Red Band Trailer for "Neighbors" - Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne and Zac Efron

The upcoming comedy film Neighbors will arrive in theaters next May courtesy of Universal Pictures. The films stars Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as young parents who have a fraternity move in next door to them. Zac Efron and Dave Franco co-star. Check out the promising trailer below.

New in theaters: "Now You See Me" - Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Morgan Freeman

Now You See Me......now you don't. I found myself hoping for the latter throughout this overly long and sometimes confusing effort from director Louis Leterrier. Despite an extremely talented cast, Now You See Me never realizes its full potential and wastes at least three talented actors, who are relegated to what seems like non-essential roles because they are off screen for long periods of time. In any event, the story centers around four magicians who are asked to meet at a mysterious address where they encounter each other with egos firmly intact and are treated to a unique visual spectacle, which leads to a offer for their combined services. While the foursome all are full of themselves, J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) is probably the most arrogant. However, he has the talent and intelligence to back up his boasting (don't you just hate people like that?)

Rounding out the group is a mentalist, Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), a street magician, Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and an escape artist, Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher). As you might expect, trust is an issue within the group, who are masters at manipulation and that results in several amusing exchanges. They are eventually christened the Four Horsemen (I suppose Henley is just "one of the guys") and, over time, they band together for a Las Vegas show and promise to thrill audiences by performing impossible illusions. One of those tricks involves a bank robbery, in France, which is conducted on stage in Las Vegas, seemingly during the show. When the bank is actually found to be robbed, the authorities become involved, including FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent). However, the tricksters always appear to be ahead of the aforementioned agents and make them repeatedly look like fools.

The flummoxed agents enlist the help of a former magician, Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who they hope can shed some light on the bank heist. Bradley is also acquainted with the person who is funding the Four Horsemen, Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), and they share a complicated and competitive history. However, the foursome eventually turn on Tressler, who vows revenge, but then disappears, just like magic! The balance of the film focuses on the efforts of the authorities to find out the truth behind the illusions and bring the foursome into custody, which is no easy feat.

From a technical perspective, Now You See Me looks slick and magical, as well as fantastic and contemporary. However, the convoluted plot and lack of focus hampers this effort, but to its credit, the final act manages to hold a couple of surprises. However, even an award worthy cast (who should have been given better material to work with) and the technical marvels cannot save Now You See Me from becoming a less than stellar magic act.

Movie Recommendation: "Warm Bodies" Starring Nicholas Hoult

Photo Credit: Summit Entertainment

Rrrrrrrrrrrrr
.....................Rrrrrrrrrr
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
.................Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That is how some zombies communicate in the upcoming film Warm Bodies. I suppose the only other people who might know what they are talking about are pirates. The film is, surprisingly, a zombie romantic comedy and showcases the power of love like never before. After a so-called zombie apocalypse of unknown origin, the undead are sealed off from their human counterparts. However, intermingling of the species still sometimes occurs and usually ends badly for the humans, as the shuffling zombies are tough to kill and enjoy feasting on human flesh and organs. During one such encounter, a zombie known as "R" (who also serves as narrator and cannot remember his name, but he knows it starts with an R), kills and then devours the brain of a young man, Perry (Dave Franco), and then proceeds to fall in love with Perry's girlfriend, Julie. Perry's brain allows R (Nicholas Hoult) to possess his memories and feelings, which initially sparks the attraction to Julie (Teresa Palmer).

Even more important is the fact that R's heart begins beating again, thanks to Julie's presence. As a result, he saves her from being killed by the other zombies and takes her to a safe location, inside an airplane, where they become acquainted. Julie is, of course, scared to death, but she is able to overcome her fear by helping R speak more clearly and getting to know him better. She is literally helping him change from zombie to human again. R also relies on music, including the songs "Patience" by Guns N' Roses and "Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen, to deal with his feelings for Julie. He is falling in love, while Julie is not sure what to make of the recent bizarre series of events. R and Julie face a difficult journey that is filled with threats from other zombies, as well as her own father, General Grigio (John Malkovich), who leads the crusade to eliminate the undead. However, R's transformation leads other zombies to begin to heal as well, prompting hope for a cure and the possibility for R and Julie to have a future together.

Writer/director Jonathan Levine has crafted a romantic, well acted and surprising film in Warm Bodies. My interest in the film was sparked by Nicholas Hoult, who has been delivering consistently good work since his role as Tony Stonem in the British television series Skins, and the commanding John Malkovich, who never disappoints. Hoult humanizes R as the film moves along and captures the hearts of viewers along the way. The sacrifices that he makes for Julie are truly romantic and viewers will root for the couple to overcome their problems and differences and find a way to be together. Of course, Teresa Palmer is the other half of that coin and she infuses Julie with warmth, patience and understanding, as she finds herself falling for someone quite different from her previous boyfriends. That is called the power of love and it is expressed honestly through Levine's pitch perfect screenplay.

Warm Bodies opens on February 1.