Bottle Rocket (The Criterion Collection) (1996)

Released in 1996, this is Wes Anderson's first feature movie and the beginning of a great career that has also included the fantastic quirky comedy-dramas "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums." "Bottle Rocket" isn't the equal of those films, but it is a great start to Anderson's career, and a fine little comedy. It also marked the beginning of the stardom of Owen Wilson, who co-wrote the script with Anderson and plays the most noticeable and memorable part. The film was shot in Texas, Anderson and Wilson's home state, based on a short film they had made two years earlier.

The movie has the type of laid-back and character-driven humor that won't appeal to everyone. This is comedy that doesn't target laughs or build up elaborate set-ups as most comedies do. Instead, the humor is continuously slow-pitched to you in the form of weird but likeable characters, off-center attitudes, and situations that seem familiar to us but are played in unreal ways and thus become extremely funny. All together, it's an extraordinarily enjoyable and pleasant movie that strolls through its story with no particular rush.

Owen's brother Luke Wilson, who had so far appeared in every Wes Anderson film, plays Anthony Adams, who gets out of a voluntary mental hospital after recuperating from a breakdown. His friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) has big plans for both of them -a life of easy and enjoyable crime! Dignan doesn't have any good ideas, but tries to make up for it with endless enthusiasm and an outrageously optimistic view of life. Unfortunately, when things inevitably don't go well for him and his friends start criticizing him, he can fall into pretty bitter depressions. Owen Wilson has the character nailed down, and Dignan sets the tone for most of Wilson's other characters: the enthusiastic but misguided nut. Dignan gets his friend Bob (Robert Musgrave) in on his plan to pull a 'job' (and all of Dignan's 'jobs' are minor-league suburban affairs) that will attract the attention of the local crime boss/landscaper, Mr. Henry (James Caan in a brief but darned funny performance). Dignan get obsessed with his planning and attempts at damage control, while Anthony and Bob are more busy with the really important things in their lives: Anthony falls for a housekeeper at a motel (Lumi Cavazos, from "Like Water for Chocolate"), and Bob tries to deal with his bully of a brother, Future Man (Andrew Wilson -yep, another Wilson).

The film has some sad and serious moments -after all, these are characters who are really going NOWHERE in a very boring suburban landscape -but with Dignan around it never stays down for long. There are plenty of chuckles and some real moments of howling laughter, especially during the climatic 'take down' (and I'm really using that term pretty loosely). Another Wes Anderson favorite actor, Kumar Pallana, who appeared as Pagoda in "The Royal Tenenbaums," is on-hand to add comedy as a safe-cracker (and again, I'm really using that term loosely).

If you like quirky, odd, but realistic comedy, and if you've enjoyed Owen Wilson in many of his later performances, "Bottle Rocket" is really worth a look.

(This DVD is, unfortunately, nothing special. The picture and sound are good, but it hasn't a single extra on it, not even a trailer.)

The Criterion 2-disc Bottle Rocket is outstanding, but don't toss your original disc just yet... the new edition is a slightly different edit that loses one laugh and adds another. I couldn't find any reference to these changes in the supplementary material at all.

MISSING: Originally, during the book store robbery, Anthony grabs a random book off the shelf and opens it, revealing the title page "Job Opportunities in Government 1995" which always gave me a little chuckle. Now for some reason the book opens to a black and white photograph of a military plane (it goes by so fast you'd have to freeze frame to make it out.)

ADDED: Originally, when Bob hands his earnings over to Future Man to cover his attorney fees, he asks if he can keep a few bucks for gas, and the scene ends. Now the scene plays a few seconds longer, and we hear Future Man's reply: "No, you can't."

In addition to these minor (and somewhat baffling) changes, I was also unable to find any images of the one-sheet art or logo anywhere on this set (as appears on the menu page and sleeve of the original release).

So if you're a hardcore Bottle Rocket fan or completist, hang onto your old disc and buy this set as well. In addition to a beautiful transfer, commentary track, documentary, the original short film, and other extras, the booklet insert is a miniature replica of Dignan's 75-Year Plan notebook, along with reproductions of Anthony's drawing of Inez on horseback, the book store heist plan schematics, etc.

