The Postman

Not to be confused with "Il Postino" (not that you would, mind you), this one is the post-apocalyptic tale of a man (Kevin Costner) who finds a dead mail carrier's pouch, pretends to be him, and reminds everyone in the year 2013 how nice 1997 was. This movie is most likely doomed to failure, given the "reverse Midas touch" Costner seems to have these days, but the real surprise here is that it ain't all that bad.

You've already seen all the hokey parts in the trailer, and though those scenes suck to be sure, the rest is a fairly engaging tale of a ragtag cadre of young idealists who want to bring a sense of communication and order to the Oregon wilderness. The story is actually pretty good—and if you know when to hide your eyes from the schmaltz, you may even end up enjoying yourself.

With Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams and Tom Petty (playing himself, in the logical conclusion of the "You Got Lucky" video).

—Ian Williams

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