The Proposal (2009)

2 1/2 stars out of 5

The problem with “The Proposal” — a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds — is that its love story is so unlikely and so unhealthy, we don’t really think they should be together. We actually root for him to get away from her. In the words of Thom Yorke, they “are accidents waiting to happen.” Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a fearsome editor-in-chief at a publishing company. She seems to be trying to evoke Meryl Streep’s dreaded Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), but Bullock’s character pales in comparison. To be fair, I am comparing her to Streep, and it’s no secret that Bullock is essentially the female Keanu Reeves, when it comes to acting. Indeed, even Ryan Reynolds eclipses Bullock in this movie. He plays Andrew Paxton, Tate’s ambitious assistant, who will endure anything to further his own career, including lying to his family and INS by pretending to marry his boss that she might not be deported back to Canada, thus losing her job. In order to enhance the credibility of their scam, Paxton takes Tate to visit his family in Sitka, Alaska, where something similar to “The Family Stone” (2005) unfolds, but again, this movie pales in comparison.

Director: Anne Fletcher. Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White. Genre: Romantic Comedy. Runtime: 108 min. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language.

American Violet (2009)

2 1/2 stars out of 5

"American Violet" is a stirring David- and Goliath-type of drama that's based on a true story. It portrays Dee Roberts, an African American single mother of four who is jailed after being falsely charged with distributing narcotics in a school zone. When Roberts learns that a racist district attorney is responsible for her arrest, she fights back legally, with the help of two attorneys played by Tim Blake Nelson and Will Patton. Because wrongful imprisonment is a universal fear, the first portion of the film injects tangible anxiety into its viewers. “American Violet” sags in the middle, but it’s often difficult to film a legal drama that doesn’t lose its momentum during the technical points of litigation. The depositions culminate with a reinvigorating showdown that’s as lucky as it is clever. “American Violet” has little moments where its attention to detail is commendable: For instance, during a brief exchange with a jailer, we are enlightened on the uncomfortable circumstances involving the limited hygiene options for female inmates. After Roberts returns home from her three-week stint in jail, we see her examining houseplants that have begun to wither without her, much like her children have. And perhaps best of all, Roberts isn’t idealized. She behaves the way an imperfect person might behave while facing such severe pressure and frustration.

Director: Tim Disney. Starring Nicole Beharie, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton. Genre: Drama. Runtime: 102 min. Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence, drug references and language.

Imagine That (2009)

2 stars out of 5

“Imagine That” is a rather ineffective comedy for children and an even less effective cautionary tale for workaholic parents. Eddie Murphy employs his usual fast-talking, manic-moving persona to try to energize a lethargic plot: Evan Danielson (Murphy) is a way-too-busy dad who considers marriage and parenthood to be major inconveniences. But when he realizes that his 6-year-old daughter’s blanket and imaginary friends have an inexplicable clairvoyance when it comes to investment decisions, Danielson takes an ulterior, newfound interest in his daughter’s life. Thomas Haden Church co-stars as Murphy’s business competitor, playing a character that may offend some Native Americans, while possibly amusing others. What’s noteworthy about family movies of the 2000s is the way broken families reach resolutions but not complete restorations, which seems a fairer representation of reality for little hopeful hearts.

Director: Karey Kirkpatrick (PG)

Land of the Lost (2009)

3 stars out of 5

Will Ferrell is Dr. Rick Marshall, a zany scientist who invents a device that enables him to travel through time-warps to parallel universes of the past, present or future — or something like that. The trick is, Marshall and his associates must survive the creatures they encounter and find a way back home again. “Land of the Lost” has a similar sense of humor as “Elf” (2003), except it’s not quite as funny and has much cruder content.

Director: Brad Silberling (PG-13)

My Life in Ruins (2009)

2 stars out of 5

“My Life in Ruins” is not a sequel to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), though its star actress, Nia Vardalos, is back with another comedy that affectionately pokes fun at the Greek culture. In both films Vardalos’ character’s complaints about her heritage predictably blossom into ethnic pride. Vardalos plays Georgia, a well-educated guide for a tour-bus company that takes its sightseers on five-day trips to the ruins of Ancient Greece. She is frequently disgusted by her travelers’ lack of interest in her in-depth, historical lectures. The tourists provide friendly caricatures of various people from Spain, Canada, Australia, and of course, the United States. “My Life in Ruins” has its redeeming moments, but mostly it’s a kitschy romantic comedy that evokes more eye-rolling than smiling.

Director: Donald Petrie (PG-13)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

2 1/2 stars out of 5

The first “Night at the Museum” (2006) is disappointing because it spends more time “playing with” the 6- and 7-year-olds than the viewers 15 and up. The best family movies endeavor to entertain all age groups. “Battle of the Smithsonian” is better than its predecessor because it not only appeals to the younger spectators, it’s also a little more grown up, and is therefore funnier. This movie’s secret weapons are Amy Adams, as Amelia Earhart; Bill Hader, as General George Custer; and Hank Azaria, as the Egyptian ruler, Kahmunrah. Two years have passed since the events of the first movie, and Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has moved on to entrepreneurial pursuits. In his absence, Daley’s friends — those lively exhibits from The Museum of Natural History — are being replaced by new, interactive holograms. And when they are sent into “deep storage” at the Federal Archives located at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., a battle ensues with the other exhibits in archival storage. Daley travels to D.C. attempting to rectify the chaos. In short, this “Night at the Museum” sequel doubles as decent family entertainment and a commercial for the Smithsonian.

Director: Shawn Levy (PG)

Dance Flick (2009)

1 star out of 5

There are now enough genre parodies (like “Dance Flick,” “Scary Movie,” “Date Movie,” et al.) that the genre parody has become a sub-genre in and of itself. A spoof of these films could be titled “Stupid Movie,” for thus they are. “Dance Flick” is mostly patterned after the plot of “Step Up 2: The Streets” (2008), which is about a formally trained ballerina’s turbulent crossover to street-style dance. Unfortunately, “Dance Flick” doesn’t have much dancing in it. (At least the other genre parodies contain plenty of the elements that typify their targets.) And the overarching problem common to all these parody movies — including this one — is they cross over from exaggeration to utter ridiculousness, having the uncomfortable effect of making you feel embarrassed for them.

Director: Damien Dante Wayans (PG-13)