How to Eat

Fried Worms

Rated PG

You gotta see this if: You like a deep fried Twinkie with your escargot.

final analysis: *** Though not as high on the icky scale as a typical episode of “Fear Factor,” “How to Eat Fried Worms” is not a movie for the gastronomically weak. Based on the classic kids book, this movie tells the story of a fifth grade boy who is terrorized by the resident bully at his new school. In an effort to gain popularity, he accepts the bully’s dare that he eat 10 worms in one day prepared in a variety of inventive ways. Hey, if French fried worm doesn’t turn your stomach, maybe worm ala marshmallow fluff will do the trick. He finds a cheerleader in former Pepsi girl, Hallie Kate Eisenberg and chows down his challenge with enthusiasm. This movie works because the child actors are portrayed with more authenticity than most kid movies today. They’re allowed to be kids instead of clichés. The adult roles in the movie are throwaways, but thankfully most of the focus is on the kids. It’s definitely a film aimed at adolescents with its feel-good theme paired with creepy crawly fun. But for adults who love kids, “Fried Worms” is full of charm. However, you may want to save your snacks until after the movie.

Invincible

Rated PG

You gotta see this if: You’d run naked through the snow for seats on the 50-yard line.

final analysis: ***

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a sports fan. I don’t follow football or baseball and I don’t care if 7-foot-tall men can throw balls through hoops. So my enthusiasm at seeing yet another underdog makes good sports movie was tepid at best. However, Mark Wahlberg’s biceps won me over. Just kidding. His acting is pretty good, too. “Invincible” is the based-on-a-true-story movie about Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender who tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles and made the team becoming the oldest rookie in NFL history. “Invincible” doesn’t win any points for originality, but it racks them up for presentation. Both Mark Wahlberg in the lead role and Greg Kinnear as the Eagles new coach give inspiring performances. The film also does an excellent job of immersing its audience into 1976 South Philly with its steel workers on the unemployment line and a soundtrack to make you boogie. Oh, I’m still not a football fan, but “Invincible” manages to give a tired formula new life. Football fans should be pleased and the rest of us can enjoy the strong characters and their bun-hugging uniforms.

Material Girls

Rated PG

You gotta see this if: You’re Paris Hilton’s biggest fan.

final analysis: * If you’ve ever watched “The Simple Life” you’ve seen more than this deeply awful movie has to offer. It’s not merely bad, it’s smother-me-with-a-pillow-just-to-make-it-stop bad. Haylie and Hilary Duff play the Marchetta sisters, spoiled heiresses to a cosmetics fortune. When a TV exposé links Marchetta cosmetics to facial disfigurement, the celebutantes find themselves instantly friendless and penniless. Apparently, neither of them bothered to keep any cash in their Hermés bags. Nor did they have any friends willing to put up with their frozen asse(t)s. Left with nothing but the Dolce and Gabbana on their backs, the sisters must struggle with such hardships as riding the bus and washing dishes. Of course, they bravely muddle through while searching for a way to clear their name, restore their fortune, and find cute boyfriends. The plot is horrendous enough; pairing it with actresses who have little comedic flair make it a movie to stay far away from. However, if you need another reason to give this immature and offensive flick a pass, the Duff sisters perform Madonna’s “Material Girl” song in a way that ruins it more than a fabric store commercial ever could. “Immaterial Girls” would be a more appropriate title.