The Best and Worst Dollar Movies of 2006

It’s the end of 2006 and time for the best and worst lists.

The Dollar Movie Reviewer has been filling notebooks and now he looks back at the Dollar Movies that made him laugh (Cars), cry (The Lake House) and wince in pain (Zoom).

Plus, there’s a bonus list of movies that, er, didn’t make any other list. That’s why I call it the “Didn’t Make any Other DollarMovieReview.net List.”

What about you, is there a Dollar Movie that should be on a list but isn’t? Be sure and comment.

DollarMovieReview.net Top Five Family Films

Cars. The best animated film in a year full of animated films. Pretty to look at and as fun as a ride in a convertible, it doesn’t quite measure up to the Pixar classics.

Over the Hedge. Smart and funny, it needled fat people (like me) a little too much.

How to Eat Fried Worms. A boy’s movie that reminds us, in Hallie Kate Eisenberg’s words that, “boys are so weird!”

The Ant Bully. Like Monster House, Ice Age, and Barnyard, it’s an imperfect animated movie that eventually rewards you.

Ice Age: The Meltdown. As slow-moving as a glacier, but the warmth of the movie helps melt the ice.

DollarMovieReview.net Top Five Film Films for Parents

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Thrills from the opening to the closing credits, just too intense and gruesome for young children.

Invincible. Inspiring as a session with Tony Robbins.

The Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep is a force of nature and Anne Hathaway is a breath of fresh air.

The Lake House. The romance and genuine chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves see you through the muddled space-time continuum parts.

Superman Returns. A rousing reworking of the original Superman, it would be on the family list if not for a scene where Superman takes a vicious beating.

DollarMovieReview.net Bottom Five Dollar Movies

Zoom. Don’t let this Tim Allen dog bark its way into your DVD collection.

Lady in the Water. A dripping wet mess from the usually reliable M. Night Shyamalan.

Flicka. The cast can’t bring enough life to this dying horse.

Talladega Nights. I laughed, heaven help me, at this thin movie and equal-opportunity offender.

Failure to Launch. A funny movie that could have and should have been rated R.

Didn’t Make any Other DollarMovieReview.net List

Nacho Libre. You either get it or you don’t. I saw it as a goofy silent movie with plenty of slapstick to go around.

Monster House. Starts strong but wheezes to its finish.

Barnyard. Don’t get me started on the topic of male cows with udders.

Flyboys. A ‘war is hell’ movie that’s satisfying even while it’s ghastly in its depictions of death in war.

The Da Vinci Code. The pacing is steady and the acting is confident. But it never made my heart race. The central premise is offensive to Catholics and others.

The Guardian. It drags and too much time is spent in training, but the movie depicts heroism like it hasn’t been seen since John Wayne quit making movies.