Sweet Release Tuesday: Beyond "Sex and the City" Movie/DVD Fever

Go, Simon, Go!

I'm keeping this week's new DVD release update short and sweet, and not even starting with the movie that beat out the typical action/adventure summer blockbusters for box office gold. No, I'd rather discuss two other movies first - helmed by actors/writers and actors/directors. 

There's something about the multi-talented Simon Pegg that impresses and entertains me. His brand of humor (as a comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer) is a wildly successful U.K. export (see Shaun of the Dead - my favorite movie of 2004, and on my all-time favorites list). Pegg has achieved cult hero status among film geeks in Austin, appearing at the marathon of his Channel 4 series "Spaced" at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Ritz), dubbed Spaced-Numb-A-Thon. He continues building his writing cred and exercises his comedic acting muscles in Run, Fatboy, Run, which appears to be (loosely) based on a late '70s film Running. Pegg teams up with American buddy and "Friends" alumnus David Schwimmer, who does more than a decent job as director of Fatboy, and I look forward to their next project behind - and in front of - the camera. 

Pegg plays Dennis, an irresponsible, commitment-phobic man who jilt his pregnant fiancee at the alter, and tries to win her back by committing to training and running a marathon. The casting seemed a bit odd at first, with considerably older Hank Azaria playing Pegg's romantic foil, and the graceful Thandie Newton's Libby seems a bit out of fatboy's league. Maybe I shouldn't be so snobby, so I'm recommending to buy Run, Fatboy, Run or adding it in your top 10 on the Netflix queue if you can't rent a copy from a favorite local video store, like I ♥ Video, or Vulcan.

 

KTC Rating: 3 out of 5 (Spots of brilliance, but not Pegg's best work.)

Average Critc & Audience Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I've been impressed with George Clooney ever since he directed Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002, starring Sam Rockwell as "Game Show Producer/CIA Hitman" Chuck Barris), and co-wrote and directed the understated (and brlliant) story of Edward R. Murrow vs. McCarthyism, Good Night and Good Luck. With his third feature, Leatherheads, Clooney chooses a physically tougher and intellectually lighter subject, about the early days of gridiron, pro football. When I watched the preiviews, I knew it would probably have trouble at the box office, and not just because of the oddball love triangle between characters played by Clooney, Renée Zellweger, and John Krasinski (Jim Halper, "The Office"). I'm a fan of all three actors, but I can't say I'm a big fan of the story and overall execution of the adorably plucky historical comedy. Leatherheads got panned (or ignored) by many critics, also a bad sign at the box office if you're part of the Hollywood elite. 

The story of Leatherheads is simple: Set in the roaring 1920s, a golden college footballer is recruited by a coach, an injured has-been, and they spend the next hour and a half or so love tackling the not so innocent ingenue, the goldenboy's fiancee. But it's really about the early, rough and no rules ways of American football. I'm not a sports fan, let alone a sports movie fan, so this one doesn't get extra points for appealing to my romantic comedy side. 

KTC Rating: 2.5 of 5 (Forgettable at the box office, but a decent rental.)

Avg. Rating: 3 of 5

I want that dress. 

I won't bore you with details about Sex and the City: The Movie, now on DVD. Buy it, or rent it if you spent too much money at the shoe department at Macy's, throw a cocktail party and guess which one of your friends is like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda.

KTC Rating: 3.5 of 5 (Good, but don't expect it to be like the HBO series.) 

Avg. Rating: 6 of 5 - kidding - 4 of 5

Next Week's Sweet Release: Iron Man!

~ diy danna

Sweet Release Tuesday: From "The Babysitters" to "Young @ Heart"

They grow up so fast...

I missed all but one of the 5 "sweet release" movies on the big screen, and I'm really on disappointed about missing one. It's a mostly sour week for DVD releases,  but I'll do my best to be a sweetart about the update. And check out our new samurai sword ratings. Just like the KTC logo, they'll stay till QT gets hip.

