With movies about superheros, part of the attraction is speculating how having special powers could benefit one's own daily life. I already know which power I crave: In this bustling sequel to 2000's comic-book block-buster about genetic mutants with cool powers, a young mutant can change TV channels by merely blinking his eyes. He's glimpsed only briefly and doesn't even have a name, but if he returns for the third X-Men film (which is under consideration), he should be dubbed Remoto.
Not that superheros have much time for watching the telly. Their lives, at least as seen here, are in a constant state of upheaval, be it from human enemies conspiring against them, mutants undermining other mutants or romantic crises precipitated by their own hard-pumping hormones. X2's excessively complicated and character-crammed plot, which only a teen boy could care about enough to follow closely, has a nasty human bigwig (Brian Cox) fomenting a war against the mutants. All the mutants, including those who were villains in the first movie, must now unite against this common enemy. Every one of them gets a chance to demonstrate his or her special gift: Wolverine (Jackman) waves his metal claws; Storm (Berry) wreaks weather havoc; Cyclops (Marsden) blasts away with his fiery vision, etc.
It's a stretch, but one could interpret X2 as a post-9/11 plea for religious and ethnic tolerance. But that is probably giving this popcorn odyssey and director Bryan Singer, who also made the original, too much credit. It's really about action, special effects, dressing in tight leather outfits and jamming in even more characters to sell even more toys. One is just thankful that Jackman possesses the sexiest smolder in superherodom and isn't afraid to use it. (PG-13)
BOTTOM LINE: Love Wolverine, but the rest are just so many mundane mutants
Documentary
Spellbound
Critic's Choice
If you see just one documentary this year, make it this marvel. Spellbound follows eight 13-and 14-year-olds as they prepare to compete at the 1999 National Spelling Bee. Watching them, viewers vicariously share in their victories and defeats. More significantly, this cross-section of contestants—children of immigrants, of privilege and of poverty—is a microcosm that shows the vitality of the American dream. The kids study hard, put almost unbearable pressure on themselves and hope for success. If you want to feel positive about the future, start here. (G)
BOTTOM LINE: E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T
Hilary Duff, Adam Lamberg
Forget the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. For an entire generation, Rome will now be that place where Lizzie McGuire discovered romance. The Lizzie McGuire Movie, a sitcommish film that astutely builds on the Disney Channel's eponymous series about the preppy charmer, transports new junior high grad Lizzie (Duff), nerdy best bud Gordo (Lamberg), classmates and Lizzie's family to the Eternal City on a school trip. There Lizzie discovers love with a cute Italian pop star (Yani Gellman) who sweeps her off her feet and onto his Vespa. But are his intentions honorable?
Young fans of the TV show will relish Lizzie because the innocuously likable Duff is in every scene, modeling wacky outfits and singing. Accompanying adults will be grateful there's no violence or potty humor, a rarity in kids' films today. (PG)
BOTTOM LINE: A laudable Lizzie
EDWARD BURNS
Edward Burns, 35, plays grifter Jake Vig in the new thriller Confidence.
ON GETTING SWINDLED: "When I was 14, my friends and I took the Long Island Railroad into Times Square. We each got conned out of $50 trying to buy a fake ID. We were three easy marks."
ON ACTING WITH DUSTIN HOFFMAN: "Dustin's part was written for a 6'5", 250-lb. Mafioso. When Dustin came on board, he had to figure out how to create that ominous vibe for scenes. We started rehearsing and improvising. For me, what could you compare it to? Maybe what Scottie Pippen felt like playing with Michael Jordan all those years."
ON HIS RENEWED ROMANCE WITH FORMER FIANCEE CHRISTY TURLINGTON: "We're very happy together, but there are no immediate plans to get married. This year I got her out on a snowboard for the first time. She bought me a guitar for my birthday. That's my new hobby, but I'm not very good." Sabrina McFarland
•Bend It Like Beckham A word-of-mouth hit that deserves the praise. This enjoyable cross-cultural comedy is about an Anglo-Indian teenager and her family in suburban London. (PG-13)
•Identity Eleven strangers stranded at a seedy motel are murdered one by one. Tricky, but familiar. John Cusack stars. (R)
•Owning Mahowny Based on a true story, this intense and absorbing character study follows a Toronto banker (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who siphons off $10.2 million to fuel his compulsive gambling at casinos. Even when winning, he's joyless. (R)
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
