There’s romance in the air this weekend at the nation’s movie houses. Between the Nicholas Sparks page to screen The Lucky One, the Steve Harvey relationship self-help book that makes a leap to the silver screen and the love of humankind’s best friend in Darling Companion. There’s also a whole lot of affection for our planet as two Earth Day timed releases come to theaters: DisneyNature’s Chimpanzee and Warner Bros.’ To the Arctic.
The Lucky One: Zac Efron steps into the male role in a Sparks film that has previously been filled by Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum. Does he succeed? As a matter of fact he does. Fans of the author will adore this film. How could they not with lines like, “You deserve to be kissed every day, every hour, every minute and every second.” The supporting cast is solid from Efron’s love interest (Taylor Schilling) to the grand dame of cinema -- Blythe Danner -- who plays her grandmother. Check out our The Lucky One review for more.
Think Like a Man: Comedian Steve Harvey could never have thought when he penned the relationship self-help book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man that it would become a delightful romantic comedy. But that is what it has become. Director Tim Story has assembled a stellar ensemble cast, led by Kevin Hart in a side-splitting turn, and produced a funny and touching film that both men and women will appreciate. As we state in our Think Like a Man review, all walks of life will appreciate this flick.
Darling Companion: Kevin Kline and Diane Keaton headline the latest from screenwriting team Lawrence and Meg Kasdan. Lawrence does the directing, his fourth film with Kline after The Big Chill, Grand Canyon and Silverado. The story follows Keaton and Kline as they adopt a stray dog, only to loose him on one fateful walk through the Colorado woods. The missing dog galvanizes the entire family. The film works on so many levels, as we evidence in our Darling Companion review.
Chimpanzee: DisneyNature scores once again. The earthly wing of Walt Disney this time points its cameras on a baby chimp, who when orphaned, finds parental guidance from the most unlikely of sources. For Earth Day and beyond, this is a film to treasure. To learn more, read our Chimpanzee review.
To the Arctic: Meryl Streep narrates and Paul McCartney provides the score for this 40-minute doc that looks at how greenhouse gases and the melting of the Arctic ice is affecting the species who call the region home. The most compelling part of the film is the story of a polar bear mother and her twin seven-month-old cubs. As I say in my To the Arctic review, after exiting the movie, you will want to swing into action to help in any way you can.
