Little Man **
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Tracy Morgan, Kerry Washington, John Witherspoon
Director: Keenan Ivory Wayans
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Upon being released from prison, little man Calvin (Marlon Wayans) hooks up with accomplice Percy (Morgan) to steal a large diamond. When the theft goes awry, Calvin stashed the diamond with Darryl (Shawn Wayans) and Vanessa (Washington). Darryl is desperate to have a kid, and Calvin uses his size to his advantage, posing as a baby. Once inside the house, all he has to do is find the diamond, but that task proves to be more difficult than he originally thought.

“Little Man” is mindless, stupid fun. Fans of the Wayans brothers will not be disappointed, and if the previews make you chuckle even a little, you will probably like this film. The special effects are top notch, as Marlon Wayans’ face is digitally superimposed on body doubles every time Calvin is on the screen. The humor is mostly lowbrow, but like I said, it is mindless fun.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ***
Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgård, Jack Davenport, Kevin McNally, Naomie Harris, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Hollander
Director: Gore Verbinski
Running Length: 2:35
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Captain Jack (Depp) is back, and causing trouble for Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). Their marriage is interrupted when they are arrested for aiding in the escape of Captain Jack. Lord Cutler Beckett (Hollander) does not want to see them die, and wants to make a deal. If they help him get Jack, they will not be put to death. Will finds Jack being worshiped as a god by a bunch of cannibals. After a fashion, they escape to the Black Pearl, where Jacking is looking for a mysterious chest that belongs to Davey Jones (Nighy). Jones is trying to get to the chest before Jack for reasons of his own. Amongst all this, Elizabeth shows up to join the hunt, and finds a new interest in Captain Jack.

“Dead Man’s Chest” delivers all that “Curse of the Black Pearl” delivered, but the difference is that “Black Pearl” was new and fresh, while “Chest” gives off a feeling of “been there, done that.” That is not to say that “Dead Man’s Chest” does not deliver the goods, but it is not as original, and that is a slight drawback. Another negative is the running length. At 155 minutes, it is longer than it needs to be. That being said, it is good to see Captain Jack and the gang back in action again. The action is well done, and the special effects are top notch, especially the squid-faced Davey Jones. A few cliffhangers thrown in at the end assures “Pirates 3” a warm reception come May 2007. If you like the first film, you will like this one. I recommend it, and hope that “Pirates 3” can take it up a notch to end on a high note.

The Lake House ***
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Shoreh Aghdashloo, Scott Elias, Dylan Walsh, Christopher Plummer
Director: Alejandro Agresti
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG

Alex (Reeves) and Kate (Bullock) are two lonely people. They each live in a fancy glass house on the shore of Lake Michigan. The same house, in fact. He lives there in 2004, she lives there in 2006. The house’s mailbox begins delivering letters through time, and the two are able to communicate, and eventually fall in love. They just have to figure out how to meet.

If you can get over the time traveling mailbox, “The Lake House” is an enjoyable movie. Reeves and Bullock are together again for the first time since “Speed”, and one wonders why they have not teamed up again sooner. They have a chemistry that is believable, and you root for the characters to get together in the end. I recommend this film.

The Devil Wears Prada ***
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, Tracie Thoms, Rich Sommer, Simon Baker
Director: David Frankel
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Andy Sachs (Hathaway) applies for the job of second assistant to Miranda Priestly (Streep), the editor of “Runway” magazine. “Runway” is THE magazine for the fashion industry, and Andy has no fashion sense. Miranda is revered by all who know her. She has the power to make or break people in the industry, and she is not afraid to use this power. Work for her for a year, and countless doors will open. Of course, others like Emily (Blunt), Miranda’s number one assistant and Nigel (Tucci) have become fixtures at the magazine, while waiting for those doors to open.

Miranda hires Andy on a whim, hoping she has what it takes despite her appearance. Andy dislikes the shallowness of her coworkers, but soon finds herself becoming more like them. Will she get sucked into that lifestyle, or will she me able to resist and remain true to herself?

