Reviews

Though it's a bit superfluous to add to the other reviews, I hadn't seen nor heard of this film until it came on TV a few weeks back. The cast is superb, the writing so funny my wife and I watched it again...Dennis Farina left us much too soon--and he's perfect in his role as usual. The doofus crooks Tom Sizemore and Johnny Knoxville are also hilarious in their stumblebum roles. I find no fault with this film; I just bought Dave Barry's novel that became "Big Trouble," though the written word won't do justice to the film's cast I'm afraid. It's very odd that such a funny film can come and go without a blip on the horizon. Same for others that turn up on TV that I've never heard of previously. This is definitely one to watch!

Just what TV needs--a smart, wild and outrageous (in a good way) comedy with bizarre happenings and plot points that are unexpected. If you haven't seen it--start with episode 1 or 2 and get acquainted. I loved each episode except "Wedding in Hell," as it fell flat toward the end of the show. Otherwise, Jay Baruchel, who was excellent in "Nick & Nora's Ultimate Playlist" and "Tropic Thunder," not to mention "This is the End," continues to amaze with his slacker downbeat no girlfriend life. As his sidekick, Eric Andre is a rare find. I can not recommend this series too highly. Production values and CGI are great as well. I only wish there were more episodes in the first season--waiting until January 2016 is not fun (same for "Better Call Saul," with only one to go...).

This group of zany comics produce nothing but laughs and the unexpected plot lines. The only thing wrong with Birthday Boys is that after 10 episodes, it's disappeared! The half-hour show has more than three separate but recurring episodes that are flat-out funny. Bob Odenkirk (Saul the lawyer on "Breaking Bad") appears, and also is the executive producer. The brothers who brew beer, the high-school kid who is stood up by his girl for the prom, with his dad substituting for her...the roofers...too many shows to watch...there are so many exceptional comedy bits in this show that in the great wasteland of reality TV, couldn't intelligent folk be allowed to laugh and genuinely hilarious TV? That's Birthday Boys--it should return, and soon!

I enjoyed Stakeout; this sequel sullies whatever value the first had with implausibility, silly attempts at humor, and a plot line that never finds its way to a satisfying conclusion--if you can even call what this abomination of a script would qualify as a plot. The acting is stilted, forced and unimaginative. Nonsensical would be a good definition of the so-called plot. I will not detail a line-for-line analysis of this flick (it would be a travesty to call it a film) as it would be just as much of a waste of time as watching it in the first place robbed me of an hour-and-a-half of my life. The director, John Badham (certainly an appropriate last name in this case) must have been on something--he certainly wasn't on Bainbridge Island when it was filmed, as I have seen several of his films from the '70s and they weren't bad. Not great, but not bad either. If you trust the clowns who wrote "glowing" reviews of this turkey, well, then it's your own fault. I've done what I can to warn you away.

Put Jeff Daniels, Michael Richards, Rip Torn and Austin Pendleton in a courtroom together and you have a riotous comedy. I've watched this film several times (on TV--not in the theater) and it always entertains. In a backwoods Nevada town, Jeff Daniels and friend Michael Richards come to celebrate his upcoming marriage. After too much liquor, the roles are reversed as Jeff Daniels can't continue as lawyer for defendant Rip Torn, so out-of-work actor Michael Richards steps in as Torn's lawyer The repartee in the courtroom is classic, with a frustrated Austin Pendleton as judge trying to keep order in the court, and the shyster Rip Torn clueless as to what's going on, adds up to one funny film. And Charlize Theron as the love interest isn't hard to take either. This is a laugh-out-loud film with some great slapstick and wild antics. I loved it.

This film is much better than the soapy, more recent "Grand Prix," though without the high production values of that film. The off-track drama is kept to a minimum, with Kirk Douglas playing an Italian race driver (without an accompanying accent), with co-racers Gilbert Roland (the devil-may-carefree driver and the retiring Cesar Romero) acquitting their roles in fine shape. The racing, both during real races and simulated, is quite well done. The Grand Prix cars of the late '50s are shown in their glory, with races at Monaco, Monza, Nurburgring and sports cars running the thousand-mile Mille Miglia. Certainly worth your time to watch--it comes up on TCM on occasion, or is available on Netflix.

