Dinner For Schmucks

Let’s start with Charlie St Cloud
Its hard for an actor with such a strong presence in the teen crowd to grow up in Hollywood. More often then not we end up hearing actors like him via tabloids later in their career with the idea of scandal over substance. So here we have him in
“Charlie St. Cloud”, a romantic drama where he stars as a young man who survives an accident that lets him see the world in a unique way. In this emotionally charged story, he begins a romantic journey in which he embraces the dark realities of the past while discovering the power of love.
A tween tear jerker…. Let’s face it the movie rides entirely on how much Zac’s fans like to watch Zac. These fans don’t care much about character development, flaws in scripts or even what the entire story is about. This was the best move for Zac career wise to show that he is not stuck singing songs in highschool and that he can carry a film without having cheerleaders fawning over him. I can’t help but feel sorry for the thousands of parents who will have to sit through this surface level emotional ride highlighted by teenage melancholy while holding in their laughter.

Moving on to a real comedy then, Dinner for Schmucks with Steve Carell and Paul Rudd hits movie theatres today.
Directed by Jay Roach who brought you films such as Austin Powers and Meet the Parents,the film unites 2 of the biggest comedic stars today Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell in an unconventional buddy comedy that is less about dinner and more about the Schmucks.
The trailer and title also elude to this dinner party where people are invited to be the butt of other people’s jokes. How far can they carry the joke?
The irony is that the movie has very little to do with the dinner itself and plays out like a classic comedy with shades of movies like Arthur and What’s New Pussycat mixed in. In fact Steve Carell completely channels Peter Sellers in the film playing the not so bright guest being courted by Paul Rudds Character. Throw into the mix a corporate career chase and a predictable love story and you’ve a ripe comedy recipe
Here is what works about the film. The acting carries a rather lack luster script to make it watchable. The stand out performances really come from the stellar supporting cast from Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Choncords fame to David Walliams of Little Brittan Fame to Zack Galaflankis it really is a 2010 Comedy Nascar rally that I could have watched for hours. Where the film will have some detractors is in the fact that you have all this talent and you don’t push any boundaries with the comedy or create anything original, it almost becomes a tribute movie, which I think will cause a younger audience to find the movie a tad mundane.

The Social Network – This Looks Interesting

Go see Inception and other movies out this week.

Let’s start with Disney and a film that has been inspired by the classic Fantasia?!?!?!

Inspired yes but nothing like the animated classic, a borrowing of themes if you will.
Disney is really hedging their bets so to speak when it comes to summer blockbusters and although Jerry Bruckheimer may have been a little disappointed with Prince of Persia at the Box Office (why I don’t know because it’s been tracking to reach 100 million world wide box office) The team that is Nick Cage and Jerry Bruckheimer have a great history. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” marks Nicolas Cage’s seventh collaboration with Jerry Bruckheimer, following “The Rock,” “Con Air,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “National Treasure,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and “G-Force.
So how does their collaboration work this time around?
The Sorcerer’s is a movie that offers everything that a Hollywood summer flick should. The story is pretty much in the title. Jay Baruchel plays Dave the reluctant protege given a crash course in science and magic. As he prepares for a battle against the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, Dave finds it is going to take all of the courage he can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl.

Jay does a good enough job and is a little more like able in this role then Nick Cage is. In fact, Jay Baruchel who recently had hits with How to Train Your Dragon and She’s out of my League is trying to push out of this nerdy turtle shell he’s morphed into and prove that he has box office power. The film has some great moments and special effects but may not have enough to interest those who like a genre that see’s Percy Jackson or Harry Potter at the top of the action adventure game.

Turning to a more guaranteed box office draw let’s talk about Leonardo Di Caprio in Inception.
Definitely the most anticipated thriller of the summer, locked in a cloud of secrecy Inception is what I like to refer to as a Mind Bender. This is a world where technology enables us to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a single idea within one’s mind can be the most dangerous weapon or the most valuable asset.
Sounds a little creepy I know but it works!!!
he film is Writer-director Christopher Nolan’s first film since “The Dark Knight” and in many ways combines elements of his previous critical success such as Momento and The Prestige into a visual feast. One of the biggest disappointments I have found this summer is that the scripts seem to be a little lacking especially with the films that have secured number one spots, this idea, story and script is by far one of the most original I’ve seen in a long time and the performances completely compliment it.

Leonardo Di’Caprio is an actor who manages to impress me each time he does a film. I never feel like he is mailing it in or is just doing a film because of financial commitment and in this film he further proves that he is a major talent of this generation. Ellen Paige should also be commended for getting out of her post ‘Juno’/'Whip it’ homely girl characters and really holding her own with the rest of the cast which also includes one Nolan’s favorites Cillian Murphy and I can’t forget the creepy work of Marion Cotillard as Leo’s wife.

Other Movies to check out in Toronto :

Sweetgrass depicts the twilight of a defining chapter in the history of the American West, the dying world of Western herders — descendants of Scandinavian and northern European homesteaders. Though the idea sounds a little specific and drab any documentary fan will appreciate this rare look into a culture that many people don’t realize still exists. It opens today at the Royal Cinema

Restrepo

For anyone who felt the hit movie ‘Hurt Locker’ was an engaging look battle and conflict you must check out this latest film over their 15-month period embedded with the Second Platoon, Battle Company. It opens at the AMC Yonge and Dundas today and I should mention the It’s the most intimate examination of modern warfare, leaving very little to the imagination except the intense feeling it leaves you with.

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Toy Story 3 is a must see

I’ve learned my lesson with these films and I always attend the screenings with either my kid or family that the movie is suitable for and that’s important simply because I am not there to figure out if the film is entertaining to a fan of movies in general, I am there to figure out whether other families should gather up the troops, save up their dimes, pack their patience and go out to see the film.

