I love you man

Starring Paul (finally getting his due) Rudd,Jason (underrated)Segal

Believe it or not, I don't quite know what to say about this movie.My problem is that I would generally prefer to go into a movie with low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than to head off with such fantastic reviews already backing what looks like an instant classic and frankly come out ambiguous.I don't think I've seen one bad review for this flick and actually, they were all rather glowing in their praise.This excited me,as I have been a Paul Rudd fan for more than a dozen years and have been touting him as a lead actor all this while.So to finally step out last year with ROLE MODELS and at long last be recognized as a leading comic performer,I was actually giddy with anticipation for this new one.
Don'T get me wrong, this was a funny movie,I just felt it missed some obvious opportunities.Well, obvious to me anyways.Missed step #1,Jane Curtain was cast as Rudd's mother in this one and as such is also mother to Andy Samberg.The obvious (to me)connection being that Curtain is one of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players and Samberg is a current cast member on S.N.L and I don't think they shared two words of dialogue on screen.Nor was Curtain used to her abilities in the slightest.With decades of hit shows under her belt i.e S.N.L, Kate & Allie and 3rd Rock From The Sun, I thought it odd that she didn't get a single funny line of dialogue.
Perhaps I'm dwelling too much on the notes in my brain.Back to the movie...Rashida Jones deserves special mention here for basically having the role of the straight person amidst all of the wacky characters.She holds her own and looks good doing so.Segal too is in fine form and has carved out a nice little niche for himself in this particular genre of offbeat relationship comedies.
I suppose I liked it well enough to recommend and maybe I'm wrong,but everyone Ive talked to is saying that this was better than Role Models.Its a rather unfair comparison really,but I would actually rank them the other way around.For the sheer amount of belly laughs between the two,I Love You Man comes in a distant second.
Other worthwhile notes here, include a fairly rare and awesome appearance from a certain legendary Canadian band.Not to mention a fairly subdued,yet effectively mean spirited turn from the iron man himself Jon Favreau.As I said before, I actually do recommend this one, despite an awkward take from my point of view.

Rating: 2 1/2 Bass slaps outta 5

ZERO PRIDE IN LIVE MUSIC

I was watching Jimmy Kimmel live last night and caught a performance by MstrKrft featuring N.O.R.E and Isis.N.O.R.E is a rapper and not typically associated with the group he was performing with last night,but the trouble is,they happen to have a hit on their hands.I don't know if N.O.R.E is bothered by this or not but given his absolutely appalling performance, I think that may indeed be the case.You see folks,this "performer" was doing his thing on stage and through out the song he would periodically check his phone for texts and not only that,I'm pretty sure he was actually answering them as well.It got to the point where he even messed up a line in the song and came in too late because of the distraction.Let's just say that for the benefit of the doubt that he absolutely had to take those messages on account of a possible emergency i.e a pending birth,hostage negotiations,or perhaps even a bitter break up.Now take into consideration the element of the live performance on network television,add the two together and somethings gotta give.
This was most likely simple self indulgence and a general disdain for the audience on the part of the "performer".The lack of professionalism exhibited was sad and frustrating for me,being as that I am trying desperately to break into the entertainment world myself and would never in a million years go into an audition and start texting in the middle of it,let alone during an actual paid performance.
Jimmy Kimmel himself made mention of the act in his end of show thank yous and good nights and that's when I realized I wasn't alone in my disgust.
If and when MstrKrft do any more talk shows to promote that song,you can bet that the featured rapper will be left at home.
For more on this ridiculous performance,feel free to look it up on you tube under Jimmy Kimmel mstrkrft and see for yourself what the industry is slowly descending into.

The Watchmen

Starring the Silver Surfer's cousin,Batman's cousin,Xena's cousin and Darkman's cousin.

Coming in at a whopping and unnecessary 2 hours and 45 minutes I suppose some people are thankful that this one took its time in explaining the back-round to every single hero involved while trying to simultaneously tell a story.I for one had no clue that this was even a comic or dark novel or what ever you wanna call it until I saw a preview for the film last year.Being a fan of the directors version a while back of the remake of the Dawn of the dead, I decided to give this one a go.
Graphic novel is right!This movie had more frontal male nudity than a Harvey Keitel movie marathon.It actually became funny after the 5th or 6th time and soon became a running joke amongst the movie goers.Briefly, while on that topic of movie goers, I have to announce a new record for ignorance, set by a slovenly dressed fellow that came into the movie 1 whole hour after it had started and with a tray of nachos of course.He sits in front of me and chews said chips with no inclination to close his mouth while chewing and during some of the quietest and most poignant parts of the story.He then takes a phone call as his ringer blasts away while he walks outside to take the call, and then to top it all off, he sends a text upon sitting back down with his phone glowing brightly.That was about all I could take and I simply uttered "are you f@$*ing kidding me?" He closed the phone and sat still for the remainder of the film.
O.K back to the movie.This one had me wondering about our ratings system on account of the commercials and previews.I certainly hope that parents don't see the D.C comics logo and assume that this super hero story would be a good one to take the kids to, because I can assure you it is not.Boasting a record amount of disturbing kills scenes (some of which involving innocent people) this comic adaptation is a bit much at times.No one is spared here, from pregnant women to dogs, everyone seems to get shot or cut up or at the very least,disfigured here.And the terrible part is that its the "good" guys that are doing all the killing and maiming in the story.
Supposing you are a fan of the story and already know all of this,then perhaps this ones for you.But as an outside observer I found it rather ignorant and malicious.
Style points on the other hand are through the roof here.There are some wonderful shots and sequences and inventive camera work from beginning to end.That being said,I have to admit that because it was so beautifully photographed in parts that I found myself eyebrows raised and enjoying some moments here and there.
With a conflicted admiration for the movie I'm going to say that if you don't mind some heavy and hard to watch violence and the odd dozen or so scenes featuring the blue man groups wiener then this ones for you.

Rating 2 1/2 exploding people out of 5

Pink Panther 2

Starring Steve Martin, John Cleese, Jean Reno

Fresh of the heels of seeing the worst performance ever by an actor (Chris Klein) in Street Fighter, I was looking forward to some intentional laughs with this one, and for the most part, I got them.To be honest, I had only expected a few laughs here and was anticipating the now infamous hamburger routine born in the first installment.I was more than pleased that the laughs were peppered through out the film and it had way more chuckles than I had expected.
Also duly notable is the fantastic cast that Martin has surrounded himself with, from John Cleese ,Jean Reno,Andy Garcia,Alfred Molina to the fantastic Lilly Tomlin (in a subdued but spot on roll) this group really seemed at ease with each other and more than content to play second banana to Martins Clouseau.
It became obvious from the onset that the cast did not do this for the pay but rather in an Oceans eleven sort of manner came together to work for roughly 20 of percent their normal rate simply for the chance to work with Martin and Cleese and who can blame them.
The plot here is moot,but the journey and laughs along the way are what is key.Martins impeccable timing and delivery really shine through the goofy exterior of the film and keep things moving along nicely.I was pleasantly surprised with this one and to be clear here, its nowhere near the legend making material of the Sellers franchise but in its own right it does just fine.

Rating: 3 Embergerrs out of 5