Some reviews originate at newspapers that do not award star ratings. Ratings range from zero to four stars.
OPENING THIS WEEK
“Cars2” Reviewed on Page 6D
“Buck” Reviewed on Page 6D
“Bad Teacher” Reviewed on Page 5D“Submarine” Reviewed on Page 5D
“Bride Flight” Reviewed on Page 7D
“Women Art Revolution” Reviewed on Page 7D
“Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” Reviewed on Page 9D
CONTINUING
Here are selected mini-reviews of films in theaters, listed alphabetically.
“The Art of Getting By”DramaPG-13. George is a high-school senior who has decided to stop doing homework and paying any attention to tests. He isn’t tortured, depressed, addicted or anything like that. It has occurred to him that he will die, and therefore, what use is homework? (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) 84 minutes
“Beginners”Romantic dramedy R. Mike Mills’ semi-autobiographical gem about love, loss and a father who tells his son he’s gay — when he’s 75, no less — is far more sweet than bitter. Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor have loving father-son chemistry as Oliver and Hal Fields. Melanie Laurent beguiles as the woman whose arrival helps pose further questions about romance and the era one is born into. (Kennedy) 104 minutes
“Bridesmaids”Prenuptial comedy R. Not much borrowed, a little blue and a lot raunchy describes this often hilarious comedy about a maid of honor who becomes increasingly unhinged as her best friend’s wedding approaches. Maya Rudolph is bride-to-be Lillian. Rose Byrne is her new friend, who plunges Annie (Kristen Wiig) into self-doubt. (Kennedy) 123 minutes
“Fast Five”Late-model sequel PG-13. The fifth installment of the revving Vin Diesel-fueled franchise begins with a wink to Butch and Sundance. (Kennedy) 130 minutes
“Green Lantern”Superhero flickPG-13. Alien comes to Earth and give Ryan Reynolds a magic ring.(Kennedy) 114 minutes
“The Hangover Part II”ComedyR.Three guys in Thailand for the wedding of Stu and Lauren. After the bachelor party the guys wake up in the squalor of a Bangkok hotel, blanking about the previous night. Again. (Christy Lemire, Associated Press) 101 minutes
“Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer”ComedyPG. A mild-mannered kids comedy that makes for a pleasant-enough time-killer. All garish colors, small-scale sight gags and kid- friendly one-liners. Judy Moody organizes a contest so that she and her friends don’t face another summer of “snoresville.” (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel) 91 minutes
“Kung Fu Panda 2″More panda-moniumPG.This offers plenty of lessons about misreading destiny as the right to rule unfettered, about parental love and disappointment, about parental love and compassion. (Kennedy) 90 minutes
“Midnight in Paris”Comedy PG-13. A magical auto transports successful screenwriter but struggling novelist Owen Wilson from the Paris he’s visiting with his impatient fiancee (Rachel McAdams) and her wealthy parents by day to the Paris of Picasso and Dali, Cole Porter and Ernest Hemingway. (Kennedy) 94 minutes
“Mr. Popper’s Penguin’s”ComedyPG. Tom Popper is a fast-rising New York City real-estate wheeler-dealer. His climb to the top has distanced him from his ex-wife and two kids. When cartons of penguins arrive at his penthouse door, a bequest from his late father, the famously loyal birds set Popper on a path to redemption. (Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune) 91 minutes
“The People vs. George Lucas”Gallactic documentary Not rated. “Star Wars” creator — and “re-editor” — George Lucas is going to need the Force to be with him if avid and irked fans have anything to say about it. And guess what? In Alexandre O. Philippe’s pop-culture-savvy doc, the ardent denizens of the “Star Wars” galaxy have lots and lots and lots to say about their feelings of fealty and betrayal. (Kennedy) 104 minutes
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”Aye! A sequel PG-13. The “Pirates” franchise has righted course with old-fashioned swashbuckling, lovely mermaids and a race to the Fountain of Youth. (Kennedy) 128 minutes
“Super 8″Fantasy adventure PG-13. J.J. Abrams’ mash note to Steven Spielberg starts off engagingly enough. The year is 1979 and a group of kids in an Ohio town are making a zombie movie when a train wrecks and a mystery begins. Somewhere along the way, “Super 8” veers onto a familiar track, becoming chase-obsessed, explosion-heavy and leaving behind the authentic emotions it set up so well about mourning, hankering — and moviemaking. (Kennedy) 112 minutes
“Thor”Action PG-13. It’s hammer time as the titular Norse diety, portrayed with humor by Aussie Chris Hemsworth, is banished to Earth by dad Odin (Anthony Hopkins). (Kennedy) 90 minutes
“The Tree of Life” PG-13. Terrence Malick has given us a demanding and astonishing gift about family, place and time. Brad Pitt and Sean Penn portray Mr. O’Brien and Jack O’Brien, a father and son occupying very different eras (the 1950s and the present). Newcomer Jessica Chastain is a wonder as Mrs. O’Brien. At the Esquire Theatre. (Kennedy) 138 minutes
“The Trip”Wry road trip Not rated. Restaurant reviewer Steve and friend Rob, tour England’s Lake District, consuming some rarified vittles and trading barbs, riffing on Michael Caine and sharing a few weightier insights. British comic actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reunite to greatly amusing as well as truly melancholy effect for a second Michael Winterbottom comedy. (Kennedy) 111 minutes
“X-Men: First Class”Comic-book X-cellence PG-13. Teenage mutant angst, a Holocaust survivor’s drive for vengence, and oh, yeah, and the Cold War at its hottest. This prequel recounts how the X-Men came to be. (Kennedy) 131 minutes
GIANT SCREENIMAX — Denver Museum of Nature & Science
“Mysteries of the Great Lakes 2D,” “The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest 2D,” “Born to Be Wild 3-D” and “Under the Sea 3-D.” Dates, times and tickets vary. 2001 Colorado Blvd., 303-322-7009,
IWERKS — The Wildlife Experience
“Dinosaurs Alive!” Animalopolis” and “The Living Sea.” Dates, times and tickets vary.10035 S. Peoria St., Parker, 720- 488-3300,
