Land of the Lost is a classic Saturday morning show from the 1970's. Unless you're in your early 40's, you probably don't know much about the original series. Speaking as someone who, as a child, watched this show each weekend, I can say it was about as cool as Saturday morning shows got. Well, Super Friends and Dr. Shrinker were pretty dang cool as well - but this series really stood out.

This remake isn't just disappointing, it is an abomination. I don't say this because the cast and crew mishandled reviving the show. They did, but the poor quality of the movie isn't it's biggest issue. These dishonorable louts, being dishonorable, didn't have the sense to refrain from using swearing and drug and sex references. Yes, they are remaking a series remembered by middle-aged folk. How many of these middle-aged folks took their children to this film assuming it wouldn't be littered with the low-brow and disgusting?

I used to be a Will Ferrell fan. I've quoted my Geddy Lee lovin' brother-in-law's description of the man - he is a one trick pony, but it is one heckuva trick. That trick has expired. Anyone willing to make a movie obviously geared to children and include the jokes displayed here is not worthy of conducting himself on a public stage.

Putting aside the irresponsible aspects of the movie, which is a little like putting aside the topic of heat when talking about the Sun, the production is still a loss. It fails to find the adventurous spirit of the original series, it fails to produce any laughs and the dialog is simple. Even if they had left the crud out, it still would not be worth wasting your time on.




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Labels: Anna Friel, Danny McBride, film, movie review, Will Ferrell

Short Review: Seriously, who doesn't love watching middle-aged people hook up? What's more exciting than witnessing a couple of soulless corporate hacks who have wasted their lives on burying their personal woes under heaps of work and travel? That's what the world needs, a movie about a budding romance between the upwardly pathetic.




I think its fitting that this film was nominated for an impressive six Oscars but didn't get any of them. That pretty much sums up the experience of watching the film. Its almost really good.

There is plenty going for the movie. George Clooney gives a notable performance, in particular in relation to his other films as of late. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner penned a well meaning script and Reitman turned in another strong film.

The problem?

Who cares?

That's a big problem.

Reitman has a great voice and knows how to craft full characters. As it turns out, his main character is his downfall. Clooney is well cast as Ryan Bingham, a high-class corporate consultant who fires people for a living. He flies from one job to the next, ruining other people's lives. His job has also ruined his. Aging and seeing himself slowly becoming obsolete himself, Bingham casually strolls through his mid-life crisis.

A man adrift can be an interesting character study and Bingham certainly has points about him that make him an attractive lead. Bingham's freedom is shown to be his flaw. He can go anywhere but he has nowhere to return when he's through. It may be poetic but it is terribly boring to watch.

Bingham doesn't have anything holding him down so in turn he has nothing to lose. The audience has little to invest in, other than a polite "I hope he does well." When the final credits roll we are no closer to the character than when we walked in. We know more about him, but there is no depth, no growth for us to ponder. Ultimately, he's just a loser in a fine suit.

This is not a film you should avoid at all costs. There are many moments that make it a worthwhile watch. I would recommend this if you have an urge to see it. If you're a Clooney fan for example. Otherwise, there are plenty of superior films out there you haven't seen. Go find one.





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Labels: Anna Kendrick, Danny McBride, film, George Clooney, Jason Bateman, JK Simmons, movie review, Sam Elliott, Vera Farmiga

Telling me Russell Brand is part of the cast isn't doing yourself favors. I think films should advertise when he's not involved.

This trailer isn't doing too much. So, this is a knockoff of Spy vs. Spy in 3d? The ad doesn't give any reason to see the movie. Their selling point is that Steve Carell is providing his voice to the production. The least they could have done is insert a laugh or two into the pitch.

Perhaps there is more to the movie, but no one will know watching this trailer.








