Kronk's New Groove

Kronk's New Groove

Disney

December 13, 2005 (Direct-to-Video/DVD)

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD
D+

Surprisingly flat sequel to The Emperor's New Groove.  Saul Blinkoff and Elliot M. Bour co-directed.

I Could Never Be Your Woman

I Could Never Be Your Woman

Weinstein Company

February 26, 2008

Romcom, Fantasy

DVD
B-

This is one of those movies I like so much I want to love it, but it is definitely flawed, with the usually wonderful Ullman here playing the downer Mother Nature character, and the backstabbing All-About-Eve-light receptionist being too cartoony a villainess.  Still, I like Pfeiffer's romantic chemistry with Rudd, and her mother-daughter relationship with Ronan, and there are some other nifty things about it, including of course the Heckerling-designed color scheme and Fred Willard willarding away.  Note that this was made in '05, when Rudd was about 36 but of course was ageless enough to pass for 29, while Pfeiffer was about 47 and of course still gorgeous and believable as 40.*  I tagged as many people as I recognized and could fit.

*Also, the cut to Stacey Dash (at 39ish believably playing an actress who pioneered portraying teens) laughing at an insult to President George W. Bush has of course only gotten more ironic with time.

Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride
Warner Bros.
September 23, 2005
Animation, Fantasy, Horror, Musical, Comedy, Romance
DVD
B-

I probably would've rated this a B when I saw it at the time, but it's aged pretty well.  The look and sound are solid.  (I especially like that the world of the dead is livelier and more colorful than the Victorian world of "Victor" and "Victoria.")  But I think the writing is a little weak, including the lyrics.  And, yes, the movie covers a lot of genres.  Tim Burton and Mike Johnson co-directed.

This is the fourth Johnny Depp movie I've reviewed on this blog.  Note that I'm omitting Deep Roy and a few other people from the over-crowded tags.