WGN Morning News Blog

Because of the earthquake coverage, this week's reviews never made it on the air. And so my 12 hours of time that I spent seeing the movies and writing the reviews doesn't go to waste, here's what I think of this week's offerings. Tell me what you think of them!
Dean

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
The big one comes from the creators of "40 Year Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up.”

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is your must-see movie of the weekend. Judd Apatow serves up another silly, sexual, sweet story about a lovable dope who escapes to Hawaii to get over being dumped by his TV star, girlfriend; the same place that the girlfriend goes with her new, rock star boyfriend.

Jason Segel, a "Freaks and Geeks", "Knocked up" and "How I Met Your Mother" co-star, wrote the movie and stars as the lovable mope. Kristen Bell from "Veronica Mars" is the girlfriend.

Like most Apatow films, this one is laugh out loud funny as our heart broken hero tries to move on; only digging himself deeper into depression with one hilarious scenario after another. The writing is wonderfully silly...and ultimately sweet but the performances here enhance everything.

Segal and Bell are great...but the deep cast of amazing, supporting characters that make "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" worth remembering. There’s the British rocker boyfriend; Russell Brand; the rebound girlfriend, Mila Kunis from “That 70’s show”; Paul Rudd as a burnt out surf instructor; Jack McBrayer, Kenneth from “30 Rock”, Jonah Hill and SNL’s Bill Hader.

Be aware, it earns it's "R" rating with plenty of sexual content and even some unexpected, albeit courageous frontal nudity from Segal.

A solid Dean's List "A."

“88 Minutes”
Next, is "88 minutes", a who-dun-it, thriller starring Al Pacino as an FBI shrink on whom the clock is ticking, when he gets a phone call saying he has only 88 minutes to live after he testifies against a serial killer sending him to death row.

My two questions? When did Pacino start going to Earl Schieb to get his hair dyed...and when did he start thinking that "shouting" his dialogue was better than speaking it; which is what he does for about "88" of the "108" minutes of this movie.

Aside from that, it’s been a while since we've had a good who-dun it. "88 minutes" drags in its first half...but pays off toward the end.

A not-awful, Dean's List "C.”

“Forbidden Kingdom”
In "Forbidden Kingdom", Jackie Chan and Jet Li are together for the first time in a predictable, story based on an ancient Chinese legend too complex to explain...and too pointless to explain. The story is so-so, but the bottom-line is if you like martial arts movies you'll like this. A high kicking, but nothing new, Dean's List "C."

“Zombie Strippers”
"Zombie Strippers" stars Robert Englund, Freddie from "Nightmare on Elm Street" and adult film star, Jenna Jameson in a bloody, horror-slasher-stripper romp that's 90 minutes of camp, naked bodies and flesh eating.
A Dean's List "B Negative."

“Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden”
Morgan Spurlock of "Super Size Me" fame's latest is a Michael Moore-like search for the world's most wanted terrorist. It’s half tongue in cheek but, half thoughtful, humanizing look at a people who aren't all that different from us. A Dean's List "B."

“Young@Heart”
An inspiring story of a New England senior citizens chorus who rock the house with The Clash, Coldplay and James Brown. If you're feeling a little tired on this Friday morning, "Young@Heart" will make you feel like you can accomplish anything, no matter what your age. An inspiring Dean's List "B+."