Why must we sympathize with a stupid character? Not a “ha-ha” stupid character, but an “Oh my god what an idiot” stupid character? We can’t, so we don’t. But Murphy is so cute, you’ll say. Who gives a crap? She’s kind of goofy looking, but that’s not my point. Why should we give a crap about this character who is so utterly irritating and obnoxious we are forced to sit through a two hour (!) movie about her “adventures” to discover her boyfriend is a lying, cheating, shit-for-brains? Shit-for-brains, meet shit-for-brains, because that’s what this movie is after all is said and done.
Tag Archives: Comedy
Dead End (2003)
The whole film goes about itself in a rather coy manner from beginning to end. The writers of this have this constant attitude to the audience telling us “Oh, we’re going somewhere with this! You just watch the magic happen!” But the problem is, there’s no magic and the film goes nowhere and beyond. “Dead End” is a title that has never been so proper of its story, before, because the film is a dead end from the very beginning. The entire film thinks its so clever leading us along these ridiculous sequences all for a “surprise” ending that is so utterly predictable, derivative, and yawn inducing, so the writers take us nowhere and bring us to this zero pay off moment all for the sake of camp.
Coffee and Cigarettes (2004)
As per Jim Jarmusch style, “Coffee and Cigarettes” is a study, not only of human nature, and conversation, but also on unbridled meandering within gestures and just conversation in general which prompt uncomfortably silences and really fascinating situations that are often very amusing and engrossing. Filmed in stark black and white, Jarmusch examines conversation and human interaction while prompting his fascination with Coffee and Cigarettes, an admittedly unhealthy diet that all of the characters use in their sketches. As a love of coffee and a sheer hater of cigarettes, the film did manage to make for some entertaining sketches that shows off the talents of its stars while inadvertently paying homage to “Waiting for Gidoux”.
Under Milk Wood (1972)
From the play by Dylan Thomas, “Under Milk Wood” examines not only a colorful array of individuals that pepper the town of Llareggub, a small but flourishing village of people who scheme, gossip, and co-habituate among one another in this village of oddballs and eccentrics. The well-acted piece closely resembles Thomas’ play in which often times we pan through the rooms over and over exploring these villagers. The film, set in different locales, doesn’t really have much of a focus, instead we explore each villager over and over and, surely, this is that experimental art film that movie-goers fear intently. It’s often times very whimsical with Richard Burton who pulls in a good performance as the narrator exposing the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the town folks through his serene storytelling.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
After Stephen Chow’s hilarious “Shaolin Soccer”, he comes back with yet another very funny action-comedy that is part Chuck Jones, part Bruce Lee. The marriage of tense, engrossing martial arts action, and off the wall screwball antics that would make Tex Avery gleam with pride, is a task that wouldn’t be an easy one by any means, but director Stephen Chow balances the two accordingly, and as the climax becomes more action than comedy, there is still a sense of the goofy to it, a goofiness that some will love for its sheer originality, and some won’t for that same fact. Chow manages to create some of the most screwy comedy I’ve seen in a long time, while he manages to spoof much of his influences such as “The Shining” and “Thriller” as do all the directors whom have been impacted by pop culture.
Camp Slaughter (Camp Daze) (2005)
So, as I’ve mentioned a million times, I’m a hardcore slasher fan. Aside from being a hardcore horror fan, I also am a fan of the sub-genre, and director Alex Pucci and writer Draven Gonzalez really seem to know their stuff when it pertains to slashers, and that’s one reason why I was smiling throughout the entire film. The film opens as you would expect any slasher to. Dark creepy camp, a camp sing-along with a ridiculously catchy hook, and then death. And then more death. The ending though is very similar to the opening of “Friday the 13th”, hell even the score and opening title nearly make it almost identical, and my attention was caught. I loved the opening simply because director Pucci captures the mood very well and almost copies the original film to the tee.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
When “Anchorman” premiered in theaters, it managed to cause quite a stir, especially with newsmen who proclaimed despite being a comedy, the film was shockingly true to the personality of a real anchorman, especially in the seventies. Ferrell’s performance as Anchorman Ron Burgundy is such a true work of comedic gold, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role besides him. “Anchorman” is such a goofy, very silly, but often very funny comedy that not only pokes fun at anchormen, and the seventies but makes great use of its entire cast leaving no actor unused. “Anchorman’s” overt goofiness will be off-putting to people expecting something more adult, but this is not to be taken seriously.