A 2006 First: An Excellent Movie Weekend

When even Robin Williams is starring in an entertaining comedy, you know the mojo is really going strong.

After catching "Stick It" - unscreened in Tucson - at the first show today, I've made the amazing discovery that April 28 will go down as the first Friday of the year with universally strong wide release openings. At least in my opinion, but let's get real here - whose voice besides mine matters when it comes to film criticism?

If that joke doesn't make you laugh, head to theaters to check out "R.V." - it may be a dumb, predictable family comedy, but it's more entertaining and witty than it has any right to be. Williams is in the finest comic form I've seen him since "Good Morning Vietnam."

Also, the best movie of the year so far, "United 93" makes it launch, and there's an inspirational spelling bee drama, "Akeelah and the Bee," that makes like "Karate Kid" on the preteen academic competition circuit.

The biggest surprise outside of the non-suckiness of "R.V." is the success of "Stick It." Jessica Bendinger's gymnastics-set drama is a compelling, flashy piece of work, with a visual flair that marks Bendinger as the female answer to McG. While that might not necessarily be taken as a compliment, I really mean it as one. The difference between McG and Bendinger is that Bendinger can write, while McG can't even find a decent script. Both know how to make their visuals, camera angles and set pieces explode like a Pop Rocks and soda cocktail. It also helps that "Stick It" takes a hard twist in the third act that adds depth and a biting sports-political bent.

What a nice bright spot this weekend is, in a year filled with Big Momma's Houses, Pink Panthers and Basic In... wait, I so thoroughly forgot about that last one I can't even remember the full title.