DVD Review: Charlie Bartlett by ME

Charlie just wants to fit in, that's all. But having been raised in a wealthy family and having gone to private schools his whole life, it's no surprise that he has problems when he has to go to public school. When the family doctor prescribes Ritalin needlessly, Charlie sells them and instantly becomes the man to know. This somehow leads to him becoming the school "shrink". Now in real life I think he would just become a straight up dealer, but Yelchin's Bartlett is a nice enough kid that it might happen. And then the inevitable fall comes and Charlie must redeem himself, but it seems to get harder at every turn.

The main reason I wanted to see Charlie Bartlett was because of Anton Yelchin's performance in Alpha Dog. The boy was phenomenal (except for his singing), and he was only upstaged by a surprisingly good performance by Justin Timberlake, and is instantly likable in this as well. As we all know, Robert Downey Jr. may not be the best person to portray a person of authority, especially a principal, but he is pretty much believable, if unconventional. Kat Dennings is interesting here. I really like her and she does admirably in Charlie Bartlett, but I can't really see her as a leading lady. Great as a love interest, but I don't think she could carry a film all by herself. After those individual observations, I must say that the chemistry between all of the cast works remarkably well.

Special Features include two commentaries, one with the director and writer, and one with the director and Anton Yelchin and Kat Dennings. There isn't much besides those, just a music video and a strange little thing called "Restroom Confessional", which seems to be the cast and crew ad libbing confessions like in the movie. Not much here, but it's not a big budget, effects laden film that deserves a ton of features, but a making of would have been nice.

In the end, Charlie Bartlett is the story of a reluctant hero who must take responsibility for his action and become the real hero that everyone thinks he is. Do I recommend it? Yes I do. Why? Because it's an entertaining movie with a cast that really works together and has just enough of a serious undercurrent to keep it slightly grounded in semi-reality.

If they ever decide to remake Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Please don't!), they could do worse than casting Anton Yelchin as Ferris.

Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Don't forget to Digg it!

Movie Review: Juno by ME

Title: Juno
Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Directed By: Jason Reitman
Produced By: Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Daniel Dubiecki (II)
Genre: Comedy, Drama and Teen
Release Date: Various
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.
Distributors: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Juno takes a serious situation and makes it extremely funny without crossing the line into absurdity, while also never letting you forget that teen pregnancy is not a joking matter. Sixteen year old Juno (Ellen Page) gets pregnant by best friend Paul Bleeker (Michael Cera) and decides to give the baby up for adoption to couple Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). While dealing with her pregnancy Juno must also contend with her rather cool parents and figure out her feelings towards Bleeker. Things go from bad to worse when problems between Mark and Vanessa cast a shadow over Juno's hopes. All of this adds up to be one of the best movies of the year.



Following up 2005's Thank You For Smoking, Jason Reitman, son of director Ivan Reitman, shows that he has inherited his father's talent for comedy. A rather quirky film that should appeal to todays audiences with it's wit, likeable if not lovable characters portrayed by a perfect cast, and way too many comedic verbal fusillades to count, Reitman and Cody surely have a hit with Juno.



Ellen Page will be a star in the near future. After the cult hit Hard Candy and her small role in the mainstream X-Men 3: The Last Stand. Page comes through once again as a talent to be reckoned with. Perfect comedic delivery and the ability to turn serious without being melodramatic is one of her key talents. Michael Cera still bugs me a bit, the kid seriously needs to man up a little. I have only seen him in Superbad and Juno but there is basically no difference in either character. Sure he's funny in these situations, but he's going to be pigeon holed if he doesn't show some variety soon. J.K. Simmons and Alison Janney almost steal a few scenes away from Page as her parents. The best way to describe them is the most realistic version of a teens fantasy parents. Simmons is great in every scene but watch for Janney's tirade against a snobbish ultrasound technician, it's one of the best scenes in the movie. Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner are great as the proposed adoptive parents. They don't seem to fit together perfectly, which may have been done on purpose, but Bateman plays the slightly whipped husband perfectly. I know a few guys whose stuff has been relegated to one room in the house and can feel for Bateman. Garner, having just had a child in real life with husband Ben Affleck, probably didn't need to dig too deep for motivation in this film, which makes her performance that much better. Last mention is a quick cameo by Rainn Wilson of The Office, who has one of the best lines in the film as a lowly convenience store clerk.



Even though I haven't given many reasons to see Juno, I can only say that it is a package deal. The closest thing I can even consider a flaw is the dialogue. I don't think that many teens actually speak the way these characters do, but if you can get around that, then Juno is for you. Aside from that, Juno is by far one of the best comedies I have seen in a long time that doesn't feature gross out humor. It has already become one of my favorite films and will be a welcome addition to my collection.

There are multiple release dates for Juno for different cities. Head here to see when Juno opens in your city.

Until Juno 2, Juno Junior,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by ME

Title: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows, Raymond J. Barry
Directed By: Jake Kasdan
Produced By: Lewis Morton, Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Genre: Comedy, Musical/Performing Arts and Biopic
Running Time: 1 hr. 36 min.
Release Date: December 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

My Rating: 7 out of 10

Dewey Cox knows the blues. From a childhood accident that left his brother cut in half to two failed marriages, from a father who shuns him to an evil addiction to drugs, Dewey feels the blues. This is his story.

Sounds like a biopic like Walk The Line doesn't it? Well, if you have been hiding under a rock the last few weeks and haven't seen any of the ads for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, then let me tell you, it isn't. Walk Hard parodies Walk The Line and many other biopics. With sight gags that go beyond the crowning scene in Knocked Up to witty phrasings in song, Walk Hard is a solid effort that falls just shy of the mark made by Team Apatow's earlier efforts. That's not to say that it isn't a funny film, but it lacks the heart of Superbad, Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin.



Maybe I am putting too much blame on Apatow. Jake Kasdan, the director, could still be considered a little wet behind the ears with only Walk Hard, The TV Set, Orange County and Zero Effect under his belt film wise. To give him credit where deserved, he also directed a few episodes of Freaks and Geeks, the cult classic TV show that was the launching point for many of Apatow's regulars.



