Director: Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz [which was pretty good, but this is only his third film)
Stars: Michael Cera (Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Death Proof, Final Destination 3)
YesNoSoso: 2
I don't usually do this, but a blog I read, Filmdrunk, reviewed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (here) and said everything I think of this movie much more elegantly than I ever could. I loved it. I might even give it an Emphatic 2 (I did). A movie littered with video game imagery and tongue-in-cheek video game references, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World executes its intended style with perfection. Edgar Wright's finished product is unlike any film ever made and is wildly entertaining. I know this is terse and uninformative. Just read the review at Filmdrunk or better yet, go see it.
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Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comedy. Show all posts
8/19/10
Away We Go (2009)
Director: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition [both amazing])
Stars: John Krasinski ("The Office", It's Complicated)
Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy, Grown-ups)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its hard to go wrong with a film directed by Sam Mendes and written my Dave Eggers (and his wife), but apparently Away We Go just didn't jive with audiences. I thought it was really funny. Not in the belly-laughter style of The Hangover or Old School, but in a familiar and comforting way. Krasinksi's true talents lie not in timing or any other classical comedic skills. His strength is his likability. I know this sounds like a knock but it is not, he somehow creates characters (I'm sure its mostly just him) that make you want to hang out with him (and not in the "I'm kickin it with a movie star" way). When he's on the screen, I feel like I'm just hanging out with him cracking jokes and that is a very powerful tool when creating comedy. Maggie Gyllenhall, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan add to the color of the film with amazingly portrayed eccentric characters.
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Stars: John Krasinski ("The Office", It's Complicated)
Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy, Grown-ups)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its hard to go wrong with a film directed by Sam Mendes and written my Dave Eggers (and his wife), but apparently Away We Go just didn't jive with audiences. I thought it was really funny. Not in the belly-laughter style of The Hangover or Old School, but in a familiar and comforting way. Krasinksi's true talents lie not in timing or any other classical comedic skills. His strength is his likability. I know this sounds like a knock but it is not, he somehow creates characters (I'm sure its mostly just him) that make you want to hang out with him (and not in the "I'm kickin it with a movie star" way). When he's on the screen, I feel like I'm just hanging out with him cracking jokes and that is a very powerful tool when creating comedy. Maggie Gyllenhall, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan add to the color of the film with amazingly portrayed eccentric characters.
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7/8/10
Used Cars (1980)
Director: Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Death Becomes Her)
Stars: Kurt Russell (Deathproof, Captain Ron)
Jack Warden (Dirty Work, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing [I've never heard of it but look at that title!])
YesNoSoso: 2
I cannot believe that there was a movie this funny (with a semi-recognizable cast) that I'd never heard of. I didn't even know it was a Robert Zemeckis joint til the end credits. Kurt Russel plays a slimy, but lovable, used car dealer who needs ten grand to bribe his way into the State Senate. Obviously hijinks ensue. The humor is surprisingly crass and advanced for a movie this old and it contains all the attention to detail that Zemeckis' films are known for.
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Stars: Kurt Russell (Deathproof, Captain Ron)
Jack Warden (Dirty Work, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing [I've never heard of it but look at that title!])
YesNoSoso: 2
I cannot believe that there was a movie this funny (with a semi-recognizable cast) that I'd never heard of. I didn't even know it was a Robert Zemeckis joint til the end credits. Kurt Russel plays a slimy, but lovable, used car dealer who needs ten grand to bribe his way into the State Senate. Obviously hijinks ensue. The humor is surprisingly crass and advanced for a movie this old and it contains all the attention to detail that Zemeckis' films are known for.
