If this summer has taught us anything (besides the fact that comic-book movies are back for good), it’s that the name Judd Apatow practically guarantees a blockbuster.
“Pineapple Express” is no exception. Effortlessly combining the stoner genre with an action-packed thriller, the film manages to pay tribute to both while staying original.
The plot, while it won’t be putting Tarantino out of business any time soon, does what it needs to. That is, put Apatow’s usual cast of cronies is as many improv-inducing situations as possible.
Whether it is Seth Rogen and James Franco waxing about their newfound friendship, or Gary Cole and Rosie Perez alternating their desires for each other with murderous impulses, the film has enough give-and-take to make anyone crack up.
As a twenty-something process server with an 18-year-old girlfriend, Rogen requires massive amounts of cannabis to get through his day.
His dealer (Franco) is the closest thing he has to a friend, which is the reason Rogen hides at his place after witnessing a murder.
The addition of action allows Seth Rogen to flex his acting muscles, and he does a passable job of being furious, scared to death or overcome by emotion.
The comedy is also much more phycisal than previous Apatow films. There is plenty of witty back-and-forth, but there are slapstick scenes that are done with such reality that it makes the viewer laugh and cringe at the same time.
It seems that every Apatow move brings another potential comic superstar to the forefront. Last year it was McLovin, this year is Red. Played by the previously unknown Danny McBride, the invincible Red steals almost every scene he’s in.
When you consider he’s trading lines with as many established actors as there are in the film, his performance is even more impressive.
Almost every bit player in a Christopher Guest, Adam McKay or Apatow flick is given their zingers, and the result is a comedy that feels very familiar, but new at the same time.
There is plenty of gore, plenty of violence and more than enough f-words, but the film shows just how easy it is to make a funny movie when you cast funny people. The sense of comic timing between all the cast members is excellent, and the lines that are in the cutting room floor must be just as good.
It even resists the temptation to become a straight spoof of the action genre. It uses a few clichés, but only in carefully measured doses.
Quite simply, if you want to see a funny, obscene movie featuring funny, obscene people, then this movie hits the spot.
Rating - $10.00
Friday, August 8, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
X-Files: I Want to Believe
“The X-Files” remains one of the staples of ‘90s television. It was ahead of its time, existing in the decade before shows like “Arrested Development,” “Heroes” and “The Wire” were meant to be released on DVD, so crucial plot points wouldn’t be missed.
The show combined the police drama of “CSI,” the occult parts of “Lost” and the back and forth banter of “Bones” before such things even existed.
“The X-Files: I Want to Believe” brings Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully into the world of BlackBerrys and Google.
Six years after the series ended, we find the two agents have taken their lives in different directions, directions that don’t involve the FBI or the X-Files themselves.
Sure, Mulder is a little more jowly and Scully’s hair is blonder than the signature auburn bob that she wore during the show’s nine-year run. But the signature give-and-take between the two hasn’t lost a step, and the familiar roles of Mulder as the believer and Scully the skeptic return pretty quickly.
As soon as the five signature notes of the theme song are played and the familiar type crawls across the bottom-left corner of the screen, it won’t fail to bring nostalgia to any fan of the show.
The alien conspiracy is the 900-pound gorilla in the room, and it is dismissed quickly in the movie, allowing it to be a “monster-of-the-week” plot which can stand alone from the show.
In this day of trailers that show the ten best lines in the film, director Chris Carter kept the plot completely under wraps. This allows the viewer to go into the movie not knowing what to expect, which is a rarity in today’s cinema.
Fans of the suspense genre will enjoy the film, even if some references to the show will go unnoticed. The main plot moves along fairly quickly, but it is a little bogged down by a subplot involving Scully and her medical profession.
Gillian Anderson reprises her role very well, she is able to portray Scully’s delicate emotional state with a minimum of words, allowing her face to give a window to her mind.
David Duchovny, despite his wish to leave the series before it ended, seems like he is glad to be back to his signature role. He hasn’t lost a bit of the wry humor of Fox Mulder, and his dedication to his work that consumed him in the show comes back with a vengeance.
The supporting cast, which includes rapper Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner, Billy Connelly (“The Last Samurai”) and Amanda Peet (“Syriana”), lets Mudler and Scully take control, but they add to the film’s depth. Each one has at least one scene where they steal the focus, and this helps the film get beyond just a simple television remake.
Unfortunately, fans curious about the status of Mulder and Scully’s relationship won’t get any concrete resolution, as the film raises more questions than it answers on the subject.
At 105 minutes, the movie isn’t too long, but if the reintroductions and subplot were taken out, it would fill a normal episode of the show.
The big question with any silver screen adaptation of the television show is how it will play to both the show’s fans and the casual moviegoer.
Fans of the show should not miss the movie, even if they got tired of the alien conspiracy that dominated the later seasons. The prospect of Mulder and Scully working together on a case that defies explanation is too good to pass up.
Rating - $7.50
The show combined the police drama of “CSI,” the occult parts of “Lost” and the back and forth banter of “Bones” before such things even existed.
“The X-Files: I Want to Believe” brings Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully into the world of BlackBerrys and Google.
Six years after the series ended, we find the two agents have taken their lives in different directions, directions that don’t involve the FBI or the X-Files themselves.
Sure, Mulder is a little more jowly and Scully’s hair is blonder than the signature auburn bob that she wore during the show’s nine-year run. But the signature give-and-take between the two hasn’t lost a step, and the familiar roles of Mulder as the believer and Scully the skeptic return pretty quickly.
As soon as the five signature notes of the theme song are played and the familiar type crawls across the bottom-left corner of the screen, it won’t fail to bring nostalgia to any fan of the show.
The alien conspiracy is the 900-pound gorilla in the room, and it is dismissed quickly in the movie, allowing it to be a “monster-of-the-week” plot which can stand alone from the show.
In this day of trailers that show the ten best lines in the film, director Chris Carter kept the plot completely under wraps. This allows the viewer to go into the movie not knowing what to expect, which is a rarity in today’s cinema.
Fans of the suspense genre will enjoy the film, even if some references to the show will go unnoticed. The main plot moves along fairly quickly, but it is a little bogged down by a subplot involving Scully and her medical profession.
Gillian Anderson reprises her role very well, she is able to portray Scully’s delicate emotional state with a minimum of words, allowing her face to give a window to her mind.
David Duchovny, despite his wish to leave the series before it ended, seems like he is glad to be back to his signature role. He hasn’t lost a bit of the wry humor of Fox Mulder, and his dedication to his work that consumed him in the show comes back with a vengeance.
The supporting cast, which includes rapper Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner, Billy Connelly (“The Last Samurai”) and Amanda Peet (“Syriana”), lets Mudler and Scully take control, but they add to the film’s depth. Each one has at least one scene where they steal the focus, and this helps the film get beyond just a simple television remake.
Unfortunately, fans curious about the status of Mulder and Scully’s relationship won’t get any concrete resolution, as the film raises more questions than it answers on the subject.
At 105 minutes, the movie isn’t too long, but if the reintroductions and subplot were taken out, it would fill a normal episode of the show.
The big question with any silver screen adaptation of the television show is how it will play to both the show’s fans and the casual moviegoer.
Fans of the show should not miss the movie, even if they got tired of the alien conspiracy that dominated the later seasons. The prospect of Mulder and Scully working together on a case that defies explanation is too good to pass up.
Rating - $7.50
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