WEEKEND PIC - May 7 - 9, 2010

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

a) DIARY OF A WIMPY KID (comedy with Chloe Moretz, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Devon Bostick, Zachary Gordon and Alex Ferris) Rated * * * (3 stars): This 'journal' recounts the misadventures of 11-year-old Greg (Gordon) in middle school where he learns what it means to be popular and accepted by his peers. Filled with kiddie humour, it should strike a chord with most preteens and their family. (Reviewed below)

b) MOTHER AND CHILD (drama with Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, David Morse, Amy Brenneman, Tatyana Ali, Carla Gallo, Jimmy Smits and Samuel L. Jackson) Rated * * * (3 stars): This ensemble effort about three women involved in child adoption should be the most appropriate film for moms and daughters to catch on Mother's Day this weekend. Writer-director Rodrigo Garcia has opted for a touch of reality instead of a feel-good ending. (Reviewed below)

STILL GOING STRONG

1. IP MAN 2 (HK kungfu thriller with DOnnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, Lynn Hung and Kent Cheng) Rating * * * (3 stars): If you have been missing out on Chinese martial arts action, this is where you can whet your appetite. The sequel comes with fantastically choreographed fighting scenes, especially the one between Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung (to reflect the two styles of Wing Chung versus Hung Ga Kuen). Again, it is not as impressive as the predecessor (the storyline of the sequel is a bit derivative) but still compelling for Ip Man fans.

2. IRON MAN 2 (fantasy action with Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau and Kate Mara) Rated * * * (3 stars): Downey Jr is back as Tony Stark/Iron Man in another action-packed instalment with Rourke as the menacing Whiplash. Not as fun as the first, and the CGI sequences look a bit deja vu but the grand prix mayhem stands out as the best action piece of the film. And yes, Johansson rocks as she provide some nifty fight scenes and eye candy. (Reviewed below)

3. KICK-ASS (comedy spoof with Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Nicolas Cage and Tamer Hassan) Rated * * * (3 stars): It's both a comedy adventure as well as a spoof on costumed superheroes that one New York student named Dave decides to become. There are some cool moments, like when Hit Girl does her stuff, but the movie is uneven at best. (Reviewed below)

4. ICE KACANG PUPPY LOVE (local love story with Nicholas Teo (Ah Niu), Angelica Lee, Penny, Victor Wong, Gary Chaw, Fish Leong, Chan Kwok-kwan) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A simple yet engaging local drama with interesting locations, especially in Penang. Except for Lee, the cast looks amateurish but a brave and promising effort on the whole by director Ah Niu.

5. THE LOSERS (action thriller with Zoe Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Chris Evans and Óscar Jaenada) Rated * * (2 star): Like most comic-book adaptations, it's thick with testosterone-filled action but very low on logic. The plot, about a Special Ops team taking revenge after being betrayed by a power-hungry maniac, is derivative of all the espionage movies. (Reviewed below)