Quickie Movie Reviews

Since it was so wet this weekend, I ended up renting nine DVDs at the Family Video store, and got them back today before late fees start accruing. Here's some quick picks and pans:

Out Cold - Basically a bunch of stoners/slackers working in a ski resort in Alaska, playing pranks. Lee Majors as the hotshot Daddy Warbucks developer who tries to buy the resort and take it corporate. Recommendation: Don't bother.

Dr. Detroit - Husband and wife Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon in a comedy. I was busy making breakfast, but the few scenes I saw didn't cause me to want to watch it later.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - As I have written previously, I'm trying to do some remedial movie watching of films of cultural significance. While I missed the first part of this one, cooking again, I caught most of it (had read the book in junior- or high school). It was fun to see Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito in some of their earliest roles. I didn't consider Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched as evil as I had envisioned her from the book.

Hooper - I wanted to show the kids that Reynolds' dramatic turn in Deliverance was somewhat of an anomaly, by juxtaposing it with some of his bubble-gum fare. Will probably rent The End, Cannonball Run, or Smoky and the Bandit as a tribute to Dom DeLuise. Cannonball would be a hoot just for the all-star cast.

James Bond: Quantum of Solace - I admit to not watching a single frame of this one. My middle son chose it and seemed to enjoy it. I liked Connery and Moore as Bond, wouldn't mind seeing Live and Let Die again, but otherwise not a huge Bond fan. In case you're wondering, as I was before msn.dictionary-ing it, a quantum is the opposite of plethora. Do you know what is a plethora?

Outlaw Justice - I guess I'm easy pickin's for Willie Nelson flicks, even after that last one that was a total dud. I figured Kristofferson and Travis Tritt couldn't hurt. And, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Waylon had a minor role and some narrative work (a la Dukes of Hazzard). Jonathan Banks, Victor Maitland's goon from Beverly Hills Cop, does a turn as an impotent Sheriff. Not cinematic gold, but one thumb up.

The Pursuit of Happyness - My disappointment was that I didn't have time to watch this, but have already seen it on the big screen and would've given it two thumbs up from my recollection.

I know this doesn't add up to nine movies. One was a unicorn movie for my daughter, and I just can't remember what the last one was.