Movie Review: "Strangers With Candy"

Starring Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Maria Thayer, Dan Hedaya, Matthew Broderick and Ian Holm
Directed by Paul Dinello
Official Web site

Ask most anyone and they’ll tell you the first day of high school is bit of an intimidator. You’re young, maybe naive and just hoping you don’t make a fool out of yourself.

Now imagine your first day comes more than 30 years after it should and you get an indication of the difficult situation that Jerri Blank finds herself in. The fact that she’s an ex-junkie whore who just got out of prison sure doesn’t help matters.

Played with a comic fearlessness that few comedians possess, Amy Sedaris embraces Jerri in all her politically incorrect, borderline offensive glory. Recreating her role from the cult series that aired for three seasons on Comedy Central in 1999-2000, Sedaris is joined for the big screen version of “Strangers With Candy” by numerous other co-conspirators, including Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello (who also directs). The three combined on the screenplay, hinging the somewhat flimsy story on a science fair that Jerri hopes will inspire her father (Dan Hedaya) to awaken from a coma presumably brought on by her imprisonment and the death of her mother. Did I mention this is a comedy?

The science fair is of much less interest than the interactions that Jerri has with her family and fellow students. Having mostly learned her social skills and tact from her years in prison, most of her encounters with them don’t go well. But for someone who has likely spent much of her life behind bars, Jerri’s has a remarkably sunny disposition. She strongly desires to be the good little girl that her father never had, yet really doesn’t really want to put out the effort to do so. For example, she brings a cookbook and phonebook with her to class for the first day.

Taking one of the standard scenes featuring new students in school, Jerri is asked to introduce herself to the class by science teacher Chuck Noblet (played with equal parts passion and exasperation by Colbert, of “The Colbert Report,” another Comedy Central show). The fact that Jerri begins her introduction with “My name is Jerri and I’m an alcoholic,” before adding in comments about her years as a prostitute and drug addict, gives you an idea of the movie’s twisted sense of humor. It’s basically as if one of those after-school specials was turned into a bizarre, R-rated feature film.

Although filled with notable supporting and cameo roles featuring Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alison Janney, among others, the success or failure of the movie rests on the small frame of Sedaris. Playing a character that is at times as hideous on the inside as she is on the outside (and that’s saying something), Sedaris should have fans of the show laughing consistently. Those experiencing the character for the first time may be taken aback by Jerri, but should eventually be able to warm up to her “quirks,” one of which includes an unhealthy attraction to Tammi (Maria Thayer), one of her science fair partners.

Then again, there’s probably lots of unhealthy things about Jerri to be concerned about. But with a character as ridiculous and at times, clueless as she is, you’ll likely be too busy laughing to notice. “Strangers With Candy” is both a slight, yet oddly satisfying film that’s filled with heart – albeit one that definitely has an irregular beat to it.

Grade: B+
(Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material.)

Character Actor Exits Stage

Bruno Kirby, a New York born actor, who many might remember for supporting performances in films such as “City Slickers” and “When Harry Met Sally,” passed away from leukemia Monday, Aug. 15. Aside from those roles co-starring with Billy Crystal, one of his best performances came in 1990, when he was featured along with Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando in “The Freshman,” one of the best comedies of the 90s. In 1995, he guest starred in a prominent role in the NBC police drama “Homicide: Life on the Street,” in one of the best episodes in the series’ seven season history.

In recent years, he largely had disappeared from the acting scene, only occasionally popping up in smaller roles in mostly forgettable projects. But Kirby’s proof that you can never have enough good character actors out there. He was 57. Incidentally, he was born Bruno Quidaciolu Jr.

Box Office Report: August 11-13

Although he managed to stay on top for the second straight weekend, Will Ferrell saw a group of high schoolers almost come in and surprise for the top spot. “Step Up,” a high school set film centering around the tried and true formula of a good girl falling for the bad boy exceeded box office expectations, surpassing the much higher profile debut of “World Trade Center.” But the Oliver Stone-directed drama, starring Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena, also managed to make a strong showing, bringing in almost $19 million. Perhaps audiences are starting to embrace 9/11 centered films, or maybe credit should go to Paramount Pictures for focusing on an uplifting rescue that took part in an otherwise tragic day. The ads certainly play up the heroics, not the tragedy.

On the worldwide grossing front, all spots remained the same from the previous week, as “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” continues its runaway success. Could cracking $1 billion in box office receipts be in the cards?

1. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
(Weekend domestic gross - $22.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $90.3 million)
(Budget - $72.5 million)
2. “Step Up”
(Weekend domestic gross - $20.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $20.7 million)
(Budget - $12 million)
3. “World Trade Center”
(Weekend domestic gross - $18.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $26.5 million)
(Budget - $65 million)
4. “Barnyard”
(Weekend domestic gross - $9.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $33.7 million)
(Budget - $51 million)
5. “Pulse”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $8.2 million)
(Budget - N/A)
6. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $856.1 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
7. “Miami Vice”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $63.8 million)
(Budget - $135 million)
8. “The Descent”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $17.5 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Zoom”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.5 million)
(Worldwide gross - $4.5 million)
(Budget - N/A)
10. “Monster House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $74.1 million)
(Budget - $75 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $856.1 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $750.0 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $644.9 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $441.1 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $386.0 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
6. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $376.1 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $347.6 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $286.6 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.1 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
10. “Poseidon”
(Worldwide gross - $180.1 million)
(Budget - $160 million)

Movie Review: "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Amy Adams, Michael Clarke Duncan, Greg Germann, Leslie Bibb
Directed by Adam McKay
Official Web site

If it wasn’t clear before now, there can be no doubt that Will
Ferrell’s got playing dumb down cold. As the central character in
“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” (now in theaters)
Ferrell and his comedic co-conspirators take stupidity for a ride,
while pushing the boundaries of its PG-13 rating.

The sport of NASCAR and its growing popularity serves as the main stage
for the eminently watchable and occasionally hilarious comedy,
reteaming Ferrell with co-writer and director Adam McKay. The two
collaborated in 2004 with the equally stupid, but more consistently
funny “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy.”

Like that movie, “Talladega Nights” centers around a somewhat clueless
dimwit with an unchecked ego, practically begging to be taken down a
notch or two. In this case, it’s Ricky Bobby, who is raised with the
need for speed, largely pumped into him by his deadbeat of a dad (Gary
Cole, oozing just the right amount of sleaze). He gets into auto racing
first as a pit crew member, then as a driver.

Along with his best friend Cal (nicely portrayed by John C. Reilly),
Ricky quickly ascends to superstar status in NASCAR, as his confidence
and cockiness grows with every first place finish. Obstacles inevitably
are placed in his path, first with new French rival Jean Girrard (Sacha
Baron Cohen), then with the psychological damage done from a serious
car crash, that leaves Ricky convinced he’s paralyzed.

If some of the story elements seem overly familiar, it’s because they
are, as the Tom Cruise vehicle “Days of Thunder” covered some similar
ground. Of course one difference is that “Talladega Nights” contains
some intentionally silly dialogue and situations.

Another area that Ferrell’s film is superior to Cruise’s is in the racing scenes themselves. McKay and cinematographer Oliver Wood capture the speed, noise and intensity of NASCAR better than any racing movie to date. Yet, there’s probably too much reliance on racing footage here, as there’s few laughs generated from these scenes. However, the climactic race does manage to generate some of the movie’s biggest laughs, including a choice plug for Applebee’s.

Some NASCAR fans might bristle at some of the shots taken at the sport,
but most of it is good-natured ribbing, and “Nights” was obviously
allowed fairly open-ended access, making use of several racers,
announcers and some of the circuit’s actual tracks.

One of the movie’s assets – its very good supporting cast – also serves
as a drawback, as some of the talent involved (Molly Shannon and Andy
Richter, in particular) is given next to nothing to do. Perhaps the DVD
will find some of these roles sitting on the cutting room floor.

While the laughs don’t come as frequently as they did in “Anchorman,”
Ferrell shows that he’s hardly above making himself the fool. Whether
it’s sprinting around the race track in his underwear or getting mauled
by a cougar (don’t ask), Ferrell’s commitment to Ricky Bobby is a sight
to behold.

Still, there’s a question of whether Ferrell, McKay and Co., can
continue to lean on thinly plotted dumb comedies as they head towards
middle age. For now, though, audiences are eating it up, proving that
playing stupid is financially pretty smart.

Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence.)

Drawing the Joker

While it’s hardly breaking news at this juncture, Warner Bros. has cast the villain for its upcoming sequel to “Batman Begins,” the successful 2005 relaunching of the Batman film franchise. Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) was announced last week as Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker. This will be the second incarnation of the Joker in the past 20 years, after Jack Nicholson’s scene-stealing role in Tim Burton’s “Batman” (1989).

Clearly, Ledger will have to take the character in quite a different direction, as it’s safe to say he and Nicholson are nothing alike in acting styles. After the success director Christopher Nolan had with “Batman Begins,” it’s difficult to question his decisions, yet it would have been nice to see the franchise divert away from a very familiar villain such as the Joker – especially with a memorable performance of the role still somewhat fresh in the memories of fans.

Incidentally, the sequel is titled “The Dark Knight,” and is set to begin filming early next year with an anticipated release date in summer 2008.

Box Office Report: Aug. 4-6

“If you’re not first, you’re last.” So says Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights” – an appropriate, albeit dumb remark for this week’s box office, as the dim-witted NASCAR racer did indeed easily finish in first over the weekend, raking in nearly $50 million. Last week’s number one, “Miami Vice,” dropped hard to fourth place, while yet another computer animated flick featuring animals took the second place slot (“Barnyard”).

