Safety Not Guaranteed

3 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, but not for long)

Summer is all about the blockbuster, but every once in a while, you come across a little gem that deserves to be seen by the masses.

This film is a must see for anyone who's ever felt like a weirdo, either because of what you look like or what's going on inside your head that others can't see. Writer Derek Connolly's script seems to have avoided the Hollywood cleansing process, so its quirky charm, honesty and ending all made the final cut.

The relatively unknown cast really sold the story, which is - well - out there. My favorite is Jake M. Johnson's Jeff, a veteran magazine writer who's tired of his own charades. His fist pump during the final scene is exactly how I felt. I just don't think it would have worked with a bunch of A-listers.

Bonus Bones: 0

Maybe they're cat people in the Pacific Northwest, but I didn't see any of those, either.

First Position

3 Paws

Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, but not for long)

I'm a sucker for a dance movie, particularly if it involves tights and tutus. Grace, power and discipline have always eluded me, so I'm fascinated by those who can harness all three to create something magical for others to experience.

This documentary, which follows six dancers from around the world who compete in the Youth America Grand Prix, is fast-paced, honest and insightful. I have no idea how kids that age deal with that amount of pressure, where five minutes on stage can impact the direction your life will take from there on out. And although the actual dance sequences are fun to watch, the family relationships behind each dancer - some wonderful, some cringeworthy - take center stage.

The best part? Things turn out pretty well for the one I was rooting for the most.

Bonus Bones: 4

I think I counted four dogs among the families of the six dancers, but they didn't get a lot of screen time.

Prometheus

2.5 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

For me, the best thing about 1979's Alien is Sigourney Weaver. Ellen Ripley is about as good as it gets for a female character - smart, driven, heroic and one serious bad ass when screwed with.

I wanted to find a Ripley-like character to root for in Ridley Scott's much-anticipated prequel. My likely target - Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw. As much as I have to give her credit (spoiler alert) for performing surgery on herself, she comes up a bit short - just not enough Ripley mojo.

So - what to do? I ended up settling for the stunning visuals supplied by cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and Michael Fassbender's creepy yet charming David, the android with a robot crush on Lawrence of Arabia's Peter O'Toole. Fassbender, whom I loved as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, made me keep my eyes open through all the gore and slime for fear of missing something, and that's quite an accomplishment.

Bonus Bones: 1
Look for Guy Pierce's holographic cutie before the mission begins.

Bernie

2 Paws
Seen recently at AMC Oakview 24

I love Jack Black, and I love Shirley MacLaine, but that doesn't mean that I love them together.

This film is an uncomfortable mix of comedy and drama. Funeral homes and murders and small towns are all great topics to explore cinematically, but the creepiest thing about this one is that it's based on a true story. Parts of it are hysterical - Matthew McConaughey is perfect as Texas lawman Danny Buck, Sonny Carl Davis is a scene stealer as one of the redneck townies, and MacLaine's best moment on screen is her chewing scene with Black in the restaurant.

I wish someone would give Mr. School of Rock a great dramatic role to tackle.

Bonus Bones: 0
No dogs, one armadillo.

Monsieur Lazhar

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Thank goodness for the Oscars. Otherwise, this 2012 best foreign language film of the year nominee (Canada) probably wouldn't have made it to a theatre screen in the Big O.

I want to take Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag) to dinner. I want to ask him how he had the courage to show up at the school that day and apply for the teaching position. I want to ask him how he could be so generous of spirit with others while so immersed in his own unthinkable circumstances. 

I want to ask director Philippe Farlardeau where he found his child actors. I want him to tell me that when he yelled 'cut,' they ran around like crazy and threw spitballs and annoyed all the adults on set. I want to ask him if Montreal is as multicultural as it appears in his film.

I want to learn more about Algeria. I want today's educational system to loosen some of its form and politics so teachers can care about their students (in an appropriate manner, of course) without fear of recourse. I want to see more films with this one's heart.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs, neither Canadian nor Algerian.

The Avengers

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

The line was long, and our trio had to split up to find seats once we entered the theater. I ended up sitting next to a man and his daughter, and the little one couldn't have been more than four or five. "How is she going to sit through 142 minutes of this without being annoying?" I asked myself (not out loud, of course).

She was nothing short of charming, and her occasional cheers - along with those from the rest of the audience - really added to the experience. So did the guy in the ripped plaid shirt and purple sweats we saw milling around before the line started to move, although it took me a moment to realize his outfit was an homage to The Hulk.

Speaking of the green guy, he was clearly the audience favorite. Mark Ruffalo, whom I've loved ever since You Can Count on Me, has that kind of quiet humility that made Bill Bixby's Bruce Banner such an endearing character. I'd have to say my favorite in this outing, though, is Chris Evans as Captain America. If I were ever in a jam, I'd want his intelligence, bravery and loyalty in my corner (he's very dog like).

Although I prefer the story lines in the individual superhero films (Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor were reviewed on this blog in 2011), this group effort is a pretty good way to kick off the summer viewing season.

Bonus Bones: 0
No super dogs, villainous or heroic.

Undefeated

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

I'm a sucker for a good sports movie (Hoosiers is on my Top 10 list of films), and this one delivers. It's got everything you could possibly want - compelling characters, a momentum-building storyline and an ending that's better than anything you could write yourself. The best thing about it - it's all real.

Coach Bill Courtney is not perfect - he yells, he gets exasperated, and he neglects his family during football season. But wow, what a difference he makes in the lives of his players and the school where he volunteers his time. It's pretty inspirational.

I think there are a lot of Bill Courtneys out there, busting their butts in the shadows because it's the right thing to do and because they end up getting as much as they give. It's too bad directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin can't make a documentary about each and every one of them.

Bonus Bones: 1
Coach Courtney has a dog, but he doesn't get much attention, either.