Director Rob Reiner gets back to funny business, sort of, in Alex and Emma (PG-13), a romantic comedy tinged with drama and the writing style of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, making it this year's only summertime movie able to make such an esoteric connection. Luke Wilson, left, plays Alex Sheldon, another writer in the movies with blocked creativity, who must complete his novel to pay off loan sharks within 30 days. He hires Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson, right) as stenographer to speed the process, but she also adds surprising creative assistance. Alex's book is set in the early 20th century, focused on a struggling author named Adam Shipley (also played by Wilson) in love with a French socialite (Sophie Marceau). He tutors her children, and she hires five au pairs (all played by Hudson) to take care of their other needs. While Alex and Emma hammer out the book's details in modern times, Adam and the fifth au pair, Anna, fall in love. Soon, Alex and Emma do the same thing. That's a roundabout way to romance, even for the movies, but with any luck Reiner will have a few tricks up his sleeve, a la The Princess Bride. Certainly we don't need another The Story of Us. Alex and Emma was screened too late for Weekend. See Friday's page 2B for a full review.
- STEVE PERSALL, Times film critic
Putting the squeeze on idolatry
Let's hope Simon Cowell gets a chance to review From Justin to Kelly, the cinematic fallout from the American Idol TV phenomenon he helped create. Nobody else did, even after the film's release was pushed back a week and a screening had been scheduled. The delay would have allowed Tampa Bay area critics to see the film and judge it. But Twentieth Century Fox postponed the screening a week, long enough to dodge reviews being published before opening day. Times readers will find a full review Saturday on Page 2B. Kelly is, of course, Kelly Clarkson, the world's most acclaimed karaoke singer after winning the first American Idol competition. Justin is, of course, Justin Guarini, the frizzy-haired runner-up. Their movie is reported to be a Miami beach party in the Frankie and Annette vein, with plenty of songs so a soundtrack CD can make a few bucks from hardcore fans. If it makes money, we can probably expect to see this year's top finalists, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, doing a Laurel and Hardy routine on screen next summer.
