Protect Insurance Companies

This has been floating around online all day and I'm jumping on the video sharing band wagon. Protecting our insurance company CEO's is a very important cause.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

 
From Funny or Die. I loves them.

Seriously though, I feel like the whole health insurance reform thing is kind of an important issue. Whatever the solution may be, the current situation is not a good one.

Hey, who can define socialism for me?

Happy Labor Day!

What did everyone do for Labor Day?

I know I sure had an enjoyable weekend, even if I wasn't at Dragoncon. I feel like I really needed the three days. Two days is just not a long enough weekend. Even with the extra day I still managed to not get everything done that needed doing. I did relax though and that is important.

Highlights from the weekend included:

Friday night seeing my wonderful neighbors and their band Ocelot Robot at The Good Hurt on Venice Blvd. I'm still not quite sold on Good Hurt (the Stella was warm! What up with that?) but it's growing on me. Mostly I just enjoy seeing the guys play and hanging out with everyone. They have another show coming up on October 17th. Sadly I will be out of town but if you're in the area and need something fun to do, check out The Good Hurt and Ocelot Robot! If nothing else, it's always cool to support your local bands.

Saturday I actually got down to it and spent the day writing. Yes, as usual I've been slacking on the writing around work. Saturday was good though. The screenplay re-write is still going slowly but I did make a little progress. I also cleaned up a short story I've been working on. I think I'm fairly satisfied with that one so I may even release it into the world soon we'll see.

Sunday was delicious. After spending the morning dealing with the plumber (boo!) I ventured into downtown to one of my favorite new spots Wurstkuche. Sausage and beer really has to be one of the best combinations of tastiness to ever have been discovered. This place does it's beer and sausage right. They even have veggie sausage for me! Throw in the exotic Rattlesnake and Rabbit or Alligator and Pork with the sausage classics and you've got a little something for everyone. If sausage isn't your thing but you like beer, this is still an excellent spot to try. They have an impressive selection of beer on tap that always seems to include something new or rare or just plain not on the menu. The guys working there all seem to love the beer and will enthusiastically recommend something to your taste.

I should look into this more but I believe that veggie sausages are even Vegan as are the fries. There's apparently some question on the buns. Either way, it's a super tasty place to go for the eating.

My Chouffe beer. An excellent recommendation.

Veggie Chipotle Sausage
 

After an incredibly satisfying beer and sausage adventure, we made our way out to Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the Cinespia screening of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. If you live in LA and haven't checked out the movies in the cemetery yet, well, what are you waiting for? This season is almost over (they only screen in the summer) but there are a few flicks left. Go catch one! It's $10 a person and you can bring blankets, food, drinks, or whatever with you for a picnic and movie on the lawn. It's a lovely way to spend an evening with some friends. I'm also always impressed with the range of films they screen over the course of the season. It includes everything from the classic to the artsy and it's almost guaranteed that they'll show at least one movie you love by the end of the summer. I try and go a couple of times a year and I have yet to be disappointed.

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero.

Monday, the actual Labor Day, I finished off a few errands while pretending to be a responsible adult and then said Screw the laundry, I'm going to the beach! Well, I never did make it to the beach but I did make it to a sailboat. We sailed off of the beach though, so that sort of counts right? Seriously, it was amazing and completely made my weekend. Sailing is one of my favorite things ever even if it is something I haven't done nearly enough of yet. It was the perfect way to spend the holiday.

At times like these, I enjoy living in LA

Once I got home last night I somehow managed to find the energy to actually pull together lunch for the week. I made a slight variation of this Tomato and Corn Biscuit Pie and it is AMAZING. If you need something simple and savory and wonderful, go make this right now. Seriously. I stayed pretty close to the recipe making a few substitutions based on what I had in my kitchen. I only had white onion so I used about half of one of those. I sadly also had no fresh basil so I went with dry. Finally, we didn't have any lemon (my bad, I thought we did) so I used about a tablespoon of orange juice. It was sweeter than the lemon would have been but I thought it worked out quite well. Really, the key to this dish is the tomato and corn. If those are fresh (my corn was soooo sweet and good) then you're pretty sure to get a tasty meal. The biscuit crust is also super, super easy. I can't wait to try just making actual biscuits with that recipe.

OMG delicious

Yes, I am very, very satisfied with the state of my lunch this week.

We shoot this weekend so I don't expect to be writing much for the rest of the week. Today was all ready super busy and I suspect that will continue for the next few days. I will try and get something out for Girl Talk Thursday though. This week's topic is Halloween costumes! A topic I dearly love to discuss. I'm all ready thinking hard on what this year's costume will be. Maybe I'll let you in on the possibilities come Thursday.

On that note, I am out. Hope everyone had an excellent weekend!

Patton Oswalt on Death Bed

A few years back, before I moved to LA, I was here visiting a friend. We decided we needed a movie night and went to the nearby video store to find a couple of flicks. As we strolled aisles that still offered up VHS selections, we discovered a variety of treasures that at the time were still hard to find on DVD. I don't remember everything we pulled out but it included the likes of Delamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man). Who wouldn't be excited by the idea of seeings zombies and a naked Rupert Everitt all in the same movie?

At one point during the browsing, my friend let out a cry and snatched a battered case off of the shelf. "I cannot believe they actually have this." It was a movie she had heard of but never had the occasion to see. It was in fact a movie that had never even officially been released until the early 2000's. Not that easiest movie to find and certainly not the type your Blockbusters or your Hollywood Videos normally carry.

What was this hard to find gem? Death Bed: The Bed That Eats.

Go ahead, read that title again. I'm not kidding.

Shot in 1977, finally released on dvd in 2003, Death Bed is one of those weird little movies that becomes a genuine cult phenomenon based solely on it's oddness. It isn't good. It was never marketed or sold as a Cult Film. It was made, pirated copies came into existence, people saw it, and people talked about it. A cycle began. At some point the director became aware that people were talking about his movie on the internet and he decided to go ahead and release the DVD.

That evening in the video store we passed on Death Bed but we did eventually watch it, albeit years later. I came across the DVD in Amoeba and bought it for my friend as a birthday present. Eventually we got together for a Death Bed and Thai food hang out evening.

The movie is spectacularly bad, but mostly it's exactly what you would expect it to be. I won't go so far as to recommend it or not. I leave that choice entirely up to you.

What I will do is share with you this bit from Patton Oswalt's album Werewolves and Lollipops. Oswalt as always is hilarious (you do know Patton Oswalt, right? Please discover him if you haven't all ready!) and I got an extra laugh or two out of it since I have seen the glory that is Death Bed. And since I'm trying to do that writing thing and I see a lot of the absurdity that goes on in the movie industry.