This is a typical Hollywood quickie that is only watchable because it is so bad...right up there with "Don't Knock The Twist" (recently seen on TCM). "Twist Around the Clock" does have better production values that "Don't Knock..." but that is faint praise. As with all these '50s and '60s exploitation r'n'r films, no one sings live--all lip-syncing, all the time. Note that in this film, as with "Don't Knock The Twist," most of the dancers on the floor are middle-aged or older. The performers on stage always seem to include one "big name" or two, but manage to toss in some very lame performers who were unknown before, and after the films. For a companion feature that skewers the folk boom, check out "Hootenany!" With Johnny Cash, Joe & Eddie, Judy Henske and George Hamilton IV.

Laughable, silly, Hollywood hokum.

Abysmal film. So bad that watching it is like a traffic accident--it's horrible but you can't turn away. The cop in it is positively silly--the storyline (???) storyline, what storyline?? is beyond inane. The rear-projection surfing (if you can call it surfing) is beyond stupid. The whole movie stinks--Jimmy Haskell did the music score--he should have turned in his union card with this turkey's so-called music. The "surf" bands that play don't play. They act (horribly) as if they are playing. There are many bad surf films from Hollywood--but this one takes the cake. How bad can it get? Take one look at this embarrassment and you'll wipeout for good. Holy Moondoggie, didn't they have any "real" surfers who could tell them what was surfing and what were Hollywood idiots at the helm? The legendary Mickie Dora is in the film for a brief time, and Johnny Fain rides a few ankle-sized waves. Otherwise, it's nowhere, man.

"Professor Beware," in addition to the amazing Mr. Lloyd, boasts a supporting cast of heavyweights: Lionel Stander, Raymond Walburn, William Frawley, Sterling Holloway, Cora Witherspoon and Thurston Hall. Each of these character actors add immensely to the story, which is a quest in the best sense of the word. Lloyd is a professor of Egyptology who is searching for the final, but lost, tablet that will solve a riddle of the ages. His cross-country journey that ends on a yacht with one of the best comic fight scenes in movie history is fraught with mishaps and odd characters who block Lloyd's frantic attempts to get to New York in order to catch a steamship to Egypt. It is unfortunate that this film is not available in any form (I have a VHS tape from TV I made in the '90s) and not even on Turner Classic Movies. If you have the opportunity to see the film, be sure to do so. A true comic classic.

I was appalled at the lack of humor, the heavy-handedness of the "gags," the inept direction and meaningless story line in this film. I was warned by the review in the L.A. Times, and puzzled by the positive review by Manhola Dargis in the NY Times. It was down the street, so my wife and I went. She turned to me more than several times during the course of the unspooling of the movie to ask if I wanted to leave. I kept hoping it would get better. Kevin Kline and Jean Reno were wasted in this movie. Cinematography was dark and not sharply focused. The jokes were limp, the performances languid. I enjoy Steve Martin's work; "Shopgirl" was excellent. His earlier work ("Deadmen Don't Wear Plaid," "Man With Two Brains") were very good. This was done for the dough, I'm sure--though Martin's co-writing credit either means he tossed it off in a weekend or thinks the writing and gags are boffo. They ain't. Don't waste your time or your money. Rent or buy the DVDs featuring Peter Sellers. Far superior.

This is a very funny film. Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson are stand-outs. Rowan Atkinson is excellent as a smarmy "leading man" in the musical "Elephant!" who tries to sink Goldblum's chances in the musical.

The love scenes with Thompson and Goldblum are inspired, particularly the first time they have sex. I can't recall a film that treats the act in such a spontaneous, slapstick and totally hilarious manner as it's done here. The actor's quirky takes and interaction are most funny, and the entire film is simply a delight.

I've told many friends to seek out this movie, and those who have taken my advice have thanked me profusely for letting them know about it.

I can't recommend it too highly--for a fun night alone, or with your special someone. It'll put a smile on your face you can't wipe off.

Errol Morris went to Vernon, Fla because it had a reputation for excessive insurance claims due to missing limbs. Known as "Stump City," Vernon turned out to be much more--a place seemingly filled with odd characters. Morris spent a year there, gaining the locals' confidence and doing interviews that are priceless. I can't recommend this too much. I was passing through Florida three years ago and saw a turnoff to Vernon. I went there anticipating the same characters would be hanging out at the gas station watching someone change a tire...then I realized that it was filmed 20 years earlier, and most may have passed away. I shot photos and went on my way. Trust me, Vernon, Florida is a classic.