Semi-Pro (2008)

Title: Semi-Pro (2008)
Genre: Sports Comedy
Rating: R (language, sexual situations)
Running Time: 100 minutes
Director: Kent Alterman
Starring: Will Farrell, Andre Benjamin, Woody Harrelson, Andrew Daly, David Koechner, Andy Richter

My Take

When I heard that Will Farrell was making a basketball movie I must admit I was excited, but not as much as I once would have been. After getting excited for his previous sports related movies - Kicking & Screaming (2005), Talladega Nights (2006) and Blades of Glory (2007) - and ultimately being disappointed, I expected much of the same immature and gay humor. What I got instead was the best Will Farrell movie since Anchorman (2004) and one of the funniest sports comedies I've ever seen. The story is goofy like most of Will Farrell's movies, but the absence of the usual gay comedy was a pleasant change. Will Farrell was his usual hilarious self and he doesn't need to change in my opinion as long as he can stick with good and hilarious scripts. I know what I'm going to get out of Will Farrell, but this movie proved to me that he can be in a great movie without changing what makes him such a great comedic actor. The supporting cast was solid and the movie was great entertainment. I wish they could have eliminated a couple words which would have easily made it a PG-13 rating. With an R rating, several young adults were not able to watch and several adults probably avoided it assuming much more of the raunchy usual. Those who missed this movie missed out on a hilarious comedy that actually has very little objectionable content. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and like it so much that I'm considering buying it and watching it again. "Love Me Sexy" is one of the funniest songs I've heard. I give this comedy two thumbs up and hope that Will Farrell continues making movies like this in the future and less movies like Blades of Glory.

Ranking the Top 5 Best Will Farrell Movies (That I have Seen)

1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy & Wake Up Ron Burgundy (2004)
2. Elf (2003)
3. Semi-Pro (2008)
4. Wedding Crashers (2005)
5. Old School (2003)

Honorable Mention

1. Talladega Nights (2006)
2. Starsky & Hutch (2004)
3. Bewitched (2005)
   

Ranking the 5 Worst Will Farrell Movies (That I have Seen)

1. Melinda & Melinda (2004)
2. Kicking & Screaming (2005)
3. Blades of Glory (2007)
4. A Night at the Roxbury (1998)
5. Austin Powers Series of Movies (1997-1999)

Dishonorable Mention

1. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
   
2. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
3. Zoolander (2001)

Movies I Haven't Seen/Not Included

• Several of Farrell's older movies
• Boat Trip (2003)
• Winter Passing (2004)
• The Wendell Baker Story (2005)
• The Producers (2005)
• Curious George (2006)
• Step Brothers (2008)
  

I want to hear from you. Disagree with my lists? What are your favorite Will Farrell movies? Are you tired of seeing Will Farrell comedies? I want to know what you think!

Popcorn Rating

movie theater popcorn

Sweeney Todd (2007)

Title: Sweeney Todd (2007)
Genre: Musical
Rating: R (Bloody Violence)
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jaime Campbell Bower

My Take

Tim Burton and Johhny Depp have done it again. They have made a unique movie that appeals to the masses, and Sweeney Todd might be their best movie to date. Let me begin by saying I don't like musicals, and in fact I hate musicals generally speaking. The only musical I liked before Sweeney Todd was Sound of Music. Sweeney Todd is a musical, but it is not your typical musical. Of course with Burton and Depp you know you are getting anything but typical. In any musical, vocals and soundtrack are essential and it was rock solid in Sweeney Todd. Depp proves again with his singing in this movie he is the most diverse actor of his time. I think Depp has the ability to take on any role and make it fantastic. The story in Sweeney Todd was told in a brilliant way and kept me engaged throughout. The nature of the story is grotesque, but somehow Burton was able to make light of even the darkest of situations. I think this is part of what I liked so much about the movie. It has lots of bloody violence, which keeps me from recommending this to anyone and everyone.


Unfortunately for those who can't stomach bloody violence, you can't simply close your eyes at a certain spot because the blood is frequent and not always predictable. That said, the blood is not realistic, and it is so over the top that it is comical. I found myself laughing hysterically during much of the movie. Depp was not the only actor of note in Sweeney Todd. Alan Rickman also put in a solid performance as well as several others. The reason I know this is a good movie is because I have been thinking about it even days after I've watched it. I want to watch it again, and I rarely watch movies twice. I even own some movies that I've only seen once. When I woke up this morning and started shaving I started singing... "Pretty women..." Thankfully I didn't cut myself shaving. I don't know that I can ever go to a barber again. I don't know how exactly, but once again Burton and Depp have made something of a masterpiece that only they could pull off. The bloody violence could keep some away, but there was no nudity or sexual situations and minimal bad language to speak of, so it was generally clean if you take away the blood. I strongly recommend this movie. I will watch it again.

