Matthew R. Reis: Film and TV Critic

Stars’ beauty no match for bad story 1 Star As featured in: The Ithacan Director Zach Snyder’s latest visual extravaganza, “Sucker Punch,” is an experiment in overindulgent style gone wrong. While memorable characters such as the dapper, mustachioed villain Blue Jones (Oscar Isaac) lend a fun energy to the film too many elements don’t fit well together. Emily Browning plays Baby Doll, a petite, feisty 20-year-old who’s imprisoned in a brothel fronting as a mental institution by her ruthless stepfather. Baby Doll, along with four other big-breasted heroines, including the opinionated, no bull Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket, Blondie and Amber plan an ambitious escape in order to avoid being harmed by their pimp Blue. Baby constructs a dream world in order to gain the confidence she needs to lead the other gals to freedom. This premise obviously caters to a largely male audience with an appetite for scantily clad women parading around. “Punch” needs more sizzling entertainment ...

Jack in the box (Now on DVD) 2 1/2 Stars Blog exclusive! The first Jackass movie is still the best entry in the Jackass trilogy, but this third incarnation is still dirty, delicious fun. All the guys are back, Steve-o, Chris Pontius, Bam Margera and of course Johnny Knoxville to deliver some hurt, laughter and gross out moments. Jackass 3D's use of 3D is decidedly bad. First of all, half the movie isn't even in 3D which is lame especially when you consider the price premium these types of tickets carry. The best the 3D visuals have to offer is the extra rounded stomach of Preston Lacy. Yet not mentioning how gross poop looks in three dimensions would be an injustice to the film's cinematographer. 3D is decidedly better at grossing you out than 2D. The movie is fast paced. I guess it makes sense that the MTV generation would benefit from watching an MTV film. With numerous stunts, probably numbering 20-something, you will be hard pressed to not laugh (or hurl) at som...

Arrest this movie 2 1/2 Stars Blog exclusive! For the most part “Cop Out” starring Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and Tracy Morgan (television’s 30 Rock) deserves a ticket. With a horrible script, insanely stupid stunts and a support(less) cast "Cop Out" instantly becomes the worst buddy cop film I’ve seen in awhile. Jimmy Monroe (Willis) is a divorced father of one. The only thing Jimmy and his wife have in common is the love for their daughter Ava (Michelle Trachtenberg). She is going to be married off and the dream wedding she wants cost nearly fifty grand. Getting the money is cause for concern and Monroe enlists the help of Paul (Morgan) his police partner to get the wedding bills paid. The only thing that doesn’t deserve to be locked up in "Cop Out” is Tracy Morgan’s acting. When Morgan isn’t making comments about Cate Blanchett’s fair skin in real life he is busy punching kids in the groin, just because he can. After all he is a cop. Why is Morgan so good? Well h...