Date Night20th Century Fox
“Date Night” provides audiences with the long-awaited pairing of comedy gurus Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Carell and Fey work their usual farcical magic on screen, but the screwball comedy elicits just as many eye rolls as it does laughs. “Date Night” has some genuinely funny moments, mostly powered by the film’s stars — including the leads and a handful of A-list supporting players such as James Franco and Mark Wahlberg — but the script never gains a consistent pace or rhythm. A plethora of unnecessarily dramatic moments are thrust into the mediocre slapstick vehicle.
M. Jacobs
C+
Dr. DogShame, ShameAnti
Dr. Dog maintains its calm psychedelic-rock style on fourth studio album “Shame, Shame.” The Philadelphia quintet continues to channel The Beatles and The Beach Boys in the same distinctively appealing way for which it’s known. On this effort, the band sounds the savviest and sweetest it has in its nearly decade-long career. Richly clever lyrics and bouncy beats make the album pleasantly listenable, and tracks “Later” and “Jackie Wants a Black Eye” offer fun, ideal entries in the band’s impressive indie-rock catalog.
M. Jacobs
A-
 
How to Train Your DragonDreamWorks Animation
In DreamWorks’ latest computer-animated film, a Viking boy named “Hiccup,” who has always felt out of place in his community of dragon-slayers, sets out to prove his worth. Loosely based on Cressida Cowell’s 2003 book with the same title, “How to Train Your Dragon,” is a fun adventure for kids and adults alike. The visual effects are stunning, and the flight scenes are almost as amazing as the ones in James Cameron’s “Avatar.” The film was made for a younger crowd, but the beautiful animation and clever script will appeal to audiences of all ages. 
E. Clausen
A
Clash of the TitansWarner Bros. Pictures
“Clash of the Titans,” a remake of the 1981 cult favorite, is often bombastic and wrought with forgettable lines and a sagging plot line. Greek god Zeus (Liam Neeson) is the adoptive father of mortal Perseus (Sam Worthington), who is caught in the middle of an epic war between the gods and humans. The film is overrun with middling and frantic battle scenes, overzealous dialougue and a misguided notion of drama. Neeson seems to mail in his performance as the legendary Zeus, producing laughably unintentional comedy. Without much substance or plot to rely on and suprisingly uninspiring visuals — CGI effects, 3D added post-production — “Clash of the Titans” flounders..
C. Abshire
D+
SlashSlashEMI Records
If anything, Slash’s solo album proves he’s a songwriter capable of weaving through several different genres, but it also shows why he flourishes with a band rather than on his own. This self-titled record, influenced by the likes of Keith Richards and Joe Perry, mostly rehashes cliche rock ‘n’ roll elements instead of breaking new ground. To his credit, Slash said his only aim was to have a creative outlet outside of a band. But this album leaves much to be desired despite all the talent at his disposal — including Ozzy Osbourne, Adam Levine and Fergie.
B. Bourgeois
C-
David Byrne and Fatboy SlimHere Lies LoveNonesuch Records
“Here Lies Love” is the product of five years of collaboration between former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and acclaimed English DJ Fatboy Slim. It is a two-disc album based on the life of Imelda Marcos, the notorious first lady of the Philippines. At its best, the record features rollicking fusions between electronic disco and 1970s-era funk. A slew of female guest vocalists, such as Tori Amos, Sharon Jones and Santigold, often steal the show and give the concept album extra depth.”Love”‘s breezy choruses and Latin minimalism offset the few moments of indulgence, making the collaboration both rewarding and fresh.
C. Abshire
B