Popcorn Rating

Movie Theater Popcorn

Hot Rod (2007) - Short

Synopsis

Title: Hot Rod (2007)
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13 (Language, Adult Situations)
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Andy Samburg, Isla Fisher, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Ian McShane, Will Arnett

Should you watch?

This is a very silly movie. I found it VERY comparable to Napolean Dynamite. If you were a fan of that movie, you should absolutely love this movie. Andy Samburg is hilarious as Rod. The comedy style may not be for everybody, but I really enjoyed the movie. WHHHOOat did you say? WHHHY am I talking like WHHHat? It's short in length at just an hour and a half so it doesn't drag out too long. It is well worth a rent.

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn

Ratatouille (2007) - Short

Synopsis

Title: Ratatouille (2007)

Genre: Animation/Comedy

Rating: G (Great Family Movie)

Running Time: 111 Minutes

Directors: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo

I enjoy most animated movies and this one was no exception. I don't know if it is head and shoulders above several other good animated movies, but it was good. This is another perfect movie for the whole family to enjoy

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn

Psycho (1998)

Synopsis

Title: Psycho (1998)

Genre: Horror

Rating: R (Violence, sexuality/nudity)

Running Time: 105 Minutes

Director: Gus Van Sant

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William Macy, Robert Forester

Plot: A woman steals $400,000 and drives off with the money. She runs into an old motel off the main highway and meets Norman Bates. Norman runs the motel and has some obvious quirks about him. The woman would soon wish that she never made a stop at that motel.

My Take

This movie clearly lacked originality. In fact, it was pretty much a direct imitation of the original psycho. What was the purpose? The only difference was that this version was in color and there were different actors. The original Psycho was classic and I guess Gus Van Sant didn’t want to mess with ‘greatness’. The movie doesn’t worry about keeping realistic because the original didn’t worry about keeping scenes realistic. I did notice an obvious editing mistake: The house is on the right of the motel but one of the shots had it on the right.

What About Vince?

I thought Vince did an exceptional job as Norman Bates. He may have played the psycho role just a little early when he was in the long dinner scene with Anne Heche, who it should be noted also did brilliant in my opinon. Although I think he gave too much of his character away too early, I think that is a directorial mistake as opposed to Vince’s mistake. I guess he could argue the point, but ultimately that is probably up to the director. I thought Vince truly shined in this movie. One of his best performances for sure.

Should You Watch???

Watch if you haven’t seen the original, but if you’ve seen the original you’ve already seen this movie. There is nothing new here. Psycho is a movie classic and the updated version is not much worse than the original. I actually really enjoyed it if I’m going to be quite honest. It’s been a while since I saw the original and I thought that while it’s not the most realistic or horrifying movie, it is a classic. While imitation is not original, it doesn’t hurt or diminish the original. If anything, it is a huge complement that they kept everything the same. I would watch this movie again because I really enjoy horror films and Psycho is a classic in my eyes even if it isn’t the best movie.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

Clay Pigeons (1998)

Synopsis

Title: Clay Pigeons (1998)
Genre: Dark Comedy
Rating: R (Adult Situations, Violence, Profanity, Adult Humor)
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Director: David Dobkin
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix, Janneane Garafolo, Georgina Cates, Scott Wilson, Vince Vieluf
Plot: Out in the country of Montana, an ordinary guy is mistaken by the FBI as a serial killer. As several people close to him wind up dead, he ironically is the one there to report to the sheriff’s office, which is hilariously naïve. The actual serial killer, Lester Long, eventually befriends Clay and it is a roller coaster of a ride from there.



My Take
Clay Pigeons was a directorial debut for David Dobkin. Before Clay Pigeons, he gained notoriety as a music video director. Another person involved in the movie but not mentioned is Ridley Scott who was the executive producer of the movie. Now I’m generally not a fan of black comedies, but I actually liked this movie. Often times black comedies are extremely weird and the plot makes no sense at all. Often times black comedies have no comedic moments whatsoever, but while Clay Pigeons had its weird moments I was able to follow the story and there were some comedic acting and dialogue. I am a big fan of both Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix so maybe that is part of the reason why I liked this movie. I also like Vince Vieluf. He does a perfect job as the dumb deputy Barney. I very much enjoyed watching this film.

What About Vince?
Vince played a very weird character in this movie. He played Lester (the molester) Long who was a serial killer who stabbed numerous woman to death. This role for Vince was different then his past roles which was nice to see. He was a cowboy who had a strong accent and had a very strange persona. While I liked him, I found his fake laugh to be annoying. I concede that it did add to the quirkiness of his character, so I’m sure it was intentional, but it was a little over the top. Other than that though, I liked his performance. He is starting to show some versatility and his performance in this movie has not gone unnoticed by fans of him and the movie.

