intense, but not graphic, action violence, some crass language and expressions, and mild profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (Warner Bros.)

The Fall

Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru star in a scene from the movie “The Fall.” (CNS photo/Roadside Attractions) By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service Exceedingly strange but fitfully affecting tale set in a Los Angeles hospital circa 1915 about the unlikely relationship between two patients: a spunky 5-year-old girl (adorable Catinca Untaru with, alas, an often impenetrable accent), and an embittered movie stuntman (Lee Pace) who keeps her enthralled with a story of bandits mirroring his devastating real-life breakup with his girlfriend. Director Tarsem’s film – imaginative in many ways – goes on far too long and its elaborate fantasy sequences (alternately sophomoric and serious) are more wearying than illuminating, while the redemptive ending fails to compensate for a pervasively heavy and lachrymose tone. Action violence with bloodshed, a suicide attempt, and a couple of instances of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Roadside)

Fugitive Pieces

By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service Quietly reflective and affecting story about a small Jewish boy (Robbie Kay) in Poland, separated from his family during the Holocaust, who is adopted by a gentle Greek archaeologist (Rade Sherbedgia), and how the events of those years mold his adulthood as a writer in Canada (where he’s played by Stephen Dillane) and his relationships (with Rosamund Pike and Ayelet Zurer). Directed with a measured pace by Jeremy Podeswa, who also wrote the adaptation of Anne Michaels’ 1996 novel, the film is especially touching in the tender scenes with Sherbedgia and young Kay who morphs seamlessly into the excellent Dillane, who beautifully conveys how his character comes to terms with the ghosts and guilt of the past. Some nonmarital sexuality with partial and rear nudity, a shooting death, and other brief nongraphic violence, a suicide reference and a couple of mild expletives. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Samuel Goldwyn)

Iron Man

By John Mulderig Catholic News Service Sleekly effective science-fiction tale about a devil-may-care playboy weapons manufacturer (Robert Downey Jr.) who, after being captured by an ambitious Afghanistan-based warlord (Faran Tahir) and ordered to build a replica of his most advanced product, with the help of another captive and scientist (Shaun Toub), instead constructs an impregnable suit of armor, escapes, and begins to re-evaluate his life, with the support of his loyal girl Friday (Gwyneth Paltrow) and despite the doubts of his junior partner (Jeff Bridges) and military liaison (Terrence Howard). In between the impressive special effects, executive producer-director Jon Favreau’s screen adaptation of this popular comic-book series charts its main character’s conversion from callous genius to dedicated defender. Nongraphic sexual activity, torture, a graphic medical procedure, sci-fi violence, occasional crude language, a brief profanity, sexual humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Paramount/Marvel)

Son of Rambow

Will Poulter and Bill Milner star in a scene from the movie “Son of Rambow.” The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some mat erial may be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS photo/Paramount Vantage) By John Mulderig Catholic News Service Rollicking but also touching chronicle, set in 1980s Britain, of the unlikely friendship between a reserved schoolboy (Bill Milner), who’s being raised by his puritanically religious widowed mother (Jessica Stevenson), and a rambunctious fellow student (Will Poulter) who’s been left in the care of his dictatorial older brother (Ed Westwick), as they collaborate on a frenetic sequel to one of Sylvester Stallone’s “Rambo” movies with the aid of a charismatically cool French exchange student (Jules Sitruk). Writer-director Garth Jennings’ warmly humorous, semi-autobiographical film portrays the Amish-like sect as stifling enough to justify its main character’s conflicted resistance, but ends by affirming faith as well as friendship. Shoplifting, underage smoking, a painful accident, and occasional crude and profane and some crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Paramount Vantage)

Made of Honor

Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan star in a scene from the movie “Made of Honor.” (CNS photo/Columbia) By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service A callous playboy (a charming Patrick Dempsey) comes to realize he loves his longtime best friend (Michelle Monaghan) just when she announces she’s engaged to a Scottish lord (Kevin McKidd), and he agrees to be her “maid of honor” in the hopes of dissuading her from the marriage. Paul Welland’s formulaic but ultimately winning film starts with some highly problematic elements having to do with the playboy’s unbridled love life, but settles into a sentimental story about the hero learning the true meaning of love, while generally promoting an acceptable moral worldview. Nongraphic encounters, divorce, alcohol use, innuendo, and some crude words and expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Roman de Gare

By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service Impeccably crafted suspense tale from great director Claude Lelouch in which a young woman (Audrey Dana) abandoned at a gas station after a fierce argument with her fiance accepts a lift from an ominous stranger (Dominique Pinon) who agrees to drive her to her parents’ farm and pose as her fiance. Stunningly acted by all – including Fanny Ardant as a best-selling author whose story, along with that of a woman (Michele Bernier) whose husband has suddenly gone missing, eventually intersects with the main one – and cleverly written to keep you guessing right up to the end, the film is keenly observant about human nature, the creative process and love. Sporadic rough language and crude expressions, brief frank sexual dialogue and suicide. In French. Subtitles. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Samuel Goldwyn)

Then She Found Me

Colin Firth and Helen Hunt star in a scene from the movie “Then She Found Me.” (CNS photo/THINKFilm) By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service Fitfully engaging but mostly humdrum tale of a glum Jewish schoolteacher (Helen Hunt) who reconnects with the gregarious birth mother (Bette Midler) she never knew, and falls in love with a single father (Colin Firth) after her adopted mother dies and her husband (Matthew Broderick) walks out on her. Co-writer Hunt competently directs this adaptation of Elinor Lipman’s novel, and performances are solid, but her character is frequently irksome and several plot points are problematic from a Catholic perspective. Nongraphic sexual encounters; some nonmarital, frank sexual talk; partial female nudity; profanity and some rough language; and artificial insemination. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (THINKFilm)