Have you ever imagined what happens to people who kill themselves? In Wristcutters: A Love Story, audiences are shown an idea of what happens.  Zia (Patrick Fugit, Almost Famous) is depressed that his girlfriend Desiree (Leslie Bibb, TV’s Popular) broke up with him, so he decides to kill himself.  Instead of just dying he is taken to a parallel world that is not quite unlike the one he just left, only worse.  In this new world Zia still works, has a roommate, and even goes out drinking at bars but it doesn’t matter because he still can’t get over his ex-girlfriend.  Amazingly enough he discovers that she has also killed herself and starts his journey to find her again.  Taking his new best friend Eugene (Shea Whigham, All the Real Girls) with him they travel to try and find her.  Along they way they meet new people, all who have their own story of how they “offed” themselves.  Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon, The Rules of Attraction) is one of the people they meet, but her story is a little different.  She claims that her death was a mistake, not a suicide and she is looking for the people in charge of their world to fix the mistake. 

Based on the short story “Knellar’s Happy Campers” by Etger Keret and adapted for the screen by the director Goran Dukic Wristcutters is not a movie for everyone.  Personally I enjoyed this movie for his morbid humor.  Not many movies can take a black hole in a car and make it so funny, and multiple times no less!  I also really liked how the movie flashed back to the characters’ deaths so audiences could have a bit background, rather than just a quick mention.  Not to worry if you’re worried about graphic death scenes, they really aren’t too bad. The worst one the audience sees is Zia’s and only the aftermath is really shown, with a little blood.

Although the story doesn’t seem very believable, I did find the characters to be.  Whigham really impressed me as the Russian friend Eugene.  I didn’t find out until watching the audio commentary that he is actually American! I was completely fooled!  His character added a lot of humor in a subtle way. It also helped that all the actors played off each other incredibly well.  The three main characters were mostly in a car for the first half or so of the movie, and I never got tired of watching them in it. 

I did get tired of watching the movie for a bit in the middle.  Things got a little confusing when they arrived at Knellar’s (Tom Waits, well known singer and sometimes actor) camp, another character they meet along the way.  I felt that the movie lacked a bit at this time as it seemed the characters kind of gave up on their journey for awhile to discover new things.  Soon enough though everything ties together and makes sense as to why they had to veer off their path.  Besides the acting another thing to pay attention to is the soundtrack.  During the commentary Dukic noted that they tried to use many songs by artists who committed suicide to go along it the theme of the movie, very clever. 

Wristcutters: A Love Story delivered for me in more than one way.  Yes it’s a love story, but it’s also a comedy. Not to be confused with a romantic comedy – which is completely different! I would give this movie a sold B for above average, which I feel it was. 

Fantasy geek Gavin Gore (Jeremy Sumpter) and his friends find a set of outlandishly large footprints in the forest. Believing they have found evidence of the legendary Sasquatch they inform the police and local reporters in the hope of fame and recognition.

Written and directed by Tim Skousen, who was assistant director on Napoleon Dynamite, there’s going to be inevitable parallels between the two movies. Both look at the awkwardness of childhood and both are absolutely hilarious. Still, even if you didn’t like Napoleon you might find something to enjoy here. The direction is slickly done and follows each of the main characters through the simple plot by telling the story from each perspective. It allows each character to grow in a way that makes all their flaws become apparent but strangely acceptable at the same time.

Skousen captures the geek crowd of Gavin and his friends perfectly. They’re at their happiest with mock sword fights or playing games at the computer arcade. As always, once a girl enters the group the new addition can be painful and friendships have to change. Skousen hits the right note every time. Hobie Plumber’s (Hubbel Palmer) jealous rage and incomprehension of the fairer sex is very funnily done.

Zerk Wilder (Justin Long), the dim-witted hick is fantastic. His mullet touting, dodgy moustache wearing ineptitude is enjoyable from start to finish. He believes in the America where there is always a way to make a fast buck without having to do any work whatsoever. However, he’d be nothing if it wasn’t for his buddy Shirts (Joey Kern), the dubious brains of the pair, who I think has one of the best comedy falls in a movie I’ve seen for a long time.

The only character that fell completely flat was the Sasquatch expert, Dr. Artimus Snodgrass, over played by Carl Weathers. Which is a regrettable, maybe I just can’t get past seeing him as Apollo Creed smashing his fist into Rocky’s face. Watching him as a fame seeking charlatan just didn’t sit right for me.

