Capsule reviews of films opening this week:
"Hitch" - Will Smith's enormous charm only goes so far in this occasionally cute but trifling love story, his first time out as a romantic leading man. The movie offers a few laughs before veering into a foolish plot conflict that drains all credibility. Smith plays a Manhattan "date doctor" who helps hopeless men snare the women of their dreams but has trouble making a go of things when he meets his own soul mate (Eva Mendes). Director Andy Tennant lets the movie meander to tiresome lengths and forces Smith and Mendes to stumble through a sappy conclusion that drags on interminably. The main story is upstaged by a charming secondary romance involving one of Smith's clients (Kevin James), a meek accountant smitten with a beautiful heiress (Amber Valletta). PG-13 for language and some strong sexual references. 116 min. Two stars out of four.
- David Germain, AP Movie Writer
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"Inside Deep Throat" - Long before Jenna Jameson became the face of the multibillion-dollar pornography industry, as well as a multimedia empire unto herself, there was an unknown Linda Lovelace in "Deep Throat," the little movie that could, and did - until it was banned in 23 states, that is. Which only made it more popular. The pioneering porn flick's legend is detailed in this documentary, which never goes as deep as the sex act to which the title alludes, but does provide an entertaining, high-energy depiction of the pop-cult zeitgeist in 1972 and of the film's eventual influence. (It was shot in six days for $25,000 and reportedly went on to make $600 million.) As they did in their earlier documentary about Tammy Faye Bakker, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato offer campy, colorful context - and some lively interviews with the people involved in making "Deep Throat"- but leave some nagging holes in their reporting. NC-17 for explicit sexual content. 90 min. Three stars out of four.
- Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic
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"Pooh's Heffalump Movie"- Cute, cuddly, wholesome and well-intentioned - all this you'd expect from a movie starring Winnie the Pooh and Co. Here, though, you'll also get a parable about prejudice that could easily apply to today's heightened fears about homeland security. Little kids won't notice. They'll be too enraptured by the bouncy, slapstick adventures of Pooh and his animated buddies in the Hundred Acre Wood. But oh yes, it's right there in front of you, as plain as Pooh Bear's beloved hunny pots. A noise that they assume must have come from a terrifying creature known as the Heffalump rattles Pooh and his pals and inspires them to go on a hunting expedition. Little Roo (Nikita Hopkins) goes off on his own, meets a young Heffalump named Lumpy (Kyle Stanger) and realizes they're not so scary after all. G. 63 min. Two stars out of four.
- Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic
Also opening in limited release:
"Born Into Brothels"- Like "Hotel Rwanda," this is a film that richly deserves to be seen, and yet it's a hard sell. How do you persuade people to dash out and watch a documentary about the children of prostitutes, living in squalor in Calcutta and seemingly doomed to their parents' fate? The Oscar nominee is indeed as achingly sad as it sounds, featuring interviews with young boys and girls who are brutally candid and cynical beyond their years. And yet it has moments that burst with beauty and joy, with inspiring resiliency and even hope. Co-director Zana Briski, a London-born photographer, moved into the red-light district several years ago with the intention of documenting the lives of prostitutes there. Instead, she found herself becoming attached to their children. You will, too. R for some sequences of strong language. 85 min. Three and a half stars out of four.
- Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic
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"Bride & Prejudice" - Gurinder Chadha crafted a richly authentic tale of friendship between cultural opposites in the soccer tale "Bend It Like Beckham." Director Chadha has less success creating a believable vibe updating Jane Austen's novel as a modern Bollywood musical romance. It's clear why Indian beauty Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) catches the eye of wealthy American Will Darcy (Martin Henderson). Besides being an absolute knockout, Lalita is fiercely bright, free-spirited, compassionate and endless fun to be around. Will, however, has only hunky looks and barrels of money, enough to win the hand of many women, but not a romantic like Lalita, who yearns to marry for love. Henderson simply lacks charisma. Further deflating the film are song-and-dance routines unremarkable for their music and overly stagy in their choreography. PG-13 for some sexual references. 111 minutes. Two stars out of four.
- David Germain, AP Movie Writer
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