Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

 

With: Steve Martin, John Candy

 

 

Comedies just don’t get any better than this. Director John Hughes, who brought us the 80’s comedy classics Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club, made this movie and it’s definitely his funniest and best film. Steve Martin plays Neal Page an uptight and unlucky guy who just wants to get home in time for Thanksgiving but seems to be jinxed. It all starts when he can’t find a cab to get to the airport: he even has to race against Kevin Bacon in order to get one. Then, a man unwittingly steals his cab, that man is Del Griffith, a very friendly chatter-box who sells shower curtain rings. Obviously, Del and Neal end up on the same plane, and it gets cancelled. So, Neal and Del, an odd couple, go through every mode of transportation in order to get home. But along the way, clumsy Del makes life pretty difficult for Neal, whose patience is running out. They get angry with each other more than once with hilarious consequences. Everything that could ever go wrong in a trip does: they get robbed, their car gets destroyed, their train breaks down in the middle of nowhere, to name a few. The comedy scenes are clever and come fast and effective: John Candy and Steve Martin make one of the best comedy duos ever filmed. But the film is not all gags, it does have a well structured story, a hilarious script and a lot of heart: John Candy gives his very best performance and he proves that he wasn’t only a King of Comedy but also a terrific actor and his character is extremely loveable. The whole thing is pure feel-good comedy gold and is surprisingly moving (the ending…tear). John Hughes has produced a comedy that’s brilliant in every way and is, therefore, one of Cablo Gula’s favourite comedies.

 

Overall: *****/5 

 

Always (1989)

 

With: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Audrey Hepburn

 

 

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this romantic comedy tells the story of a daredevil fire-fighter pilot (Dreyfuss) who dies in a crash after saving his friend’s life and returns as a ghost to guide a future pilot and watch over his beloved wife (Hunter). He may not have been a model husband: he never said “I love you” to his wife, he miscalculated her birthday and he was reckless in the skies. But he truly loved her and he was a good man who died as a hero. Now, I know what you’re going to say, I can hear it now: “Wait a minute…that sounds suspiciously like Ghost!”. Let me respond by saying “yes” and then by adding “it’s what Ghost would have loved to be”. Sure Always has its schmaltzy moments and it is a tear-jerker but it’s at least 10 times better than the overrated cheesiness that is Ghost. First of all, it’s directed by The ‘Berg and even though this is not one of his best films, it’s visually perfect and it’s hard not to be impressed by the effortless way in which he creates gripping sequences and beautiful images. You won’t find any dodgy special effects here. Also, Always is a good showcase of the terrific Richard Dreyfuss, an underrated, underused actor these days who gives a flawless, convincing performance. Unlike Mr Patrick “Dirty-Dancing” Swayze whose acting in Ghost was as impressive as a wet noodle. The ever reliable John Goodman provides some good support too and you can almost forgive Holly Hunter’s occasional overacting. Whereas Ghost was a chick-flick through and through, this is a chick-flick in a guy setting, and strangely Dreyfuss has more charm in his little grey moustache than Swayze has in his whole body (except maybe his dancing feet). I must admit, I really like Always, it goes straight in my list of guilty pleasures along with Cocktail and The Sound of Music. Always may not be in the same league as Minority Report, Jaws or E.T. but it’s way better than The Terminal and is perfect for Sunday afternoon viewings or to watch with a lady-friend (wink wink). Overall, Always is a funny, touching, underrated romantic tale that’s “always” enjoyable (sorry) and well worth a look.

 

Overall: ****/5  

 

 

See No Evil Hear No Evil (1989)

 

With: Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Kevin Spacey

 

 

One of the best comedy duos ever had one of their very best moment in this classic hilarious comedy. Wilder (Willy Wonka, Young Frankenstein) is Dave: a deaf ex-actor. Pryor (Superman 3) is Wally: a blind man who refuses to acknowledge his problem. They meet and start working together when a murder is committed right under their noses, problem is, Wally didn’t see it and Dave didn’t hear it. They get arrested and, after they manage to escape, they become wanted killers on the run. There are many jokes you could make with a blind and a death character but they’d all come out being cruel and just plain bad. Fortunately, in this film, the jokes come fast and they work without being cruel since the 2 main characters are very loveable. These gags are organised to form a film that’s very funny from start to finish with countless hilarious scenes. We get deaf Dave guiding his blind friend through a fist-fight, Dave holding a naked woman at “gun”-point and Wally passing himself as a Swedish gynaecologist, to name a few examples. Wilder is as wild as ever and Pryor has rarely been so funny prior to this film (see what I did there?). Both of them work brilliantly together and you feel like you’re in good hands when you watch these 2 comic geniuses working. There’s even Kevin Spacey (Usual Suspects, American Beauty), who plays one of the bad guys (with a bad British accent) in an early role. Overall, it’s simply one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen and a film that’s not only laugh-out-loud funny but also a charming little buddy movie about 2 disabled pals who manage, even with their problems, to have one hell of an adventure. A must-see.

 

Overall: ****1/2 /5

 

L.A. Story (1991)

 

With: Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker

 

Written by Steve Martin himself, L.A. Story is the latter’s love song to The City of Angels, much like Manhattan was Woody Allen’s love song to New York City. The opening sequence is a truly magical introduction that’s 100% pure Steve Martin: it’s a sunny day in L.A. and a giant hotdog balloon in passing by over the city to the sound of Charles Trenet’s “La Mer”. It’s an sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the film perfectly and it’s filled with Martin’s silly, absurd humour with more poetry and irony. The White-Haired One is Harris J. Telemacher, a wacky weatherman who has a close encounter of the sign-post kind one night. It tells him that the weather will change his life twice. Harris meets Sarah, a quirky British woman (Tennant) who plays the tuba and who always forgets to drive on the left side of the road. She is with her ex-husband (Grant) who wants to give their relationship another go, but Sarah is unsure. Meanwhile, Harris gets fired from his job and starts a relationship with a younger woman called SanDeE* (Parker) who enjoys…spinning. When Harris sees Sarah for the first time, he falls in love with her instantly. And even though the situation is a little complicated and it looks like they might not get together after all, the sign-post works its magic. L.A. Story is a charming film: its off-beat originality and clever absurdity are irresistible. Steve Martin is as good as ever and definitely proves that he is an incredibly talented writer, it is arguably his best film to date. The whole cast is great and seems to be having fun, there are even a few welcome cameos from the likes of Patrick Stewart (as a severe Frenchman), Chevy Chase and Woody Harrelson (as Steve’s boss). Sarah Jessica Parker is particularly good as SanDeE* and it’s her best film role. The film is also, it must be said, directed brilliantly by Mick Jackson: the rain sequence at the end is simply beautiful. Overall, L.A. Story is a flawless and hilarious little masterpiece that’s not to be missed.

 

Overall: *****/5

 

 

When Harry Met Sally (1992)

 

With: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

 

The impossible-to-dislike Billy Crystal is Harry Burns, a pessimist who thinks he knows everything and who believes that men and women can never really be friends because sex always gets in the way. He’s so pessimistic that he always reads the last page of novels at the start so he can know how it all ends in case he dies in mid-read. Meg Ryan is Sally Albright, a slightly naïve and sweet girl who likes to play it safe and enjoys security. She’s definitely a more happy and optimistic person than Harry. They both meet in 1977 when Sally gives Harry, who was going out with her friend at the time, a ride to New York. During the trip, their radically different personnalities clash, Harry makes a pass at her, she refuses and they agree not to be friends. 5 years later, they meet again at an airport unexpectedly, but they soon part ways again. 5 years even later they meet again, but this time, they become friends, thus proving a flaw in Harry’s theory. We therefore follow these 2 loveable characters through 11 years as they meet, clash, bond and progressively fall in love. Directed by Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally owes much to Annie Hall. Reiner uses similar techniques and ideas used previously by Woody Allen (split-screens, jazz, New York etc.) and, in a way, this film is the Annie Hall of the 90s. Billy Crystal, always good value, is at his very best here and has never been funnier. Meg Ryan is very sweet and reminds us of why she was the rom-com Queen of the 90s. And even though it’s her famous orgasm scene which often remains stuck in people’s minds, there are many many more classic moments to be found in this adorable film. When Harry Met Sally is definitely one of the best rom-coms ever, if not the best: it’s clever, witty, very funny and touching. Undoubtedly the best Woody Allen film never made and one of my personal favourite movies. Perfectly acted, cleverly written and directed, it’s a delightful film that demands repeat viewings. Why? Because it does.

 

Overall: *****/5     

 

Groundhog Day (1993)

 

With: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

 

 

This Harold Ramis comedy was a big hit and provided Bill Murray with one of his very best roles to date. The story is famous but let me remind you. Phil Connors is a grumpy weatherman who has to go and cover the annual Groundhog Day (for the 3^rd year running) in a small Pennsylvanian town that he cannot stand, he has a pretty crappy day and is shocked to find that his weather prediction was false. The next morning, everything happens in exactly the same way it did the previous day. It soon becomes pretty clear that Phil is stuck in a personal time warp and that he has to live out the same day over and over again. Bill Murray’s various reactions to these bizarre events are hilarious and his performance is brilliant. At first he’s obviously confused but as the “day” go by he makes the most of it and does everything he wants as he uses this “curse” to his advantage. But then he starts to get depressed and he even commits suicide numerous times in different ways. He tries to get the girl, his producer Rita but he finds that she’s not such an easy girl to trick. The film includes some inspired subtle moments, many laugh-out-loud gags and some very inventive ideas. Even though the film is about a day that repeats itself over and over and even though the film is about a day that repeats itself over and over, it doesn’t get repetitive, it doesn’t get repetitive. Harold Ramis proves himself to be a very imaginative and clever director and Bill Murray is on top form as he displays a whole palette of emotions and feelings perfectly. Thanks to the excellent script, the film is consistently funny and engaging. Overall, what can I say? It’s one of the best comedies ever made and is one of Cablo Gula’s personal favourites.

