Reviews
Knocked Up
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Judd Apatow |
| Written by: | Judd Apatow |
| Starring: | Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel |
| Released: | July 5, 2007 |
| Grade: | A- |
Alison Scott (Heigl) has just been given the promotion of a lifetime. Working behind the scenes at the E! television network, her bosses now think she is “camera worthy”. They want her to interview big-name celebrities and include them in one of their major entertainment shows. To celebrate, Alison and her sister, Debbie (Mann), head to a nightclub for some big celebrations.
Ben Stone (Rogen) is an unemployed loser who lives in a share-house with four other guys. They love to drink alcohol, smoke weed and create stupid bets. They are currently designing a website which tells you in which movies celebrities get naked and so the bulk of their day is spent watching videos on the couch. Looking for a good time one night, Ben and his friends head out on the town.
It is at this point where Alison and Ben first meet. Both blindly drunk, they listen to each other’s dribble, they dance on the dance floor and then they back to Alison’s place for a one night stand. When Alison awakes the next morning and sees Ben’s naked body on the bed, she realises that this was a big mistake. This guy is not her type and they have nothing in common. She gets rid of him as quickly as possible and Ben gets the message.
Eight weeks later, Alison is throwing up at work. Horrified that she might be pregnant, she goes with her sister to the supermarket and buys every pregnancy test that they have. The results are all positive. The perfect life she had planned out has been ruined in an instant. Ben is equally stunned when he hears the news. He’s certainly not ready to be a father. Between them, Ben and Alison decide to keep the baby and see if they can raise it together.
It may sound like a drama but Knocked Up is very intelligent comedy from Judd Apatow, the writer and director of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin. By creating humour out of the above scenario, Apatow has opened his film up to a wider audience. He’s following the theory that the best way of dealing with a serious situation is to laugh about it. There are many moviegoers who will see this film that might not otherwise have done so if it was a deep, brooding drama.
That’s not to say that this film features “bottom of the barrel” laughs. The conversations that the characters share are real and insightful. Guys will be able to relate to Ben’s actions and girls will be able to relate to Alison’s actions. Couples who see this movie may learn a lot about how the other sex thinks. It’s reminded me of films such as What Women Want with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt and The Break-Up with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston.
Knocked Up is already proving itself as a sleeper hit at the box-office. It was made for just $33m and has taken over $110m in its first four weeks at the U.S. box-office. It’s proof that you don’t need a big budget and tonnes of special effects to make a good movie. What audiences want above all else is a smartly written script. Knocked Up delivers on that count and it deserves its success.
Clubland
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Cherie Nowlan |
| Written by: | Keith Thompson |
| Starring: | Brenda Blethyn, Khan Chittenden, Emma Booth, Richard Wilson, Frankie J. Holden, Rebecca Gibney |
| Released: | June 28, 2007 |
| Grade: | B |
Despite the fact that we’ve made some very good films over the past two years, Australian made flicks have struggled at the box-office. Audiences would much rather see a clichéd Hollywood blockbuster than take a chance on a small home-grown movie with great reviews.
Clubland is the latest Aussie release to hit the marketplace and the early indications are promising. It’s being released in a number of large cinemas across the country (as opposed to just the smaller independent ones) and it’s received some good publicity. Star Brenda Blethyn, a two-time Academy Award nominee, recently attended a special advance screening here in Brisbane to help promote it.
The story centres on a 20-year-old named Tim (Chittenden) who lives at home with his mother, Jean (Blethyn), and his younger brother, Mark (Wilson). To say that Tim has lived a sheltered life would be an understatement. Jean has kept a very tight reign over her son and she isn’t prepared to let go.
Everything changes with the arrival of Jill (Booth), a girl who Tim meets whilst out working as a removalist. The pair go on a date and soon enough, they’re boyfriend and girlfriend. As you’d expect, this doesn’t go down well with Jean. She’s always been the most important woman in Tim’s life and now that things have changed, it’s not easy. Confrontation ensues and Tim finds himself picking up the pieces.
Clubland is a crowd pleasing movie. Audiences will find humour in the story and will be able to relate to its characters. If I have one criticism, it’s that the acting is a little over the top at times. Jean’s obsessiveness and Tim’s naivety are just too hard to believe. Are people actually like this or is it being dramatised for effect by writer Keith Thompson? The most interesting character for me was Tim’s girlfriend (played very well by Emma Booth). She had some deep seeded insecurities which I wish were explored further.
Those who regularly attend RSL clubs will probably be interested by the film’s setting. Jean is a part-time comedian and performs at a bunch of RSL clubs across Sydney. She loves being in front of a crowd. As a sub-plot in the film, Jean hires a new agent with the hope of landing some bigger gigs.