John C. Reilly really doesn't seem to be the kind of actor that should be able to play the lead in any film, and he covers that fact well. Reilly also wrote and sang most of the music in the film, which is quite impressive on it's own. What really helps is the supporting cast, most of which are familiar. Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows, David Krumholtz, Harold Ramis, Martin Starr and a few more all add their little pieces that add up to help Reilly make Walk Hard a decent comedy. Some nice cameos as well. Look for Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly and Jack White as Elvis. And the best, Jack Black, Jonathan Schwartzman, Paul Rudd and Justin Long as The Beatles.



Final thoughts – While not one I would buy for my collection, Walk Hard is, at it's core, a funny movie that delivers the laughs, but falls short in character development. And I must warn you, there are a few shots of male full frontal nudity along with very suggestive, but very funny, lyrics in a few of the songs.

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: August Rush by ME

Title: August Rush
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Robin Williams, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard
Directed By: Kirsten Sheridan
Produced By: Ralph Kamp, Louise Goodsill, Robert Greenhut
Genre: Comedy and Musical/Performing Arts
Release Date: November 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Convinced that music is the key to finding his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers), 11 year old Evan (Freddie Highmore) leaves the orphanage and ventures out into the world. He discovers an awe inspiring talent for music within himself that he uses to help his parents find him. Along the way he meets people who wish to help him find his way, those who wish to exploit his musical talent for their own gains, and some who just want to help him realize his full musical potential.

August Rush could almost be considered a fairy tale. You have the little boy searching for his lost parents using an almost magical talent, the mother, all in white searching for her lost son, the father looking for his long lost love, the helpful fairy (Terrence Howard's character), and the bad guy trying to keep August and his talent all to himself.

Being a musician myself, I seem to have an affinity for movies about musicians. Especially films that portray music in a new and interesting way. August Rush is one of those films. Taking environmental noise and creating music from city sounds like traffic, footsteps and cars to show how a prodigy can find music in everyday sounds is expressed very well. Relatively new Director Kirsten Sheridan knows how to pull the heartstrings, only falling into the sappy section once or twice.

Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Terence Howard and Robin Williams are all on the ball here. Highmore exudes such joy at making music that every time he played, I couldn't help but smile. Russell and Rhys Meyers seem to be a big part of the story without really being a big part of the story. It's all about Highmore, not even Robin Williams, who by the way looks like he raided Bono's garbage for his wardrobe, can't even outshine him. Williams himself continues his streak of playing roles that are a little different for him. His turn as Wizard is a blend of all of his talent, humor and drama with a little craziness thrown in for good measure. Terrence Howard's part, although small, gives him another opportunity to prove that he will be a big name in the future. The first time he meets Evan/August, you can see in his eyes how much he cares.

The look and feel of the film are appropriate for each part of the story. You have a slightly gritty feel for rock and roller, a lighter feel when telling Lyla's side of the story and the best example is Wizards condemned theater, home to a group of children that he trains musically to panhandle. That set looks remarkably like the Lost Boys village in Hook, coincidently starring Robin Williams as well. Speaking of coincidences, there are way too many in the film, everybody crosses paths in there journeys or just misses them, which gets overused and seems a little hokey at times.

August Rush may be predictable, but the music, cast and emotion make up for the predictability and the sometimes ridiculous coincidences that pepper the film. This movie will appeal to a wide audience, from music aficionados to kids, romantics to couples and anybody who just wants to feel good. I highly recommend August Rush to the masses.

8 out of 10

Official Site - www.augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com

Until Robin wins a Bono look alike contest,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Bee Movie by CD

Title: Bee Movie
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Kathy Bates, Chris Rock, Matthew Broderick
Directed By: Stephen Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Produced By: Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Christina Steinberg
Genre: Comedy and Animation
Release Date: November 2nd, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG for mild suggestive humor.
Distributors: Paramount Pictures

Barry B. Benson is a graduate bee fresh out of college who is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a rare trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans are mass consumers of honey and decides to sue the human race for stealing bees' honey. -Yahoo Movies.

What can be said about a kid's movie filled with talking bees? Well your gonna find out my friends.

My wife and I took our son to see this film for 2 reasons, 1: he really wanted to see it and had been good. 2: My wife loves bees, so much so that she is actually a bee keeper. So this movie was like heaven for them both. I on the other hand had a real difficult time disconnecting from reality enough to enjoy this movie. Certain things just seemed TOO fantastical. Case in point, bees in my opinion shouldn't need to drive cars. Also because of this movie my wife has been over heard plotting on how to borrow 500,000 bees to see if they really can lift,fly and land a jumbo jet.

There isn't too much that makes this film stand out from all the other animated talking animal movies. The animation is average. Which is to say it's not horrible, but its nothing ground breaking. The soundtrack was the normal Disney instrumental fare. The only differences were Sheryl Crow sang a song for the end of the movie and they played Sugar Sugar by The Archies towards the mid point of the film.

One part I did enjoy was right in the beginning, you get a black screen with the fact that bee's shouldn't be able to fly. Their bodies are to fat and their wings are too small, so it is scientifically impossible for them to be able to fly. The reason given as to why they can fly was...”Bee's don't care what humans think is impossible”.

Another humorous element was the mention of “Bee Jesus” which sparked a very spirited bit of commentary on the way home. This movie is rife with the ability to make bad bee puns for weeks. Which as of yet has not stopped in my home.

I have sat and watched the previews again to see why I didn't enjoy this film that much, I think it could just be I wasn't in the right mindset. It has what it needs to make it watchable by the adults, but it isn't on the same level as some of the other kids movie's this past year.

This is definitely a movie I would recommend for your kids, but you might want to wait till it comes to DVD. That way if you don't dig it, you can read a book or something while it is on.

Awaiting the second Buzzing of Bee Jesus

Crobertdunham@yahoo.com

Movie Review: The Heartbreak Kid by ME

Title: The Heartbreak Kid
Starring: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Carlos Mencia, Robert Corddry
Directed By: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Produced By: John Davis, Joe Rosenberg, Marc S. Fischer
Genre: Comedy and Remake
Release Date: October 5th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, crude humor and language.
Distributors: DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures

The Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter, remake a relatively obscure move titled The Heartbreak Kid in which Ben Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, an everyman who meets Lila (Malin Akeman). Six weeks later they are married and on their honeymoon in Cabo where Lila gets a horrible sunburn which allows Eddie to wander around, meet, and fall for, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). Eddie neglects to tell Miranda that he is on his honeymoon and the hilarity ensues.

