THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT (USA 2012) ***
Directed by Nicholas Stoller

Co-writer (other writer Jason Segel) and director Nicholas Stoller’s new movie after the highly hilarious FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL and not so funny GET HIM TO THE GREEK falls right between the two just as the film’s protagonists fall behind the engagement and marrying process.

DARLING COMPANION (USA 2012) ***
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan

The DARLING COMPANION in the new movie by Lawrence Kasdan (THE BIG CHILL, SILVERADO) could very well be the protagonist, Beth’s (Diane Keaton) husband of many years, Joseph (Kevin Kline) or the ragged dog she has found and given a new home.

SAFE (USA 2011) ***1/2
Directed by Boaz Yakin

Like most of the Jason Statham action flicks, the plot can be summarized in a line or two.  Here, a former elite agent takes on a two-tier mission: rescue a Chinese girl who’s been abducted by the Triads, then use a safe combination to outwit the Russian Mafia, corrupt NYC officials and the Triads themselves.

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS (UK/USA 2012) ****
Directed by Peter Lord

The latest from the Aardman Studios (CHICKEN RUN, WALLACE AND GROMIT and the most recent ARTHUR CHRISTMAS) is just as jubilant, inventive and entertaining as their previous stop-motion features.  This time, the subject is pirates – one that the British know best since they are a nation of the sea.

MY WAY (South Korea 2011) **
Directed by Je-kyu Kang

The premise of this story is the odd circumstances that come about from the discovery of two Asian men in German uniforms when the British Allies stormed the Normandy beaches during World War II.