Opening Films

by Inlander Staff & r & & r & Take the Lead -- Here's another doctored-up Hollywood version of an "inspired by a true story" movie. In this one, Antonio Banderas, all cool and calm and smooth, gives us his take on New York ballroom instructor Pierre Dulaine, who apparently turned a bunch of troublemaking high schoolers into experts on their feet -- after they added hip-hop to the beat. Clich & eacute;-ridden and not the least bit believable. (ES) Rated PG-13





Lucky Number Sleven -- Looks like a lot of those potboiler assassins-and-mob-bosses-with-innocent-people-in-the-middle, forced-to-do-extraordinary-things types of movies, except there's a palpably subversive bent to this slick thriller, suggesting it doesn't take itself too seriously. Stylized action and in-jokes ensue. Rated R





Phat Girlz -- Mo'nique is way overweight, but when a "big fine African spear-throwing, lion-hunting mandingo" from like Kenya or something teaches her that sex appeal is culturally defined (they likes 'em big over yonder), Mo'nique and, we assume, the audience, learn some insipid lesson or another about judging (fleshy, obnoxious) books by their covers. Rated PG-13





The Benchwarmers -- Rob Schneider and David Spade play nerds while Jared Hess revisits his Napoleon Dynamite character (a-frickin-gain). The three team up to teach geeks how to stand up to jocks on and, presumably, off the baseball diamond. Douche-baggery that undermines the sanctity of our national game ensues. Rated PG-13