 

Overall: ***** /5  

 

Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

 

With: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston

 

 

Woody Allen and Diane Keaton star in this suspenseful comedy in which Carol Lipton (Keaton), wife of neurotic Larry (Allen), believes the death of their next door neighbour’s wife is no accident. The couple meet their new neighbours and the following day, the wife has a heart attack and dies. When Carol sees the husband acting a bit too casual soon after his wife’s death, she starts to suspect something screwy is going on. With her flirtatious friend Ted (Alda), Carol begins her own little investigation as the clues keep coming and the murder mystery becomes more and more complex. Larry however is incredibly sceptical about the whole thing, he doesn’t like Carol sticking her nose into other people’s lives, and of course spending too much time with Ted. He keeps trying to convince Carol that she’s imagining things and that she’s just inventing herself an adventure to bring some excitement into her life. Is Larry right, is Carol just paranoid? Or are they really living next door to a murderer? When Carol begins her investigation, it seems her marriage to Larry is becoming a bit fragile as there doesn’t seem to be any complicity between them. But when Larry actually sees proof that something strange is happening he starts to get into it, even though he’s not used to so much excitement and danger. Manhattan Murder Mystery sees Woody Allen going back to comedy and reuniting with Diane Keaton so from the offset there’s some welcome familiarity present. Allen’s especially whiny and panicky performance is a delight, expect one-liners agogo and some masterful, subtle physical comedy (the scene where Larry plays poker is especially brilliant). As for Diane Keaton, she’s as good as ever and the supporting cast is perfect with the always reliable Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston, who were both in Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors 4 years before. Overall, the film is cleverly constructed, very funny and full of suspense. Manhattan Murder Mystery is a comfortably acted, directed and written comedy that’s enjoyable and fun from start to finish. Well worth seeing.

 

Overall: ****/5

 

Ernest Goes to School (1994)

 

With: Jim Varney, Linda Kash, Bill Byrge

 

 

Jim Varney stars once again as Ernest P. Worrell in what is one of his character’s best efforts. This time, he’s the janitor of a school which is about to be closed down and taken over by another. The only way the school can avoid this is if everyone in the staff can prove they are high-school graduates. Obviously, Ernest is the only one not to have graduated and he is given the choice to either leave and find another job or go back to school. Since his job is everything to him, he chooses the latter and pretty soon he is back in the classroom, Billy Madison-style. But things aren’t going to be so easy as Ernest is clearly a hopeless imbecile: he trashes the maths teacher on the first day and solving the problem “4+2=?” proves to be more difficult than he had anticipated. Thankfully, 2 mad scientist have created a “Sub-Atomic Brain Accelerator” which Ernest has been chosen to test. This new technological wonder enables our favourite janitor to suddenly become smart but only for a limited period of 45 minutes, after that he needs to “reload” if he doesn’t want to return to his normal, brainless self. As Ernest officially turns into an intellectual geek, he also turns into a pretentious jerk and when some bullies discover his secret and destroy the Brain Accelerator before the big test, it looks like it’s all over for Ernest and, by extension, the school. But is it? Know what I mean? As this is an Ernest movie, don’t expect to see a big budget, arty farty, fancy schmansy masterpiece “extraordinaire”, ehehehe. What you can expect though is more of Varney’s rubber-faced genius and some good belly laughs. For once, the cast is pretty ok acting-wise and the directing not as mediocre as is often the case in most Ernest movies. The best and funniest moments include the maths teacher incident, a football match gone crazy and a scene where Ernest loses his “smartness” in the middle of a talk, a classic Ernest moment indeed. Overall, if you like Ernest films then you’ll surely appreciate this, otherwise, give it a go I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

 

Overall: ***/5

 

Mixed Nuts (1994)

 

With: Steve Martin, Juliette Lewis, Madeline Kahn, Anthony Laplagia, Robert Klein, Adam Sandler, Rob Reiner

 

 

This little comedy, a remake of French classic ‘Le Pere Noel Est Une Ordure’, stars Steve Martin as Philip, a guy who works at Lifesavers: a suicide prevention hotline service where depressed people call up and the ‘life savers’ try to cheer them up and stop them from killing themselves. It’s Christmas time, everything’s going pear-shaped, and it looks like the life savers will need saving themselves. Not only do they receive an eviction notice from their landlord saying that they have to leave just after the New Year, but weird acquaintances and unexpected situations keep occurring making this particular Christmas night a truly unforgettable one. All the characters are lonely people or people with relationship problems and it seems that by spending time together doing crazy stuff they are helping each other. The great Madeline Kahn (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein) is hilarious as Mrs Munschnik, a loud and cranky woman who works at Lifesavers and gets locked in the elevator. Juliette Lewis is perfect and Anthony Laplagia has never been better as Chris the lonely transvestite. Adam Sandler is also part of this  pack of ‘mixed nuts’ as a yukulele-playing-idiot (who sounds suspiciously like the Waterboy) and provides his usual moronic-Billy Madison humour./ Steve Martin is as good as ever as Philip and the scene where he and Chris dance together is absolutely hilarious. This forgotten little film is not only incredibly funny but also very original with a quirky script and great directing courteousy of Nora Ephron, who brought us rom-com masterpiece When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. The whole think is quirky, witty and off-beat with a strong comic cast and some black humour: the result is thoroughly enjoyable and great fun to watch. Unfortunately, the last 5 minutes are a poor attempt at trying to add some “Christmas spirit” to the whole thing and it comes off as cheesy. Also, the Christmas-music soundtrack can get a bit heavy. Still, having said that, it’s one of the best American remake of a French comedy I’ve seen and it’s well worth a look. Highly recommended.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

The Mask (1994)

 

With: Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegret, Amy Yasbeck, Peter Greene

 

 

This is the film that truly propelled Jim Carrey to super-stardom. It is an adaptation of a comic-book, takes place in the fictional Edge City and stars Jim as shy banker Stanley Ipkiss, an unlucky loser who watches Tex Avery cartoons constantly, plays with his mischievous dog Milo and wears funky pyjamas and ties. Stanley is having the worst day of his life: he gets thrown out of a club, he gets taken for a “ride” (geddit) by 2 ghastly mechanics, he gets harassed by his horrible landlady and his boss and then he finds a strange wooden mask. Later, out of sheer curiosity, he puts it on and is more than surprised to find that he has put on a magical mask that turns him into a living cartoon. He becomes an insane superhero that lives out all the desires he had kept bottled up. But the Mask is mischievous and is mostly interested in causing mayhem and flirting with Tina, a beautiful singer (at the Coco Bongo Club) who also happens to be the girl of petty gangster Dorian. Dorian has been ordered to leave the city by the big “cheese” but he had planned a bank robbery instead. Unfortunately for him, the Mask got there first and took all the money in a spinning tornado of madness. So poor Stanley Ipkiss (aka The Mask) ends up being chased by the police as well as by Dorian and his gang. When the film came out, audiences were in awe in front of the amazing cartooney special effects that managed to allow Jim Carrey’s eye and tongue to pop out and turn him into a real living Tex Avery character. The film is hilarious, entertaining and very original and contains some brilliant scenes. Cameron Diaz is eye-poppingly, groin-grabbingly hot and there are some truly amazing musical numbers that you’re not likely to forget any time soon. Overall, it’s one of Jim Carrey’s very best and is one of the best comedy ever made. As a kid, I saw the film so much that I knew the whole script by heart, I kid you not. A sssssmokin’ treat for kids and adults. (Oh yeah, and try to avoid the dreadful sequel, I beg you) 

 

Overall: ****1/2 /5

 

 

 

 

Fargo (1996)

 

With: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell,  Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrud

 

 

Regarded by many as the Coen brothers’ best achievement, even though we all know deep down that The Big Lebowski is their best masterpiece, Fargo assures us from the offset that it is based on a true story and that only the names have been changed. If you’re familiar with the Coens’ work you’ll know that this is in fact a joke and that the film is purely fictional. Fargo is the story of car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (Macy) who hires 2 men to kidnap his wife so he can receive her father’s money. But everything that could go wrong does and it never looks for one second like he could pull it off. Not only does he find it increasingly difficult to withstand the pressures of the whole downward spiral he’s created but his wife’s kidnapping goes horribly wrong when the killers, Carl (Buscemi) and Gaear (Stormare), get pulled over by a cop and it all ends in the murder of 3 innocent people. Plus, his wife’s wealthy and headstrong father Wade (Presnell) has no intention of giving his money to some thugs without a fight. And then there is Marge Gunderson (McDormand), a friendly and very pregnant police officer who’s called to investigate the matter. The twist is that Marge figures out everything that happened after about 5 seconds on the crime scene. Fargo is therefore not really a film about a murder investigation but rather a film about the progressive downfall of a plan doomed from the offset. Fargo is the Coens at their very best: the black humour works perfectly, not to mention all the “yah” and “oh jeez” which are constantly repeated by the Swedish-influenced inhabitants of the snowbound Fargo. The Coen Brothers have always had a way with words and the superb script adds a lot to the film. Not only that but Joel Coen’s flawless direction and Carter Burwell’s brilliant score make the film look like a real work of art. And that’s not even mentioning the cast: Frances McDormand is delightful as Marge and obviously deserved her Oscar. Steve Buscemi is as good as ever in what is one of his very best performances and William H.Macy is simply excellent in a role he was born to play. Fargo is a unique film that has enchanted critics and it’s easy to see why as this is another masterpiece from the geniuses that are Joel and Ethan Coen. Overall, Fargo is a very funny and intelligent comedy/thriller which is pretty much perfect in every way. A must-see.

 

Overall: *****/5

 

 

Multiplicity (1996)

 

With: Michael Keaton, Andie McDowell, Eugene Levy

 

 

Harold Ramis, who also directed Stripes and Groundhog Day, made this hilarious and inventive comedy which stars Michael Keaton (on top form) in 4, yes 4, different roles! The film tells the story of Doug Kinney, who doesn’t seem to have any time for his family and for himself because of his very demanding job. One day, by chance, he meets a scientist who tells him that he’s found a way to succesfully clone human beings in 2 hours. So, Doug clones himself so his clone can help him out in his very busy life. It sounds preposterous, and it is, but it works. It all gets complicated when Doug gets cloned again and when his clone gets cloned without telling him (confused). This leaves Doug’s wife very confused and thinking that her husband has finally lost it. Every clone has a different personnality: number 1 is a slob who takes care of Doug’s job, number 2 is a camp control freak who takes care of Doug’s family and number 3 is “special”, which is another word for retarded. The conversations between the 4 of them are obviously the highlights of the film and bring many laughs. Michael Keaton is hilarious and gives 4 great performances, thus proving once again that he is one of the best actors around. The techniques that permit 4 Michael Keatons to interact and have conversations with each other works well and is still pretty cool at times. The whole thing is very enjoyable, great fun and hilarious. Harold Ramis shows that he’s brilliant at taking a fantastical concept and adapting it to make a great comedy: in Groudhog Day, the concept was a day repeating itself over and over. It’s a classic comedy and one of Cablo Gula’s favourites.

