Judd Apatow, who often uses viral marketing for his films, dropped his latest fake production on us this week, though it’s not for a fake film; it’s a double-edged look at the fake NBC series Yo Teach! And besides coming along after the concept has been done to death, it also seems to miss the point. While seemingly trying to come off as a parody of sitcoms, it actually looks like something a lot of people want to watch.
In Funny People Jason Swartzman plays the star of the NBC comedy Yo Teach! There's even a Yo Teach! website.
And here's the clip from the show. Check out the principal. Look familiar? (Boy, do I feel old now.)
How do I love the movie I Love You, Man? Let me count the ways. First, I just adore Paul Rudd in whatever movie he is in. My crush on Paul started with Clueless way back in 1995. He could have continued in that vein and been the sweet boyfriend in light films, but he's had an interesting career including choosing to do theater on Broadway after Clueless instead. Recently, he's become part of the Judd Appatow stable, and had memorable supporting roles in Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Forgetting Sarah Marshall showed the chemistry between Rudd's surf instructor and Jason Segel. It was inspired to cast them in a bromance.
Paul Rudd's Peter is a girlfriend guy who draws a blank at who will be his best man at his upcoming wedding. He actively tries to find a new best friend, and meets Segel's Sydney at an open house he's hosting. They bond over fish tacos and their love of the band Rush.
I have not laughed out loud so hard at the movies in a long time. It was hilarious and sweet at the same time. Jon Favreau has a very funny small part as the husband of one of Rudd's fiancee's friends.
My own husband went through something similar to Rudd's character when we moved to our town. It's much more difficult, it seems, for guys to make new friends. I had the mom thing to bond with other women I met, but for him it took more time.
I give I Love You, Man three and a half stars and a strong recommendation. You will laugh your ass off!
I'm very excited that Jason Segel wrote a spinoff to Forgetting Sarah Marshall for Russell Brand's rock star character Aldous Snow. Get Him to the Greek is due out in 2010.
I had heard that Funny People, Judd Appatow's next film, would be about stand up comics. This is not the story I was expecting, but I'm intrigued. Love the part mocking Eric Bana's accent! Due out July 31.
Hmmm. Judd Apatow is reuniting the Talledega Nights co-stars in a Sherlock Holmes comedy. Sacha Baron Cohen will play Holmes with Will Ferrell as Watson. At least Sacha Baron Cohen has a natural English accent! Read all about it in Variety.
I have never watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother, so I had no idea who the star, Jason Segel of Forgetting Sarah Marshall was when I saw the film last week. It had the brand stamp of "produced by Judd Apatow", and therefore you kind of know what you're in for. Something raunchy, laugh out loud funny and not just a little bit sweet. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is all those things and Jason Segel is not only a very good writer, but he is one brave man. (I didn't realize till the credits that he also wrote the film.) You've probably heard by now that one of the opening scenes has Peter (Segel) standing full frontal nude as his girlfriend Kristen Bell (of Heroes) breaks up with him. FULL frontal and hilarious. Yes, this is an R film, but can you remember a guy being naked in a film showing all since, well, Richard Gere in American Gigolo? Mark Wahlberg's prosthetic schlong in Boogie Nights doesn't count. I whispered to my friend "Equal time!!", and it's about time, dammit! Peter's girlfriend Sarah keeps asking him to get dressed, and he refuses, saying if he puts his pants on then it will be real that she's leaving him.
Peter is devastated by the breakup, and goes to Hawaii on vacation to forget, but guess who is at the same resort with her British rocker boyfriend. Minor characters are played by actors from the Apatow stable -- Paul Rudd as a hilarious stoner surfing instructor, and Jonah Hill as restaurant host and uber fan of the rocker. The breakout performance is Russell Brand as rocker Aldous Snow. I have never seen this actor before, and let me tell you, this guy will be getting some major work from this film. He is a riot, and even Peter can't hate him.
My friend put her finger on the whole movie. She said as the credits were rolling, "That was a chick movie! Peter acted just like a chick would to a breakup." It's very true. This is a movie about a guy, but in reversing the roles it could have been the plot of any number of chick flicks, which was interesting. Also, I found it interesting that even though it's a broad comedy, no one was a stereotype, and you can't fully hate or dislike anyone. Even the ex-girlfriend, who in many movies would be a two-dimensional bitch, has real reasons for the breakup. And her rocker promiscuous boyfriend even Peter says is too cool to hate.
I really liked this movie, and highly recommend it. I give it three and a half stars. It was already playing at the cheap theater in our town, but is definitely one to watch for on DVD. Jason Segel is a talented writer as well as an actor, and I just read that he is penning a new Muppet Movie! Jason will be rejoining Paul Rudd in I Love You Man out in 2009.
Watch the Reel Geezers on Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They didn't both love the film, but caught the exact same chick flick vibe that we did. Watching them discuss the nude scene is a riot! Warning -- Spoilers in their review!
Ahhh, summer! My youngest son has been visiting some cousins, so my older two boys and I took advantage and saw two PG-13 films over the last two nights. Counting Sex and the City on Wed., that's three movies at the theater in three nights for me!
I am not Adam Sandler's biggest fan. Wedding Singer will always have a place in my heart for all the 80's nostalgia, and 50 First Dates is equally sweet, but I have never really sought out his more guy-centric movies like Happy Gilmore. I had seen the previews for Zohan, and my kids wanted to see it. I agree with Roger Ebert's review -- you know you shouldn't be laughing because it's so coarse and un-P.C., but you do anyway even if you feel guilty.
I didn't just laugh at this film -- I HOWLED with laughter. OMG, it was so funny. They played hacky sack with a CAT for God's sake, and I still laughed! This was not a film to bring my almost 12 year old to, however. There are TONS of sex jokes, and Zohan not only cuts the hair of all those nice older Jewish women, but he services them in the back room! As we were walking out of the theater, my son deadpanned, "Well, I won't be recommending this one to my friends." LOL
Yes, this film is coarse, full of foul gags, and jokes about big penises. If that's going to offend your sensibilites, stay away. But if you want to laugh, really have a belly laugh, then check this latest Sandler film out. Three stars. Sandler wrote the Zohan script with Judd Apatow, and will be appearing next in Apatow's upcoming film about stand-up comedy.
I love movies and the Oscars are my Super Bowl. I am also a news and political junkie. This blog is eclectic, as I come across all sort of interesting things as I web surf. I post news about upcoming films and my own movie reviews.
