The REEL Addict 

Usually these days trailers are a decent barometer for whether a movie is any good or not (maybe that’s because increasingly trailers reveal the entire movie, but that’s a rant for another time). If it looks dumb, it usually is. Sometimes even if it looks great, it disappointingly turns out to be dumb.Every now and then though, a rare film comes along that looks just like a complete, silly waste of time in a trailer, but actually proves to be a great little film when watched. This year that’s happened to me twice.

I thought KUNG FU PANDA looked like it would be infantile, and conventional, and too reliant on Jack Black’s manic humor. Instead, it proved to be one of the most entertaining , fun and heart warming films I’ve seen all year.

The same went for HORTON HEARS A WHO. Dr. Seuss’ adaptations are rarely successful (see the garish Ron Howard GRINCH movie) and this one seemed to be patronizing, unintelligent family film fair. Also, the prospect of a typically unbridled Jim Carrey voicing an animated character (as if the real Carrey weren’t enough of one already) seemed immediately off-putting. Also his history with Dr. Seuss wasn’t exactly encouraging (see the garish Ron Howard GRINCH movie).  

Yet, color me surprised that HORTON HEARS A WHO proved to be not only incredibly loyal to Dr. Seuss (whether it be this specific work, or his particular style), but endearingly all-ages fun, with a shockingly penetrating, positive message. It was, in short, a great little film.

So, now I turn to you folks. Have there been any films that you thought looked horrible in a trailer, but when you actually watched it you ended up loving it?