| News Items: |
| Headlines |
| News Briefs |
| Stories |
| Movies |
| Word To Life |
| More News: |
| Vatican |
| Africa |
| Archives: |
| John Paul II |
| Tsunami |
| Election 2004 |
| Charter update |
| John Jay study |
| Other Items: |
| Client Area |
| Links |
| Origins |
| Movie Review |
|
Zoom By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- Based on Jason Lethcoe's illustrated children's book, "Zoom" (Columbia) is basically "X-Men" for the Nickelodeon set. The lively but lightweight family comedy stars an appealing Tim Allen as Jack Shepard, a washed up superhero who went by the name Captain Zoom. After his crime-fighting "Team Zenith" was annihilated in a battle against his brother, supervillain Concussion (Kevin Zegers), Jack hung up his cape and called it quits. That was 30 years ago. But now he's dragged out of retirement by a hawkish general (Rip Torn) and two bumbling scientists (Chevy Chase and Courteney Cox Arquette) who head the same top-secret Zenith project behind Jack's former team. They've put together a new superpowered squad consisting of four young misfits: Dylan (Michael Cassidy), a long-haired loner who can turn invisible; telepathic teen Summer (Kate Mara); expandable Tucker (Spencer Breslin); and Cindy (Ryan Newman), a superstrong small fry whose costume of choice is a pink ballet tutu. And they want Jack to train them, though they keep him and the youngsters in the dark about the team's intended mission: They must stop Jack's sonic-blasting sibling who has escaped his other-dimensional imprisonment and is headed back to earth in a matter of days with a world-destroying chip on his shoulder. Directed by Peter Hewitt, the film, with its zippy action sequences, is entertaining if your expectations are kept low, though its kid-friendly themes of family and teamwork are handicapped by bland performances and a skeletal, only fitfully funny script, padded with strained slapstick humor and tedious musical montages. The film contains some mildly crude humor and unnecessary gross-out sight gags, a few rude expressions and some comic-book-style violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
| FIND A MOVIE |
|
Looking for a movie review? |