Should You Watch???
This movie is not for everyone. Firstly, note the rating as there is some sexuality, violence and profanity. Secondly, not everyone enjoys the black comedy genre. I am usually included in that crowd, but for some reason I found myself enjoying the subtle comedy and plot twists. If you are looking for something a little different, check it out. If you are a fan of black comedies, chances are you’ll absolutely love this one.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

Becoming Jane (2007)

Synopsis

Title: Becoming Jane (2007)

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Running Time: 120 Minutes

Director: Julian Jarrold

Main Actors: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith, Joe Anderson

Plot: Becoming Jane follows the life of early 19^th century writer Jane Austen. The movie is loosely based on fact, but the story about her personal life is somewhat unknown. Austin is credited for writing 6 novels including huge successes Pride and Prejudice and Emma. The movie was edited for re-rating and was originally PG-13.

My Take

I have a feeling that although this was not exactly my favorite type of movie, Becoming Jane will be hugely popular among females. I know my sisters will love this movie. I say it isn’t exactly my type of movie because I found it slow and boring at times. I also think it is a little bit too wordy. I know that Austen is known for her humor in her books and witty dialogue, but it got a little annoying to me. The storyline is familiar and good although I think the I-love-you-I-love-you-not can get a little tiresome. The costume design team did a good job making the costumes and set look 2 centuries old. I have no real complaints about the acting or directing. With this movie, you get about what you expect going in to the movie.

Should You Watch???

If you like Pride and Prejudice, you should love this movie. They are very similar. Could this be because Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice? I actually prefered Pride and Prejudice to this movie, but I thought both were pretty good. This movie clearly attracts the female audience, but it is watchable if you are male. If you are a guy and want to do something nice for your female partner, offer to watch Becoming Jane. Just be aware that you may want to check the sports ticker on your computer or phone when the movie hits a dead spot.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

Vince Vaugh Month Extended

It has become increasingly clear to me that I will not be able to watch all of the Vince Vaughn movies I want this month. For that reason I will be extending the Vince Vaughn theme through March. I may also include some movies that do not include Vince Vaughn, but the majority will. Stay tuned, because a new review should be up shortly.

A Cool, Dry Place (1998)

Synopsis

Title: A Cool, Dry Place (1998)

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 97 Minutes

Director: John N. Smith

Main Actors: Vince Vaughn, Monica Potter, Joey Lauren Adams, Bobby Moat, Devon Sawa

Plot: A single father (Vince Vaughn) balances his work as an attorney with the care of his five-year old son (Bobby Moat) and his work as a high school basketball coach in rural Kansas, where he moved after his wife abandoned him in Chicago. Just as he starts to develop a new relationship with a veterinarian's assistant (Joey Lauren Adams), his ex-wife (Monica Potter) suddenly reappears and wants to re-assert herself in her husband and son's life. On top of the romantic conflict, he is also suddenly presented with the opportunity of a lifetime to join a major firm in Dallas. Written by John Sacksteder

My Take

Usually when you hear about a single parent, you assume it is the mother who takes care of the kid. A Cool, Dry Place looks at the life of a single father whose wife left him. If there was one word for the film, I would say cute. The beginning of the film really emphasizes the father-son relationship. As the film moves on, it focuses more on the difficulties of managing a career and being a parent. This storyline is unfortunately very common in today’s environment. As I watched the movie, I found myself hoping that they would send some messages that were never sent. For example, the teen sex issues. The whole sub-story about the teen was awfully executed and never became resolved. Marriage is about unconditional love. This story proves that several people simply don’t understand what marriage is, and that’s sad. After watching The Locusts however, it was nice to see a little bit lighter hearted movie even if it had its sadder moments.

What About Vince?

Once again, Vince plays the nice guy that you like. He interacts well with his son. His character is believable. I have no complaints with his part.

Should You Watch???

It is not a bad movie. You could do much worse. I think they failed to deliver in the story department, but the story had potential to be very good. Vince Vaughn is good. I think you could watch this movie and be at least somewhat satisfied.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

The Locusts (1997)

Synopsis

Title: The Locusts (1997)

Genre: Drama

Rating: R

Running Time: 125 Minutes

Director: John Patrick Kelley

Main Actors: Kate Capshaw, Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Davies, Ashley Judd, Paul Rudd

Plot: A young drifter, Clay Hewitt, wanders onto a ranch run by a bossy widow named Delilah Potts. Clay asks for a job on the ranch and discovers Delilah and her son have deep problems. Also released under the title A Secret Sin, The Locusts marked the feature debut of writer and director John Patrick Kelley

My Take

I don’t have much to say about this movie. It is not terrible, but there are few redeeming qualities about the film at the same time. Ashley Judd looks good and Vince Vaughn does a good job with his part. You might remember Jeremy Davies (Flyboy) from Saving Private Ryan. He’s become known for playing the role of a victimized and conflicted young man and he did a decent job. Kate Capeshaw played her role as b*tch well. Smoking was so prevalent in the movie that it became part of the storyline; it was annoying to me. Nothing stood out to me as being great or really even good for that matter. I won’t give anything away and I won’t go into why it is, but I will say that the ending was simply awful. I felt depressed for after the movie in part because of the story and in part because I wasted two hours of my life watching the film.