While There's Something About Mary pushed the comedic boundaries and became a classic, The Heartbreak Kid fails to capture that same quality that made Mary so good. At times The Heartbreak Kid is a standard, yet enjoyable romantic comedy. But, every once in a while an over the top Farrelly gag is tossed in and feels really out of place. It's almost as if the Farrelly's couldn't decide if they were making a mainstream movie or a “Farrelly brother's comedy”, and it really shows. The clincher that ultimately tipped this from being an “ok” movie into the realm of a bad movie was the ending. Let's just say that Eddie didn't learn from his experience.

Although this is a Ben Stiller movie, the real stand out was Michelle Monaghan, who you may remember from kiss kiss bang bang or MI3. She plays a fun loving, sports oriented woman who captures Eddies heart and would be the perfect wife. She just gives a great and believable performance in a film that is full of stereotypical characters. Stiller's Eddie is still the same old Ben Stiller, just a little older and grayer. The Farrelly's must not have been able to get Cameron Diaz for this one so they hired her clone, Malin Akeman, who acts, looks, and moves just like Cameron. Carlos Mencia pops in and proves that he can't act as Uncle Tito, the hotel employee who is helping Eddie juggle the two women. Jerry Stiller has his almost obligatory part as, of course, Eddie's father and is the second most crass character in the film.

Not quite up to par with “Mary”, The Heartbreak Kid is pretty much just another mediocre comedy that will be easily forgotten. The best way to describe it tone wise would be if you took the heart of 50 First Dates and edited in all the raunchy bits from There's Something About Mary and hoped that you could satisfy fans of both films.

Visit the site at http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com/

Until The Heartbreak Kid: The Honeymoon's Over,
keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Feast Of Love by ME

Title: Feast of Love
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Alexa Davalos
Directed By: Robert Benton
Produced By: Lori McCreary, Eric Reid (II), Fisher Stevens
Genre: Drama, Romance and Adaptation
Release Date: September 28th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

Feast of Love is one of those movies that is almost great. It just needed a little something extra to push it over that line. Don't ask what it is, because I don't know. I left the theater with that satisfaction you get from Chinese food, you are full for the moment but you know you are going to want more in an hour. Phenomenal acting and a good story keep Feast Of Love on track. Interweaving through different couples and their situations and how they interconnect is explored fairly well here, one thing that would have made it better is a time line. You know the film takes place over an eighteen month period, but otherwise you are in the dark as to how much time was spent in exploring each relationship.

Morgan Freeman has got to be the King of the Narrative as well as the perfect grandfather/confidant figure. He is the only man that can play God (Bruce Almighty) in my book and make me believe it. No offense to George Burns of course. Freeman does a wonderful job of being the self appointed caretaker of all of our main characters. Greg Kinnear, at the beginning, comes off as a guy who doesn't really notice the things going on around him. I'm not saying that he is callous or that he is an airhead, he is actually a really nice guy that doesn't know much about how relationships work and has to learn the hard way. If Freeman is the best actor here, then Selma Blair must be in second place. Especially when she is only in the film for about ten minutes. There is one scene where she falls in love and you literally watch it happen, you can see it in her eyes. Alexa Develos and Toby Hemingway are believable in an almost fairy tale like whirlwind romance, great performances there.

Final thought – A good movie that doesn't disappoint and will make a good evening at home type of movie. The one thing that may bother some audiences is there is a little more sex and full frontal nudity in this than what is usually in this type of film. Just a small warning.

Keep reading,

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Darjeeling Limited by ME

Title: The Darjeeling Limited
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Camilla Rutherford, Amara Karan
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Produced By: Steven M. Rales, Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Drama
Release Date: September 29th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for language
Distributors: Fox Searchlight Pictures

A slightly surrealistic look at three brothers taking a spiritual journey to bring them closer together gets derailed in this supposedly funny comedy/drama from director Wes Anderson.

There was a short film screened before this called The Hotel Chevalier that will prove to be more liked than the film itself. It is a prequel of sorts that is supposed to tie in loosely with the movie but in actuality is pretty pointless, but I was more interested in it than in the film. See, Natalie Portman has an almost nude scene in it. Unfortunately, she is barely in the movie itself. The short will not be screened with the film but is available for free at iTunes (I got mine already!), and will be available on the DVD. So if you see the short first, don't get your hopes up.

As far as the film itself, it falls a little short. Anderson really should have made this more comedic. With names like Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, you expect comedy. Anderson has made a exploration of self picture that just moseys along, stopping here, pausing there, not really leading up to any big ending or anything. Trying to perk your interest, there are some cameos by Bill Murray and Anjelica Huston, who by the way, was the most likeable character in the film. She seemed to be the only one outside of the main cast that knew what the tone of the film was supposed to be. Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody could make for an interesting family dynamic, but unfortunately, their personalities seem a little watered down.

The visuals are beautiful, from the countryside to the train itself. The Darjeeling Limited would make a great painting, but as far as motion pictures go, it moves about as fast as the first steam powered train.

Until The Earl Grey Limited,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Hunting Party by ME

Title: The Hunting Party
Starring: Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ivanir, Goran Kostic
Directed By: Richard Shepard
Produced By: Bill Block, Paul Hanson (III), Adam Merims
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller and War
Release Date: September 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong language and some violent content.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

“Only the most ridiculous parts of this story are true”

The Hunting Party is inspired by the true story of a disgraced war journalist (Richard Gere) who enlisted the help of his former cameraman (Terence Howard) and an wager, wet-behind-the-ears journalism major (Jesse Eisenberg) to track down an infamous war criminal still on the loose somewhere in the backwoods of Eastern Europe. - Official site

In The Hunting Party, Richard Shepard addresses the subject of the hunt for Bosnian war criminals in his own way. Almost a satire, but not quite going over the line, The Hunting Party toes that line with wit, drama, and carefully placed images of a war torn country that in some ways was just beginning to heal. Taking small jabs at NATO, The Hague and the CIA, Shepard brings the fact that these war criminals are running free and none of these agencies are trying very hard to catch them to the attention of mainstream moviegoers.

