In Her Shoes (2005) - Stars delight in Hanson's terrific romantic dramedy

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A girly shoe closet-set image of co-stars Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz as recognizably opposite sisters makes up this poster for Curtis Hanson's In Her Shoes

When two adult sisters for a short time live together again in the older sister's apartment, it leads to a painful rift between them, whereupon the destitute younger sister seeks out their alienated grandmother.

 

In Her Shoes is written by Susannah Grant (Pocahontas (1995)), adapting the same-titled 2002 novel by Jennifer Weiner (Best Friends Forever (2009)), and directed by great Nevadan filmmaker Curtis Hanson (Sweet Kill (1972)).

Many make harder judgments on In Her Shoes, which cling ungratefully to what the film really is, and I find that these detractors should re-watch it. Because, God, there is a lot to love in this film!

Cameron Diaz (Annie (2014)) and Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense (1999)) are both fantastic, moving and empathic. In fact, this may be Diaz's best dramatic performance. Shirley MacLaine (Irma la Douce (1963)) is also fine in the more downplayed part of the grandmother who has become wise with age. Hanson applies the perfect insightfully humanistic direction to the fine story about family break-up, sisterhood and forgiveness. He consequently goes for the drama here but still also manages to create funny situations regularly.

Also delightful in small parts are here Richard Burgi (Rush Hour (2016, TV-series)), Mark Feuerstein (Coyote (2021, TV-series)), Jerry Adler (The Good Fight (2017-18)), Honey Bun the dog and some old geezers. The age span between the characters may be a bit off, but In Her Shoes is a wonderful film.

 

Related post:

 

Curtis Hanson: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) or, The Nanny Terror! 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 35 mil. $

Box office: 83.6 mil. $

= Minor flop (returned 2.38 times its cost)

[In Her Shoes premiered 14 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 130 minutes. Diaz was paid 15 mil. $ for her performance in the film. Shooting took place from May 2004 - ? in Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #3, behind fellow new release Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and holdover hit Flightplan, to a 10 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent one more weekend in the top 5 (#5), grossing 32.8 mil. $ (39.2 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 7.7 mil. $ (9.2 %) and Germany with 7 mil. $ (8.4 %). The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Hanson returned with Lucky You (2007). Diaz returned in The Holiday (2006); Collette in Little Miss Sunshine (2006); and MacLaine in Rumor Has It... (2005). In Her Shoes is certified fresh at 74 % with a 6.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of In Her Shoes?

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) - Lerman and Jackson return in improved sequel

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Three young stars in a veritable sea of CGI on the poster for Thor Freudenthal's Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Demi-god and high school student Percy Jackson finds out that he has a half-brother, who is a cyclops, and heads out on a new adventure with his friends, - against the evil Kyle and his father Kronos the titan.

 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is written by Marc Guggenheim (Supergirl (2017-19)), adapting the same-titled 2006 novel by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods (2023)), and directed by Thor Freudenthal (Hotel for Dogs (2009)).

The film opens with a rather dubious and confusing backstory about a character we only meet a lot later, but Sea of Monsters nevertheless is a clear improvement from the insufferably silly first Percy Jackson from 2010. It is freed from the countless, ungodly bit parts played by older stars, and instead we are here treated to more fun with the young cast, including a sweet plot-line about Percy and his new brother, and lots of 3D-minded action, monsters and a cute 'seahorse'. This is very safe entertainment, essentially not really about anything, but it is affable enough, not least due to the charming Brandon T. Jackson (Deadbeat (2014-15)) and Logan Lerman (Indignation (2016)), who incredibly enough actually plays Percy with his little boy's face. The female actors are anonymous and unexciting in comparison. 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is still silly, but in more acceptable lengths, - as when , for instance, Percy's dyslexia is explained as a reason for him to suddenly see a map in the ocean... It may be the 3D film of the year.

 

Related post:

 

First Percy Jackson movie: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief/Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (2010) - Columbus' uinteresting YA fantasy

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 90 mil. $

Box office: 200.9 mil. $

= Flop (returned 2.23 times its cost)

[Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters was released 7 August (USA and 4 other markets) and runs 106 minutes. Shooting took place from April - July 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana and in British Columbia, including in Vancouver. The film opened #4, behind fellow new releases Elysium, We're the Millers and Planes, to a 14.4 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it left the top 5 in its 2nd weekend, grossing 68.5 mil. $ (34.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were France with 13.4 mil. $ (6.7 %) and Russia with 12.6 mil. $ (6.3 %). The film additionally made an estimated 49.2 mil. $ on the North-American home video market alone. No more Percy Jackson films were made, but the character returns in a younger version in a new 2023 Disney+ TV-series. Freudenthal returned with 8 TV credits and one short prior to his theatrical return with Words on Bathroom Walls (2020). Lerman returned in Noah (2014). Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is rotten at 42 % with a 5.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters?