What About Vince?

Vince Vaughn had a starring role and did a good job. He plays the drifter who was looking for work and found it at a ranch. He befriends the son of the widow at the ranch and much of the movie is about their relationship. He does a good job playing the cool and concerned friend. He has past problems of his own and does a decent job showing emotion, although I don’t think anyone will call that his strong suit as far as acting is concerned. I liked Vince in this movie, but his performance was not so great that I’d say you need to watch the movie for his performance.

Should You Watch???

Umm… I guess you should watch if you think Ashley Judd is hot and that is good enough for you. I guess you should watch if you are doing a movie month on Vince Vaughn. I guess you should watch if your cable goes out, you have nothing else to do, you have two hours to waste, and an extra two hours of sleep doesn’t entice you. In all other instances, I’d say you don’t want to watch this movie.

Popcorn Rating

Plain Popcorn

Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997)

Synopsis

Title: Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997)

Genre: Adventure

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 134 Minutes

Director: Steven Spielberg

Main Actors: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Vince Vaughn, Richard Attenborough, Peter Stormare

Plot: This is the second movie of the Jurrasic Park trilogy. We discover that there was a second island full of dinosaurs that was used as a breeding ground for the original Jurassic Park. Dr. John Hammond decides to send four adventurers to monitor the dinosaur’s lifestyle before a group named INGEN comes to the island. INGEN wants to capture the dinosaurs, take them back to San Diego, and form a “dino” park.

My Take

Unlike the original Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton did not write the script for The Lost World. The script wasn’t terrible, but if memory serves me it was not nearly as good as the first Jurassic Park. This movie was a blockbuster when it came out 10 years ago and it got nominated for several awards, but a lot changes in 10 years. The dinosaurs look good, they must have looked amazing 10 years ago, but the rest of the visual effects were not so good. A number of destruction scenes and plot developments were comical. This is an action/adventure/thriller but it was more of a comedy from my perspective. There were plenty of one-liners and awed faces throughout the movie. Although nothing will ever top the first Jurassic Park where the T-Rex ate the guy sitting on the john, it is still hilarious watching T-Rex kill people. If you haven’t seen the movie you might think that is a terrible thing to say, but watch the movie and tell me with a straight face you didn’t laugh. This movie had a scene where a guy hiding from the T-Rex found a snake on himself and cried “a snake!” and walked right into the T-Rex’s mouth. It’s comedic moments like these, although I’m not sure they were meant to be funny, that make this movie entertaining. However, the music by John Williams is legendary. Some of the acting was good, some was bad, and Jeff Goldblum’s eyebrows are just plain ugly!

What About Vince?

Vince Vaughn did an excellent job in this movie. He played the part of Nick Van Owen who is a photographer and one of the four chosen by Dr. Hammond to monitor the island. True to form, Vaughn delivers comedic relief that only he can. He delivers quick and witty lines at the perfect time and he comes off as a very likable character in this role as opposed to the jerk, which he also plays very well. The movie would not have been nearly as good without Vince Vaughn in my opinion.

Should You Watch???

I think you must watch the original Jurassic Park before you see this one. The original was just that, original, and it was a huge success and deservedly so. The Lost World is not as good as the original Jurassic Park but it will provide you with some of the same comedic dinosaur destructive action you came to know and love in the first one. While I wouldn’t say this was a great movie by any means, I’d say it’s entertaining. There is some violence, but nothing compared to what we are used to seeing these days. Don’t expect a real action/thriller, but I think you’ll be entertained. Just expect to laugh at spots where you shouldn’t be laughing.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

Swingers (1996)

Synopsis

Title: Swingers (1996)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Rating: R

Running Time: 96 Minutes

Director: Doug Liman

Main Actors: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Heather Graham, Brooke Langton

Plot: This is a story about Mike, a guy who left his girl in New York when he came to LA to be a star. It's been six months since he left his girlfriend and he's not doing so good. So his best pal Trent and some other friends try and get him back in the social scene and forget about his 6 year relationship.

