Blu-Ray Review: Did You Hear About The Morgans?

DYHATM is a bad film. Not Chipmunks bad...but bad anyways. It just stretches for laughs and feels convulated and thrown together.

Meryl Judith Morgan and Paul Michael Morgan are a couple on the verge of breaking up...until they witness a murder and are forced to stay together thanks to a witness protection program. Now in the country, they'll have to survive the outdoors...and each other.

This film has nary a funny moment (a good Palin joke is ruined in the trailer) and the film is just rushed throughout with a feeling of no conclusion. In a way, the movie just rushes around, hoping for money and laughs to come. But they never do. Hugh Grant looks bored and Sarah Jessica Parker is obviously faking that smile she has on. As usual, Sam Elliot does what he can with this material. But even this country boy can't keep this floppy "comedy" afloat.

Rating: 5.0 out of 10 or D+

SYS

Film Review: Date Night

Steve Carrel is a genuis. Tina Fey is side-splitting, gut busting funny. Combine it hem and what do you get? A mediocore slice of comedy, undone by too many cameos and action scenes.

Steve and tina play a couple who have gotten into a routine. A fairly boring routine. When their friends (played with perfect wit by Kristen Wiig and Mark Ruffalo) divorce, they fear they're heading down the same path. So they go out to a fancy restraunt. After they steal a reservation, though, they find the couple they stole that reservation from are being hunted by spies...

Obviously, all HAS to end up well here. That's not the main porlbem here. The main crack in the fixture is this: the action is badly paced and (strangely) feels out of place. When Steve and Tina are throwing jokes around, the film peaks. When Ray Liotta and many, many, many, many MANY MANY others turn up, though, it ruins what could've been classic comedic pairing.

That's not to say the film is all bad. Mark and Kristen are show-stealers and,m as I said, Steve and Tina were born to be a duo. And Mark Wahlberg's scene will have you in stitches (why else is he in the other photo in this review?) The film just suffers from being too many things...and yet still having enough to warrant a rental or (perhaps) a date night.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10 or B

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Sean Re-Becomes A Stooge

Sean Penn has returned to The Three Stooges as Larry. Benico Del Toro will play Moe. The only role left is Curly. Jim Carrey would've played him, but he dropped out.

This project should be out by 2012. This is an interesting one. Could Shemp be in it perhaps? We shall see.

SYS

The Hangover of Sales

The years biggest comedy is the 1# DVD in America for 2 weeks in a row. Now that's something! And to think, like The Blind Side, we thought the film woud bomb!

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Blu-Ray Review: Elf

Will Ferrel owes everything to Elf. This film really made him stand out to many people and to this day remains something of his peak in hilarity and profitability.

In this gem, Buddy (Will Ferrel) is a human who stowed away on Santa's sleigh as a baby. Now, he's been raised as an elf and learns he's really a human. He then goes to New York to meet his father for the first time.

What sounds stupid actually is one of the best comedies in recent years. Buddy is so innocent and brilliantly played that you just laugh and blush every time he does something wrong. Even a bit out of place action moment at the end is forgiven. YEs, it's that good!

James Caan really shines as Buddy's father and everyone else does fine jobs as well. Elf has been out now 6 years, yet I never stop laughing at it. Good job.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10 or A-

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Blu-Ray Review: Night at The Museum: Battle of The Smithsonian

Night at the Museum 2 has a nice edge to it. It has a lot of fun bits in it and has a standout character. Overall it feels like something very fun and a nice outing for both kids and grown ups.

This time around Larry Dally (Ben Stiller) has become an entrepreneur & has forgotten about his old guard days. However, when all the exhibts are shipped to Washington, Larry must save them from an evil Pharoah.

That evil Pharoah happens to be the funniest thing in a long time. Played by Hank Azaria, he has comic timing usually reserved for SNL or Robin Williams. Amy Adam also delights as Amelia Earheart, making a good love interest for Larry.

One complaint I must raise is that Larry is away from the museum from the first film for almost the entire film. This leaves characters like Rexy and Teddy Roosevelt. It feels like a wasted oppurtunity.