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This movie grabbed my attention the first time I rented it at my local videostore for it's low key atmosphere and entertaining storyline. The highly persistent (if not entirely insane) Dignan, played by Owen Wilson has got to be one of the most memorable character portrayals in any movie I've ever seen. The slow pace of the movie makes everything just right (you won't be blown away by special effects, unless you consider an altogether cerebral script pyrotechnic) but you will come away from this movie with a sense of adventure and a deep desire for one yourself. The fact that this movie is practically a remake of an earlier project adds even more to its appeal. The caper scenes are hilarious, the dialogue will make you think as well as laugh, and you will come away from this movie with a new appreciation for film making in general. It's not all about explosions after all. And you will find yourself scaring the hell out of your friends when for no reason at all you start screaming "Ka-Caw, Ka-Caw!". If you like this movie check out Rushmore, also directed by Wes Anderson.

Read Best Reviews of Bottle Rocket (The Criterion Collection) (1996) Here

Taking a trip into Wes Anderson's head is like going into a parallel universe where most things are the same, but the nature of reality is just slightly warped. And that formula holds true for "Bottle Rocket," his first collaboration with actor Owen Wilson (who also stars), an absurdist crime caper.

Anthony (Luke Wilson) has just been released from a mental hospital after being treated for exhaustion ("You haven't worked a day in your life. How could you be exhausted?"). He hangs out with his idealistically weird pal Dignan (Owen Wilson), who has mapped out his life over the next 75 years. Dignan, having seen a TV special, has decided to become a master criminal.

First they recruitt the timid Bob (Bob Musgrave) as the getaway driver, as he is the only one who has a car. They practice for a while on smaller-time burglaries, such as robbing a bookstore -then hiding out at a motel, where Anthony falls in love with the pretty South-American maid (Lumi Cavazos). However, the guys find themselves in hot water when they bump into a REAL crime boss (James Caan).

Wes Anderson's touch is a little rough in his movie debut, but it's that slightly unpolished touch that makes his offbeat style a delight here. For example, Anthony "escapes" from a hospital that he can leave anytime he wants. That unnecessarily complex opener sets the tone of the rest of the movie, of thrillseeking young men who are just a little out of sync with the rest of us.

Don't expect stupid puns, toilet humor and bad sex jokes. "Bottle Rocket" shares the dry, funny, erratic humor of Anderson's later movies. Not to mention a thousand funny little lines ("Bob stole his car!"). Anderson and Wilson avoid being self-consciously cool, in favor of being earnestly quirky. No banter, just wit.

The Wilson brothers are in fine form here, especially when interacting with one another. Anthony is calmer and thinks a lot; Dignan is idealistic and wacky almost to the point of mental illness. They have a certain innocence despite their illegal ambitions, and it's fun just to see them ramble around. They, Inez and Bob are sort of misfits, but not the kind you laugh at.

It's a little erratic, but "Bottle Rocket" comes across as fresh, weird, and extremely well-done. Funny, zany and charming crime comedy with a twist of Wes Anderson.

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"BOTTLE ROCKET" is most definitely a hilarious but yet an insanely awkward film that just sticks in your head because of how wild and crazy it is.

Released in 1996, the film would be the directorial debut for Wes Anderson ("RUSHMORE", "THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS", "Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou") and the debut of the Wilson brothers: Owen Wilson (Co-writer) and Luke Wilson (plus brother Andrew) and Robert Musgrave who all grew up together in Texas.

Back in 1992, the first initial concept of "BOTTLE ROCKET" was shot in 16mm film on B&W after the group was able to raise about $4,000 and raise more money and eventually have the 13 minutes extra to have a short film and submit it to the Sundance Film Festival in 1994.

After being screened for the festival, the film was able to attract a few producers who were willing to invest in making "BOTTLE ROCKET" to a full-length film and thus, Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson had their first major opportunity.

As the story goes, the film did terrible in its first test screening which shocked everyone. The film then had its final released cut which then was released in theaters in 1996 and the film bombed. In fact, to everyone's surprie, the film couldn't even get screened at Sundance (where the short film version was able to be screened years prior).

But there were many people who loved the film and for critics, it was a critically acclaimed film that some critics were quite passionate about such as the LA Times (blasting Sundance Film Festival for not screening it) and then followed by director Martin Scorsese calling it one of his favorite films in the 1990's, the film reached cult-status.

Flash forward 12 years later and with three of Wes Anderson's films released on THE CRITERION COLLECTION on DVD, what an awesome way to kick off THE CRITERION COLLECTION's entry to Blu-ray in Dec. 2008 with the release of "BOTTLE ROCKET", Anderson's first film.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

THE CRITERION COLLECTION is all about gathering the greatest films around the world and publish them in the highest technical quality but the focus is to present the film the way the original director intended. For film fans, THE CRITERION COLLECTION is known for its quality and rarely do fans question the releases, the releases are embraced as fans are introduced to important classics or contemporary films.

