Sicko
*** Mildly rabble-rousing and oh-so-comfy in its observations, Michael Moore’s latest feature-length commentary is far from zeitgeist-altering. The baseball-cap-sporting director’s examination of the health insurance biz is often amusing. His narration really offers wry pleasures. Being a Moore production, “Sicko” also provokes. If you’re hoping for a documentary that could usher in a sea change in health care, this isn’t it. Funny, mildly informative, “Sicko” delivers a teaspoonful of documentary sugar with your popcorn salt. That’s not a bad thing, really. Only we could use stronger medicine. PG-13; 108 minutes. Released today. Lisa Kennedy
Ratatouille
***1/2 Brad Bird (“The Incredibles,” “The Iron Giant”) and Pixar team up for a truly winning fantasy about a Parisian rat with culinary ambitions. Young Remy wants to eat beauty, not garbage, but of course every French restaurant is trying to kill vermin, not hire them as sous chefs. So Remy hides under the hat of klutzy Linguini and uses him as a puppet to cook wonderful new meals in the famed Gusteau restaurant. Remy’s tireless ambition and his undeniable ratiness balance any cute-animal stereotypes. And the Pixar animation renders Paris in all its glowing glory, making you want to fly to the city immediately, rats or no. G; 100 minutes. Released today. Michael Booth
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
* Brooklyn firefighters and best friends Chuck (Adam Sandler) and Larry (Kevin James) get hitched. Only there’s a bigger hitch: They aren’t gay, and their ruse to secure widower Larry’s pension for his two kids leads to an investigation into their domestic partnership. Steve Buscemi portrays the city bureaucrat set on outing the frauds. Jessica Biel’s Alex is the pair’s lawyer and Chuck’s love interest. It was a thin premise from the start. One can almost discern floating in the muck a classic American comedy about identities — mistaken and otherwise. Creatively, a slew of things went awry. All of which leads us to this uncivil pronouncement: We now denounce you, “Chuck & Larry.” PG-13; 104 minutes. Released today.
Lisa Kennedy
