Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Let's just get this part out of the way: I DON'T like Rachel McAdams. However, I do like Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Between the two of them, they turned a moderately-decent action flick into something a lot more fun. There's not really much connection between this and the classic Holmes - he's mostly the main character but there's so much running and shooting that it's difficult to distinguish it from a regular action flick. Not a bad movie, but RDJ and Jude Law's entertaining performances make it much more fun than it should be. 3.5 stars.

Death At A Funeral (2007)

Spoilers ahead. Although the plot points of this movie seem to be going way over the top (their father's gay midget lover accidentally takes hallucinogens and dies in the study? Really?), it somehow manages to work because the actors make it work. I have no idea how they do it, but somehow it works, and I believe everything they're going through. The characters' reactions to the situations are far funnier than any of the situations themselves. A few great laugh-out-loud moments and a lot of mildly funny reactions. 3.5 stars.

Anne B. Real (2003)

(Spoilers ahead.) This movie takes itself way too seriously and thinks it's being great and poignant. The overall idea isn't bad, but the execution kills it very, very dead. The dialogue is hokey and the acting is terrible. I cheered joyously when Anne's friend died, because the actress playing her was so absolutely terrifyingly awful. This movie COULD have been worse... but in the right hands, it also could have been a LOT better. And should have been. 1 star.