Right Cinema

There are three big movies coming out in theaters this weekend. The movies releasing Friday include “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”, “Role Models”, and “Soul Men”. It’s sounds like a fun weekend of movies. And with “Soul Men” being Bernie Mac’s final performance, I see the fans coming out strong to support him.

“Role Models” releases November 7

Role Models

I love Paul Rudd. Seriously, if I wasn’t married, I might become the president of the Paul Rudd Fan Club in hopes of getting to meet him one day and win him over. Instead my husband and I will be in line buying tickets to “Role Models” tomorrow. Also starring Stifler, a.k.a. Seann William Scott, “Role Models” is the story of two energy drink reps who face jail time for their raucous behavior, but can avoid the slammer if they do community service. The guys sign up to be role models at Sturdy Wings (sounds like Big Brothers Big Sisters), and their little brothers are a handful. And the McLovin is back! It doesn’t get better than this. A little disjointed,

But it’s still a funny and twisted movie from beginning to end, closing with an emotional payoff that matches the classic films of the genre. Fake some allergies before you go in, so your wingman won’t think you’re crying.

Soul Men

Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson are the “Soul Men”, and just when they think their music careers have passed them by, another chance at stardom arrives. The tricky part is, they haven’t seen each other in 20 years and they’ve only got 5 days to make it work. The fun part of this movie is that Mac and Jackson do their own singing and dancing.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

The gang is back! This time they’re trying to get off a different island, Madagascar. And they will do so on more IMAX screens than any other feature film that has come before it. But as fun as it looks in the previews, it sounds like it doesn’t live up to the hype.

“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is bright and colorful to look at, but the movie gets weighed down by an excessive amount of talk, talk, talk, little of which is particularly funny. A big chunk of the plot revolves around Alex lacking the jungle skills of a lion, but wasn’t the first movie about him rediscovering his killer instincts when returned to the wild? That entire notion is never once mentioned here, and it feels like lazy writing.

See the trailers for the movies below.

Photos: WENN