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7/6/10
Youth in Revolt (2009)
Director: Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl [which was alright], nothing else I've heard of except a TV episode here and there)
Stars: Michael Cera (Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist)
Portia Doubleday (nothing I've ever heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was much more serious than I anticipated. Ray Liotta, Zack Galifianakis, Jean Smart, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard and Justin Long
complete the ensemble cast in what could best be described as a dark comedy. Every scene with Francois Dillinger (Michael Cera's alter ego) was absolutely amazing and the dialog was surprisingly witty and quick. But the movie as a whole didn't pack a lot of laughs for my taste and I was never quite clear on the point of everything. Michael Cera plays a white trash loser trying to get laid. If that's the whole point of the movie then I guess I didn't miss it, but I'm not sure it warranted a whole movie.
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Stars: Michael Cera (Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist)
Portia Doubleday (nothing I've ever heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was much more serious than I anticipated. Ray Liotta, Zack Galifianakis, Jean Smart, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard and Justin Long
complete the ensemble cast in what could best be described as a dark comedy. Every scene with Francois Dillinger (Michael Cera's alter ego) was absolutely amazing and the dialog was surprisingly witty and quick. But the movie as a whole didn't pack a lot of laughs for my taste and I was never quite clear on the point of everything. Michael Cera plays a white trash loser trying to get laid. If that's the whole point of the movie then I guess I didn't miss it, but I'm not sure it warranted a whole movie.
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7/1/10
Mystery Team (2009)
Director: Dan Eckman (his first full length feature)
Stars: Donald Glover ("Community", nothing else really)
Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation", Funny People [which was pretty good])
YesNoSoso: 2
I checked this movie out because I think "Community" is the funniest show on TV, and in particular the interaction between Troy and Abed. Donald Glover plays Troy and is a member of the comedy troupe Derrick Comedy along with D.C. Pierson and Dominic Dierkes. Mystery Team is Derrick Comedy's first full length feature and it was pretty darn good. My high expectations for this movie were mitigated by terrible looking previews. The end product was extremely good. Its pretty silly and probably not the type of comedy that will appeal to everyone, but I found it to be quite witty in its stupidity.
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Stars: Donald Glover ("Community", nothing else really)
Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation", Funny People [which was pretty good])
YesNoSoso: 2
I checked this movie out because I think "Community" is the funniest show on TV, and in particular the interaction between Troy and Abed. Donald Glover plays Troy and is a member of the comedy troupe Derrick Comedy along with D.C. Pierson and Dominic Dierkes. Mystery Team is Derrick Comedy's first full length feature and it was pretty darn good. My high expectations for this movie were mitigated by terrible looking previews. The end product was extremely good. Its pretty silly and probably not the type of comedy that will appeal to everyone, but I found it to be quite witty in its stupidity.
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6/28/10
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Director: Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas [which was quite good], nothing else really)
Stars: Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad [both of which were great])
Kat Dennings [The House Bunny, Big Momma's House 2 [both of which were terrible])
YesNoSoso: 0
Horrible, just horrible. The only saving grace was that the movie is essentially a Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle set during a night out in NYC. The visiting of so many familiar and famous NYC spots was pretty cool and Michael Cera gives a great performance, but its really hard to buy him as the object of someone's unbridled lust. All the other characters in the movie act completely illogically. The character that Kat Dennings plays is really embarrassed that her father is a very famous producer and yet completely without provocation brings her new love interest, Michael Cera, to her father's studio. Michael Cera's extremely shallow ex is a fellow classmate of Kat's character and is constantly ragging on her for the benefits she enjoys due to having a famous father, such as skipping every velvet roped off line. Wouldn't someone who can get you into any exclusive club in the city be someone a shallow person would make nice with? The movie is rife with actions by its characters that make little to no sense and there are really no other redeeming qualities. Plus Jay Baruchel is completely unbelievable as a tough guy.