The Babysitters  If you expect a wholesome movie about the lives of babysitters, kindly lower your expectations. This trifle released in 2007 and soon forgotten appears to borrow from hooker exploitation movies rather than "The Babysitters Club". According to my online movie bible, IMDB.com: "A teenager turns her babysitting service into a call-girl service for married guys after fooling around with one of her customers.". I can't recommend buying this one, unless you're an independent movie theatre programmer looking for bad cinema in the year 2038. I will recommend renting it, because the actors (John Leguizamo, Cynthia Nixon) are quality even if the writing and direction aren't. 

KTC Rating: 2 out of 5 stars (For making me chuckle and cringe at the same time.)
Avg. Critic/Audience Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Love Guru  "His Karma is Huge"?! I won't pretend to understand why Mike Myers (who co-wrote the script) made this movie. Myers portrays a fledgling self-help guru, and I can't help but wonder if he wants to be the next Peter Sellers. He's trying to hard for laughs - and it shows in the trailers and reviews. Sometimes the critics are right. I'm taking the the advice of one of them and buying the Austin Powers' movies. There's a cool deal on the series on VHS at the local Dollar General. I discovered it while looking for a board game I could play while babysitting. Last weekend we watched "Goldmember", and this weekend we're buying "The Spy Who Who Shagged Me".  The original Austin Powers can wait a while. Or I'll rent Casino Royale. 

KTC Rating: 1 out of 5 (Feeling little pity for Pitka.)
Avg. Rating:  2 out of 5 stars

Made of Honor  Who else remembers the '80s classic "Can't Buy Me Love"? Well, the premise of Patrick Dempsey's "My Best Friend's Wedding" rip-off makes me miss the good old days when he was charmingly goofy - and he still got the girl. In this romantic comedy, Dempsey is a player who pitches poo - I mean woo - to his best friend after she asks him to be his maid of honor. I don't know (or care) if he gets the girl in this one, but I do know it sems decent enough to recommend as a rental at the $1 kiosk at the Wal-Mart or McDonald's. 

KTC Rating: 2 out of 5  (I'd rather watch Dempsey for free on "Grey's Anatomy".)
Avg. Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Speed Racer - The Wachowski brothers visual candy was panned by many critics, but I didn't mind the over-the-top cinematography and when I caught this as a preview at the Alamo South. The nearly perfect casting of actors and adorable Chim-Chim (non-CGI, thank goodness) rekindled my fondness for the bizarre animated series. Christina Ricci nearly wore out my last cuteness nerve as Trixie, but I now have a crush on Emile Hersch (Speed), and more respect for Matthew Fox (Racer X) who isn't content just resting in the paradise of "Lost".   And the kid playing Young Speed is a scene stealer. The downside of watching this is the exact reason I can't recommend buying it - unless you have a jumbo flat screen or tricked out home theatre. The sights and sounds are best seen on the big screen, especially the unbelievable off-track sequences and wacky announcers. Rent it this week and enjoy. 

KTC Rating: 3 out of 5
Avg. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Young at Heart  I'm imagining my beloved maternal grandmother singing covers of rock classics, and laughing. Not because it would be ridiculous, or adorable, but because she couldn't carry a tune with a handle. That expressed, I enjoyed watching the trailer of this movie at the Arbor, and wasn't happy about missing it in theatres. The independent documentary about senior citizens bringing the joy of living to others through the joy of music is inspiring as it is humorous. Or so I've read...Highly recommended to buy and add to your indie cred, or rent and rock out with the seniors thanks to Vulcan or I ♥ Video if the wait for Netflix is too long. 

KTC Rating: 4 out of 5
Avg. Rating: 4 out of 5

And that's it for sweet releases - until next week.

~ diy danna 

Sweet Release Tuesday:  Battle of the DVD Rentals - Tina Fey's "Baby Mama" vs. Helen Hunt's "Then She Found Me"

DVD Release Today: Alternate ending of "Baby Mama"; An actor's directorial debut - "Then She Found Me".