Toy Story 3 in Digital 3D no less is the third installment in a successful franchise that follows the lives of love able toys and their owner Andy as he is getting ready to go on to college. It’s a coming of age story that follows how these toys will now be displaced, divided or possibly tossed and so what happens is we follow along as the toys try to secure their own destiny while trying to figure out where they fit into Andy’s life.

The film does pick up nicely on all the right notes that have made the franchise successful. With the returning voice of TIm Allen and Tom Hanks in the lead roles as well as Micheal Keaton playing Ken you get pulled right into this thrill ride and laugh many times along the way. I’m going to do you a favor and let you know the voice of Lotso the good turned evil bear is Ned Beaty and the reason I tell you this is because it was driving me nuts through out the whole film so their I saved you some grief.

I have to admit that I escaped getting emotional in either of the first 2 chapters in this film but this 3rd one got me. Toy Story 3 has a lot of heart and forces a lot of emotional moments on to you so much so that I have to warn parents to bring some tissues because some kids may find some of it a little hard to handle but nothing that will stop them from loving the movie none the less.

Pixar was the first to put out a ful CGI film over a decade ago. It seems as if Pixar has really set the bar for the other animated studio’s to follow. Though a quick glance at this summer’s releases and the changing world of 3D animations further proves that they can’t just sit on their laurels at the top because their are new big budget animated films being released every 3 weeks hoping to cash in on that limited family budget. One other thing I wanted to mention is that their is a wonderful thing Pixar has started with showing short films prior to the main feature and the one before Toy Story 3 is very good it’s called Night and Day and really sets a funny a great mood for the film.

Ravaan Releases Today as Well

South Indian Director Mani Rantnam has his next Bollywood film called Ravaan releasing around the world. Mani of course had his world premiere for his film Guru 2 years ago in Toronto with India’s Pitt and Jolie being Bachchan and Rai and this time he has the 2 of them in a interesting tale set deep in jungle
A bandit leader kidnaps the wife of the policeman who killed his sister, but later falls in love with her.

It’s full of lush cinematography and some beautiful images, song and dance routines but drags at times and does not leave you with a lot to root for. That being said Mani Ratnam is a master filmmaker who could do wonders if he spent more time on his scripts but that might be hard considering this film was shot in 3 different languages at the same time.

Get Him to the Greek and Shorter is Better

If you liked the Hangover or Superbad you will like this latest comedy offering. The Greek in this title refers to a music house in LA where our lead , Played by Russell Brand is being coaxed into doing a in order to rejuvenate his image and career.
The job of getting him there is given to Aaron Played by Jonah Hill who is given this big corporate responsibility by the record label he works for and in some senses this is his own big personal break. But he has to travel to great lengths to achieve his goal.
Sounding like a movie that takes a road trip?
Very much so from New York to London to Vegas to LA, a series of left turns turns this movie into a romp littered with stereotypical expose’s of the music industry and complete mockery of the pop star system.
What works about the film is simple ;
The movie is safely cast as Jonah Hill plays a familiar yet distinct enough love able slightly over weight every man who just wants to be successful and Russell Brand, who’s brand of stand up comedy is somewhat eccentric fits into the rock and roll image very well along with wonderfully cast (and acted) comedic turn for Sean Diddy Combs as the Record Label Manager.
The other thing that works is the faux songs they have created for the movie which are direct jabs at the water downed pop music that rules music stations and air waves today and funny and vulgar at the same time.

Itcertainly seems like every time you turn around Judd Aptow, who also produced this film has made comedy staples out of Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill and Micheal Cera, they don’t have the depth I would like to see but they seem to make a lot of money playing these half losers/half hero characters.
What they are doing is really trying to push the boundaries of comedies in the mainstream and they are doing so with this recipe. 1/4 awkwardness, 1/4 out landish, 1/4 quarter gross out and 1/4 slice of life. Combined they have a formula that is proving to be box office gold as these films have more then just a cult but also a strong tween, mainstream following.

For those looking for something off the usual beat and path you have word on the World Wide Short Film Festival. www.shorterisbetter.com

Yes, Toronto plays host this weekend to another great film festival and the reason WWSFF stands out in a crowd is that it really incorporates the next generation of film making while providing insight on trends in everything from themes to technical advancements. For example you can catch well known actors like Wil Ferral, Don Cheadle and Kristen Wig in their latest short film offerings or you can attend a workshop hosted my Atom Egoyan and you can even find out how to sell that short film you impulsively made with your friends.

Here’s a Quick Breakdown for you this weekend
Tonight you can check out Celebrity Shorts

The Summer House
Shot just before the TWILIGHT series catapulted cast member Robert Pattinson to stardom, this period piece reveals another side of the young idol.
Drunk History: Douglass & Lincoln (Celebrity Shorts)
DRUNK HISTORY series features laugh-out-loud performances by Will Ferrell and Don Cheadle.
One Night Only
Two couples pass an uneasy evening together in a music club. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE comedy star Kristen Wiig (DATE NIGHT, KNOCKED UP) turns in a dramatic performance in this short study of modern relationships.

Saturday Check out Laughter Without Borders – playing at 7:30 PM highlights include

Homeland Security
Border guard Phil thinks his wife is cheating on him. Faced with a gaggle of ladies headed south for a dirty weekend bachelorette party, Phil takes matters into his own hands.
Dinner Date : A woman’s dream date may be a man’s nightmare. In classic “he said, she said” comedy form, two women and their men recount the unexpected pleasures and pain of the night before.

Of course the festival closes on Sunday with Award winners at 9:30pm