Because I Said So

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 2, 2007

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007

Plot 411: A helicopter mom creates an online dating profile for her daughter and screens the applicants to find the perfect match.

Review: Daphne (Diane Keaton) is a single mom who raised three girls - Maggie (Lauren Graham), Mae (Piper Perabo) and Milly (Mandy Moore). She is worried that her youngest daughter Milly isn't happy and will never get married. Thus, Daphne gives in to her overbearing nature (aka helicopter mothering) and takes matters into her own hands. I love Diane Keaton and this movie truly plays up her uncanny ability to be neurotic and insane. She is the stereotypical mom who just wants the best for her kids but ends up loving them too much. They become resentful and often feel guilty about it. Yet, in the end, they all love being family. Amazing how much cinema imitates life huh? While this movie is supposed to focus around Milly's search for love, I can't really say that Moore is one of my favorite young actresses. However, I really enjoyed the character of Daphne so much more. Also in this film are Gabriel Macht and Tom Everett Scott.

Watch It: At a movie night with the girls, then dish about all the horrible things your moms' have done.

Skip It: Because it's pretty brainless fun and will probably turn your noggin into mush.

Race To Witch Mountain

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: March 11, 2009 (Egypt) / March 13, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009

Plot 411: Two kids recruit a cab driver and a scientist in order to get back home.

Review: Two aliens in the shape of children named Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sarah (AnnaSopia Robb) crash their spaceship on Earth. While avoiding the government and an alien set on killing them, they jump into Jack's (Dwayne Johnson) cab and enlist his help. At first he is skeptical and think they're runaways. But he soon discovers their unique attributes and has a run in with the killer alien. In this family-friendly action adventure flick, I could only find a couple tihngs enjoyable and worth watching. The first and best (in my opinion) is the small role played by Garry Marshall. In the short scene or two that he's given, he puts on a master class for the other actors. The second cool thing about this movie is the 3D visual of space, which, of course, is created with obvious CGI. The CGI was really distracting in this movie. You'd think that in a movie about aliens with astounding technology, they'd front the money for better effects. Do they think kids won't notice the difference? As far as the acting goes, I felt Robb did a satisfactory job, especially with her facial expressions. Ludwig just looked constipated the entire film. And Johnson still hasn't shown that he can make in on the big screen. While all his fight scenes may look legit, the rest of his acting desperately needs Marshall's master class. Also in this film are Carla Gugino, Tom Everett Scott and Chris Marquette.

Watch It: Only for the reasons I pointed out above.

Skip It: Instead of wasting 90 minutes of your life.