Although it finished in third place domestically for the weekend, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” has wrestled the worldwide top spot from “The Da Vinci Code,” as it takes aim on more than $800 million at the box office. That’s a lot of booty!

1. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
(Weekend domestic gross - $47.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $47.0 million)
(Budget - $72.5 million)
2. “Barnyard”
(Weekend domestic gross - $15.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $15.8 million)
(Budget - $51 million)
3. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $11.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $771.9 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
4. “Miami Vice”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $54.9 million)
(Budget - $135 million)
5. “The Descent”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $8.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)
6. “John Tucker Must Die”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.15 million)
(Worldwide gross - $28.7 million)
(Budget - $18 million)
7. “Monster House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $59.8 million)
(Budget - $75 million)
8. “The Ant Bully”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $18.2 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “You, Me and Dupree”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.64 million)
(Worldwide gross - $71.1 million)
(Budget - $54 million)
10. “The Night Listener”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $3.6 million)
(Budget - N/A)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $771.9 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $747.3 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $644.5 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $440.8 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $386.0 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
6. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $365.7 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $336.7 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $286.0 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.1 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
10. “Poseidon”
(Worldwide gross - $178.5 million)
(Budget - $160 million)

Movie Review: "My Super Ex-Girlfriend"

Starring Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes
Directed by Ivan Reitman
Official Web site

While the film’s premise is ultimately more clever than its execution, “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” is able to largely slide by on the energy and likeability of its solid cast.

In a twist on both superhero and romantic comedy genres, “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” positions Uma Thurman as the seemingly unstoppable superhero G-Girl, while Matt Sanders (Luke Wilson) has unknowingly started to date Jenny Johnson, her alter-ego. Problem is that Jenny, while appearing to be a nice, timid soul on initial dates, is also a jealous, emotionally unstable woman deep inside.

Still, Matt is intrigued by her, especially her aggressiveness in his bed (she actually breaks it during one coupling). This leads to Jenny eventually falling in love with Matt, to whom she reveals her secret identity. Naturally, most any guy that realizes he’s having sex with a superhero is going to be pretty excited about it. But for Matt, the news carries a decreasing level of thrills as time goes on. For one, he can’t tell anybody – not even a pair of good friends and co-workers Vaughn and Hannah (Rainn Wilson and Anna Faris).

His relationship with the latter is a very sore spot for Jenny, who views Hannah as a threat to her new man. Matt, meanwhile, starts to see Jenny’s darker, borderline psychotic side. He decides to try to end the relationship amicably, to which Jenny responds by trying to fry his goldfish with her heat vision before leaving his apartment – through his ceiling. This is just the beginning of her campaign to make Matt’s life a living hell, literally sending his car into orbit, as well as wreaking havoc on his career.

The screenplay by Don Payne (an occasional writer on “The Simpsons”) has some fun with the superhero genre by placing a woman, albeit a neurotic and unstable one, as the person with the power. Casting Thurman was a wise choice, as her beauty and near-Amazonian size makes you believe she could be a superhero. Being not that far removed from her very physical role in the “Kill Bill” movies certainly helps.

Wilson also does some fine work as a confidence-challenged man who is at first excited, then concerned, then outright terrified at what this new relationship could mean for his life. Although the film incorporates a good supporting cast, who all get some decent moments, Wilson, Farris and Wanda Sykes, as Matt’s sexual harassment-obsessed boss, aren’t utilized to their full potential. That’s especially true of Eddie Izzard as Professor Bedlam, the supposed archenemy of G-Girl. Izzard is given relatively little to do, as his role as the film’s supervillain is never developed or explained beyond an incident in his and Jenny’s childhood.

Much like he did in '80s hits like the “Ghostbusters” movies, director Ivan Reitman demonstrates a skill with comedic action, but this is more an example of the talent outclassing the material. In a summer with superheros and larger-than-life characters filling the screen, this one just doesn’t fly very high.

Grade: B-
(Rated PG-13 for sexual content, crude humor, language and brief nudity.)

Movie Review: "Dave Chappelle's Block Party"

Starring Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, The Roots, The Fugees, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu
Directed by Michel Gondry
Official Web site

Despite a genuinely good-natured vibe emanating from the proceedings, “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” plays more like a get-together where you feel like you should be having a better time than you are.

Clearly that wasn’t a problem for the several hundred (maybe several thousand) people Chappelle invites and busses into Brooklyn from Dayton, Ohio, near his hometown in Yellow Springs, to see an unpublicized concert featuring a multitude of rap and hip-hop artists. Among the musical acts featured are Kanye West, the Roots, Erykah Badu, and a reunited Fugees (best known for the hit remake of “Killing Me Softly,” performed here in about the only uninterrupted performance of the film). Chappelle even manages to get an entire Ohio college marching band to the show, promising free transportation, food and board.

