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In this follow-up to THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, the four heroines find themselves drifting apart the summer after their first year of college. Quirky Tibby (Amber Tamblyn, JOAN OF ARCADIA) is stuck taking summer school classes at NYU, while the commitment-phobe in her struggles with her relationship with Brian (Leonardo Nam). Independent Bridget (Blake Lively, GOSSIP GIRL) takes a break from playing soccer at Brown University to work on an archaeological dig in Turkey. Quiet Lena (Alexis Bledel, GILMORE GIRLS) still misses her Greek love, Kostos (Michael Rady), but her drawing classes at the Rhode Island School of Design–and the man she meets there–keep her distracted. Meanwhile Carmen (America Ferrera, UGLY BETTY), who had hoped to spend her summer with her best friends, begins working at a Vermont theater festival with some surprising results. As each of them takes her turn wearing the magical pants of the first film, they realize that it isn\’t just distance that is separating them. <br><br>For fans of the Ann Brashares\’s novels on which this film and its predecessor are based, THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 presents a welcome reunion with beloved characters. These are four well-drawn (and well-cast) young women who experience real problems that add depth to the film\’s comedy. But even with the drama, this is more GILMORE GIRLS than GOSSIP GIRL. Though there\’s plenty of talk of love à la SEX AND THE CITY, Tibby, Bridget, Lena, and Carmen have issues and identities outside of the men in their lives. But that doesn\’t mean that there isn\’t space for squeals and sighs when things do go right for the girls romantically.

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While nearly all Will Ferrell\’s films are enjoyable on some level, they tend to fire on all cylinders when Adam McKay is involved. McKay co-wrote and directed ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY and TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, two of Ferrell\’s most popular and consummately hilarious films. McKay reteamed with not only Ferrell for STEP BROTHERS, but also Ferrell\’s co-star in TALLADEGA NIGHTS, John C. Reilly (who has steadily proven himself to be one of Hollywood\’s most versatile actors); and though STEP BROTHERS may be the most threadbare of the three movies on which the duo have collaborated, it\’s arguably their best.<br><br>The plot is about as simple as they come: Brennan Huff (Ferrell) and Dale Doback (Reilly) are deadbeat man-children thrown together when the single parents with whom they live marry. The two initially despise one another, but become fast friends over a shared love of ninjas, COPS, porno mags, and the comforts of living in the fantasy world of a prolonged adolescence. What makes STEPBROTHERS so much fun, however, has nothing to do with story or script; rather, it\’s McKay\’s foresight to step back and let Ferrell and Reilly run wild. The duo kick and punch, fart and burp, laugh and cry, yet somehow elevate such banalities to a level of grotesque poetry, hitting upon what feels like an entirely new comedic language. When the pair act like children, they are not presenting themselves as immature adults, but are literally acting like children, meticulously duplicating everything from the fears and concerns to the speech patterns and awkward physicality of children. It sounds simple enough, but it requires a dexterity and sense of timing and delivery that is actually quite amazing. In the end, STEP BROTHERS is really nothing more than an absurd comedy; then again, isn\’t that what they called WAITING FOR GODOT?

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Filled with spectacular action and sharp banter, THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR finds the dashing Rick and Evelyn O\’Connell (Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello, who took over for Rachel Weisz) called upon for another world-saving adventure. The film opens in 50 B.C., when the ruthless Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) seeks to conquer one last enemy, death, and become an immortal ruler. But when the Emperor betrays an obliging sorceress (Michelle Yeoh), he and his army are cursed to spend an eternity in statuesque limbo. Fast forward to 1946, when Rick and Evelyn are struggling to adapt to their self-imposed retirement. But the fates have other plans, and soon the O\’Connells are crossing paths with their somewhat estranged son, Alex (Luke Ford). While enthusiastically carrying on the family\’s tomb-raiding traditions, Alex has unwittingly brought the Dragon Emperor back to life. With the world in peril, the O\’Connells must overcome their differences to prevent the Dragon Emperor from gaining immortality for himself and his army. Along the way they\’re joined by a mysterious young woman (Isabella Leong), a wily pilot, and a trio of Abominable Snowmen. Jumping from Shanghai to the Himalayas to the Chinese desert, director Rob Cohen (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS) takes audiences on a breathless adventure that continues THE MUMMY\’s love of quick wits, close calls and big battles. The result is a spirited romp that proves evil is no match against a family united.

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With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime…until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace–Batman\’s most personal and vicious enemy yet–he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront everything he believes.

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Reuters - Former NBA star Charles
Barkley could be getting some golfing tips via a project in
development at Golf Channel.

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