Don’t expect too many laughs from ‘What to Expect’

By Christy Lemire | May 18, 2012 - 3:54pm

If only “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” had focused on the dads’ group, and didn’t just drop in on them a handful of times, we might have been onto something here.

May 18 Movie Review Capsules

May 18, 2012 - 2:55am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

Rhodes: ‘Dictator’ hopes to rule

By Shirrel Rhoades | May 18, 2012 - 2:55am

Sacha Baron Cohen might just be the ultimate method actor. He seems to inhabit his movie characters, pretending to be them off-screen as well as on.

Rhodes: ‘Battleship’ stays afloat

By Christy Lemire | May 18, 2012 - 2:53am

“Battleship” is big, dumb fun that knows it’s big, dumb fun and enthusiastically embraces its big, dumb, fun nature.

‘Avengers’ soars past $1 billion worldwide

May 14, 2012 - 3:45am

LOS ANGELES — “The Avengers” is taking a page out of Superman’s comic book — flying faster than a speeding bullet to the billion-dollar mark at the box office.

Movies May 11

May 11, 2012 - 2:40am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

Shirrel Rhodes: ‘Dark Shadows’ rise from the grave

By Shirrel Rhoades | May 11, 2012 - 2:40am

Jonathan Frid died a few weeks ago.

‘The Avengers’ a big hit in overseas debut

April 30, 2012 - 1:45pm

LOS ANGELES — The superhero saga “The Avengers” lived up to its blockbuster buzz with $178.4 million in overseas ticket sales days before it opens in U.S. theaters.

Shirrel Rhodes: ‘Five-Year Engagement’ hopes to engage its audience

By Shirrel Rhoades | April 27, 2012 - 2:40am

I watch “How I Met Your Mother” about 10 times a week, counting reruns and its regular Monday nighttime slot on CBS. It’s funny, partly due to the big-lovable-lug performance of Jason Segel.

Shirrel Rhodes: ‘Pirates! Band of Misfits’ plunders the box office

By Shirrel Rhoades | April 27, 2012 - 2:40am

While I grew up on Errol Flynn swashbuckling it in “Captain Blood” and “The Sea Hawk,” today’s generation has been introduced to buccaneers by Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” a cinematic experience based on a Disneyland ride.

‘Hunger Games’ slap down ‘Three Stooges’

April 16, 2012 - 3:45am

LOS ANGELES — Movie fans have chosen real violence over the slapstick variety as “The Hunger Games” held off “The Three Stooges” to remain the No. 1 weekend movie.

Movies April 13

April 13, 2012 - 2:40am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

Shirrel Rhodes: Farrellys the right guys for ‘Stooges’

By Shirrel Rhoades | April 13, 2012 - 2:40am

Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk! It’s the return of the Three Stooges, that trio of knuckleheads who slap, poke, kick, and punch each other to the delight of a largely male audience and the puzzlement of most females.

‘Hunger Games’ feasts with $33.5 million

April 9, 2012 - 3:46am

LOS ANGELES — Film fans still are forking over for “The Hunger Games,” which took in $33.5 million to lead the box office for a third-straight weekend.

‘The Hunger Games’ tops ‘Titans’

April 2, 2012 - 3:45am

LOS ANGELES — “The Hunger Games” is still the first item on the menu for movie fans, taking in $61.1 million to remain the No. 1 film in its second weekend.

‘Mirror Mirror’ offers fractured fairy tale

By Shirrel Rhoades | March 30, 2012 - 2:40am

Dr. Bruno Bettelheim wrote in “The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales” that “only on repeated hearing of a fairy tale ... is a child able to profit fully from what the story has to offer him in regard to understanding himself and his experience of the world.”

Movies showing locally March 30

March 30, 2012 - 2:40am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

‘Wrath of the Titans’ retells Greek myths

By Shirrel Rhoades | March 30, 2012 - 2:40am

Those Greek gods have been casting down movies from Mount Olympus like a reign of thunderbolts. “Clash of the Titans.” “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” “The Immortals.” And now, “Wrath of the Titans.”Hollywood has found that Greek legends and computer-generated special effects go together like pita and hummus.

‘Hunger Games’ debut at $155M

March 26, 2012 - 3:45am

LOS ANGELES — “The Hunger Games” has filled fan appetites with a $155 million opening weekend that puts it near the top of the domestic record book.

‘Lorax’ trumps ‘John Carter’ at box office

March 12, 2012 - 3:45am

LOS ANGELES — Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” has easily beaten Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “John Carter” at the weekend box office.

Shirrel Rhodes: ‘Lorax’ is the original tree-hugger

By Shirrel Rhoades | March 2, 2012 - 3:40am

One of my favorite television moments was watching the Rev. Jesse Jackson on “Saturday Night Live” in 1991 reading Dr.

Movies March 2

March 2, 2012 - 3:40am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

‘Act of Valor’ storms box office

February 27, 2012 - 4:45am

NEW YORK — On Oscar weekend, the real-life action stars of “Act of Valor” bested Hollywood’s pretend heroes.

Movies Feb. 24

February 24, 2012 - 3:40am

This week’s capsules of movies playing at local theaters. New releases are indicated with an asterisk.

‘Safe House,’ ‘The Vow’ top new ‘Ghost Rider’

February 20, 2012 - 4:48am

LOS ANGELES — The President’s Day weekend box office was too close to call as the action tale “Safe House” and love story “The Vow” competed for the No. 1 spot.