I've been a fan of Academy Award winner Helen Hunt ever since "Quarterback Princess", when she won the game, the guy, and our hearts in a feel good family film that made the budding feminist inside me smile. I stopped watching "Saturday Night Live" religiously about the time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey became a writer for the show I grew up watching. I remember watching "Mad About You", wondering why Hunt wasn't on the big screen making me laugh. I'd occasionally grin at Fey's commentary on the faux news sketch "Weekend Update", and guffaw to see Will Ferrell do something completely insane on SNL (which may or may not have been written by Fey). Then I'd tune out until a quick comedy sketch by former Austin, TX based comedy trio Mr. Sinus (a.k.a. The Sinus Show). Two rising stars. Same network (NBC). Two different reactions to their talent.  

Actress Helen Hunt went on to grab the Oscar for "As Good As It Gets" (1997), portrayed a powerful ad exec opposite Mel Gibson in "What Women Want", a hardened mother in "Pay It Forward" (2000), and starred in an overlooked Woody Allen comedy homage to screwball and film noir classics "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" (2001). But Hollywood, audiences, and time aren't always kind to its leading ladies, and it seems that Hunt is reinventing herself - as a director. 

"Then She Found Me" is Hunt's directorial debut. She also stars in this independent production adapted from a novel by Elinor Lipman that has been praised for its take on romance, motherhood, and what it means to be a fulfilled woman. It has also been panned for the same reason - relegated to basic cable telelvision movie status. There are a few dull moments in this new indie release, which wasn't marketed as well as and spent less time on screen than Fey's major studio gem "Baby Mama".   

Fey has been on the track to success, becoming SNL's first female head writer, which I respect. She penned the script for "Mean Girls" (2004), and makes a funny appearance as a high school teacher who gets caught in the crossfire of characters played by Lindsay Lohan and  the scene-stealing, brilliant Rachel McAdams (see "The Notebook", "Wedding Crashers", "Red Eye"). I don't watch much of "30 Rock", which from what I have seen resembles SNL, but I hear and read nothing but rave reviews. But when it comes to performance and her latest popular release, "Baby Mama", I was a little disappointed with the lowbrow, juvenile humor. I love a good immature gag, and Amy Poehler is always interesting to watch, but the load of gags overwhelms the sensitive topic which could have used a lighter, literate touch at certain moments - something "SNL" is not famous for delivering.

I'm not begruding Fey's success. Although I have publicly admitted to not enjoying most of her performances on television, she makes a lot of other people laugh, and I appreciate her working as a writer, comedian, actor, and producer in male dominated media. But I am a little bothered by Hunt's struggle for respectability and success as a filmmaker in a market that doesn't respect a different comedic approach to women's lives and struggles. Why is it literate movies about women's lives are considered inferior to the broad comedy that pokes fun at our biological and personal needs as women? Luckily, Hunt is still considered "A-List" in Hollywood, and Fey is still running the comedy race. Maybe she'll spoof Republican V.P. candidate Sarah Palin as a guest on "SNL"?  Maybe there is hope for more quality entertainment produced by women.

You may not want to dole out the extra money to purchase either DVD, but I recommend adding these to your Netflix or Blockbuster queues, or making a trip to your favorite local video store, like Vulcan or I ♥ Video.

Here are the DVD stats, with a KTC rating:

Baby Mama (2008) - A thirty-something businesswoman wants to have a baby, and a surrogate is found, with comical results. Read the studio synopsis @ IMDB.com.  
Director/Writer: Michael McCullers
Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler
U.S. Screen Release: 25 April 2008 (Universal Pictures) 
DVD Release : 9 September 2008
Critics/Audience Rating Avg.: 2.5 (out of 4 stars)
KTC Rating: 2

Then She Found Me (2008) - "A New York schoolteacher hits a midlife crisis when, in quick succession, her husband leaves, her adoptive mother dies and her biological mother, an eccentric talk show host, materializes and turns her life upside down as she begins a courtship with the father of one of her students. " (IMDB synopsis by CartmanKun@aol.com)
Director: Helen Hunt
Writers: Hunt, Alice Arlen, Victor Levin
Cast: Hunt, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler
U.S. Screen Release: 2 May 2008
DVD Release: 9 September 2008
Critics/Audience Rating Avg.: 3 (out of 4 stars)

KTC Rating: 3

Happy Sweet Release Day!

~ diy danna