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News / Columns / Critics Consensus
Critical Consensus: Woo-Hoo! Simpsons Is Certified Fresh; No Reservations Is Bland; Rescue Dawn Shines
I Know Who Killed Me And Who's Your Caddy Not Screened; Guess The Tomatometer
by Tim Ryan | July 26, 2007
Discuss Article
This week at the moves, we've got America's favorite family in their long-awaited big-screen debut (The Simpsons Movie); a tale of two chefs (No Reservations, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart); a rumble in the jungle (Rescue Dawn, starring Christian Bale), a kidnapping mystery (I Know Who Killed Me, starring Lindsay Lohan); and wacky golf gags (Who's Your Caddy? Starring Lil Wayne and Big Boi). What do the critics have to say?

The wait is finally over: The Simpsons have migrated from the confines of television to the silver (or is that yellow?) screen. The result? Well, maybe not the "best…. movie… ever," but pundits say it's still pretty exxxxx-cellent. Homer, responsible for an eco-disaster, piles Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie into the car and leaves Springfield for Alaska (you were expecting Capital City?). Ah, but who cares about the plot? The critics say The Simpsons Movie is essentially an extra-long episode of the show, but one that contains plenty of the S-M-R-T jokes, killer slapstick, and poignancy that fans have come to expect. At 84 percent on the Tomatometer, The Simpsons Movie is Certified Fresh. Release the hounds.


Mmmmm, Flaming Homer!

No Reservations joins a list of movies (Eat Drink Man Woman, Like Water for Chocolate, Sideways) about the intersection between the taste buds and the heartstrings; unfortunately, the pundits say this one is bland, under-nourishing, and a bunch of other food metaphors. Catherine Zeta-Jones stares as Kate, a master chef who is at first threatened, then inspired, by the presence of rising culinary star Nick (Aaron Eckhart) in the kitchen of an upscale New York restaurant. Critics say No Reservations is appealingly presented, but its combination of predictability and melancholy make it hard to swallow. At 38 percent on the Tomatometer, critics have some Reservations about this one.


"I told you not to do a Zorro sequel!"

When it comes to making movies about the struggle between man and nature, German director Werner Herzog is one of the greats, with such masterpieces as Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, and Grizzly Man to his credit. Add Rescue Dawn to that list. Rescue Dawn stars Christian Bale as Dieter Dengler, a Navy pilot who, after crash-landing in the jungles of Laos, must escape imprisonment and navigate the treacherous depths of the jungle. Critics say Dawn is the closest that Herzog has made to an inspiring popcorn flick, albeit one that challenges viewers' expectations and doesn't shortchange the horror or despair of the situation. At 89 percent on the Tomatometer, this is one emotional Rescue. (Check out RT's take here.)


Crowd surfing on two broken legs is not recommended.

Two of this week's wide releases contain mysteries unlikely to be solved before they hit theaters. The makers of I Know Who Killed Me aren't letting critics in on their little secret. Nor will we learn the identity of your caddy, as Who's Your Caddy? was also withheld from scribes. Killed features troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan as a college student who escapes abduction and torture. Caddy stars Big Boi and Lil Wayne in a film that features the most golf course antics this side of Dorf. Kids, tee up and Guess those Tomatometers!


"No seriously, I really would like to know who will be caddying for you."

Also opening this week in limited release: Punk's Not Dead, a zippy doc about punk rock from the beginning to its place in Hot Topic, is at 100 percent on the Tomatometer; No End in Sight, which chronicles the missteps in the Iraq war, is at 95 percent (check out RT's interview with director Charles Ferguson here); The Devil Came on Horseback, a harrowing look at genocide in Darfur, is at 94 percent; The Camden 28, a doc about resistance to the Vietnam War, is at 92 percent; Moliere, a biopic of the great satirist, is at 87 percent; This is England, a skinhead coming-of-age story, is at 87 percent; The Sugar Curtain, a doc about an elegiac trip to Cuba, is at 86 percent; and Arctic Tale, a nature film featuring polar bears and walruses, is at 53 percent.


"I love it when you call me Big Papa."


