“This place is like a Las Vegas casino. No windows. No Privacy and a shit load of money…Only difference is nobody here ever has any fun.”
“It’s like we’re stealing the same money over and over. In fact it’s not like stealing money at all. It’s more like recycling.”
Movie lines from Mad Money
Director: George Clooney
Starring: George Clooney, Rene Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, Stephen Root, Keith Loneker
Is George Clooney going through some kind of middle-aged nostalgia craze? Like The Good German, Leatherheads is a semi-successful attempt to re-capture the charm of a movie-making era long past. This time out, Clooney takes a shot at old-fashioned romantic comedies with one set at the dawn of the modern age of pro football, in 1925. There is plenty of spiffy dialog that loses a little in it’s overly-quick, too polished delivery, and usually results in a smile rather than a laugh. Clooney is, well exactly as Clooney is in most of his films. He is glib and charming and always seems to have a half smile on his face. Rene Zellweger overacts, as she often does and her unnaturally thin frame is really starting to look disturbingly mismatched with her round face. Her friends and family really need to dispatch an ambulance and rush her to the nearest White Castle for a bag of burgers. The story is mediocre formula work, that seems rushed and doesn’t always make sense, but isn’t too bad. Clooney’s direction does a commendable job of creating an idealized, stereotypical 1920s ‘aw shucks’ kind of setting, and is aided by Randy Newman‘s jazzy score. However the pace here is a trifle too fast and the characters don‘t always work, leaving me with the final impression that something was missing.
George Clooney is Dodge Connelly, an aging athlete, as well as some kind of manager/investor, who seems broke at one point, but somehow sells a watch or something and suddenly seems to have enough cash to run a team in the struggling young sport of pro football. His plan for success in this venture hinges on recruiting a college star, war hero named Carter ‘Bullet” Rutherford (John Krasinski), who is represented by a cliched snake of an agent, CC Frazier (Jonathan Pryce). Swishing into the picture, as well is an all too cocky, smirking female reporter named Lexie Littleton (Rene Zellweger) who is out to investigate Carter’s war hero claim. Oh yeah, Dodge also has some kind of issue with the growing number of rules in his evolving game. Leatherheads also offers up some trying-to-be-zany football scenes, but it’s been done before and done better.
Imagine Bull Durham set in the 1920s with a less-effective story revolving around football instead of baseball, and you have the closest comparison I can make for Leatherheads. Its interesting, but not interesting enough and tries to be funny, but isn’t funny enough. In the end, this seems like a film that I should like more than I did, but I don’t so I won’t be likely to see it again and I’m already forgetting it faster than Bullet’s legs and Dodge’s dialog.
Director: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns, Malin Akerman, Judy Greer
Choreographer turned director Anne Fletcher, did a commendable job with an amusing and clever screenplay, from Devil Wears Prada writer, Aline Brosh McKenna that easily won over the rom-com crowd. The smooth dialog dishes out more smiles than laughs, but still manages to gloss over the stereotypical characters and cliched romantic situations. The overall effect is a pleasant, polished and comfortable feature.
Katherine Heigl is Jane Nichols, a responsible and kind-hearted administrative assistant who is secretly in love with her boss, George (Edward Burns), and specializes in being the perfect bridesmaid (guess how many times she’s done it?), while awaiting for her turn to be the blushing bride. Her dream turns into a nightmare when her flighty sister, Tess (Malin Akerman from The Heartbreak Kid) and her secret love George, start a relationship and soon announce their engagement. While hiding her pain, poor Jane is also trying to duck out, as the subject of interest and affection of Kevin, a cynical but perceptive writer. There are some appealing scenes here, especially the montage of her trying on all of her dresses including one based on Gone With The Wind (movie-themed – Cool!). Judy Greer plays Jane’s friend, Casey and supplies most of the humor. It all leads pretty much where you expect it, too, but that’s ok. With films like 27 Dresses, its the journey that’s important, not the destination.
Arline Brosh McKenna lives up to the promise she showed in her Devil Wears Prada film with this light but entertaining comedy about the clumsy and curvy road to love and happiness. While lacking a character as interesting as Miranda Priestly and a performance as arresting as that by Meryl Streep, 27 Dresses is still an entertaining romantic comedy.
Director: David Schwimmer
Starring: Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel, Matthew Fenton
Writer/actor Simon Pegg split off from Edgar Wright, his partner from Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, to work with David Schwimmer from Friends, on this more mainstream romanatic comedy. There is a decent, but painfully predictable story to work with, and the talented cast pulls out some laughs, but in the end, there is little here to pull this romantic, race comedy ahead of the pack.
Simon Pegg is Dennis, and the story starts out five years earlier on his wedding day to the lovely, and pregnant, Libby, played by the lovely Thandie Newton. Poor Dennis feels overwhelmed, unfortunately, and instead of taking his vows, he takes the window and is last seen sprinting for safety. Fast forward five years and Dennis is prospering (not!) as a security guard at a woman’s lingerie store and has a relationship with his son, but regrets blowing things with Libby, who has hooked up with Whit, a handsome, successful hedge fund manager, who even runs marathons for charity. Who doesn’t feel awkward meeting their ex’s new bang boy? It is truly one of life’s most unpleasant moments, already, but what hope can Dennis have for winning back the woman he loves from a guy with such a cool name?
