Movie Recommendations: Week of April 24

The Best Movies in Theaters

'State of Play'

Release Date: April 17

Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams headline this slick and twisty yet convoluted political thriller about deep-seated corruption in DC and a villainous weapons contractor that bares an uncanny resemblance to Halliburton. Also a love letter to good ol' fashion newspaper investigative journalism, it won't be confused with 'All the President's Men' anytime soon, but it's 10 times smarter than most big-budget Hollywood product. -- Kevin Polowy



• Get showtimes and tickets

'17 Again'

Release Date: April 17

Zac Efron impresses in his first non-'HSM' big-screen vehicle. He's the teenaged version of Matthew Perry, who goes back to high school to find out why things went so wrong in his life. The movie's got enough broad comedy to entertain the boys, enough romance -- and Zac! -- to make the girls happy. And the gratuitously shirtless Efron in the opening scene? We don't think many will complain. -- Angie Argabrite



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Is Anybody There?'

Release Date: April 17

Michael Cain shines as a retired magician who, battling senility and crippled by regret, is forced to live out his final days at an old-folks' home. 'Son of Rambow' wunderkind Bill Milner -- in just his second film ever -- matches the acting legend every step of the way, turning in a touching performance as the 10-year-old boy whose friendship reminds Caine just how magical life can be. -- Tom DiChiara



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Observe and Report'

Release Date: April 10

Don't call 'Observe & Report' "the other mall-cop comedy"; call this Seth Rogen-starrer "a dark, twisted, sick, weird mix of black comedy, violent action and pathetic character drama." Watch it at your own risk. (And this is from someone who actually liked it.) -- Angie Argabrite



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Anvil! The Story of Anvil'

Release Date: April 10

This highly buzzed-about rock doc tells the true story of -- you guessed it -- Anvil, the Canadian metal band that influenced Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth (among others), but never caught a break or hit it big. Despite metal's vast decline, over-50 "rock stars" Lips and Robb Reiner are still trying. Playing out like a true-life 'Spinal Tap,' a less-hostile 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster' and, at times, a hilarious bromance, 'Anvil' is a can't-miss for music lovers. -- Kevin Polowy



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Adventureland'

Release Date: April 3

Greg Mottola's follow-up to last summer's raunchy hit 'Superbad' isn't a 1987-set version of that film (sorry, McLovin fans). Instead, it's a funny, sad, nostalgic look back at that transformative summer between college and real life, as seen through the eyes of an uptight grad (the excellent Jesse Eisenberg) who finds meaning and love (with 'Twilight' starlet Kristen Stewart, no less) in the unlikeliest of places: working as a carnie in Pennsylvania. -- Tom DiChiara



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Sugar'

Release Date: April 3

Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the husband-and-wife filmmaking team behind the 2006 gem 'Half Nelson,' deliver another indie diamond in the rough with this baseball drama that follows a young Dominican's path from homeland to Heartland (Iowa, to be specific) in hopes of making it to the show. Perhaps the most realistic portrait of the pro sport's inner-workings, 'Sugar' is like baseball's narrative equivalent of 'Hoop Dreams.' -- Kevin Polowy



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Monsters vs. Aliens'

Release Date: March 27

There's plenty to like in this cute, entertaining animated 3-D movie, from Seth Rogen's sweetly idiotic (it isn't his fault -- he doesn't have a brain), gelatinous B.O.B. to Reese Witherpoon's Susan, an almost-50-foot woman who kicks some alien butt and saves the world. Your kids will enjoy seeing this motley assortment of monsters bond, fight, bicker and triumph; you'll enjoy seeing Stephen Colbert as president of the United States (finally!). -- Patricia Chui



• Get showtimes and tickets

'I Love You, Man'

Release Date: March 20

Think the Jon Favreau phone call scene from 'Swingers' was awkward? This flick is like one long extended version of that, except with two heterosexual dudes on either end of the line. Paul Rudd is brilliant as a guy in search of a best man for his wedding who strikes up a rapturous bromance with charming guy's-guy Jason Segel. Each of their "man dates" takes the awkwardness -- you just can't write some of the nonsensical crap Rudd's character spouts -- and the comedy to dizzying new heights. And while their platonic love affair is peppered with plenty of penis, fart and Lou Ferrigno jokes, the most shocking thing about the film is ultimately that it's so heartfelt. -- Tom DiChiara



• Get showtimes and tickets

'Duplicity'

Release Date: March 20

'Michael Clayton' meets 'Ocean's 11' in this cracklingly smart movie from 'Clayton' director Tony Gilroy. And it isn't until you soak up the sharp writing, clever plot twists, sizzling chemistry between Clive Owen and Julia Roberts (oh, how we missed you, Jules), and impeccable casting -- the slo-mo fight between Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson, as rival CEOs, is alone worth the price of admission -- that you'll realize what Gilroy has given us is that rare and precious gift: a thriller for grown-ups. -- Patricia Chui



• Get showtimes and tickets