|
You are currently browsing the archives for the Comedy Reviews category.
Archives
Categories
RSS Feeds
Quest for Reviews
|
Archive for the 'Comedy Reviews' Category
- 22/June/2007 [1:36 PM] -- Knocked Up
Director Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin) does it again only this time even more hysterical, appealing to a larger audience he becomes a champion of the great all American family values, pushes the envelope as he always does, leaves you wanting more all while bringing attention to a sense of morality. Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) has a flourishing career at E! Entertainment Channel and has just been promoted to an on-camera position. Alison and her sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) go to a club to celebrate but not long into the evening Debbie gets called away to attend to her children, leaving Alison in the enthusiastic company of charming idler Ben (Seth Rogen). In the intoxicated dark of the nightclub Ben seems like a great guy but in the sober light of the morning Alison realizes that the man she has slept with is just an overgrown child with no direction in life, without a job and without money and also seems to have the social habits of a teenager. Politely brushing him off as a one night stand Alison goes about her life forgetting that the night ever happened until 8 weeks later when she realizes she is pregnant. And thus begins a whirlwind of events that are both uproariously funny as well as heartfelt. With outstanding performances by the entire cast Katherine Heigl finds the perfect balance between comedy and the seriousness of the underlying principles of the story, she is a true talent as any Grey’s Anatomy fan will tell you. Seth Rogen has the ideal blend of charm, humor and lovability that leaves you routing for his character every step of the way. Leslie Mann is luminous as Alison’s neurotic sister Debbie and Paul Rudd is at his absolute best as Debbie’s husband Pete. Although there is some visual humor most of the best moments in the film are brought to the audience through the marvelous dialog. Knocked Up is a great film for everyone who loves to laugh. It is available in MoPix if you would like but I do believe it is easy to follow considering the amount of dialog it has. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for the film!
-
(Universal)
-
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann
-
Rated: R
-
Running Time: 129 mins
-
This film is currently available in MoPix
Posted in [Comedy Reviews]
- 29/January/2007 [4:24 PM] -- Catch and Release
Catch and Release is a romantic dramady that pales in comparison to some of the great romances, but is able to hold its own mainly due to the remarkable cast of actors. Jennifer Garner plays Gray a woman dealing with the sudden death of her fiancé Grady just days before their wedding finding comfort only in the company of her friends, the cheerful and comedic Sam (Kevin Smith), the very responsible tree-hugger Dennis (Sam Jaeger) and Grady’s irresponsible childhood friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant). As secrets begin to emerge about Grady, like he has a child in another state she knew nothing about, she begins to see new sides of the man she thought she knew and also experiences a awakening in herself. With the help of her friends and the mother of Grady’s child (Juliette Lewis), she begins to pick up the pieces of her life and even finds love again with the last man she ever expected to fall for. Catch and Release has a very lovely moral and is well penned by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich). Jennifer Garner is a powerful leading lady and completely lights up the screen, Kevin Smith is at his best, Timothy Olyphant is charming and Juliette Lewis marvelously embraces a brilliant character. Although Catch and Release is a good movie it had potential to be really great but I think there was a case of an underdeveloped plot line here, it needed something more. Definitely entertaining, but I would wait for the DVD, it’s a perfect cozy stay at home and curl up on the couch kind of movie. It is not available in MoPix but if you decide to see it in the theatre I don’t think it is needed, there is plenty of dialogue to get you through easily and enjoyably!
- (Columbia)
-
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith and Juliette Lewis
-
Rated: PG-13
-
Running Time: 124 mins
-
This film is currently not available in MoPix
1/2
Posted in [Drama Reviews, Comedy Reviews]
- 11/January/2007 [4:09 PM] -- The Holiday
I have to tell you this is the most enchanting romantic comedy since the romantic comedy boom in the 1990’s! Although this decade has brought some wonderfully written comedic romance like, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days or Serendipity, I feel like the 80’s and 90’s comedies had a certain sentiment about them that has been lost over time. The Holiday completely brings that magical mood back to cinema. I will even go as far as to say it is one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time right next to You’ve Got Mail and While You Were Sleeping! Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) is the owner of a very successful advertising company that creates movie trailers in Los Angeles. Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) writes a popular wedding column for London’s Daily Telegraph and lives in a charming cottage on the beautiful countryside of Surrey England. Even living 6,000 miles apart Amanda and Iris are in exactly the same place, they are both very successful women who have disasterous relationships. Amanda, wanting to get away from LA for the holidays happens upon a web site for home exchange, and finds a picture of Iris’s cottage and decides that it will be the perfect prescription for her relationship blues. She messages Iris who, having never been to California, immediately agrees to the exchange, and the very next day they are on there way to getting away from their everyday lives for two weeks. Iris lands in sunny California on a beautifully clear day and is greeted by the warm gusts of the Santa Ana winds. She is quick to make friends one being Arthur (Eli Wallach) a 90 year old screenwriter from the Golden Era of Hollywood, and Miles (Jack Black) a loveable film composer who works with Amanda’s ex-boyfriend. Meanwhile, in Surrey, Amanda is settling into the cozy Rosehill Cottage in the peacefulness of snow covered roads, soon finding herself bored and ready to pack it up and go back to her fast paced life when Iris’ handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) comes by the cottage catching Amanda and her heart by surprise. As unexpected events occur for Amanda and Iris, friendships are made and love is found. Brilliantly written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give and What Women Want) I laughed and got misty-eyed and felt completely warmed by this film. The acting is top notch Kate Winslet is absolutely adorable, Jack Black is as charming as ever, Eli Wallach is simply genius, Jude Law is heart warming and this by far is Cameron Diaz’s best work to date! You will absolutely fall in love with The Holiday, it is a definite must for all and offers lots of dialogue and narrative for the visually impaired. It is also available in MoPix if you wish to use it but I don’t think it is needed here. In the words of Arthur, The Holiday and I had a perfect meet-cute! (If you want to know what that means you will have to go see film for yourself!) ENJOY!