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Stars: Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad [both of which were great])
Kat Dennings [The House Bunny, Big Momma's House 2 [both of which were terrible])
YesNoSoso: 0
Horrible, just horrible. The only saving grace was that the movie is essentially a Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle set during a night out in NYC. The visiting of so many familiar and famous NYC spots was pretty cool and Michael Cera gives a great performance, but its really hard to buy him as the object of someone's unbridled lust. All the other characters in the movie act completely illogically. The character that Kat Dennings plays is really embarrassed that her father is a very famous producer and yet completely without provocation brings her new love interest, Michael Cera, to her father's studio. Michael Cera's extremely shallow ex is a fellow classmate of Kat's character and is constantly ragging on her for the benefits she enjoys due to having a famous father, such as skipping every velvet roped off line. Wouldn't someone who can get you into any exclusive club in the city be someone a shallow person would make nice with? The movie is rife with actions by its characters that make little to no sense and there are really no other redeeming qualities. Plus Jay Baruchel is completely unbelievable as a tough guy.
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6/25/10
Black Dynamite (2009)
Director: Scott Sanders (Thick as Thieves [I've never heard of it and he's only directed 2 movies])
Stars: Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight, Exit Wounds)
Tommy Davidson (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls [which was aight], Booty Call)
YesNoSoso: 2
The funniest, most creative movie I've seen in years. A fake blaxploitation movie that drifts between ludicrous spoof and tongue-in-cheek "seriousness" with a few little gimmicks thrown in to complete the 70's look (at one point a boom mic falls into the shot). The supporting cast is a collection of b-list, but totally under-rated comedic actors including Arsenio Hall, Mike Starr, Nicole Sullivan, Cedric Yarbrough and Bokeem Woodbine (OK, he's not really a comedic actor, but still awesome). I could wax poetically about this movie for days, but just watch it and I guarantee you'll start quoting it incessantly. If any one wants any action on this movie becoming a cult classic I'm taking all bets...
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Stars: Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight, Exit Wounds)
Tommy Davidson (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls [which was aight], Booty Call)
YesNoSoso: 2
The funniest, most creative movie I've seen in years. A fake blaxploitation movie that drifts between ludicrous spoof and tongue-in-cheek "seriousness" with a few little gimmicks thrown in to complete the 70's look (at one point a boom mic falls into the shot). The supporting cast is a collection of b-list, but totally under-rated comedic actors including Arsenio Hall, Mike Starr, Nicole Sullivan, Cedric Yarbrough and Bokeem Woodbine (OK, he's not really a comedic actor, but still awesome). I could wax poetically about this movie for days, but just watch it and I guarantee you'll start quoting it incessantly. If any one wants any action on this movie becoming a cult classic I'm taking all bets...
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Ghost Town (2008)
Director: David Koepp (Stir of Echoes [which was mediocre], Secret Window)
Stars: Ricky Gervais (Stardust, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian)
Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, You've Got Mail)
YesNoSoso: 0
It's not that I thought this movie was bad. Ricky Gervais is indisputably a comedic genius and it has a solid supporting cast, Tea Leoni, Aasif Mandi, and Kristin Wiig, but the movie just didn't really come together. I smirked at the scene with Wiig (cause she's incredible) and the enormous hospital lawyer explaining to Gervais's character that he died for a short period of time but there wasn't really a single moment that I laughed out loud. I debated giving this a YesNoSoso 1 because I was mildly amused during the 2 hours, but when I consider what I could've been watching I realized my, and your, time could be much better spent.
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Stars: Ricky Gervais (Stardust, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian)
Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets, You've Got Mail)
YesNoSoso: 0
It's not that I thought this movie was bad. Ricky Gervais is indisputably a comedic genius and it has a solid supporting cast, Tea Leoni, Aasif Mandi, and Kristin Wiig, but the movie just didn't really come together. I smirked at the scene with Wiig (cause she's incredible) and the enormous hospital lawyer explaining to Gervais's character that he died for a short period of time but there wasn't really a single moment that I laughed out loud. I debated giving this a YesNoSoso 1 because I was mildly amused during the 2 hours, but when I consider what I could've been watching I realized my, and your, time could be much better spent.
