Drillbit Taylor — Paramount Pictures

Owen Wilson is back in this week’s new comedy, Drillbit Taylor, a John Hughes film, slapstick style.

Wilson is hired by two freshmen who are tired of being bullied after just the first day of high school.  He’s supposed to protect them, teaching them to defend themselves.  Unfortunately, those are skills he, himself, doesn’t have.
This film has so much going for it.  Well, other than Owen Wilson.  Unless, of course, you like Owen Wilson.  Then, it’s got everything going for it.

The great John Hughes came up with the idea for this film several years ago.  Judd Apatow, the Superbad guy, developed it.  And, as he’s apt to do, Apatow put it in the hands of Seth Rogen, who wrote Superbad, and Kristofor Brown.  Add Steve Brill, the director behind “Without a Paddle.”  Uh, nevermind.

Shutter — 20th Century Fox

If you’d rather laugh with fear, then Shutter might be more your style - another Asian horror import.  And, do we really need another one?

This time, it’s not a deadly videotape nor a catlike pale child nor a dripping apartment we must fear.  It’s ghostly images in photographs taken by an American couple honeymooning in Tokyo.  (So, is the moral of these stories that Americans should never go to East Asia?)  But, in true Asian horror style, they must solve the mystery behind the images in order to get a Scooby Snack.  Or, something like that.

This one stars Joshua Jackson, of Dawson’s Creek fame, or non-fame, depending on what you thought of that show.

It’s a little too familiar, for my taste.  But, fans of Asian horror imports may like it.

Of note, the original was made in Thailand, not Japan, as you’ll likely hear.