Screenwriters: Ken Daurio (Horton Hears a Who!) and Cinco Paul (The Santa Clause 2)
Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud and Sergio Pablos
Actors: Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music), Ken Jeong (The Hangover), Jason Segel (I Love You, Man), Steve Carell (Get Smart), Kristen Wiig (Extract), Will Arnett (Blades of Glory), Danny McBride (The Fist Foot Way) and Miranda Cosgrove

Labels: Danny McBride, film, Julie Andrews, Ken Jeong, Kristen Wiig, movie trailer, Steve Carell, Will Arnett

Screenwriters: Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) and Sheldon Turner (The Longest Yard)
Director: Jason Reitman (Juno)
Actors: George Clooney (Michael Clayton), Vera Farmiga (The Departed), Anna Kendrick (Twilight), Jason Bateman (Extract), J.K. Simmons (The Ladykillers), Sam Elliott (We Were Soldiers) and Danny McBride (The Fist Foot Way)

Labels: Anna Kendrick, Danny McBride, film, George Clooney, Jason Bateman, JK Simmons, movie trailer, Sam Elliott, Vera Farmiga

Seth Rogen has cut out a niche for himself. As he did with Knocked Up, he portrays a stumbling loser who is completely amoral and emotionally stagnant. He’s a lovable loser however because he knows he’s a lost cause and is able to find humor in his pathetic existence. Actually, his character in this film, Dale Denton, is almost exactly like his character Ben Stone from Knocked Up with the only exception is that he’s just a little more pathetic this time around. Dale is a bumbling part time process server, fulltime pothead. He has a lousy job, wastes his time smoking dope and hangs out with his girlfriend who is still in high school, he’s much older. After buying a new brand of pot that has hit town called Pineapple Express from his wheezing pot dealer Saul (James Franco) Dale witnesses local drug kingpin Ted (Gary Cole) murder a competitor. Dale and Saul spend the rest of the film being chased by Ted’s thugs. Essentially, this production attempts to combine a pot comedy like Up in Smoke or Half-Baked with the simple structured comedic action-adventure film like Hot Fuzz or The Blues Brothers. The combination is possible to pull off, but in this case it fails.

The film fails because it’s just not very funny. It is amusing in spots, but the script and performances lack any life. For most of the film there’s sarcastic interaction in place of wit, buttressed by sophomoric physical humor. Screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad) avoid mining any humor from their scenes and stick to offering awkward juxtapositions instead. Everyone in the film is a softy, concerned about being friendly and not having their feelings hurt. Drug dealers are openly worried whether people like them or not. Hired killers complain they’re not spending enough time with their family. Characters capable of ruthlessly shooting people are easy to get misty eyed over insensitive remarks. These character contrasts are played over and over until they become wearisome. The entire cast literally acts like eleven year old boys deciding they’re going to be friends. While this may be amusing at first, it quickly loses its edge and it becomes clear Rogen and Goldberg don’t have any other tricks up their sleeve.

The final act of the film is a complete mess thanks to a lack of consistency. The final act revolves around a prolonged gunfight. This battle is rather violent. Is it way over the top, ala Tarantino? No, there isn’t too much here most audiences haven’t seen before. The issue with the final fight sequence is that it is starkly different from the previous portions of the film. There was violence in the first acts but the overall tone of the movie was still lighthearted and the violence was displayed within that frame. The final act removes the humor and tries to portray itself as a full out action movie. Director David Gordon Green mishandles this transformation and ends up delivering a nonsensical flurry of guns and death. Given the half-man losers he has as his heroes, this transformation is also lacking any logic. You can't say the hero is a pothead dolt who is sent into a panic because he’s scared of being a dark woods alone and then have him magically discover the internal fortitude to single-handily attack a gang of drug runners. It doesn’t work.

To sum up, if you are lacking any standards and pretty much thoughtlessly consume whatever comes down the pipe, you’ll probably enjoy yourself with this film. If you’re a little more discerning, say by wanting actual jokes or at least something clever, you’re out of luck. This is a very predictable and unoriginal film. Yes, there’s not that many pothead action films out there, but you’ve seen these characters and situations under different name a hundred times before.



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Labels: comedy, Danny McBride, drugs, film, Gary Cole, James Franco, movie review, Seth Rogen

Labels: comedy, Danny McBride, film, movie review