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. Why can't I come up with a title that good?

* I suppose I should also warn you that Oswalt curses and says possibly NSFW things. Just in case.

In Which She Gets On Topic

For a blog ostensibly about film, I sure haven't talked about movies nearly enough lately. Which is ridiculous as there are actually quite a few around right now worth seeing.

Normally the summer months are the domain of blockbusters. Last year I was all about gettin me some Iron Man action. This summer however nothing on the large scale really appealed to me. Transformers 2? GI Joe? No thank you. Sure, Star Trek was great fun but Wolverine was beyond boring and please don't get me started on Terminator. Infuriating.

Luckily, there has not been a dearth of quality in the theaters. It's just not to be found in the large budget affairs. This summer, the films that are most worth seeing are the little guys.

So far, these have been my three favorites. I kind of want to see them all again. Depending on where you live, you should still be able to catch them.

(500) Days of Summer

I loved, loved, loved this movie. I am not really a romantic comedy kind of girl, even if I did go see The Ugly Truth, but 500 days is not your typical romantic comedy. It's more accurate to focus on the comedy part, rather than the romance. It is a love story but it's not the love story you might expect it to be. (500) Days is a whimsical look at the difficulties of love and dating. It's upbeat and mostly nice but it's also relateable. At least for me, a single 20 something in LA, it was.

Plus, how can you not love a movie with two leads as cute as these guys are?

Hurt Locker

Hurt Locker is wonderful. I'm not sure I really need to see another movie about this war. The word that came to mind immediately as the credits started to roll was "intense" and it's a word I've heard many people use to describe this particular film going experience. I was at the edge of my seat, quite literally, the entire film. While there were some moments I found to be a little silly, this movie has so much going for it I'm willing to forgive them. The performances in particular stand out, Jeremy Renner really nails it as Sgt. James and the rest of the cast is solid as well. I can't recommend Hurt Locker enough.

District 9

Neill Blomkamp's sci fi flick about aliens in South Africa proves that a large budget is not always necessary, or even always desirable, for a special effects heavy action story. This movie has it all: monsters, explosions, gun fights, blood, space ships. Occasionally ridiculous, for the most part wonderful, it was all accomplished on a budget that is tiny compared to the standard $100+ million for all of the usual summer nonsense. Sure, the veiled digs at apartheid and racism are rather thin but seeing a story told from such a different perspective is a refreshing treat. I also enjoy how Blomkamp manages to integrate the faux-documentary approach into the narrative without getting carried away ala Cloverfield. District 9 is a must for any sci fi or action fans. It's a rare thing, an action movie that actually focuses on character and story telling. What a concept!



These certainly aren't the only movies out now worth seeing. Harry Potter was great for the HP fans, Julie and Julia is passable but Meryl Streep is phenomenal as always, and, hmm... what else? Drag Me To Hell is wonderful but you probably won't find that playing anymore.

I'm a bit behind on others. I never did make it to Paper Hearts or Away We Go. Ponyo and Inglorious Basterds I also still need to get to.

What else is out there? What am I missing?

Video: Walk On The Wild Side

A friend linked to this YouTube video earlier and I have to share it. Watching it, I cannot stop laughing.

It's a clip from a BBC show and if you're in the UK you can actually watch the entire episode here. Sadly, it's UK viewing only (no fair!).

For the rest of us, we can at least watch this clip with the a Marmot named Alan and singing sharks.

Goodbye Reno 911!

Since Tom Lennon has now Twittered it I guess I can spread the news as well. I heard from a friend this afternoon that Reno 911! will not, in fact, be returning for Season 7. Along with many fans I am incredibly sad.

As some of you know I worked on season 6 last fall. I was the Assistant Production Coordinator (means I worked in the office, answered a lot of phones, sent the PAs on runs, and helped our fabulous coordinator out with whatever).

Ah, what can I say about Reno? It was one of the best places I've so far worked. The crew was fantastic, the people amazing, there were constantly funny and absurd things going on and being said. Beyond that, I met some of my favorite people and made some of my best friends that I've made since moving to LA.

Working on Reno was almost everything that working in this industry should be. Of course it wasn't always all sunshine and smiles, there were egos and politics and the usual nonsense, but in the end it was a great production making a fun show and I would have gone back to it in a second.

So there's that.

The A.V. Club says a word.

And here on the Hollywood Reporter.

Goodbye and cheers to Reno 911!



May you live long and prosper on DVD.

Review: Clueless

When Amy Heckerling’s brilliant teen version of Emma hit the big screens back in 1995, I was still in middle school. I remember being utterly fascinated by the vision of teenaged California beauty that was laid before me. Was that what high school was going to be like? Plaid skirts and cell phones, cool cars and parties, romance and fun? I especially liked the idea of the plaid skirts. And that really cool computer program Cher had to help her dress herself in the morning (I still wish I had something like that!). Alas, reality is not nearly as glamorous. I didn’t get a cell phone until I went to college.

Luckily for Clueless, it doesn’t need a firm base in reality to work. It’s a fantasy that is layered, nuanced, and intelligent. Based on Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless is about Beverly Hills princess Cher and her group of upper crust friends. Cher and best friend Dionne are the two most popular girls in the school. The film follows their exploits, everything from creating romance between two cranky teachers to making over the new girl in school. There are parties, charities, classes, shopping, romance, debate… and very little homework.

Cher is a sixteen-year-old beauty queen who lives with her father in their palatial Beverly Hills mansion. After Cher and Dionne decide to try their hands at matchmaking and make-overs, Cher naturally must learn that her friends are actually all quite good as they are. Roles switch, Cher realizes she’s in love, and after attempting to make herself over, there’s a happy ending. The lesson in the end is to accept people as they are. And that possibly love is closer at hand than one may initially think.

Clueless after all is a teen comedy, there’s always a happy ending. While it occasionally brushes on touchier topics, it doesn’t try to be any more serious than that. The biggest issue it deals with is virginity and when the right time to lose it might be. Good one-liners, plenty of entertaining bits, and fun characters all come together to give us a charming and infinitely watchable movie.

The cast includes Alicia Silverstone as Cher, Stacy Dash, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Breckin Meyer, Jeremy Sisto, Wallace Shawn, and Paul Rudd as Cher’s love interest (and step-brother) Josh. Everyone in the ensemble does a great job but Silverstone definitely stands out. She’s perfect as Cher, the right mix of ditz, charm, and occasional, surprising insight.

