New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

The Yellow Handkerchief – Opens February 12th, 2010

The trailer to The Yellow Handkerchief doesn't waste any time in delivering what people have more or less come to expect from one Kristen Stewart. She appears in just a few frames at the beginning of the trailer, and what does she do? She bites her lip!! Gah, the woman is the queen of lip-biting. (Kindly consult this, please). Good lord. Even better? She gives us a second round of teeth-on-lip action at the very end. You know, in the unfortunate event you missed it the first time.

Of course, The Yellow Handkerchief really has nothing to do with what K-Stew likes to do with her face. Rather, it's a William Hurt character study on whether or not he should return to the woman (Maria Bello) who used to make him happy. K-Stew and Eddie Redmayne play friendly lovers who pick up Hurt in their car after they discover him wandering along the side of the road. Clearly they forget the gruesome truths we were supposed to take aware from There's Something About Mary.

The Yellow Handkerchief looks decent, but mundane. I can't imagine too many folks wanting to line up to see it, strictly because Hurt seems to walk around so mopey for most, if not all of the movie. I get the feeling Handkerchief's story makes for a better rental.

Grade: B-

Despicable Me – Opens July 9th, 2010

For reasons unknown, there's a huge disparity between what Despicable Me is supposed to be about, and what we're treated to in its first official trailer. (I'd consider the piece that preceded Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in July more an extended tease. You know, the one with the fake, bouncy pyramids). Though the trailer sells the idea of one of the world's great supervillains, Gru (Steve Carell), going toe-to-toe with another great supervillain, Despicable Me is apparently really about Gru's attempt to steal... the moon? (Think Dr. Evil; but instead of merely creating a base there, Gru's just going to take the whole thing). And, that the moon heist is potentially foiled by three orphan girls who'd like to call Gru their dad? Yep.

My guess is Universal found they would have an easier time marketing an epic battle between two dangerous men, but what does that say about the product we're actually getting? We're now two trailers deep in this animated project, and still no sign of the moon nor orphaned children.

As for the trailer, I wouldn't consider it funny by any means – I blame the lack of dialogue – but it is enjoyable. The bit where Gru creates a balloon animal for a kid, gives it to him, then pops it with a needle inches from his face is particularly memorable. In just a few seconds, we learn so much about his character.

Grade: B

Continued:       1       2