My Take

This is the definition of the dating scene during the 90’s. It is the most down to earth, true-to-form movie I have ever seen. Although I personally didn’t hit the party scene much, it does bring back memories of my college days. It’s not something I really desire to go back to at this time, but at the same time it was a great experience. Swingers is hilarious, but it is also an excellent story about relationships. What’s the last time you could say that a movie was hilarious with a great story in the same sentence? Swingers was shot on a small budget, but it was done expertly. The swing music was great and it actually brought back swing music in the late 90’s. Everything about this movie, in my eyes, was simply magnificent. I’ll talk about Vince’s performance in a bit, but Jon Favreau and company did an excellent job as well. Great job by director Doug Liman. Everybody was awesome. I own this movie, and it is one of the few movies that I will go back and see over and over again. Several scenes stood out, but especially the last scene, which may be the best last scene in any movie. Swingers is awesome. In fact, it might be my favorite movie of all time. That’s my take.

What About Vince?

This is Vince’s best performance to date. In fact, I think he could go on to star in movies for the next 50 years and he would still be remembered for his part in Swingers. He does simply an amazing job as Trent. This was undoubtedly a springboard for his career.

Should You Watch???

There is quite a bit of language in the film, so that could turn some off I guess. This is a guy’s-guy movie. I can’t speak on behalf of the women, but I will say that this movie will hit home with every young man. It’s so much more than a simple comedy. This movie is about relationships more than anything else. Girls you should be able to watch this one and enjoy it as well. You might learn something about guys unless of course you already have us all figured out. Do yourself a favor and watch Swingers. Guess what? It’s back-to-back Hall of Fame movies. Don’t expect that streak to continue.

Popcorn Rating

Bag of Half-Popped Kernels

Rudy (1994)

Synopsis

Title: Rudy (1994)

Genre: Sports Drama

Rating: PG

Running Time: 114 Minutes

Director: David Anspaugh

Main Actors: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Charles Dutton, Lili Taylor, Vince Vaughn

Plot: Rudy always had a dream to play football for Notre Dame. The problem was that he didn’t have good enough grades nor the athletic ability to have a chance to make the team. At least that’s what everyone was telling him. He believed in himself and proved everybody else wrong..

My Take

We start Vince Vaughn month with a BANG! Call it a cliché sports movie if you want, but this is one of the greatest sports movies if not the greatest sports movie of all time. Rudy, based on a true story, is an inspiration and it gives me a great since of pride and admiration every time I watch it, and I’ve seen it several times; the sign of a truly great movie. This is the ultimate underdog story, and everyone loves a good underdog story. Sean Astin did an awesome job playing Rudy, who made it on the field in South Bend after overcoming great obstacles. The story is rock solid. The acting is rock solid. In addition to Astin’s performance, Jon Favreau did an excellent job as the shy teacher’s aid who needs help socializing with the ladies (sounds very familiar doesn’t it). All the supporting actors did a fine job. The setting is beautiful with scenes from the actual university. The music is breathtaking and classic. The football scenes were very well done, especially for the time. I honestly have no complaints about this movie. Great, great movie.

What About Vince?

Vince Vaughn played the part of a high profile recruit who never lived up to expectations. Rudy was the first film for Vince Vaughn, who struck up a friendship with Jon Favreau and eventually led to more prominent roles. Vince had just 2 or 3 lines in the movie, but he played the part of football jock well. We have all come to realize that he plays the guy nobody really likes really well. Rudy even has an effect on Vince’s character, as Vaughn is the one that makes sure Rudy is put into the final game. So he does have a soft spot. He looks so young in this movie. I can’t wait to watch more of Vince’s films and see how he grows as an actor.

Should You Watch???

Every single person should watch this movie. This movie has everything a sports fan could as for in a movie. This movie has everything a person who has ever had a dream could ask for in a movie. I don’t review movies through the eyes of a critic, but through the eyes of a common person who loves movies and loves a great story. Rudy is a movie that will truly move you emotionally in a way that few movies can. Rudy is a cinematic masterpiece that the whole family will enjoy for years to come.

Popcorn Rating

Bag of Half-Popped Kernels

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Synopsis

Title: 3:10 To Yuma (2007)

Genre: Western

Rating: R

Running Time: 122 Minutes

Director: James Mangold

Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Logan Lerman, Luke Wilson

Plot: Taking place shortly after the civil war, famous outlaw Ben Wade is captured and escorted to the 3:10 train to Yuma. Wade's vengeful gang makes things hazardous for those transporting the outlaw.

