40. I Love You Phillip Morris
- A bit of a cheat I suppose since it came out right at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, but still- it is placed at the #40 spot. It's an often amusing story but one that feels like it never gets into second or third gear. It's a mostly true story about a guy who decided at one point that he was truly a gay man and then turned to a life of crime and fell in love with an inmate he was jailed with. Jim Carrey is really good here and it is a reminder of how good an actor he can be when he is not tied to the slapstick comedy genre. He has a pretty nuanced performance here as a guy who does everything he thinks he needs to in order to please the man he loves but does not quite understand the consequences of his actions.
39. Just Go With It
- An improvement over last year's Grown Ups but still not up to the par of the earlier Sandler films. 90's Sandler had an energy about him where you could tell he was trying to prove he had the comedic chops to carry films. Anymore he feels like someone just going through the motions because he knows people will see his films. He seems bored often in his movies and while there are lines hear and there that hit, they mainly come from the secondary characters. Here it is Nick Swardson again delivering laughs and Jennifer Aniston gives a good performance in a thankless role. Brooklyn Decker looks stunning but really offers nothing else. This film does feature a bizarre cameo from Nicole Kidman who looks off in the film. I have not seen Jack & Jill but it has to be considerably worse than this film.
38. Paranormal Activity 3
- This film has a really cool gimmick that should help invigorate the franchise. Instead they don't use it enough and the rest of the film feels like leftovers. In some ways that is the inherent problem with sequels but here it feels like they are not even trying. What ruins the film for me though is the laughably stupid ending which calls into question the style of film and how anyone could have blocked this entire incident out of their minds. But it made a bunch of money and a 4th one is on the way- so what do I know?
37. Hall Pass
- There is a funny movie here but there is a slight problem that sort of wrecks the movie unintentionally. The movie wants you to see Sudekis and Wilson as well meaning jerks but too often they are just likable in their roles so they don't come off as cads. Also, they get found out by a couple that have surveillance cameras in their house which makes Sudekis and Wilson look like anti-heroes almost. There is some good gross-out humor here and Sudekis shows again why he could be the next breakout comedic actor but something just feels like it is missing overall. It's a funny premise and The Farrelly Brothers carry it out but it gets too earnest at times and the ending doesn't really seem to indicate that some of the characters learned anything.
36. Straw Dogs
- The original was a psychological thriller whereas this one becomes more of a home invasion movie. That isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does mean that some of the character beats and ultimate fates don't feel quite as authentic. Also, they make a huge miscalculation with Kate Bosworth's character here which sort of ruins sympathy for her in some people's eyes. In addition, instead of having the lead character establish boundaries he almost invites the evil into his home. There are some good things here- especially when Marsden's character loses it- but not enough to make this movie a huge recommendation.
35. Paul
- Simon Pegg and Nick Frost went wrong here and it is kind of hard to pinpoint where. Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead were great films that gleefully mocked trappings of genre films and the pop culture around them. However, at the heart of both there was a great story that back boned everything to allow them to offer their thoughts. Here though you get a really clunky first 15 minutes at Comic Con which then leads into a story that has some cute lines but never really feels fully realized. It also is not quite as clever as it likes to think it is. Kristen Wiig's character is a joy when she is there but they don't do enough with her.
34. Arthur
- I'll be honest and say I've never seen the original film. I know it is beloved by many but for me I only know the clips I have seen and what shows have parodied. That is the extent of my knowledge. That means I came into the remake with fresh eyes. Russell Brand is pretty fun in the lead role and he is enjoying himself which helps the material become better than it actually is. He plays Arthur as a man child who is more obnoxious than a drunk like Dudley Moore is in the original. Helen Mirren is fine in her role but it feels like she is here only to give the project some clout rather than because she has chemistry with any of the other characters.
33. The Dilemma
- I sort of like this film in spots but in others it falls flat. Had they tightened up the reins in one way or another I would've liked this a lot more. The film didn't do the business I think they expected it to do but some of that fault lies with the marketing. It was positioned as a laugh a minute movie which it isn't. At its core, it's a dramatic movie with comedy touches. It raises some interesting questions, but it makes me wish that Vaughn would branch back into drama again. If only, so people can truly see how good an actor he is.Winona Ryder is excellent in her role and the big scene where she is supposed to just use her eyes and express emotion is classic Ryder.
32. Bad Teacher
- This film wants to be Bad Santa so badly (no pun intended). However, it never finds that gear once. In Bad Santa you had a guy that was a complete dick but it belied the real nature of his character. He was a dick because he never had anything to latch on to that wanted him around. He was by himself and chose to stay that way by pushing everyone else away. Here Cameron Diaz is just mean because the script calls for it. The kids get no bad lines and the worst thing she does to the students is continually berate the one girl- but it's never funny because the girl is unnerved by it. In Bad Santa, the kid is never phased by the anger and just presses forward. Then in Bad Teacher, the ending turns into a typical romantic comedy- I'm assuming because the studio wanted it that way. Also, how can you waste Jason Segel the way this film did and feel good about yourself?
31. Shark Night 3D
- There are many reasons not to like this film, but in the end I liked it in spite of all of its faults. This film wanted to be Piranha but it was rated PG-13 so it never featured the nudity or blood and gore that a film like this needs. Then they gave it a ridiculous premise that is so silly you can't help but roll your eyes at it. Then they take it to the full hilt and the film becomes completely enjoyable. There is only one scene though where they fully realize the ridiculousness of the premise. I won't tell you what it is but it comes as a character is rushing on a jet ski to get help. What puts this thing over the top though is the Shark Night rap that comes after the ending credits. Seriously stick around through the credits and watch those 3 minutes as it fully realizes the silly nature of the story.
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