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Samurai Cat (2014): A Gentle Take on Bushido
Samurai Cat is an unusual and charming comedy, but beneath its light tone lies a thoughtful idea about what it means to be a true samurai. The film suggests that strength is…
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Paddington (2014): A Gentle Comedy About Family and Belonging
Whoa, a talking bear! That is the impressive power of CGI. I found myself wondering how the actors managed to perform opposite a character who was not really there. The production used…
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The Other Woman (2014): Three Women and One Unfaithful Man
The Other Woman begins with Carly discovering that her boyfriend, Mark, is already married. She soon meets his wife, Kate, and the two later discover that there is another woman, Amber. Instead…
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St. Vincent (2014): A Saint with Plenty of Flaws
Vincent is not the sort of man anyone would immediately call a saint. He drinks, gambles, loses money at the racetrack, and rarely bothers to make a good impression. When his new…
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Sex Tape (2014): When Married Life Leaves No Time for Romance
Sex Tape takes a familiar problem in married life and turns it into an adult comedy. Jay and Annie still love each other, but after ten years, two children, work, and household…
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Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014): A Cheerful Comedy with a British Museum Adventure
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is the third film in the series, and it keeps the familiar mixture of fantasy, adventure, and cheerful comedy. The story moves beyond New…
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Jossy’s (2014): A Funny and Cheerful Take on Japan’s Sentai Superhero Genre
Jossy’s is a lively comedy that finds humor not only in superhero battles but also in the way its characters deal with one another. Five women are chosen to form a color-coded…
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Blended (2014): A Warm Romantic Comedy About Family
Blended brings Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore together in a family-centered romantic comedy about two single parents whose lives become unexpectedly connected. After a disastrous blind date, Jim and Lauren have no…
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The Apology King (2013): Turning Japan’s Apology Rituals into Comedy
The Apology King turns a familiar social act into an entire profession. Yuzuru Kuroshima is a professional apologist who uses carefully designed apologies to settle disputes for his clients. The cases range…
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We’re the Millers (2013): From Strangers to Something Like a Family
The title We’re the Millers suggests a family, and that gives it a warm, comforting feeling. The four people at the center of the movie, however, are not really a family at…