Exceptional performances by two femme leads and sensitive but unsentimental storytelling throughout.

An improbably effective and affecting mix of raw emotions and exciting smackdowns.

Mark Landsman's spirited Thunder Soul offers a heaping helping of uplift while documenting the past triumphs and recent reunion of a predominantly black Houston high school's singularly accomplished jazz stage band.

Enjoyably upbeat and intelligently inspiring.

An engrossing and satisfying picture, one that can be enjoyed even by people who have never before heard of its subject.

A slickly produced and brazenly clever piece of work that could attract a cult by sheer dint of its ingenious nastiness and self-aware snark.

Quaid's effortlessly compelling and engagingly earnest performance keeps pic grounded in down-to-earth reality.

The 2000 version is louder, broader and much, much bigger.

Surprisingly amusing.

A smart and sassy comedy with a playful sensibility and subtle sensitivity.

Fitfully amusing and two leads generate engaging chemistry.

Formulaic but effectively gritty inner-city crime drama.

Slick, straight-ahead action-thriller that marks a small step back and two bounding leaps forward for toplined Jet Li.

Lightweight but likable romantic comedy about two mismatched gay singletons who are, of course, made for each other.

An extremely enjoyable neo-screwball comedy about attractive opposites on the road.

A golden opportunity to witness the "unplugged," after-hours George W. Bush at his most congenial. "George" offers a portrait of a gregariously charming and self-mocking fellow who's perfectly at ease in his own skin, and who's no less slick and savvy a politician for being willing to make himself the butt of jokes.

Richardson, who gracefully sways through a memorable drunk scene, and Quaid, whose megawatt smile has never been more dazzling, are disarmingly charming as the parents. And that's important; if the actors were any less engaging, the audience might not be so forgiving of their characters.

Manages an impressively huge score in the hit-or-miss gag ratio.

Uses humor and high spirits to entertain while spreading the Good Word. Much of this slick and sprightly CGI feature is sufficiently funny to amuse even the most resolutely unreligious parents who escort their little ones to megaplex screenings.

Brimming with heart and humor -- Drumline is a formulaic crowdpleaser set in the competitive world of university marching bands at predominantly black universities.

A frankly formulaic but raucously entertaining action comedy.

An entertaining story that, while not terribly original, is sufficiently arresting and often laugh-out-loud funny.

Riveting portrait of a straight-talking, tough-loving Benedictine nun in charge of a South Bronx home for recovering substance abusers.

One leaves My Flesh and Blood with admiration for the lenser's craftsmanship, and for her ability to remain an unobtrusive observer during moments of extreme emotional turmoil.

Although it falls far short of fulfilling its full potential as a dark comedy of desperation, Dead Man on Campus is a modestly amusing trifle that merits a passing grade as lightweight entertainment.

Working from a formulaic script by Steven E. De Souza, Hark employs a variety of visual stratagems to keep the action fast and flashy.

Has more than enough across-the-board appeal to attract mainstream auds unfamiliar with source material.

A star vehicle composed of second-hand parts that nevertheless gets great mileage (and big laughs) from its recycled plot.