“Block Party” certainly shows a softer side to the frequently funny, yet controversial comedian who is probably now more noted for walking away from his hit Comedy Central show than for the sometimes brilliant content of the show itself. Just so people don’t think this was Chappelle’s answer to the pressures he said he was feeling from the show, the film quickly mentions the events leading up to and including the concert took place in September 2004 – well before his much publicized “escape” to Africa last year.

The documentary itself is played out in a rather disjointed style, which keeps viewers on their toes, but can also be rather disconcerting. This is especially true with the heavy editing done during the various musical performances, as songs are started and frequently intercut with backstage comments presumably filmed after the concert, as well as moments with Chappelle interacting with some of the concert invitees.

To be fair, the material that is included in between the music is often more interesting than what’s happening on stage (of particular interest is an extremely odd Brooklyn couple who own a towering mess of a home near where the concert will be filmed). But director Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind”) keeps the film from feeling very cohesive, which is likely going to make some viewers wish for more music, while others, including myself, will desire to see more of Chappelle.

As it is, the film is sporadically funny with occasionally interesting musical moments, including an impromptu performance of “Jesus Walks” with West and the marching band. But ultimately, “Block Party” is not entirely successful in the laughter or musical departments. On the other hand, it sure looked like the concert’s audience had a good time. Maybe you just had to be there.

Grade: C
(Rated R for language.)

Box Office Report: July 28-30

Leave it to Crockett and Tubbs to finally knock Captain Jack off the top of the box office mountain, as the big screen version of the hit 1980s TV show, “Miami Vice” took in more than $25 million in its opening weekend. “Pirates” still held on fairly strong to the second slot, holding off newcomers “John Tucker Must Die” and the underperforming “The Ant Bully.” This marks the second straight weekend of disappointment for Warner Bros., as the studio is quickly seeing “Lady in the Water” sink down the charts.

However, with Will Ferrell’s “Talladega Nights” coming up this weekend, it’s a sure thing that “Vice” stars Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx will be taken for a ride out of the top spot soon. Box office grosses on the worldwide level stayed relatively stagnant, as no new movies currently in theaters look poised to crack that top 10.

1. “Miami Vice”
(Weekend domestic gross - $25.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $26.8 million)
(Budget - $135 million)
2. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $20.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $572.6 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
3. “John Tucker Must Die”
(Weekend domestic gross - $14.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $14.3 million)
(Budget - $18 million)
4. “Monster House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $11.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $44.5 million)
(Budget - $75 million)
5. “The Ant Bully”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $8.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
6. “Lady in the Water”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.14 million)
(Worldwide gross - $32.2 million)
(Budget - $55 million)
7. “You, Me and Dupree”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.11 million)
(Worldwide gross - $61.2 million)
(Budget - $54 million)
8. “Little Man”
(Weekend domestic gross - $5.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $53.5 million)
(Budget - $64 million)
9. “The Devil Wears Prada”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $107.0 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
10. “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $17.8 million)
(Budget - N/A)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $744.2 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
2. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $644.2 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
3. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $572.6 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $440.2 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $380.9 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
6. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $331.5 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $317.4 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $272.0 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.0 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
10. “Scary Movie 4”
(Worldwide gross - $175.6 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

Bond Is Back

Demonstrating supreme confidence in the direction of the film franchise, James Bond producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced earlier in the week that the 22nd movie of 007 will be released May 2, 2008. Of course, there’s still that 21st film still to come, as “Casino Royale” is set to hit theaters Nov. 17, marking the debut of Daniel Craig as Bond. Replacing Pierce Brosnan as 007, who had become quite popular as the secret agent, is no sure thing. But it seems clear that the producers are interested in giving a new start to the franchise, even going back to adapting the first book in the James Bond series to do so.

Craig has already been snagged for the 2008 film, which oddly enough has a locked in release date, but no title or possibly even a script. Well, that’s not really important anyway.

Landing 'Fletch'

Bill Lawrence, creator of the consistently funny and enjoyable NBC sitcom “Scrubs,” is on the verge of new territory, having just been tapped to adapt and direct “Fletch Won.” The film will serve as a prequel to the exploits of newspaper reporter and disguise lover Irwin R. Fletcher, memorably played by Chevy Chase in the 1985 original and 1989 sequel.

If you assumed that Chase will not be returning to play Fletch, you would be correct. After all, Chase is now way too old for the role and probably hasn’t had a part this good since ... well, since “Fletch.” So who will be portraying the wisecracking columnist? No official casting decisions have been made. But as I’m sure followers of “Scrubs” know, series star Zach Braff plays a wisecracking doctor on the show and would probably be about the right age. Plus, his boss on that show will also be directing the movie, so this seems like a rather simple connect the dots activity. Filming should start in April 2007, during a “Scrubs” hiatus. So more on this at a later date...

