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The Judge: Too Many Issues In One Film

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's a crowded weekend at the box office with several new movies in theaters today. One of the most-anticipated is "The Judge," starring Robert Downey, Jr.

Downey stars as slick Windy City lawyer Hank Palmer. His father is the judge of the small town of Carlinville, Indiana, where Hank grew up with his dad, his mother and his two brothers. Vincent D'Onofrio stars as Hank's older brother, Glen, and Jeremy Strong stars as Hank's younger brother, Dale.

The three brothers reconnect after Hank's 20-year absence. Hank is a big city lawyer and he only returns home to attend his mother's funeral. While there, a man is killed, and the judge is charged with the man's murder. The relationship between Hank and his dad is not a very good one, to say the least, so this story revolves around their strained relationship as well as Hank's attempts to defend his dad, Hank's relationships with his brothers, and with a former girlfriend.

As if that's not enough, the story also tackles the judge's bout with cancer -- as well as a one-night stand with a young woman he meets in a bar. Honestly, it's enough to make your head spin.

On the other hand, all of the actors do a phenomenal job. Downey and D'Onofrio are fantastic, as are Robert Duvall as the judge, Vera Farmiga, Dax Shepard, Jeremy Strong -- as Hank's mentally-challenged younger brother -- and Billy Bob Thornton as Hank's courtroom adversary.

But, there's just too much going on in this film and at over 2-1/2 hours, it's entirely too long.

I'm a fan of Robert Downey Jr., but instead of paying to see him in "The Judge," I would cross my fingers and hope he decides to return to the big screen as Iron Man.

See you at the movies!

Be sure to tune in to WWJ Newsradio 950 every Friday at 2:40pm for my weekly look at the movies with Midday Anchor Jackie Paige.

Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee

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