For "BOTTLE ROCKET", the film is presented in its original aspect ration of 1:85:1. The film's presentation was supervised and approved by Wes Anderson and the Director of Photography Robert Yeoman. The high definition transfer was scanned on a Spirit 2K Datacine from a 35mm interpositive and thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Resotration System and Pixel Farm's PFClean.

The video quality of this film looks great especially for a film created in the early to mid-90's. Typically films released on Blu-ray during these years have been clean but have this softness effect where the vibrancy of the colors are not as beautiful as I would like it to be. With "BOTTLE ROCKET", the film had many outdoor scenes and literally from the red's to the blues and greens and the yellow jumpsuit that the guys wear, these colors are vibrant in Blu-ray HD.

As for audio, audio was mastered at 24-bit from the original magnetic tracks and audio restoration tools were used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss and crackle. The film is primarily a dialogue based film, thus a lot of the audio is coming from your front channel speakers. There are scenes with gunshots and music that come out quite live on your home theater channels but the film is primarily a dialogue-based film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

For the special features, the following are included:

* AUDIO COMMENTARY A commentary featuring Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. The commentary is not more on the filmmaking perspective but more of nostalgia as the guys talk about memories of people they worked with, areas they shot and how some of the people on the crew have moved on to bigger things.

* THE MAKING OF "BOTTLE ROCKET" A featurette with interviews with Wes Anderson, the Owens brothers, James Caan, Kumar Pallana, the producers and more. You learn a lot about the behind-the-scenes of the film from creating the short film, Sundance, how the test screening was a bomb, how the film was not a commercial success but became a cult hit and much more. Great insight on the actors about being part of the job, how they were able to get James Caan for the film and how the producers felt about the talent at the time. A fun and informative documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman.

* The Bottle Rocket Shorts The actual 13-minute B&W short film that was created back in 1992.

* Storyboards Wes Anderson's original storyboards and sketches for the film.

* Anamorphic Test Anamorphic test shots of several scenes from the film and how Anderson originally planned to shoot the film in widescreen Panavision. Test shots.

* "The Shafrazi Lectures, No. 1 Bottle Rocket" A guy who is reviewing the film and talking about why he loved it.

* "Murita Cycles" A Short film created Barry Braverman (friend and collaborator for Anderson and the Wilson family) about his father, a Staten Island bicycle shop owner which inspired the guys to create "BOTTLE ROCKET".

* Behind-the-Scenes Photograps by Laura Wilson The Wilson brothers also had a talented mother who is a photographer that took pictures of Wes, Owen and Luke during the planning stages of the film and also at Sundance.

* Deleted Scenes There were a quite a number of scenes that were cut and eleven featured on the disc. Scenes that would have explained how "Futureman" got his name, what Dignan and Applejack were up to when they went to by Bob's place, another scene of how the pot was found in Bob's home and much, much more.

Also included is a booklet that features an appreciation by director Martin Scorsese (which is a tribute that appeared in the March 2000 issue of ESQUIRE Magazine), an essay book by executive producer James L. Brooks (written as an introduction to the "RUSHMORE" screenplay published in 1999) which really goes into detail of how "BOTTLE ROCKET" was created and things that happened behind-the-scenes not mentioned on the special features and artwork by Ian Dingman.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"BOTTLE ROCKET" is just an amazing, awkward and hilarious film. Forget about the "Oceans #" type of films that try to bring comedy to heist films, BOTTLE ROCKET" was special because it came from these young people who were not known at the time but their vision of filmmaking and storytelling just sticks into your mind.

You know that feeling about pulling a prank that got a lot of laughs during your younger years and you remember it to this day. This is how I felt about certain scenes from "BOTTLE ROCKET". There were a lot of humor that was not meant to be taken in as a joke but for these characters of Dignan, Anthony and Bob, you can't help but be entertained and laugh.

From memorable scenes of the group putting tape on top of their noses before their heist, to how rob the bookstore but at the same time, those being held hostage just look at them as non-dangerous and almost humorous (despite Dignan carrying a gun).

And then scenes of love as Anthony falls for this woman who can't speak any English and goes where she goes as she cleans each hotel room and just falls in love. And his far out drawings of his love for Inez.

And also the team assembled by Dignan for their major heist. One would think, why he would select really old men (especially one who had some major memory loss issues) to bring with him for a major robbery? But you realize it's Dignan and you just accept his approach to pulling of a heist and enjoy the ride.