 

Overall: ****/5 

 

Ernest in the Army (1997)

 

With: Jim Varney, Hayley Tyson, David Muller

 

 

There’s about 99.9% of chances that you’ve never heard of this film, reason being most “Ernest” movies either go straight to video or come out in an extremely limited number of American cinemas. Little known comic genius Jim Varney sadly died a couple of years ago but thankfully he left behind many low-budget films, in most of which he played  Ernest P. Worrell, the brainless janitor, a character which Varney has played numerous times in countless movies. In this one, Ernest has a job picking up golf balls, it’s a crappy occupation (still, beats scrubbing toilets) but Ernest loves every minute of it, thanks to his vivid imagination that keeps him in his own little world where he pretends the golf balls are mines and he’s a war hero of some kind. His buddy Ben tells him that if he joins the army (the reserves to be precise), he’ll become “Army People” and therefore be able to drive big trucks, cars and other such vehicles without ever having to leave the base and go into actual combat. Ernest hesitates but eventually agrees and he is finally able to display his…ahem…impressive driving. Things take an unexpected turn for our pal when his group of reserves are to be sent to a small country, Karifistan, that’s about to be invaded by an evil, golf-loving dictator. So Ernest soon find himself in a foreign land having the biggest, most challenging adventure of his life. The film starts off with a narrator telling the tale of the legend of the “Great American Warrior” who will come and save the people of Karifistan. It’s instantly obvious the “Hero” in question is none other than Ernest himself who, by the end of the film, saves everyone, gets rid of the bad guys and even gets the girl…well, sort of. Ernest in the Army may not be as funny as, say, Ernest Goes to Camp but it’s certainly good fun. The highlights include an accident involving some out-of-control gummy bears, Ernest’s original pancake recipe and his struggle with an electric fence. The rubber-faced Jim Varney is as hilarious as ever, expect plenty of Jim Carrey-esque facial madness and stupidly funny one-liners. Of course, the film itself is low budget, contains mediocre acting, writing and directing (even though there are some surprisingly ok moments) but when Ernest is on the screen you can’t help but smile and who cares if a film is good or not as long as it’s funny? Overall, “connoisseurs” of Jim Varney’s works will find lots to enjoy here (I know I did), others will probably cringe a lot and let out a couple of tight farts, know what I mean? Hehehe...

 

Overall: **1/2 /5

 

Mr Magoo (1997)

 

With: Leslie Nielsen, Malcolm McDowell, Jenifer Gardner

 

 

When Hollywood gets bored, it calls the ‘fresh-out-of-ideas’ Walt Disney and they get together to adapt a much loved old cartoons into a messy movie just so they can make a few bucks on the now-adults fans of the original animated series. So far we’ve had  Inspector Gadget and, last year, the groin-grabbingly mediocre Garfield. But the ‘love him or hate him’ character Mr Magoo also got his 90 minutes of movie ‘stardom’. If you don’t already know, Magoo is an old millionaire who doesn’t see well at all and therefore gets into all kinds of crazy life-threatening situations without even noticing. The casting of Leslie Nielsen as Magoo is perfect, one cannot imagine a better choice. Unfortunately, the White Haired One is just about the only reason to watch this movie. The rest of the cast includes some familiar faces such as Jenifer Gardner (Elektra, Alias) and Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange, Cat People), on full ‘pull-the-strings’ mode: ‘what the crap are they doing here?’ is the inevitable reaction you’ll get when watching this film. Everyone acts badly (except perhaps Nielsen) and the story is incredibly messy. When a priceless ruby is stolen and ends up by accident in Mr Magoo’s possession, the poor old fool gets pursued by the FBI, the CIA and a bunch of clumsy robbers. The story seems pretty simple but it’s so poorly directed that it does feel like Magoo has been sidelined from his own show, which is a fatal mistake since he’s the only one with the potential to be actually funny. Having said all that, there are some amusing moments, some nice make-up effects and a few decent stunts. The only scenes likely to raise some smiles though are sadly those where the Magoo character disappears and Leslie Nielsen takes over. Overall, it’s quite disappointing and one of Nielsen’s worst but fans of the original cartoon will find some humorous parts. I suggest you watch the Inspector Gadget movie instead, it’s not very good but at least it’s funny and has some ok special effects.

 

Overall: **/5

 

Orgazmo (1997)

 

With: Trey Parker, Dian Bachar, Michael Dean Jacobs, Matt Stone

 

 

Written, directed and starring Trey Parker, famous for being the mastermind behind the South Park cartoons along with his pal Matt Stone (who also appears in the film), Orgazmo is the story of a goody-goody mormon, Joe Young (Parker), who is offered 20000 dollars to star in a porn film in which he would play a “superhero” called Orgazmo. He has caught the sleazy director’s eye as the perfect choice for the hero because not only does he have martial arts skills (for some reason) and has had some acting experience (sort of) but his innocence and naivity is exactly what is needed for the role. Of course, at first Joe isn’t up for it, not only is it against Heavenly Father’s way but it’s a porn film and he’s not sure if he can handle that kind of world. But 20000 is a lot of money for 2 days of work and it would come in handy as he plans to get married soon, not only that but he has been assured that he wouldn’t have to actually have sex as he would have a “stunt cock” cutting in for the close-ups. Pretty soon, he is in his ridiculous pink costume and starring in the dire film, he even has a sidekick Choda Boy who is haunted by the Hamster Style martial art technique which he’s vowed to never use again, for some reason. Not only that but he’s a genius and has actually succeeded in constructing the actual Orgazmorator, Orgazmo’s weapon. And so Joe Young (stagename: Tom Hung) becomes a superhero on the set and off the set as he and his faithful sex-toy gadgets inventor sidekick try to help a Japanese man (who seems to think he’s black) face some bullies who want to take over his sushi bar. Parker and Stone may be famous for South Park and perhaps Team America but before that, they made a few cult comedies such as Baseketball, Cannibal: The Musical and of course, what is probably their best: Orgazmo. The childish, rude, vulgar humour of South Park is very much present in Orgazmo and most of the jokes work really well, the result is a hilarious, original film that’s supremely silly and stupid but very clever at the same time. Sure it’s trashy, sure it has plot-holes agogo and some questionnable acting but chances are you’ll find it irresistible. Overall, there are plenty of classic bits and pieces in Orgazmo which will delight anyone with a perverted sense of humour (like me) and fans of Parker and Stone’s unique style. See it, but be warned, you’ll either love it or hate it. Hey, don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin'. but I really love this movie man.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

 

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

 

With: Woody Allen, Amy Irving, Kirstie Alley, Billy Crystal, Elisabeth Shue, Judy Davis, Tobey Maguire, Stanley Tucci, Robin Williams

 

Woody Allen is the ironically named Harry Block, a novelist with writer’s block who can only express his feelings and be happy through his art. In real life he cheats, drinks, takes pills, swears and enjoys spending his time (and money) on prostitutes. He’s just written a book based on his real experiences and has consequently managed to anger all of his 3 ex-wives. Harry is in love with a younger girl he used to go out with (Shue) and he is devastated to learn she’s getting married with a friend of his (Crystal). Meanwhile, his old university wants to honour him but Harry as no one to bring to the ceremony, not even his own son who has to go to school. Oh well, that’s nothing a little kidnapping couldn’t fix. He starts to think about comical short stories he wrote and we notice how he’s managed to camouflage his own life and experience in them. Deconstructing Harry is a daring film in more ways than one. Not only is it Allen’s first movie since his falling out with Mia Farrow but it is also one of Allen’s darkest films. His character, Harry, is a rather sinister fellow: he drinks, takes pills, likes prostitutes, he’s a bad influence on his son, he cheats and is therefore hated by many people including his ex-wives. In other words, Harry is basically how many people see Woody after the Soon-Yi affair. It’s a film that gets better the more times you see it as you start to really understand what it’s about and all the black humour contained in it. There are flashes of brilliance from Allen such as Robin Williams’ cameo appearance as a (literally) out of focus actor and the scene in Hell at the end with Billy Crystal as the Devil. During the movie, Allen uses a brave technique and deliberately slices some scenes so the film can reflect Harry’s fragmented, deconstructed life. Overall, this is probably Woody Allen’s best recent film: it’s daring, very funny, clever and completely original. You’ll probably be slightly taken aback by the vulgarity and swearing in it but remember: Woody Allen is not Harry Block.

 

Overall: *****/5

 

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

 

With: Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, Greg Kinnear, Steve Zahn

 

Directed by the Mother of romantic comedies, Nora Ephron, who brought us the classic of the genre When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail reunites Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan for the 3^rd time. They were both in Sleepless in Seattle and Joe Versus The Volcano. The famous premise is very simple: 2 people chat on the internet and fall in love, but they are unaware that in real life they hate each other. I’ll develop. Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly works in a quiet little bookshop that used to belong to her mother. Hanks is Joe Fox, the filthy rich owner of a bookstore chain, aka “the bad man who’s going to open a big discount store across the street from Kathleen’s bookshop”. They both go head to head and really start to get on each others nerves, it’s when Hanks and Ryan are at each other’s necks that the film is at its funniest. Both are in relationships but aren’t in love with their partners. Unaware of their real identities, the two of them send each other e-mails on the internet and have witty conversations in secret (like a cyber-affair if you will, without the sex and dirty language). One is a big fan of The Godfather and the other loves Pride and Prejudice so much she reads it again and again. Joe is a very sweet guy, as we can see when he’s with his kids or when he’s talking to his internet partner, but he hides his “niceness” under a cold, cruel businessman exterior. Kathleen is the cute little rom-com queen we all know and love but in presence of the “bad” Joe Fox, she instantly feels the need to be cruel: she needs to act tough in order to try and keep her business. When Joe finds out that the annoying bookshop woman and his sweet, witty cyber-lady are one and the same, things get slightly more complicated. He is disappointed and doesn’t tell Kathleen the truth about who he is. Gradually, they both start to understand each other better in their real lives but will they get together? Although You’ve Got Mail is not as funny as When Harry Met Sally or as good as Sleepless in Seattle, it’s still very enjoyable to watch and the chemistry between the 2 leads makes it impossible not to care about these charming characters. Overall, an above-average romantic comedy that’s always a pleasure to watch.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

Analyse This (1999)

 

With: Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Lisa Kudrow, Joe Viterelli

 

 

