Wendy Raquel Robinson

A fundamentally unappealing jerk whose redemption comeswith an even shorter and less convincing story arc, coach Roy McCormickignores the kids one day -- pouting about his downfall on the sidelinesas they lose a game 84-0 -- then the next he's become a life-affirmingaltruist full of feel-good advice and game-winning strategy, just becausethe script says so.

Even more problematic is that while "Rebound"is aimed at children, the one-trait tweenagers he's teaching to play thegame are barely characters at all, save Tara Correa ("Judging Amy")as a stout, scowling girl bully McCormick recruits to intimidate otherteams. "You got five fouls," he advises her with a wiseacre wink."Don't be afraid to use 'em."

Somehow this sloppy, mechanical movie (even the minimalgame scenes lack vibrancy) manages to dig up some energy and spirit inthe last act, which keeps it from collapsing under the weight of its ownineptitude. Kids may like it, not knowing enough to recognize its failureto relate to them, and accompanying parents won't want to claw their eyesout.

Continue reading: Rebound Review

If the whole crew that made "Miss Congeniality" -- writer, director, stars, everybody -- were to get together for another movie, one with a less idiotic plot than a tomboy FBI agent going undercover at a beauty pageant, I'd be gung ho to see it.

The level of talent and the amount of good humor that goes to waste in this gimmicky, so-stupid-it-stops-being-funny star vehicle is phenomenal.

Sandra Bullock is said star, and her screwball (bordering on Lucille Ball) performance as a clodhopping, quarrelsome, graceless lout of a foible-prone FBI agent would be comic gold if the boat anchor of a story weren't dragging it down.

Continue reading: Miss Congeniality Review

A movie that preaches dishonesty, trickery and manipulation as the keys to romantic happiness, "Two Can Play That Game" is populated by pathetically shallow "players" of both sexes and very talented actors trapped by their skin color in a tired genre of self-perpetuating stereotypes.

"Two Can Play" is about a successful black ad executive (Vivica A. Fox) who thinks her man, a successful black lawyer (Morris Chestnut), may be running around on her. Her solution for shaping him up (rather than confronting him and having an adult conversation or just leaving to find someone better) is to launch into a 10-day plan that includes breaking up, not returning his calls, making sure he sees her with other men, going to his house, getting him hot, then leaving, and a whole litany of other vindictive head games.

Of course, all of this is meant to be risqué and amusing, but in fact it just makes the movie's heroine look like the kind of shrill, immature, self-centered strumpet whom no man in his right mind would want to be saddled with.

Continue reading: Two Can Play That Game Review