There are many of these moments in the film that you just think back and just be amazed of how much of those type of scenes were included. Wes Anderson and Owen Williams are just an amazing duo and although at the time, they were not known in the industry, it just showed you how much potential these guys had when they first emerged and eventually they would go on to have successful careers making many more films together.

As for the Blu-ray disc, again, THE CRITERION COLLECTION manages to pull of another wonderful release. Wonderful picture quality that is vibrant in colors and again, I've reviewed many major films released in the early and mid-90's and although cleaned up, never have the vibrancy or sharpness but this softness that always bugged me. This was not the case of "BOTTLE ROCKET", the film looks great!

And the amount of special features and also the booklet that really help enhance one's appreciation for the film. You wouldn't expect anything less from CRITERION and sure enough, they delivered.

"BOTTLE ROCKET" is a fun, hilarious and well-written film that is so different from any film that has come out. It's not a moronic film, nor is it a serious heist film. It's just a film that is just all-out fun and one can understand why it has become a popular cult film.

Highly recommended!

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Wayne's World 2 (1993)

"WAYNE'S WORLD 2', the 1993 sequel to the financially successful 1992 film was released in the theaters. And although not as successful as the first film, the sequel still manages to contain a lot of the wackiness and craziness that Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey can dish out of their popular SNL characters.

The film is based on the popular Saturday Night Live skit "Wayne's World" featuring Mike Myers as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of an Aurora, Illinois cable access show "Wayne's World" in which the guys talk about their personal lives and rock music. And quite low budget and shot in the basement of Wayne's parents home.

During that time, "Saturday Night Live" definitely had a surge in popularity with their current comedy lineup and the skit was so successful that various catchphrases from that skit became part of American pop culture as people would use words like "That's what she said", "Shchyea" and "Schwing". And because the first film was quite successful and made money, a second film was released a year later.

For the sequel, SNL producer Lorne Michaels selected fellow Canadian Stephen Surjik who was known for his work on the show "The Kids in the Hall" and a return for writers Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"WAYNE'S WORLD 2' is presented in 1080p High Definition. If there is one thing I've noticed is that many films that appear during the late 80's and up to the mid-90's tend to have a soft, dull look in terms of picture quality on Blu-ray. The good news is that "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' features plenty of outdoor shots. A lot of sunlight and there are scenes that look nice and colorful and vibrant. The bad news is that throughout the film, you can see dust particles and white spotting at times. Granted, unless you are truly looking for it, then you will see it.

I looked back at the my review for the original DVD and I mentioned no artifacts and dust but watching it on Blu-ray, it was quite evident.

As for the audio, "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' is featured in English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital. For those who are familiar with "WAYNE'S WORLD", it's always about the crazy dialogue and the music. And this second film does feature music by Aerosmith singing "Dude, Looks Like a Lady" to the Village People with "Y.M.C.A" and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts "I Love Rock n' Roll". Music is crystal clear, dialogue is clear and the soundtrack is primarily front channel driven. There are some scenes such as a "Jurassic Park" parody where you see the low frequencies in your subwoofer being utilized. But all in all, the audio quality was good, but nothing spectacular.

Subtitles featured are in English, English SDH, Spanish and Portuguese.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Wayne's World 2' comes with the same features from the 2001 DVD. Primarily the one commentary and one featurette.

* Audio Commentary by Director Stephen Surjik It would have been great to have Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey as part of the commentary but Surjik's commentary was more appreciative of the works of the various talent and ideas that were utilized by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. Commentary track was a bit on the dry side and I suppose I was expecting a bit more humor. If anything, Stephen wanted people to laugh and that was his goal. Also, to not be anything like the original film, which I feel he accomplished.

* The 14-minute featurette "Wayne's World 2 Extreme Close-Up: Exclusive Cast & Crew Interviews" This featurette features interviews with Producer Lorne Michaels talking about why he wanted Stephen Surjik to direct. Director Stephen Surjik and the many talent of "WAYNE'S WORLD 2'. Meanwhile, the cast talked about their characters, the role of the character's for the film and meeting and working together with Aerosmith. You get interesting tidbits of Aerosmith being invited for the original film to Tia Carrere talking about working with Christopher Walken.

First, let's talk about the positive. "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' is a sequel to the popular hit film. You are no doubt going to laugh or be intrigued by a variety of scenes that parody popular films or just characters that are just wild and crazy.