Lowdown On Comic-Con

Comic-Con’s four day extravaganza in San Diego wrapped up Sunday before more than 100,000 attendees and the following are a few of the notable movie tidbits revealed at the event:

Open House
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez were on hand to present the first public footage of the upcoming “Grind House,” which will feature two separate movies directed by the pair, complete with faux film trailers in between their respective stories. Intended as a homage to 1970s-era cult movies the two film fanatics love, the double-feature promises to be bloody good fun. Rodriguez’ story is nearing the end of filming, while Tarantino’s is yet to begin. But “Grind House” is expected to splatter its way into theaters in April 2007.

Spidey Sense Tingling
Naturally, the eagerly anticipated “Spider-Man 3” got a lot of attention at the convention, with a group appearance by stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard and director Sam Raimi. The teaser trailer for the film was recently released, indicating a bit of a darker direction for the franchise. For the record, Grace is playing Venom, Church is portraying Sandman and Howard will be featured as new Peter Parker flame Gwen Stacy. The web slinger will swing into theaters May 4, 2007.

Sequel Redux
“Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer said at the convention that discussions for a follow-up to this summer’s movie are ongoing. He said a target release in 2009 would be likely, but the film’s somewhat disappointing box office performance doesn’t make it a forgone conclusion.

However, one definite good piece of Superman news emerged as director Richard Donner, who helmed the 1978 “Superman” film, revealed that a DVD is being prepped that will give viewers a first official look at his vision of “Superman II.” Donner was fired from that film by its producers after principal photography had completed over more than half of it. A fair amount of that footage was reportedly scrapped and refilmed by director Richard Lester.

So this might prove to be a chance to see “Superman II” all over again, which is actually a really good movie in its current incarnation. The release date for the DVD is scheduled for Nov. 28.

It’s Not Easy Being Green
After the 2003 big screen version of “Hulk” largely failed with viewers and critics, it appeared that film franchise might be dead in the water. Well, think again. “The Incredible Hulk” is to be directed by Louis Leterrier (“The Transporter”), with a cast yet to be announced, although no one associated with the first film is expected to return. It sounds as if all parties involved are looking to distance themselves from the much-maligned (and a bit unfairly, I might add) Ang Lee-directed movie. No release dates were mentioned, but certainly don’t be looking for any action from the big green machine before 2008.

Movie News Debuts

To keep this site a bit more fresh and worthy of frequent visits, I’ll be starting to weave in some movie news amidst the reviews, DVD releases and box office roundup. It’ll be a bit of a work in progress, so some of the other items might be delayed a bit from time to time. For example, the weekly DVD releases are taking a few weeks off until I figure out just how much I can handle from one week to the next. Ideally, I’d like to have something up every day, but that might be a bit of wishful thinking at this point.

However, don’t be looking for this to degenerate into a daily gossip column. I’m not interested in what club Lindsey Lohan was hanging out in last night, or who Jessica Simpson is dating right now. Hopefully, you’re not either. But I will be trying to provide occasional updates on announced film projects and movie industry news that actually might mean something to the average viewer.

First up will be a wrap-up of some interesting items that emerged from Comic-Con, the annual convention in San Diego that just concluded over the weekend. True, it’s most known as a gathering for comic book and memorabilia geeks (and I use that term affectionately, so keep those pocket protectors in place). But Hollywood is now recognizing the convention’s value at building buzz for current and upcoming films. Just look at the swarm of movies that have been flooding multiplexes in recent years to know that comic book heroes equal big business for the movie industry.

Read the next item for more ...

– MC

Box Office Report: July 21-23

For the third straight weekend, the “Pirates” ruled the box office roost, taking in another $35 million domestically, making it the fastest movie ever to $300 million in America. Worldwide, Captain Jack and Co. have already surpassed $500 million and are currently eyeing “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “The Da Vinci Code” for the top overall grosser.

Meanwhile, four debuting films all fell well short of knocking “Pirates” out of the top spot, with “Monster House” the nearest competitor at $22 million. M. Night Shyamalan’s “Lady in the Water” finished a disappointing third, while “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” made a surprisingly loud thump in seventh place, bringing in just under $9 million.

