Made of Honor *1/2
Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Busy Philipps, Kathleen Quinlan, Sydney Pollack
Director: Paul Weiland
Running Length: 1:41
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Tom (Dempsey) and Hannah (Monaghan) meet during their senior year in college. At first, she is put off by him, but soon they become best friends in a completely platonic relationship. Tom is a player, and is with a different woman every night. He even has rules for dealing with the revolving door of women in his life. With Hannah, he has companionship and someone to talk to. It is a good life for him until Hannah goes on a six-week business trip to Scotland. While she is gone, Tom realizes that he loves her, and plans to ask her to marry him upon her return. Unfortunately for him, Hannah returns engaged to Colin (McKidd), who is just about perfect. Hannah asks Tom to be her Maid of Honor, and he agrees seeing it as an opportunity to drive a wedge between her and Colin.

“Made of Honor” is an unimpressive romantic comedy that is pretty cookie cutter. There is nothing here to set it apart from any other romantic comedy. Dempsey and Monaghan are uninspired leads with little chemestry, and Dempsey’s Tom is an ass. McKidd’s Colin is so perfect, one cannot help but hope that Tom fails to win Hannah over. Stay away from this stinker.

Iron Man ****
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir
Director: Jon Favreau
Running Length: 2:06
MPAA Classification: PG-13

While visiting Afghanistan, billionaire arms supplier Tony Stark (Downey) finds his caravan overrun by terrorists and himself captured. Injured in the kidnapping, he finds a n irremovable piece of shrapnel in his chest. He must wear an electromagnet to keep it from piercing his heart. The terrorists want him to replicate his latest and greatest missile for them to use. Stark has other plans, and is able to fashion a suit of armor that allows him to escape captivity. Back home, he decides to stop his company from making military weapons, and focus on perfecting his metal suit.

“Iron Man” is a great film, and as a superhero film it rates up there with “Batman Begins” and “Spider-Man 2”. It has action, drama, fumor, and great special effects. The story of the self-made superhero is different and interesting. Robert Downey, Jr. is inspired casting. He IS Tony Stark, and he is at least as responsible for the greatness of this film as director Jon Favreau. Favreau would not be the obvious choice for a film of this nature, but he pulls it off spectacularly. “Iron Man” is a great movie for all ages. I highly recommend it.

The Forbidden Kingdom **1/2
Cast: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, Yifei Liu, Bingbing Li, Collin Chou
Director: Rob Minkoff
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Jason (Angarano), a high school student who likes kung fu movies, likes to hang out at a local pawn shop in Chinatown. One day, while there, bullies attack him and soon the owner of the store is shot and Jason is transported to ancient China by a magical staff. The staff belongs to the Monkey King (Li), who needs it to defeat the Jade Warlord (Chou). The Jade Warlord sends his minions to get the staff, but Jason has help in protecting it from Lu Yan (Chan), Golden Sparrow (Liu), and the Silent Monk (Li). Together they embark on a journey to help the Monkey King and free his kingdom from tyranny.

“The Forbidden Kingdom” plays more like a Jackie Chan film than a Jet Li film. The tone is light and it is a bit on the hokey side. Those looking for an epic matchup between Chan and Li will be sorely disappointed. As a family film it works fairly well, illustrating Jason’s struggle for inner strength and confidence. The acting is average, but the fight scenes are well done. This film won’t be at the top of either’s best of lists though. Wait until DVD if you must see it.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall ***1/2
Cast: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: R

Peter Bretter (Segel) has just been dumped by the love of his live, Sarah Marshall (Bell). She is the star of a CSI-type show that Peter does the music for. While she is ready to move on, he isn’t, and is devastated. For a change of scenery, he decides to take a vacation in Hawaii. Once there, he discovers that Sarah is there, at the same hotel, with her new boyfriend, Aldus Snow (Brand). His only support is the hotel’s receptionist (Kunis), who attempts to help him out. Maybe she will even help him forget Sarah Marshall

Another movie from producer Judd Apatow, this time written by star Jason Segal follows the proved Apatow formula. Romantic comedy meets raunchy comedy, and a very funny and enjoyable movie is the result. The characters are all well developed and real. The acting is excellent, and the audience feels for poor Peter. Segel isn’t afraid to bare all to get the laughs either. This is a really enjoyable and funny movie, and I highly recommend it.