NEW YORK –– Put religion in retreat, erode ethics and let materialism run rampant, and what kind of entertainment will [...]

CAPUCHIN PROVINCE OF ST. JOSEPH The Capuchins are an international community of friars modeling themselves after St. Francis of Assisi. [...]

Brothers of Holy Cross The Brothers of Holy Cross, Midwest Province, are a society of lay religious men within the [...]

NEW YORK –– "Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better." Animated characters Grammy [...]

Tyler Perry and Gabrielle Union star in a scene from the movie "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.(CNS photo/Lionsgate)NEW YORK –– Less heavy-handed than the eponymous writer and director's other morality plays, but considerably slower in pace, "Tyler Perry's Good Deeds" (Lionsgate) focuses on a single relationship, and carries a steady reminder that the wealthy and powerful have to work much harder than the less privileged to approach the kingdom of Heaven.

Perry plays Wesley Deeds, a San Francisco tycoon who runs the computer software corporation founded by his father. He's saddled with an alcoholic, promiscuous brother (Brian White) who's as impulsive as Wesley is controlled, a glamorous fiancee (Gabrielle Union) who often takes advantage of Wesley's predictability to enjoy nights on the town by herself, and a domineering mother (Phylicia Rashad).

As in all of Perry films, the theme is laid out early and broadly and invites an obvious answer: "Am I living my own life, or the life I've been told to live?" Deeds asks in a voiceover as the story opens.

Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star in a scene from the movie "Wanderlust." The Catholic News Service classification is O [...]

On Feb. 8th, the Marquette Knights of Columbus hosted its annual Ciszek Lecture.  I, unfortunately, did not find out about [...]

NEW YORK –– As explained in an unusual prelude featuring its co-directors Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh, the earnest but graphically violent action film "Act of Valor" (Relativity) employs real-life, necessarily anonymous members of the Navy's elite SEAL unit to tell a fictional story dramatizing their off-screen work. The aesthetic results are, perhaps, predictable.

Lt. Rorke reacts to a grenade explosion in a scene from the film "Act of Valor." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (CNS photo, courtesy of IATM)When enacting the kind of combat operation at which they excel, the SEALs –– their moniker is an acronym for Sea, Air and Land teams –– are as convincing as one might expect. And their imaginary exploits are ably packaged by McCoy and Waugh.

But these suspenseful sequences are interspersed with a narrative maladroitly ramming home macho values as well as by the kind of banter that may build barracks camaraderie but does little to entertain moviegoers. As for the bloodletting toward which such scenes all too often lead up, it's portrayed unsparingly, limiting appropriate viewership to a minority of adults.