Neighbors (Movie Review)
05.10.2014 | By Jack Rico |
The “1-4-0″: It’s only May, but #NeighborsMovie is so far the best comedy of 2014 due to some very funny scenes and great cast chemistry. Read More
05.10.2014 | By Jack Rico |
The “1-4-0″: It’s only May, but #NeighborsMovie is so far the best comedy of 2014 due to some very funny scenes and great cast chemistry. Read More
04.25.2012 | By Karen Posada |
My biggest complaint about ‘The Five Year Engagement’ is that it is too LONG! No matter how many cutesy, funny or weird scenes they throw at us; this film doesn’t have enough substance to run for such a lengthy amount of time. Although very little changes throughout these five years, the passing of time is definitely felt and despite of the fact that there are various funny scenes and the characters are so patient the weight of time and tension in the story is easily felt by the public. For people that like romantic comedies and insist on going to the movies this weekend at least this might be a better pick than ‘The Lucky One’, although your money would be better invested in ‘Think Like a Man’.
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This is the story of Violet (Emily Blunt) and Tom (Jason Segel) who live in San Francisco; he’s a chef and she’s a psychology student. They are madly in love and after a year of being together Tom pops the question, the couple starts to prepare for the event when Violet is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity at the University of Michigan. This complicates things but lovingly Tom supports her by putting the wedding on hold and moving to Michigan with her. In Michigan each one tries to cope with the change and every time they try to restart planning the wedding some other opportunity or obstacle comes up. The couple begins to have many ups and downs, which test their relationship and the whole movie revolves in finding out if their relationship is strong enough to survive and reach the final step or if they will break up.
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There are countless funny scenes; one my favorite is between Violet and Suzie (Alison Brie) who plays her sister, when they have a serious talk in an Elmo and Cookie Monster voice. Most of the vulgar and strange comments come from Alex (Chris Pratt) who doesn’t seem to have a filter and always lightens the mood. Although there is chemistry between Blunt and Segel some of their conversations felt rehearsed and awkward, but that might have been more of a problem with the script than their acting.
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The problem with having a five-year relationship on screen is having to live through the drama that’s obvious to appear, although there’s a lot of comic relief through it, when it reaches the lowest point there’s no comedy to save it.  Most of the twists in the movie are pretty predictable, which makes the length even more unnecessary.
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As a romantic comedy this isn’t a bad film, but it certainly doesn’t stand out from the rest. At the end we are left with some minor questions, that I was okay to not have the answers to, because it might have meant another ten minutes. The biggest lesson this film gives us is very simple: in order for every relationship to work both people must be happy with their lives in order to be happy with each other. Long engagements are not such a rare thing nowadays, which means this movie might have some people curious to see it, but I would say there’s no need to run to the movie theater to catch this film; it might satisfy you a little more in a few months when it comes out in DVD.
09.28.2010 | By Jack Rico |
Rated: R for strong sexual content and drug use throughout, and pervasive language.
Release Date: 2010-06-04
Starring: Nicholas Stoller, Jason Segel
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.gethimtothegreek.net/
‘Get Him To The Greek’ is perhaps the best comedy of the year… so far. It’s competition in 2010 doesn’t match up against it – MacGruber, Hot Tub Time Machine, Cop Out. Even last year’s ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ is not as good. ‘Greek’ has much more likable and interesting characters and a mix of clever and low brow humor to titillate the senses. Also, the music industry is much more appealing and much more fun than the aforementioned flick.
‘Greek’ has nothing to do with mythology, but instead with a record company assistant (Jonah Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control British rock star, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), to his 10th anniversary concert at L.A.’s Greek Theater.
I’m not a big fan of British comedian Russell Brand due to the vexing complexity he is. But there is a side to him I like, I just don’t know if it is an act. The first bag of exasperating tricks he bundles is his uncontrollable zest for being annoying (I saw an interview with him on Craig Ferguson, hated him), an accent that doesn’t allow you to understand anything he says and I feel he has no charm on the mike (thought his hosting duties at an MTV Video Music Awards show was pretty lame). So why then did I like him in his first full length feature? Unbelievably, he stops being a bane nuisance and becomes contagiously eloquent with a marvelous rhetoric that can pounce any argument. So which one is he really? I like the Aldous Snow character much better and less the real Brand. But if he continues to create work that resembles Aldous’ nuances, logic and verbiage and dramatic layers, I’ll seriously consider becoming a fan. For now, I’m a swing voter. His character Aldous Snow, a caustic British musician, had his first appearance in ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ He was actually one of the highlights of that film along with Paul Rudd. I thoroughly enjoy his film performances.