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief/Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (2010) - Columbus' uinteresting YA fantasy

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A teenage boy seems to be making the ocean go crazy on this special effects-focused poster for Chris Columbus' Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Percy is a dyslexic teenager with ADHD who learns that he is also a Greek demi-god.

 

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is written by Craig Titley (Scooby-Doo (2002, story)), adapting the same-titled 2005 novel by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Last Olympian (2009)), and directed by great Pennsylvanian filmmaker, co-producer/director Chris Columbus (Adventures in Babysitting (1987)).

From Columbus, a master of family fare in the early 1990s (Home Alone (1990); Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)) comes this disappointing bid for a new fantasy-based family adventure. As fodder for the Young Adult segment it is harmless and thank God has some humor (albeit mostly without being outright funny.) But it is a terrible bore and without attraction for audiences older than the slim target (teenage) demographic.

26 year-old actor Brandon T. Jackson (Get a Job (2016)) plays a high school student (!), and although Logan Lerman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)) is charismatic enough in the title lead beneath his helmet of soft, cherubic hair, there is no chemistry to elevate matters. Pierce Brosnan (The Misfits (2021)) and others in the impressive adult star line-up are obviously here for a paycheck. 

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is a really silly light-weight fantasy with sketchy visual effects and widespread green-screen solutions chosen. 

 

Related posts:

 

Chris Columbus: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Potter and Co. return for handsome if overlong first sequel

1993 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Top 10: Best family movies reviewed by Film Excess to date

Top 10: Best dramedies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - Columbus and Robin Williams score with a truly great family jewel

1992 in films - according to Film Excess 

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - The coolest kid in the world incites kiddie bellylaughs once again 

Top 10: Best Twentieth Century Fox titles 

Home Alone (1990) - Columbus, Hughes, Culkin and co. take Christmas and home defense to the next level 

The Goonies (1985) - Sweet child performances drive Donner's beloved, uneven adventure (writer)
Gremlins (1984) - Dante's 1980s puppetry classic (writer)

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 95 mil. $

Box office: 226.4 mil. $

= Minor flop (returned 2.38 times its cost)

[Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was released 10 February (France and 4 other markets) and runs 119 minutes. Shooting took place from April - July 2009 in British Columbia, including in Vancouver, in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Tennessee. The film opened #3, behind fellow new releases Valentine's Day and The Wolfman, to a 31.2 mil. $ first weekend, where it spent 2 more weekends in the top 5 (#4-#5), grossing 88.7 mil. $ (39.2 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 14.7 mil. $ (6.5 %) and South Korea with 11.5 mil. $ (5.1 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. The film additionally made in excess of 37 mil. $ on home video sales in North America alone. The young stars returned with a new director for sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). Riordan was unhappy with both films and has become screenwriter for the new Percy Jackson adaptation series for Disney+, arriving in 2023. Columbus returned with Applebaum (2012, TV movie) and theatrically with Pixels (2015). Lerman returned in The Three Musketeers (2011). Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is rotten at 48 % with a 5.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief?

Phone Booth (2002) or, Boxed In

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A dramatic and dynamic mix of images and text make up this poster for Joel Schumacher's Phone Booth

Stu is a PR man in New York and relatively successful in his line of work, until a moralistic sniper gets him to come clean inside of a phone booth!

 

Phone Booth is written by Larry Cohen (The Ex (1996)) and directed by Joel Schumacher (The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981)).

There's a confession scene and a cop character (played by Forest Whitaker (Empire (2017-18))) that are a bit naive in their design, but otherwise this minimalist, real-time thriller works. Colin Farrell (Widows (2018)) is naturally decisive as Stu, and he does well. Perhaps most impressive about Phone Booth is that it was shot in around 10 days - in Los Angeles!

 

Related posts:

Joel Schumacher: House of Cards - season 1 (2013, VoD) - Mean streaks at the sausage factory 

The Number 23 (2007) - Carrey's big ol' turkey 

Falling Down (1993) - Schumacher's arguably best film, a fiery dragon of a societal thriller

The Lost Boys (1987) - A crazy 80's teen vampire bonanza 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 13 mil. $

Box office: 97.8 mil. $

= Huge hit (returned 7.52 times its cost)

[Phone Booth premiered 10 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 81 minutes. Cohen pitched the idea to Alfred Hitchcock in the 1960s and kept him updated over the following years on his inability to find the necessary ploy that would force the protagonist to stay inside a phone booth. The solution came to him in the late 1990s in the form of the sniper antagonist. Jim Carrey was set to star but bowed out. Shooting took place from November - December 2000 in New York and Los Angeles, California. The release was postponed from November 2002 to April 2003 due to the D.C. sniper attacks that left 17 people dead and 10 wounded over a 10 month period. The film opened #1 to a 15 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#5), grossing 46.5 mil. $ (47.5 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 10.9 mil. $ (11.1 %) and Spain with 5.8 mil. $ (5.9 %). Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Schumacher returned with Veronica Guerin (2003). Farrell returned in The Recruit (2003). Phone Booth is fresh at 72 % with a 6.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Phone Booth?