Friday, April 8, 2011
COMEDY TONIGHT? I've rarely seen a pair of movies both released the same weekend get as critically savaged as this weekend's pairing of Your Highness and Arthur, both of which apparently waste folks who can be funny and likable (and have Academy Awards, in some instances) on complete messes--one featuring a character who the Times describes as being stuck in "a locked room at the Zooey Deschanel Institute for the Cute and Quirky," and the other featuring Zooey Deschanel. If I opt for a film this weekend (I have a fairly full calendar already), it'll likely be Hanna, featuring Saorise Ronan in a role that sure as heck seems like an audition reel to play Katniss Everdeen. There's also Soul Surfer, with a strangely starry cast (Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, and Carrie Underwood), and the latest installment in "Adorable Animal Babies In Imax 3-D!" Anyone intrigued by any of these, or are you going to hold out for next weekend, when Rio and Scre4m square off for your moviegoing dollar?
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I still haven't seen Limitless, The Adjustment Bureau of The Lincoln Lawyer. I'll probably watch one of those instead if I go to the movies this weekend. I didn't even like Pineapple Express much, so I can't imagine I'd enjoy Your Highness. And I've been dreading the arrival of Arthur ever since I heard about the plans for a remake.
ReplyDeleteI might go by myself to Jane Eyre or The Lincoln Lawyer or watch the 10th Doctor as Hamlet which has been on my coffee table from netflix for a month and some.
ReplyDeleteI was really excited for Your Highness, but the reviews have been so bad I'm going to have to try The Lincoln Lawyer instead.
ReplyDeleteI would see a movie titled "<span>Limitless, The Adjustment Bureau of The Lincoln Lawyer."</span>
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I never thought the original Arthur was that good (almost any actress is probably going to be an upgrade from Liza Minelli), but that's an eventual rental for me. Not having seen Atonement, I can't speak to <span>Saorise Ronan, but Hanna does look very interesting and not just a run-and-shoot-and-kick-ass movie.</span>
ReplyDeleteSay it with me: SEER-shuh.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of doing a trial run of my backyard movie setup this weekend. I have the inflatable giant screen, the portable speakers, and finally, the projector. It might feel weird to watch a movie by myself in the backyard, but I feel I should do a trial run before having others over.
ReplyDeleteIn a recent interview with Eric Bana, he actually said it was pronounced SIR-shuh. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteWHAT?!!?! That sounds awesome, and I would totally watch movies by myself in my backyard if I could.
ReplyDeleteI read an interview with the actress herself, and she said either pronunciation is acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this has been discussed here yet, but I finally saw Cedar Rapids last weekend and it was really great. Ed Helms, John C. Reilly in a perfect John C. Reilly role and Senator Clay Davis hanging out. I'm seeing Hanna on Tuesday, if only because of the music they're bumping in the commercials.
ReplyDeleteWill there be a bouncy castle?
ReplyDeleteIf a gun was held to my head, I would say that Arthur is better than Your Highness, but only because that gun was there. They were both pretty abominable, and neither got ANY laughs in the screenings I attended. I never saw Pineapple Express, but I find it hard to believe Your Highness even got greenlit. By adults, I mean. But I've been told Rio is delightful, and I'd like to see Hanna. It looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteOr, as they were "affectionately" known as at my college--the "bounce 'n' puke."
ReplyDeleteCedar Rapids is, of all things, showing at our little 2 screen art house cinema. I've been meaning to check it out - from what I've heard it's smarter and sweeter than the trailers led me to believe.
ReplyDeleteNo bouncy castle - and I'm really hoping the cats don't think the inflatable screen is THEIR bouncy toy.
ReplyDeleteHere in Georgia, there's a relatively small sweet spot for it not being too cold or too hot after dark to watch movies outside.
The 10th Doctor as Hamlet is SO SO good. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteI might see The Adjustment Bureau or True Grit, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 with the kiddo. I liked the original Arthur when I was a kid but cringe at it now (other than John Gielgud alerting the media etc.), and cringe at the idea of a remake despite my abiding love for Helen Mirren.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Helen Mirren, watch this video. But maybe not at work (depending on your workplace's sound tolerance), or while eating.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/funny/when-harry-met-sally-2-with-bi.html
<span>Though she probably would like her name to be spelled correctly: it's Saoirse, not Saorise, Matt. :)
ReplyDelete[saorise: the act of lifting a Portuguese saint?]</span>
I forgot Rango - will try and take the kiddo to Rango.
ReplyDeleteI saw Rango last week and was shocked at how "not a kid movie" I found it. There's nothing massively offensive, Genevieve, but I just wonder if kids understood any of it. It's deeply strange and has a lot of jokes that aren't the Pixar-esque "works for 1 level for kids and another for adults" but that are really just "only works for adults." Depp is fun in it and it's cool in that it's essentially an animated remake of Chinatown (no kidding), but I wonder if kids like it at all. Thoughts from others who've seen?
ReplyDeleteHanna was a great script and I love Joe Wright. Excited to see the movie. On the Katniss Everdeen, front, though - where is our thread to discuss the casting thus far???
ReplyDeleteeh, not that we end up going out to movies often (why hello there toddler in the house), but I'd be writing this weekends openings off anyhow cause we're going to see COMPANY(yay!) tomorrow night!
ReplyDeletethat said, apparently Ebert liked Arthur, who'da thunk?
I think we had one for the Lawrence announcement and the Peeta/Gale casting wasn't really interesting/surprising enough to warrant its own thread--depending on where they go with other casting (particularly Haymitch) further threads may ensue.
ReplyDeleteHas any stoner comedy ever been well reviewed? Yet, haven't many stoner comedies been fairly amusing when you finally get around to catching them on cable?
ReplyDeleteI think the stoner comedy genre is full of surprisingly re-watchable films, more so than many other types of films.
Your Highness may indeed be terrible, but terrible reviews don't necessarily make that so.
Hanna looks interesting, but from the trailers, I personally find Blanchett's 'suthunur' accent grating and laughable.
On a side (but related) note, when was the last film made that didn't have someone from a land with the Queen of England on their money playing an American?
(not counting the Tyler Perry oeuvre)
I hear that...fingers crossed for Hugh Laurie as Haymitch (I also love the Downey Jr idea but I think he's too expensive/unavailable)!
ReplyDeletePineapple Express got decent reviews. It had a 68 percent favorable rating on Rotten Tomates and a 64 rating on Metacritic. For comparison's sake, Your Highness got a 25 rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 31 on Metacritic.
ReplyDeleteI saw three movies yesterday: Two Gates of Sleep, which I heartily (whatever the opposite of recommend is), The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (a rental), and Hanna, which was predictable, but exciting nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the movies involved field-dressing a deer. The third had more blood.