Anna Faris’ wig in “The Dictator” made fans snippy

Anna Faris, the love interest for Sacha Baron Cohen in “The Dictator” (opening today), says it was fun not to play the blonde for once. “I do have short brown hair in the film,” the rom-com regular confirms, “and I love how it swept the …

Jennifer Lopez recalls a concert with a pregnant pause

For Jennifer Lopez, starring in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (opening Friday) brought back memories of her own time with child. “I was on tour until I was 61/2 months pregnant,” she says. “I did have the forgetfulness.” One night on stage, “I looked …

Depp little threat to ‘Avengers’

“The Avengers” mounted its first defense of the box office, flicking off “Dark Shadows” as if it were a puny human. The comic-book adaptation thundered to another record, capturing $103.2 million and an easy first place, according to studio estimates. Its haul marked the highest …

J. Lo just another single mom, only famous

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — J. Lo is on a high. She will tell you that life has never been better. “I’m in the zone,” says the former Jenny from the Block. “I honestly feel good about everything. My life is going so well and I …

Rat Pack in MacLaine’s past, ‘Abbey’ in her future

In her new film “Bernie,” Shirley MacLaine plays a widow so mean that when she’s murdered, no one wants to lock up her killer. The Oscar winner took the role for one simple reason. “I love to play evil bitches,” she says with a delicious …

Many find an ‘Exotic’ alternative to the Hulk

‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” drew a crowd by daring to open the same day as “The Avengers,” the first blockbuster salvo of the summer season. A tea-time tonic about British retirees who head off to India, the film collected an impressive $737,000 at just …

Chloe Grace Moretz: Her mom is totally over it

Playing a petulant teenager in “Dark Shadows” (opening Friday), Chloe Grace Moretz had to confine her attitude to the set — per orders of an authority higher than director Tim Burton. That would be Moretz’ own mother. “I perfected the best angst-ridden, sick-of-it-all eye roll …

New on DVD: In stores next week

‘Albert Nobbs’ ★★★

(2011, Lionsgate; R, 113 min.) Glenn Close gives one of her best performances as a woman living as a man in order to keep a job as a butler and waiter in a Dublin hotel. She lives in constant dread of being …

Family fare: Movie reviews for parents

Assessments from a parent’s perspective of new and recently released movies:

‘Dark Shadows’

Rated PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking.

Translation: Ghoulish plot concerns vampires, ghosts and witches. Some stylized but graphic horror-style violence. Characters injured and killed. …

Chace Crawford’s gift to Anna Kendrick: lap dance by a 60-year-old

Chace Crawford knows how to give a gal a present — that she doesn’t really want. Anna Kendrick, his co-star in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (opening May 18), recalls a cast outing to a strip club. “This woman dressed as Little Bo-Peep came …

It wasn’t lust at first bite for Johnny Depp’s revamped Barnabas

In “Dark Shadows,” Johnny Depp sinks his teeth into a big, sweaty construction worker, and “quite honestly, I felt as if I was biting one of the Village People.”

Film academy unveils new outdoor Hollywood theater

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The film academy is opening an outdoor theater in Hollywood and inviting tourists and locals to enjoy movies there this summer.

Academy president Tom Sherak unveiled the screening space Monday and announced the “Oscars Outdoors” film series to begin June 15 …

There goes the ‘Neighborhood’ as Ben Stiller’s movie changes its name

“Neighborhood Watch” now will be known as just “The Watch.” Fox said Friday that the name of the film starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn as suburban neighborhood watch volunteers who uncover an extraterrestrial plot was changed in light of the shooting of unarmed black …

Past labors prepared ‘Glee’ actor Matthew Morrison for pregnancy film

He’s not a dad himself, but Matthew Morrison didn’t go totally cold into his paternal new film role. In “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (opening Friday), he’s awaiting a baby with partner Cameron Diaz. “My dad is a midwife,” he says. “So this project …

Will Smith kisses and tells about Tommy Lee Jones of ‘Men in Black’

Tommy Lee Jones is a tough Texan even off screen. How does Will Smith break the ice with his taciturn “Men in Black” co-star? “I just kiss him,” Smith jokes, adding “Tommy Lee is actually hilarious in his own right.” Has the Fresh Prince ever …