This hit comedy stars Billy Crystal as a psychiatrist who gets a visit from mafia boss Paul Vitti (De Niro) who’s been having anxiety attacks and crying for no reason. Vitti obviously feels a little awkward and ashamed about having to go see a shrink and he wants to keep all of this quiet so as not to appear weak in any way in front of the other mafia bosses. Dr Ben Sobel (Crystal) is not exactly over the moon about all this and cannot seem to avoid getting involved with Vitti which is particularly stressful as he has a son and is about to get remarried. A reunion of all the mafia bosses is supposed to take place soon and Vitti must be in top shape mentally. Meanwhile, the FBI contacts Ben and tells him that if he doesn’t help them find out where the reunion is taking place they are going to make his life a living hell. That’s all he needs… Ben actually wants to help Vitti but he also wants to keep his head not blown off. Analyses This is basically the first film where Robert De Niro proved he could do comedy and be genuinely funny. He parodies his gangster persona with his tongue firmly in his cheek, there’s even a scene which references The Godfather directly. I must say though, that De Niro isn’t entirely convincing when he breaks down and cries a few times during the movie. Anyway, the pairing with the always reliable Billy Crystal is obviously genius and the actors make a fine comedy double act. The story isn’t bad either and is genuinely involving even though it mostly works as a structure, a background to carry the jokes. The sharp script provides some very funny scenes such as the one at the end where Crystal’s psychiatrist must pass himself off as a “consiglieri” speaking on behalf of Vitti. Oh, and Joe Viterelli (as one of Vitti's sidekick) nearly steals the show, he’s absolutely hilarious. Overall, Analyse This is a light-hearted film that’s very entertaining and funny from start to finish. A fine comedy.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

Inspector Gadget (1999)

 

With: Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett

 

 

It’s a rarity when a popular cartoon is transferred to live action film successfully. The Flintstones was promising but since then we’ve had duds like Garfield and Mr Magoo. Inspector Gadget is the story of nerdy, Clouseau-esque security guard John Brown, who has an accident trying to catch the evil Claw (Everett) and his gang who killed the inventor of a new revolutionary gadget technology to steal his work. With the help of his clever daughter and the Gadgetmobile, Brown, reborn as Inspector Gadget, will try to find the cat-stroking villain who killed the father of the woman he loves. Sadly, this Disney adaptation of the inventive cartoon is filled with fatal flaws. The story is clumsily told from start to finish, the Gadgetmobile is deeply annoying (much like the little robot in Flubber), some actors should never have quit their day jobs and some effects are just plain lazy. Not only that but it all goes much too fast, there is cheesiness at every corner and many of the jokes just don’t work. Also, the script was clearly written by a 5 year-old with a lisp and whoever’s idea it was to show Claw right at the start instead of just showing his hand and the cat, he or she should be whipped continuously as punishment. Having said all that, fans of the cartoon series and kids will find a few things to enjoy in this movie. Matthew Broderick does his best with what he was given to work with and proves a fine choice for Gadget. Rupert Everett camps it up as Claw and is terrific fun throughout. Some special effects are impressive, usually when the inspector is displaying his gadget legs and arms or his glorious helicopter hat. There are a few good scenes as well it must be said, such as the very amusing fight between Inspector Gadget and his evil double. Overall, the result is incredibly messy and it’s a real shame because in the hands of a decent director, Inspector Gadget would have made a pretty cool children’s film. As it stands though it is a harmless, enjoyable enough film which is unfortunately let down by a mediocre script, poor directing and uneven special effects as well as a story told so clumsily that you wonder if a dog took over the making of the film halfway through. Fans of the cartoon should check it out, kids will enjoy it but anyone else, I don’t recommend it. Go Go Gadget, go and get yourself a decent film for crying out loud!

 

Overall: **1/2 /5

 

 

Man on the Moon (1999)

 

With: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Courteney Love, Paul Giamatti

 

Jim Carrey portrays the misunderstood-at-the-time comic genius Andy Kaufman in this equally misunderstood and underrated refreshing biopic. Andy was an unusual comedian and didn’t see himself as one: he wanted to bring the audience not just laughs but reactions in general. Making the audience angry, making the audience burst out with laughter, it was all good for him. He started off as a stand-up and moved on to become the best and funniest character of the classic sitcom Taxi (which also starred Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Tony Danza). He was Latka, a weird mechanic who stole the show every time with his one-liners (‘Thank you very mach’) and hysterical accent. But Andy was never happy doing Taxi and moved on to wrestling amongst other things. He became famous for challenging women to wrestle with him and for acting like a sexist jerk with them in order to anger them and create some fury among the crowd. Jim Carrey gives an amazing and spot-on performance as Kaufman (and his alter-ego Tony Clifton) that was unjustly ignored by the Oscars. Most of the rest of the cast is also on top form: Danny DeVito is great as Andy’s agent and so is Paul Giamatti as Andy’s best friend and prank colleague. Sadly, Courteney Love was perhaps not the best choice to play Andy’s girlfriend but oh well. Milos Forman has created a thoroughly original, funny and enjoyable biopic of a man who had an odd sense of humour that not everyone got but he was ultimately a misunderstood genius. The film also includes some great songs courtesy of REM. Overall, it’s an underrated film that’s at times hilarious and at times quite moving.    

 

Overall: ****/5

 

Small Time Crooks (2000)

 

With: Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz, Michael Rapaport, Elaine May, Tony Darrow, Elaine Stritch, George Grizzard

 

 

Woody Allen returned to comedy with this light-hearted effort in which he plays a rather different role. If you’re expecting the “intellectual”, know-it-all Woody of Annie Hall then you’re in the wrong place. Here, he is working-class dishwasher and ex-con Ray, who was nicknamed “The Brain” in the slammer, which made him feel smart although he didn’t realise it was sarcastic. He’s a simple fellow who enjoys the simple things in life: he prefers a good plate of spaghetti and meatballs to some expensive fancy-schmancy dish anytime. He has a good relationship with his wife Frenchy (a terrific Tracey Ullman) but he wants more, his life feels incomplete and repetitive, so it’s a good thing then that he has a “cunning” plan to rob a bank by buying a nearby store and tunnelling under all the way to the vault. After a lot of arguments, his wife finally agrees to give him the $500 he needs to pitch in, in order to buy the pizza place with his equally mentally challenged pals. Pretty soon they open a cookie store and start tunnelling in the basement but they are clearly not experts and when they end up in a clothes store instead of the bank, it looks like it’s over for them and it’s back to the slammer for Ray. Thankfully, he is saved by his wife whose cookies have become extremely popular and a cop agrees to let him off if he helps him  start a franchise. And so, some time later, Ray and the whole gang become part of the cookie company and therefore find themselves richer than a French pastry. But all the money is getting to Frenchy’s head and when her attempts at being classy and fitting in to the “higher” society fail miserably, she asks a snobbish yuppie to teach her manners and lessons in life. This is all well and good but Ray has no need for all this money and his relationship with his wife gradually disintegrates. As with every Woody Allen film, Small Time Crooks is full of great ideas and strokes of genius. However, the promising first half of the film sort of loses its way slightly in the second half. Ray’s team of losers is forgotten surprisingly early on and we never see them again, which is a real shame and a fatal flaw as there were some very funny characters in there. Also, it’s never quite clear if the story knows where it’s going and the end is a little predictable. Overall, Small Time Crooks is a welcome return to comedy from Allen who manages to be convincing in a different kind of part: the film is constantly funny and has enough priceless one-liners and inspired moments to satisfy Woody’s fans and others. It’s just too bad the story gets lost in a whirlwind of uncertainty halfway through as, with a few adjustments, it could have been a brilliant effort. Funny, very enjoyable, entertaining and therefore worth a look but just don’t expect a 1^st class Woody Allen film.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

Scary Movie (2000)

 

With: Anna Faris, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans

 

 

The Wayans Brothers (White Chicks) sprung to fame, for some reason, with this painfully unfunny horror film spoof. It basically parodies a bunch of scary  movies…badly. Its prime target is Scream, a bad choice since Scream was a sort of parody in itself. I Know What You Did Last Summer is also mocked as well as The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, Final Destination, not to mention The Usual Suspects and The Matrix which are, as we all know, incredibly scary movies! Scary Movie also parodies...the Budweiser “Wassup?” advert, which is…pretty pathetic in my opinion. But the worst isn’t the choice of targets, it’s the humour which is crude, vulgar, too easy and even, at times, a bit racist. I mean, most of the jokes have already been done and how funny is smoking joints? I mean, really? The Wayans have created a film that, no doubt, made THEM laugh and probably a couple of their buddies but it didn’t make me laugh. And anyone who claims this film made them roar with laughter is either very dumb or is lying. I can name about a hundred films funnier than this one including: Citizen Kane, Shindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan and Sophie’s Choice, all hilarious movies I think you’ll agree. What they simply should have done to get people laughing was send people to your house and actually tickle you while your watching the film. I almost forgot to mention the poor choice of actors, Anna Faris is probably the least funny actress I’ve ever seen (I want to hit her) and Marlon Wayans is, undoubtedly, the most annoying man on the face of the Earth. Overall, this is an incredibly overrated and mediocre film that’s a terrific example on how NOT to make a horror film parody. I suggest you go watch all the films that are mocked in Scary Movie, since they’re all vastly superior. I’m actually tempted to make a spoof of this spoof. Anyway, I’m being mean, there are worse comedies out there such as…Scary Movie 2. A waste of money, props, time, actors and film equipment.

 

Overall: *1/2 /5

 

Novocaine (2001)

 

With: Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern

 

 

It’s surprising to hear that this little dark comedy came out in only hundreds of cinemas in America then straight to video. With a good cast and a brilliant theme by Danny Elfman, Novocaine seems destined to be a cult film. Steve Martin is in “more serious” mode as Frank, a dentist with a perfect little life: a steady job, a beautiful fiancée, a spacious home. But, when a sexy patient by the name of Susan appears (Bonham Carter), his life starts to get a whole lot more complicated. His lies escalate and Frank soon finds himself entangled in a web made of dental floss (not literally). He has an affair with Susan, who steals all the drugs and painkillers from his office, this involves the police in the story. As you can see this isn’t exactly Housesitter or Roxanne but more along the lines of The Spanish Prisoner, which contained another serious performance from Martin. The latter proves once again that he’s not only good at falling down (although he does once in the film) and acting silly but that he’s also a fine dramatic actor. Just watch Leap of Faith and you’ll agree. Frank is a rather naïve and unlucky character who is taken for a ride for most of the film. In this story, nothing is what it seems. The perfect little life of the beginning turns out to be only the whitening on the yellow tooth and bit by bit we start to realise that Frank’s been living in his own little world, dreaming of going to France, sunflowers…unaware that around him, people whom he trusted are just waiting to screw him over. Filled with black humour, twists and turns, Novocaine is very much a sex, painkillers and rock and roll affair (except for the rock and roll). The whole cast is very good and David Atkins, who wrote and directed the film, has created a fine little dark comedy that deserves to be more famous. Overall, a sharp, clever, underrated film. Definitely Steve Martin’s last great film so far.