My Take

This is a remake of a movie by the same title exactly 5o years ago. It was directed by James Mangold, who was the director of Walk the Line, a very good movie about the life of famous country singer Johnny Cash. This movie also brought in some big name actors. Russell Crowe is good in everything he's in (although I didn't fall in love with all his movies: A Perfect Storm), and Christain Bale are the lead actors and do a brilliant job. I had not heard of or seen Ben Foster before this movie, but he did a great job in this movie. I think his beard made him scary and intimidating. I think I said "yikes" when I first saw him. He was the best supporting actor in my opinion. Marco Beltrami received an oscar nomination for his musical score and sound. The costume design team did a very good job making the movie look and feel like an old western movie that follows the classic Western storyline. I liked the acting, directing, sound and the scenery. I didn't like everything about the story or the execution of the story. The movie is entertaining enough, but it is not a movie I would rave about the next day.

Should You Watch???

If you like classic western movies with plenty of gun fighting in the southern desert, I suspect you'll fall in love with this movie. The Western movie genre has been dead for quite some time it seems and this should be refreshing to those who like those movies. The story is a classic Western plot, but it left me several opportunities to say "now why would they do that?" The tone of the movie is sad, so if you are like my fiance, that will turn you off to this movie. What can you expect from a Western movie? I'm not a big fan of Westerns myself, but I really like the actors in this movie. I think it is worth the watch unless you can't stand to watch an old fashioned gun fight.

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn

Checking Out (1989)

Synopsis

Title: Checking out (1989)

Genre: Comedy

Rating: R

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Director: David Leland

Main Actors: Jeff Daniels, Melanie Mayron, Michael Tucker, Kathleen York, Ann Magnuson

Plot: Jeff Daniels stars as Ray Macklin who is deathly scared of illness and mortality after seeing his friend die from a heart attack.

My Take

I caught this movie playing on cable because I saw Jeff Daniels was starring in a comedy. The only other comedy Jeff Daniels was in that I have seen was Dumb and Dumber and I loved that movie, so I thought I’d give this one a try. There were a couple funny moments, most within the first couple minutes, but for the most part it was not real good. In fact, it was more like Dumb and Dumberer than it was Dumb and Dumber. Jeff Daniels definitely needs Jim Carey.

Should You Watch???

This movie is a goofy-funny movie but not extremely goofy. If you like those types of movies, you might like this movie, but I don’t think this movie is very good even for a goofy movie. They could have very easily made this movie PG-13 by avoiding a couple words and maybe a scene or two, which I think would help, because I think the teen crowd might like it more than the adult crowd might. This movie is obscure for a reason. You will be just fine if you never see this film.

Popcorn Rating

Plain Popcorn

February Is Vince Vaughn Month

I will be doing something new here at The Popcorn Guide starting in February. February will be Vince Vaughn month. During February I will be watching and reviewing as many Vince Vaughn movies as I can. I have a list of about 12 movies and I hope to review at least 8. I started becoming a Vince Vaughn fan after watching the movie that jump-started his career, Swingers. I'll be reviewing that movie and several more starting in February. The reviews will be the same format, but I will add a short section analyzing Vince's performance. I'm looking forward to Vince Vaughn month and if it is a success, I may have more months dedicated to certain people or topics. Thanks for reading and I hope to hear back from you with comments.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Genre: Romantic Comedy (?)

Rating: R

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Main Actors: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, Mary Lynn Rajskub

Plot: The plot is to be weird. The movie follows a guy who has some kind of personality disorder.

My Take

This is a romantic comedy? Really? Doesn't that mean it is supposed to be romantic and funny? I'd even settle for romantic OR funny. Weird. I don't know if I was drunk when I was watching this movie, but I'm pretty sure the director was drunk while he was directing this movie. Paul Thomas Anderson was named best director for his work on this movie? Who the hell was presenting that award? I will make it a point to avoid ALL Paul Thomas Anderson films in the future.

Should You Watch???

This movie is not for the masses. I actually don't know who the target audience is for this movie. I really tried to like this movie. I really, really tried. I tried really hard to understand all the weird lighting, sounds, dialogue, locations, plot, etc. I gave this movie chance, but it's just not good. Avoid this movie at all costs.

Popcorn Rating

Burnt Popcorn

John Q. (2002)

Synopsis

Title: John Q. (2002)

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 116 Minutes

Director: Nick Cassavetes

Main Actors: Denzel Washington, Kimberly Elise, Daniel E. Smith, James Woods, Robert Duval, Anne Hache

Plot: Is there a national health care crisis in the United States? When a man’s son is stricken with a heart condition, he is not able to pay for the operation. He decides he must take matters into his own hands.

