300 Words About: The Other Guys

The Other Guys is: 1) an unoriginal slapstick laugher in the same vein as most B-grade buddy cop movies from the last decade; 2) a nonetheless distinctively styled film, punctuated by awkward pauses, timely pop culture references, and outrageous yet sacredly delivered dialogue that bears all the hallmarks of an Adam McKay/Will Ferrell production (the best being Anchorman, the worst being Step Brothers); and 3) a comedy with a conscience, complete with a closing credit sequence delivering devastating facts about the financial collapse and the evils of corporate greed. You know, because the bad guy in this movie is a financial swindler of some sort.

(Movie) News You Need to Know: The Human Torch Was Denied a Bank Loan

"Paramount Cancels Anchorman 2" - Cinematical

Two years ago I pondered the rumors of a sequel to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (among my Top 10 Movies of the Decade). I'd forgotten about this idea entirely until I heard that writer/director Adam McKay recently tweeted that Paramount "basically passed" on a sequel (unbeknownst to me a deal was apparently imminent).

I think this is probably for the best. Anchorman came along right when pop culture was obsessed with the 70's (Starsky and Hutch, anyone?), when Will Ferrell was a red hot commodity, and when Steve Carell was known only (if he was known at all) as the gibberish-talking Evan Baxter in Bruce Almighty. None of those three elements are true anymore, and besides, I'll be the first to admit that Anchorman is a one-note tune that doesn't need to be diluted by a sequel. 

What else does this all mean?

1. I still find it ridiculous that news is legitimately released via Twitter.

2. Adam McKay can go back to making awful movies that aren't Anchorman.

3. Everybody who hates Anchorman can celebrate. Their wrongness.

Short Cuts: "Make Work Your Favorite"

Elf (2003). Directed by Jon Favreau; written by David Berenbaum; starring Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, James Caan, Faizon Love, Mary Steenburgen, and Peter Dinklage.

Although I personally find it only chuckle-inducing, I've accepted that Elf has, in the span of only six years, become a Christmas comedy classic for the new millennium. I can't believe how many people talk about this movie each December, but then The Christmas Story never did much for me either, so go figure.

Elf is one of the few Will Ferrell movies in which I don't find him very funny, but some of the reserved supporting cast performances complement his over-the-top geekiness really well. Exhibit A (above) is one of my favorite scenes, with Faizon Love giving one of the best incredulously blank stares in years. I find it a lot funnier than Ferrell's hysterics, but that's just me.

Anyway, I don't mean to be a grinch - enjoy Elf, A Christmas Story, or whatever other holiday movies you might watch around this time of year. I'll be traveling and offline for the next week, but I have a couple of posts in the pipeline that will go up before I get back. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

300 Words About: Step Brothers

Grown men fighting like little children. The most symbolic movie of the year?

How is Judd Apatow not a recognizable name yet? We only ever hear, "From the guy who brought you...", as if it's not obvious enough when we see the cast. So, from the guy who "brought" us Anchorman, Kicking & Screaming, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard, Drillbit Taylor, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, You Don't Mess With the Zohan, and Pineapple Express, (breathe) comes Step Brothers.

There's little to discuss as relates to the plot of Step Brothers: Ferrell and Reilly are middle-aged children living at home with single parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins, respectively) who meet and get married. Now reluctant stepbrothers, the two men wrestle, hurl objects, and scream obscenities at each other for 95 minutes, stopping only to put on a different vintage 80's shirt at every opportunity.

A disclaimer, beforehand: 1.) My expectations for movies "brought to us" by Apatow was as low as ever, regardless of the specifics of his involvement; 2.) I didn't think John C. Reilly's full-blown commitment to comedy since 2005 was a good thing; and 3.) fresh off the heels of the terrible Semi-Pro, I still believed Will Ferrell could do no wrong.

All three of those facts remained true after Step Brothers. I thought Ferrell was hilarious, I thought Reilly was horrible, and I think the Apatow brand is a sham. Moreover, I'm concerned that the whole crew has become lazy, and that this is all we can expect going forward. The writing is uninspired (e.g., a repetitive sleepwalking gag) and there's way too much reliance on physical comedy. Also, it should say something when Jenkins steals every scene from the two leads. It would be one thing if Ferrell and Reilly were playing immature adults. We've seen that before and it can work. But here, they're actually playing immature children.

What happened to the wicked wit of Anchorman (Ferrell and Adam McKay wrote both movies, along with Talladega Nights)? Even though the plot of Anchorman was just as inane, it was more than saved by hilarious characters and well-developed jokes, and remains one of my favorite comedies. The formula in Step Brothers, unfortunately, seems to be one part character, two parts slapstick, three parts obscenities, a measure of potty humor and (Apatow's contribution I'm sure) a dash of male genitalia.

I know I'll sound like a snob, but is this really acceptable as the best work by America's comic geniuses? It's no wonder the funniest movie of the year so far has come from France.

