Critics Consensus: The Expendables 2 Is (Mostly) Big, Dumb Fun

Jake Cecena

Yes to The Expendables 2 and ParaNorman.

"Meh" to Sparkle.

No to The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

Aug 16 - 04:48 PM

Janson Jinnistan

:ots of odd little films this week. "Cosmopolis" is the one I'm most eager to see. "Compliance" has potential. "Chicken with Plums" is from the director of "Persopolis". "Robot and Frank" sounds strange. I only wish it were a horror film, like a robot "Monkey Shines". Speaking of which, I've heard "Awakening" is effective, and I look forward to that. "Side by Side" is butter for cinephiles, just as any film with both Deneuve and Sagnier is butter for Franco-femmephiles (check out "8 Women" sometime). I don't believe I'll be watching any film with a drug dealer named "Sprinkles" in it, even if he's played by Tracy Morgan, the go-to black guy for screenwriters who think drug dealers have names like Sprinkles.

I usually don't advocate downloading, but if you want to do yourself a favor, get Aretha Franklin's original theme song from "Sparkle" from '76, produced by Curtis Mayfield. One of her very finest performances. I'll be watching "Expendables" soon enough, probably with fellow bros and strong libation. How bad can it be? (Oh right, the first one) "Paranorman" looks good to me, but I can wait for video.

Aug 16 - 05:33 PM

Alexander Sciury

I want to see The Expendables 2,looks like good fun.
When I first saw Paranorman I thought it looked kind of stupid,but after watching some trailers,I really want to go see it now.

Aug 16 - 05:35 PM

Bradley J

ParaNorman looks awesome and I've been waiting for that forever. Can't wait to see it!! No to everything else.

Aug 16 - 06:32 PM

Adam Jones

This looks like to be the biggest weekend of August, with Expendables 2 likely pulling in at least $50 million if not more, and perhaps Paranorman being in second with good reviews. Sparkle will appeal to African American women (and others who love Whitney Houston) although it may skew a bit younger than most films that aim for the black female demographic. Timothy Green will probably crash a burn: that film has competition for the family crowd from Paranorman (although the latter isn't as approriate for real young children) and it's too typical and sappy to be really appealing.

Aug 16 - 06:39 PM

Michael Turnbill

would love to see Cosmoplis, the awakening, robot & frank, and compliance this weekend but my theaters never get these films.

Aug 16 - 08:12 PM

Val Mordas

My bet is on ParaNorman taking home the gold this weekend. Expendables is plain cheesy, and Odd Life of Timothy Green is lame Disney live-action crap (as is most of their non-animated films).

Aug 16 - 08:38 PM

Ken Wolfson

This may convince my father to see the expendables 2 with me.

Aug 16 - 08:51 PM

King Crunk

I wish Compliance and Cosmopolis were wider releases, they look the most interesting this week. I might catch The Expendables 2 down the line if my friends want to have a boys night out and see something stupid and ridiculous.

Aug 17 - 12:15 AM

Bertram Krogh

I am looking forward to The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Compliance, Robot & Frank, Why Stop Now and Cosmopolis.
Will probably watch The Expendables 2 and ParaNorman just for the sake of it, they are the top films this week.

Aug 17 - 04:06 AM

Hans Morgenstern

There's something rotten in the state of film criticism when films get fresh ratings for being "(Mostly) Big, Dumb Fun." That would make it a big avoid in my book. Looking forward to: Cosmopolis and Robert & Frank and even ParaNorman (loved Coraline).

Aug 17 - 04:58 AM

Billy Barnett

Expendables 2 and ParaNorman of course.
Robot & Frank looks interesting I love robot movies.

Aug 17 - 05:50 AM

Mathias N/A

I'm far more excited about ParaNorman than any other August release.

Gave Coraline an 8.5/10 and I'm expecting Norman to keep up with her.

Aug 17 - 06:24 AM

Bradly Martin

Expendables reminds me more of a Fast and Furious Film then any kind of 80s 90s action movie I grew up with. only instead of a pissing competition about cars it's about guns. My guns Bigger GRRRR, NO MY GUN IS BIGGER GRRRRR, DOUBLE ENTENDRE GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

Derek Luke is in Sparkle. A great younger actor from a lot of lower budget films since there is no place for a talented Young Black guy in a big blockbuster unless he is part of some Team Diversity Squad (like in Captain America, hint...he was the black Guy).

I hope Paranorman is better then Monster House. Monster house was hyped up big time by Critics and wasn't all that great. Wasn't bad, but I'd never willingly watch it again. Id rather watch the movies it was ripping off.

Cosmopolis is also a film I would like to see and Chicken with Plums I got to add to the list. Director of Persopolis you say? I enjoyed Persopolis very much! Thanks for the heads up again Janson!

Aug 17 - 08:53 AM

Andrew Milito

Am I the only one that thinks ParaNorman looks "meh" at best?

Aug 17 - 10:08 AM

Manuel Granados Vargas

The Awakening, Paranorman and Expendables 2 are the ones I'd like to watch. I'd also check out Robot & Frank if I can find it.

Aug 17 - 10:31 AM

This Guy

EXPENDABLES 2!!!!!! is all that im seeing. All the other movies look like crap!!

Aug 17 - 01:14 PM

Chris Moore

Paranorman MIGHT win the weekend, but the horror theme might scare away some families. It'll be a coin toss between Paranorman and Expendables.

Aug 17 - 05:29 PM

Michael Keppy

Im sorry but the is no way paranorman will be the expendables, just no freaking way. You people are crazy to.think otherwise and id be willing to bet expendables beats it by more than twenty million too!

Aug 17 - 08:03 PM