‘No Reservations’ — A Tasty Soufflé

Frédérik SisaA&E

Start with a solid romantic comedy premise. Throw in a twist by setting the story in the kitchen of a posh restaurant. Mix in a chemically reactive cast that pair lovely performances with equally lovely looks. Spice with heartfelt drama. Garnish with a cloying sauce. Serve on crisp bone-white china. Voila! A flavorful little soufflé that delivers sweet without the guilt.

I can’t speak for the film of which “No Reservations” is a remake – the German film “Mostly Martha” – but this Hollywood fare serves the genre of romantic comedies well by delivering exactly what is expected. That it doesn’t succeed in getting beyond the genre is what keeps it from being compared to a more substantial dessert. Carol Fuch’s script, though very genial and witty, offers a syrupy contrast of comedy and drama that can’t quite commit to either flagrant melodrama or restrained realism. Result: a dish with a slightly unbalanced mix of flavors.

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ — Close, But No Exploding Cigar

Frédérik SisaA&E

The Actors’ Gang production of Gulliver’s Travels, it has to be said, is a masterful cornucopia of stage effects and innovative production techniques. Shadow theatre, puppetry, zany and elaborate costuming; there are no brakes on the imagination put into visualizing the fantastical places Lemuel Gulliver visits throughout his voyages.

The Magic of Harry Potter

Frédérik SisaA&E

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a story is a movie.

In this fifth outing, we join Harry (Radcliffe) as he struggles to deal with the return of Lord Voldemort, a struggle made all the more complicated by a fascist politics-driven takeover of the school by the Ministry of Magic’s sickeningly cutesy yet malevolent Dolores Umbridge (Staunton). Even worse are nightmares pointing to a disturbing mental connection with Voldemort himself. And amidst all of this is the continuing story of Harry’s coming-of-age, which includes his very sweet, and naturally confusing, first kiss.

Paying Lip Service to Liberty

Frédérik SisaOP-ED

One of my favorite – for its sheer silliness – arguments against gay marriage is the so-called slippery-slope argument: If we allow gays to marry, then we must also allow people to marry animals. Thankfully, it’s not an argument that pops up too often. The rejoinder, of course, is that animals are not human and cannot interact with humans in a, well, human way. Marriage is a meaningless concept to animals.

A far more serious argument is that gay marriage is harmful to children. The evidence, however, shows the contrary, and the leading health professional organizations have come out in support of gay parenting (www.hrc.org). Even if it were the case that gay parents somehow have a negative impact on children, it would only be an argument against gay parenting and not gay marriage. Marriage after all, does not have to lead to children.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer — All in Good Fun

Frédérik SisaA&E

It’s interesting to note that “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” has an overall freshness rating of 37 percent at rottentomatoes.com. Interesting, but perhaps not surprising given how the first film in the superhero franchise wasn’t a critical love-fest, either.

To be sure, the film’s script opens itself up to nitpicks. Doctor Doom, played with deliciously villainous panache by Julian McMahon, is presented here less as the threatening super villain he is supposed to be than as a mere nuisance in a cool suit of armor. On the philosophical side of things, scriptwriters Don Payne and Mark Frost choose a curiously “army of one” solution to the threats faced by the Fantastic Four, a dissatisfying choice that is incongruous in a film ostensibly about the value of family and teamwork. That this solution is based on a plot twist thrown in more for comedic effect than because the story calls for it does not count as a feather in the cap.

The Jackboot and the Sponge, Part 2

Frédérik SisaOP-ED

Ah, yes. The Democrats, whose redeeming feature is primarily that they are not Republicans. Cold comfort. When Republicans accused them of playing politics with the war, of course they were right. Had Democrats at least voted on the budget according to principle, no one could accuse them of being wobbly sell-outs. But sell out they did, and all that blather about giving in now but using other avenues to bring the war to an end sounds an awful lot like politicking. Ditto the whole “cleaning up Congress” thing (read: Jefferson). In fact, it’s precisely because the Democrats haven’t had any real fight in them for the past six years that makes it hard to take the Democratic Party, and these debates, seriously. Their foreign policy vision is tepid at best – if, indeed, it’s possible to make one out. While the Republicans are gung-ho about keeping attacks against Iran on the table, only Gravel and Kucinich seem to be strenuously raising objections. (Classic moment, second only to complaining of being treated like a potted plant: Gravel asking Obama whom he is going to nuke.)

Nancy Drew — A Breath of Uncynical Air

Frédérik SisaA&E

I don’t know how literal the book series’ film translation is – I grew up with the Hardy Boys – but it’s hard to imagine that the movie isn’t at least true in spirit to the iconic young adult mystery series. In any case, “Nancy Drew” stands on its own as film for which “family friendly” isn’t the kiss of the death for older filmgoers.

‘Ocean’s 13’ — Always Bet on Ocean

Frédérik SisaA&E

“Ocean’s 13” continues the tradition of Soderbergh-designed heist thrillers that began so enthusiastically with “Ocean’s 11” and continued with “Ocean’s 12.” Of course, thriller doesn’t refer to the creepy chills and bite-your-nails-off suspense psycho-horror films aim for. Rather, this is the more innocent thrill of a roller-coaster movie that sizzles with a jackpot-winning cast clearly having fun, a script bursting with wit, and stylish direction that drips with cool. Comedy, drama and plenty of how-will-they-get-out-of-that moments, all add up to a movie’s movie, a smart escapist affair of pure entertainment.

The Jackboot and the Sponge: Debates, Part 1

Frédérik SisaOP-ED

I’m sorry, but I just can’t bring myself to get worked up about the wannabe presidential candidates’ debates, whether Republican or Democrat. I just can’t. In fact, I’ve pretty much kept them beyond the reach of my sense of smell except for reading the odd transcript, watching the occasional video excerpt on the Internet, or catching up on the news’ summaries. As the late Johnny Hart once defined campaign promises in his iconic comic strip B.C.: “if swallowed, induce vomiting.” Politics are nauseating enough as it is without the added syrup of ipecac constituting electoral campaigns.

It’s Swashbuckling — ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’

Frédérik SisaA&E

A Case Full of Rum!

With the “Pirates” trilogy, Gore Verbinski has surely proven himself to be a director on the level of Steven Spielberg or George Lucas. The Caribbean of his films, chock-full with human-fish hybrids, the undead, sea monsters, and, of course, more pirates than you can shake a peg leg at, is a candy store of wild action, rich set design and vivid visual imagination. As we rejoin the gang, left at the end of “Dead Man’s Chest” with Captain Jack (Depp) dead and Captain Barbossa (Rush) seemingly back with the living, we are thrust into yet another roller-coaster ride. The direction is a marvel, the special effects are top-notch, adrenaline levels are kept high and, surprisingly, we get occasional moments of poignant drama.