It may sound like this is a documentary, or that Shepard is preaching to us Michael Moore style, but he isn't. Shepard has taken very real people and real events and real situations, fictionalized them and injected the perfect amount of humor into them to create an entertaining as well as informative view of our governments practices. This is not to say that there isn't a serious side, as you can never show the true horror of war on any size screen and the opening sequence shows us that in a way that is brutal and sadly beautiful at the same time.

Shepard has a talent for wringing great performances from his cast and proves it once again with Richard Gere, Terence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg. Using humor to offset the violence and horror of war is a real practice and pulling it off in a movie without sliding into the land of cheese, or looking callous, is a talent that all three main actors did very well. Gere plays Simon Hunt as a man on a mission with an intensity that shines through in a few key scenes as well as showing how humor is used as a defense against the horrors of war. Terence Howard's Duck is the semi-straight man, using the phrase, “Unbelievable” more times than I can count in reaction to Gere's antics. Jesse Eisenberg plays Benjamin, the new kid, still wet behind the ears. It is through his eyes that we see the events unfold. Through the trials of the adventure that these three journalists take we see him change from the nervous rookie, to being a part of the group through his realization that it isn't a game.

I must stress once again, that this film was made as an entertainment piece first and foremost, but if it makes you question our government, then the movie has done more than it's job.

www.thehuntingpartymovie.com

Until we catch Osama,
keep reading

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Mr. Woodcock by ME

Title: Mr. Woodcock
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, Kurt Fuller, Amy Poehler
Directed By: Craig Gillespie
Produced By: Karen Lunder, Diana Pokorny, Bob Cooper (IV)
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: September 14th, 2007 (limited), Sept 21^st (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, thematic material, language and a mild drug reference.
Distributors: New Line Cinema

John Farley (Sean William Scott)was a fat little kid whose gym teacher, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton), used harsh if not brutal methods of teaching Phys. Ed.. Fast forward and Farley has written a self help book based on his experiences and heads home to stop his mother from marrying said gym teacher.

There are only a few different types of comedies – memorable, forgettable and just plain OK. Mr. Woodcock falls int the last category due mainly to the fact that it expends all of the most funny bits in the trailer. Plus, at least one gag that was set up, never got to pay off. Add to that a weak love interest for Farley and it equals your average summer comedy.

No one shines in this movie but every cast member brings something to the table. Sean William Scott proves that he can be somebody else besides Stifler. He just wants to help his mom but goes about doing it the wrong way, slowly straying from the path that he himself has preached about in his book. Thornton is almost monotone in his performance. I understand that it is most likely his character, but he is never given a moment to really let loose. Susan Sarandon's Beverly Farley is your cookie cutter mom, she just wants her men to get along and really isn't the focus here. Amy Poehler is a little out of place as Farley's agent who is even more crazy than the people she is supposed to shield Farley from. Ethan Suplee has fallen into a rut as playing the fat, stupid loser. Same as he does in My Name Is Earl and Mallrats.

In comedies that don't seem to live up to their expectations, I find myself warming to the deeper story. In Mr. Woodcock, Woodcock is being honored as the Educator of the Year, and while Farley and most of his students think he is a prick, what he did had ultimately helped almost all of his students, except maybe Needleman (Ethan Suplee). I don't have any idea why that popped into my head, but there you are.

To make a short story even shorter, Mr. Woodcock would be a safe date movie or a way to pass a lazy afternoon, but not much more than that.

Keep reading,

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Rush Hour 3 by ME

Title: Rush Hour 3
Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Max von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir, Hiroyuki Sanada
Directed By: Brett Ratner
Produced By: Toby Emmerich, Arthur Sarkissian, Roger Birnbaum
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Crime/Gangster and Sequel
Release Date: August 10th 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action violence, sexual content, nudity and language.
Distributors: New Line Cinema

After an attempted assassination on Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma), Lee (Jackie Chan) and Carter (Chris Tucker) head to Paris to protect a French woman (Noémie Lenoir) with knowledge of the Triads' secret leaders.

Even though Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan still work well together, it doesn't hide the fact that Rush Hour 3 looks like it was a film done just for the paychecks. Brett Ratner, who I still defend for X3, (It may not have been perfect, but he didn't have much time to pick up the pieces) has finally tipped that balance in my eyes. Full of unnecessary and unfunny bits, Rush Hour 3 is a blight on everyones resume. Sure Jackie Chan can move, and there are some good ones here: the man is amazing. Sure, Chris Tucker can be funny, just not this time. Brett Ratner really needs to do something different instead of rehashing old jokes. Not even Abbot and Costello are sacred anymore.

Chris Tucker's character, Detective James Carter, has gone way beyond over the top here. The opening sequence of him directing traffic while dancing is so ludicrous, he doesn't even notice how stupid he looks. While Jackie Chan's Chief Inspector Lee is supposed to be ashamed of Carter's antics, I don't think Jackie is acting half the time. The only bright spot is George, the American hating taxi driver who decides that he wants to be an American spy, played by Yvan Attal, who reminds me of Hank Azaria in some ways. Last we have Max Von Sydow, who should add some credibility but only serves to show just how predictable a movie can be.

I think I have already said enough about this waste of time. C'mon Jackie, make Drunken Master 3 already!

Keep reading,

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review: An American Werewolf in London by JR

An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Writer/Director: John Landis
Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine
Produced by: George Folsey, Peter Guber, Jon Peters
Genre: Horror/Comedy/Thriller/Werewolf

Two American tourists, Jack and David, are backpacking through England when they stop for rest at a pub in the country, the Slaughtered Lamb. The strange people at the pub are less than welcoming, and let the two young men venture back out on their own with the warning to “Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors.” Jack and David take this as normal weird behavior and take a shortcut through the moors, only to be attacked. Jack is killed and David awakens in a hospital with a few scratches. Judging by the title, I’m sure you know by now: they were attacked by a werewolf. David, since he has survived the attack, is now a werewolf himself, and will transform into the beast during the next full moon.

