In Theaters: January 17th, 2014

This week there are four wide releases with two punny titles!.  And I'm late posting this.

Devil's Due

It's no secret I don't like most horror movies.  This one is not likely to be an exception.

The premise is simple, some lady gets pregnant and it turns out she's pregnant with the/an anti-Christ.  And it's presented in the massively over-used found footage format.  Because, as you know, when your wife is pregnant with Satan your first instinct is to get the camera.

Get it though?  Devil's Due?  Get it?  Punny!

Devil's Dues is directed by two people who have directed one other film together, 2012's V/H/S.  Are you ready for this?  V/H/S is a found footage horror movie about found footage horror.  How original, right?  Wow.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

I'm biased the other way with this one.  I really like the older Jack Ryan movies, so I hope this one is good.  And early reviews are positive.

Kenneth Branagh directed it, Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, and Kenneth Branagh star, and David Koepp was involved with writing it.  You may not know this but that is a recipe for success.

This is the first Jack Ryan movie that is not based on a book, it's just based on the characters created by Tom Clancy, but, again, David Koepp was involved so the story shouldn't be lacking.  I actually don't know the premise, but I do know it's some kind of origin story, and for Jack Ryan that means going from CIA pencil pusher to CIA operative.  Probably.  General Espionage action stuff.  Should be good.

The Nut Job

This one has a great premise, for whatever that's worth.  A squirrel manages to lose all the nuts that he and his family/friends have collected and therefore must steal some other nuts.

Get it?  Nut Job?  The Nut Job?

The voice talent is undeniable.  Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, and others.  It's a first time director though, and early reviews are not great.  To attract Liam Neeson to your movie used to be a feat in and of itself, but then Taken happened and he decided he wanted paychecks more often.

Ride Along

I don't even know what to say about this movie.  I didn't think anything of it until I just watched the trailer and I will not deny it made me laugh.  There are a lot of Kevin Hart fans out there and I'm sure every one of them will enjoy this thoroughly.  And Ice Cube is Ice Cube.

Director Tim Story is known for several forgettable movies.

      The one.  The only.  Big Shot Critic