Clueless is more than just another brainless teen movie. It set the bar in the nineties and many of the teen movies that followed borrow heavily from it. Despite its Beverly Hills surface, Clueless has a script that is full of comedic wit and charm. It hits the right combination of satire and sincerity.

I’m always a fan of a story that features a likeable female protagonist. While Cher is perfectly capable of being incredibly silly, ultimately her concern for others and a desire to do good for her friends wins out.

In the years since it’s release it’s since been followed up by a string of other successful teen movies featuring female protagonists including Mean Girls and Ten Things I Hate About You (another adaptation). It’s also Heckerling’s second foray into the teen genre, her first being the favorite Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

Of course, having been released over a decade ago it’s natural to wonder how Clueless holds up. I think the nostalgia it induces works in its favor. The soundtrack is poppy, the wardrobe is very ‘90s, but the tunes and threads bring back good memories rather than feel dated. Ultimately the story is one that continues to work, no matter how much time has gone by.

Clueless is ultimately a movie for girls that the boys can still get a laugh out of. It’s a nice change of pace from the normal testosterone infused fair offered at the Cineplex. Even though I’ve long since graduated from middle school, it still remains one of my favorite teen flicks. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon in or a girl’s night with your friends.

There are currently several DVD options available. The standard, no frills edition that is pretty bare on the special features was the first released. That's since been discontinued as a new edition (the Special Whatever! edition) was released in 2005. It includes a number of features that does the movie much more justice. Definitely worth the less than $15 price tag.

Links: Book of Caleb and Colbert Report

As if I didn't all ready love HULU enough.



The Book of Caleb, that little ol' movie I worked on out in Bucks County way back in the day, is now available on HULU for your watching pleasure. I love how the internet is giving us all of these fabulous new ways to see indie film.

Watch away!

AND!

I really have to share tonight's Colbert Report. Mostly for the bit about Neil Gaiman and his NEWBERY AWARD winning The Graveyard Book. But that stuff with Steve Martin was pretty good too. Yeah.

What was that about?

ALSO:

In actual life stuff, I have an interview for a job as an APOC on a pilot tomorrow. Wish me luck friends!

And Coraline opens this weekend (speaking of Neil Gaiman love). It's only in 3D for a few weeks apparently so you should go this weekend! If, you know, you like 3D and all that. I know I do.

Thoughts: My Weekend in Film 11/24

I feel like I had such a productive weekend that involved a lot of doing nothing. Hey, whatever works right?

Friday PM:

Shooting was on hiatus last week which meant we were able to get out of the office fairly early on Friday. And by early I mean before 7 PM. It was pretty awesome.



I spent most of the night just hanging out and appropriately enough the one movie I watched was the Reno 911! movie. Not something I bothered to watch previously. I wonder why...

The movie had a few moments that made me giggle but I really don't think Reno is a show that lends itself to the feature format. The improv bits come together nicely in short bursts but over the extended storyline... It was exceptionally silly.

Whatever. There are worse things I could have watched. Like Twilight... (am I going to be attacked by angry tweens if I proclaim my complete disinterest in this film publicly? I said nothing!)

Saturday AM:

Why did I wake up so early??? And why did I spend so much time on the damn couch after actually waking up early? Oh yeah. Headache. Too much beer the night before. Skins!



Oh man, of all the bad TV I watched Saturday morning (there was kind of a lot) I am totally in love with this British import. I <3 BBCA. I can't believe I have to wait for January to Netflix it all. *Sigh* I guess that's what the DVR is for.

Seriously though, if you think the hijinks of Gossip Girl are tasty, please oh please check this silliness out. It's a bunch of British teens drinking and getting high and F'ing. Plus all of the drama and scandal that that all entails.

I watched an episode (or maybe it was two, I'm not sure, I was kind of hazy with the hangover) and baby. I want more!

What else did I watch? Um. I dunno. Some South of Nowhere. A little bit of Pee Wee. Some other nonsense. Skins was all that was really interesting.

Oh wait! I'm a liar. I also watched Friday Night Lights. Now that is an actually quality show. One I'm not ashamed to admit I like (as if I have any shame anyway). I'm so going to Netflix this one.

Saturday PM:

I did some other stuff in the afternoon. Ran some errands. Ate food. You know. Life. Exciting!



Before it was time to go out for the evening I watched one of my Netflix DVDs, The Pillow Book.

The Pillow Book first caught my interest years ago during my Ewan McGregor phase. Mmmm... that was a phase that should have probably never ended. He's so cute.

Anyway. I stuck it on my Netflix queue ages ago as part of my search for really good, sexy films (think of classy stuff along the lines of Y Tu Mama Tambien not porn please). I had this idea in college for having a "Sexy Cinema" themed movie night, that never happened, and I still kind of like the idea. I've yet to put together the perfect list of films but I'm working on it. Suggestions are always welcome!

Sorry, tangent. Back to The Pillow Book. The flick is alright. There are some hot moments, the story is intriguing. I was hoping for more visually but I don't think it quite lives up to the hype. I also found it kind of slow and not in a good way.

Not my favorite movie. But if you want to see more of Ewan's junk (this boy is not shy!), that's one place you won't be disappointed.

Saturday Night:



Hung out with some friends and ended up watching a LOT of Triumph the insult dog from Conan. Not something I would normally sit and watch a lot of but I have to admit the dude is funny. Especially that Star Wars one. I also particularly liked the Hollywood Squares bit. Good times.

I know. I lead a very exciting life.

Sunday:

I slept in Sunday morning which was glorious. It's my favorite way to spend Sundays. I don't get nearly enough sleep. After hardly sleeping Friday night and waking up way too early Sunday, it was nice to spoil myself.

After reading for a while (I finally finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road, which has consequently all ready been adapted into a film due out in '09), getting my car smog check done and grocery shopping, L came over for some lazy TV time. We watched some Oprah, I cooked, K came back from PHX. The Wedding Singer was on TV.



The Wedding Singer is all about nostalgia for me. It's a nostalgia film, made for anyone who has any memory of the 80's. And, ironically perhaps, it's a nostalgia film for me in the sense that it always makes me think of high school. It came out when I was still happily dating my high school EX. He was my first serious relationship and a lot of my high school career involved him. There are a lot of memories, good and bad. It was also during this time when I found myself more seriously invested in film. A lot of movies bring back a lot of memories, again good and bad. It was at his house that I first discovered Kubrick and watched Dr. Strangelove. He was the reason I missed the theatrical re-release of The Exorcist (he wanted to see Deuce Biggolo: Male Giggolo. Again. Don't even get me started on that one!). He loved The Wedding Singer.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the movie. I'd probably enjoy it no matter what. But watching it now for me is never about the eighties jokes or the hair or the bad clothes. It's always a trip down memory lane. It brings back warm fuzzy feelings for a time that I really have no desire to revisit but still occasionally miss.

