Sharp Cast Lifts Horrible Bosses

Farrelly brothers film stars Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis

(NEWSER) - The Farrelly brothers’ new film, Hall Pass, tells the story of two men given a week off from marriage. Don’t expect any surprises:

• “The Farrellys are exploring nominally adult realms, like marital fatigue and cheating, but too often these apparent good intentions get the best of them and their timing,” writes Manohla Dargis in the New York Times . Plus, they’re “oblivious to camera movement, blocking, lighting and all the filmmaking rest.”

It's a forgettable movie, but Aniston, Sandler make it entertaining

(NEWSER) - Critics think Just Go With It isn’t too memorable—a 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes , though fans are much kinder at 79%—but they say stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler turn in solid performances:

• To AO Scott, it will forever be just “‘that one with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in Hawaii,’” he writes in the New York Times . “Which pretty much sums up both the appeal and the limitations of this passive-aggressive, naughty but nice, sometimes obnoxious and occasionally quite funny late-winter romantic comedy."

Mike Judge effort offers a few laughs

(NEWSER) - Mike Judge's Extract is a view of modern stupidity, the story of a regular guy among idiots, running a bottling plant and having trouble with his marriage. While it offers some chuckles, the Jason Bateman vehicle is no comic masterpiece:

• “What’s most striking about Extract, beyond the scarcity of jokes and absence of actual filmmaking, is its deep well of sourness, which at times borders on misanthropy,” writes Manohla Dargis in the New York Times.

Oddball rom-com brings mixed reviews

(NEWSER) - Management isn’t your typical Hollywood fare, and it’s got critics divided. It tells of a quasi-creepy loser (Steve Zahn) pursuing a sales rep (Jennifer Aniston) with a solo life, and somehow holding her attention.

• It’s “the rare romantic comedy to use good works, recycling and life-improving charities as the ultimate aphrodisiac,” writes Betsey Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times. The film “doesn’t always work,” but “it’s a nice change of pace.”

'Good looks,' 'slick lines' can't save film

(NEWSER) - Critics are unimpressed with He’s Just Not That Into You, a romantic comedy based on the self-help book of the same name, which itself was based on a throwaway line from a Sex and the City episode. The film’s got “nothing more than good looks and a few slick lines,” writes Elizabeth Weitzman in the New York Daily News. “Okay, Hollywood, we get it. Women want a wedding. Men don't like commitment. Can we please move on?” More»