Meryl Streep makes this movie work, and is the prime reason to see it. She dominates every scene she is in. She is both cruel and funny, sometimes at the same time. Hathaway, Tucci, and Blunt are also very good, especially when playing off of each other. This is definitely a “chick flick”, but is entertaining and really funny at times. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but worth giving a shot.

10 Best Movies I Have Seen in the First Half of 2006
This year has had fewer good movies than last year through the first six months. Hopefully, things will pick up.

1. United 93 ****
2. Capote **** (from 2005)
3. X-Men: The Last Stand ***1/2
4. Mission: Impossible III ***1/2
5. Cars ***1/2
6. The Matador *** (from 2005)
7. Thank You For Smoking ***
8. A Prairie Home Companion ***
9. The Da Vinci Code ***
10. Superman Returns ***

Cars ***1/2

Cast (voices): Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger, Michael Keaton, Richard Petty
Director: John Lasseter
Running Length: 1:52
MPAA Classification: G

Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is a rookie in a NASCAR type race called the Piston Cup. When the season ends with him in a tie with his two major rivals, Chick Hicks (Keaton) and The King (Petty), he must head to California for a tie-breaker race. Along the way, he ends up stranded in Radiator Springs, arrested for traffic violations. Doc Hudson (Newman), the town judge, sentences him to repair the road before he can leave. Initially, he just wants to get done and get out, but soon he finds himself making friends with the locals, including Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and Sally (Hunt). Soon, this cocky race car who had no real friends finds he may not want to leave so fast after all.

When I first saw the trailer for “Cars”, I was worried. It did not look good, and I thought Pixar had its first flop on its hands. Bumping the release date back six months did not ease my worry. That being said, “Cars” is an excellent movie. Pixar, I am sorry that I ever doubted you. The voices are perfect, especially Wilson, Newman, and Larry the Cable Guy. The film looks great, with bright colors kids will love. The story is nice, and like many Pixar movies, focuses on friendship. The only drawback I can find is that it runs a little long. Still, it is worth seeing by kids of all ages.

Superman Returns ***
Cast: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden, Parker Posey, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, Eva Marie Saint, Marlon Brando, Tristan Leabu
Director: Bryan Singer
Running Length: 2:37
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Superman (Routh) is back, five years after where “Superman II” left off. He returned to Krypton, hoping to find some life still there, but when he found nothing, he returned to Earth. As Clark Kent, he gets his job back at the Daily Planet, and is reunited with Lois Lane (Bosworth). But, people have moved on. Lois has a five year old son, and a boyfriend (Marsden). She has also won a Pulitzer for an article about how the world does not need Superman. Elsewhere, Lex Luthor (Spacey) is free from prison, and up to no good. It seems that he has found Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, and has devised a plan with what he found there that will wipe out most of the United States. Once again, Superman must try to stop Luthor’s evil scheme, and try to win the girl in the process. But things will be a little more difficult this time.

After almost two decades, Superman is finally back. Bryan Singer takes the helm as director after bowing out of the X-Men franchise. Not the wisest move, but it is the opportunity of a lifetime to bring back the Man of Steel. He does a few things right. First, he uses the backstory established in “Superman” and “Superman II”, wisely ignoring “III” and “IV”, and not having to do a complete reboot. He attempts to have a look of continuity and even uses John Williams’ famous themes from those films. This IS the Superman we grew up with, he has just been away for a while. Kevin Spacey is great as Luthor, bring menace and some humor to the role. He even manages to inflict some pain on the hero. On the weak side, Lex’s plan is dumb. For as smart as he is supposed to be, he has not really thought things through. Kate Bosworth is weak as Lois, and James Marsden has the unenviable role of being the other man. Brandon Routh does not bring much to the table as Superman/Clark Kent except a resemblance to Christopher Reeve. Finally, the running time is way too long to support the story. Some trimming could have improved the story’s flow.

Yet, for the most part, it works. It is good to see Superman back after all these years. The effects are top notch, and the movie is mostly fun. I do recommend this movie, but I hope that the filmmakers are able to tighten things up the next time around. A sequel is planned (duh), and could be better than this restart. For now, we can enjoy what we have.