 

Overall: ****/5

 

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

 

With: Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jaime Pressly, Mia Kirshner, Randy Quaid, Eric Christian Olsen, Ron Lester, Cody McMains, Sam Hutington

 

This straight-to-video joke-a-minute comedy parodies teen movies much in the same way Scary Movie did for the horror genre. Here, the main targets include American Pie, She’s All That, Bring it On, Cruel Intentions, Roadtrip, American Beauty and even the Breakfast Club. The story is obviously not important at all, it’s basically the premise of She’s All That: a jock makes a bet with his friends that he can turn the most unpopular girl in school into the prom queen. The film starts off with a crude spoofing of American Pie’s first scene which, even though it’s funny, isn’t exactly subtle to say the least. What follows is the introduction of all the characters one by one: the unpopular girl (Leigh), the smug, filthy rich jock (Evans), the 3 young horny dorks, the mean cheerleader (Pressly), the cruel girl (Kirshner), the naked foreign student, the annoying best friend, the token black guy (lol) and many others. Not Another Teen Movie has all the vulgarity of Scary Movie but here, the jokes are actually funny, the cast is genuinely likeable and the choices of “victims” are good ones. It pokes fun at all the aspects of teen movies, from the cheesy American Football victory moment, to the romantic ending at the airport. There are some priceless moments such as the Breakfast Club spoof scene in which Paul Gleason from the original film makes an appearance, and the mock lesbian kiss from Cruel Intentions between Kirschner and an old woman, needless to say it’s very disturbing. The genius bit, in my opinion, is the guy who starts a Cool Running-style slow clap at inappropriate moments, hilarious. Not Another Teen Movie will appeal to teen-agers obviously and you’d need to have seen quite a few teen movies in order to get the more subtle references to Risky Business or Almost Famous for example. Watch out for cameo appearances from the likes of Mr T and Molly Ringwald. The cast does surprisingly well to deliver the many jokes, especially Eric Christian Olsen (Dumb and Dumberer), Cody McMains, Jaime Pressly and Sam Hutington. Overall, Not Another Teen Movie is a nice little surprise, very funny and at times quite clever, and needless to say it’s way better than any of the Scary Movie films. Definitely worth a look.

 

Overall: ***/5

 

The Curse of The Jade Scorpion (2001)

With: Woody Allen, Helen Hunt, Dan Aykroyd, Charlize Theron

Set in 1940, this film stars Woody Allen as Insurance Investigator C.W. Bricks, he’s neurotic, wise-cracking, skirt chasing and good at his job: in other words: a typical Woody Allen character. When Helen Hunt’s strong and professional Fitzgerald takes over from Woody’s old boss, he feels threatened. It soon becomes clear that they can’t stand each other (or so they claim). This film has an interesting gimmicky premise: Bricks falls under the spell of an hypnotist who gets him to commit jewel thefts and then makes him forget the whole thing. He starts to unwittingly follow his own tracks and chase himself while suspecting Fitzgerald. After a couple of robberies everything starts to point towards him, damning evidence is found and it all leaves Bricks feelling deeply confused. This film is an odd entry into the Woody Allen film list since he famously stopped making "funny" films a while ago and turned his attention to more intellectual and challenging comedies. This is an old fashioned comedy that’s closer to What’s New Pussycat? than Anything Else. Woody Allen said he had this idea for a while and maybe he should have made this film earlier because, even though he’s surprisingly energetic in this film, it seems quite unbelievable that his character would attract Charlize Theron’s sexy "femme fatale" and even Helen Hunt’s character. Woody Allen seems to be in a very good mood and looks like he enjoyed making the film thoroughly (well, he did get to kiss Theron and Hunt, cheeky monkey). Hunt shows no sign of weakening in her acting skills and the rest of the cast does well although Dan Aykroyd is sadly not very convincing in a more serious part, fortunately though, he does get better towards the end. Overall, this is a film that should be associated with the earlier, goofy Allen rather than the later, more serious Allen. It’s funny, witty, original and underrated. I would have gladly given it an extra half star if it hadn’t been for the slight predictability of the gimmicky plot and of the overly rapid resolution. Not Allen’s best then, but good fun and way better than most comedies that hit our screens these days.

Overall: ***1/2 /5

Zoolander (2001)

 

With: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Milla Jovovich, Jerry Stiller, Jon Voight, David Duchovny

 

Directed by Ben Stiller himself, Zoolander tells the silly story of brainless male model Derek Zoolander (Stiller) whose unique “look”, Blue Steel, has made him famous. He’s been VH1’s male model of the year for 3 years, until he is unexpectedly dethroned by his blonde, relax rival Hansel (Wilson). Derek is crushed and starts to feel incredibly threatened by Hansel’s blossoming career. Confused and depressed, Derek goes to the coal mines to see his father (Voight) and his 2 brothers (one of them is Vince Vaughn) but turns out, he’s not meant to be a mine worker. Especially not after his father sees him as a floating merman in an embarrassing television advert. Meanwhile, evil fashion guru Mugatu (Ferrell) prepares a plan to brainwash Derek and turn him into a killing machine so he can kill the Malaysian prime minister…for some reason. With the help of reporter Matilda (Taylor), a creepy hand-model (Duchovny), and Hansel himself, Derek will have to try and find a way to foil Mugatu’s unholy plans. As you can see, the story is completely moronic, and so is most of the film, but in a very good way. Like Anchorman, it’s the kind of film that’s so silly and goofy it’s impossible not to laugh because it is also, at the same time, very clever. The character of Zoolander was created long before the film was even made, he appeared in some short fake interviews on VH1. Which is also comparable to the way Will Ferrell’s Roy Burgundy of Anchorman emerged. Zoolander is very funny and great fun from start to finish. It doesn’t take itself seriously for one second and there’s no cheesy moral in sight either, which is refreshing. Expect many cameo appearances from the likes of David Bowie, Billy Zane, Winona Ryder, Paris Hilton, Vince Vaughn and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. Ben Stiller is great as Derek as it is a rather original character for him to play. His pal, Owen Wilson, is also very funny as the laid-back hippy-skater Hansel. As for Will Ferrell, well, he’s got the most hilarious look of the lot and his improvisations are always a delight. Overall, Zoolander is one of Stiller’s best films and even though it’s very silly you’ll find it irresistible.

 

Overall: ****/5  

 

S1M0NE (2002)

 

With: Al Pacino, Rachel Roberts, Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder

 

Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, who also wrote Peter Weir’s masterpiece The Truman Show. Al Pacino is Victor Taransky (sounds suspiciously close to Roman Polanski doesn’t it?), a film director whose last 3 arty films haven’t been successful at all. The filming of his new film “Sunrise Sunset” is interrupted when his spoilt, demanding lead actress (Ryder) quits in the middle of the film leaving Victor pressured to either find a new actress for his film or abandon it altogether. His ex-wife (Keener), the producer, tells him she can’t support him anymore and it looks like his career is close to ending. But when Victor, one night, meets mad scientist Hank, who spent years working on a project, never leaving his computer and consequently, contracting a fatal eye tumour in the process, everything changes. He tells Victor his project is finished and that he wants him to bring his artistic vision into the picture. What is this creation? The answer is: Simone, an artificial actress created on a unique computer program. When Hank dies, he gives Victor Simone and nine months later, Victor has completed his film with Simone in the lead and his career suddenly shoots up like a cannonball as Simone becomes the biggest thing since sliced bread. She instantly becomes an outstanding success but Victor doesn’t want to tell everyone she’s virtual. And as Simone becomes more and more of an icon, a goddess almost, Victor fades into the background and even forgets to thank himself when Simone wins 2 Oscars. Will Victor tell everyone the truth? S1M0NE (Simulation One) is a science-fiction-ish satire of actors, celebrity, adoration and the film business. Niccol proves himself a very talented director, the film looks absolutely great, every frame is carefully thought of and the effects are totally convincing. Al Pacino is excellent in a different, more light-hearted role he’s used to playing. The whole thing is visually ingenuous, very funny, clever and works not only as a comedy but also as a critique. Overall, S1M0NE will probably gain a cult following in time, I personally really like it and I would definitely recommend it. Very good.

 

Overall: ****/5    

 

                                      Bad Santa (2003)

With: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Bernie Mac and John Ritter

"Bad Santa" started life as an original idea from the Coen Brothers (the geniuses behind The Big Lebowski and Fargo) who also produced the film. If you think Bad Santa is just another random schmaltzy Christmas cheese-board of a movie then think again.This is the story of Willie (Billy Bob Thornton), an alcoholic safe-breaker who makes his living as a department-store Santa but only so he can rob these same stores later with the help of an angry dwarf (disguised as Santa's elf) played brilliantly  by Tony Cox (he was the limo driver who ruins Jim Carrey's life at the start of "Me, Myself and Irene"). This time Santa's "living" is thrown into jeopardy by a corrupt shop detective (Bernie Mac)and a dimwitted overweight kid who believes he actually is Santa Claus. Billy Bob Thornton's Father Christmas is not exactly Richard Attenborough's Chris Cringle: he is a swearing, drinking, vomiting loser who we see pissing his pants, having anal sex with a large woman in a changing room and trying to commit suicide amongst other things. This bad Santa would have been an extremely dislikeable character if it hadn't been for Thornton's natural comic talents and Brett Kelly's annoying yet loveable kid. The relationship between Santa and him is hilarious and thus provides some of the funniest scenes of the film. Even though this is a movie that wants to steer clear of the vulgar, cheesy sentimentality present in many Christmas films, it does manage to slip us some sweet Christmas Spirit from time to time, but the occasionnal sentimentality is perfectly handled and heartwarming. Terry Zwigoff, who directed the film (and Ghost World) has brought us, not only one of the funniest and best comedies of the year but also one of the best Christmas movies in a while.