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Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Director: Kevin Smith (Dogma, Jersey Girl)
Stars: Seth Rogan (Superbad, You, Me and Dupree)
Elizabeth Banks (Wet, Hot American Summer, Meet Dave)
YesNoSoso: 2
This was the most commercially unsuccessful movie for both Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan and I think its among both of their bests (I think it is by far Seth Rogan's best movie). It's the second of Smith's movies to exist outside of the so-called View-Askewniverse and the realistic air of Zack and Miri is what I believe makes it so special. It has that same brand of Clerks style humor and dialog but in a much more believable setting. Kevin Smith's movies are generally very polarizing; people either love him or hate him. I enjoy them because they employ an intelligent dialogue about everyday topics and because Smith creates genuinely funny movies that have actual stories and character development. Zack and Miri Make a Porno represents a great step forward in Kevin Smiths development as a director (unlike Jersey Girl).
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Stars: Seth Rogan (Superbad, You, Me and Dupree)
Elizabeth Banks (Wet, Hot American Summer, Meet Dave)
YesNoSoso: 2
This was the most commercially unsuccessful movie for both Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan and I think its among both of their bests (I think it is by far Seth Rogan's best movie). It's the second of Smith's movies to exist outside of the so-called View-Askewniverse and the realistic air of Zack and Miri is what I believe makes it so special. It has that same brand of Clerks style humor and dialog but in a much more believable setting. Kevin Smith's movies are generally very polarizing; people either love him or hate him. I enjoy them because they employ an intelligent dialogue about everyday topics and because Smith creates genuinely funny movies that have actual stories and character development. Zack and Miri Make a Porno represents a great step forward in Kevin Smiths development as a director (unlike Jersey Girl).
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Zombieland (2009)
Director: Ruben Fleischer (his first movie, has directed some very funny online shorts)
Stars: Woody Harrelson (White Men Can't Jump, EdTV)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, The Village)
YesNoSoso: 2
Hell F@$#ing Yeah. This movie was amazing. I'm not gonna claim this should've won the Palm D'or or anything, but it was one of the greatest movie experiences I've ever had. It was fun, scary, heart-warming and hilarious. It also has one of the greatest cameos of all time. I'm not even gonna say anything else about it, just go see this movie immediately, you'll want to hit the menu and watch it again.
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Stars: Woody Harrelson (White Men Can't Jump, EdTV)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, The Village)
YesNoSoso: 2
Hell F@$#ing Yeah. This movie was amazing. I'm not gonna claim this should've won the Palm D'or or anything, but it was one of the greatest movie experiences I've ever had. It was fun, scary, heart-warming and hilarious. It also has one of the greatest cameos of all time. I'm not even gonna say anything else about it, just go see this movie immediately, you'll want to hit the menu and watch it again.
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6/23/10
Adventureland (2009)
Director: Greg Mottola (Superbad, "Arrested Development" [both awesome])
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, The Village)
Kristen Stewart (Panic Room [which was 'aight], Twilight)
YesNoSoso: 1
Adventureland was a movie Greg Mottola had in his backpocket while he was filming other people's dreams. After the success of Superbad, Mottola got a shot to shoot his movie, his way. The result is an entertaining coming of age story. Jesse Eisenberg (the poor man's Michael Cera), Kristen Stewart (in all her lip-biting glory) and Ryan Reynolds play the same characters they play in every one of their projects, but conveniently, are perfectly cast in their roles. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig continue their streak of never not being funny.
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Stars: Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, The Village)
Kristen Stewart (Panic Room [which was 'aight], Twilight)
YesNoSoso: 1
Adventureland was a movie Greg Mottola had in his backpocket while he was filming other people's dreams. After the success of Superbad, Mottola got a shot to shoot his movie, his way. The result is an entertaining coming of age story. Jesse Eisenberg (the poor man's Michael Cera), Kristen Stewart (in all her lip-biting glory) and Ryan Reynolds play the same characters they play in every one of their projects, but conveniently, are perfectly cast in their roles. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig continue their streak of never not being funny.
