Reviews: "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," "Hitch," & "Hotel Rwanda"

I saw three movies again this weekend. I'll start with "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," the hour long animated children's flick. It introduces a new character named Lumpy into the Hundred Acre Wood. Without a doubt, it is the best Pooh film in recent history. It is fun for kids and enjoyable for adults. My only complaint lies on Carly Simon, who provides a painful soundtrack to the movie.


I also saw the romantic comedy "Hitch," starring Will Smith, Eva Mendes, and Kevin James. The flick about a matchmaker in New York is a poor excuse for comedic fare. Most of the jokes fall flat and left me sighing. Will Smith provides a solid performance but nothing stellar. Kevin James does well but is immediately forgetable. Finally, Eva Mendes nearly obliterates any hope for a good movie. She is simply not star material. The movie is extremely long and they tack on a silly dance number at the end to make it even that much longer. It is mildly entertaining, but "The Wedding Date" provides much more sincere romance and honest comedy than anything "Hitch" provides.


Finally, the Oscar nominated "Hotel Rwanda" is a very important film. It is difficult to watch, but it is vital to pay attention. The first half hour of the movie is boring but once you pass that mark, real action and drama ensue. Don Cheadle gives a great performance, but it is hardly worth an Academy Award. Instead, supporting actress Sophie Okonedo steals the show with fantasticly realistic acting. Another noteable actor is Nick Nolte, who gives a strong and sympathetic performance. It is a great movie (minus the setup) and certain scenes are very powerful. A scene in which Cheadle's character drives on a road covered with corpses is sure to stay with you for quite some time. In addition, many scenes will leave you on the edge of your seat. It is a depressing film, but powerful nonetheless.