Critics Consensus: 42 Is Earnest and Inspirational

Plus, Scary Movie V wasn't screened for critics -- guess the Tomatometer!

by Tim Ryan | Thursday, Apr. 11 2013

This week at the movies, we've got a pioneering ballplayer (42, starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford) and a horror spoof (Scary Movie V, starring Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex). What do the critics have to say?

42

79%

The life of Jackie Robinson is so readymade for cinema that it would be hard to mess it up. And indeed, critics say 42 is a warm, inspirational tribute to a great American hero, even if it often plays things a little too safe. Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) becomes the first African American to play in the majors when Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) signs him to a contract, and his inspired play and unimpeachable character strike a blow against prejudice. The pundits say 42 is so beautifully filmed and well acted that it triumphs over the filmmakers' strict adherence to the biopic playbook. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we count down Ford's best-reviewed movies, as well as our list of the best-reviewed baseball movies of all time.)

Scary Movie V

We'd love to let you know if Scary Movie V provides uproarious laughter and incendiary satire, but it was barely reviewed prior to its release in theaters. This latest installment of the venerable spoof series offers more of the same: satirical jabs at contemporary horror movies, with a bunch of famous people -- including Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, and Snoop Dogg -- making cameos. Once again, it's time to guess the Tomatometer! (Check out this week's 24 Frames for a gallery of long-running movie franchises.)

Also opening this week in limited release:

Ken Loach's The Angels' Share, a dramedy about a working class man in trouble with the law who has one more shot to go straight, is Certified Fresh at 89 percent.

It's a Disaster, starring Julia Stiles and David Cross in a comedy about a group of couples whose brunch is interrupted by an attack on their city, is at 78 percent.

Disconnect, starring Jason Bateman and Hope Davis in a drama about a group of people who have complicated relationships with their computers and smartphones, is at 74 percent (check out our interviews with the Disconnect cast

Paris Manhattan, a romantic comedy about a French Woody Allen fan who's looking for Mr. Right, is at 71 percent.

Brandon Cronenberg's Antiviral, a sci-fi thriller about a clinic that specializes in injecting fans with the diseases of celebrities, is at 69 percent.

Into the White, starring Rupert Grint in a drama about a pair of World War II fighter pilots who've been shot down in a remote area, is at 56 percent.

Terrence Malick's To The Wonder, starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams in a romantic drama about a young couple struggling with commitment issues, is at 38 percent.

Emilio Rodriguez

4% for Scary Movie 5.

Apr 11 - 04:35 PM

This comment has been removed.

James Bradford

"What Kate said"? You are Kate, you stupid spambot. What shitty programmers you have.

Apr 12 - 01:54 PM

Chris Etrata

14% for Scary Movie 5.

Apr 11 - 04:38 PM

Kadeem Stewart

6% for Scary Movie 5. Okay, maybe %4.

Apr 11 - 04:50 PM

Daniel Irwin

The Scary Movie franchise is basically a one-trick pony from 2000, that's been repeated in 2001, 2003, 2006, and again this weekend. I mean, why are people even bothering to see this shit? 0% for this movie; the Weinsteins are gonna give Uwe Boll a run for his money.

And as for "Place Beyond the Pines", I'm all in, as long as it hits my theater (Gosling is genius). Did I forget to mention "Trance"?

Apr 11 - 05:22 PM

Janson Jinnistan

I'm definitely seeing "To the Wonder". Ebert liked it. Fuck the critics who didn't.

Also interested in "Antiviral", the Ken Loach film and the indie-comedies "Disaster" and "Disconnect".

Apr 11 - 05:22 PM

Sean D

Isn't there a song that goes "TO THE WONDER! TO THE WALL! TIL THE SWEAT DRIP..." wait..

Apr 11 - 06:24 PM

Sean D

But seriously, I do want to see this. Critics be damned! I want see it so I can love it/hate it myself!