It’s a story we’ve all heard a thousand times, right? Especially lately with terrible renditions of the story such as “Blood and Chocolate” and “the Skinwalkers”. “An American Werewolf in London” is, in my opinion, the definitive werewolf film. I had dismissed it previously due to the poor reception of “An American Werewolf in Paris”. I’ve always associated the two and thought that if “Paris” wasn’t any good, then “London” couldn’t be good either. Ever since I had heard that “London” was the reason that the Academy Award for Best Makeup was created, I’ve wanted to see it. How could a werewolf movie possibly be this good?

The make up award is absolutely ascertained in this case. The werewolf is amazing! If they were to make this movie now, I’m sure most of the werewolf would be CGI. If not the werewolf, then for sure most of the transformation. But back in the early 80’s, this wasn’t possible. I mean, just look at the TV in Nurse Price’s apartment! And the metal box above David’s bed in the hospital with all of the little switches and lights! The entire transformation in this film is real, and it makes it that much more scary and amazing. David’s hands grow before our eyes, his sharp nails poking out from under his regular nails, the hair appearing on his back, chest and feet. And then, just when you thought that it couldn’t get any better, his face grows too. He grows a snout, just like a wolf. It’s really an awesome sight. The first transformation occurs about an hour into the movie and by this time the audience is ready for it. When it happens, it happens right before our eyes. Nothing is hidden. The werewolf is one makeup achievement in the film, the other is Jack’s makeup. Jack has been killed by the werewolf in the beginning, but he returns to David throughout the film to give him advice. He’s also dead and in “limbo” so he progressively decays. David even refers to him as a “walking meat loaf”.

Oh and the soundtrack makes the transformation scene. During this hideous transformation, the song “Blue Moon” is playing. The soundtrack is perfect for this film. Director/Writer John Landis picked the songs for the film: every one of them has the word “Moon” in the title.

“An American Werewolf In London” would be a great film without the astonishing make up effects. The dialogue is brilliant and hilarious. The banter in the opening scene with Jack and David is real and establishes a great chemistry between the two. Some of their quotes:

Jack: Do you think she'll meet me in Rome?
David: I think Debbie Klein is a mediocre person with a good body.
Jack: Debbie is not mediocre and she has one of the great bodies of all time.
David: She's a jerk.
Jack: You're talking about the woman I love.
David: I'm talking about a girl you want to fuck, so give me a break.
Jack: Well, anyway, do you think she'll be there?
David: I don't know.
Jack: [like an announcer] Rendezvous in Rome starring Jack Goodman and Debbie Klein. The love affair that shocked Europe! See torrid lovemaking at its most explicit! See Jack and Debbie expose their lust in the sacred halls of the Vatican! Never has the screen dared....
David: If you don't stop, I'm going to kill you.
Jack: I have to make love to her. It's very simple. She has no choice really.
David: It just fascinates me that you can spend so much energy on someone so dull.
Jack: There is nothing dull about that body.
David: We've known Debbie what, since the eighth grade? How many years of foreplay is that?
Jack: She says she "likes me too much".

This is just in the very beginning of the movie, there are tons more! This is truly a comedy/horror, and one of the best. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on a classic that is still holding its own over 20 years later.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Jenny Rushing
beccajane67@yahoo.com

Movie Review: Mr. Bean's Holiday by ME

Title: Mr. Bean's Holiday
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Emma De Caunes, Jean Rochefort, Karel Roden
Directed By: Steve Bendelack
Produced By: Richard Curtis, Simon McBurney, Tim Bevan
Genre: Comedy, Adaptation and Sequel
Release Date: August 24th 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: G
Distributors: Universal Pictures Distribution

Rowan Atkinson returns as Mr. Bean in yet another unnecessary Bean movie, Mr. Bean's Holiday. After 1997's feature Bean, I thought we had seen the end of our favorite British blunderer. I was wrong. In Mr. Bean's Holiday, Bean wins a vacation to Cannes and on the way there, he inadvertently splits up a father and son. Taking it upon himself to return the boy to his father, Bean and Stepan (Max Baldry) cross the country, causing one absurd mishap after another along the way.

I firmly believe that Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean is a comedic genius, in small doses. I remember watching Mr. Bean on HBO as a child and was really excited when Bean came out in 1997. I was disappointed in that film, so my expectations for Mr. Bean's Holiday were rather low. Sadly, it lived up to those expectations. I don't mean to slam the film as it does have it's moments. Most notably, a scene where Bean and Stepan lip sync to a variety of music at a street fair to raise money for their trip.

Rowan Atkinson is Mr. Bean, plain and simple. With a rubber face that rivals Jim Carrey, Atkinson is the only actor that can pull off this character. Max Baldry is a cute eleven year old boy that plays Stepan with a wonderful enthusiasm. This kid is having a grand old time and it shows. French actress Emma de Caunes plays Sabine, an actress on her way to the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of her movie who helps Bean and Stepan track down his father. She brings a lightness to the film that also helps ground it. Did I really say 'ground it” in regards to a Mr. Bean film? In a semi surprising turn, Willem Defoe is Clay Carter, the pompous director of the film that Sabine is in. Can't really say much about him except that his presence adds a bit of credibility to the film for American audiences.

Rowan Atkinson has said that this will be the last adventure for Mr. Bean, and that saddens me as well as makes me happy. I feel that the world has had enough of Mr. Bean, but he will forever remain a fixture in the hearts of his fans. If you want to see Mr. Bean in his prime, rent the series on DVD. If you must have your Bean fix, then this movie may be for you. Otherwise it would make a good rental on a rainy day.

Until Sprout: Son of a Bean,
keep reading,

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Rush Hour 3 by JW

Title: Rush Hour 3
Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker,
Director: Brett Ratner
Producer: Robert Birnbaum, Andrew Z. Davis, Jonathan Glickman, Athur M. Sarkissian, Jay Stern
Genre: Comedy, Action
Release Date: August 10, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributors: New Line Cinema


I almost made it. I made it all the way through the summer but now the weight has become just too much to bear. Here we are with the umpteenth sequel/threequel and I have but one thought pulsing through my head: For the love of all that is holy, haven’t we had enough already? Tired, unnecessary rehashes of stories we barely cared about the last time around. I don’t mind sequels if they can bring something new to the table but to have the audacity to do pretty much the exact same thing as the previous film is contemptuous and insulting.