Jonah Hill on his part, plays the innocent and impressionable Aaron Green, who is a fan of Aldous. I’ve also never been a fan of Hill, I just don’t think these guys are good actors. But again, Hill’s character surprised me. He nailed the personality of what guys trying to make it in the music industry are like and the humiliations they sometimes have to go through to get there. I worked in radio and MTV for several years and these execs really get a joy in making you suffer. This movie’s comedy relies on those moments that are very funny here in ‘Greek’.
There is this one funny scene in the limo where Hill is taking Brand to the Today Show. It’s perhaps the funniest piece in the film along with the ‘Jeffrey’ moment. You must watch out for them.
P. Diddy is good, but he’s no actor and makes Hill and Brand look like Academy Award winners. He is not as good as other critics and bloggers say he is. He has some good lines, but they could’ve been magic in the hands of a more experienced actor like Michael Shannon in ‘The Runaways’ (he was brilliant in that film).
Judd Apatow and Jason Segel are the producers of ‘Greek’ and did a damn good job. The director Nicholas Stoller created some snappy and attractive shots that I’m sure you’ll guys enjoy whole heartedly. I didn’t necessarily laugh in every single scene, but I must confess I had fun seeing all the tomfoolery unfold on this poor kid Aaron (Hill). The pop-rock soundtrack was infectious and catchy and I entertained myself, which is the point of going to the movies. I recommend you spend your flow and go with your friends. If you don’t like Brand or Hill, you’ll like them after you see this movie. Good times!
06.4.2010 | By Jack Rico |
‘Get Him To The Greek’ is perhaps the best comedy of the year… so far. It’s competition in 2010 doesn’t match up against it – MacGruber, Hot Tub Time Machine, Cop Out. Even last year’s ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ is not as good. ‘Greek’ has much more likable and interesting characters and a mix of clever and low brow humor to titillate the senses. Also, the music industry is much more appealing and much more fun than the aforementioned flick.
‘Greek’ has nothing to do with mythology, but instead with a record company assistant (Jonah Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control British rock star, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), to his 10th anniversary concert at L.A.’s Greek Theater.
I’m not a big fan of British comedian Russell Brand due to the vexing complexity he is. But there is a side to him I like, I just don’t know if it is an act. The first bag of exasperating tricks he bundles is his uncontrollable zest for being annoying (I saw an interview with him on Craig Ferguson, hated him), an accent that doesn’t allow you to understand anything he says and I feel he has no charm on the mike (thought his hosting duties at an MTV Video Music Awards show was pretty lame). So why then did I like him in his first full length feature? Unbelievably, he stops being a bane nuisance and becomes contagiously eloquent with a marvelous rhetoric that can pounce any argument. So which one is he really? I like the Aldous Snow character much better and less the real Brand. But if he continues to create work that resembles Aldous’ nuances, logic and verbiage and dramatic layers, I’ll seriously consider becoming a fan. For now, I’m a swing voter. His character Aldous Snow, a caustic British musician, had his first appearance in ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ He was actually one of the highlights of that film along with Paul Rudd. I thoroughly enjoy his film performances.
Jonah Hill on his part, plays the innocent and impressionable Aaron Green, who is a fan of Aldous. I’ve also never been a fan of Hill, I just don’t think these guys are good actors. But again, Hill’s character surprised me. He nailed the personality of what guys trying to make it in the music industry are like and the humiliations they sometimes have to go through to get there. I worked in radio and MTV for several years and these execs really get a joy in making you suffer. This movie’s comedy relies on those moments that are very funny here in ‘Greek’.
There is this one funny scene in the limo where Hill is taking Brand to the Today Show. It’s perhaps the funniest piece in the film along with the ‘Jeffrey’ moment. You must watch out for them.
P. Diddy is good, but he’s no actor and makes Hill and Brand look like Academy Award winners. He is not as good as other critics and bloggers say he is. He has some good lines, but they could’ve been magic in the hands of a more experienced actor like Michael Shannon in ‘The Runaways’ (he was brilliant in that film).
Judd Apatow and Jason Segel are the producers of ‘Greek’ and did a damn good job. The director Nicholas Stoller created some snappy and attractive shots that I’m sure you’ll guys enjoy whole heartedly. I didn’t necessarily laugh in every single scene, but I must confess I had fun seeing all the tomfoolery unfold on this poor kid Aaron (Hill). The pop-rock soundtrack was infectious and catchy and I entertained myself, which is the point of going to the movies. I recommend you spend your flow and go with your friends. If you don’t like Brand or Hill, you’ll like them after you see this movie. Good times!
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