My Take

I heard really good things about this movie, so when I saw it on tv I used my good old DVR. Let me begin with what I didn’t like so much about this movie. Firstly, although Denzel did an excellent job as always, the rest of the actors did average at best. Kimberly Elise received recognition for her acting in this movie, but I didn’t feel it warranted attention although she was probably better than the rest of the cast. It was a drama but it almost felt like a documentary on the health care system. I felt like the movie should be intense, but it felt more like watching a video in health class. I found it amusing when Denzel beats the crap out of one of the hostages and the other hostages were laughing. I know they wanted to show that his character was a nice guy, the hostages liked him and he was just put in a bad situation, but I don’t see any hostages laughing in this situation and it makes the whole movie almost a mockery. The cheering crowd outside? Give me a break. Let me be clear, this movie was more about sending a message than it was about telling a great story. Those two things should be the same, but they aren’t always. I felt the plot had some obvious question marks. I made it sound like this is a terrible movie, but it’s not. I actually liked this movie for the most part. It will make you think about the health care system in our country, and you will feel for Denzel and his family. Things are not always black and white, and this movie drives home that point.

Should You Watch???

I think you should watch this movie. Denzel is an awesome actor and he gives a very good performance here. I think about another Denzel Washington movie, Inside Man, which was a very good movie dealing with a hostage situation only he was on the outside instead of the inside. I realize I was pretty harsh on my take, but it was only because I expected something a little better than what I got. It was entertaining enough despite it’s flaws for me to give you the go ahead to watch this movie.

Popcorn Rating

Kettle Corn

Munich (2005)

Synopsis

Title: Munich (2005)

Genre: Drama

Rating: R

Running Time: 164 Minutes

Director: Stephen Spielberg

Main Actors: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Ayelet Zurer, Geoffrey Rush

Plot: This movie focuses on the Israeli retaliation to the 1972 Munich games tragedy when Palestinian terrorists killed 11 Israeli Olympians.

My Take

If you plan on watching this movie, make sure you don’t have any plans for an entire night because this movie is long. Too long and slow for me. It is not that I can’t watch movies that are long, some of my favorite movies are long, but there is not enough consistency and flow in the story to keep me involved for such a long time. The acting by all accounts was good. The story was good and based at least loosely on historical fact. Spielberg did a good job directing, taking aim at another film surrounding important historical events in recent Jewish history. This was a very good movie, but I felt that it could have been better than great. It had potential to be exceptional.

Should You Watch???

Munich is aptly rated R, mainly due to graphic violence and some sexual content. No children should be exposed to this movie. It runs over 2 ½ hours long, so expect a long sitting. If the above mentioned things do not bother you, I suspect that you will not be disappointed with Munich. The acting and directing is good. The basic story was good, but could have been told in a more captivating and time efficient way. If you can stay actively involved as a watcher throughout the entire movie, you may even feel emotionally moved by the end. Give it a try if you have time, but make sure to watch the documentary, One Day In September, before you do so you have some historical background to the events leading up to this story.

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn

Caddyshack II (1988)

Synopsis

Title: Caddyshack II (1988)

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 99 Minutes

Director: Allan Arkush

Main Actors: Jackie Mason, Dyan Cannon, Robert Stack, Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid

The Plot: This sequel to the popular 1980 comedy Caddyshack gives you more of the same country club humor. Blue collar workers meet upper-class snobs on the golf course.

My Take

I found Caddyshack II to be a watchable movie, but not one that I would feel I had to watch. I didn’t think it was quite as crude as the original Caddyshack, but it was more of the same kind of jokes. Chevy Chase is one of the funniest actors if not the funniest actor ever in my opinion. He is great comedic entertainment in this movie but his character has a limited role unfortunately. The acting was ok and the plot was decent enough, but I just never really got interested. Much like Necessary Roughness (although it was not nearly as corny as that movie), the comedy in Caddyshack II was slap-stick. The jokes just don’t seem quite as funny now as they surly did when this was first made.

Should You Watch???

If you have seen the first Caddyshack and were a fan of that movie, you should like the sequel. Some may be disappointed that Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murry did not return, but I honestly don't think they would have made much of a difference in this movie. I noticed several plot lines that Happy Gilmore (a movie I very much like) would later mimic. Although I wouldn’t say Caddyshack II was a great movie (I might even say it's not good), it is watchable and will have it’s funny moments. Chevy Chase is one of the funniest actors of all time and he will make you laugh in this movie. Randy Quaid does a pretty good job as the maniac lawyer, but the movie is just not that good when all is said and done. Watch it if you are in a slap-happy mood.

Popcorn Rating

Plain Popcorn

One Day In September (1999)

Synopsis

Title: One Day In September (1999)

Genre: Documentary

Rating: R

Running Time: 93 Minutes

Director: Kevin MacDonald

The Plot: Terrorists disrupt 1972 Munich games.