People who say that high school encompasses the best years of your life are either liars or haven't led very exciting lives. High school was no where near the best years of my life. Neither was college for that matter. But there were certainly good times and good people and every once in a while I don't mind a movie that takes me back there. The Wedding Singer is one of those movies.

Sunday PM:

If The Wedding Singer was the warm and fuzzy part of the evening then this next bit was the "gouge my eyes out" part. Oh no. Someone put on Charm School. You know. The thing on VH1 with Sharon Osbourne and the girlies from Rock of Love.



I have nothing to say about this trash. It was so godawfulbad. Do people like that really exist? Do people really like this show?? Whyyyyyy???

After that I had to save my brain cells somehow. What better way than with Fellini and 8 1/2?

Yes. I know. I'm a snob.



I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of Italian cinema is sadly lacking. I have a cursory acquaintance with most of the big names: Fellini, De Sica, Antonioni, etc but I have not seen nearly enough. I'm using Netflix to reconcile this sad lack and fill the gap.

I have to say, I loved 8 1/2. I think it's a beautiful film that captures filmmaking so neatly. It's true that there are many insider jokes, but I don't think it's so obtuse that people will be left out. I mean, as long as you like old Italian flicks.

It's such an intriguing mix of memory, fantasy, and reality. Where do the lines end? Guido is great. He's such a Man/Boy. Trying to make life fit his fantasy, to make his film fit his memories, to make his fantasy his film. To have it all either fall apart or come together, depending on how you look at it.

This film frequently finds itself at the top of Best Of Lists. You better believe there's a good reason for it. What I wouldn't give to see a print of this in a theater. If anyone hears of a screening in the LA area, please let me know.

On The Slate:

You may have noticed that I still haven't seen Quantum of Solace. I know, excuses. But my parent's have seen it either and they like the Bond stuff and I'll be home for Thanksgiving. So that's now the plan.

Coming from Netflix: Play Misty for Me and Day for Night. Eastwood and Truffaut. I sort of have mixed feelings about Truffaut so I'm especially curious to check this one out. I'm also continuing with the theme of artsy meta-filmic flicks. I'm getting my film nerd on hardcore. Go me?

Review: Hancock

I have to be honest. I was very not sure about Hancock. I was never able to get fully excited about this summer’s Will Smith action vehicle. On the one hand, I like Will Smith. On the other, the trailers were lackluster at best. On the one hand, the story concept was intriguing. On the other, the original premier was canceled only a month before for reshoots (never a good sign).

In the end my deciding factor was that a friend of mine worked on it last summer and if nothing else, it’s cool to see your friend’s names in the credits. And he did get a pretty good credit so I at least wasn’t disappointed in that.

After everything my expectations for Hancock were fairly low. I like a lot of the talent that was involved, on both sides of the camera, but the scattered marketing campaign and rumors of numerous changes to the original script and story kept the excitement level from building too high. I think that was probably for the best as Hancock turned out to be an entertaining but not great summer flick.

Will Smith plays John Hancock, an alcoholic super hero the world would rather see go away. His antics often cost more than the good they necessarily serve. For example, Hancock saves the life of a man stuck in front of a chain but manages to cause a massive train wreck in the process. The man he saves is Ray Embry (Jason Bateman), a down on his luck PR agent with dreams of saving the world through marketing. Ray brings Hancock home to meet the family, son Aaron (Jae Head) and wife Mary (Charlize Theron). It’s obvious from the start the Hancock makes Mary uncomfortable and it’s this dynamic that plays a major part of the film’s second half.

The buzz for the film is right in that Hancock gives us something nice and original, especially for the first half. It’s also right in that the transition to the second half is awkward a good bit of the film’s originality degenerates into the standard super hero fighting with an unexceptional twist.

Not to say that Hancock isn’t enjoyable. If nothing else Will Smith is his usual charming self and if you’re a fan of his you’ll more than likely be very happy with what you get. Will Smith is one of those actors I will watch in almost anything (except for Hitch apparently…) and I like his treatment of Hancock’s many ups and downs. I think he brings the character respectably to life and I have no complaints there. Jason Bateman is also great as Ray. He makes Ray into an incredibly likable and sympathetic guy. Ray’s character could have easily turned into a sap you pity but instead Bateman makes him someone who believably holds his own in extreme circumstances. The dynamic between the two men, how they come together and how they ultimately need each other is one of my favorite parts of the film. It adds a nice human element to all of the action and highway destruction.

Charlize Theron is also fine as Mary. I don’t even mind all that much what they end up doing with her character. She too has good chemistry with Will Smith and while I agree that the second half of the film is lacking I don’t think she’s to blame.

For me, the problem is in how the film is ultimately indecisive. Someone somewhere couldn’t decide what to do with this movie. Do we keep it a dark, adult super hero story and risk the R rating? Or do make it nicer, advertise it in front of family flicks like Prince Caspian, and risk less at the box office. The people at the top went so far and then got cold feet. And the film suffers for it. In just the narrative structure alone, the momentum of the story if killed before it ever really gets going. I think one of the reasons there is so much talk about the first half and the second if is because the halves are so noticeable. There is no smooth arc easing one into the second, there is just the build up and then the twist. After the twist the only thing left is the standard super hero movie action. The action’s not bad, it’s just nothing amazing either.

Hancock goes both ways. There’s the good: the actors are likable and the dialogue is solid. And the bad: the story is uneven and Peter Berg is occasionally self indulgent with his editing.

Where does that leave us, the audience? Hancock is a fun movie that some will love, some will hate, and most will probably forget. Either way, it’s going to make a killing at the box office.

Review: Sex In The City: The Movie

Before I get into this review I’m just going to come out and say it. I hated the movie. Completely, flat out, hated it. Looking around at other reviews I can see that while I’m not alone I am in the minority. I guess my point is that while I hated it, you may very well love it. So read on or don’t, enjoy it or don’t, maybe I just didn’t get it.