Apr 11 - 06:25 PM

Janson Jinnistan

Many of the rotten reviews are a good indicator for how sympathetic they are to Malick's style.

Apr 11 - 08:04 PM

Bradly Martin

It's just to bizarre. Critics be damned when they usually Defend Malick tooth and nail. I never thought I'd see a Malick film with such a low score.

Apr 12 - 12:26 AM

Big Brother

At least I don't have to watch the new Terrence Malick movie because everyone says it's good only to be disappointed. Seems like he removed the mystery himself this time.

Apr 11 - 05:23 PM

Janson Jinnistan

At least we won't have to debate it this time. More for me!

Apr 11 - 05:30 PM

Big Brother

True, let me know what you think though. Contrary to how it may seem I actually do value your opinion on occasion and watch a lot of movie's I wouldn't watch normally because of it...some of which I actually enjoy.

Apr 11 - 05:33 PM

Janson Jinnistan

I appreciate that. I started my account specifically to write a review for "Tree of Life" (even if I'm not happy with the one I eventually wrote). I'll end up writing something for the new one, I imagine. Also, remember, even films you don't like can be informative. Even if you haven't liked films I've recommended, I hope none of them could be considered a waste of time.

Apr 11 - 05:41 PM

Big Brother

With the exceptions of the new Wicker Man, a couple of remakes and the films of one or more of the directors of Scary Movie I've never considered watching a movie a waste. Even movie's I loath like A Thin Red Line, Battlefield Earth and Alexander I've gotten stuff out of. We just have different taste's in movies and probably go into movie's for markedly different reasons. It's good to listen to your polar opposite occasionally cause you can still be surprised. I was actually really surprised by how good Repulsion was, I'm not the biggest Polanski fan outside of Chinatown. I'm gonna give some of his films a watch that I've been avoiding because he directed them.

Apr 11 - 06:01 PM

Janson Jinnistan

Good to know! If you're interested, I'd also recommend his "Knife in the Water", "Macbeth", "Death and the Maiden". I'd want to recommend "The Tenant" and "Bitter Moon", too, but those are not for all tastes.

Apr 11 - 06:05 PM

Sean D

This is one tasty bromance brewing up here lol :P
Like Janson said, "Macbeth" is great. "Cul-de-Sac" is pretty good too, as is "Ghost Writer." "Carnage" is pretty decent I thought.

Apr 11 - 06:27 PM

Janson Jinnistan

Yes, "Ghost Writer" and "Carnage" are great recent efforts.

Apr 11 - 08:05 PM

Dave J

38% is nothing to be happy about but Malick's overall consensus is fresh, but like you I won't pay any money to see a Malick film either! I don't think he's the worst though!

Apr 11 - 05:32 PM

Vicente Torres

I checked the TomatoMeters of SCARY MOVIE 1-4. Considering that this one has the same writers than 3 & 4, but a different director, but the director of UNDERCOVER BROTHER... I think it'll get a 30%.

Apr 11 - 05:58 PM

Janson Jinnistan

What? No! Malcolm Lee isn't directing this one. It's David Zucker, tragically fallen from his "Airplane"/"Naked Gun" days.

Apr 11 - 06:04 PM

Ben Thompson

I thought its was David Zucker too, but it says in the description of Scary Movie V that it's Malcolm D. Lee directing and Zucker co-writing.

Apr 11 - 06:55 PM

Tom Carter

I have a feeling it'll be in the single digits for Scary Movie Part 5. Shame so many parodies nowadays don't get the point about what makes these movies funny. Just references alone aren't jokes. I already hate stuff like Honey Boo Boo Child and TED, and I bet just referencing them in this will make them even less funny! And plus, based on the trailer, they COMPLETELY missed the point of Black Swan with their parody of it!

Apr 11 - 06:20 PM

Daniel Irwin

The more we talk about SCARY MOVIE 5, the less IQ points we'll have. And god knows what's playing next week.

Apr 12 - 09:49 AM