Gawker: defamer, contrarians

Could You Possibly Be Into 'He's Just Not That Into You'?

STV — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:30:52 EST

During its years on the studio shelf, He's Just Not That Into You came to symbolize New Line's burgeoning reputation as the place best romcom intentions go to die. Not so fast, haters!

While most discriminating critics have yet to weigh in on the film, thus avoiding a Bride Wars-esque review wasteland ahead of this Friday's wide release, one trade reporter offers this qualified recommendation — and even backhanded praise! — after last night's premiere:

[It] could easily have become the latest syrupy Hollywood romantic comedy. Instead the Ken Kwapis pic turns into a wide-ranging and noble (if, in the end, a failed) meditation on fidelity, daughterhood and the meaning of (female) happiness (and a slightly relentless vehicle for product placement). [...]

Several female friends we talked to were delighted by all the usual grace notes but slightly taken aback by, as one called it, "slightly dark." Indeed, for all its Sex and the City pretensions (it's based on a book by SATC writers, and New Line moved it to '09 to avoid bumping up against its Carrie-esque stablemate) this is a movie that at times has more in common with European arthouse relationship movies [...] than it does many Jennifer Lopez/Sandra Bullock studio confections.

Even the guys are somewhat multidimensional, the writer adds, indirectly implying that the long HJITIY delay may have just been some executives' ploy for cosmic balance upon learning the degree to which they'd emasculated Matthew McConaughey in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. No problem, New Line, we're even.

He's just that into European romantic dramas [Risky Biz Blog]

The Few, The Brave, The 12 Percent: Meet the Critics Who Recommend 'The Mummy 3'

STV — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:40:00 EDT

What is a loud, developmentally disabled summer action blockbuster to do when even Hollywood's biggest quote-whore critic won't endorse it? That's the dilemma facing The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which, at this time Thursday, was packing a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What a difference a day makes, however, with a glint of support finally peeking through the mounting opprobrium. In the spirit of fairness and equal time, after the jump we salute some of the independent thinkers and/or drunks brave enough to stand up for Rob Cohen's crapterpiece — even including a Pulitzer Prize winner!

Dragon Emperor doesn't exactly beg for a sequel (neither did The Mummy Returns, for that matter), but it'd be fun to watch the filmmakers try to outdo this dizzy spectacle in the arena of sheer ridiculousness. — Nathan Rabin, The AV Club

Possibly the most fun Mummy yet — call it The Uber-Mummy. — Randy Cordova, The Arizona Republic

The film's best quality is that it continues the Mummy tradition of mocking its own big-budget gratuitousness. — Christy DeSmith, Minneapolis Star Tribune

It doesn't take itself too seriously but it takes the action scenes seriously and there are some great ones. — Nell Minow, BeliefNet

Now why did I like this movie? It was just plain dumb fun, is why. It is absurd and preposterous, and proud of it. — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

And you know what? Universal will probably have that rave on its TV spots by primetime tonight. Thanks a million, Rog.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor [Rotten Tomatoes]