Underrated/Overrated

UNDERRATED

‘Ruby Sparks’: The story of a shy novelist whose written ideal of a woman comes to life, this lightly twisted romantic comedy directed by the team from “Little Miss Sunshine” is a summer surprise. Led by the fragile charm of Paul Dano (who could be this generation’s John Cusack) and screenwriter-costar Zoe Kazan, the movie overcomes a few plot holes with the help of scene-stealing cameos from Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas and the reliably fantastic Steve Coogan.

Jason Lytle: The leader of indie rock band Grandaddy, the Modesto-born Lytle earned raves in the early ‘00s for albums such as “Sumday” and the recently reissued “The Sophtware Slump,” a lushly atmospheric record that questioned the technology age with vintage synthesizers and sweetly sad melodies. After a breakup, Grandaddy is on tour with a stop at the Fonda on Aug. 13; hopefully, these shows and a new solo album will bring Lytle back to prominence.

OVERRATED

Standards as a career move: Like the last refuge of a scoundrel, just about every rock star past his or her prime feels a sudden urge to plunder the vintage pop songbook for one last run at the limelight. Most recently tackled by the Eagles’ Glenn Frey, these recordings could stem from a desire to establish a newfound musical maturity, but given Rod Stewart’s success (five bland volumes and counting), the urge to fatten one’s wallet seems most prominent.

‘Total Recall’ (1990): The Colin Farrell-led remake of this film landed with a thud last weekend, so it’s time for the truth to be told: It wasn’t all that good in the first place. The Philip K. Dick source material gives the story literary cred, but the results were B-movie action tarted up with a plot twists, the special effects weren’t terribly special even in its day (remember the eye-popping asphyxiation scene?), and at this point, the less said about the star the better.

chris.barton@latimes.com