English actress Brenda Blethyn is the star of the film but there are a few familiar Aussies who make an appearance. Frankie J. Holden as Tim’s father and Rebecca Gibney as Jean’s best friend are both great. Richard Wilson, who had the lead in 48 Shades, is almost unrecognisable as Tim’s intellectually disabled brother.
It’s probably not the best Australian film of the year but it’s definitely worth a look.
Shrek The Third
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Chris Miller |
| Written by: | Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Jon Zack |
| Starring: | Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Eric Idle, Justin Timberlake |
| Released: | June 7, 2007 |
| Grade: | B+ |
In the land of Far Far Away, King Harold has died. The natural heir to the throne is his son-in-law, Shrek. This is not good news for Shrek who has no desire to become king. He hates the endless royal engagements and protocols. He’d rather spend his life living in a small shack in the swamp with his wife, Fiona.
Before he passed away, King Harold mentioned that there is another natural heir to the throne. His name is Arthur and Shrek thinks that he will be the answer to his problems. With his partners in crime, Donkey and Puss In Boots, Shrek sets sail on a journey to find Arthur and to convince him to become the new king.
Whilst Shrek is away, Far Far Away is invaded by Prince Charming and his group of cronies. Still bitter over losing Princess Fiona to Shrek, Charming thinks that he should be the next king. He seizes control of the palace and sends out his henchman to ensure that Shrek never returns.
The Shrek series has been popular since it first kicked off in 2001. There are jokes for the kids and jokes for the adults. I love the way in which the film takes famous fairy tales characters and puts them together in new scenarios.
Shrek The Third continues in a similar vein to the first two movies. It’s not as good as the first movie but there’s still a lot to like about it. The adult humour comes through once again and there were plenty of scenes that left a smile on my face. Whilst the writers deserve much of the credit, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas do a great job delivering their dialogue.
Just in time for the June school holidays, Shrek The Third will undoubtedly be another box-office smash that and should satisfy most of those who see it.
Transformers
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Michael Bay |
| Written by: | Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman |
| Starring: | Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Rachel Taylor, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson, John Turturro |
| Released: | June 28, 2007 |
| Grade: | B |
Transformers has been hyped up as perhaps the biggest movie of the 2007 American summer. My own interest in the film comes from the fact that it’s NOT a sequel. It’s a brand new series with fresh characters. That alone makes it more attractive that the recent of Spider-Man, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Fantastic Four.
The Transformers started out as a cartoon series. It premiered in 1984 and ran for approximately four years. I never saw it myself but it developed a cult-like status with some fans. I’m guessing that a large percentage of these loyal supporters will be checking out this film (some more than once) on the day of its release. Having now been introduced to the Transformers world, I must say that I like the concept.
The central human character in this film is Sam Witwicky (played by rising star Shia LaBeouf). He has in his possession a pair of eye glasses which were once owned by his great grandfather. He doesn’t know it yet but these glasses hold the key to man’s survival.
Earth is soon attacked by a group of robots with far-superior technology. They are known as Decepticons and they are looking for a strange-looking cube which is thought to have landed on Earth thousands of years ago. This cube will give them much power and they are prepared to kill for it. When they learn that information as to the cube’s location can be found on Sam’s great grandfather’s glasses, you’ll know who they start looking for…
Thankfully for Sam, there are another group of peaceful transformers known as Autobots. They too have arrived on Earth and are trying to stop the Decepticons from getting their hands on the cube. What follows is an all out war on the Earth’s surface. If the Decepticons are victorious, it’s the end of life as we know it.
As a Hollywood blockbuster, Transformers does everything by the textbook. I was surprised to see the film include such a young cast. It’s as if the marketers of the film have aimed this film solely at a teen audience. There’s one scene where an Australian code breaker working at the Pentagon (played by 22-year-old Rachael Taylor) illegally downloads top-secret code so that her computer nerd friend can take a look at it. On a believability scale, this scene scores 0%. I’m not sure which is more concerning – the fact that there’s no data security at the Pentagon or that they’re hiring policy is based on looks over ability.
I was also disappointed by the lack of humour in the film. There were a few one-liners to chuckle over but nothing particularly memorable. I’ve already alluded to the film’s lack of originality and this is further evident when you hear some of the clichéd dialogue. There’s one scene late in the film where Sam and his girlfriend have a “moment” just before he goes off to save the day. Despite the fact they are being attacked from all possible angles, they still find a 30 seconds to stand there and express their love for one another. Now I know this is only a movie but I make reference to this scene to again reiterate just how much this film goes “by the book”. It may be an adventure story but the script itself isn’t very adventurous.
