Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. not only spoof Hollywood war movies, but also the whole Hollywood system. For starters, Robert Downey Jr. plays an esteemed Australian method actor who dyes his skin in order to play an African-American captain in the movie. When it looks like the production is in jeopardy, the director decides he needs to get the best out of his cast. He brings them out into the jungle and has them find their own way home. The actors are under the impression that everyone is in on the movie, when in actuality their lives are on the line. It took a little time for this movie to grow on me, but the movie just kept getting funnier. I think a second viewing would only illuminate more amusing pleasures. Tom Cruise like you have never seen him before has a small, but hilarious role as the head of the studio. This is a very big….very silly movie….so give it a spin and have a laugh!

“Pick it Up"

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Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda: I think the title of the film pretty much sums up what the movie is about. Jack Black voices Po, a panda that dreams of becoming the dragon master of Kung Fu. When an open Kung Fu competition finally arrives, he idiotically ends up as “the chosen one”. Did the grand master make a mistake or is this really Po’s destiny? This really is a Jack Black movie, the character was written with him in mind. He supplies enough humor for this film to be enjoyed by older and younger viewers alike. Yes the movie is funny, but it also is action packed. The animation and sound effects during the action scenes are a big highlight. The plot is about as simple as it can get, but the movie never tries to be that serious – it knows what it is = A fun spin for everyone!

“Pick it Up”

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Get Smart

Get Smart…..better yet: Get bored, really bored! Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway star in the big screen version of the 1970’s hit TV show. Carell plays Maxwell Smart who is promoted to “agent” and is needed immediately to help solve an internal crime at the agency. He is partnered with Agent 99 (Hathaway) to try to find out how vital information about the agents and their identities was stolen. Maybe it is because we have seen the “silly detective partnered with a more skilled partner” scenario so much, but the humor just came off as stale. The irony being that it was the original TV show that inspired a lot of knockoffs throughout the years that in return hurt this film’s originality. I was really hoping for some funny moments from Carell, but the majority of the laughs supplied were of the slight chuckle variety, although I did have a laugh during the film's main dance sequence. Meanwhile, the action portion of the movie tried too hard. I was actually annoyed by having surround sound at this point. All of this added up to a big yawn.

“Kick it to the Floor”

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v Pooped!!.............................

The Happening

The Happening: Oh, I see what is “Happening” here – M. Night Shyamalan makes another terrible movie….this guy is on a roll!! Mark Wahlberg stars as a high school science teacher, who along with his wife tries to flee the Philadelphia area because of a strange outbreak that is occurring outdoors. Strange might not be the right word – the outbreak causes people to stop what they are doing and then in a trance like motion kill themselves by any means possible. Nobody is sure why this is happening, but it seems to start in heavily populated areas and in parks. Our heroic science teacher latches on to the theory that it is the plants and trees fighting back against the human population. Wahlberg adds some humor to the film as he plays his character in a very corny way and his line delivery is comical. The movie is not very scary or eerie or suspenseful…….what it is -- is crappy.

“Kick it to the Floor” ….. "Then stomp on it”

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Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: When you see the declaration of "From the guys who brought you The-40-Year-Old-Virgin and Knocked Up”, you expect a movie with a lot of laughs. Sarah Marshall has plenty of laughs, but I would say it is the closest of the three films to being a full fledged romantic comedy. When Sarah Marshall (a TV Actress) breaks up with her boyfriend Peter (a music composer) for another well know celebrity, Peter is devastated. He decides to get away from it all and take a vacation in Hawaii – problem is Sarah Marshall along with her new boyfriend are staying at the same resort. Although the plot is not all that original, the characters and the situations they get into are. You can expect some outrageous comedic moments including seeing Peter’s peter on more than one occasion. The end of the film can not escape the “crappy-romantic-comedy-ending” syndrome, but the film as a whole is worth a spin.
“Pick it up”

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