“Made of Honor”
***1/2 Dr. McDreamy? McNiceEnough was more like it to this viewer. But in this romantic comedy about best friends Tom and Hannah, Patrick Dempsey moves from cockiness to uncomfortable need with funny and melancholy appeal. On a work trip to Scotland, Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) meets and falls for Colin. Upended by the news, Tom nevertheless agrees to be Hannah’s maid of honor. Silliness and self-knowledge ensue as he plays his Trojan horse role. Directed by Paul Weiland, “Made of Honor” makes pleasing hay of Tom and Hannah’s friendship and where it leads once a rival arrives to bollix things up. For her part, Monaghan (“Gone Baby Gone”) pulls off Hannah’s own dance of awareness and confusion. PG-13. 1 hour, 31 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“The Love Guru”
*1/2** Mike Myers’ return to live action is no “Shrek.” But the tale of Guru Pitka, an American-born, Indian-raised spiritual guide, isn’t quite the biased dreck one feared given the burbling Internet dissent. Or, at least it’s not supremely mediocre because of ethnic insensitivity. Myers still hasn’t figured out how to share the screen with others. Perhaps he thought playing a self-absorbed guru played to this weakness. Jessica Alba is Jane Bullard, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Romany Malco (“Weeds”) plays star player Darren Roanoke, who’s in need of a love intervention. His wife (Meagan Good) has taken up with a French Canadian goalie for the L.A. Kings (Justin Timberlake). And headed into the Stanley Cup finals, Darren’s stick has grown cold. Myers’ love of hockey comes through here but his grasp of spiritual satire is often as flat as Zambonied ice. PG-13. 1 hour, 28 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“Kabluey”
***1/2 A sad-sack slacker moves in with his sour sisterin-law in Austin, Texas. He needs a place to stay. She needs someone to babysit her two horrendous sons. It’s a surprisingly moving story of life on the home front and in a recession. The reason Lisa Kudrow needs that day-care help is because she’s had to go back to work full time while her husband’s National Guard unit is in Iraq. It’s also a dreamily surreal story. Track it down, or you’ll be missing not only a very funny film — and an actress’ terrific performance — but also an incredibly promising debut. PG-13. 1 hour, 30 minutes. Stephen Whitty, Newark Star Ledger