With that being said, having watched this film several times already, I'm a bit critical when it comes to the sequel. "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' is no doubt a very fun film to watch bu the truth is that I felt it was a bit too rushed. I felt with the original, Mike Meyers brought a lot to the original screenplay but this time around, not being a writer for the film, the sequel was a bit average for my taste.

I did enjoy the appearance and performance by Aerosmith, seeing the cameos of several celebrities in the film was pretty cool. Kim Basinger, Heather Locklear and Drew Barrymore were absolutely gorgeous and to see Charlton Heston on this film, seemed unreal. And of course, there were other talent that brought some comic relief such as James Hong who plays Cassandra's father, Jeff Wong. His fighting scenes with Wayne was quite fun to watch. And of course, you get film parodies such as "The Graduate" and "Thelma & Louise".

Not to say that "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' was a bad movie because it wasn't. I was entertained, I just felt that the original was more fresh and crazy, while the second which was also as crazy but had a storyline that felt a bit rushed. Part of the enjoyment of the "WAYNE'S WORLD" SNL segment and the original film is showing the cable access show "WAYNE'S WORLD". It seems as if that was all ditched in the second film.

I went to see both films in the theater and during that time, I really enjoyed the SNL "WAYNE'S WORLD" segments and so, there were so many golden moments from that original film that just made me laugh. Scenes such as the QUEEN "Bohemian Rhapsody" to certain jokes being quite fresh and new. I felt that there were scenes that I just felt were classic and memorable.

With "WAYNE'S WORLD 2', it was more like, been there and seen that. After all these years, the only thing that stuck in my mind is Kim Basinger and the beautiful Olivia D'Abo (of the "Wonder Years") looking quite weird as the spitting image of Garth. And of course, Aerosmith and "The Graduate" parody.

But overall, "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' is about getting people to laugh and there are plenty of scenes that probably will.

For many films, sometimes the sequels are compared to the originals and we have high expectations. And for "WAYNE'S WORLD 2', personally for me, it fell way short of my enjoyment of the original film. Again, not to say its not funny but I enjoyed the original so much more.

And last, for those who own "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' on DVD, sure...its a better audio an video improvement from the DVD release. But it still has the same two special features from the DVD and it's not exactly a film you want to show off to friends in terms of picture or audio quality.

Granted, it's been sixteen years since the film was released and nearly nine years since the original DVD release but there's no real incentive to double dip and rebuy this on Blu-ray if you own the original DVD. That is unless you want the Dolby 5.1 TrueHD soundtrack and to watch this film via 1080p High Definition.

If you do not own "WAYNE'S WORLD 2' on DVD and are feeling nostalgic about watching Wayne and Garth all over again, then definitely pick this film up.

Was glad to find this old favorite available on blu ray. Working on getting some dvds not in the collection in this newer format.

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If you thought Wayne's World 1 was horrible, don't bother with this one. The rest of you will find plenty more laughs and fun in Part 2. And if you grew up in the 70's (like me) keep watching after the credits roll, or you will miss the funniest gag in the whole movie.

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I love this movie and Wayne's World 1. They are both funny in a stupid way. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes spoof comedies.

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Waynestock?! Christopher Walken? Asian acting legend James Hong? What more can you ask for in a sequel! Wayne's World 2 is a must see, and a must have. Zang!

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Make The Yuletide Gay Blu-ray (2009)

This is is not a review of the movie but of the Blu Ray disc.

I own over 200 Blu Ray discs and this is the single worst I have ever seen. The DVD is better image quality than this disc. I didn't know it was possible to take such a high quality format to such a low performance level.

The movie has been grotesquely over corrected with noise reduction and edge enhancements. Portions of it look almost like a comic book due to lack of detail in darker areas. Didn't anybody actually watch this before approving its release? I would return it except that it is not the sellers fault that the studio released such poor quality.

The sound quality is excellent.

I really like this movie; I think it is one of Mr. Williams best. I was really looking forward to the Blu Ray but will now stick to the DVD for any future viewings.

We watch this every Christmas and love it each time. Great fun story. Mom and Dad are hysterical! Check it out.

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I rented this film and enjoyed it immensely, and was glad to see it become available on bluray, does not dissappoint.

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This is an annual holiday watch for us. It is so very good. Having it on blu-ray is a real treat.

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an absolutely fabulous gay classie to watch every christmas. love it. highly recommened foe everyone. cant wait foe the sequal.

