'Movies on DVD': 'The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee', 'Fame' and 'Night at the Museum 2'

'Movies on DVD'

'Fame' (PG) (09) **

Writer: Allison Burnett based on 1980 movie by Christopher Gore
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Starring: Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Bebe Neuwirth, Megan Mullally, Kelsey Grammer, Charles S. Dutton

The 1980 movie 'Fame' was not a great movie but very entertaining and full of personality. In comparison, the 2009 reboot is safe, lifeless and with no personality. I stared at the walls a lot watching this DVD and I can't remember one character or piece of music. There is no Leon, Barry Miller, Irene Cara or Paul McCrane (ER) to care about. The teachers played by great character actors like Grammer, Dutton and Mullally and the magnificent Bebe Neuwirth have really nothing to do and no big scenes which leaves us with a bunch of boring boys. The only actors I mention in the cast list are two girls because at least Danielle's younger sister Kay Panabaker registers, the boys suck.

'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee' (R) **1/2

Writer and Director: Rebecca Miller
Starring: Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin, Maria Bello, Keanu Reeves, Blake Lively, Mike Binder, Julianne Moore, Shirley Knight, Zoe Kazan, Monica Belucchi

Rebecca Miller has a good feel for writing women empowerment movies like "Personal Velocity" but here she creates her weakest story. The movie is still interesting for the performance of Robin Wright Penn, one of my favorite actresses. There is also a very good performance by Blake Lively from "Gossip Girl", she could become a breakout actress. The movie deals with the Penn character going through a mid life crisis in her marriage to an older man played by Alan Arkin. The movie has interesting parts that conclude in a lackluster ending. There really is no force behind the story and the screenplay wavers.

'Night at the Museum 2: The Battle of the Smithsonian" (09) (PG) ***

Writers: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Bill Hader, Eugene Levy, Hank Azaria, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Christopher Guest

I love it when a sequel is better than the original especially if I dislike the first one. The first "Night at the Museum" was a disappointment, too family friendly and not clever enough. That movie had too many sappy my Dad doesn't have time for me and doesn't love me moments. Also what the heck are Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney doing slumming. The second movie has more brains, an easy going and more fun feel than the first. It also has a great performance by Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. She is a total delight reminding me of her work in "Enchanted". Her chemistry and play with Ben Stiller is great and I wanted them to get together for a strange reason. Hank Azaria is good and the bit with the Einsteins voiced by Eugene Levy made me laugh out loud. This was a fun movie and not dull and labored like the first movie. I love it when movie makers improve on their mistakes!