Overall: ****/5

Bruce Almighty (2003)

 

With: Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Steve Carrell

 

Jim Carrey is a God, we know that. Well, in this hit comedy, his character Bruce actually becomes The God, for a few days anyway. Bruce Nolan is having the worst day of his life: he arrives late to work, where he learns that the position of lead anchorman will not be filled by him but by his smug rival Evan (Carrell) instead. Not only that but he is attacked by thugs in the street, he has a row with his grilfriend (Aniston) and he has a car accident. After that, it’s understandable that Bruce has had enough so he blames God and accuses him of not doing his job and purposely making his life a living hell. The next day, he is contacted by a mysterious organisation that somehow knows his name and he is told to go to a certain place at a certain time. Soon, Bruce finds himself in a run-down building (from the outside only) in which he encounters The Almighty, The Alpha, The Omega…whatever, you know who I mean. The Lord (Freeman) tells Bruce that when he leaves the building he will have all of his powers at the palm of his 7 fingered hand. His challenge is to show God how the job is done. Obviously, Bruce struggles with coming to grips with his powerful “gift” and uses his powers to selfish ends. He takes the opportunity to settle old scores and enjoy himself rather than helping people, not realising his mistakes are affecting the world around him. Tom Shadyac, who directed such “ace” comedies as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar and the Nutty Professor (oh, and Patch Adams…*shudder*), said he wrote the story with Carrey in mind: and it shows. Jim fits perfectly in the role of Bruce, however, one of the weaknesses of this film is that very character. Unlike the cocky, snob-hating, animal-loving Ace Ventura and the out-of-control workaholic lawyer of Liar Liar, Bruce is not really a likeable character, let alone loveable. He’s selfish, he’s whiny, he’s negative, he’s, in a word: a jerk. The man complains about everything and is unhappy with his frankly cosy-looking little life. The best bits are when Jim Carrey breaks out of this character and becomes the rubber-faced genius we all know and love. As for the story, well, it lacks some imagination and there are some unfortunate plot holes. Not to mention the unnecessary attempts at bringing heart to a film that should have been all about fun and jokes. On the upside, the film has its moments and is generally very funny (Steve Carrell is hilarious as Evan Baxter). Jim is unsurprisingly great, Jennifer Aniston does her best with a character sadly left undevelopped and Morgan Freeman is perfect. Overall, Bruce Almighty may not be Jim Carrey’s best (or funniest) but it’s admittedly great fun and full of good ideas.

 

Overall: ***/5

Anything Else (2004)

With: Jason Biggs, Woody Allen, Christina Ricci, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon

Another underrated recent Woody Allen film. It’s an odd film because it’s basically a darker remake of Allen’s masterpiece Annie Hall with a young teen cast. Jason Biggs plays Woody’s Alvy Singer part: a neurotic, vulnerable joke writer and Christina Ricci plays his sexy neurotic girlfriend. They’re a couple whose sex life is stalling and who seem to struggle to communicate. Of course, there are variations on the old Annie Hall story, the best one being Woody Allen’s character Lordel. Unlike Alvy Singer, this character is darker and more disturbed: he is paranoid, he’s been to a mental hospital (or so he claims), he’s pessimistic, he even gets violent from time to time and keeps a weapon "within reach": in other words, he’s a bad influence on Biggs…or is he?. He even buys him a rifle and a survival kit! Woody easily steals the show and displays a hilarious and different performance. Another addition is Danny DeVito’s character, Biggs’ agent who compares everything to suits. The film itself is refreshing and contains some very funny scenes, countless witty one-liners, clever ideas, good performances and some slick directing. However, it has to be said that the film’s unavoidable similarities to Annie Hall can be frustrating since Annie hall is a perfect film that aged well and didn’t need a remake. Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci do well even though it’s hard not to occasionally struggle with Allen’s intellectual script. Overall, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s worth seeing if only for Woody’s performance. It’s an understated, underrated and entertaining film that’s deeper than it appears to be. Is Lordel in fact the adult Biggs who’s come back to his past in order to change it for the better? Or is he just a crazy visionary?

Overall: **** /5

Along Came Polly (2004)

 

With: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hank Azaria, Alec Baldwin, Debra Messing

 

In 2004, Ben Stiller was very busy and starred in about a gazillion films including Starsky and Hutch, Envy and Our House. His funniest though was probably Along Came Polly in which he plays Reuben Pfeffer, an unlucky risk-assessment analyst whose wife Lisa (Debra Messing aka Grace from Will & Grace) cheats on him on their honeymoon. The other man is none other than a French nudist scuba instructor called Claude (Hank Azaria aka Apu, Moe, Wiggum, Frink in the Simpsons). Crushed, Reuben goes back home alone, where everybody at work and beyond knows all about what happened to him. His friend (a hilarious Hoffman) tries to take his mind off things and, at a party, Reuben meets Polly Prince (Aniston), whom he knew in college. He asks her out and they start a rather chaotic relationship. She takes him to ethnic restaurant, unaware that Reuben hates spicy foods and has IBS, and it all ends in an embarrassing (and very funny) bathroom disaster. Reuben and Polly are pretty much opposites: Reuben doesn’t take risks and can be quite uptight whereas the hippy-ish Polly is off-beat, spontaneous and quirky. But you know what they say, opposites attract. It’s when Lisa comes back home to Reuben that things get a little awkward for the love triangle. Will Reuben forgive Lisa and give his marriage a chance or will he take a major risk and stay with Polly. Lets face it, Along Came Polly is not a masterpiece, it’s very silly. But nevertheless it is enjoyable and very funny thanks mostly to a spot-on supporting cast and the fact that most of the jokes work. Ben Stiller is his usual unlucky, bumbling self and Jennifer Aniston is very good and (very cute) as Polly. As for the rest, Hank Azaria, Alec Baldwin and Bryan Brown are all on top form and bring many laughs to the film. However, it is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s hilarious performance as Reuben’s fat, rude, clumsy loser friend which steals the show. Overall, Along Came Polly is light-hearted feel-good fun and will keep you smiling from start to finish. Just don’t expect to remember it always.

 

Overall: ***/5

                                    50 First Dates (2004)

 With: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd

 Adam Sandler, an actor you either like or hate. His films are not for everyone and 50 First Dates is no exception: if you don't like Sandler you should give it a miss, otherwise, you'll love it! The story is fairly simple, Henry Roth (Sandler), a vet that spends his life romancing female tourists in Hawai and then never seeing them again fall in love with Lucy (Barrymore) who, due to a car accident, has lost her short-term memory. Everyday she forgets what happened the previous day! Henry is going to have to make her fall in love with him every day with the hope that she'll, one day, remember him. Sandler has proved himself to be really funny (The Waterboy) and a good actor (Punch Drunk Love). 50 First dates contains the usual combination of gross-out gags, animals, golf and...Rob Schneider that compose almost every Adam Sandler Film. This particular one is not hilarious but very amusing and genuinely sweet. It is a likeable and enjoyable romantic comedy if slightly forgettable. By the way, move over Meg Ryan, Drew Barrymore is set to become the new rom-comedy queen!

 Overall: ***/5    

                                       The Terminal (2004) 

With: Tom Hanks, Stanley Tucci, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Tom Hanks is great (when is he not?) as Viktor Navorski and has a lot of fun with yet another weird accent. The film starts off as a promising black comedy but strangely ends up as a lighthearted rom-com, which is a bit of a shame really. It feels like a wasted opportunity to explore a man's unfortunate situation and create a darker story with an important message. The romance unortunately feels false, mostly because of Zeta-Jones' below average performance. The ending is rushed and disappointing and Tom Hanks fails to inhabit his loveable character till the end. The film is funny enough and visually slick with the same kind of freshness and energy that we saw in Catch Me If You Can. But The Terminal is ultimately Spielberg's "less good" film even though it is worth seeing and is pretty enjoyable and fun. I recommend it but just don't expect a very deep and unpredictable film. 

Overall: ***/5

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

With: Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Dustin Hoffmann, Naomi Watts, Mark Wahlberg

 

Ever heard of existential comedy? You have now! I Heart Huckabees has already divided the critics, some loved it, some hated it. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone could “hate” this film. It tells the unbelievable story of an environmental activist (and terrible poet) Albert who, freaked out by a recurring coincidence, hires the help of 2 “existential detectives” to discover its meaning. But they are more interested in the relationship he has with his nemesis (played brilliantly by Jude Law), a pretentious PR man for the retail chain Huckabees. Albert learns to deconstruct reality and meets some truly crazy characters. Yes, it sounds very bizarre. And that’s because it is! It’s also quite easy to lose track of what the film is trying to say because of all the philosophical ideas and theories bombarded at us but who cares? This is a fresh, original and funny comedy that has many groovy visual tricks up its sleeve and great music courtesy of Jon Brion (who did the music for Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind). I understand if some critics were frustrated because they didn’t get the point of the film or they felt it was too pretentious and said nothing but I Heart Huckabees, even though it’s not a film for everyone (that’s for sure) is very enjoyable and underrated.

Overall: ****/5

                                             Taxi (2004)

With: Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon

 The original Taxi film was a huge hit in France, even though it was nothing special, and even spawned two sequels. The story is dumb and simple: a taxi driver who dreams of one day becoming a succesful race driver meets a loser cop and because of him gets entangled, with her customized taxi, in a catch-the-robbers case. The driver is played by a miscast Queen Latifah who we first see bouncing on a bicycle as if it were a pogo stick, through the streets of New York (it was Marseilles in the original). Whereas the story of the first Taxi was silly, this is just preposterous: the gang of robbers Latifah and her rarely funny sidekick (played by Jimmy Fallon, who understandably looks unconfortable with the lame script he's been given to work with but still manages to bring a couple of laughs) have to catch are none other than a bunch of sexy brasillian models who rob bank after bank and drive like pros (yes, it's that silly). The French Taxi was written by Luc Besson and this brought some quality to the film. Here, the script desperately tries to be funny but fails considerably: Latifah, a great singer and a good actress (although not a funny one), seems to think that repeatedly saying the word "damn" will eventually bring laughs, personnally, all it brought me was a headache. Overall, this is a mildly amusing and entertaining film that will appeal to young viewers who haven't seen the likes of The Fast and the Furious, Gone in 60 Seconds and even the original Taxi. If you really want to see a cool taxi movie this year, then I suggest you go and see Collateral instead.

