This is one of them.
Last week in Los Angeles was very hot and sticky and uncomfortable. It was a humid reminder of where I come from...New York. In fact, TV weather people were bloviating that the current humidity in LA was currently the highest of any city in the US.
Hmmm. Back in the NY day, such weather would propel me to the Chilly Willy sign in my local cinema house.
"It's Komfortably Kool in Inside."
For some strange sensation in SoCal, I felt like I needed to go to a movie. There would be extra points if it was mindless. Your basic popcorn entertainment. Forget the fact that my apartment here has wonderful central air conditioning. I needed to lose myself in the dark for a few hours.
And that's how I wound up at "The End of Oak Street." And I'm glad I did because the film is perfect summer hot weather fare.
The first thirty or so minutes are quiet and almost boring. It's your typical suburban neighborhood. One family of two parents and two kids have their issues. Mom and Dad (Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor are on the edge of divorce.
And then there's some sort of cosmic event and, as the poster above shows, this movie becomes a little...not, a lot...different. Suddenly, it's an episode of "Thirtysomething" mixed with a season of "Stranger Things" mixed with about three "Jurassic Park" films. As a matter of fact, there are so dinosaurs in this one that even Steven Spielberg might feel inadequate.
Once the creatures appear, there are the usual set pieces where one member or another of the family needs to be saved. There is one big scare, accompanied by a super loud sound effect, that could have knocked the theater's AC off. And that wouldn't be a good thing.
As popcorn movies go, this is one you need to get with extra butter. And maybe some of that caramel seasoning. "The End of Oak Street" is worth the calories.
After all, you weren't going to exercise in this heat, were you?
LEN'S RATING: Three-and-a-half stars.
Dinner last night: Salad.