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Just Go with It (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011)

I went to see the movie with modest expectations, especially since some reviews haven't been overly kind to it. However, I as well as the 4 other people who saw it with me found it uproariously funny and sometimes even sweet. I really enjoy Adam Sandler in most of his films, and although this is a comedy, in this role he also displayed his sweet side much like he did in the Wedding Singer. He is actually a very good and expressive actor whose dramatic chops are underrated in many ways. And of course, I am a huge fan of the wonderful Jennifer Aniston, and she did a superb job here. There were also some other surprises....Brooklyn Decker was sweet, likable and relatable even beyond her obvious physical attributes. Nicole Kidman showed up in a character who was a bit over the top, but being a huge fan of her as well, I enjoyed this turn as we don't get to see her do comedy that often. Not every role needs to be deadly serious, after all. She had a lot of fun with this one and she was great to watch. Dave Matthews played her husband, and he was surprisingly good as well...perhaps he has a new career ahead of him in films. The only character that was too over the top and a bit obnoxious was the fellow who played Adam's long-time friend. Nothing about this guy was at all believable or particularly likable and you wanted to just swat him away as he was just downright silly and annoying, and he didn't really add much to the plot except as a necessary diversion device here and there. The Hawaii scenery (a lot of it filmed around and in the Grand Wailea in Maui) was beautiful, of course. I don't really want to get overly picky about this film. It was not meant to be highbrow cinema, but it was consistently funny and very enjoyable, definitely a film I plan to buy when it is released on DVD. Go see it, you'll like it.

This movie is HILARIOUS!!! Easy the best comedy I have seen in a long long time. Everything is really well done, and even though the ending is obvious as anything you just REALLY enjoy the ride. Kind of like life, you know the ending but you gotta know how you get there. If you don't see this movie, then I just pity you. You'd be missing out on something that is just great. I came to Amazon immediately after watching the movie to try to place a preorder...IT'S THAT GOOD!!!!!

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I got a great kick out of this movie. my gut hurt I was laughing so hard. It had a lot of laughs and a few heart warming parts. I love ad-lib and sarcasm and even though it was scripted, the dialog had such a ad-lib feeling hints the title "JUST GO WITH IT". I'd see it again, Ill buy the DVD. ... oh and Dave Matthews!!! great member of the cast.

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From my wife Sarah: If you want to have fun, relax and have some laughs, this very entertaining movie is just the thing. I stayed away from it for quite a while because of the mixed reviews. When we had run out of movies to see in the theater, we chose this as a last resort. It was so enjoyable! Don't wait to see it.

I won't go over the plot as it's already been done by others, but here's what I liked about this movie:

1. It was funny. Okay we didn't laugh non-stop, but that's because there was a real plot, with real character development. Still there were many very fun surprises and big laughs. I smiled through much of the movie.

2. Sandler was great, Jennifer Aniston was great. Not only are they funny, but they can really act. The entire cast was really good. Sandler's goofy friend sidekick was hilarious, the children were dynamic and funny. Kevin Nealon had an absolutely hilariuos bit. Nicole Kidman was perfect as Jennifer's competitive and not so nice friend.

3. The plot was very different and interesting. Although there's a kind of predictable ending, it's still a fun ride to get there.

The only thing I would have liked to see just a bit different was more heat between Sandler and Aniston. While their relationship was really developed and believable, they didn't seem to have that strong chemistry.

Regardless, I strongly recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys comedy as well as romantic comedy.

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Hilarious, funny, feel good, make you laugh kind of movie! Cute love story and comedy! Can't wait til it comes out on DVD so I can watch it again! Jennifer Aniston is beautiful and Adam Sandler is so funny. They are so good together in this movie!

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The Yankles (2012)

This is a very enjoyable movie with a big heart. It takes the classic underdog gets a second chance theme and presents it in its own unique way. It centers on a baseball team, but it is not a "sports" movie. It takes place at a Yeshiva, but it is not a religious movie. Rather, it's a feel-good movie with likeable characters that will absolutely leave a smile on your face. As far as originality, it does hew to the well-known cinematic theme of underdogs doing well under the guidance of new leadership, however much originality is here in context of the setting, the characters and their cultural struggles with the sport, as well as an interesting plot twist that may prevent them from ultimately playing in an important league tournament. I first saw it on the big screen, and now that it is out on Blu-ray (as well as on Amazon Instant Video), I plan on having it as part of my permanent home library as well!

In life, winning isn't everything. Sports films have built their own industry within an industry about exploring what it is that makes one a winner: is it the final score, is it the way the game is played, or is it something more, something magical, something that'll always be elusive except to those who're willing to put in on the line for their team? Along comes THE YANKLES, and you'll believe it has far more to do with one's faith faith in the game, faith in your God, faith in yourself and maybe that's the best estimation put to film yet.