I loved this movie. For all the comedy and hilarious characters, it’s actually a lovingly told tale of accepting who you are. Even though growing up might not be easy, it’ll be okay as your friends will pull you through. I’m confident that there will be people out there who will hate this movie. Don’t be one of them, don’t judge the characters when you first meet them, watch them grow and enjoy the consquences. I’ve no doubt this will end up being a cult classic.

In 2012, New York city is in ruins and only one man survives. An epidemic of biblical proportions has wiped out most of mankind, the survivors are either immune or have been turned into crazed night creatures. A scientist, Robert Neville (Will Smith), struggles alone to find a cure.

Will Smith’s portrayal of a man obsessed with finding a way to reverse the effects of the disease is the finest thing about this movie. Smith brings a vulnerability and craziness to Neville whose battle with loneliness and depression is a constant spiral downwards. This is no alien kicking, gung-ho, in your face performance and the change of pace is rewarding to watch.

The depiction of an empty and decrepit New York by director Francis Lawrence is superbly done. However, I think he missed an opportunity to make this into a really suspenseful horror movie. Even just the addition of a chilling soundtrack could have brought a whole new dimension to the film. In the end it feels more like an all out battle between Smith and the night creatures.

The script is based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson which turns the population of Los Angeles into vampiric monsters. Lawrence’s creatures retain the aversion to sunlight and a lust for blood but are let down by the CGI effects. Unfortunately they come across as if they have been hired straight out of DOOM. There is a real video game feel that strips away a large slice of realism from an otherwise effective world. Waves of these CGI characters don’t bring terror but the sense that you’ve just made it to the next level of the game.

It’s a shame as the script really does put Neville in some heart wrenching situations. The pace of the movie is perfect. With the drama and action scenes neatly stitched together, you’ll find yourself routing for this lone survivor and his bitterly sad life. If only his opposition put up more than a snarl and blood curdling sneer. Creeping out of the shadows they should have stolen the movie from Smith.

This is definitely worth a watch if for no other reason that to see Smith’s performance and the post apocalyptic setting. Taken as an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours you can’t go far wrong. I’ve given it a grade of B when I so wanted to see an A movie. Disappointing not for the movie it is but for what it could have been. This film should have had you sitting on the edge of your seat all the way through instead of comfortably snaffling popcorn on your sofa.

I was never a big fan of Speed Racer growing up.  Looking back, I can probably connect that to the fact that I’ve never liked Anime.  Having said that, I’ve seen at least of couple of episodes and know the theme song by heart, which was enough to qualify me to see the big screen version of Speed Racer.

The Racer family revolves around racing.  Pops Racer designs and builds the cars.  Rex Racer, (Speed’s older brother), races them, and young Speed idolizes his older brother and is totally preoccupied with racing.   When Rex is killed in a cross country rally, the Racer family almost falls apart.  But they pull it together and Speed grows up and fills his brothers shoes as the racing Racer of the family.

When an evil racing sponsor offers the Racers the opportunity of a lifetime and Speed turns him down, we are introduced to the seedy underbelly of the racing world.  Races are fixed and racers are eliminated all in the name of big business.  The mysterious Racer X is waging a one-man war against the racing bosses and recruits Speed to help.  Which brings us to two thrilling race sequences - the earlier mentioned cross country rally that killed Speed’s brother and the Grand Prix.  Will the good guys defeat the racing profiteers?  Will Speed win the ultimate race?  You’ll have to see the movie to find out.

I was excited to be able to take my two boys, (ages 6 and 8), to see Speed Racer since it is rated PG, (unlike most of the summer fare which is PG-13), and they loved it.  My six-year-old wanted to see it again as we were leaving the theater.  Aside from some minor foul language, a middle finger, and some possibly scary situations for really young kids, the movie is a winner in the family feature genre.

Directed by the Wachowski brothers, (the Matrix), the film has a truly unique look and feel to it - one that may not work for all viewers, but I found it very cool to watch.  The racing scenes are thrilling, and you want to stand up and cheer for Speed in the final race.  The fight scenes are fun to watch, but you really need to suspend your disbelief before walking into the theater.

The ensemble cast helps make the movie work so well, with John Goodman and Susan Sarandon and Pops and Mrs. Racer.  Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) plays Rex, LOST’s Matthew Fox is Racer X, Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow) plays Trixie and Emile Hirsch is Speed.  Comic relief is provided by Paulie Litt as Speed’s younger brother Spritle and his simian companion, Chim Chim.

Speed Racer has humor, drama, action and, of course lots of racing.  It’s a fun, family film that mom and dad should like just as much as the kids do, which is a rare thing, and it gets a solid B rating from me.