Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 16th, 2003
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of trendy relationship films. Cameron Crowe's Singles aside, they are just not my kind of thing. They typically embody too much neurosis and whining from the female characters, and either overly sensitive or overly dense men. Plot elements are rarely believable (the two main characters often bump into each other at some all-too-fortuitous locale), and I frequently leave the theater feeling as if I have been manipulated into believing the story would actually be possible if it...happened in real life.
I also tend to not enjoy independent films that put too much power in the hands on one individual. Again, there are exceptions to this rule, such as Jon Favreau's Swingers, but as a whole, I find that it is always better to have input from others when crafting a film. Especially when the others in question have actually made a film before. This is almost always the case when it comes to first-time directors and/or writers. When they try to do it all themselves, I feel that it forces them to bite off more than they can chew, so to speak, and the quality of the work suffers as a result.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 11th, 2003
I don’t know what it is that makes men enjoy stupid comedies so much. Maybe it is our inner bully, lashing out at the weaknesses of those around us, and thus proving our superiority. Maybe it's because it's such a relaxing break from the stress of our busy working lives. Maybe it is because laughing at idiots makes us feel better about our own questionable level of intelligence. Whatever it is, it is clear that laughing at the ignorance of others is a basic male trait. There is a point, however, when the subject of o...r mirth can become so simple, so unbelievably stupid, that the tables turn from riotous laughter to groans of pain and embarrassment. The line is a thin one, but it is distinct.
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd doesn’t just cross that line, it races past it on the way to pointless oblivion. This is a film that truly lives up to its name. What made the original film so funny was watching the interaction between the sublime ignorance of the two main characters and the relative normalcy of the world around them. Ideally, Harry and Lloyd should be the only two stupid people in their circle of influence. In this film, however, virtually every character on the screen is either dumb, or even dumber…er. Without this contrast, the film becomes a close-up look at a world filled with ignorance, and the "relative stupidity" aspect of the story is gone.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 9th, 2003
It seems that most people have strong opinions when it comes to Ellen DeGeneres. Of course, when you make yourself the first openly gay character on television, those opinions can be expected. Some feel that she is courageous, bravely stepping into the forefront of the gay rights movement. Others feel that her lifestyle is immoral, and that she should be shamed of her actions. Personally, I feel that it is unfortunate that her status as a gay woman is an issue at all. The desire of any true performer should be for th... world to discuss their art, and not their personal life. (Of course, she freely made an issue of her sexuality herself, but I digress.) Simply saying that Ellen is "funny" shortchanges her talents.
Ellen is not just funny, she's smart. Very, very smart. This stand-up performance takes her stream-of-consciousness style of storytelling to a new extreme. Topics segue from one into another at breakneck speed, forcing the listener to simply hang on and enjoy the comic ride. Her theme for this show (which happens to be filled with all-new material) is life in the 21st century, and she captures its nuances and frustrations flawlessly, from cell phone etiquette to news and information overload. Someday, I will be able to show this disc to my children to explain what life was like at the turn of the new century.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 2nd, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 27th, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 25th, 2003
It takes a lot to become a true Christmas classic. Mr. St. Nick just doesn’t have any of it. The story of a reluctant Santa Claus was done with much funnier results in the Tim Allen The Santa Clause films. Kelsey Grammer can be a very fine comedic actor as his stints in Cheers and Frasier have more than proven. The problem here is the material is old and tired and Grammer never seems to be able to decide on a tone for the film. I’m a fan of just simple fun, but this film never really takes me on a good ride. Hallmark has a reputation for good clean family value filmmaking. Mr. St. Nick certainly fits that profile. There just simply isn’t any life here.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 21st, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 21st, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 12th, 2003
Henry Turner from the Campus Circle is quoted on the cover of the DVD stating that Loco Love is “The funniest film since ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’” What I would like to ask Henry is “Dude what were you smoking and where can I get some?” This utterly lifeless and unfunny “comedy” is the first of what I would expect to be a long line of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” clones. I mean let’s face it “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” worked because of a great story, great cast and a very funny script. Let’s say that Loco Love falls ... little short – if you want to call a little short zero for three. For a film that is supposed to be dealing with adultery, racism, immigration and class struggle Loco Love definitely falls short of the mark.
The plot is horribly predictable and cliché. It follows the story of Donald, a man who marries into a rich family and through that relationship is able to acquire his own restaurant – his life’s dream. However, when his wife tells him that she’s been unfaithful and is now expecting a child by another man she drops him as fast as the movie studio should have dropped this film. As a result he loses his restaurant. This is followed by a really poor excuse for comedy as they show his failed suicide attempts. As fate would have it, his salvation lies with his Mexican gardener, Miguel, whom he has mistreated in the past with various racial insults. Miguel wins a lottery and wants to bring his sister, Catalina, to the US but she has had immigration difficulties. You can see where this is going. Miguel wants Donald to marry his sister and bring her to the US. Donald reluctantly agrees but predictably begins to fall in love with Catalina and vice versa much to Miguel’s chagrin. Throw in Donald’s ex-wife whom now wants to get back with him and you’ve got the makings of a lack luster Three’s Company episode.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 11th, 2003
This film is based on a Greek comedy, but I feel like I just watched a Greek tragedy. A Miami Tail is based on the Greek play “Lysistrata”, which tells the story of how a group of women ended war by abstaining from sex with their husbands. It’s not an entirely bad idea for a film, but unfortunately the plot has fallen victim to bad acting and a horrid script, and is helmed by a director with no vision.
I’m not kidding, the acting really is bad. Appalling, in fact. Rapper Trina stars in her first (and...hopefully last) role as the woman who started the “no-sexual” revolution. Her awkward, wooden delivery makes me wonder how she could ever make her living as a wordsmith. Her deplorable skills are matched with those of just about every other actor in the film, resulting in what feels like a High School Drama Department’s presentation of a ghetto revolution film.