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5/28/10
Hot Rod (2007)
Director: Akiva Schaffer (He's one third of Lonely Island and directed some SNL)
Stars: Adam Samberg (I Love You Man, I haven't seen any of his other movies)
Ian McShane (Sexy Beast, Agent Cody Banks)
YesNoSoso: 2
Surprisingly hilarious considering it basically got zero fanfare. From this movie, MacGruber and the SNL Digital Shorts, Andy Samberg and his fellow Lonely Island members are, at this point in their careers, a difficult-to-deny force in comedy. Bill Hader, Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Isla Fischer and the third member of Lonely Island Jorma Taccone round at a great cast that really plays off each other nicely.
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Stars: Adam Samberg (I Love You Man, I haven't seen any of his other movies)
Ian McShane (Sexy Beast, Agent Cody Banks)
YesNoSoso: 2
Surprisingly hilarious considering it basically got zero fanfare. From this movie, MacGruber and the SNL Digital Shorts, Andy Samberg and his fellow Lonely Island members are, at this point in their careers, a difficult-to-deny force in comedy. Bill Hader, Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Isla Fischer and the third member of Lonely Island Jorma Taccone round at a great cast that really plays off each other nicely.
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12/28/09
Accepted (2006)
Director: Steve Pink (I've never seen his other 2 films but he directed the awesome looking Hot Tub Time Machine)
Stars: Justin Long (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Herbie Fully Loaded)
Jonah Hill (Superbad, Evan Almighty)
YesNoSoso: 1
I definitely went into this movie with the dread associated with a guaranteed YesNoSoso 0 but actually enjoyed myself. Lewis Black gives an expectably funny performance and I'll be darned if I don't just like Justin Long for an inexplicable reason. Accepted has its funny moments but I really give it props for being unashamedly critical of the American collegiate system and the process's required for acceptance.
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Stars: Justin Long (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Herbie Fully Loaded)
Jonah Hill (Superbad, Evan Almighty)
YesNoSoso: 1
I definitely went into this movie with the dread associated with a guaranteed YesNoSoso 0 but actually enjoyed myself. Lewis Black gives an expectably funny performance and I'll be darned if I don't just like Justin Long for an inexplicable reason. Accepted has its funny moments but I really give it props for being unashamedly critical of the American collegiate system and the process's required for acceptance.
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Year One (2009)
Director: Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Bedazzled)
Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Michael Cera (Superbad, "Arrested Development" [clearly awesome, he hasn't really been in anything bad that I've seen])
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was a real surprise. I had heard so many horrible things about it, I may have enjoyed myself purely out of surprise, but I did. It had a lot of funny moments and a lot of tongue in cheek bible/geeky history jokes. The movie has a great cast including Black, Cera, David Cross (my personal messiah), Oliver Platt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Paul Rudd, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Olivia Wilde, and Bill Hader. If you are in the mood for a dumb comedy thats not too dumb, check out Year One.
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Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Michael Cera (Superbad, "Arrested Development" [clearly awesome, he hasn't really been in anything bad that I've seen])
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was a real surprise. I had heard so many horrible things about it, I may have enjoyed myself purely out of surprise, but I did. It had a lot of funny moments and a lot of tongue in cheek bible/geeky history jokes. The movie has a great cast including Black, Cera, David Cross (my personal messiah), Oliver Platt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Paul Rudd, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Olivia Wilde, and Bill Hader. If you are in the mood for a dumb comedy thats not too dumb, check out Year One.
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Extract (2009)
Director: Mike Judge (Idiocracy, "King of the Hill")
Stars: Jason Bateman ("Arrested Development", Teen Wolf Too)
Kristin Wiig (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Semi-Pro)
YesNoSoso: 2
Mike Judge does an amazing job of capturing the essence of unintelligent. From Beavis & Butthead, to everybody in Idiocracy to the factory workers in Extract, Judge is incredible at painting hilariously stupid but very frustrating characters. The critics didn't love Extract, but I did. The phenomenal cast of Bateman, Wiig, Judge, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, Gene Simmons and the wildly underrated J.K. Simmons and David Koechner all give great performances and I believe Extract is Judge's most complete script.
