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By The Tampa Tribune | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 31, 2008

THE COMEBACKS

Although there is plenty of room for parody in the inspirational sports genre, the world will have to wait a little longer for the definitive spoof. In the meantime, there is this ho-hum attempt to send up the familiar storylines — down-on-his-luck coach, ragtag squad of underdogs, the big game — plus a few on-the-nose references to recent athletically inclined films, which is not really the same as making jokes.

PG-13; 84 minutes

DADDY DAY CAMP

If seeing Cuba Gooding Jr. fawn all over Michael Jordan in those underwear ads hasn't sated your appetite for the former's manic clowning, you won't want to miss this sequel to "Daddy Day Care," in which Gooding Jr. attempts to fill the void left by original star Eddie Murphy, who for some mysterious reason wasn't available this time around. Oh, this time they take care of kids outdoors.

PG; 89 minutes

THE INVASION

The old story about body-snatching pods gets trotted out again, with updated special effects and metaphorical significance (epidemics, government conspiracy and so on). Ice maiden Nicole Kidman is the shrink trying to unravel the mysterious plague of zombielike behavior — a nicely ironic bit of casting. Also on board are Daniel Craig and Jeremy Northam as the men in her life. (And we're supposed to pity her?)

PG-13; 93 minutes

FEEL THE NOISE

Not nearly as exciting as the musical movement it purports to serve, this melodrama overlays a bag full of cinematic cliches on a reggaeton beat. Omarion Grandberry ("You Got Served") flees to his native Puerto Rico after getting shot at during a hip-hop performance. On the island, he reconnects with his family and discovers a lucrative new style. But will he survive the choppy waters of the music industry, male bonding and improbably hot girlfriends?

PG-13; 87 minutes

LADRON QUE ROBA A LADRON

In this Latino take on the comic caper a la "Ocean's Eleven," charismatic thieves disguise themselves as day laborers in order to rob a nasty infomercial tycoon. The film's title comes from the proverb about a thief who steals from a thief getting 100 years of forgiveness, and there's a definite Robin Hood vibe — they rob for a reason! The appealing cast is led by Fernando Colunga and Miguel Varoni.

PG-13; 98 minutes

THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS

Memo to Michael Moore: Sometimes the best subjects are not CEOs and senators but obsessive dorks like the competitive video gamers in this documentary by Seth Gordon. When unemployed science teacher Steve Wiebe attempts to usurp the title of greatest Donkey Kong player of all time, reigning champ Billy Mitchell is none too pleased. Their struggle has implications beyond the world of classic arcade games in this delightful study of a subculture.

PG-13; 79 minutes

Synopses by Amanda Henry; ratings from The Associated Press

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