The Invasion (PG-13)
**
A psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) works to protect herself, her son and her semi-platonic pal (Daniel Craig) after an extraterrestrial species starts turning most of the planet into emotionless pod people.
Big question: Do we really need another version of Jack Finney’s novel, “The Body Snatchers”?
Bottom line: A bolder take might address the ways society is already homogenized, or at least present the pods with more menace than an overeager telemarketer. But the only contemporary message of “The Invasion,” a mildly juicy sci-fi flick without any pulp, is that world leaders get along much better when they all think inside the same standardized, mindless box.
Bonus: Losers in love can rejoice when Ben (Craig) apologizes to Carol (Kidman) for “taking advantage of a drunk woman” after a kiss. It means only one thing: Even James Bond is off his game sometimes!
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mpais@tribune.com
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Death at a Funeral (R)
Who’s in it: Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Daisy Donovan, Peter Dinklage, Alan Tudyk, Ewen Bremmer, Rupert Graves
What it’s about: The disappearance of Daniel’s (Macfadyen) dead father’s body sets the pace for what will be a daylong series of missteps, misadventures and attempted murder before the departed can get successfully below ground.
Worth watching? ***
“It may take a while to enter the realm of modulated madness , but [director Frank] Oz knows where he’s going.”
[ JOHN ANDERSON, NEWSDAY ]12:08 East of Bucharest
(not rated)
Who’s in it: Teo Corban, Ion Sapdaru, Mircea Adreesc
What it’s about: Jderescu (Corban), the pretentious host of a rinky-dink TV call-in show, wants to celebrate a local event during the 1989 collapse of Romania’s Communist regime. But his guests, Manescu (Sapdaru) and Piscoci (Adreesc), can’t make much of a case for a courageous stand.
Worth watching? ***
“Cruelly talented young director Corneliu Porumboiu … makes an amusing yet merciless case for letting go of flawed patriotic fantasies.”
[ BOB STRAUSS, L.A. DAILY NEWS ]Rocket Science (R)
Who’s in it: Reece Daniel Thompson, Anna Kendrick
What it’s about: Stutter-stricken Hal Hefner’s (Thompson) ambition is to not call attention to himself until he’s swept up by a hyperverbal whirlwind named Ginny Ryerson (Kendrick).
Worth watching? *** 1/2
