3 Of A kind? - Adam Sandler

A couple of weeks ago I asked for comedy suggestions and I was told to check out Adam Sandler. Obviously I did I was told and throughout the week I've been fitting in his films when I can. As they are so many I thought I would save one in particular for a full review (to come soon) and bang some of the others in today's 3 of a kind..

I'm still looking for comedy films to watch by the way so if you can beat Adam Sandler GET IN TOUCH

Little Nicky (2000)

written by Adam Sandler. directed by Steve Brill

Who Does Sandler Play?: As the title suggests he plays Little Nicky who happens to be the devil's youngest son.

Who Else Does It Star?: Among others Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs) plays the devil himself while Rhys Ifans (Mr. Nice) and Tommy 'Tiny' Lister play his other two sons.

What Is It About?: The two older sons escape from Hell and decided to create some mischief down on Earth. With no other choice, the devil sends mild mannered Nicky to bring them back.

Good Bits?: Oh my, is so sweet! Sandler's character is quirky and adorable and although the film doesn't break any boundaries you will be rooting for Little Nicky in more ways that one.

Bad Bits?: There's some juvenile jokery in there that verge on a little vulgar but that could just be me and my humour.

Overall, Is It Funny?: Aside from what I have mentioned, yes it was. There was some giggly moments but it wasn't packed with them. What really shone through was a good little story and because of that I loved this film.

You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008)

written by Adam Sandler. directed by Dennis Dugan



Who Does Sandler Play?: Zohan, an Israeli special forces soldier.

Who Else Does It Star?:  John Turturro (Transformers), Emmanuelle Chriqui (Wrong Turn) and Nick Swardson (Just Go With It).

What Is It About?: Zohan who is an Israeli special forces soldier fakes his own death to escape to New York and pursue his dream of becoming a hairdresser.

Good Bits?: Look out for the taxi driver and a disagreement over the loss of a goat. It really is hilarious.

Bad Bits?: Again, there's some verging on vulgar moments but I am beginning to realise that perhaps I just don't have THAT sense of humour.

Overall, Is It Funny?: Oh my gosh YES! I laughed nearly all the way through this one :)

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

various writers. directed by Genndy Tartakovsky



Who Does Sandler Play?: He voices (because this is an animation) Dracula!

Who Else Does It Star?: The voice of Dracula's daughter Mavis is provided by Selena Gomez (A Cinderella Story) and the human of the film is voiced by Andy Samberg (Hot Rod).

What Is It About?: Dracula is the manager of a hotel that is a haven away from the human world, that is until a human finds the place!

Good Bits?: Seriously, EVERYTHING! From beginning to end this film is so endearing that I forgot I was essentially watching a cartoon. The characters are rounded and the story is great!

Bad Bits?: Does it's not long enough count?

Overall, Is It Funny?: It is but it is also more than that and that's why I included it here. Also, a second film is in the making so hurrah for that!!  

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Cinema Review - Listen Up Philip (2014)

After it's premiere at the Sundance Festival in January 2014 I have been itching to see Listen Up Philip but decided to wait for it's UK release so I could see it on the big screen. I'm glad I did.

 

I had heard of writer and director Alex Ross Perry from watching The Color Wheel which I happened to find mesmerising and very funny. I knew that with him with the reigns again I could look forward to some 'stick out like a sore thumb' characters and awkward comedy based on the grit of real life struggles, I wasn't disappointed.

Listen Up Philip is the story of, would you believe it, Philip who is an author awaiting publication of his second novel. He is not a happy bunny and is totally bored with both life and his relationship with girlfriend Ashley. When offered peace and refuge (in the form of a summer house) by his idol Ike Zimmerman he takes it and uses it to focus on his favourite subject, himself.

Jason Schwartzman  (The Grand Budapest Hotel) takes the title role and take it he does. He does narcissistic artiste with such a vacancy that confuses the viewer but not on a total negative. On the contrary what Schwartzman does is make Philip so unlikeable that his inner struggles are what become real and interesting. That pull is then taken right through the film with an insecurity of whether we are rooting for him or want him to fail. There's a hell of a lot of wit too, that awkward wit I talked about earlier, and it is delightful. Schwartzman's face shows blankness as he delivers funny in such a dry tone that sometimes it makes for uncomfortable viewing. You know what though? That's the point and it's brilliant.