It’s not that I’m not a fan of the show (if you've read this blog, you know otherwise). I’ll admit that I haven’t seen every episode but I do watch it on a regular basis, have watched it for years, and I enjoy it. Yes I think it’s silly and shallow and I really never have understood SJP’s wardrobe. But it’s fun escapist television about women having sex in a city that I love. I can turn my brain off for a while and go with it.

It’s also not that my expectations were too high. Honestly, they were pretty low. All I was looking for was a fun movie about characters that I like and know.

That’s not what I feel like I got. I feel cheated.

Almost immediately I was thrown for a loop. The lights went down, the picture came up, the familiar music started to play… and then… Fergie? Uh. Huh? Where is the rest of our theme song? Where is Carrie in her tutu?

Granted, it is four years later. A lot can change in four years. Carrie and Big are still together! And they’re happy! Miranda is a workaholic, Steve is trying his best, and Brady is still adorable. Charlotte and Harry have adopted their beautiful Lily and are living their fairytale life. Samantha and Smith are out in LA (Really? Samantha left NYC? The sex really must be good!).

That’s our status quo. I don’t really want to say much more than that because I don’t want to spoil anything for those of you who have been kind enough to keep reading. So with that in mind I won’t say anything more about the plot points and I’ll instead tell you what this movie did (or didn’t do) to earn my absolute loathing.

First of all, spoilers aside, the plot is awful. Rather than any reasonably developing progression where point A follows point B, where we see a cause and effect, instead I feel like we are given a scenario where This happens and then This happens and so on and so forth. Nothing feels motivated by what precedes it in the film, let alone the six years of television history. There is the occasional reference to something we remember happening, the occasional name-dropping (remember that guy Aidan?), That’s pretty much as far as it goes.

In fairness to the story, they do try to give us something for everyone. Each of the girls is featured at some point.

Honestly though, I hate what they do with Carrie. She is so passive for the entire film. I feel like her character is completely lost, she has no voice. I’ve always thought Carrie was silly but she was silly in her own special way. In the movie she isn’t just depressed; she is silenced.

As for everyone else… Miranda is an uber- (word that is censored). She is beyond the tough lawyer I occasionally roll my eyes at but like in general. She is uncompromising and unlikable. It is her character taken to a simplified extreme that loses any of the minimal complexity she was originally given. What made her an interesting, empowered female character in the series is completely taken away and instead we’re given an insulting version of what is in store for any female who decides to attempt a challenging career in addition to a family.

Charlotte… poor Charlotte. She isn’t so much a human being as she is a shrieking doll. Did Charlotte do anything other than screech? In a rare self-aware moment, Miranda is given a line commenting on Charlotte’s screeching. That doesn’t excuse it! Then that whole thing with Charlotte in Mexico? Really? Give me a break.

As for Samantha. Meh, I honestly don’t have much to say about the roll she and Smith are given. It’s more like our lovely writer said “Hey, here’s who they were in the series, let’s just do the same thing with them we’ve done a million times before. And Samantha can adopt a puppy. No one will notice that we completely throw away these characters if there is a cute humping puppy involved!” The puppy humps more than Samantha does. I’m not kidding.

The one new character Louis (played by Jennifer Hudson) is an improvement and welcome break from everyone else but that is saying next to nothing.

I could go on at this point about Steve and Big and the gay boys and others. I think you get my point though. Yes, we see almost everyone we cared about. Yes, they are doing the same wacky things. That’s it though; there is no depth. There is nothing to them. They never come alive. The fault may be with the actors but based on David Eigenberg’s and even Chris Noth’s performances, my opinion is just that the script and the direction failed. Completely.

Where is the wittiness? Where are the clever lines? Comebacks? Commentary? A cute line or two that we've all ready seen in the trailers. A joke about Vogue airbrushing and a surprising reference to Diane Arbus. A vulnerable moment with Charlotte, an actually convincing moment with Steve. Occasionally the heart of Sex in the City shows through. Unfortunately these moments are rare and the film is bogged down with clichés, bad jokes, gross out humor, and a plot that is never developed but instead thrown at us.

Sometimes a movie adapted from a television show runs the risk of seeming like an overly long episode. For Sex in the City, that scenario would have been a welcome improvement.

When it comes down to it, this movie is insulting. Samantha has to call Miranda out on an overgrowth of a certain type of hair? Everyone has to call Samantha out on gaining, what, five pounds? The only things that matter are weddings, babies, and expensive accessories? Is that really all we’re supposed to care about?

Say what you will about the show, but I never felt as angry or insulted watching it as I did almost every minute of this movie. I wanted to like it. I really, really did. I knew it wasn’t going to be great but I would have been happy with fun. Instead, the only thing that made me want to cry was the fact that I spent over ten dollars ton the ticket price.

I really hope for your sake that you avoid this absolute mess of storytelling and waste of time. Or that if you must go see it, and I can understand if that might be the case, that you get more enjoyment out of it than I did.

As it is, I will never willingly watch this movie again and it’s going to be a very long time before I’ll be able to stomach any more Sex in the City. If everything else wasn’t enough to make me angry, that right there is.

Goodbye Sex and the City. It was fun while it lasted but, alas, it was apparently never meant to be. Thank you Michael Patrick King. You’ve effectively ruined a decade of pop culture entertainment in two hours and twenty-five minutes. If that was your goal, couldn’t you have at least spared me that last half hour? For a few minutes I thought about giving you two stars. And then I remembered that last half hour. I’m taking a star back.

Sex in the City: The Movie. One very generous star. I’m not convinced you deserve even that.

Thoughts: My Weekend in Film 5/26

Yay for Memorial Days and three day weekends! The day off was enjoyed greatly and I used my extra time for extra movie watching (among other things). It was pretty sweet.

I also apologize in advance if this post seems a little out of it. My allergies have got me feeling all icky today. It's only taken me three hours to write this. I'm sure it's completely coherent and awesome.

Friday PM:

While I didn't watch any movies I did go see a live performance of R. Kelly's Trapped In The Closet.



For those of you not familiar with it, Trapped in The Closet is a Rock Opera about a web of people involved in various affairs and other nonsense. It's pretty ridiculous and very amusing. It's available on DVD but you can actually watch the episodes online as well over at IFC's website.

This particular performance that I went to see was done by a bunch of white kids acting out the first 12 chapters. It was done by a talented bunch of performers and I don't think I stopped laughing once. I even only yawned once which is an accomplishment in and of its self considering the fact it was a midnight performance on a Friday night. There's a reason I usually don't go out on Fridays. Anyway, yeah, it was really good and I'm hoping they do the next ten chapters soon.