Down-on-his-luck Charlie Jones (played by Brian Wimmer) an ex-baseball player fresh out of jail and trying to reform his life and image can't find a team anywhere that'll touch him with a ten foot pole. Enter "the Yankles," a brand-new college team desperately in need of a coach! A former Minor League playing now pursuing his faith learns that Jones needs to meet his community service commitment under the terms of his parole, and voila! It's a match made in sports comedy Heaven ... or whatever may account for Heaven in the Jewish faith.

What writer/director David R. Brooks (along with writing partner Zev Brooks) has done is they've smartly examined the world of sports through the prism of faith ... and why not? There have long been messages about believing in one's self mirrored in the best sports movies, but he's amped up the faith to an all new level here by revolving the story around a fictional collegiate team set at a Jewish school. What could spiral into "preachy-ness" stays mostly sublime as the team struggles to understand `the game' instead of simply `winning it,' allowing for such handsome subplots as having a father and a son comes to terms with their differing views on life as well as Jones trying to win back his former love who's now embraced her faith fully. Through Jones' eyes, the audience gets introduced to these matters; through the team's eyes, they see what rewards come with the full expression of it. It's balanced extremely well, and, indeed, these matters of devotion end up meaning more personally than they would in a film wholly centered on baseball.

My only complaint and, sure, I'm a critic, so I have to have at least one is that the games here never really get center stage. (I know that wasn't the pure intent of the film, but I'll say what I think needs to be said anyhow.) Instead of building up the game giving the viewer a handful of sequences to set up how important a critical play or crucial inning is for the story instead we're given only the pivotal sequence. Instead of presenting the full sense of a game, the game is reduced to just what's needed to underscore the message. That's all well and good; and it happens so consistently throughout that it's easy to determine that it was either (a) deliberate or (b) due to the constraints of time. However, it would've been nice to have the big game the championship game play out a bit closer to the way they do in a traditional sports film. So much was made about the lessons learned in getting to `the show' that it would've been nice to give those moments more screen time; still, it's a minor blemish in an otherwise solid (and noble) run around the bases. Otherwise, the film never feels formulaic, and it retains a modest freshness throughout.

For the record, I know very little about the Jewish faith. While a large part of THE YANKLES' storylines explore what it's like to be a Jew especially as it impacts with playing a sport I found all of it extremely accessible. I've no doubt that if I had a stronger understanding of the Jewish faith I probably would've uncovered even more humor in the script, but, as I've read some scuttlebutt online about "needing to be a Jew" in order to truly appreciate the film, I wanted to debunk that so far as I was concerned. This non-Jew found plenty to identify with and cheer about with this feature.

At a time when the evening news is fairly regularly filled with stories of players, parents, coaches, referees, and umpires going berserk on and off the playing field, how refreshing is it to find a film like THE YANKLES? Certainly, the story briefly explores I said "briefly," folks the importance of winning on the field, but so much more of the film spends time exploring how important a winning strategy is off the field. There are metaphors for winning in life, in school, in faith, in relationships.

THE YANKLES is produced by Magnolia Pictures with DZB Productions, LLC. DVD distribution is handled through Magnolia Home Entertainment. The disc looks exceptional, and I'll admit I had some trouble with audio in a few sequences; the mix was a bit off for my tastes, but it was certainly fixable on my sound system. And, for the record, the film has won plenty of accolades, including "Audience Favorite Best Feature' at both the 2010 Palm Beach International Film Festival and the 2011 Trimedia Film Festival, as well as other citations at the 2010 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, the 2010 Int'l Family Film Festival, the 2011 New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, the 2010 Heartland Film Festival, and the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival. The disc includes deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, extended musical scenes (music plays a large role in the flick), an audio commentary, and other little trinkets.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDED. Certainly a case could be made that THE YANKLES isn't for everyone, but it would be just plain silly to do so. And you'd be a putz! Or a schmuck! Give in to the wholesome charm of watching these young Rabbis-in-training put up or shut up in their trials to just play the game, and have yourself two hours of fun. Plus, it's overwhelmingly family-friendly even for the young'uns who'll probably find even more to laugh at than this old soul did.

In the interests of fairness, I'm pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Magnolia Home Entertainment provided me with a DVD screener copy of THE YANKLES by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review.

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Every Baseball fan and Jew should see this movie. This is a great movie for frends to get together and watch. Also fun movie for a temple togther.

