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ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES. San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) moves on to a 24-hour news channel in New York City, with his team in tow: sports guy (David Koechner), reporter (Paul Rudd) and weatherman (Steve Carell). Frankly, not much is different in Adam McKay’s sequel to the 2004 hit: Burgundy is still a self-absorbed doofus, and this is still a sketch-comedy idea stretched way too thin. It’s not nearly as funny as it thinks it is — even Woody Harrelson, as Burgundy’s new Australian boss, can’t get a laugh. In the nearly empty theater, other patrons mostly checked their phones, and came alive only during the film’s final scene, which finds the fun in non-stop news and delivers some welcome cameos. But it’s a long two hours of filler to get there. (Al Hoff) 47 RONIN. Carl Rinsch directs this samurai actioner loosely adapted from the eponymous Japanese folk tale. Keanu Reeves stars as Kai, a half-Japanese, half-British warrior who is recruited into a revenge campaign. In English, and Japanese, with subtitles. THE GREAT BEAUTY. When occasional journalist and Rome society fixture Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) turns 65, he grows more contemplative of his life: Has it all been a whirl of parties, bullshit and frivolous pursuits? Is there any meaning, or any future? Director Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo) examines this query in his loosely plotted but visually dazzling film. The luxurious homes, the crumbling Roman ruins, the gorgeous ennui of the decadent elite, the bright colors, sly wit and surreal moments will remind viewers of similar Fellini films. (So too will the nearly two-and-a-half-hour length.) Like any satire of contemporary Italy, some foreknowledge is helpful, particularly of Catholicism and politics. ((Watch the idle rich debate who was more socialist once.) xistential troubles of You might find the existential niversal — must all Gambardella not quite universal ack to that one men’s emptiness trace back heir adolesence? unattainable woman in their nce for this sort But if you have the patience amedy, this is a of arty, stylized Euro dramedy, ning example. In fine and mostly entertaining arts Fri., Dec. 27. Italian, with subtitles. Starts Regent Square (AH)
Grudge Match this hackneyed affair, but probably only a full case of Iron City can deliver the knock-out punch you need. (AH) JUSTIN BIEBER’S BELIEVE. Some of you can’t get enough of the fresh-faced Canadian pop singer who lately has been providing a lot of amusing fodder for TMZ. For you Beliebers, a new behindthe-scenes doc from Jon M. Chu.
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PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER 12.25.2013/01.01.2014
his comedy GRUDGE MATCH. In this from Peter Segal, a pair of eNiro, retired boxers (Robert DeNiro, axed Sylvester Stallone) is coaxed out of retirement for one eir last fight to settle their t’s long-running rivalry. It’s a full complement off y grumbling, sniping, crusty managers, sweaty man boobs, some family obligations and an uninteresting revelation or two before the “big fight.” (Who cares who wins?) The tale is set in Pittsburgh, but was filmed in New Orleans.. (Oh hey, skydiving overr Lake Pontchartrain!) I ity suppose the Steel City location is supposed to y to add gritty authenticity
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY. About halfway through Ben Stiller‘s adaptation of James Thurber’s eponymous short story, I realized with a start: Stiller must not have actually read the tale about the mild-mannered Mr. Mitty, who escapes g fanciful daydreams. y his dull life through Or perhaps he started it and never finishe finished it. (It’s only 2,100 th seems unthinkable words long.) Or, and this straig for a pretty straightforward piece of bu you never know: comic writing, but Stiller did read it, but didn’t get it. Because in this version, Mitty St (portrayed by Stiller) starts out as a meek employee of Life magazine, t ling in the photo toi pho room and having toiling the odd moment of fanciful thinking. Then a ridiculous bit of plotti plotting sends him on an act actual world adventure. Lik straight-up alphaLike ma male stuff: fighting sh sharks, skateboarding th through a volcanic er eruption and hanging o out with Sean Penn in tthe Himalayas. This is n not the wispy dream life of a pathetic nobody, but instead the bona fide Outside magazine tour de manhood iin which our ugly d duckling emerges a as a kick-ass swan w whom chicks dig. Color me baffled. If SStiller wanted to go to Ic Iceland (looks cool) and m make a movie about The Great Beauty