Saturday:

I actually spent most of my day Saturday at wedding so no movie watching going on there. Wedding was beautiful though. I even teared up a little during the ceremony.

Sunday Early Evening:

I spent Sunday wandering around my neighborhood, walking, drinking coffee, doing a little bit shopping. Both J and K were out of town so I pretty much had the day to myself. It was nice to not have a schedule and just be able to do whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it.



I stopped back at home for a bit after shopping and decided to watch MASH. In honor of Memorial Day and all that (the irony is part of the point). I love MASH so much. I haven't seen as much Altman as I really should have but MASH is by far my favorite of what I've seen. The performances are great and Altman's style compliments the story so very well.

I was somewhat of a fan of the TV Series but until recently had never seen the movie. Watching the movie, I must say that it's far superior to the show. I still enjoy the show as much as I ever did but I'll take the movie over it any day.

Sunday PM:



After MASH I once again left my couch and ventured to the local theater to catch Prince Caspian. I like the first Chronicles of Narnia movie well enough and grew up with the books so I was happy to watch Prince Caspian. It's pretty good. I did like it a bit better than the first but I think I have the same problem with it that I had with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

It just seems like they can't decide who they want their audience to be. The films fall into this weird place where they're really too old for kids but too young for adults. Prince Caspian is pretty dark and violent, not something I would think to necessarily take a kid to. At the same time, it's still pretty young. I just think they would have a wider appeal if they went one way or the other. Honestly, I think going more in the direction kids movie would really work best. That may just be because the books were a part of my childhood.

Either way, if you liked the first you'll probably like the second as well. And I liked them both enough that I'll continue to see the series in the theater. Not as good as Lord of The Rings or some of the Harry Potters but good enough.

Sunday Late PM:

After the movie and a bit of work I decided to channel surf for a while. Have I mentioned that I'm a big fan of my couch?



I settled on watching the second half of Clueless. I've got to say, Clueless is still one of my favorite movies and it's easily one of the best teen movies ever. An adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless is an intelligent, witty look at the lives of spoiled Beverly Hills teens. It's goofy and fun and I still love Cher's wardrobe.

It's one of those movies I will almost always turn on if I see it playing on TV. I've seen it so many times I've lost count. And yeah, I own the DVD. I've also been to the place where Cher is held up after the valley party. My friend lives down the street.

And. I have to point out the amount of tongue in that final kiss. Damn that's a lot of tongue.

I love it.

Monday AM:



Before Memorial Day BBQ fun I decided to veg on the couch for a while. Men In Black was on and I was honestly just too lazy to change the channel. I know. Go me and lazy. It's not my favorite movie ever but I love Will Smith and it was plenty entertaining for a quietly spent morning.

Speaking of Will Smith, I am so up in the air about whether or not I'm excited for Hancock. The premise sounds great, the second trailer looks decent, and my friend worked on it. It's just that the marketing is making me nervous. And the fact that the premier was canceled so they could go into reshoots. Less than a month before it's scheduled release. In addition to that they showed a trailer for it before Prince Caspian. Hancock mixed in with a bunch of family movies. It all seems like they're trying to market it as a goofy fun comedy which is NOT what the original premise of an alcoholic, troubled super hero seemed to be.

I'll still probably go see it but I don't have much hope for it being very good. Which is a shame because it seems like it could be such a cool, actually original, summer action film. Ah well. Maybe I'll be wrong. That would be nice.

Here's the trailer if you haven't seen it yet:



Monday Late PM:



After the BBQ and tie dyeing and other activities K and I decided it was as good a time as any for Dazed and Confused. Another of my favorite teen movies, Dazed and Confused is pretty much the perfect high school movie about nothing. The characters drive around, drink, get stoned, hang out, get into a moderate amount of trouble. It all ends in an awesome looking kegger that makes me a little jealous. How come we never had parties like that when I was in high school? If the kids I went to school with were that cool, I may have actually enjoyed my time there better. Oh well. Dazed and Confused is fun.

A word of advice though. Playing a drinking game where your one rule is take a drink whenever someone is paddled... not the best idea ever. You probably won't make it through the movie. My friend in college who tried certainly didn't. And I did not envy the hangover it gave her either.

On the Slate:

Rules of Attraction - after being told that I'll really like this by numerous friends I finally got it from Netflix. If I have my way I'll be watching it tonight.

Sex and The City - comes out this weekend. Of course K and I will be seeing it.

Not sure what else yet. We'll see.

Trailers: Tropic Thunder

I finally found a trailer so good that it's actually distracted me from the Dark Knight. Who knew that was even possible? But really, this little taste of brilliance is one of the funniest things I've seen in a damn long time. I almost fell out of my chair.

It's actually the second trailer out for Tropic Thunder but the first one didn't even really put this film on my radar. This one has jumped Tropic Thunder up to the top of my list of movies I'm excited about (well not higher than Dark Knight, but you know...).

And here it is, the red band trailer for Tropic Thunder:

ALSO, DEFINITELY NSFW. YOU ARE WARNED :)




For a larger look head over to Film School Rejects.

Thoughts: My Weekend in Film 4/28

It was another weekend of nonsense, mischief, and TV watching. One of these weekends I really will catch up on movies. And watch Once.

Friday PM:

I was supposed to go see Body of War which opened at the Nuart Theater up on Santa Monica after I got off of work. However I ended up leaving work early and went home and then I just couldn't get the motivation to get back into rush hour traffic to make the movie. Rush hour in LA? Yuck.

Instead I put in the second disc of Season 1 Tudors and committed my night to Henry and his court.



This second disc (episodes 4-6) left me feeling a little ambivalent about the show. The production value continues to be incredibly impressive, I think the acting is fine, and there a few steamy, exciting scenes. Overall though, I'm left wanting more. A lot of the time it feels like the episodes are just glossing over the events. There is a lot that I want to see more fully developed. Characters, plot, history.



I did like the subplot with Charles Brandon and Henry's sister Margaret. I think that's actually been my favorite bit so far actually. I'll be honest and admit that that partly has to do with Henry Cavill and the fact that he looks pretty amazing without a shirt.

I'm not completely shallow though! I also think that they actually manage to do a decent job with the development here, I have a pretty good idea who these characters are, what they're feeling, what's going on between them. There's less crazy intrigue going on with them, it's a pretty straightforward bit of story, so I guess they had less to tell in more time and were able to give more attention to details. Or maybe it's a sign that the series will improve over the course of the season and some of these issues I'm having will be resolved. Here's hoping for that!

