Could this be the week you break down and see a war in Iraq-themed flick? “Stop-Loss,” which stars Ryan Phillippe and tells a soldier’s story, is your best bet this week. A trio of clunkers fills out our list. MIT kids try to scam a Vegas casino in “21.” A loser doofus tries to win back his girlfriend in “Run, Fat Boy, Run.” And — fun for the whole family, um, not really — a movie about John Lennon’s killer, Mark David Chapman, “Chapter 27.” Not made available for review this week: Demi Moore and Michael Caine star in the heist thriller, “Flawless,” and Pamela Anderson stars in the comic-book film spoof, “Superhero Movie.”
Ryan Phillippe stars in this compelling drama of a solider who, after two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, finally thinks he’s done serving his country only to find out he’s been “stop-lossed” and will be sent back to Iraq. Director provides a poignant and shattering portrait of what our soldiers have to endure in combat and at home. Save it for a matinee.
This story of MIT students who, led by am scheming professor (Kevin Spacey), go to Vegas to count cards and make a bundle of dough had potential to be interesting, but just isn’t. Instead of focusing on the intricacies of the scam, the story wanders off to a romantic subplot featuring Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess. Wait for cable.
The man-child genre may have finally worn out its welcome with this lame comedy about a man (Simon Pegg) who after leaving his pregnant girlfriend (Thandie Newton) at the altar decides to win her back by running a marathon. None of the men in this movie are even worthy to be friends with Newton, let alone marry her. Wait for cable.
Jared Leto put on 60 pounds to play Mark David Chapman, otherwise known as the man who shot John Lennon. Unfortunately, this movie adds nothing new to the Chapman story. Yep, he was hooked on “Catcher and the Rye,” was a loner and killed the former Beatle. That’s about it, folks. Wait for cable.