(Movie) News You Need to Know: Tyson Punch to the Babymaker

Mike Tyson Film Takes a Swing at His Old Image

Boxing legend Mike Tyson is the subject of a new documentary, Tyson, highlighted in yesterday's New York Times before the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month. I'm more of a "big fight" fan of boxing than am I of the sport itself, but Tyson probably drew my interest more than any other boxer in the last 20 years. As a fan of documentaries, all seems well. Reading the article, however, I had a sinking feeling that the timing isn't right. Sure, I'm curious as to what life outside of the ring is like for this guy, but I hope it's not mainly focused on his post-boxing problems. The real story should be about a troubled kid's rise to success, not about a troubled boxer's fall from glory. Maybe it will be both, but I expect the latter. The guy's only 41 years old. I say hold off 10-15 years for some perspective, especially if he cleans himself up enough to be around that long.


Is Anchorman 2 Coming?

Sounds like there's some "late-breaking news" about our favorite news anchor Ron Burgundy. Doing a little research, I found that IGN first buzzed about an Anchorman sequel almost two years ago. Then Film School Rejects and Slashfilm picked it up two months ago. Now, Collider.com offers recorded evidence that yes, Adam Mckay & Co. would like to make an Anchorman 2. Well, if I read it on the internet in four places then it must be true, right? Maybe not, but there's no reason to think this wouldn't happen, especially with the DVD success the original has had over the last few years. I think the real question isn't whether it will happen, but whether it should happen. Yes, I think Anchorman is one of the funniest movies of the decade so far - which is precisely why I'm nervous for a subpar sequel. Ferrell still has it in him, but producer Judd Apatow's track record is in a fair decline over the course of the last 10 months. It would probably be best if he didn't lord over the production.

REVIEW: Semi-Pro (C)

Background: Having already checked off NASCAR, soccer, and figure skating on his "Sports Movie Every Year" list, Will Ferrell revs up his typical sleazy/arrogant persona in Semi-Pro, written by Scot Armstrong (Road Trip, Old School) and directed by rookie Kent Alterman. Also featured are Outkast's Andre Benjamin (Idlewild, Four Brothers), Woody Harrelson (No Country for Old Men), and a smattering of current and former SNL cast members. One unique thing about Semi-Pro (because on the surface there isn't much) is its R rating. Not nearly a first for Ferrell, but also not what you'd expect. Neither is the fact that there's no nudity.

Synopsis: In the mid-70's, Jackie Moon (Ferrell) is a one-hit wonder and exaggeratedly unbelievable human. The story picks up when his ABA franchise, the Flint (MI) Tropics, are lacking in fans, wins, and funding. Star player Clarence (Benjamin) - he had a few names, I couldn't keep track - has an attitude problem and aspirations for the NBA, which is about to absorb four ABA teams. The Tropics can earn a spot in the NBA if they finish in those top four, so Moon signs former Boston Celtic Monix (Harrelson) to bring some experience onto the team, and so begins the unlikely underdog road to success. The ending isn't quite as predictable as you think, but the plot doesn't really matter here. The focus is on tight shorts, puking, filthy athletes, shirtless hippies, and a grizzly bear.

I Loved:
+ The 70's funk soundtrack, despite the odd inclusion of Robin Thicke's "When I Get You Alone." Great song, just weird timing and the wrong decade.
+ Some flashes of hilarity from Will Ferrell, as inconsistent as they were. Anytime the guy sings it's money.

I Liked:
+ The back-and-forth between commentators Will Arnett and Andrew Daly.
+ Andre Benjamin - if you're a fan of Outkast you won't be surprised that he can act. I'd like to see him take some better roles, though.
+ Tim Meadows creeping into another role again. Was he so scarred by the failure of The Ladies Man that he couldn't show his face for the last few years?

I Disliked:
- The disgusting boyfriend/husband (?) played by Rob Corddry - what was that about?
- Ferrell's over-done freakout at the ABA owners meeting.
- That the originally funny poker scene (and rip-off of The 40 Year-Old Virgin) turned into a predictable and flat Russian roulette gimmick.

I Hated:
- The idiotic puking scene.
- Jackie Earle Haley wasted in a ridiculous role.
- The never-ending bear attacks. Give it up.

Grade:
Writing - 7
Acting - 9
Production - 7
Emotional Impact - 8
Music - 5
Significance - 1

Total: 37/50= 74% = C

Last Word: I'm not really sure what people's expectations are for Will Ferrell movies anymore, but we just can't keep ourselves away from the theater, can we? Semi-Pro is an unfunny misfire for several reasons, but primarily because it doesn't feature enough of Ferrell's ridiculous dialogue ("My mom wrote that song 3 weeks before she died."). Woody Harrelson basically steals the movie while the other characters get more screen time than they know what to do with. The physical comedy is either gross or worn out (except the punch in the back of the knee), and the injection of actual romance in this movie should be enough to tell you that it doesn't know where it's going. Is it making fun of basketball movies? Is it making fun of the 70's? Of Flint, Michigan? Despite the messiness, there are admittedly some funny moments scattered throughout - not enough to justify a trip to the theater, but enough for die-hard Ferrell fans, which appear to be a diminishing crowd.