Movie Reviews

The Story: When a Tennessee family’s patriarch returns after 40 years away, his family -- namely his grandson -- must deal with the fallout. The Lowdown: A Southern Gothic tale that’s entertaining enough when its working, but which unfortunately begins to unravel as it goes along.

The Story: Jack Sparrow is shanghaied to join a search for the legendary Fountain of Youth. The Lowdown: If you like Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, chances are you'll like this fourth entry just fine, especially with the addition of Penelope Cruz. Otherwise, there's no real reason to see it.

The Asheville Art Museum and Fanaticon2 are presenting Marwencol for one show only at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, at the Fine Arts Theatre. Admission is $8 for Museum Members and $10 for nonmembers. Seats may be reserved by contacting Nancy Sokolove, Adult Program Manger for reservations at (828) 253-3226 ext. 120 or at…

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Topkapi at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville).

The Story: When her husband is taken ill, a trophy wife has to take over the family umbrella factory -- and proves better at it than he is. The Lowdown: French farce of the lightest kind that's made charming and satisfying thanks to stylish direction and two iconic stars.

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Hudsucker Proxy Tuesday, May 24, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

The Story: A friendship dating back to childhood is threatened by the encroachment of a new friend during preparations for a wedding. The Lowdown: A coarse comedy that trades heavily in gross-out humor is made agreeable by the humanity and believable nature of its characters.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Invaders from Mars Thursday, May 19, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Story: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock attempts to make a movie about product placement in film, funded solely by product placement. The Lowdown: An entertaining documentary that leaves one giant question unanswered -- what’s the point?

The Story: A group of friends decide to rob a bank, but end up on the wrong side of a gangster. The Lowdown: Should’ve been a straight-to-DVD release -- and stayed there -- except it's Corey Haim’s final film, meaning the world must suffer through this bargain-basement effort.

The Story: A retired vampire-fighting priest returns to his profession when his niece is kidnapped by blood-suckers. The Lowdown: An utterly ridiculous melange of elements slapped together from various genres and movies that reaches a level of insanity that's entertaining for all the wrong reasons.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Alice at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20m at Phil Mechanic Studios (109 Roberts St., River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Lost Horizon at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

David Saich's Scapegoat plays for one show only at the Fine Arts Theatre on Thursday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present In the Mood for Love at 8 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Phil Mechanic Studios (109 Roberts St., River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Pigeons from Hell and The Night Stalker Thursday, May 12, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Story: An alcoholic salesman loses his job and returns home to find himself locked out and all his belongings thrown out on the lawn, so he decides to just live there. The Lowdown: A very fine dramatic film with touches of comedy that's one of the best things to come out this year --…

The Story: Exiled from the realm of Asgard by his father, Odin, Thor finds himself on Earth where he has to earn back his god powers. The Lowdown: A fun comic-book movie that is reasonably serious without taking it all too seriously. A good cast -- and a strong lead -- help, as does Kenneth…

The Story: Two families from different sides of the tracks meet for the first time at a wedding. The Lowdown: An overlong, indifferent piece of poorly constructed melodrama that’s mostly just forgettable.

The Story: When Rachel sleeps with her best friend's fiance, she and said fiance realize they're in love. Tedium ensues. The Lowdown: An absolutely awful example of the rom-com filled with amazingly awful characters.