Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen *

Overlong and overblown, the second Transformers movie delivers the battles and special effects that fans love, and satisfies at least on that level. "Transformers 2" picks up with Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) and girlfriend Mikaela Banes (the dewey Megan Fox) as Sam prepares to go cross-country to college. Alas, Sam's college career lasts all of two days as the Decepticons plot to capture him after he inadvertendly absorbs arcane Transformer lore and science.

Optimus Prime is called upon to lead an international force to fight Megatron and the Fallen and rescue Sam. There are complications along the way, of course, and everyone ends up either in the Gulf of Aden, southern Egypt, or the pyramids, which all somehow seem to have merged into the same place in a final extended, confused, and chaotic battle sequence that sorely tries one's tolerance for sand and smashing antiquities, not to mention the re-reappearance of Mom and Dad.

Josh Duhamel is suitably decorative as Major Lennox, who goes with his feelings and "trusts" Sam even though he is overruling the direct representative of the commander-in-chief. Ramon Rodriguez adds welcome color and contrast as Sam's Internet-savvy and Transformer-obsessed conspiracy buff college roommate. Attempts at humor with two slap-happy, jive-talking Transformers are embarrassing.

But any time the plot falters or we're tempted to wonder why an ancient race of space-faring robots would look just like a Camaro, a battle erupts. It's too bad Michael Bay lost the sense of discovery, wonder, and humor from his first "Transformers," and fell back on story gestures that fail to connect to each other, or to us, in the second.

Rated PG-13. 150 minutes. Michael Bay - Director, Ehren Kruger - Writer, Roberto Orci - Writer, Alex Kurtzman - Writer, Ian Bryce - Producer, Tom DeSanto - Producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura - Producer, Don Murphy - Producer, Ben Seresin - Cinematographer, Steve Jablonsky - Composer, Nigel Phelps - Production Designer, Roger Barton - Editor, Thomas A. Muldoon - Editor, Joel Negron - Editor, Paul Rubell - Editor. Produced by Dreamsworks SKG and Paramount Pictures. Distributed in the U.S. by Dreamsworks SKG.

Principal actors: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Benjamin Hickey, and John Turturro.

The Proposal **

Although enlivened by real chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds onscreen, "The Proposal" is a slight and only slightly amusing romantic comedy. The situation - a pushy book editor forces her assistant to marry her in order to avoid deportation - propels the couple into situations with his family that force her to get to know him for the first time. She is of course older than he, but luckily she looks like Sandra Bullock and he is just as adorable. The family characters are fine, especially Betty White as the grandmother, although it's too bad you've already seen all of her good lines in the previews. I'm glad to see Ryan Reynolds make the transition to leading man. This is a diverting bit of fluff for a summer's rainy afternoon, with two very attractive main characters.

Rated PG-13. 108 minutes. Anne Fletcher - Director, Peter Chiarelli - Writer, David Hoberman - Producer, Todd Lieberman - Producer, Oliver Stapleton - Cinematographer, Aaron Zigman - Composer, Nelson Coates - Production Designer, Priscilla Nedd-Friendly - Editor. Produced by Kurtzman/Orci, Mandelivve Films, and Touchstone Pictures. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Pictures.

Principal actors: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelsonn, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O'Hare, and Betty White.

The Hangover ***

Raunchy, well-executed, outrageous fun, "The Hangover" will make mega-millions for Warner Brothers and a star of Bradley Cooper. Like "Wedding Crashers" before it, "Hangover" takes an off-kilter look at a common American nuptial custom. This time it's the bachelor party, when three friends of the groom wake up in a Las Vegas hotel room without their groom and with no memory of what happened the night before. And while there's no groom, there is a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in the closet. The trio must re-trace their steps, figure out where they misplaced the groom and how they acquired said tiger and baby. The back stories, characters they meet, and twists and turns keep you laughing. And the ever-approaching wedding hour keeps up the suspense. It's not a great movie, but it sure as hell is funny.

Rated R. 100 minutes. Todd Phillips - Director / Producer, Jon Lucas - Writer, Scott Moore - Writer, Daniel Goldberg - Producer, Lawrence Sher - Cinematographer, Christophe Beck - Composer, Bill Brzeski - Production Designer, Debra Neil-Fisher - Editor. Produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal actors: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, and Jeffrey Tambor.