Change Your Image
LafferDude323
Reviews
Bruce Almighty (2003)
He's BACK!!!
(minor spoilers)
After wasting away in dramas and family comedies, Jim Carrey has returned to the form that made him a star in Ace Ventura. He reunites with director Tom Shadyac of "Ace" and "Liar Liar" fame, and tops off everything he's ever done. His physical and vocal humor as the best it has been in years and it is great to see he hasn't lost it yet.
Carrey gets some help from an unlikely comedic partner in Morgan Freeman, who hasn't been in many comedies (in fact, this may only be his second). But Freeman plays both serious and funny, and makes God both believable and watchable (he even throws in an "Alrighty then"). Jennifer Aniston is wasted, but then again, she has never been more than just a pretty face reading lines, even on Friends (and I like Friends). The male news anchor had one funny bit, and had the also beautiful Catherine Bell along for a few scenes. The special effects work for humor, and the dog is hilarious, too.
Stay for the credits for some nice outtakes, too. Awesome movie.
The Music Man (2003)
Trouble with a capital T, which rhymes with B, which stands for...Bueller?
The Music Man, at least the 1962 film, was my favorite musical film growing up and I was somewhat excited to see it done a new way.
However, what I saw was nothing more than a adaptation of the original play, complete with all of the blandness. Matthew Broderick, everyone's favorite class-cutter from the 1980s, does not make a good Harold Hill. I would rather have seen Steve Martin in the role, or even Robin Williams. But I'm guessing they saw a dud in the making and wisely backed out. This Hill was much more youthful than the one played by Robert Preston, similar to the Hill played by Eric McCormack on Broadway, and was thus not believable. But those who never saw the original won't notice that.
Other things gone wrong...there was a great lack of continuity between night and day, especially at the end, dates were changed around, and certain lines and singing solos were moved around and made to look strange - like how did Amaryllis get maple sugar on her birthday? That almost reminds me of my high school production of this show. And when did the school board turn into a boy band? These are supposed to be mature businessmen married to the Pick-a-Little Ladies, who here are old enough to be their mothers, but at least they sing better than those boy bands.
Other performances were weak, like Victor Garber and Molly Shannon as the Shinns. Garber played the role too seriously, where the Mayor is supposed to stumble on words and make up strange "phrasology". Shannon is a comic actress and I expected so much from her but didn't see it. Charlie Cowell seemed too soft, and Mrs. Paroo seemed to lose her Irish accent.
There were some bright spots, like Kristin Chenoweth, a virtual unknown to Hollywood but a Broadway mainstay, who brings a lot of life into Marian and does the job as well as any other Marian I've seen. Winthrop and Amaryllis were also good, as was Marcellus, though David Arron Baker doesn't compare to Buddy Hackett. Hackett gave a unique flavor to the character in 1962 that nobody can duplicate.
I did like some of the new choreography and location selections, such as the use of classrooms, an actual pool table, and an ice cream parlor for the "Ice Cream" segment with the quartet. There is, however, only so far you can go, and some of the dancing numbers seemed to drag on and on.
All in all, this is a somewhat mediocre remake, with its ups and downs, but will never compare to the 1962 Robert Preston classic. See that one first, than make the comparison.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
What?
It's a real shame I have to put in the first truly negative review, because this has to be THE most overrated film of all time. It was cute when I was 9, but I'm all grown up now.
The acting and singing are really lame, and the fact Menken and Ashman, who created the classic music for Little Shop of Horrors would stoop this low is beyond me. This isn't even the first of the new classics, wither - that honor belongs to Oliver and Company, which is better, certainly underrated.
The only things that comes remotely close to saving this movie is Buddy Hackett as the bird. But he couldn't save this waste of 82 minutes.
Bottom Line: Unless you're under the age of 12, AVOID this movie at all costs. Otherwise, you will have that haunting reggae melody in your head for days, and it will drive you insane!
Wild Things (1998)
Strange, but good
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
This has to be one of the strangest movies ever. I had to watch it a few times to figure out exactly what was going on. But I guess that's the idea - it keeps you watching.
The plot twists are captivating and will keep you interested. The acting is not that bad, either. Kevin Bacon is his usual self, and Neve Campbell turns in one of her better performances (which isn't saying a whole lot). However, Campbell (who normally looks good on-screen) is not very attractive in this movie (until the end, at least), partly because she's portraying a Goth-like outcast, but mostly because she's starring opposite the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Denise Richards, who I might add, was not nearly as "shy" (guys take note).
But the best actor in this movie is the legendary Bill Murray, who steals the show early on which his usual brand of humor, and has always been a favorite of mine.
This movie will never be a classic, but it was good enough for me to keep on tape. ***1/2
Will & Grace (1998)
Dis-Grace-ful
This is the only sitcom I've ever watched that failed to make me laugh even once. I can't understand why it is still on the air, much less in a time slot that has been graced (no pun intended here) by the great Cheers, Seinfeld, and for a while, Frasier, which was bumped to Tuesday to make way for this clunker. The actors are trying their hardest, but they are trying way too hard. Jack and Karen are EXTREMELY annoying and unfunny, and Will and Grace are too boring. The writing is good, but it's hard to notice that. This show is stereotypical and somewhat offensive, and it is surprising the show has lasted this long. It's a shame that networks get rid of many good shows but keep this one.
The Chris Wylde Show Starring Chris Wylde (2001)
Better than the original.
This show has come a long way from the original version he did in college. Notwithstanding the obvious improvements of Comedy Central over American University's ATV, the show also has better jokes, better comedy bits, and even a pretty cool live band. The AU show was OK, but nothing special. This show is decent, and underrated. Good for a few laughs before going back to work or school.
Movie Stars (1999)
Not that bad.
This show gets way too much flak. Sure, it is without a doubt inferior to sitcoms such as Friends, Seinfeld, and Drew Carey (to name a few), but with those shows in reruns (or finished) during the summer, having this show kept TV alive.
The concept alone made this show decent. While the bulk of people dislike the constant name-droppings and the appearances of Stallone, Swayze, and Travolta (that's Frank, Don, and Joey), I thought that was rather funny.
The acting wasn't anything special, with some exceptions. Harry Hamlin, an established dramatic actor, surprisingly comes off very funny. And Anne Haney's grandmother character was always around to be the wisecracker (for season 1; I was disappointed they didn't bring her back for season 2). Then, of course, there's the beautiful Marnette Patterson, whose air-headed daughter character was actually quite charming (just don't look for her to be on Dawson's Creek anytime soon - not that that's a bad thing).
I didn't catch every episode, but I wish I had.
The Godson (1998)
Disappointing
It's no wonder Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect. The Godson was a very bad opportunity for Dangerfield to show his comedic talents. And Dom DeLuise is essentially reprising his role from Robin Hood: Men in Tights, but with a different silly Godfather name. Unfortunately for DeLuise, what worked for a few minutes in one film doesn't work well for an entire movie. And Dangerfield and DeLuise don't even get much airtime behind the Kid in the Hall. The rest of the cast is virtually unknown, save an amusing cameo by Joey Buttafuoco. I love spoofs, but this one doesn't cut it.