In the Socratic dialogue, The Republic, Plato famously tells us that “necessity is the mother of invention.” If that is true, then the counterbalance to that argument must be an exercise in nonessential free will, and Rush Hour 3 must’ve been exactly what they had in mind.

A few years after Rush Hour 2, we rejoin the two main leads in their current jobs. James Carter (Chris Tucker) is directing traffic on the streets of Los Angeles. Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) is now the bodyguard for Ambassador Han, the former Consul from the original Rush Hour. At the World Criminal Court discussions, Ambassador Han addresses the importance of the fight with the Triad, a society of underground Chinese organized crime. During his announcement that he knows the identity of the Triad leadership, an assassination attempt is made on Han’s life when he is shot by a sniper. Later in the hospital, Lee and Carter make a promise to Soo Yung (Han’s now grown daughter) to find and capture the person behind the attack to ensure her fathers safety.

There is nothing in this movie that feels fresh to me. It is essentially one clumsy setup after another to a car chase/fight scene. Lee has a cause that he just “has to go at alone this time” and Carter disrupts any action with smart-ass, unfunny commentary for the sake of hearing his own high-pitched, whiney voice (“Lee this guys on steroids! His head is bigger than Barry Bonds”). We are also treated to the same tired, clichéd jokes. Aww look, Carter and Lee get into another lovers quarrel and go their separate ways. Lee orders fried chicken and sweet potato pie from room service and Carter orders Mu Shu Pork from around the corner, unbeknownst to each other. Listen guys, it took me a minute but I get it - you two can be friends despite your cultural differences. I think that after three movies, I have earned the right not to have my nose rubbed in it. Again. We get the same over-choreographed fight scenes that I would describe as more B-grade Three Stooges antics if that didn’t qualify as a compliment. I half-expected Carter or Lee to put a hand straight up on their nose to stop the Triad from poking out their eyes.

For the most part, Jackie Chan movies seem like nothing more than a vehicle for showcasing his martial arts ability. They can be funny and entertaining, but if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. And it seems like Tucker is just wasting his prime. He hasn’t made a single movie in the last decade except Rush Hour movies. Wow. For someone with such a promising career after Friday, I can’t for the life of me figure out why he has decided to wallow in mediocrity like this. Seriously, how long are we going to milk this cow? Seeing Tucker go on Letterman and tell everyone he can “kick Jackie’s ass”, or Chan on Leno telling everyone he can “sing and dance better than Chris” leaves me feeling exasperated thinking what else they could’ve been doing besides this. The final scene in the movie sums up the whole experience for me. The two stars go dancing into the Paris night and the song “War” pours over the speakers and in one fail swoop, the filmmakers inadvertently but perfectly summarize the whole experience through the lyrics of the song, and no truer words have ever been spoken about the movie: “… what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, say it again, y’all.”

This is a pointless, nonessential, unnecessary, forced, boring slapped together movie from start to finish. A complete waste of Tucker and Chan’s comedic abilities that I can only hope is the cold water in the face that Tucker needs to motivate him to do something different with his potentially excellent career.

And there’s the rub.

1 out of 5 stars

http://www.rushhourmovie.com/

Jeremy Welsch
jndubbs@gmail.com

Movie Review: Superbad by ME

Title: Superbad
Starring: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader
Directed By: Greg Mottola
Produced By: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Judd Apatow
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: August 17^th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive crude and sexual content, strong language, drinking, some drug use and a fantasy/comic violent image.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

Superbad revolves around two co-dependent high school seniors (Hill and Cera) who set out to score alcohol for a party, believing that girls will then hook up with them and they will be ready for college. But as the night grows more chaotic, overcoming their separation anxiety becomes a greater challenge than getting the girls. -Official Site

I think Judd Apatow is the modern recreation of Midas. Everything he touches is comedic gold. Breaking out with The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, Apatow has proven that he knows comedy. Lending a hand as a producer for Superbad, Apatow lets veteran TV director Gregg Matolla helm this one. Add Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg as writers to the mix, a few well placed cameos, and you have the recipe for one of the summers funniest, if not crassest, comedies. Even I, as a 30-ish male, can see parts of myself in each and everyone of these characters. While not having had quite this outrageous of an adventure, I have had nights that resemble this in my younger days.

First and foremost, I have got to talk about Jonah Hill. The boy is a rising star and steals almost every single scene that he is in. Next up is Christopher Mintz-Plasse's McLovin, er, Fogel. This kid is the epitome of dorkiness and yet seems to have the best time out of all the kids. Who wouldn't have fun hanging out with cops, drinking and shooting guns all night long? Out of the three main characters, Michael Cera seems to be the weakest link. For most of the movie he comes off as an effeminate little boy who needs to show some courage, and while that is what the movie is about, he never really does it. Things just kind of end up working out for him by the end of the film. How can I review this film without mentioning Seth Rogen and Bill Hader as two cops who just want to be cool. Well, they are extremely funny, but all of their antics took me out of the movie for a bit. Extremely un-policemenlike behavior that would never fly in the real world.

Superbad is a twisted coming of age tale that just may be the comedy of the summer. If you enjoyed The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, you will most likely enjoy Superbad. Films like these truly speak for themselves and Superbad sure says it loudly between brays of laughter.

www.areyousuperbad.com

I'd give my middle nut for a sequel,
until then,
keep reading.

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
mitch@comicbookbin.com

Movie Review: Death At A Funeral by ME

Title: Death at a Funeral
Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Peter Dinklage, Ewen Bremner, Rupert Graves, Alan Tudyk
Directed By: Frank Oz
Produced By: William Horberg, Bruce Toll, Andreas Grosch
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: August 17th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for language and drug content.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

A dysfunctional British family gathers for the patriarch's funeral. Tensions rise, old conflicts are uncovered and, when a man arrives saying he's the dead man's gay lover and threatens blackmail, drastic measures are taken. -Yahoo! Movies

Frank Oz should stick to voice acting and working with puppets. There, I've said it. If you can't tell, I didn't like Death at a Funeral. The only Frank Oz film that I really enjoyed was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and that one was a loooong time ago. What could have been an originally funny movie relies on cliched gags such as a body falling out of a coffin, people taking the wrong kind of pills (which happens to be the funniest thing in the movie, more about it in a minute), misplacement of said pills and yet two more people taking said pills! Death at a Funeral also suffers from stereotypical characters with hardly any character development. You have the average lead character Daniel who is overshadowed by his successful writer sibling Robert, the crotchety old uncle in a wheelchair, the creepy guy who is there just to hit on a family member after becoming obsessed with her after a drunken one night stand, I think you get it.