Jonathan Pryce is equally funny as the ageing, prickly Zimmerman and when the two characters come together they mirror each other perfectly. Zimmerman is both fatherly and Philip's future self and Pryce is able to both bounce off Schwartzman and stand his own. The scenes towards the final act of the film between the two of them are some of my favourites because they honestly stick in my throat and stay there. The coming together of two minds allows a strange kindred spirit air to manifest itself that becomes gloriously overbearing, it's all very marmitey and I love it!

If Scwartzman brings blankness with abundance Elisabeth Moss (Girl,Interrupted) brings a whole load of emotion. She really is wonderful despite my worry early on that she would fade in amongst everything else going on around her. Instead, Moss plays raw but gutsy as her character deals with the aftermath of her relationship. Look out for an incredible close up that put a tear in my eye.

In essence then Listen Up Philip is quirky and coarse in characterisation but beautifully polished in everything else. For me flows fast and gives everything I expected. It made me laugh, made me cringe and very nearly made me cry.

Was it worth waiting a year for? Hell yeah it was!!

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Help! I Need Somebody!

Hey Guys (I know you are reading),

I really could do with some input from your lovely selves because I have hit a slump in a particular film genre so I am asking for you to tell me your favourites..

Comedy.

I have loads of posts on the way including cinema reviews, some more three of a kinds and my latest installment of the 30 day challenge but I want more comedy (I will take rom coms to) up here.

So....

Please let me know if you have a fave film I simply must see or if there's a film out there that you thought was rubbish and you'd like another opinion on?! I'd love to get interactive and review some stuff you guys have thrown at me!

Comment below or find me on FACEBOOK. Ohhhhh, you can tweet me too@thisgirlonfilm.

I can't wait to hear from you.

L x

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DVD Review - Geek Charming (2011)

I have always loved Disney. When I was a child I used to lap up every second of the colourful, near perfect world depicted in animation and as a result waited around until my early thirties until my prince charming came and swept me off my feet. It didn't happen of course but with Disney animation at least there's an element of suspension from the real world that allows children (and adults) to grip onto impossible hopes and dreams right?

What about the non animated movies then? The ones that are repeated at Christmas and the whole family gather to watch. Are they any different? Do they have a moral underlying the typical chocolate coated world of Disney and can the new releases still hold an itty bit of magic?

I set off to find out..

Geek Charming was originally released exclusively for the Disney channel in November 2011 only to be released to the DVD market a few weeks ago. It's based on a novel by Robin Palmer that was then re scripted by Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy and then directed by Jeffrey Hornaday. It stars Sarah Hyland (from ABC's sitcom Modern Family) and Mark Prokop.

Dylan Schoenfield is a snobby, popluar girl  who seemingly cares about nothing more than winning the school title of Blosson Queen. Josh Rosen is president of the school film club and wants nothing more than to win a prize at Puget Sound Film Festival. Of course, their two worlds collide when Josh wants to make Dylan the subject of his film. While she is busy giving him a taste of what it means to be popular, her world starts to crack and he begins to see a different side to a girl that would have normally avoided him against all costs.

If you have seen Mean Girls then you have seen this plot before and done marginally better I might add. It really is just another typical teen comedy about high school cliques and conforming to peer pressure. The story is somewhat predictable from the offset and the characterisations are exaggerated. I'm not sure how believable this makes it all however, I know I certainly didn't act like that at school but I do know girls that did. The cool kids have their own language along with the other things that make them, well... cool and although it all seems a little bit nonsensical, perhaps it's meant to be? Are we really supposed to understand what they're going on about? I'm not hip enough remember! 

I could pick holes in much of the films aesthetics. Prokop's Josh is nowhere near geeky enough for example and when Dylan gives him a make over about half way through I preferred the original.It's all personal preference though and what really gives this film some cred is Dylan's transition and the way Hyland's emotional evolution strips away the fake, brattish visage.

