Category Archives: Comedy

You, Me and Dupree (2006)

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Dupree

You, Me and Dupree

A best man (Wilson) stays on as a houseguest with the newlyweds, much to the couple’s annoyance.


I actually liked this movie more than I expected to. I did find it distracting knowing that while Carl (Matt Dillon) was suspecting Dupree (Owen Wilson) of moving in on his wife (Kate Hudson), that is exactly what Wilson was doing. It was just Hudson’s real life marriage that was sabotaged. Really wish I could have put that out of my head.

Light, inconsequential fare – humorous enough for an evening at home. A bit too many sexual situations for me to recommend it to a large portion of my circle, but goofy enough to recommend it to the others.

Here is a piece of a review especially for D

And Kate Hudson does wear a swimsuit and heels quite well. But as far as a recommendation as theater viewing? Nah. This’ll keep just fine until it comes out on DVD…wait for it to hit there.

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 21%; Audience 59%

Friends With Money (2006)

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Friends With Money

A drama about three married women, their husbands, and their lone single friend.

This movie is every bit as exciting as that tagline makes it sound – yawn

I found this review by Tony Medley that sums it up nicely, though the film apparently kept his attention more than it did mine. Besides the criticisms he mentions, I found the story to be tedious, boring, monotonous, characterless, cloying, colorless, drab, dull, humdrum, insipid, prosaic, routine, spiritless, stale, stereotyped, stupid, tiresome, trite, unexciting, vapid…..

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 71%; Audience 37%

Rumor Has It (2005)

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Rumor Has It

Rumor Has It

Sarah Huttington, recently engaged, goes home to Pasadena with fiance Jeff for a family wedding. She hears a rumor that “The Graduate” (book and movie) are based on her family. Did her grandmother and her mom have flings with the same man just before her parents married?

Silly little chick flick. Well cast, from Shirley MacLaine as the battle-axe grandmother to Mena Suvari as the simpering, spoiled sister. Kevin Costner, one of my least favorite actors is fine here. Since his character is required to be basically flat and without emotion, he is an ideal choice. Mark Ruffalo as the sweet, slubby fiance, Jennifer Aniston as the neurotic mess of a heroine….

I found it hard to get past the idea of a mother & daughter sleeping with the same man, and harder still when the granddaughter joins the line. Eww, just ewwwww! The general message of the movie, though, is sweet. Love isn’t like the movies, love is like life. Much as Henry Fonda said in this quote.

Tepid comedy [that] almost screams ‘just wait for video.’ ~ Full Review

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 20%; Audience 51%

RV (2006)

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RV

RV

Bob Munro and his dysfunctional family rent an RV for a road trip to the Colorado Rockies, where they ultimately have to contend with a bizarre community of campers.

I just found an old Star Magazine that had a review of RV just before it opened in the theaters. The money quote for me was, “when was the last time Robin Williams was in a movie that was funny?” This one certainly isn’t – if you are over the age of 10.

There were bright spots; Jeff Daniels & Kristin Chenoweth as the bizarre but big hearted Gornicke parents, JoJo as a typical teen, um…I guess that’s about it.

Potty humor and predictable slapstick with good production values.

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 24%; Audience 59%

Last Holiday (2006)

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Last Holiday

Last Holiday

“…when she learns she only has a few weeks left to live, Georgia gathers her money, quits her job, and flies to a swank European resort she’s always dreamed of visiting. Naturally, her new carelessness with money and fearless candor lead everyone around her–including her senator (Giancarlo Esposito, Do The Right Thing) and her former boss (Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People)–to think she’s a mover and shaker. Last Holiday unfolds the way you expect it to (dozens of movies and TV shows have similar plots), but Latifah and the capable cast keep it alive.” –Bret Fetzer

I wasn’t expecting much from this movie, though I had heard it was funny. I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining it was – though I would hesitate to call it a “good movie”. I would say it is what it claims to be, a fun little romp. It is also quite palatable for the whole family – not so chick-flicky that it would be hard for guys to sit through, not full of bad language or scenarios that would make it uncomfortable in mixed company.

Based on Word of Mouth Scale, I would recommend it to just about everyone in my circle.

A couple of silly complaints:

  • I think Queen Latifah has shown she has acting chops and she is well cast here, but if you are going to have her in your movie, find a way to get her to sing.
  • I don’t know how they would have gotten it into the script, but why have LL Cool J in your movie and not have him shirtless at least once?

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 55%; Audience 70%

The Matador (2005)

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The Matador

The Matador

A globetrotting hitman and a crestfallen businessman meet in a hotel bar in Mexico City in an encounter that draws them together in a way neither expected.

We thoroughly enjoyed this movie which casts Pierce Brosnan as the anti-Bond. Unsophisticated, completely lacking charm, on the questionable side of the law (he’s a hit man). Throw in Greg Kinnear as a slightly twerpy salesman grieving his dead son and you have a recipe for fun. No, seriously.

The Matador has some graphic bits that will keep me from recommending it to a couple of people. Most of my friends, though, should see it. Rent the DVD, make some Margaritas and settle in for some good fun.

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 76%; Audience 58%

Bewitched (2005)

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Bewitched

Thinking he can overshadow an unknown actress in the part, an egocentric actor unknowingly gets a witch cast in an upcoming television remake of the classic show “Bewitched”.

I just got done watching this crap, which I wanted to see since my friend worked on it and Lori & I visited the set.

Man did it suck!

I don’t think the casting was bad, though Steve Carrell was quite disappointing as Uncle Arthur (and I like Steve Carrell). Nicole Kidman is physically a great choice to play Samantha, Will Ferrell was fine, Michael Caine was charming – even Shirley MacClaine was tolerable.

Unfortunately the script was pathetic. Soooo, so bad. I had a feeling it might stink when I heard it was a Nora Ephron endeavor (in fact, I heard that when we were on set and let out an audible “Ech!” – oops) I figured she didn’t have the chops to pull it off and I was right. It was such a great show, with so many fun episodes to choose from – why they decided to try this tactic is beyond me. Movie in a movie is very tricky and rarely successful.

And the soundtrack – who picked these tunes? I mean, they were fine tunes and the CD may be great, but most were completely out of place and distracting in this movie.

UPDATE: Ouch
Production budget – $80,000,000
Total US Gross – $62,252,415

“Director Nora Ephron takes an imaginative idea and turns it into a flat, skill-less dud.” — Boo Allen

 

UPDATE: Seems that Reilly agrees, though she is perhaps not quite as vehement as I was.

Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 25%; Audience 34%

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