I‘m glad I don’t have to wait until a film’s release date to watch it — because this weekend, I wouldn’t know which one to pick. There are a number of good films to choose from, all very different from one another. “Bridesmaids” is likely to have the weekend’s biggest debut, given that it has Judd Apatow’s name on it. The man behind “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” has had his hand in just about every big comedy in the last few years it seems. He’s produced this one, which stars Kristen Wiig (who also co-wrote the script) as a woman whose life is falling apart just as her best friend (Maya Rudolph) is getting hitched. “Bridesmaids” is a raunchy comedy, but one that manifests intelligence about the difficulties of being single in the modern world.
“Hesher” is likely to end up being one of the best movies of the year, though chances are you haven’t event heard of it. This darkly funny film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character, a profanity-spewing, metal-listening, tattoo-sporting guy who decides to move into the home of a boy after the kid alerts the cops he’s been squatting. The boy and his father are still suffering the loss of the mother, and Hesher proves a mighty antidote — though not one who doesn’t cause new problems along the way.
“Last Night” stars Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington as a Manhattan couple forced to re-evaluate their relationship when they’re each tempted while he’s on a business trip. It’s a well-acted, wise film about decisions just about all of us must make.
“Priest” opened without letting critics have a sneak peek, which usually doesn’t bode well. It’s too bad, because Paul Bettany is an interesting actor. Here he plays the vampire-hunting clergyman of the title; the movie is based on a graphic novel. “Everything Must Go” features an odd combination: Will Farrell and Raymond Carver. The actor plays a man who holds a garage sale after his wife kicks him out the same day he loses his job, in this film based on a short story by Carver.
“Queen to Play” looked like it could have been another quality film opening this weekend. Instead, the French flick (which features Kevin Kline is his first role in the language) is a snoozer, like watching a game of chess when you don’t know any of the rules.
Kelly Jane Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews appear weekly. She can be reached at [email protected].