Overall: **/5

The Ladykillers (2004)

 

With: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, J.K. Simmons,  Marlon Wayans, Tzi Ma, Ryan Hurst

 

 

As is well known, the British can be rather protective of their “classics” (Alfie, Italian Job, Get Carter) so when it was announced that there would be an American remake of the classic Ealing black comedy Ladykillers, the critics obviously got a little, shall we say, snappy? Admittedly, there didn’t seem to be any need to remake the original which was near-perfect and in no need of an updating. Fair enough, I can understand the frustration, and yet…I can’t. For this is no regular schmo taking on the remake, this is the Coen Brothers’ show. And when geniuses are at work, it’s often better to shut up and let them do their stuff. The film starts off with a masterful, very dark intro as we descend onto a spooky gargoyle on which a raven is perched and way down below under the bridge, rests the Mississippi river where a boat is carrying trash over to the nearby garbage island. After that promising, visually inspired start, we follow Mrs Munson (Hall), an old righteous African American woman who lives by herself in a big, pretty house. Her peaceful routine is soon disturbed by the unexpected arrival of a strange, snobbish man who calls himself: Professor Gothwaite Higginson Dorr Phd (Hanks). From the moment he darkens her door, it’s obvious he’s up to something. With his geeky laugh, his insincere snaky smile and his sophisticated manners he starts to dazzle the innocent Mrs Munson with conversation and explains to her why he has come: he is looking to rent one of her rooms and he needs the root cellar in order to practice the music of the Renaissance from the Rococo with his “ensemble” (whatever that means). Or at least that’s what he claims. Truth is, he is planning to dig a tunnel in Mrs Munson’s cellar with his team of eccentric losers in order to get to the casino offices where all the money lies. In the team is Clark Pancake (Simmons): a strong-ish guy with a bad case of IBS and for whom every situation, no matter how hopeless it seems, can be resolved with a minimum of fuss: “easiest thing in the world!”. The others include a quiet, serious Vietnamese man called The General (Ma) whose specialities include tunnelling and hiding cigarettes on his agile tongue. Gawain (Wayans) is the “inside man” of the group as he works at the casino. And of course there’s Lump (Hurst), a brainless football player who’s only there to provide the muscles. Everything seems to go well but have they underestimated the “harmless” Mrs Munson? When one day she finds out their little game (sort of) it all gets even darker and the group have to get rid of her which proves to be much easier said than done. It’s a pity this film was underrated upon its release because there’s a lot to admire in it. Such as Tom Hanks show-stealing incarnation of the sneaky, Edgar Allan Poe-reciting Professor (Alec Guinness’ role in the original). It’s a welcome return to comedy for Hanks which reminds us how terrifically funny he can be, it’s a devilish performance which surely deserved an Oscar nomination. The rest of the cast is great, except perhaps for Marlon Wayans’ increasingly irritating performance: he is clearly miscast, which is a shame because this creates an unwelcome weak link in the chain. This is a film that’s not only very funny but also visually slick and perfectly executed not to mention brilliantly written (Ethan and Joel Coen really surpass themselves with the Professor’s pompous dialogs) and very well acted. Having said that, it is probably the Coens’ “less good” film (which is impressive in itself) and it is slightly flawed in that a few changes to the original film don’t really work. Such as the old woman herself, whereas in the Ealing comedy, she was frail and vulnerable, here, she looks like she could take these bozzos on easily, so there’s no real danger present, we know their plan is doomed from the start. Also, there’s a lot of vulgar and crude humour which occasionally works but doesn’t quite fit into the old-fashioned setting (hence the miscasting of the abhorrent Wayans). Other than that and a few other minor glitches, it’s perfect: a nasty, gloomy, yet clever and very funny black comedy. Overall, the Coens prove once again that they haven’t lost their magic touch and that they can effortlessly provide fine films which rise way above the average comedies we get these days (Mr and Mrs Smith my arse!). Wrongfully underrated and well worth all your attention. The Ladykillers is certainly an underappreciated (if flawed) little gem.

Overall: ***1/5 /5

Anchorman (2004)

 

With: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Vince Vaughn

 

 

Will Ferrell is finally given the opportunity to go wild in one of last year’s funniest and silliest film. He plays San Diego’s most famous anchorman Ron Burgundy: a childish, mustachioed, party-going idiot who will read anything that’s written on the teleprompter and whose top news stories include a cat fashion show and the pregnancy of a panda. Christina Applegate plays a woman journalist who comes to work at Burgundy’s news station. She dreams of becoming anchor…lady and soon becomes the source of many competitions and arguments amongst Burgundy’s moronic group of colleagues. This team includes Mike from Friends and Baxter from Bruce Almighty (who is hilarious as a retarded weatherman). Ron Burgundy and Rebecca Corningstone (Applegate) become “romantically involved” and then, when they break up, they become enemies engaged in a very funny tit for tat competition. This is the kind of film you can really enjoy if you turn your brain off for an hour and a half, like Old School or Dodgeball. Actually, there are some cameos from Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson and Tim Robbins. I have to say that there are some hilarious moments such as the whole “jazz flute” scene where Burgundy, in order to impress Corningstone, goes nuts whilst playing jazz flute, and there’s also a scene where they both start fighting that’s slapstick gold. Unfortunately, some moments are just a bit too moronic but on the whole, it’s a fine and funny comedy that’s really funny, if you appreciate that kind of humour. Will Ferrell proves that he is a genuinely funny guy, could he be the new Chevy Chase?

 

Overall: ***/5

 

Spanglish (2005)

 

With: Paz Vega, Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Cloris Leachman

 

 

Directed by James L. Brooks, who did the excellent Oscar-winning As Good As It Gets, Spanglish stars Tea Leoni as a mother who moves to L.A. and settles into the Spanish side of town which makes her feel right at home. But one day, she goes to work as a maid for a rich American family and finds that her inability to speak the language is becoming  a major speed bump that denies her to really communicate with the people around her. James L. Brooks, who worked on The Simpsons, is great at storytelling and has you hooked from the very start in a story that isn’t extremely original. He’s also very good at turning subtle moments into something much bigger, as we saw in As Good As It Gets, for example, in the diner scene where Nicholson’s character struggles desperately to make Hunt’s character a compliment. Here, every eyebrow raised seems to be of great importance! At times, this makes for perfectly timed comedy moments but at other times, it can become a bit tiresome. Also, Brooks’ script is very wordy and the dialogs can get pretty complex and therefore makes the film feel less real than it should. Adam Sandler seems to be getting better and better as he gains weight. His performance is very mature and impressive and he proves that his brilliant performance in Punch-Drunk Love wasn’t a fluke. Of course, at times, when he shouts it sounds Happy Gilmore-ish but this makes his character more loveable. Paz Vega’s performance is good and she really manages to capture her character’s confusion and frustration. Tea Leoni is over the top, to say the least, and does become pretty annoying at the end: this creates a good contrast, though, with Sandler’s quiet, shy and loveable character. But it’s Cloris Leachman’s cool grandma who brings most of the laughs and steals the show. But the film’s main flaw is perhaps that it does feel overdone and overdramatic. Some characters do get on your nerves after a while since the film is a bit overlong. Hans Zimmer’s score is not as memorable and not as good as his previous ones and doesn’t add anything to the drama. Overall, it’s enjoyable, it’s a mature and “grown-up” film that’s at times quirky and funny, and at other times dramatic and touching. It has a lot of longueurs though.

 

Overall: *** /5

 

Sideways (2005)

 

With: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church

 

You know when you tell a joke to someone and he likes it so much he tells everyone about it then implores you to tell it to them and then, when you do they don’t laugh because it has been built up too much? Well, the press almost succeeded in doing that with Lost in Translation and this year with Sideways. These two films are both excellent but they’re little indie films, not Jerry Bruckheimer blockbusters. Sideways is the story of two friends who decide to go on a wine-tasting road trip. Jack is getting married in a week and wants his last days of freedom to be “awesome”. His friend Miles, a “connoisseur” in wine-tasting, is not as optimistic and is still depressed about his divorce with his ex wife. They both certainly make an odd couple. They’re both forty-something losers that don’t seem to be going forwards in their lives but rather sideways: Jack is a failed actor that does voice-overs in commercials and Miles is an unpublished writer who is seen at one point stealing some money from his mum, like a teenager. On the trip they meet 2 girls (who know a lot about wine-tating themselves) and Jack starts to have second thoughts about his wedding. Miles, neurotic and insecure, finds it harder to let go of his ex and start a relationship with Maya, one of the girls. Mike Nichols, who also directed About Schmidt, has brought us a film that’s just as good and just as likeable. He manages to make these two losers loveable in spite of their flaws just like he did with Nicholson’s Schmidt. His characters are 3 dimentionnal, they have real problems and real feelings. Sideways is a comedy that contains subtle jokes as well as crude humour from time to time, making it a very funny experience. As a film, it’s flawless. The director’s passion for wine is obvious and shown through smart split-screens and Miles’ extensive knowledge on the subject. But Nichols goes deeper than creating the usual odd-couple buddy comedy as the scene where Miles and Maya are talking about why they love wine so much. Miles’ decription of why he loves Pinot is in fact a self-description and Maya is aware of this, she starts to tell him that wine is alive and evolves constantly: in other words, she describes herself. Paul Giamatti is brilliant and can definitely claim his crown as king of the losers since he plays these roles to perfection! The script is also excellent and Oscar-worthy. Overall, a clever and funny little film that doesn’t disappoint. Just don’t expect Tom Cruise to pop up carrying a nuclear bomb or something.

 

Overall: ****1/2 /5  

 

 

In Good Company (2005)

 

With: Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson, Selma Blair

 

The underrated Dennis Quaid plays Dan, a middle-aged advertising salesman for a sports magazine who’s been in the business for 23 years. One day, a young “hot-shot”, Carter, whose company has taken over Dan’s, becomes his boss even though he is half his age and hasn’t got any experience in that area of work. Grace’s character comes across as an annoying rich yuppie and a scene that establishes that perfectly is when he buys a new Porsche and looks really smug, then a cars crashes into him. Dan embarrassingly becomes Carter’s “wingman” and his old colleagues start getting fired by Carter one by one. But Dan can’t really quit and can’t afford to lose his job because his wife is pregnant and his daughter has been accepted at the expensive New York University. So he’s pretty much stuck as a wingman. But Carter, even though things at work are going very well, is going through a divorce, is lonely and doesn’t really know what to do with his new financial success. When Carter invites himself at Dan’s home for dinner he meets his (beautiful) daughter and they start going out behind his back. The film may seem like a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy at first but it really isn’t. Of course, there is romance but it is only part of an enjoyable subplot and there isn’t too much emphasis on the romantic part of the film. It is, first of all, a satire on corporate mentality and business life: a bit like Jerry Maguire. It’s a sort of meditation on 2 different generations and the way they grow and clash. Dennis Quaid (who still looks like a cross between Harrison Ford and Steve Martin) is excellent and his character is very loveable, unlucky and funny. Carter is, at first, an obnoxious character but Grace’s great performance manages to give his character a third dimension and we start to realise that he is just a boy who’s grown up too fast and is a bit lost after all. Overall, In Good Company is a very enjoyable film that works both as a satire and as a rom-com thanks to a sharp and clever script.

