!B! “The Mummy Returns”!B! “Memento”!B! “Bridget Jones’s Diary”!B! “Town & Country”
“The Mummy Returns” — Fast, raucous and completely contrived, this second helping of curses, reanimated mummies and skullduggery reunites Brendan Fraser and the entire cast from the original. New to the cast — WWF “Smackdown” star “The Rock.”
This time out, dashing adventurer Fraser has married comely archeologist Rachel Weisz, and together they’ve spawned a smart, precocious son Freddie Boath. He, of course, plays into the second “revival” of Imhotep (the sexy Arnold Vosloo), whose minions and worshippers live to bring him back to life. As the family races to keep that from happening, they face all sorts of adversity and encounter more than their share of snakes, rats, scorpions and evil undead.
“Memento” — This smart thriller twists the conventions of traditional film noir, creating a psychological mystery about a man who has no short-term memory. Destined to start anew each and every day, Leonard Shelby (the terrific Guy Pearce) takes Polaroids and tattoos reminders on his body to help him remember why his life has meaning: He may be trying to avenge the rape and murder of his wife. Pearce makes you believe Shelby’s anguish as he relives the nightmare. And as the movie pulls you in, a strange thing begins to happen: You’ll start pondering the mystery of all humanity.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” — Full of wit, warmth and honest yet knowing humor, this big-screen adaptation of Helen Fielding’s hugely popular novel of the same name should please both fans of the book as well as the uninitiated. Renée Zellweger convincingly portrays the British unmarried Bridget, who wants only to lose 10 pounds, gain inner poise and find true love — all within a year. Hugh Grant offers support as Bridget’s womanizing boss whom she finds irresistible. Her family, of course, wants her to date seemingly stuffed shirt Colin Firth, a former childhood playmate grown into an accomplished lawyer. What will our darling Bridget do? Smart, funny and romantic, this comedy has charm to spare.
“Town & Country” — Awash in Oscar winners and nominees, “Town & Country” should have been a contender. With its impressive cast, fat budget and massive edits, “Town & Country” seemingly has all the necessary ingredients for a tasty romp about marital relations featuring veteran performers (Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Gary Shandling) showing they’ve still got it. Instead, the result is a tasteless, lifeless affair, with all four stars playing tired versions of their once-charming stock characters. “Town & Country” wants to be smart, witty and drop-dead New York. It doesn’t come close.
