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Reviews
The Rifleman: Which Way'd They Go? (1963)
Worst. Episode. Ever.
I guess this was the producers' answer to The Beverly Hillbillies. No one should have asked the question. The Rifleman episode that barely features the Rifleman.
Mad About You: The Finale: Part 3 (1996)
You Can Tell Four Guys Wrote this Episode...
...and I say this as a guy.
We've been rewatching this series because we enjoyed it when it originally aired. Our ages and marriage span are perilously close to Jamie and Paul's, so it's very relatable. But rewatching this episode and the one that preceded it really bothered us this time around. Even though Paul pursued an affair (okay, he walked away before anything happened), it's never mentioned during their epic showdown in this finale. Jamie has to take the brunt of his abuse because a guy kissed her without an invitation, without Paul owning up to his behavior (or her even bringing it up). Then, after they apparently are going to break up, we get an endless montage of sad Paul walking around the city at night while Jamie apparently was just able to go home and...GO TO SLEEP????
Granted this was over 20 years ago, but the lack of recognition of Jamie's side of this and her having to bear all the blame for their problems is ridiculous. This was an overly-heavy three-parter that lacks the charm of earlier episodes. Ed Asner almost saves it. Almost.
John Ford, l'homme qui inventa l'Amérique (2019)
Factual Errors Abound
10 minutes into this, the narrator declares Ford gave John Wayne his first starring role in Stagecoach. Which any amateur film fan knows is COMPLETELY WRONG. Not only did Raoul Walsh do that in 1930 (9 years earlier), but Wayne had starred in B Westerns all through the thirties.
The Brothers Solomon (2007)
Incredibly FUNNY
I rented this movie, not expecting all that much, although I am a big fan of Bob Odenkirk's work. But frankly, the whole family laughed their asses off, popcorn and dead bird definitely being a highlight, with the sky banner scene near the end being a close runner-up. This is pure comedy, close to Dumb and Dumber territory, but without the standard movie heist/love interest subplots that Hollywood puts into comedies like this to get "normal people" to watch them. This is the rare comedy that doesn't compromise on its mission, which accounts for the various "stupid" write-off reviews you'll see here in the user comments. This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it situations, and we're in the love-it camp. It's obviously not for everyone, and, I have to say, a lot of it was horribly lit, but if you're a fan of Mr. Show and St. Elmo's Fire, you might find this as hilarious as we did.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Gay People Are Seldom This Boring
This movie was like watching ice melt. On a thirty-three degree day. "Far From Heaven" covered a lot of the same territory in a much more interesting fashion. Jake G lost his accent when he gained his mustache and never really found a character. Heath was amazing but had nothing around him to stick it to (if you'll excuse the expression). This was a long, boring movie with about twenty minutes of plot stretched out to over two hours. I'm glad this film has resonated with the mainstream to this extent, but...it's not very good. I know the theme is supposed to be repression and nothing really is supposed to happen, but nothing could happen in a lot shorter time. This made the Hulk look good and...the Hulk was bad. Maybe if the Hulk were a gay cowboy....
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
My 9 year-old's review
"Dad," my son said, "that wasn't as bad as the first "Cheaper By the Dozen," but it was still crappy."
That about says it for me. Bonnie Hunt and Carmen Electra (?!) are about the only people I believed in this film. Steve Martin acts like he's mildly retarded (and does ANYONE buy him as a football coach by the way?) and even the last blooper during the end credits is contrived and unfunny. How do you screw up a blooper? Ask these producers.
Eugene Levy - SCTV, Waiting for Guffman...
Steve Martin - Saturday Night Live, All of Me...
*Sigh*
And Hollywood wonders why it has problems these days...