1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $35.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $536.0 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “Monster House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $22.2 million)
(Worldwide gross - $22.2 million)
(Budget - $75 million)
3. “Lady in the Water”
(Weekend domestic gross - $18.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $18.0 million)
(Budget - $55 million)
4. “You, Me and Dupree”
(Weekend domestic gross - $12.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $45.3 million)
(Budget - $54 million)
5. “Little Man”
(Weekend domestic gross - $11.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $43.1 million)
(Budget - $64 million)
6. “Clerks II”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $10.1 million)
(Budget - $5 million)
7. “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”
(Weekend domestic gross - $8.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $8.6 million)
(Budget - N/A)
8. “Superman Returns”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.38 million)
(Worldwide gross - $288.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
9. “The Devil Wears Prada”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.36 million)
(Worldwide gross - $97.8 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
10. “Cars”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $310.9 million)
(Budget - $120 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $741.0 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
2. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $643.0 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
3. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $536.0 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $439.0 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $373.2 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
6. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $310.9 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $288.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $259.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $182.8 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
10. “Scary Movie 4”
(Worldwide gross - $174.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

Box Office Report: July 14-16

Although it did have a fairly steady drop-off in its second weekend, “Pirates” ruled the box office for the second straight weekend, making it the highest grossing film in America for 2006, thus far. It also set a couple of new box office records, including the largest 10-day opening ever. Newcomers “Little Man” and “You, Me and Dupree” fought it out for a distant second place, amidst largely negative reviews.

1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $62.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $382.4 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “Little Man”
(Weekend domestic gross - $21.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $22.8 million)
(Budget - $64 million)
3. “You, Me and Dupree”
(Weekend domestic gross - $21.5 million)
(Worldwide gross - $21.5 million)
(Budget - $54 million)
4. “Superman Returns”
(Weekend domestic gross - $12.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $241.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
5. “The Devil Wears Prada”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $83.7 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
6. “Cars”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $301.5 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Click”
(Weekend domestic gross - $7.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $130.8 million)
(Budget - $82.5 million)
8. “The Lake House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $1.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $57.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Nacho Libre”
(Weekend domestic gross - $1.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $77.2 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
10. “A Scanner Darkly”
(Weekend domestic gross - $1.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $1.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $735.9 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
2. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $641.5 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
3. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $437.7 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
4. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $382.4 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
5. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $361.4 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
6. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $301.5 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $241.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $239.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $182.7 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
10. “Scary Movie 4”
(Worldwide gross - $174.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

DVD Releases - July 11

Yes, the weekly new DVD release update is behind schedule. But please refrain from throwing any garbage at me, as I’ve just been behind with the schedule – a situation that will probably repeat itself this week, due to time constraints. However, I’ll be back on track with the updates soon. Until then, enjoy a look back at the (somewhat questionable) highlights of July 11:

“Basic Instinct 2” (R) - OK, so the movie was panned by critics and laid a rotten egg at the box office when it crashed and burned in movie theaters earlier this year, there’s still a morbid fascination that some people will have in wanting to see this unnecessary sequel to the 1992 hit film. Sharon Stone is the only one returning from the original, showing that resurrecting a career ain’t such an easy chore.
Extras: Commentary from director Michael Caton-Jones, behind-the-scenes featurette.
Official Web site

“ER: Season 5” - The hit NBC medical drama probably hit its popularity peak around this time, with the 22-episode fifth season marking the last one for George Clooney. Much of the rest of the cast would remain intact for season six, but Clooney would never be heard from again. (Oh wait, I guess there was that Academy Awards stuff earlier this year. Almost forgot.)
Extras: Outtakes and a gag reel.
Official Web site

“I Dream of Jeanie: Season 2” - The wacky adventures of Jeanie and her master, astronaut Captain Tony Nelson continue in its second season. A total of 31 episodes are featured, with guest stars including Sammy Davis Jr. and Paul Lynde, among others.
Extras: Jeanie must have made them all disappear, as there is nothing to see here.
No official Web site

“Reno 911: Season 3” - This underrated comedy show about a pathetic police department in Reno, Nev., is now airing its new season on Comedy Central. It stars a number of cast members from the old MTV comedy show, “The State.” Now where is that show on DVD?
Extras: Numerous extended outtakes, action figure promos (!) and audio commentary from cast and crew.
Official Web site

“Weeds: Season 1” - The great Mary-Louise Parker snagged a Golden Globe win for her portrayal of a suburban mom who turns to selling pot to maintain her financial standing in this Showtime comedy (yes, it’s a comedy, albeit a dark one). It also stars Kevin Nealon and Elizabeth Perkins
Extras: Commentary on select episodes from cast and crew, outtakes, a marijuana mocumentary, and multiple featurettes.
Official Web site

Movie Review: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgard, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Official Web site

In 2003, there wasn’t a lot of buzz behind “Pirates of the Caribbean,”
as the action-packed film sailed into theaters during the summer. After
all, it was based on a Disney theme park ride – not what one would call
high pedigree source material. Plus, it starred Johnny Depp, a highly
respected actor who had little to no box office pull with audiences.
But then the movie took the industry by surprise, becoming a smash hit
when it pulled in more than $300 million in America alone.