Given that this is an ensemble cast of actors and actresses that I have never heard of, I will just mention the two stand outs. Alan Tudyk plays Simon, the victim of the old pill swap gimmick. He is on a hallucinogenic trip that provides most of the laughs of the film. From seeing the coffin move to sitting on the roof naked, Tudyk steals every scene that he is in. The other member worth mentioning is Peter Dinklage, who I cannot say much about as it may give away some plot points but will say that he gives a stand out performance. The rest of the cast seems extremely mediocre when compared to these two.

Maybe I just don't get that dry British humor, but I truly can't recommend this film unless you have absolutely noting to do and have already seen Knocked Up two or more times.

Visit the website here.

Until I can get my hands on those pills,
keep reading

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: Hot Rod by JW

Starring: Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny R. McBride, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShane
Director: Akiva Shaffer
Producer: John Goldwyn, Lorne Michaels
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: August 3, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributors: Paramount Pictures

A (very) amateur stuntman attempts a stunt where he jumps 15 buses on his moped. He hopes to raise enough money to get his step-father a heart transplant, so he can be health enough again to “uncork the ass-beating of a lifetime” on him and finally gain his respect.

Saturday Night Live is a machine. Like any machine that has been running for 32 years, it doesn’t always work, and the quality can be inconsistent, but for better or worse, it has become quite the institution. I stopped watching ages ago, but they sure keep grinding it out don’t they? We’ve seen sketches turned into feature-length movies; from the good (Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World), to the bad (Night at the Roxbury, Superstar) to the utterly atrocious (It’s Pat, Ladies Man). In the infancy of their careers, we’ve had the pleasure of seeing some real talent come from the halls of 30 Rock, and on to more fruitful ventures. On the other side of that coin, we’ve also seen some of the most inexplicable displays of ‘talent’ attempt to cash in on their resume and fail miserably. So when movies like this come along, I typically take them with a grain of salt. In this case, I think my tepid expectation may have actually added to my enjoyment of the movie.

The premise sounds like yet another SNL sketch forced to feature length. The movie opens with Rod Kimble (Andy Samberg), an amateur stuntman who believes his real father to have been a famous stuntman who worked with Evil Knievel, and his crew spending their days setting up a series of jumps for Rod to attempt on his moped. His crew consists of Dave (Bill Hader), the mechanic, Rico (Danny R. McBride), the ramp builder, and Kevin (Jorma Taccone), the step-brother and videographer. In the beginning, Rod attempts to jump a mail truck positioned between two makeshift wooden ramps. Before he starts, he asks his crew if they had time to reinforce the ramp. They respond, obviously, that no, they didn’t have time. He tries it anyway and flies smack into the top of the truck and the landing ramp. Undeterred by this failure, he promotes a stunt the very next day where he plans to jump the local pool. This also fails. Spectacularly.

On the home front, Rod arrives home daily to suit up for a series of gladiator-type battles with his step-father Frank (Ian McShane) in an attempt to win his respect. His step-brother Kevin tries to stop him but Rod says, “You’re his real son, so he automatically loves you. I have to earn it.” So off he goes to get his ass handed to him again. After the failed pool jump, Rod returns home to learn that Frank is in need of a heart transplant that will cost $50,000 out of pocket. This angers Rod. Not so much because of the severity of the situation, but that he will never get the chance to beat Frank in hand-to-hand combat. After going to his “happy place” (a very hilarious scene with Rod in the forest apparently training and “air punching out his aggression”) he decides that he will set up a stunt wherein he will attempt to jump 15 buses and promote the event with all the proceeds going to pay for Frank’s operation. So he can keep him alive, bring him back to full strength, and try his hand at, well, beating him to death.

Let me go on record as saying with the right projects, Andy Samberg has the potential to have a long and prosperous film career. In lesser hands, this movie could have been a disaster, but what makes it work is the honesty of Rod’s character. Rod is a man happy with simple pleasures, but he is not stupid. Samberg wisely chose not to play it up for cheesiness or cheap laughs. Yes, there are cheesy moments and cheap laughs abound, but there is sincerity in the character that makes it work. The supporting cast is also played to just the right tone as well. There isn’t a Stifler-type character that is trying to break out and be noticed. Everyone just does their part, and does it well while staying mindful of the structure of the film. My favorite parts of the movie are between Rod and Frank. Whether they are fighting or Rod is trying to talk to him to get a glimpse of the respect he almost painfully desires, it always turns into Rod finding various ways to threaten Frank’s life. Even as he lies on his death bed. Another wise move by the filmmakers was not to overdo the emotion and weigh down the picture with sappy sentiment. Again, it plays to just the right tone. And the 80’s-style soundtrack that fills the movie is just icing on the cake.

This movie is much funnier than I expected. A fairly textbook comedy that works because it cares about the characters. It is cheesy but sincere, over-the-top, but not overplayed, and a great vehicle to, what hopes to be, a promising career from star Andy Samberg.

And there’s the rub.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Jeremy Welsch
jndubbs@gmail.com

Movie Review: Underdog by JR

Title: Underdog

Starring: Jason Lee, Peter Dinklage, Jim Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Alex Neuberger

Directed by: Frederik Du Chau
Genre: Action/Adventure/Family/Comedy

Release Date: August 3, 2007

MPAA Rating: PG for crude humor, mild language and action

A beagle who just can’t seem to do anything right, is kidnapped and given superpowers by a mad scientist, Dr. Barsinister. He escapes and makes friends with a boy who helps him discover how to use his new powers for good.