Saturday AM:




Scrubs again! I love Comedy Central and its Saturday morning Scrubs marathon. I watched a few episodes and then got ready for the day. It was pretty brilliant.

After Scrubs it was off for bike riding and the beach. I managed only a slight sunburn so I'm pretty happy with that. The weekend was gorgeous, a little hot even, and Saturday was perfect for a day at the beach.

Saturday PM:



After the beach and bike riding to Santa Monica with the roommate, I was a little tired. We talked about going out but managed to make it only as far as the neighbors' house. After socializing we wandered back to our couch and turned the TV back on. We talked about catching some Monty Python action but didn't make it that far. Instead it was back to the old staples. Sex in the City and some No Reservations.



Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations is one of my favorite shows currently on TV. It combines so many elements that I love (cooking, travel, a snarky host) into a perfect blend of entertainment, commentary, and even a bit of education. Tony Bourdain is hilarious and while his delivery with the narration can border on cheesy it's always clever and well written. I love seeing all of these different sides to places I've always dreamed of going. And I mean, this guy gets to travel cool places, eat cool food, write about and have his own TV show. How lucky is he?

That is one reality show I would LOVE to work on.

The rest of the weekend:



Scattered throughout the rest of the weekend was more of pretty much everything. Mixed with some of the US version of The Office, BBC's Robin Hood, and some Family Guy. Honestly, with as much as I did this weekend (a lot) I'm really surprised by how much TV I still managed to watch. I went to the beach, I did lots of shopping, I spent almost all of the second half of Sunday at the neighbors' BBQ. I guess that could be why there was a lot of TV but no actual movies. Makes sense to me.

On The Slate:

Body of War - I'll definitely be going to see this either tomorrow or Wednesday. Normally I'm not a huge documentary person but this one looks really, really good. Check out their site for more info and the trailer and showtimes.

Once - I really will watch it this week! I promise!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - An old Sarah Jessica Parker flick my roommate really wants to check out. With the Sex and The City movie coming up, we're preparing ourselves.

More Tudors - depending on how much else I get through, I may watch the next disc.

And that, as they say, is that.

Thoughts: My Weekend in Film

Normally I use my weekends as catch up time for all of the movie watching I failed to do during the week. However this past weekend was rather lackluster in terms of film. It was just too nice outside to spend my time indoors. I did manage a little movie and television watching though.

Saturday AM:



Before I managed to make it outside, I did spend some time on my couch recovering from Friday night's mischief. A couple hours of Scrubs did help me forget about my slight hangover.

I still really enjoy that show. They manage to create a nice blend of humorous situations and serious topics. It's not just another medical drama (although I am a fan of a couple of other medically themed shows. Like House) but it manages to deliver on the dramatic medical topics.

It's also possibly my favorite thing that Zach Braff has done. Garden State was okay I guess but I like him better in Scrubs. And Dr. Cox makes me happy to no end. He's by far my favorite character.



Unfortunately Comedy Central decided to air the movie Ladies Man after a couple of delightful hours of Scrubs. I don't have much to say about it other than it caused my headache to come back. It was good for one thing: it managed to motivate me to turn off the TV and move from the couch.

Saturday Early PM:



Before I finally left my house for bike riding and beach going, my roommate and I watched the first episode of season 1 of The Tudors. I know, I'm still on season 1. I have the excuse of not having Showtime but I do have Netflix. So The Tudors DVDs are slowly making their way to my living room.

I've so far watched the first two episodes, as well as a smattering of little bits from later in the season. I'm very excited for the series. It has an immensely talented cast, high production values, and it's about an incredibly fascinating period of history. Sex, war, intrigue. It delivers in every way that The Other Boleyn girl failed to. (If you've read my review of that, you know I was extremely disappointing with the awful adaptation of Phillipa Gregory's novel).

We only made it through the first episode. It was a gorgeous day and we do live only a mile from the beach after all. Couldn't spend the entire day in front of my TV!

Saturday PM:



So after all of this beach time and biking, not to mention continued hangover recovery, I definitely did not have the energy for an excessive Saturday night. So instead of too much crazy the roommates and I stuck in the, ah, entertaining Killer Klowns From Outer Space.

How exactly does one describe this movie? For my one roommate who watched it as a kid, she went back to a place of nostalgia and childhood fear. For me, having only seen it in the midst of my horror movie craze, I enjoy the cheese, am vaguely disturbed by horribleness of it, and mostly just laugh. For my other roommate, who had never seen it before, she was mostly just mystified by our giggles and saw it as only one of many bad 80's horror movies.

It's a sort of unique, sort of bizarre, mostly terrible genre film. It subscribes to most of the horror conventions of 80's horror and contains bits that are just down right bad (the hillbilly's accent and dialog any one? Ugh). At the same time... I mean, they wrap people in cotton candy and drain their blood. They shoot popcorn at people and chase people with balloon animals. They kill people with puppet shows. Who thinks of these things??? There are so many elaborate set-ups that I can't help but being reluctantly impressed.

And it's a movie about Killer Clowns! Clowns make you laugh! Lots of people are scared of them! The movie is horrible but it just has so much going for it that I can't help but be entertained.

That being said, I really don't recommend the special features on the DVD. At least not viewed directly after the film. There's only so much a sober brain can take.

If you're so inclined you can see more of the Chiodo brother's, the masterminds of Killer Klowns, at their website here.

Saturday Late PM:



My final viewing of the night, of the weekend in fact, was a late night screening of Disney's Aladdin. It was always one of my favorites as a kid so naturally I own the DVD.

There were a few years, when I was still a part of Disney's target audience, when it seemed like just could not miss. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King. Each one presented us with stellar animation, engaging characters, songs that I still know the words to. Maybe it's just that I was the right age for them but personally I think it's more than that. I think they're all well crafted animated films that will continue to appeal to kids and parents for a long, long time.

Although, watching Aladdin again after not having seen it in a very long time, I did notice points that were not quite as cute as I remember them being. Aboo can be annoying and Gilbert Godfrey's charm has kind of worn off. (Um, Gilbert Godfrey has charm? Not exactly...)

I still enjoy singing along though. That at least will probably never change.

Sunday:

It was way too nice out yesterday to sit inside at all. And with no hangover, I had nothing to even tempt me to take up residence on the couch. So sorry, no Sunday movie watching to report!

On the slate for this week:

More Tudors for sure. I've got the next two episodes on disc 1. Then I'll send it back to Netflix for more!

Once: It's been on my To See List since I first heard about it and I've finally got it to watch. I'm excited.