-
(Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures)
-
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns and Rufus Sewell
-
Rated: PG13
-
Running Time: 138 mins
-
This film is currently available in MoPix
Posted in [Comedy Reviews]
- 11/December/2006 [5:52 PM] -- Happy Feet
I must tell you, I am a bit bias when it comes to this film, being a vegetarian and an environmentalist Happy Feet is a motion picture after my own heart! Happy Feet follows the story of young Mumble (Elijah Wood, perfectly cast) an Antarctic Empire Penguin who is born completely unable to carry a tune, which is not a problem except that for these little creatures finding your “heartsong” is the only way to discover your true soul mate! Instead Mumble is born with some really happy feet, he can dance his flippers off but every time he opens his beak he’s sounds like puberty stricken teenager! His mother Norma Jean (the enchanting Nicole Kidman) thinks Mumble is just fine the way he is but his father Memphis (Hugh Jackman, one word, brilliant) isn’t so sure and neither is the rest of the community and poor Mumble becomes banished from home and stumbles upon some new friends some hilarious Latino penguins, the head of the amigos is Ramon (Robin Williams, who continues to delight and impress me). Mumble comes up with a plan to finally be accepted by his fellow penguins including Gloria (the charming Britney Murphy) the love of Mumble’s life. He decides his only chance at redemption is to find the source of the penguins’ current fish famine so he sets out on an extraordinary journey with his new compadres to help bring food back to his community. The film reaches its climax when Mumble comes face to face with the cause of the food shortage “aliens” as they call them, otherwise known as humans. This is a very educational film, fun to watch and really puts the way our world has become so dependent on animals and the effects that will have on earth and the creatures that live on our earth in later years. It has fantastic dialogue and is very easy to follow for visually impaired and sighted alike. I fell in love with Happy Feet; I even danced my way out of the theatre with my two little nieces! I’m sure it will have you dancing too!
-
(Warner Bros.)
-
Voices by: Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Britney Murphy and Hugo Weaving
-
Rated: PG
-
Running Time: 108 mins
-
This film is currently available in MoPix descriptions.
Posted in [Comedy Reviews, Family Film Reviews]
- 25/September/2006 [12:49 PM] -- Aurora Borealis
Every year a movie comes out that I feel the need to see again and again, for me it is usually a small independent film about love, loss and coming of age. Last year I fell in love with Garden State this year I fell in love with Aurora Borealis. This film really has it all, a touching script, heart-felt award worthy performances and the wonderful wintry setting of Minneapolis. Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, The Skulls) plays Duncan Shorter becoming an outstanding leading man with his sensitive and charismatic performance. Duncan is a charming 25 year old man who has seemed to have lost his way in life. Never coming to terms with the death of his father who died ten years ago, Duncan is hesitant to find out the truth about how this tragedy happened. He hangs out with his friends, watches sports, plays hockey, and drifts through life with no real sense of purpose. During a visit to his grandparents home at their senior residence, Duncan is offered a handyman job and takes it to be closer to his grandfather, Ronald Shorter (Donald Sutherland, Pride & Prejudice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Donald Sutherland gave a phenomenal and heartbreaking performance that made you want to laugh and cry simultaneously. If it doesn’t win him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor this year, I will be very disappointed. Ronald and Duncan form a close bond because of the support they give one another. Ronald also plays matchmaker by encouraging Duncan’s relationship with Kate the always Oscar worthy Juliette Lewis (The Other Sister, Kalifornia), a free spirited care-giver who is assigned as a home assistant to Ronald. Ruth (Louise Fletcher, ER), Duncan’s grandmother, also welcomes his visits because she sees how happy Ronald is just having Duncan around. Kate shines light and paints color into Duncan’s life, both have a wacky sense of humor; they are insanely attracted to one another and give each other exactly what the other is lacking in life. However, Kate is a full of life and adventure traveling from town to town and Duncan is very reluctant of anything outside his secure walls of Minneapolis. Jackson and Lewis have amazingly sweet chemistry, we find ourselves rooting for them every step of the way. Aurora Borealis is my pick this year for being that one exceptional independent film where all the film-making elements come together and are molded into cinematic brilliance. Technically the film is composed into complete excellence but the way this movie makes you feel, is what stays with you for hours after you leave the theatre. It is a film about loving, living and humankind. Several times during the film I even wanted to reach out and hug each one of these well crafted characters. It even has a perfectly fitting title “Aurora Borealis” meaning “The Northern Lights” and in the words of Ronald Shorter you too begin to wish for beautiful lights, whether others see them or not, to help you face the critical phases of your own personal journey. This film is not available in MoPix but with the wonderful non-stop dialogue you will not need it. So go see it now! What are you still doing here? Seriously, stop reading this; put down whatever you are doing and go see this movie, I assure you, you will not be disappointed!
- (Regent Releasing)
- Starring: Joshua Jackson, Juliette Lewis, Donald Sutherland, Louise Fletcher and Steven Pasquale
- Rated: R
- Running Time: 110 mins
- This film is currently not available in MoPix
Posted in [Drama Reviews, Comedy Reviews]
Go to « Previous |
Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2005 Draconis Entertainment
|
 |
