Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)

Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)

[6] Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, But I'm a Cheerleader) leads an esteemed ensemble cast in writer/director Tamara Jenkins' story of a 1970s teenager coming of age on the outskirts of Beverly Hills. The family is struggling to make ends meet,…
Gorp (1980)

Gorp (1980)

[4] A bunch of teenaged waiters at a Jewish kids' summer camp embark in sexcapades and other whacky shenanigans in this Animal House wannabe. Aside from a charismatic turn from young Dennis Quaid, it turns out to be just another summer…
Live, Love and Learn (1937)

Live, Love and Learn (1937)

[6] Robert Montgomery is a care-free painter and Rosalind Russell is a socialite looking for a more rustic lifestyle. In the tradition of screwball comedy, the unlikely lovers get married and revel in their poverty. But after Montgomery's talent catches…
Army of Darkness (1992)

Army of Darkness (1992)

[6] The third Evil Dead film gets a bigger budget and a more traditional plot, but the polish and structure don't compensate for low-budget invention and madcap inspiration. Bruce Campbell is prime here, delivering a smattering of memorable lines and…
Back to the Future: Part II (1989)

Back to the Future: Part II (1989)

[6] As the sequel to an almost perfect film, Back to the Future: Part II naturally comes up short. While it lacks the heart and coherence of the first film, it's wild with ideas and invention, both on screen and…
Pineapple Express (2008)

Pineapple Express (2008)

[8] Pineapple Express is Quentin Tarantino meets Cheech and Chong, a hyperviolent action flick crashed into a buddy comedy. The mish-mash may be an acquired taste, but it's a winning combination for me. Seth Rogen and James Franco carry this…
Paper Heart (2009)

Paper Heart (2009)

[4] A maudlin pseudo-documentary about a socially awkward girl's quest for true love. Um, gag? Charlyne Yi, adorable in her weird Knocked Up cameo, is tediously boring here. The concept for this movie is confounding -- part of it is…
A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Story (1983)

[8] A boy growing up in 1940's middle-America tries to convince his parents to get him a Red Ryder B.B. gun for Christmas. It's hard to judge a movie that has become a holiday tradition. Growing up, I don't think…
Empire Records (1995)

Empire Records (1995)

[6] A bunch of teenagers rally to save their music store from being taken over by a corporate chain. Empire Records takes place almost entirely inside its namesake and features an ensemble of talented young actors, including Liv Tyler, Robin…
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

[8] You know how people often say such-and-such actor "lights up the screen?" Well, that phrase was made for Audrey Hepburn, because that's what she does in Blake Edwards' adaptation of Truman Capote's novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's. As Holly Golightly,…