At the movies: Now showing

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By AP AND STAFF REPORTS
May 9, 2008

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‘Speed Racer’
Showtimes: 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

Born to race cars, Speed Racer is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized — the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer, the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret — some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. 135 min.

‘Red Belt’
Showtimes: 1, 4, 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

A martial arts movie by David Mamet. It sounds like a jarring combination at first, as if the two just don’t to go together — until you learn that Mamet himself is a purple belt in Jiujitsu. Clearly, this is a subject that’s dear to his heart. Then you realize while watching “Redbelt” that many tenets of the sport — the ideas of control, manipulation and one-upmanship — jibe perfectly with themes the playwright, director and screenwriter has explored for years in some of his best-known works such as the plays “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Speed-the-Plow.” And so “Redbelt” makes sense in its own weird way: a mix of sports-flick cliches and Mamet’s patented rat-a-tat writing. It’s “Rocky,” it’s “The Karate Kid” — only with more stylized, rhythmic dialogue. Several Mamet regulars show up (Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna, David Paymer and Mamet’s wife, Rebecca Pidgeon) which does put us in somewhat familiar territory. But it’s Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film’s star, who commands our attention. As the unflappably moral, placid Jiujitsu instructor Mike Terry, Ejiofor can be both attractive and warm, fierce and intimidating. A series of strangely intertwined events forces Mike into the ring, a place he’s never wanted to be, to fight for $50,000. R for strong language. 99 min.

‘What Happens in Vegas’
Showtimes: 1, 4, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

Two people discover they’ve gotten married following a night of debauchery in Vegas, with one of them winning a jackpot after playing the other’s quarter. The pair trys to undermine each other and get their hands on the money ... falling in love along the way. Starring Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corddry, Lake Bell and Dennis Farina. PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, and language, including a drug reference.

‘Made of Honor’
Showtimes: 1:15, 4:15, 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

The whole point of a romantic comedy is the comfort of the ritual — the familiarity of it all, as if you’re wrapping yourself in a warm, snuggly blanket of knowledge that the two attractive, charming leads will surely end up with each other in the end. The outcome is never in doubt, despite the various contrived obstacles that pop up along the way. This is especially true of “Made of Honor,” because it’s pretty much a remake of a movie you’ve already seen: 1997’s “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” The only difference is a reversal in gender roles — so daring! This time, Patrick Dempsey plays the one who realizes he’s in love with his best friend (Michelle Monaghan), and when she announces she’s getting married, he tries to undermine the wedding from the inside. Because, you see, she’s asked him to be her “maid of honor.” The title is a pun, get it? PG-13 for sexual content and language.

‘Iron Man’
Showtimes: 12:45, 1:45, 3:45, 4:45, 6:45, 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

Much of the allure here comes from the fact that we are indeed talking about a man — a real man who has lived a life and made mistakes and experienced regret — not some scrawny, teenage boy who received his superhero powers through a bite from a radioactive spider. No offense to Spidey, the Marvel Comics hero who’s already provided billion-dollar summer blockbuster fodder. But there’s just something more relatable about Tony Stark, even though he’s a playboy industrialist of staggering wealth and arrogance. And in the hands of Robert Downey Jr., he’s absolutely riveting. Downey may have seemed an unlikely casting choice at first, but it’s difficult to imagine any other actor in the role; he’s so quick-witted and he makes such inspired decisions with dialogue that, at times, might have seemed corny otherwise. Throughout his eclectic career he’s always been capable of both great charisma and vulnerability, and both are on display in this, the biggest movie of his life. “Iron Man” is also a blast — the perfect start to the summer with its shiny mix of visual effects, elaborate set pieces and humor. This is also the biggest movie of director Jon Favreau’s life, and he juggles all the complicated, expensive toys deftly. Downey’s Tony is abducted by insurgents while demonstrating his weapons company’s latest missile to the U.S. military in Afghanistan. While in captivity, he’s ordered to reconstruct the missile but instead creates a suit of armor and becomes a weapon himself. 126 min.

‘Baby Mama’
Showtimes: 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

Successful and single businesswoman Kate Holbrook has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she’s finally determined to have a kid on her own. But her plan is thrown a curve ball after she discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, the driven Kate allows South Philly working girl Angie Ostrowiski to become her unlikely surrogate. Starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Dax Shepard and Greg Kinnear. PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference.

‘Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay’
Showtimes: 9:45 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

The same morning that Harold and Kumar eat at White Castle, Harold learns that Maria, the girl he lusts after, has set off for Amsterdam. The pair decide to pursue her so Harold can proclaim his love. However, an overzealous airline passenger mistakes Kumar for a terrorist, and the plane is diverted as the duo get stuck in a case of mistaken identity. Starring John Cho, Kal Penn, Eric Winter, David Krumholtz and Neil Patrick Harris. R. 102 min.

‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’
Showtimes: 7 p.m. Friday through Thursday at Skyline Cinema in Dillon.

After a devastating break-up with his girlfriend, TV sitcom star Sarah Marshall, a heartbroken and depressed Peter heads to Hawaii for a little vacation to try his best to forget every detail of his relationship. But love laughs at Peter, because Sarah is vacationing in the same exclusive resort as Peter, along with her new boyfriend. Starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand and Bill Hader. R for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. 112 min.