Worst of 2008

"The Love Guru" : Religious groups were worried about Mike Myers' film about a guru who helps a troubled hockey player, even before it opened. Don't bother - this film was so bad that people wisely stayed away. Besides, it wasn't offensive on religious grounds. It was offensive on comedy grounds. How bad? Elephant sex. That bad.

"Untraceable" : Diane Lane starred in what could have been a decent social commentary - a serial killer streams his deeds online - but is instead a nitwit caper film so ridiculous it makes CSI look like high art.

"Leatherheads" : Turns out George Clooney CAN do wrong. Certainly directing and starring in this madcap would-be comedy about the early days of professional football certainly did him no favors. A waste of John Krasinski, as well.


"Speed Racer" : If looks were all it took to make a movie great, this would be in the top 10, not the bottom. Unfortunately, there's a little more to it than that. The Wachowski brothers bring all the visual magic you'd expect from the Matrix guys, but things like acting and story got left by the side of the road.

"Jumper" : Decent premise - Hayden Christensen can "jump" from one place to another and finds out there are others like him who are hunted - that comes to nothing. The story doesn't make much sense, and, as it turns out, Christensen isn't much of an actor. Bad story, bad acting: bad combo.



"Street Kings" : Keanu Reeves stars as a detective mourning the death of his wife who must unravel all manner of police corruption, mostly by killing people. Violent, loud, stupid.



"Max Payne" : Maybe basing movies on video games isn't such a good idea? This would be Exhibit A. Mark Wahlberg plays a cop who runs afoul of just about everyone after his wife's death. All sorts of hallucinogenic images, very little else to care about.


"Death Race" : Could have been big dumb fun, in the manner of "Wanted" or the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Instead, it's just dumb, period, and a waste of Ian McShane, as well.

"What Happens In Vegas" : Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz play a couple who drunkenly marry in Vegas, win millions and promptly hate each other (each wants all the money). A judge orders them to live together; yes, it's that stupid. And predictable. Whatever the opposite of chemistry is, it's on full display here.



"Rambo" : Why? Really, that's all this comes down to. Why would Sylvester Stallone co-write, direct and star in a fourth installment of his angry-vet films? There's just no telling. John Rambo helps rescue missionaries in Burma, killing whoever gets in his way. You expected anything less (or, maybe, more)? Scariest news: HE MAY MAKE ANOTHER.