Todd Phillips’ The Hangover (B+) is vulgar, audacious and altogether winning. Pairing Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis in a hybrid comedy/mystery, the film follows a gang of groomsmen who must piece together what happened the previous night in a debaucherous Vegas bachelor party where the groom mysteriously disappeared. The episodic antics and misadventures of the so-called “Wolfpack” keep upping the ante, and dark hilarity ensues. These hedonistic Hardy Boys are best when displaying their vulnerabilities, with escalating levels of haplessness. The humor and highjinks add up to a delightful entertainment.
Tag Archives: Comedy
“Up in the Air” Captures Unease and Humor in Era of Layoff Culture
In Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air (A+), George Clooney gets his perfect role: a bit of a Br’er Rabbit of the friendly skies. As a job axman on the frequent flier circuit, he falls to earth when paired with spunky Anna Kendrick and affaired with sultry Vera Farmiga. It’s an acerbic, moving film that flawlessly captures the tone of a nation in economic recovery.
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” Another Late-Career Woody Allen Hit
Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona (B+) is the latest in the writer/director’s European travelogue in which a Spaniard (Javier Bardem) proposes a three-way to two lovely travelers (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson), and then they all encounter his former wife (Penélope Cruz). Alternately ambiguous and enchanting, the film is full of comedy and rich characters, with everyone at the top of their game.
“Stardust” a Fun and Frisky Fairy Tale Geared to Adults
Matthew Vaughn’s Stardust (B+) is a whimsical adventure in the tradition of The Princess Bride. Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Robert DeNiro are standouts in this fantasy about getting over the walls that block our way to our dreams. Witches, pirates, unicorns, voodoo dolls and so much more are part of the journey ahead. This is a pleasant surprise of a movie that nobody seemed to see in theatres but that has enchanted folks who have seen it.
“Knocked Up” Blends the Profane and the Poignant
Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up (B+) pairs schlubby slacker Seth Rogen and career-minded Katherine Heigl as participants in a one-night stand who are now parents-to-be. It’s a modern-day comedy about reverse courtship as the parallel notion of falling in love while expecting a baby brings out the best and worst of all involved. Apatow’s writing style is taboo-smashing; and while he sometimes could use a self-editor, what he gets right, he gets really right in this fresh comedy.
Flashback Review: “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) is a Sassy Clash of the Sartorial Titans
Starting a new job can be savage. Based on Lauren Weisberger’s popular roman à clef, David Frankel’s workplace comedy The Devil Wears Prada (B+) follows aspiring journalist Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) as she embarks on a demanding assistant gig to magazine fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), a character modeled after Vogue‘s Anna Wintour. The movie works as canny cringe as the air quickly seeps out of the plucky protagonist’s naive career expectations. It equally balances starry-eyed wonder as characters from all backgrounds provide a glimpse into the machinations of a fantastical world of jet-setting fashion. For Hathaway’s character, it’s a relatable coming of age story in a high-pressure environment, and the actress nails the role with winning grace. And for Streep, it’s a scenery-skewering chance to flex wicked witch vibes with a simple sizing-up or dressing-down. She says as much in her stunned silence as in her iconic snappy dialogue, and it’s simply a marvelous performance from an actress who has nothing left to prove. Buoyed by supporting turns by Emily Blunt as a bratty cubicle colleague and Stanley Tucci as a terse journeyman, the film discovers great fun as the wide-eyed young woman in the big city drinks from the fire hose of a wily watercooler without losing her integrity.
“Borat” Movie Outreageous and Funny
Larry Charles’ Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (A-) is a splendidly offensive mockumentary comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen as a vaguely Kazakh TV personality on a cross-country trip to showcase life in America and possibly to find and woo pop icon Pamela Anderson. An innocent abroad for the gross-out generation, Cohen’s character fuses Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers and the cast of Jackass in one singular vulgariate. Cohen’s fish-out-of-water schtick turns a shrewd satiric eye to global poltics, gender roles and sociological mores within an efficient laugh-fest. Director Charles knows just how far to push the madness, and then pushes it even a little more.
Pixar’s “Incredibles” Lives Up to Name
Building on a legacy that includes anthropomorphic toys, fish and cars, Brad Bird’s entry into the Pixar universe, The Incredibles (B-) is one of the first to feature human protagonists. Like The Flintstones or The Jetsons, this animated situational comedy features a one-of-a-kind family. Because The Incredibles are all undercover superheroes, there’s a fun dichotomy between domestic bliss and all-out adventure. It’s all pretty fantastical but a touch forgettable, even with all the clever flourishes. Bird includes some deft touches and nostalgic homages, but ultimately I hoped this one would leap more tall buildings with a single bound.
“Mean Girls” the Teen Comedy Sensation of 2004
Mark Waters’s Mean Girls (B+) is a hilarious sociological comedy about the class warfare teenage girls inflict on each other in high school. Lindsay Lohan is a delight as a teenager returning to America after living overseas until her junior year, and she is now exposed to the modern-day Heathers played by Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacy Chabert. Infiltration of the cool crowd leads to dire consequences as the group lives and learns the Queen Bee mentality. Some jokes may hit too close to home for some, but this is a comedy that delivers.
Père Noël is a Ne’er-do-well in “Bad Santa”
Père Noël is a ne’er-do-well in Terry Swigoff’s hilarious dark comedy Bad Santa (B+) in which Billy Bob Thornton plays the titular patron saint of the holidays as a drunk, foul-mouthed scoundrel and thief using his department store appearances as a front for his crimes. Lauren Graham, Tony Cox, John Ritter and Bernie Mac are among a winning ensemble trying to find the Merry in this Father Christmas. Swigoff balances physical comedy and wit to pull off his delicate comedy. It’s an outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny experience for those seeking an irreverent and ultimately heartwarming take on finding the diamond in a lump of coal.
“Finding Nemo” an Animated Breakthrough
Andrew Stanton’s Finding Nemo (A-) is a computer-generated treasure trove of aquatic animation featuring a winning school of voice talent including Albert Brooks as a cantankerous clownfish and Ellen DeGeneres as the forgetful regal tang named Dory. The story centers around losing your community and finding it again and sweeps the viewers along an amazing journey through the world’s oceans. Like the best Pixar films, the humor is double-edged so adults and kids can both enjoy immensely. The faces on fishes obey the rules of film school, so you can truly follow their dramatic and comedic interactions. It’s an epic adventure to cherish.
“Camp” is Great Fun with Theatre Kids in Spotlight
Todd Graff’s Camp (B) is a joyous ode to growing up, making friends and finding your voice. Set at a summer camp for kids who want to be Broadway stars, there is enough backstage drama to fill the great white wilderness as the teens overcome their outcast status and find themselves center stage in their own follies, foibles and friendships. Graff draws out charming performances from newcomers Daniel Letterle, Robin de Jesus and Anna Kendrick, the latter belting out a very memorable and angry “Ladies Who Lunch.” The title’s play on words might imply a film high on kitsch, but it’s actually high on sweetness and coming of age. Showtune fans will rejoice at some unexpected songs and a star cameo. It’s Meatballs for maestros.