Recent Catherine Zeta-Jones Movies: ---------------------------------------------
26% -- The Legend of Zorro (2005)
55% -- Ocean's Twelve (2004)
61% -- The Terminal (2004)
71% -- Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
46% -- Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)


Recent Werner Herzog Movies: --------------------------------------
66% -- The Wild Blue Yonder: A Science Fiction Fantasy (2006)
94% -- The White Diamond (2005)
94% -- Wheel of Time (2005)
93% -- Grizzly Man (2005)
53% -- Invincible (2002)

Related Items
Movie: No Reservations
No End in Sight
The Devil Came On Horseback
The Camden 28
Moliere
This Is England
The Sugar Curtain
Arctic Tale
The Legend of Zorro
Ocean's Twelve
The Terminal
Intolerable Cruelty
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
The Wild Blue Yonder: A Science Fiction Fantasy
The White Diamond
Wheel of Time
Punk's Not Dead
Grizzly Man
Rescue Dawn
I Know Who Killed Me
Who's Your Caddy?
Invincible
Eat Drink Man Woman
Like Water for Chocolate
Sideways
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Fitzcarraldo
Celeb: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Aaron Eckhart
Christian Bale
Charles Ferguson
Lindsay Lohan
Werner Herzog
Antwan Andre "Big Boi" Patton
Lil Wayne
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Comments (1-10 of 10 posts) | Reply
Metafact
Metafact writes:
on Jul 26 2007 07:24 PM

I'm surprised the The Simpsons Movie has been getting good reviews, you know, since there hasn't been a decent episode of the show in many years. Honestly, though, did anyone expect Rescue Dawn to recieve anything other than critical acclaim?

(Reply to this)
love_flag
love_flag writes:
on Jul 26 2007 10:33 PM

I Know Who Killed Me : 34%
Who's Your Caddy : 9%


(Reply to this)
supafly006
supafly006 writes:
on Jul 26 2007 11:11 PM

i now who killed me 18%
whos your caddy 6%


(Reply to this)
aknddon3
aknddon3 writes:
on Jul 27 2007 12:20 AM

I cant wait for the fake simpsons fans like the loser who posted first to blast this movie for no reason.

(Reply to this)
pirate of skulls
pirate of skulls writes:
on Jul 27 2007 03:39 AM

the simpsons movie was surprisingly good. i was stoked on it.

(Reply to this)
Dreday
Dreday writes:
on Jul 27 2007 05:38 AM

I Know Who Killed Me- 14%
Who's Your Caddy- 8%


(Reply to this)
SplendidIsolation
SplendidIsolation writes:
on Jul 27 2007 07:56 AM

I know who killed me- 9%

Who`s Your caddy?- 3%


(Reply to this)
Derbeste
Derbeste writes:
on Jul 27 2007 08:09 AM

Very happy the Simpsons made a good movie. After 13 years, I doubted there were any jokes left. Kudos.

I know who killed me.....

Lindsay's first "non-kiddie" affair. hmmmmm....

I'll be kind and guess low 30s. 33ish?

"Who's your caddy?" will be WRETCHING with it's only good reviews coming from the sympathetic or from proponents of affirmative action. Honestly....haven't we had enough movies reminding us just how much cooler black people are than white people?

I'm guessing 7% tops.


(Reply to this)
icon2008
icon2008 writes:
on Jul 27 2007 12:19 PM

I Know Who Killed Me---9%

Lindsay Lohan's first film since her troubles with DUIs will suffer for two reasons. One, there has been no advertisements at all for the film. It's almost like it doesn't exist. The last time I saw this happen was with Trapped, which came out about the same time as a real-life kidnapping case involving a child. BTW, that earned 17%, despite the talents of Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron, and Dakota Fanning. Maybe this is a clue, as to the quality of this movie. I'm sure the idea that Lohan plays a stripper in this one will play "very well" with the critics, which means they will argue this should have been shelved for later. Either way, I don't see it scoring real high with the critics, and I think the public will vote in the neighborhood of $2 million to open with.

Who's your Caddy---18%
This film will suffer for a different reason. It has set itself up to be another Caddyshack, what with the newly rich and crass versus the old wealth and class. Big Boi was last seen in Idlewild which got 47% and in ATL which managed 63%. Little Wayne is making his debut here.

There are two reasons this film might surprise. One, Rotten Tomatoes has a soft spot for rappers and comedy. How High had 26% and even I Got the Hook Up ended up with 13%. So, Who's Your Caddy could end up in the high teens or low twenties. Secondly, I think it will beat Lohan's movie in the box office. I look for it to end up with $2.5 million.


(Reply to this)
Metafact
Metafact writes:
on Jul 27 2007 01:14 PM

Wow, I can't wait for twelve year-old idiots like aknddon3 to overreact to anyone not praising their favorite cartoon show.

(Reply to this)
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