MAY '08
Harder Beat Magazine Online
Iron Man — Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard
Forget all about the recent string of Marvel Comics big-screen adaptation flops (Ghost Rider, Hulk, X-Men III and Spiderman III - “The Musical”). Iron Man will blow away ALL expectations. Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as billionaire industrialist, weapons manufacturer, Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow is Stark’s personal assistant and confidante, Pepper Potts. When the movie starts, Stark is enjoying the life of a celebrity until a wake-up call in the Middle East forces him to see the consequences of what he does for a living - building weapons. After seeing first hand how his technology has found it’s way into the wrong hands, he builds the ultimate weapon, a suit of armor to deal with the problem. The armor looks amazing and there are some funny scenes as Tony perfects his suit. You’ll also see the best ever cameo by Marvel Comics creator, Stan Lee and be sure to stay after the credits for a special appearance by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).
A+ (Andy Laudano)

Baby Mama - Starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romano Malco, Sigourney Weaver and Steve Martin
Kate Holbrook (Fey) is reaching that age where her biological clock is crashing around like a garbage truck. (Read: she wants a baby.) She tries pretty much anything that might net her a baby but, alas, her womb is about as hospitable as your parents’ house when you tell them you’re moving back in.

She all but gives up hope when along comes a golden opportunity, albeit an expensive one - a surrogate mom. Hilarity ensues. Kind of. Surrogate mama is trashy, under-educated Angie (Poehler). If you know Amy Poehler’s comedy acting at all (Saturday Night Live), you can take a blind guess at what her Angie is like. As time passes, Angie turns out to not be pregnant, but then actually is, doesn’t know whose baby it really is, stick another real life scenario here, swirl it around, and nine months later, somebody’s got a baby. Baby Mama is OK. Bring on those summer blockbusters!
C+ (Joe Allison)

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? Documentary directed and starring Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock brought us the delightful Supersize Me, “dining” for a month at McDonalds.... Where in the... isn’t a comedy, though there are some funny moments. Spurlock heads off to find Bin Laden — looking forhim in about every Middle Eastern country, sticking his head in caves, talking to officials, shop owners and people on the street.
B (Linda Hollar)



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