King Arthur (2004)

Action/Adventure Rated PG-13

King Arthur has complications everywhere but where it counts: in the depiction of its title character. That’s too bad, considering he is played by Clive Owen, who is more than capable of layered motives and emotions. Here he is required to do little more than give soulful stares and inane inspirational speeches.

Dr. T & the Women (2000)

Comedy Rated R

Another generous comedy from director Robert Altman, with Richard Gere as the main beneficiary. The usually smug star gives an unexpectedly gracious performance as a Dallas gynecologist awash in female trouble – both at his office and at home. Trust me, this isn’t as icky as it sounds. The supporting cast includes Helen Hunt, Farrah

Ladykillers, The (2004)

Comedy Rated R

“Hanks turns in his most spirited work in years.”

National Security (2003)

Comedy Rated PG-13

Steve Zahn spends most of National Security with a seething expression of exasperation on his face. As a cop who gets stuck working a case with an annoying security guard (Martin Lawrence), he’s supposed to be in character, but watching Lawrence gyrate and yammer incessantly had to make this the easiest acting job Zahn’s ever

Road to El Dorado, The (2000)

Family Rated PG

DreamWorks Pictures tries to match Disney in this animated tale about two 16th century buddies who stumble upon the legendary city of gold. But like a Las Vegas stage show gone berserk, there’s no discipline here – just a dizzying desire to dazzle.

Something New (2006)

Drama Rated PG-13

The engaging stars of this cross-cultural love story must bushwack through a thick tangle of romantic-comedy cliches before arriving at anything remotely genuine and true, but they do manage to get there. For Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker, as an uptight black career woman and her laid-back white landscaper, respectively, it’s victory by perseverance more

Time Machine, The (2002)

Action/Adventure Rated PG-13

To truly enjoy The Time Machine – the latest adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic fantasy novel – would require a time machine itself. That way you could zip from scene to scene and pause only for the movie’s few worthwhile moments – namely some clever production design and a few elaborate special effects. Starring the

Clockstoppers (2002)

Action/Adventure Rated PG

This sci-fi adventure – about a high-schooler (Jesse Bradford) who discovers a secret government watch that allows him to move so fast everyone else seems to be standing still – wants to be Spy Kids for a slightly older set, but the witless result tries to coast on dated but carefully test-marketed elements such as

It Runs in the Family (2003)

Drama Rated PG-13

Watching It Runs in the Family, starring Kirk, Michael and Cameron Douglas, feels a little bit like getting stuck at someone else’s family reunion. The forced arguments and conveniently tragic plot developments in the contrived script are bad enough, but when the Douglases start hauling out pictures of their shared past, we just feel like

In-Laws, The (2003)

Comedy Rated PG-13

Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks, as mismatched fathers of the bride and groom, work up some comedic steam in this remake, but ludicrous spy shenanigans push the movie over the top. Instead of allowing the stars to deliver a small comedy of manners, The In-Laws packs them onto a Sea-Doo and sends them racing after