On a plus side, the story is easy follow and the action looks great on the big screen. I’m not the biggest fan of director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys 2, Pearl Harbour) but in this instance, he’s made a good looking movie. With the help of a talented visual effects crew, he has brought the transformers to life.
If you’ve seen the trailers, the ads and the posters for Transformers, you should already have a fair idea of whether this film is for you. Some will like it and others will not. I’m sitting on the fence.
Bridge To Terabithia
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Gabor Csupo |
| Written by: | Jeff Stockwell, David Paterson |
| Starring: | Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison |
| Released: | June 14, 2007 |
| Grade: | A |
Jesse (Hutcherson) two passions are running and drawing. He goes jogging every day with the hope of being the best at his school. When not outdoors, he retreats to his room and draws some imaginative pictures in his scrap book.
Jesse has always been a quiet kid and these interests allow him to keep to himself. It’s as if he’s trying not to be noticed by others. He avoids his gossiping sisters at home and the bullies in the school playground.
Things change when a girl named Leslie (Robb) moves into the house next door. They share the same class at school and have similar personalities. They quickly become best friends and spend all of their spare time in each other’s company.
Exploring a nearby forest, Jesse and Leslie discover an old, rundown tree house. It becomes their special place. Every afternoon after school, they go the tree house and create their own mystical adventures. They fight an array of strange creatures in a world they call Terabithia.
Let me say straight out that these two kids are great. Jesse and Leslie are honest characters who have been played brilliantly by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb. Their actions, both mature and immature, will perhaps bring back memories of your own childhood friendships. The fun times they share together allow them to forget life’s bigger problems.
Their spirit won me over and it’s why Bridge To Terabithia is such an achievement. It may be a fantasy-type movie but it’s real and believable. Both kids and adults will relate. The film goes down an unexpected path in the final half-hour but I won’t reveal it so as not to spoil the movie. I didn’t see it coming and it gives the film a real emotional impact.
Director Gabor Csupo has done a terrific job in blending the fantasy with the reality. He doesn’t overdo the action sequences and this gives him time to develop the characters and the story. Some of the film’s most interesting scenes are not spent in the forest but rather at Jesse’s home and school. This rich screenplay is based on a 1977 novel written by Katherine Paterson. It’s interesting to note that Paterson’s son, David, helped adapt it for the big screen.
Bridge To Terabithia is an awesome family movie. It provides a memorable movie-going experience for children and adults alike. I didn’t expect much when walking into the cinema but I had much to tell on walking out.
Blades Of Glory
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
| Directed by: | Josh Gordon, Will Speck |
| Written by: | Jeff Cox, Craig Cox, John Altschuler, Dave Krinsky |
| Starring: | Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson |
| Released: | June 21, 2007 |
| Grade: | A- |
Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) are two of the world’s best male figure skaters. They’ve each taken their share of gold medals and they both have a strong fan base. That’s about where the similarities end.
Michaels is a man’s man. When off the ice, all he wants to do is drink alcohol and sleep with women. His popularity and success has seen both these needs fulfilled. MacElroy on the other hand, is a pretty boy who has never had a girlfriend. He prides himself on his appearance and skates with elegance.
After tying for first at a major event, Michaels and MacElroy become involved in a scuffle on the winner’s podium. It is all seen by the stunned crowd and the large audience watching on television. For bringing their sport into such disrepute, the skating commission bans them from their division for life.
We then pan a few years into the future. Both are struggling to make a living and you’ll chuckle when you see where they have ended up. Michaels and MacElroy discover a loophole which will allow for their return to the sport. Whilst they were banned from individual skating, they can still compete in pairs skating. Reluctantly, the two agree to team up and become the first male-male pair in figure skating history.
Their partnership does not go down well with the current pairs champions – Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (Arnett and Poehler). They have no intention of being beaten “by a couple of freaks” and plan on sabotaging the Michaels and MacElroy comeback to ensure their own successful reign continues.
Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are two actors who I find are very “hit and miss”. They’ve made some hilarious films but they’ve also made some stinkers. I hated their last efforts – Ferrell in Taladega Nights and Heder in The Benchwarmers. This is the first time they’ve come together as a team and the result is a fantastic.
Ferrell gets the most laughs with his crude, politically incorrect comments. I don’t know how he kept a straight face when first delivering the dialogue. It’s also a good role for Heder who is trying to break away from his Napoleon Dynamite stereotype.
Credit must go to the four writers of the film who have created an insanely silly storyline and a crazy group of characters. I had my doubts going in but they were dispelled by the funny opening which profiles both Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy. It put me in just the right mood to enjoy the hour and half worth of entertainment which followed.
This is one comedy that I think you need to see.