My Take

It’s a documentary. It is what it is. I thought it was well done. The fact that the lone surviving Palestinian was interviewed made it much more interesting than it would have been otherwise. This was a huge international event that will be infamous throughout history. This documentary helps shed some light on the subject. I look forward to watching the movie Munich now after seeing this documentary. Many things about this story are amazing to me. It’s scary how much damage a few people can make. Terrorism is real and very much alive today, and this documentary only strengthens my belief that terrorism is unacceptable in all circumstances.

Should You Watch???

If you are at all interested in history like I am, then you should watch. There are a few graphic images of the dead at the end of the documentary, but I’ve seen worse. In my view, real events are always more interesting than fictional stories. It’s a documentary, so it’s not like your normal movie. Know that before you watch, and you should benefit from watching this documentary. I would say you’ll enjoy it, but how can you really enjoy watching terrorism?

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn (Although I would think it’d be hard to eat popcorn while watching)

Necessary Roughness (1991)

Synopsis

Title: Necessary Roughness (1991)

Genre: Slap-Stick Sports Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 108 Minutes

Director: Stan Dragoti

Main Actors: Scott Bakula, Hector Elizondo, Robert Loggia, Harley Jane Kozak, Fred Thompson, Rob Schneider, Sinbad, Kathy Ireland

The Plot: Texas State football is hit with major recruiting violations and they have to field a group of misfit players that have to play both ways. How will they compete?

My Take

Awful, simply awful.

Should You Watch???

I’ll let some of the quotes in the movie do the talking. You decide.

Quotable

“Welcome to foot…BALL” (female kicker kicks DT you can guess where)

Woman says, “Up yours Phil!” Man replys, “She called me Phil?”

Blake says, “This beer’s on me.” Guy pours beer on Blake, “Now the beer is on you.”

“I’m going to kill you. You’re mine!”

“The ball is my friend”

“How could the refs call that? It was a clean kick to the facemask.”

“Holy Columbus Ohio”

Woman “Are you Ok?” Blake, “Uh no, I was just hit in the head with a racquet ball.”

“If I wanted a big brother, I wouldn’t have killed mine.”

Popcorn Rating

Burnt Popcorn

Reign Over Me (2007)

Synopsis

Title: Reign Over Me (2007)

Genre: Drama

Rating: R

Running Time: 128 Minutes

Director: Mike Binder

Main Actors: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, B.J. Novak

The Plot: Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) runs into his old college roommate who lost his family in the 9/11 attack. The story is about love, friendship, and healing.

My Take

First off, Adam Sandler did a standout job in this movie. I knew Adam Sandler from great comedies such as Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore, but I think his performance in this movie is his best yet. I’m a big Adam Sandler fan, and I’m also a big Don Cheadle fan. He was great in Hotel Rwanda and I like him in this movie as well. He shows a little of his humor, which was nice. However, not all the acting was great. The two actors who played Adam Sandler’s inlaws gave perhaps the worst performance I’ve ever seen, especially the mother-in-law. Please, I could make better facial expressions lady! Thankfully they were minor characters in what I found to be an entertaining story. It was also funny to watch B.J. Novak’s, Ryan from The Office, character get scolded by the judge.

Should You Watch???

This is worth a watch if only to see Sandler’s performance, but it is much more than just him, and it is well worth the watch. The movie touches various emotions ranging from anger, humor, sadness and sympathy. It was not a perfect film and I think the director could have done a better job overseeing some details, but over all I thought it was a very solid film. It’s rated R, so it won’t be a kids movie. Adults should be able to appreciate this movie for the depth of the main character. We should sympathize with the anguish and pain he endures and be proud of the strong bonding friendship of a man who sees a former roommate in need of help.

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Synopsis

Title: The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 87 Minutes

Director: David Silverman

Main Actors: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yardly Smith, Hank Azaria

The Plot: The Simpsons are finally on the big screen! The town of Springfield is placed in a bubble by the EPA after Homer pollutes the lake. After dooming the city, he must save the city before it gets destroyed.

My Take

A Simpson's movie is long overdue. In fact, they may have waited too long to make the movie, because the show has lost some of its popularity from earlier years. If you are a fan of the television show, you will love the movie. The story was pretty good and there will be times when you can't help but laugh. They do have some scenes that are questionable, and they will poke fun at almost anybody so you must be able to take the jokes in good humor or you may become upset. Of course this is an animated movie, and several of the actors have several characters. It is hard to judge the acting and directing in these kind of movies, so the plot becomes that much more important.

Should You Watch???

This movie is geared towards fans of the television show, of which there are many. If you are not a fan of the show, you may not understand many of the jokes and it might not be for you. The Simpsons have a unique style of comedy that may not be suited for all people. Although this is an animated movie, it is not suitable for young children as it includes some adult material. If you haven't seen the Simpson's television show, you can still enjoy the movie so I suggest you give it a try. I liked this movie.

Popcorn Rating

Buttered Popcorn