MLive New Movies Podcast MLive.com

This week, Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and pal Cory Olsen cut through the hype in the New Movies Podcast by addressing a big question: Is "Iron Man 2" all that we expect it to be? In addition to what could be the year's biggest movie, they discuss new documentary "Babies" and director Bong Joon-ho's excellent "Mother" (which opens this weekend at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids).

So, how does the new remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" stack up to the original? That's the topic addressed this week in the New Movies Podcast. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer pal Cory Olsen tackle Freddy Krueger, new releases "Furry Vengeance," "Greenberg" and "The Art of the Steal," and new DVD titles.

Is Jennifer Lopez's "The Back-up Plan" yet another formulaic romantic comedy? Is Disney's Earth Day doc "Oceans" yet another boring nature documentary? Is the entire "Red Riding" trilogy worth the time and effort? Do we really need to buy "Avatar" on DVD? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba answers these questions and more in the New Movies Podcast with producer Cory Olsen adding his commentary, too.

So, does "Kick-Ass" live up to its title? Yes. No. Maybe. The critics are divided, and Grand Rapids Press film reviewer John Serba and podcast pal Cory Olsen discuss the more controversial elements of the new teen-superhero satire. Also on the agenda are "Red Riding: 1974," which opens at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts this weekend, "Death at a Funeral" and new DVD releases.

This week's New Movies Podcast is all about dynamic duos: One is comedic, as Steve Carell and Tina Fey have a quip-off in "Date Night."



The other is dramatic and musical, as Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart play punk rockers Cherie Currie and Joan Jett in "The Runaways."



Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer Cory Olsen discuss the aforementioned in this week's New Movies Podcast. Serba also raves about the pairing of Nicolas Cage and director Werner Herzog in "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," new on DVD.

Does "Clash of the Titans" live up to the hype? Does Miley Cyrus have the chops to handle weepie Nicholas Sparks adaptation "The Last Song"? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and podcast producer pal Cory Olsen address these questions -- and peruse new DVD offerings -- in this week's New Movies Podcast.