The Judge - C+

Rated R, 142 minutes
Wes's Grade: C+

Downey and Duvall are terrific, but "The Judge" is too slick for its own good

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are two stellar actors, and they don't disappoint in the mildly entertaining but overlong, slick new drama "The Judge," which seems well-suited to the two actors talents, not to mention the fall movie-going season. Hank Palmer (Downey), who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town's judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall), is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before. Directed by David Dobkin ("Wedding Crashers") and co-written by Nick Schenk ("Gran Torino") and Bill Dubuque, "The Judge" is a well-acted but overlong drama that lacks efficiency and realism. It's one of those movies so slickly packaged and so designed to entertain yet so unrealistic that it's one of those "it only happens in the movies" type of movie chock full of contrivances, including the fact that Duvall's character is brought to trial so quickly that this legal system seems to exist in an alternate universe. But together the RD's - Downey and Duvall - have such a natural chemistry - that you can nearly forgive the fact that this wouldn't happen in real life. Duvall is always solid in his own cranky, fun way, but Downey is particularly effective as the slick lawyer with daddy issues, and he has some of "The Judge's" better moments. The film benefits from a strong supporting cast too, including two fine character actors - Vincent D'Onofrio and Jeremy Strong - who shine as the older and young, slower-witted brother, respectively; Billy Bob Thornton is also perfectly cast as another slick lawyer who gives Hank a run for his money. In addition, I love the talented but underused Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga as Downey's love interest, but to tighten it up a little, this romantic subplot (not to mention a couple of others that I won't spoil) really should've been cut from the movie. On that note, "The Judge" is about 20 minutes too long and the ending you can predict from the first moments that Downey and Duvall are onscreen together, though overall it has some enjoyable moments. There's no way this type of thing would ever really, truly happen, but the entertaining yet overlong "The Judge" has two actors you can count on in Downey and Duvall, and that could be enough for some. Sort of recommended, only for the Downey/Duvall pairing, but you'll be looking at your watch more than once.