There Will Be Blood: Possibly. The DVD came out last Tuesday and I picked it up over the weekend. I'm ready to watch it again. We all ready know that I love PTA. And I like milkshakes.

Other than that? Not sure yet. There are a few things I might try to catch in the theater. Juno comes out on DVD tomorrow. Who knows what will be on TV. Or how much time I'll have. There will be something though, there always is!

Production: The Book of Caleb

Way back in the fall of 2005 I left the comforts of my parents house in warm, sunny south Florida to spend the winter in the cold of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I drove over twenty hours in order to work on my very first feature film. I was to be the script supervisor on the ultra low budget indie The Book Of Caleb. Written and directed by FSU alum Matt Manahan, The Book of Caleb was a production unlike any I've seen or been a part of since.

It was run incredibly professionally, crewed with immense talent, fueled by passion. And done on a tiny budget that shouldn't have allowed most of the things we accomplished to occur.

Now, after a long wait and much anticipation, The Book of Caleb is finished. I'm incredibly excited for Matt and everyone else who has spent countless hours putting this thing together. And I just wanted to share my excitement and spread the love.

So go visit them at their website. And if you want to see it, check them out at From Here To Awesome. Or even at YouTube.

For your viewing pleasure, a taste:

Thoughts: Punch-Drunk Love

I love Paul Thomas Anderson. To the point being a little fangirl-ish. Normally I reserve my fangirl excitement for the cute faces of actors like Josh Hartnett or Johnny Depp. However, I occassionally get just as excited over someone working behind the scenes. The combination of Wong Kar Wei and Chris Doyle, for example.



PTA is by far my favorite of the moment. I loved There Will Be Blood with a fangirl's blindness. (What do you mean you liked No Country For Old Men Better????) I think Boogie Nights is utterly brilliant. And Magnolia? I may not ever completely understand the frogs but I still think it's genius.

With all of that, I've just now gotten around to seeing Punch-Drunk Love. Why the long wait? I have no idea. There are just so many movies out there that occasionally, or frequently, I don't come even close to seeing all of the ones I want to. Netflix helps but what I really need is more than 24 hours in a day.

Punch-Drunk Love is not my favorite PTA film. I think it's good, there are elements I think are great, but overall I found myself unable to fully connect with the story. The first half is incredibly slow and while Adam Sandler's performance is actually very good, I found the film lacking in humaness. I felt like I was being kept at a distance when I desperately wanted to be engaged.

As the story develops and more characters are introduced things improve. By the second half I was completely involved and very happily so. I think what really helped to crack the ice more than anything was Emily Watson. I think she's a great actress and she is beyond adorable in this movie. And while her wide eyes frequently convey a sense of childish wonder and innocence, she is capable of expressing an impressive range of emotion. I really feel like her performance in this film is spot on.

While this film is filled with the bits that I've come to look for in PTA's work, it's not his strongest film. Which I'm sure he all ready knows. However, with strong performances and visual style that grew on me as the film progressed, it's worth seeing. I don't think other fans of PTA will be disappointed.

Thoughts: Superbad

Yay for Labor Day and three day weekends! I decide to escape LA for a couple of days and visit my little brother out in Phoenix. Sometimes it's good to get away. And when I have three days with nothing to do... why not?

Anyway, I got into town yesterday and last night my brother and I decided to go see Superbad. Finally. I've been really wanting to see it. After Knocked Up and all of the reviews it's been getting, Superbad was definitely near the top of my To See list.

It didn't disappoint. I have a soft spot for teen high school movies and Superbad is another good one. People have been comparing to the likes of Dazed and Confused (one of my favorites) and I think the comparison is a fair one. While it's not quite as good, it's certainly an excellent little flick. It kept me laughing pretty much constantly, even if the plot does stall occasionally.

I also have to say that Seth Rogan is one of my new favorites. He's brilliant. And sort of adorable. Good times.

So yeah, Superbad. It's great. Check out. Definitely good summer comedy fun.

Review: Knocked Up

Originally posted at Epinions



Knocked Up isn’t the sort of movie I will normally go see in the theater. It’s the sort I would normally wait to rent or wait for a friend to bring it over or maybe wait for it to show up on cable. 40 Year-Old Virgin was fun and all but not $10 (or more in certain places) worth of fun.

You know, occasionally, I can be wrong.

I did go see Knocked Up in the theater. In fact, I’ve seen it twice. It’s a movie that I thoroughly enjoy. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s moving. Sometimes it’s just plain wrong but it’s also down to earth and something that I think people can actually relate to. There are so many moments that make me think of my friends, situations they’ve been in, antics they’ve been up to. I’m not sure what that may say about myself and my friends but I like to think that it means Judd Apatow is somewhat in touch with reality.

Knocked Up is about Ben and Alison and the results of their drunken one night stand. Alison is a gorgeous blond who is working her way up in the entertainment news industry while Ben is an overweight stoner with about $100 to his name. From the title of the film the results of their one night are a given. It’s the journey they take over the next nine months that the film is concerned with. How do two people who are so different, headed in such different directions in life, reconcile themselves to a fate that has tied them together? Can they make it work? Is making it work enough?

Katherine Heigl and Seth Brogan star as Alison and Ben. They are joined by Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd as Alison’s sister Debbie and Debbie’s husband Pete; Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, and Charlyne Yi play Ben’s band of fellow stoners. Joanna Kerns, Harold Ramis, Alan Tudyk, and Kristen Wiig make appearances as well.

I really enjoyed all of the performances. Heigl and Brogan work well together, their chemistry is convincing and I believe in the relationship that slowly builds between them. It’s an awkward situation, to say the least, and I like the way that their characters work it out. I also enjoyed the supporting cast. Debbie and Pete create a great sub-plot that adds tension and conflict to not only their relationship but to Ben and Alison’s as well. As far as the stoners go, well, I may know a few people like that. They seemed fairly realistic to me.

As good as the acting in a film like this may be, what it really comes down to is the writing. And in that regard Knocked Up wins. As a comedy it kept me laughing through the entire film. The second time I watched it I still laughed the entire film. The jokes don’t get old, the movie is never boring. It’s a movie I can see myself buying and pulling out for a movie night with my friends, even when we’ve all seen it already.

My favorite part of the movie, two times through: The scene between Ben and Pete in the hotel room in Vegas. There really were a lot of chairs.

Knocked Up is a lot of fun. At a running time of just over two hours some people might get a little antsy but I don’t think it’s overly long. There aren’t any scenes that feel unnecessary. It’s all funny, it’s all well written, and it’s really all very likeable.