2011 In Movies: The Best, The Worst, And The Meh

Meh:

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop
My original review

Shot between his two late night shows, this is a kind of a weird watch. He complains about his exhausting tour, but proceeds to pack every minute with something to do. He complains about his dancers’ family meeting with him while he brags about his fans. I love Conan, but this was an odd trip.

In Time
My original review

An interesting concept about time as a currency to be bought and sold in a movie that almost works.

30 Minutes Or Less
My original review

Some funny guys in a slightly funny film that isn’t nearly as satisfying as Fleischer and Eisenberg’s last collaboration: Zombieland

Horrible Bosses
My original review

Could’ve been movie of the year if it didn’t wait until half-way through to spin up its revenge plot.

Super 8
My original review

The film in which we watch a bunch of kids who watch a violent version of E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial happen to their small town. A shell of an experience that doesn’t pay off until the closing credits (literally, during the credits, watch them).

Source Code
My original review

A film about a train that explodes over and over until Jake Gyllenhall can figure out why. Far more approachable than Duncan Jones’ first film, Moon, but not quite as clever.

Take Me Home Tonight
Keith’s original review

It’s a by-the-numbers coming-of-age film about high-schoolers-turned-college-kids, but there was something so charming about its completely unnecessary 80s setting, or maybe it was the enjoyable characters, or… I don’t know, but I didn’t hate it.

Thor
Rob’s original review

My expectations were set low for this techno-Viking mashup from a comic series I know Marvel was digging from their reserves to put on the big screen. Well, Thor met the bar and didn’t move much further than that.

Tower Heist
My original review

A lovable cast can’t move this simple heist film into greatness by itself. Director Brett Ratner certainly doesn’t help.

Unknown
My original review

The brilliant Liam Neeson arrives in Berlin with his brilliant wife, then suddenly loses his mind in an accident. Or does he? The film plods as a bit as he pieces everything back together in this Euro-thriller.