Still, the film is a nice time and a good present for kids or even teens under the tree this year.

Rating: B+ or 8 out of 10

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Film Review: Old Dogs

Old Dogs is an odd puppy. By that, I mean it's just plain, flat out strange. I feel like the filmmakers were given a choice: Tone down a new Wild Hog's like film or get out. The makers took the first option and ran with it. What we get is a very jumbled up picture that you sincerely wish had been just better and much funnier.

The film is about Dan (Robin Williams) and Charlie (John Travolta) who learn that Dan's one night wife had kids. So Dan has a big problem, especially when you count that Dan also has a big sports franchise to handle! What will happen next??

I think we all see the end coming 40 miles away. In fact, during the previews you know how this will turn out. But that can be overlooked. After all, we knew how Transformers 2 and Up would turn out. Yet their great films. Why isn't this that great then? BEcause not a soul is really funny here.

Seth Green..Robin Williams..Justing Long...how did this not end up being uproarious. They spoiled everything good in the TV spots, that's why. Unlike, Wild Hogs, surprises are not left unturned. I liked Wild Hogs, but I was bewildered by this obvious cash-in. Too much filthy toilet humour is here, though I did like when John Travolta met the kids and when Seth Green serenades a gorilla.

Stupidity makes money in Hollywood it seems. This isn't the worst film of the year, but it's certainly not very good and one to avoid altogether. See Fox or Christmas Carol or Blind Side instead.

Rating: C- or 5.7 out of 10

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The Y Bomb: Land of The Lost

In this weekly column, we'll look at movies that bombed and why they were a flop

I just reviewed Land of The Lost and felt it was a really funny film. So why did it bomb?

I remember when the film came out. There was a ton of marketing for it. Yet, it seemed to look either too child-friendly or too mature. It's hard to take a film seriously when you first see it's trailer on Disney's Earth and then on Drag Me To Hell. You just don't think the film is worth your time.

Also, Land of The Lost fell into the same problem Bruno and Funny People had: it's unrelatable. Earlier this year we had I Love You, Man. Everyone relates to needing a pal and feeling dated. Who relates to going through time warps? The everyday situation is becoming the norm for comedies. That's probably why Mike Myers flopped with The Love Guru last year.

There may be a market for out-of-this-world comedies, but it's getting smaller by the year. In my opinion, that's why Land of The Lost bombed. Marketing and poor demographic.

SYS

DVD Review: Land of The Lost

Land of The Lost was reviled and loathed upon its release this past June. Now, call me crazy, but this film had me laughing riotously throughout. Maybe I have a low IQ, but I liked this film a lot.

This film is about Rick Marshall, a scientist who believes in time warps. He soon tests out a device that travels through time warps with Dr. Holly and tour guide Will. However, the land they discover is full of dinosaurs and lizard like Sleestacks. There soon is trouble ahead and they have to get home before it's too late...

A fun thing in this film are the dinosaurs. I liked Grumpy, a T-Rex that chases after Rick throughout the movie. Although with all the language in the film his name seems too childish, he still is fun to have around since he's very vicious and scary.
Will Ferrel is fun as Rick, as is Danny McBride as Will and Jorma Tacome as the monkey/person Chaka.

The film is a comedy up front, though, and it shows. There's many a good laughs, including a hilarious one at Matt Lauer's expense, including Rick's title of the book he publishes on Time Warps. Another good one is Chaka has a great singing voice. I kid you not!

There are a few missteps, like a motel sequence that goes on WAAAAAAAAAAY too long. However, overall the film is a delight that shouldn't be missed, especially if you liked Will Ferrel's other films like Blades of Glory or Anchorman.

Rating: 7.8 out of 10 or B+

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Pranks and Greens Tonight!

A new Simpsons will air tonight called Pranks and Greens. It airs at 7:00 on FOX. I'll have a review up tomorrow for it.

In this one, Bart learns of the best prankster in Springfield: Andy Hamilton (Jonah Hill). Soon, Andy needs Bart's help to get a job and Bart realizes what it truly means to be a hooligan.

Sounds like a good time. I hope to see good ratings for it as well.

SYS