With that kind of success, a follow-up was inevitable. But unlike the
first go around, heavy expectations and pressures came with its sequel,
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” The fact that this film
serves as the second of a trilogy (the third “Pirates” will sail into
theaters next summer) put the filmmakers in the position of advancing
the story, while setting the table for chapter three.

In “Dead Man’s Chest,” gone is much of the exposition needed to
introduce the main characters in the first movie. Yet, the sequel still
comes in at a bloated two-and-a half-hour running time, complete with a
cliffhanger, as opposed to an actual ending.

While young lovers Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann
(Keira Knightley) are set to be married at the film’s beginning, their
involvement with the self-involved Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp,
once again the movie’s top asset) leads the couple to swift
imprisonment. Facing the gallows pole, Will reluctantly agrees to track
Sparrow down, as the British government has designs on obtaining the
captain’s compass.

Captain Jack has problems of his own, with a debt to repay to the
villainous Davy Jones (a completely unrecognizable Bill Nighy), who
seems a cross between an octopus, crab and human. Indebted to Jones for
getting to be the captain of the Black Pearl, Sparrow desperately wants
to avoid payment, willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone to placate
him.

Being the wily person that he is, Sparrow finds a possible bargaining
chip when he learns of a chest that Jones would very much like to get
his hands on. Naturally, Jones has the key himself, further
complicating retrieval efforts. So the game is afoot, with Captain Jack
and his oddly devoted and just plain odd crew on one side, with Jones
and his crew of (mostly) undead creatures on the other. Throw in the
Kraken, a gigantic, deadly sea creature controlled by Jones, along with
an island full of hungry cannibals, and you’ve got a veritable overload
of activity.

The fact that the film doesn’t buckle under the weight of all the
characters and their subsequent dashing (or sailing) to and fro is a
credit to director Gore Verbinski, who also helmed the first “Pirates.”
The movie’s many action scenes are rather convincingly and effectively
filmed, even when the activity in them is rather far from realistic
(which is most of the time).

While still delivering a number of laughs along the way, there’s no
denying that “Dead Man’s Chest” is a darker journey. Thanks to
excellent f/x and makeup work, the villains are appropriately creepy
and menacing – probably too much so for younger children.

The actors all generally acquit themselves nicely, with Stellan
Skarsgard as Will’s father, trapped in a life of servitude on Jones’
ship, as a particular standout among the supporting performances. Depp
continues his unique approach to Captain Jack, capturing the
character’s amazing ability to be both noble and a complete coward –
often in the blink of an eye. However, Sparrow is generally less
likable this time out, making the devotion of Will, Elizabeth and his
crew a little puzzling at times.

But much like the first film, “Dead Man’s Chest” gives audiences what
they want: lots of action, a few laughs and some old-fashioned, scary
fun. For some, it will feel like a bit of overkill (an understandable
argument given the overlong running time). But, then again, when you’re
based on a theme park ride, a little leeway might be necessary.

Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of adventure violence, including frightening images.)

Box Office Report: July 7-9

Proving the success of the 2003 first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie was no fluke, the sequel, “Dead Man’s Chest,” captured box office records for the largest single day opening ($55.8 million) and opening weekend ($135.6 million), utterly destroying its competition in theaters. Last week’s number one film, “Superman Returns” was a far distant second with $21.8 million. In fact, the rest of the top 10 films combined barely made half the money that “Pirates” grabbed over the weekend. The film is already the eighth-highest grossing worldwide this year.

Oh, and you can mark your calendars now as “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” has already staked its claim to May 25, 2007. It looks like other films hoping to compete with Captain Jack do so at their own peril.

1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Weekend domestic gross - $135.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $182.3 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “Superman Returns”
(Weekend domestic gross - $21.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $177.4 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
3. “The Devil Wears Prada”
(Weekend domestic gross - $15.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $63.1 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
4. “Click”
(Weekend domestic gross - $11.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $115.2 million)
(Budget - $82.5 million)
5. “Cars”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $230.3 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Nacho Libre”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.34 million)
(Worldwide gross - $73.8 million)
(Budget - $35 million)
7. “The Lake House”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $51.9 million)
(Budget - N/A)
8. “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.55 million)
(Worldwide gross - $89.2 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “Waist Deep”
(Weekend domestic gross - $1.9 million)
(Worldwide gross - $19.2 million)
(Budget - N/A)
10. “The Break-Up”
(Weekend domestic gross - $1.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $135.4 million)
(Budget - $52 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $728.3 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
2. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $639.4 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
3. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $427.0 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
4. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $352.4 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $230.3 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $187.2 million)
(Budget - N/A)
7. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $182.5 million)
(Budget - $45 million)
8. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $182.3 million)
(Budget - $225 million)
9. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $177.4 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
10. “Scary Movie 4”
(Worldwide gross - $165.2 million)
(Budget - $45 million)

Movie Review: "Superman Returns"

Starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden, Parker Posey, Frank Langella
Directed by Bryan Singer
Official Web site

Much like last summer’s “Batman Begins,” another superhero is looking
to recapture past box office glory and relaunch a once proud film
franchise. But while “Superman Returns” doesn’t transform its vision
with the same creativity that the Dark Knight did in 2005, the Man of
Steel still manages to make a convincing and fairly effective return to
the big screen.