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Stars: Jason Bateman ("Arrested Development", Teen Wolf Too)
Kristin Wiig (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Semi-Pro)
YesNoSoso: 2
Mike Judge does an amazing job of capturing the essence of unintelligent. From Beavis & Butthead, to everybody in Idiocracy to the factory workers in Extract, Judge is incredible at painting hilariously stupid but very frustrating characters. The critics didn't love Extract, but I did. The phenomenal cast of Bateman, Wiig, Judge, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, Gene Simmons and the wildly underrated J.K. Simmons and David Koechner all give great performances and I believe Extract is Judge's most complete script.
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12/27/09
Waiting...(2005)
Director: Rob McKittrick (directorial debut and hasn't (wisely) been given another chance)
Stars: Justin Long (Idiocracy, Alvin and the Chipmunks)
Ryan Reynolds (Dick, Blade: Trinity [soooo many choices...])
YesNoSoso: 0
Writing about YesNoSoso 0's is always one of two scenarios: either I don't have enough space to say all the things about the movie that pissed me off or I have nothing to say at all. This is of the latter. I didn't hate Waiting... and perhaps that's why I don't have much to say about it. I just wish I hadn't watched it. The cast is actually pretty good, besides the anti-chris...I mean Dane Cook. The solid cast of Long, Reynolds (who I love but hate most of the movies he's in), Luis Guzman, David Koechner and Anna Farris aren't enough to save this horrible movie.
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Stars: Justin Long (Idiocracy, Alvin and the Chipmunks)
Ryan Reynolds (Dick, Blade: Trinity [soooo many choices...])
YesNoSoso: 0
Writing about YesNoSoso 0's is always one of two scenarios: either I don't have enough space to say all the things about the movie that pissed me off or I have nothing to say at all. This is of the latter. I didn't hate Waiting... and perhaps that's why I don't have much to say about it. I just wish I hadn't watched it. The cast is actually pretty good, besides the anti-chris...I mean Dane Cook. The solid cast of Long, Reynolds (who I love but hate most of the movies he's in), Luis Guzman, David Koechner and Anna Farris aren't enough to save this horrible movie.
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True Lies (1994)
Director: James Cameron (Terminator 2, Titanic)
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Total Recall, Batman & Robin)
Jamie Lee Curtis (Trading Places, Freaky Friday)
YesNoSoso: 2
True Lies is the movie I always forget when I'm blasting James Cameron. This movie is absolutely incredible and really one of a kind. Its almost as if Cameron tricked Schwarzenegger into doing this movie. True Lies is essentially a satire of Arnold's movies, but its also (in my opinion) his best one. It pulls off the ultra-rare feat of trying to satirize a specific genre of movie, being successful and also making a great movie WITHIN the genre it was trying to satirize. I would imagine if I told 1000 people that I believe James Cameron has only one Emphatic 2, I'd get a whole lot of Terminator 2's, some Aliens, a few Titanics and an Abyss or 2, but not a single True Lies. (BTW if your curious T2 is a begrudged 2 (I don't think its stood the test of time), Aliens and Titanic are f-ing zeros and I don't remember the Abyss enough to give it a rating [not a good sign]).
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Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Total Recall, Batman & Robin)
Jamie Lee Curtis (Trading Places, Freaky Friday)
YesNoSoso: 2
True Lies is the movie I always forget when I'm blasting James Cameron. This movie is absolutely incredible and really one of a kind. Its almost as if Cameron tricked Schwarzenegger into doing this movie. True Lies is essentially a satire of Arnold's movies, but its also (in my opinion) his best one. It pulls off the ultra-rare feat of trying to satirize a specific genre of movie, being successful and also making a great movie WITHIN the genre it was trying to satirize. I would imagine if I told 1000 people that I believe James Cameron has only one Emphatic 2, I'd get a whole lot of Terminator 2's, some Aliens, a few Titanics and an Abyss or 2, but not a single True Lies. (BTW if your curious T2 is a begrudged 2 (I don't think its stood the test of time), Aliens and Titanic are f-ing zeros and I don't remember the Abyss enough to give it a rating [not a good sign]).