Run Fat Boy Run is a thoroughly entertaining, and completely forgettable British comedy. It should be good enough to get Schwimmer some more work, though, and it is nice to see a comedy that doesn’t come from the Apatow/Rogan Hollywood laugh machine.
Director: Steven Brill
Starring: Owen Wilson, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, Ian Roberts, David Dorman, Valerie Tien, Alex Frost, Josh Peck
Ahhh, the carefree, locker-slamming, change room-fearing days of high school. Really, for most of us, high school is the closest we will ever come to experiencing the violent, anything goes, prison environment. There is nothing more fun than seeing a bully take an ass whupping on film. True, they aren’t the bullies that I would like to see take an ass whupping, but still, it’s a start. Drillbit Taylor is the newest train car to be hooked up to the Judd Apatow comedy express. This guy puts out more video than You Tube. The uneven story that occasionally passes right by silly, on its way to stupid, is helped by some credible performances by the young cast, who actually look the age they’re playing, and by Owen Wilson’s usual entertaining work. Add this to some pretty funny scenes, including the best rap since 8 Mile, and you have a decent way to waste a Friday night.
Wade and Ryan (Nate Hartley and Troy Gentile) are a couple youngsters setting off to get a good start in high school, but a wardrobe malfunction and a poorly-timed hero impulse combine to quickly make them and Emmit (David Dorfman), the primary targets of a couple of begging-for-a-beating bullies played by Alex Frost and Josh Peck. The young victims hit on the solution of hiring a bodyguard and begin interviews, including one with the guy who played the bodyguard in My Bodyguard (Adam Baldwin). That was classic! They settle on the only one they can afford, a bs’ing homeless guy with plans for relocation to Canada, played by Owen Wilson.
There are some pretty funny scenes here, but the story could have used quite a bit more work. Maybe if this crew wasn’t shoving out comedies like fries at a drive through window, the quality could be picked up a little. Drillbit Taylor isn’t bad. It is a combination of Superbad and My Bodyguard, but isn’t as good as either of those. Good enough not to dissappoint, but not good enough to impress.
Director: Michael Gondry
Starring: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz,
Writer/ director Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is back with a so-so effort in this slow moving and one gag film. Jack Black is here, firing out all he can, but he runs out of zingers before Gondry runs out of film. The off-beat, story is far-fetched, even for a comedy, but did eventually draw me in a little, causing me to pull back, just a little, on the flame thrower that I was going to take to this one.
Mos Def is Mike, an earnest employee of a VHS tape only, rental store in a rundown building with a history, according to his boss, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover). Business is about as bad as you would expect in a 21st century video store with no DVDs, so Fletcher leaves Mike in charge, while he goes on a trip to think things over. Unfortunately for Mike, his anarchist friend, Jerry (Jack Black), has somehow managed to magnetize himself by wrapping himself in tin foil (don’t ask), and erases every tape in the store just by being there. Desperate to not look bad his first time in charge, Mike and Jerry start filming quickie versions of prominent older films that make The Blair Witch Project look like a Martin Scorsese masterpiece. Nevertheless, in the true Hollywood fashion, these catch on and the guys set out to make more “sweded” classics, but I got tired of these gags about the low rent copies of film classics before their seemingly desperately bored neighborhood did.
Love it or hate it, this one already has the markings of an offbeat cult favorite for Jack Black fans, amateur movie makers (or copiers) and those who really think that less is more. I can’t recommend it to you, but someone probably will.
Director: Kent Alterman
Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Maura Tierny, Andrew Daly, Will Arnett, Andy Richter.
Kent Alterman, an experienced Hollywood producer, turned himself into a first time director, for this patchy Will Ferrell vehicle. There is some passable humor, here and a story that could have been interesting, if the time was taken to develop it. They had time. It wasn’t like they were firing out classic hilarity non-stop. The script lacked the really funny one-liners that mark successful comedies, but at least there were no male genitalia flashed at us for a cheap laugh. Harrelson could have given an acting seminar to most of his cast mates, but I don’t think they were paying that much attention. By the end, neither was I.
The story here revolves around the defunct NBA rivals, the ABA, which operated from 1967 to 1976, and is best remembered for small crowds, wacky promotions, like Halter Top Night, Wrestling Bears (which they used in the film) and Cow Milking Contests (why didn’t they use that one?). In the end, it gave the NBA four teams, the three point shot, and Julius “Dr. J” Erving. I digress, however.
Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one hit wonder singer, who has used all of his wealth to become the most outlandish owner/player in the league. When a merger, is announced with the NBA, Jackie learns his team (the Flint Tropics) won’t be going unless they can finish in the top four in the league’s final season. Can they do it? Well, to help out players like Clarence “Coffee” Black (Andre Benjamin from the band Outkast) and Twiggy Munson, Jackie brings in a washed up former NBA champion, Monix to rally his troops. Look for Will Arnett in one of the funnier roles in the film, as the world’s worst color commentator.
Semi Pro smacks of a slapped together comedy project that could have been much better. It plays like a mix of sport classics like Bull Durham, Slap Shot, and Mystery Alaska (Okay, that one’s not a classic, but you get my point). It has some laughs, and a ramshackle story that could have been much better. Will Ferrell fans will dutifully show up, pay their cash and laugh at all the right times, but even they will not hold up Semi-Pro as an example of Will Ferrell’s comic genius.
Director: Zach Helm
Starring: Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills
First time director Zach Helm, starts out with his own script and a small, but talented, cast in his attempt to make a light and amusing, offbeat family fantasy film about a magical toy store. Hoffman shines, with the help of his cast mates, but the store, and the story, doesn’t quite manage to impart the sense of wonder that it was going for. More excitement was needed for this imaginative tale to really sparkle.
Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is the manager of an amazing toy store, through which magic flows like a breeze, apparently because of its vibrant and 243 year old owner, Edward Magorium, (Dustin Hoffman)but change is in the air. Molly feels that she should find a more serious job, and Mr. Magorium is interested in preparing his store to be passed on. For this reason, he hires a dry accountant named Henry (Jason Bateman) to put the business in proper administrative order. Watching all this is Eric, a hat-collecting nine-year-old, who seems to be part of the store in some unclear fashion. Meanwhile, the living, breathing store doesn’t seem too pleased about all this upheaval and begins to act up.
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium plays like a second rate version of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, which was, itself a second rate version of the 1971 original. This film, however, never manages to step out from the recent crowd of family-orientated fantasy films to establish itself as a memorable, potential classic, but instead presents us with a mildly entertaining 93 minute distraction.
Director: Fred Wolfe
Starring: Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Jonah Hill, Kevin Heffernan, Ashley Scott, Peter Dante, Harry Hamlin, Robert Patrick, Joe Don Baker, Justin Long
Strange Wilderness is an inconsistent effort by director and co-writer, Fred Wolfe (SNL guy). The humor here is hit and miss and the script plays like it was written at the tail end of a bleary-eyed, tequila-powered house party. Many of the jokes feel forced, like the writers heard something funny and stretched to find a way to include it here. The cast, especially Steve Zahn, does a good job with what they are given, but its like carving a turkey with a chainsaw. It’s gonna get messy.
Steve Zahn is Peter Gaulke, the second generation host of a wildlife show, trying to balance his ganja-enhanced lifestyle with keeping the show going. It’s not working well, however, and his show is soon facing cancellation. There is only one hope. He has to get himself, and his equally inept crew to Ecuador, where he can buy the map to a Big Foot cave. That should help ratings, and save the show, so this merry little band sets out, but they soon find themselves broke as the result of an urban wildlife adventure. Other problems ensue, of course, and the overall effort is pretty silly. Some of the jokes pay off, but most don’t. On a deeper level, however, I, for one, would appreciate it, if Hollywood comedies would get off this kick of sticking male genitalia in our faces, like some kind of made-ya-look, Jr. High level joke. Look for some cameos by some well-known seasoned performers who had nothing else to do that day, I guess.
This is a rather weak comedy, but there are some laughs for the fans of films like The Heartbreak Kid, and Without a Paddle, but it doesn’t really hold up next to stronger comedies out there, so unless you are a loyal fan of silly juvenile comedies, you can pass on this one and live your contented life in blissful ignorance of exactly what a piranha hate fest would look like on film.
Director: Frank Oz
Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Andy Nymen, Ewen Bramner, Alan Tudyk, Jane Asher, Kris Marshall, Rupert Graves, Peter Dinklage, Keeley Hawes
Director Frank Oz (Stepford Wives, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) is actually best known for his Muppet voice work, including Bert on Sesame Street, but in Death At A Funeral, he shows that he can still crank out a pretty good comedy when he wants to. The cast here is superb and get all they can from Dean Craig’s witty screenplay. Some of the scenes are silly, and many of the best lines are in the trailers, but this is still a smart, funny and enjoyable small-scale comedy.
Daniel’s (Matthew MacFadyen) father has passed away and all Daniel wants to do is give him a dignified send off by inviting family and friends to the family home for the funeral. This soon proves trickier than you would think, what with unintentional drug abuse, a crotchety wheelchair bound Uncle, family money disputes, romantic pressures and a small problem in the form of a mysterious, small-statured guest (Peter Dinklage)who would like a private word with Daniel about his father…
Death At A Funeral is a fine British comedy about a funeral that is rigorously, and hilariously, adhering to Murphy’s Law. This film is another in the genre of family get-together comedies that plays kind of like a darker, funnier version of Father of the Bride, or My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and is worth checking out on TV or video.
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