Movie Reviews

The Story: A slick lawyer gets hired to help a rich kid beat an assault rap, but quickly learns there's more to this case than he knew. The Lowdown: An engaging, convoluted, formulaic crime drama that's a bit on the flimsy side, but remains entertaining.

The Story: A lazy writer comes across a pill that unlocks all of his potential, but which isn't without its own side effects. The Lowdown: An entertaining enough thriller that's all polish and little substance.

The Story: When an ambitious young chef's father has a heart attack, he finds himself forced to temporarily take over the family's shabby restaurant. The Lowdown: An old-fashioned story that more than gets by on charm and sweetness of nature. Don't let the lack of star power or its unfamiliar title keep you from catching…

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Fraulein at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Santa Sangre Thursday, March 17, 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.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Close Up at 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Phil Mechanic Studios (109 Roberts St., River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Gay Divorcee Tuesday, March 22, 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 Asheville Film Society.

The Story: When his mother is kidnapped by Martians, young Milo has to rescue her. The Lowdown: A one-note premise is interminably dragged out in this unappealing-looking motion-capture kiddie fodder.

The Story: "Little Red Hiding Hood" in Twilight clothing. The Lowdown: Strong contender for dumbest and most unintentionally funny movie of 2011.

The Story: A group of marines help to fight off an alien invasion in Los Angeles. The Lowdown: A generic mish-mash of sci-fi and war film that works on that simple basis, but offers little else.

The Story: Innocent insurance agent Tim Lippe gets a lesson in life at an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids. The Lowdown: By turns raunchy and charming, this unassuming little comedy is a breath of fresh air in its sweet-natured approach to its story and characters. Starts Friday at Carolina Asheville Cinema 14.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Finian's Rainbow at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 13, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville).

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Brides of Dracula Thursday, Mar. 10, 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.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Pather Panchali at 8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 11, at Phil Mechanic Studios (109 Roberts St., River Arts District, upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Asheville Film Society will screen Talk to Her Tuesday, Mar. 15, 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 Asheville Film Society.

The Story: A stranded pet chameleon masquerades as a Wild West hero -- and then has to live up to his story. The Lowdown: Beautifully made, perfectly cast, fast-paced, very funny animated comedy blessed with weird and wonderful invention.

The Story: A directionless college grad attempts to woo his high school crush over a night of partying. The Lowdown: A perfectly fine, harmless coming-of-age tale -- as long as you judge it solely on that criteria.

The Story: A politician finds himself entangled with a host of supernatural operatives, whose job it is to ensure that destiny and fate go according to plan. The Lowdown: The rarest of things: a science fiction film about ideas, but nevertheless a movie that lives and dies on how well you can buy into its…

The Story: A narcissistic high-school jerk is transformed into a "beastly" version of himself and has to find someone to love him for himself to break the curse. The Lowdown: Witless, charmless take on Beauty and the Beast with nearly limitless tedium value.

The Story: The story of a couple coping with the death of their young child in an accident. The Lowdown: An unusual -- and unusually schmaltz-free -- study in grief that's distinguished by exceptional performances and sensitive direction.

The Story: Fictionalized version of the rise and fall of super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Lowdown: Ill-advised attempt to turn the story of Abramoff into a comedy, cursed by a bad script and flaccid direction, but with a strong performance from Kevin Spacey as compensation.