It's not perfect but it is Disney and is surely meant to be more entertaining than real. It tries to teach about misguided preconceptions but becomes cutesy by relying on that age old feeling associated with fairy tale endings. For me, that feeling (and hope) may never go away but unfortunately after one watch Geek Charming's memory just might.

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Cinema Review - The Dictator (2012)

I have always had a love/hate relationship with the work of Sacha Baron Cohen. I thought Ali G Indahouse was nonsense stretched out far too long to take it from TV to film and think over the years have probably tried (and failed) to watch it all the way through lots of times. In his next big project Borat, I thought he was a witty, satirical genius and lapped up every awkward minute. I don't know if I had grown up and was learning to have a sense of humour or whether it was just a better film but something must of switched again because Bruno made me cringe so badly that I was left confused as to whether I found it funny or not. His own characters are so highly  exagerated that sometimes they seem a little hard to take but funnily enough, at least for me, Sacha has dead on comic timing when playing a supporting role such as Jean Girard in Talladega Nights or Aldolfo Pirelli in Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd.

I digress of course, this isn't a post about what I do or don't like about this comedy actor's (very successful) career but of course I had all of the above in my mind when weeks ago I first saw the trailer for his new film The Dictator. The trailer was enough to peak my intrigue though and I may have even let out a giggle so first impressions were good enough for me to buy my ticket and see what this latest character was all about.

Admiral General Hafez Aladeen is childish and a little niave. He also has quite the ego brought on by the power of ruling the fictional region of Wadiya for forty years. His small mindedness makes him anti western and and he is completely consumed with his world of ruling and forced oppression on Wadiya's people. Sacha brings him to complete life of course, drawing on every single stereotype he can think which results in a somewhat jeuvenille character rather than one that is rounded. That on its own isn't necessarily a bad thing as Aladeen's childish persona is established early on but the jokes seem sloppy and are constantly repeated as if to force the audience to laugh because they didn't the first time. A quick look at the 'major' reviews about specifically those on The Dictator's official website tells me that I am in the minority with my opinions but still it all comes across as a bit lazy. 

Slapstick is funny. Making fun of something we don't fully understand is funny. Even the odd pooh and masturbation gag is funny. However, taking one of the most current political and cultural references that causes division and some confusion publicly and hitting it repeatedly with the stereotype brush really, really isn't. 

I will add here though a quick mention about the costumes which were a high point with their completely over the top madness. I was unsure whether I was watching a caricature of power mad ruler or a rock star but that's the point surely? Flamboyance should be glitzy and crazy and it was there at least to look at with sequins, prints and fancy dress military chic. A great example of when something is so wrong that it is so so right!

So what of the plot? Is there any more redemption to be found there? 

Put simply, the movie follows Aladeen as he is taken away from his empire and forced to live in the western world while watching his life (now being lived by a body double) unfold in front of him through news reports. Of course, he wants back in and plans to get there through any means possible with only one thing on his mind, to keep the people of Wadiya opressed and needy. 

Sacha has teamed up again with director Larry Charles who he worked with on both Borat and Bruno but has moved away from the mockumentary feel of the those, instead making as straighter a film as this really can be. On the whole this works with elements of Charles's Curb Your Enthusiasm work showing though and in parts that shock 'did that just happen' reflex rears up more than once.

The film does follow the simplest of plots which feels a tad disconnected at times but again, that's probably in order to cram as many gags in as possible.What it does achieve though is a bringing together of misfits when Aladeen meets alternative activist (who is brought to life byAnna Faris), who ultimately teaches him about her world and helps him eventually to see things a little differently. This addition to the story softens the character of Aladeen and even provokes sympathy and warmth in a kind of coming of age sort of way, this also helps to balance out the in your face aspects that seem to grind through the rest of the film.

All in all then, I seem to be still on the fence as far this form of comedy goes but I haven't given up hope yet. There was enough moments in the film not to discount it all together but I am also certain there will many out there who will absolutely love it, let me know what you think?!

photo credits: http://www.allmoviephoto.com

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