About a little under a year ago, a filmmaker named Russell Emanuel sent over a film called “Girl with Gun”, about a single girl who has to balance her single life, career, and job as a hit man all at the same time. I loved that movie and it was a little under twenty minutes long. That film, an independent film, was fun, light, and breezy and managed to grasp its concept with enough entertaining novelty, that it felt too damn short. With “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, I didn’t get that feeling. And I wanted to enjoy it, I really, really did. But I couldn’t. And why? Well, mostly because “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” takes itself much too seriously. One thing I can’t begrudge “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” for is its excellent direction.
Tag Archives: Comedy
Over the Hedge (2006)
Little known fact for you which is sure to make you popular at parties: Before I knew this was based on an online comic, I thought this was a remake of “Pom Poko”. You can see my confusion with these stories if you knew film. “Pom Poko” is basically an Asian animated film about a group of animals living among a wilderness who discover that the nature they love is being devoured by houses, cities, and human residents. So, now you’re a better person for knowing that useless trivia. Moving on, I expected nothing from “Over the Hedge” and basically I received more than nothing. I received much of something that came from nothing… what was I talking about?
Roll Bounce (2005)
Hey, I won’t lie, I admit I wrote off “Roll Bounce” since the first trailer, and I didn’t even consider it would be a remotely watchable film, only because it looked like a complete replica of “Drumline”. But, when I began watching this, I realized I’d written it off unfairly. “Roll Bounce” is an admittedly cheesy, but utterly entertaining film that takes place in the fleeting period of disco, and roller disco. For those of you who have no idea what either of these things are you’re an idiot, but in simpler terms, roller disco was the fad you see on screen, and it was huge. “Roll Bounce” captures the essence of this fad with sheer charisma, while serving the kitsch and fantasy value of “Grease” and I had a lot of fun. Lee’s films is a lot like “You Got Served” except watchable, with a brain in its head, and actually exciting dance sequences about a young roller skater from the suburbs who goes to the roller rink with his friends every weekend.
Journey of the Dead (2005)
Who do you call when rock star zombies (what’s the difference?) attack your house? Steve Perry. Seriously. A couple of “The Darkness” loving yuppies arrive home one day to find their home under siege by the living dead. Living Dead Rock Stars. It makes sense. You like “The Darkness”, you should be killed.
Zombie Honeymoon (2004)
A few months ago, I saw a film called “Boy Eats Girl”, about a young man who dies and comes back as a zombie. The people who love him are willing to ignore his ravenous potentially murderous behavior because they just are that committed to him. “Zombie Honeymoon” is basically along those same lines. Except, in spite of its evident camp it’s much more in the vein of a tragedy, and it works. Can you love someone who is uncontrollably murderous? Can you love someone beyond circumstances that are not in your control? Do you fight the tide, or welcome it with open arms? “Zombie Honeymoon” in spite of its ludicrous title is actually much more classy and straight-faced than its moniker would dictate to audiences; which would also attribute to the lack of interest from many I’ve come across.
I Killed Tom@MySpace.com
What attributes to the current success and immense popularity of “My Space”? I can never really figure it out. I have a personal page and a networking one, so I won’t pretend I hate My Space, but for a site that runs well only half the time, has trouble loading, is incredibly slow, and is down half the time, I wonder why My Space continues to remain such a humongous website. One of the most ridiculous but warranted feuds on the mega website is the subscribers’ feuds with Tom. Who is Tom? Tom runs the entire site.
The Movie Extra (2005)
How desperate can one person be to star in a film, even as an extra? Apparently not as desperate as the main character in “The Movie Extra” who, on the phone for the entire film, tries to convince his agent to cast him as a Pakistani, a full blown homosexual (pun not intended), Denzel Washington’s stunt double, and a woman. Seriously.