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Harold & Kumar Escape from Gauntanamo Bay (2008)
Director: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (directorial debut, they wrote this as well as the original)
Stars: John Cho (Better Luck Tomorrow, In Good Company)
Kal Penn (Van Wilder [a...decent movie], Son of the Mask)
YesNoSoso: 1
I really wrestled with this rating, cause I thought the movie was a huge disappointment, but then I wised up and realized I was just comparing it to the original, which I loved. I finally arrived at the fact that I enjoyed the 2 hours and was just being stubborn. Heck I could watch Rob Corddry make funny faces for 2 hours and be entertained. Overall though, this sequel is just too haphazard for my tastes. Nothing really makes sense and things are way too convenient, even for a absurd comedy such as this.
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Stars: John Cho (Better Luck Tomorrow, In Good Company)
Kal Penn (Van Wilder [a...decent movie], Son of the Mask)
YesNoSoso: 1
I really wrestled with this rating, cause I thought the movie was a huge disappointment, but then I wised up and realized I was just comparing it to the original, which I loved. I finally arrived at the fact that I enjoyed the 2 hours and was just being stubborn. Heck I could watch Rob Corddry make funny faces for 2 hours and be entertained. Overall though, this sequel is just too haphazard for my tastes. Nothing really makes sense and things are way too convenient, even for a absurd comedy such as this.
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10/12/09
Observe and Report (2009)
Director: Jody Hill ("Eastbound and Down", The Foot Fist Way [I've never seen it, but its the only other thing he's directed])
Stars: Seth Rogan (Superbad, Horton Hears a Who!)
Anna Faris (Brokeback Mountain, My Super Ex-Girlfriend)
YesNoSoso: 1
I always say: I'll give a movie more credit if it tries something new and fails then if its just regurgitated hackneyed bullshit (I'm looking at you Couple's Retreat). Observe and Report definitely fits the former. Its a super dark comedy that, I felt, was pretty light on the comedy. It tried but just failed. However I'm willing to admit I may not have been in the right state of mind for its humor and would be remiss not to mention that I said the same thing the first time I watched Anchorman. So check it out, but don't expect much.
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Stars: Seth Rogan (Superbad, Horton Hears a Who!)
Anna Faris (Brokeback Mountain, My Super Ex-Girlfriend)
YesNoSoso: 1
I always say: I'll give a movie more credit if it tries something new and fails then if its just regurgitated hackneyed bullshit (I'm looking at you Couple's Retreat). Observe and Report definitely fits the former. Its a super dark comedy that, I felt, was pretty light on the comedy. It tried but just failed. However I'm willing to admit I may not have been in the right state of mind for its humor and would be remiss not to mention that I said the same thing the first time I watched Anchorman. So check it out, but don't expect much.
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10/5/09
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Director: Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, some other British crap I've never heard of)
Stars: Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run)
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, nothing else I've ever heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
Not as good as Shaun of the Dead. I realize movies should stand alone when being critiqued, but you, myself and everybody else who saw this movie was likely hoping to see Shaun of the Dead II. Maybe not as a plot extension but as a vehicle of similar humor and wit. Hot Fuzz isn't that movie. Don't get me wrong: its not bad and I did enjoy my 2 hours, but its simply not that funny and/or clever. See it, but don't go out of your way to rent it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run)
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, nothing else I've ever heard of)
YesNoSoso: 1
Not as good as Shaun of the Dead. I realize movies should stand alone when being critiqued, but you, myself and everybody else who saw this movie was likely hoping to see Shaun of the Dead II. Maybe not as a plot extension but as a vehicle of similar humor and wit. Hot Fuzz isn't that movie. Don't get me wrong: its not bad and I did enjoy my 2 hours, but its simply not that funny and/or clever. See it, but don't go out of your way to rent it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
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