Sherlock Holmes (2009)

It is late 19th century London and Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) are trying to stop a human sacrifice occult ritual that is being performed by Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). They are able to stop the murder and Lord Blackwood is sent to prison.

Poor Holmes has no new cases and Watson is about to marry his sweetheart Mary (Kelly Reilly) and move out of their shared residence at the famous 221B Baker Street. At the same time, the soon to be hung Lord Blackwood requests to see Holmes before his execution. Blackwood tries to mess with Homes' head (a la Silence of the Lambs) and is soon hung and declared dead by Dr. Watson who checks to see that there is no pulse.

Holmes is offered money by an old adversary and paramour, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) to find a red haired man by the name of Reardon. Holmes and Watson try to find out who is employing Irene, but have no luck. Days after Blackwood's execution, a gravedigger says that he saw Blackwood walking away from the site. When the coffin is dug up, they find the red haired man inside. They search Reardon's house and find evidence of all kinds of science and chemistry experiments. They are attacked in the house by some men and are arrested after causing all kinds of damage trying to get away from the villains. Watson is sprung by his fiance, but Holmes is brought before the occult society, "The Temple of The Four Orders" who fear Lord Blackwood. Holmes and Watson continue to investigate and soon a couple of the high members of the Order are killed, supposedly by unexplained means. Blackwood then takes over the Order and wants to take over the world, especially America.

Holmes hides out as he finds that he is wanted by the police. He and Watson figure out what Blackwood's next move is and they find that Blackwood wants to kill Parliament members by using a machine devised by Reardon that will release poison gas into the chambers. Holmes, Watson and Adler foil the plan and Blackwood goes after them, losing in a major way. It is left wide open for the next Sherlock Holmes installment.

I will not reveal how Blackwood survived, try to figure it out for yourself. This film is adapted by the stories written by Sir Conan Doyle and was directed by Guy Ritchie. I have not been thrilled by most of the last movies directed by Ritchie, but "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is quite good. Not for the children though. The movie set reminded me of the Johnny Depp movie "From Hell" about Jack the Ripper. Speaking of, if you go to London, do the Jack the Ripper Tour. For about ten dollars, they take a group of people on a walking tour that lasts about an hour or so around the area where the murders occured. They talk about what happened and the knowledgeable guides answer questions, very interesting!

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are great together as Holmes and Watson. They remind me of a bickering married couple. It seems that Holmes would be devastated by Watson marrying and moving away, not unlike today's "bromances". I found the movie to be very entertaining. Lord Blackwood looked amazingly like Andy Garcia only taller. Rachel McAdams part could have been played by anyone, her performance was not very significant.

Rated PG-13. 134 Minutes. I GIVE THIS MOVIE THREE AND THREE QUARTER STARS.

It's Complicated (2009)

This film opens as divorced couple Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) and Jake Adler (Alec Baldwin) are at an anniversary party for another couple. We are introduced to Jake's wife Agnes (Lake Bell), the woman that Jake left Jane for. After ten years, Jane and Jake are able to finally get along. Jane leaves the party and drives home where her youngest daughter is packing up the car to leave for college. Her other two children, Lauren (Caitlin Fitzgerald) who is marrying Harley (John Krasinski of "The Office") and Luke (Hunter Parish of "Weeds") who is graduating from college are making Jane feel like her home is an empty nest. Jane also has a group of women that she confides in that includes Mary Kay Place, Alexandra Wentworth and Rita Wilson.

Everyone meets in New York for Luke's graduation and Jane is left to fend for herself for dinner as the kids go to a party. Jake sees her in the restaurant as Agnes did not attend, and they proceed to get drunk and sleep together. When they get home, Jake wants to continue, but Jane resists...briefly. Their children know nothing about their mother being their father's mistress except Harley who spots them checking into a hotel during lunch when he is meeting with Lauren and the wedding coordinator. Agnes realizes that Jake still loves Jane at a party at Lauren and Harley's and kicks Jake out of the house.

Jane is also interested in the architect who is designing her new kitchen addition, Adam (Steve Martin). Adam is sweet and newly divorced for a couple of years himself and is still having a hard time coming to terms with it.

Adam finds out that the person that Jane had sort of been seeing was her ex-husband Jake and stops seeing her when he sees a naked Jake on her bed while the computer is on (thanks Skype). The kids run into the bedroom when Jane screams after finding Jake on her bed and are upset as they are still recovering from the decade long divorce themselves.

Jane tells everyone that she is not with their father anymore. In the end, the remodel starts on Jane's house and Adam is there and they walk into her house with smiles.

The director, Nancy Meyers, has directed many romantic comedies such as "The Parent Trap", "Something's Gotta Give", and "The Holiday". She has been involved in several films that have had Diane Keaton in them including "Somethings Gotta Give", "Baby Boom" and both of the "Father of the Bride" movies.

I thought that this movie was entertaining and really funny in a couple of parts. Alec Baldwin can be quite funny. Everyone in this movie seemed to have quite a bit of money, never seemed to work and had loads of free time to do what they wanted. Why can't that be me?

Rumor has it that Meryl Streep may be nominated for best actress for this. I hope not since she was much better in "Julie and Julia".

Rated R. 120 Minutes. I give this movie THREE AND ONE QUARTER STARS.