After first seeing the previews earlier this year, I have been excited about Underdog. As a parent of two children ages 7 and 5, it’s hard to find movies that everyone in the family will enjoy. My kids were as equally excited to see it as I was. Usually it’s them wanting to drag me to a movie (Happily N’ever After), or it’s me wanting to drag them to a movie (Narnia).

The story line in Underdog was very simple: Mad scientist and his bumbling sidekick want to do bad things, and the superhero must save the day. The big “twist” on this is that the superhero is a dog. Not so big of a twist, right? Yeah, I know. But it’s still a really cute gimmick and it worked for me. Underdog, whose alter-ego’s name is Shoeshine, is a great character for kids. He has trouble succeeding in what he does because something always goes wrong, and he feels like he can’t do anything. He’s funny and very relatable, even if he is a talking dog. His owner, Jack, is having some problems of his own and has to overcome them to help Underdog succeed. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, but coupled with the action and the comedy, it really works here. All of the kids in the theater were captivated.

The performances were fantastic as well. Dr. Barsinister is played by Peter Dinklage (you might know him from Nip/Tuck) and he’s a perfect kiddie villain. He’s just sinister enough, yet he does physical comedy very well. His bumbling sidekick is played masterfully by Patrick Warburton. Underdog’s owner Jack is played by newcomer Alex Neuberger. According to imdb.com, he’s only been in one other movie: Running Scared, which I hated. He’s a great little actor. I expect to see him in many other movies in the future.

Underdog is the latest in the old-cartoon-turned-into-a-movie, and I have to tell you, I never watched the old cartoon. I remember seeing pieces of it here and there in my childhood, but it wasn’t one that I would carve out a slice of that special Saturday morning time for. One of the things I do remember about the cartoon is Underdog speaking in rhyme a lot, and he does that in the new movie as well. Sounds like it would get old? Nah, it doesn’t. Not in the short run-time. It’s endearing actually, like a part of his new persona that isn’t developed yet. I hate to compare, but it’s kinda like in Spiderman, when Peter Parker is trying to figure out how to use his webbing and shouts out things like “Go web!”.

My only complaint about the movie is that it dragged a bit in the second half. My kids were thoroughly engaged in it, but I took a quick 10 minute nap. Overall though, the movie was entertaining, funny, full of action, and completely appropriate for the entire family. Which I love.

4 out of 5 stars

Jenny Rushing
Beccajane67@yahoo.com

Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie by ME

Title: The Simpsons Movie
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Pamela Hayden
Directed By: David Silverman
Produced By: Hyejoon Yun, David Mirkin, James L. Brooks
Genre: Comedy, Animation and Adaptation
Release Date: July 27th, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout.
Distributors: 20^th Century Fox

It takes a wide screen to fully capture Homer Simpson's stupidity, and The Simpsons Movie does it. In the eagerly-awaited animated feature film based on the hit TV series, Homer must save the world from a catastrophe that he himself created – Official Site

What is there that really needs to be said about a The Simpsons movie? I mean, all you really want is two things. 1. It's got to be good, and 2. It has to go a little farther than what they can do on TV without going over the top. Well, The Simpsons Movie delivers in spades. From the opening scene in which Homer makes fun of people paying to see the movie, to the end credits, The Simpsons Movie is just about perfect. Not too long, and yet not just an extended episode, The Simpsons Movie makes fun of everything from movie goers to Arnold Schwarzenegger, keeping nothing sacred.

The cast is just as perfect as they have always been. I have never really paid attention to who voices who in the show but I finally got an idea how hard the voice actors work on The Simpsons. Most notable is one scene where Marge is leaving Homer (again!) in which Julie Kavner's performance was heartbreaking. You could really tell how much it hurt her to say the things she said. I kind of expected a lot more cameos though. All we get is Green Day, Albert Brooks, Joe Montegna and Tom Hanks, but if that is my only gripe then I really can't complain.

I could go on all day about all of the things that this film pokes fun at but why ruin it for you? If you are a fan, you have probably already seen it. If you are a casual fan (like me) and have the extra cash, it is worth it to see it in a full theater. And FYI, there are some extras during the credits for those interested.

Visit the official site here.

Until Homer gets the Nobel Peace Prize,
keep reading

Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie by CD

Title: The Simpsons Movie
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Pamela Hayden
Directed By: David Silverman
Produced By: Hyejoon Yun, David Mirkin, James L. Brooks
Genre: Comedy, Animation and Adaptation
Release Date: July 27th, 2007
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout.
Distributors: 20th Century Fox

When Homer mistakenly pollutes the river with toxic waste from his "Pig Crap" silo, he causes the EPA to encase Springfield in a glass dome, and must save them before President Schwarzenegger gives the order for the town to be destroyed. - IMDB.COM

Okay, let me try and put away my inner fan boy. I will admit being a fan of The Simpsons and trying to write an unbiased review is almost a futile as Homer attempting to solve quantum equations. Anyways let's get to this review.

I was initially worried that it wouldn't translate well from tv screen to movie screen. That for some reason, I would be let down as I have been with certain superhero movies that shall go unnamed ::cough:: Spiderman 3 ::cough:: Fantastic 4 ROTSS; but I kept hope in my heart and did my best to put on my big boy pants and deal with whatever came across the screen.

Matt Groening delivered big time. From the opening credits till the end credits, it was one big side splitter of a film. I don't want to give anything away, so it will be a bit difficult to tell you anything about this film. Let me just say that I haven't laughed so much or so hard at a movie in quite some time.

Visually the movie surprised me due to how good the 2-D animation looked. Of course, they added some 3-D animation in for certain scenes, but it was done in a seamless fashion. This is also one of the movies where you have to keep your eyes open for all the little sight gags in the background.

Some may be surprised to see such a short running time for this movie. 87 minutes doesn't seem like much of a movie in a world of big epic 2 and 3 hours movies, but it was a perfect harmonious match for the film. You didn't end up feeling like it was getting boring. I actually wished there had been a little more, but if you take into account the end credit gags, it seems like there is more movie.

Bottom Line? Go see this movie. It is worth the ticket price.

I am going to borrow Mitch's way of ending a review with a snappy line, only because I thought of one for a change.

Until Harry Plopper and the Half Mud Rinse comes out.
Read on!

C.R.Dunham
Crobertdunham@yahoo.com