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What stands out first about Be Kind Rewind is the confidence with which Michel Gondry establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Be Kind Rewind asks Jack Black and Yasiin Bey to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Be Kind Rewind is established with useful clarity: Two bumbling store clerks inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. That direct approach lets Be Kind Rewind use its 1h 42

What stands out first about The Longshots is the confidence with which Fred Durst establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Longshots asks Ice Cube and Keke Palmer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Longshots is established with useful clarity: The true story of Jasmine Plummer who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56 year history. That direct approac

What stands out first about Meet Dave is the confidence with which Brian Robbins establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Meet Dave asks Eddie Murphy and Elizabeth Banks to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Meet Dave is established with useful clarity: A crew of miniature aliens operate a spaceship that has a human form. That direct approach lets Meet Dave use its 1h 30m running time for character, atmosphere and consequ

What stands out first about Sunshine Cleaning is the confidence with which Christine Jeffs establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sunshine Cleaning asks Amy Adams and Emily Blunt to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sunshine Cleaning is established with useful clarity: In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business a biohazard removal/crime scene clean up service

What stands out first about Soul Men is the confidence with which Malcolm D. Lee establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Soul Men asks Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Soul Men is established with useful clarity: Though it's been about twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul singing legends agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo T

What stands out first about Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is the confidence with which Bharat Nalluri establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day asks Frances McDormand and Amy Adams to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is established with useful clarity: Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. That dir

What stands out first about Rachel Getting Married is the confidence with which Jonathan Demme establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rachel Getting Married asks Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rachel Getting Married is established with useful clarity: A young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past ten years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding. Tha

What stands out first about The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is the confidence with which Mike Nawrocki establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything asks Tim Hodge and Mike Nawrocki to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is established with useful clarity: Three vegetable friends seek the roots of true heroism during a 17th century adventure. That

What stands out first about Religulous is the confidence with which Larry Charles establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Religulous asks Bill Maher and Tal Bachman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Religulous is established with useful clarity: Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion. That direct approach lets Religulous use its 1h 41m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ T

What stands out first about Ghost Town is the confidence with which David Koepp establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ghost Town asks Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ghost Town is established with useful clarity: Bertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. That direct approach lets Ghost Town use its 1h 42m running time for character, atmosphere and consequ

What stands out first about The Haunting of Molly Hartley is the confidence with which Mickey Liddell establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Haunting of Molly Hartley asks Haley Bennett and Chace Crawford to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Haunting of Molly Hartley is established with useful clarity: A girl with PTSD attempts to refresh her life at a new school, but soon finds it impossible when she's af

What stands out first about The Duchess is the confidence with which Saul Dibb establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Duchess asks Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Duchess is established with useful clarity: A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was revered for her extravagant political and personal life. That direct appr