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David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) raves, "This is one teacher's pet which deserves straight A's. Regardless of whether they are fans of the show, kids will find their ribs tickled by the flick's kooky characters and outrageous sight gags."

Phil Boatwright (Movie Reporter) says it's cute, and credits it with "a creative storyline and a wonderful voice performance from the witty Nathan Lane. The plot makes room for life lessons concerning selfishness and helping others fulfill their dreams."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) says, "There is so much visual humor and verbal wit packed into a relatively short amount of time that our attention is arrested and we soon find ourselves getting used to the look of the film."

Tom Snyder (Movieguide) calls it "wacky, goofy fun for the entire family. The comical situations are a little edgy at times … but the movie has a moral worldview extolling the virtues of being content with how God made you and attacking science—especially genetic scientists—for trying to play God."

Biker flick Torque gets pulled over by critics

Martin Henderson and Ice Cube star in Torque, the latest adrenalin rush for speed lovers. In the tradition of—or should we say, "in the bad habit of"—The Fast and the Furious, Joseph Kahn's movie follows a biker named Ford on his quest to reunite with his girlfriend and to settle a score. But a nefarious drug dealer wants to get some expensive motorcycles back from the prodigal biker. When Ford refuses to play along, he finds himself in a fast-paced fight for his life.

Phil Boatwright (Movie Reporter) says, "Sadly, this genre is limited to rebellious heroes and stories that prefer their curves on the female form than on plotline structure. So while there is much eye candy in this action category, there's as much substance as in a mound of cotton candy. With its fast pacing, rapid editing … and weightless premise, Torque is like an MTV video on steroids."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) asks, "Who knew that it would be possible to 'dumb down' 2 Fast 2 Furious? Don't look to the acting. There's nothing there to see. Please don't look to the screenplay. It is an embarrassment of the first order. If there is one redeeming feature to this film, its the relatively short length (approximately 81 minutes)."

Bruce Donaldson (Movieguide) is disappointed that "the key 'stunts' are animated." He also criticizes the "simple story, undirected/uninspired acting, and the patented use of girlie-eye candy."

Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk) says the movie is "a visual thrill. The film's overt message—that we must do what's right, even if that costs us relationships and freedom—is a good one. But the means portrayed to get to that goal aren't very wise."

Anne Navarro (Catholic News Service) calls it "sleek but completely vacuous. In going for a cheap buzz, Kahn has stripped the film of a particular tension that convinces audiences that real danger lurks around that hairpin turn, which is where the thrill lies. With soap-opera names like Ford and Shane, the characters are every bit as artificial as the dopey dialogue that bloats the film."

Mainstream critics are throwing tomatoes here.

Critics divided over Fog of War

Master documentarian Errol Morris, who made the amusing and challenging film Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control, is back with his latest—and some are saying greatest—work of nonfiction.

Fog of War is an up-close interview with Robert McNamara about World War II, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. The revealing, intimate conversation has been winning raves from mainstream press critics. But among religious press critics, it is drawing different responses.

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January (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48