 

Overall: ***1/2 /5

 

Meet The Fockers (2005)

 

With: Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffmann, Barbara Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo

 

 

This highly anticipated sequel to the hit modern classic comedy Meet The Parents seemed to have all the right ingredients to make a perfect, equally good, comedy. First, the choices of Dustin Hoffmann and Barbara Streisand as Ben Stiller’s liberal parents were inspired and promised some hilarious performances. Also, the Ben Stiller-Robert DeNiro tortured-torturer formula, which was the highlight of the first film, would undoubtedly work the second time round. Right? Mwell…almost. In this film, it’s the parents who have to go meet the parents. Retired CIA man Jack Byrnes and his wife have to go and spend the week-end at Focker Island (I love that name) to meet Gaylord’s parents before he and their beloved daughter get married. Dustin Hoffmann is a relaxed ex-lawyer who spends his time practicing capoera in his garden in a Hawaiian shirt. Barbara Streisand is a sex therapist for the elderly…enough said. From the very start, it’s obvious that the uptight control-freak that is DeNiro and the laid-back Hoffman are not going to get along. The latter even calls the CIA, at one point, the CLIA (Central Lack of Intelligence Agency), a remark that doesn’t go down too well with DeNiro. Meet the Fockers had a lot of potential and all the right ingredients but it’s not enough to have the ingredients: you need a good recipe! Unfortunately, the recipe in this film is pretty messy. Ben Stiller is sidelined and given very few good jokes to work with, the gags can be predictable and sometimes seem much too easy. Having said that, Hoffmann and DeNiro are both very funny and there are some irresistible moments. Overall, don’t compare it with the first film because you’ll be disappointed, just sit back and join the undemanding fun.

 

Overall: ***/ 5

                        

Melinda and Melinda (2005)

 

With: Radha Mitchell, Chloe Sevigny, Will Ferrell, Amanda Peet

 

Woody Allen’s latest film is what could be called a rom-tragicom, silly name, I’ll give you that, but I think it’s a good subcategory in which to place Melinda and Melinda. This film is definitely Woody’s best in a while. The Curse of Jade Scorpion, his last film, was unjustly hammered by critics and Anything Else received mixed reviews. But you either love Woody Allen’s more intellectual work, or hate it. Those who hate it (tsss) often say they prefer his earlier surreally silly work, which is fair enough since Woody was a  hilarious comedian. Personally, I think Woody Allen is one of the most talented and intelligent directors around and his films are always worth seeing. This film sees a group of friends, 2 of them writers, who each tell the story of a woman, Melinda, who arrived to a party uninvited at a friend’s house one night: one of them makes a tragic drama out of it, and the other a lighter romantic comedy. We see both stories mixed together. It may sound like a gimmick but Woody cleverly avoids all the expected cliches from the start. In the tragedy part of the film, Melinda, who was once convicted for manslaughter, meets a composer at a party and starts a relationship with him whilst trying to keep custody of her children. In the comedy part, she is a more outgoing and light character who is lonely and looking for a relationship. She starts going on a couple of dates, unaware that her vulnerable and neurotic married neighbour (Ferrell, in full Woody Allen mode) is madly in love with her and consumed by jealousy. The tragedy has elements of comedy in it and vice-versa. Both stories have some similarities and references to each other and they are shot in the same kind of way, this is done on purpose since Woody wants to show that in life, comedy and tragedy are both intertoined and that you can’t have one with the other. Woody Allen fans will find a lot of familiarity in Melinda and Melinda since it is a kind of mixture of his best work: for example, the “tic” incident in the film is vastly reminiscient of the “lobster” incident in Annie Hall. Overall, it’s a well acted (especially by the impressive Radha Mitchell, whose 2 performances are flawless and nuanced), perfectly directed and sharply written film that, if you can forgive the odd pretentious moment, is thoroughly enjoyable and clever.

 

Overall: ****/5

 

Monster in Law (2005)

 

With: Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes

 

 

Who would have thought that Meet the Parents and Anger Management would be such influential films? I mean, we’ve already had Meet the Fockers, Guess Who? and now Monster in Law: all films which portray a young uptight person’s struggle with his parents in law. Monster in Law has an utterly unoriginal story: J-Lo is the fiancée of some guy whose mother is the loony protective Jane Fonda. The latter only has her son in her life after having been replaced by a younger woman in her TV show (in which she attacked Britney Spears) and therefore tries hard to get rid of the bootylicious J-Lo. But Lopez is a tougher cookie than she had expected. What follows is a tit-for-tat battle between mother in law and future daughter. Hilarious? Hardly. Jane Fonda’s return (after 12 years of absence) to the big screen is undeniably welcome and refreshing and, frankly, she’s the only good reason to see this film. She’s completely insane and seems perfectly comfortable making a fool of herself in much the same way Barbara Streisand did in Meet the Fockers earlier this year. Unfortunately, the film itself is a bit crap frankly: it doesn’t have a milligram of originality in it, it’s not really funny, it’s badly written and painfully predictable. If you want to see the difference between a great actress and a bland one, watch this film: Jennifer Lopez means well but her performance is terribly ‘blah’ compared to Fonda’s energetic and playful one. As for Vartan, who plays the husband, his character is badly written and sidelined during the whole film. And the ‘plot’ is a bit on the rubbish side: who would be dumb enough to propose to a girl the same day he’s presenting her to his crazy mother for the very first time? And in front of her! Oh well…Overall, Monster in Law is a harmless enough, mildly amusing, unoriginal film only worth seeing to witness the great Jane Fonda’s come back.

 

Overall: **/5

 

The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)

 

With: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Catherine Keener, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen

 

Yes, I know, it’s a silly title. And yes, I know you’re probably not sure who any of the actors listed above are. Nevertheless, if you want to have some laughs, give The 40 Year-Old Virgin a go. Steve Carell is Andy, a very nerdy electrical-store worker who, as the title of the film explains, is a 40 year-old virgin. Andy collects action figures, he’s clumsy, he drives a bicycle to work and seems perfectly fine with his little routine. Oh yes, and he doesn’t mind waking up every morning with a boner. When his “friends” start to talk about past sexual experiences over a poker game, Andy inevitably starts to make up an unconvincing experience of his own. They obviously don’t fall for it and realise he is in fact a virgin. This traumatises them and their mission becomes to get Andy laid by any means necessary. But turns out, it’s not all that simple as Andy encounters some strange ladies indeed, including an alcoholic, a transvestite, a sex freak, a girl whose boobs are planning the great escape…And then he meets Trish, the beautiful owner of an E-bay store. Could she be the One who will put an end to his virginity? Now, who is Steve Carell? Well, remember the pretentious rubber-faced anchorman in Bruce Almighty? That’s him. And what about that hilarious brainless weatherman in Anchorman? Yep, him also. And you can spot him in Melinda and Melinda and Bewitched as well. Not to mention that he plays the main role in the succesful American version of The Office. Carell could be set to become just as big as his pal Will Ferrell. In The 40 Year Old Virgin, Carell is excellent as Andy, the guy has a gift for making even the most mundane things completely hilarious. He’s very good at slapstick, one-liners, deadpan, making faces, everything really, a kind of weird Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller fusion if you will. Catherine Keener is as good (and as hot) as ever as Trich, she was in Being John Malkovitch, SimOne and Death to Smoochy (3 cult films). As for the rest of the cast, they’re all very good, completely unhinged to be precise. The film itself has hilarious moments, such as the scene in the bookshop and the 2 bike crashes. It’s all very loud, silly and extremely rude, the language is completely drowned by the F word and numerous other crude words. It’s ultimately a gross-out comedy, think along the lines of Old School or American Pie 3, clever yet childish. The film’s message and the surprisingly sweet romantic bits are sadly lost between all the craziness and crudeness present in the film. Oh well, it’s still undeniably funny and very enjoyable. It’s essentially a guy film but I’m sure girls will enjoy it too. Overall, The 40 Year-Old Virgin is great fun, full of ideas but unfortunately flawed, maybe a shorter running time would have erased some of the heavier jokes. Messy and overlong but very funny, Steve Carell rocks.

 

Overall: ***/5

 

 

You, Me and Dupree (2006)

 

With: Owen Wilson, Matt Dillon, Kate Hudson, Michael Douglas

 

 

At first glance, You, Me and Dupree looks like a boring, unfunny rom-com made by people with pea brains for people with pea brains. Not only does it have a dumbass title, a dumbass poster and a dumbass premise but it takes the risk of making good old Owen Wilson the star of the show. A disaster right? Well, actually, not quite. This paper-thin story of a just married couple giving a temporary home to the best man, a loveable nightmare called Dupree (Wilson), who ends up almost ruining their relationship and their house, could have easily fallen in a pit of lameness but somehow it just manages to stay afloat. Sure there are countless flaws, with rom-com clichés at every turn, hit and miss gross out gags we’ve all seen many times before, Kate Hudson and the inevitable eye-rolling sentimentality at the end. Having said that, the film is as loveable as its show-stealing main man Dupree. But if you don’t get or just don’t like Owen Wilson’s chilled out ways then the temptation to bash the film with a mallet will be almost unbearable to resist. However, if you, like me, have nothing against Mr Wilson and rather enjoy his cool, harmless ways, then you’ll find lots to like here. Granted, not all the jokes work and most of them are very easy, with toilet gags and predictable slapstick in majority. But oddly, they do kind of work, mostly thanks to the sight of Wilson clearly enjoying his first outing as the leading man to the max. You can see The Blonde One is having the time of his life and you’d have to be pretty uptight to resist his childish catastrophe Dupree. There are also, it must be said, some genuinely funny moments, like Dupree’s bicycle crash, his adventure with Mormon slut Mandy, the pursuit at the end with the security guard, the very brief but memorable Michael Douglas karate pose and a few other little silly gems. Matt Dillon is terrific as the groom, whose patience in the first half is just as understandable as his deep irritation towards Dupree in the second half. As in There’s Something About Mary, he shows his hardly explored comic potential. Kate Hudson is unsurprisingly not quite as good, but the fault might not entirely be hers. It’s just that her character is incredibly useless. Sure it’s not a horrible sight to see her parading in her underwear from time to time but what does that add to the proceedings except the odd boner in the audience? Nothing. Not only that but her character is not at all likeable, you just wish Dillon would ditch her and get Dupree as a flatmate, Odd Couple style, maybe then we’d have all the fun we require and deserve. Actually, the whole wedding scenario just doesn’t work, there’s no need for it. If it had just been a buddy movie with Dillon, Wilson and Michael Douglas, we could have had a very decent comedy on our hands. But sadly, we are left with You, Me and Dupree, which is far from being an abomination but which had the potential to be much funnier and just plain better. It does the job though, for a date movie it’s perfect (girls secretly love this blonde buffoon with the weirdest nose in the history of cinema). Basically, the only reasons to see this film are: to see Owen Wilson doing pretty well in his first real lead role, Kate Hudson in her underwear and just shut your brain off for a bit and enjoy yourself. The loveable yet hittable Dupree is a good comic creation which confirms Wilson as a potentially very funny man. But he’s not quite there yet as this is hardly a classic vehicle like Meet the Parents or Anchorman. Overall, You, Me and Dupree hits the spot if you’re in need of cheering up or a date movie but I’m sceptical to the thought that it will receive any Oscar nominations. Silly, unoriginal, flawed and forgettable but fun and harmless.

 

Overall: ***/5