Having left the “X-Men” franchise after helming its first two films,
director Bryan Singer has patterned “Superman Returns” after the
original 1978 movie by Richard Donner. Set about five years after the
events of “Superman II,” the story by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris,
co-writers of “X2: X-Men United,” has been infused with more heart and
vulnerability in its hero than most comic book movies.

While obviously inspired by the first two films in the series (wisely
ignoring that the last two movies even existed), the giant budget –
rumored to be over $260 million – provides special effects that make
the previous installments look quaint in comparison. Nowhere is this
more apparent than in a spectacular sequence that has Superman (played
by newcomer Brandon Routh) attempting to rescue the passengers of an
airplane headed for almost certain disaster. Natually, one of those
passengers is the constantly-in-peril reporter Lois Lane (Kate
Bosworth).

In the years since Superman’s disappearance, Lois has moved on with her
life, now complete with a 5-year-old son (Tristan Lake Leabu) and
fiance (James Marsden, another “X-Men” alumnus). She also holds some
bitterness towards Superman for his perceived abandonment of
Metropolis, which she parlays into a Pulitzer Prize for an editorial
she has written, explaining why the world no longer needs him. Of
course, leave it to a nicely staged rooftop scene between the two,
leading to a late night flight into the clouds to quickly melt away
Lois’ resentment.

But as Superman/Clark Kent tries to reposition himself back into
people’s lives, a new villainous scheme by arch-enemy Lex Luthor (Kevin
Spacey) looks to create a new continent, using alien technology stolen
from Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Intrepid viewers will remember
Luthor discovered the location of the hero’s secret lair in “Superman
II.”

Luthor’s scheme is actually one of the least interesting aspects of the movie, bearing a bit too close of a resemblance to his plan in the 1978 movie. Spacey certainly does a good job with the material he’s given, but his Luthor is more of an angry, bitter character than the cunning egomaniac portrayed by Gene Hackman in three of the previous “Superman” films. There’s just not as much a sense of fun in the character, which previously made him a villain who was tough to dislike. That’s not really a problem this time out.

While this is basically a Superman for a new generation, coming nearly
20 years after the last film in the franchise, it’s difficult to judge
“Superman Returns” without looking to the movie magic created in the
first two films by Hackman, Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. Judged
solely on those terms, it doesn’t quite match up. But when placed up
against many of the present day comic book franchises now in operation,
the Man of Steel can still soar with the best of them. Hopefully, there
will still be more flights to come.

Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for some intense action violence.)

DVD Releases - July 4

Well, as you can imagine, with it being a holiday week, the new releases are fairly sparse. Heck, I’m including a Ed Wood movie, for goodness sake. So that ought to tell you something. But for what it’s worth, here’s the new and exciting releases for July 4:

“Charlie’s Angels: The Complete Season 3” - The Angels are back for season three, with Farrah Fawcett making another contractually obligated three episode appearance, while Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd serve as the regular members of Charlie’s team. Dean Martin is among the many special guest stars during the 24-episode season.
Extras: The only crime here is the lack of special features.
No official Web site

“The Libertine” (R) - The versatile Johnny Depp portrays yet another unusual man, this one 17th century celebrated writer, John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester. As Wilmot, Depp warns the audience at the beginning that you won’t like him, so viewer beware. The film sat on the shelf for a while, before getting a rather perfunctory release in theaters a few months ago. Samantha Morton and John Malkovich co-star.
Extras: Commentary by director Laurence Dunmore, deleted scenes and a featurette.
Official Web site

“The Matador” (R) - A good cast of Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis headline this dark humored buddy comedy from writer/director Richard Shepard. Brosnan is a hit man struggling with his touch, who befriends a mild-mannered businessman (Kinnear), leading to a rather bizarre relationship. A lot of rave reviews came in for Brosnan’s performance, although the movie flew under the box office radar earlier this year.
Extras: Commentary with Shepard, Brosnan and Kinnear, multiple deleted/extended scenes, and a featurette.
Official Web site

“Plan 9 From Outer Space” (NR) - Most people will probably know this Ed Wood creation as “the worst film ever made,” but you are almost guaranteed to laugh at this so bad, it’s good movie. Oh, I should also add that for the first time, it’s in color!
Extras: Commentary from Michael Nelson of “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” Ed Wood home movies and commercials, deleted scenes and the lost Plans 1-8 (now the secret can finally be revealed!).
No official Web site