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This is a very enjoyable movie with a big heart. It takes the classic underdog gets a second chance theme and presents it in its own unique way. It centers on a baseball team, but it is not a "sports" movie. It takes place at a Yeshiva, but it is not a religious movie. Rather, it's a feel-good movie with likeable characters that will absolutely leave a smile on your face. As far as originality, it does hew to the well-known cinematic theme of underdogs doing well under the guidance of new leadership, however much originality is here in context of the setting, the characters and their cultural struggles with the sport, as well as an interesting plot twist that may prevent them from ultimately playing in an important league tournament. I saw it on the big screen, and now that it is out on Blu-ray, I plan on having it as part of my permanent home library as well!

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Fantastic movie -well-written, engaging subject matter, and inspiring story. Enjoyed by the entire family. Kudos for a great and entertaining production. I highly recommend this film.

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Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Every review I've read has been quasi-negative but not being one to listen to critics, I took a chance. I was very pleasantly surprised. Depending on why you go to a movie, you may not like this because it is not escapism. It deals with real life issues and things most of us can relate to. I found the movie to be very refreshing and all the characters real to life. The main character is a single mom trying to raise a precocious son. She has to deal with a dead-end relationship and an aging father, an irresponsible sister and a job she hates. How she copes and what she does is more believable than most of the "chick flick" films out today. I think this is one of the better movies in a sea of fluff to spend time and money on. Amy Adams is wonderful and it is always refreshing to see Alan Arkin. Please don't dismiss this film because of iffy reviews. It is worth going to see.

I cannot understand those who were bored by this film. I was entranced; good performances all around married to a well-developed plot with skillful writing yielded a totally satisfying experience. As one who did not much care for "Little Miss Sunshine", I was certainly not hoping for a repeat. And did not get it.

The guy at my Blockbuster store said "Oh, good movie. My wife and I watched it three times; we really liked it," when we checked it out. Three times may be a bit much, but it held us. The subplots that go nowhere (the blood bank gal, the problems in school) were, to me, perfect expressions of the fits and starts that life endlessly presents. Not everything gets tidied up; not everyone sees our attempted generosity as we do; not all stories have a satisfactory conclusion. Sometimes people are jerks, bad things happen, and we get stuck. One other pleasure was that the two people who seem to be experiencing the first sparks of interest do not hook up. How nice for a story to allow two lonely people to stay lonely, at least for now.

The other thing I truly liked about this film is that everywhere else Hollywood despises low paid labor and those who perform it. (In the movies that is; in real life, where stars are lining up defending illegal immigration so their lawns, pools, and bathrooms can be cared for at bargain rates, things are different.) But a maid and a small shop owner are treated respectfully. These are hard-working people trying, not terribly successfully, to make a go of things, and the film never laughs at them or insults them or condescends to them. Thank you.

And it wonderfully destroys some idiotic fantasies. Suicide is not glamorous and poetic, not heroic or brave; it is the ultimate act of self. You can not claim to love people when you splatter your brains across their floor and allow them to clean up the mess. That is absolute selfishness. It is not love. Love means working hard to help people, giving up something of value. Love is not motel sex. It is not sex at all; it can, and often is, the exact opposite. Love is not glorifying the old days, hoping they come back. Love is living in the now, doing what must be done, giving up what must be cast aside, and pulling together despite all the reasons there are to pull apart. This film shows that with tenderness and beauty.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program A very enjoyable quirky film which is after alot more then quick easy laughs. This film gets pretty serious at times and what an enjoyable ride it is made easier by the stellar cast. Amy Adams as Rose and her sister Norah, Emily Blunt, tend to Rose's 7 year old son, Oscar and their own cleaning business they are starting. This is no ordinary cleaning business but a crime scene clean up after the bodies have been moved and evidence secured and all that remains are the blood and the remanants of the deceased's life. What I loved about this film is the humanity of the characters, real people, real problems and real situations that have you pulling for them even as you shake your head at their mistakes. Alan Arkin is a joy as the cranky, scheming father of Rose and Norah, he is at a place as an actor that he brings so much of what you expect from him as an actor while also bringing such subtle differences to all his characters that you never feel you're seeing the same character you might've seen in another movie. Amy Adams is a shining revelation of eternal optimism and she has you pulling for her as she tries win over her own demons. Emily Blunt and Jason Spevak as Oscar are wonderfully funny and real. There is a real honesty amidst some outrageously funny stuff that never panders or lectures and never cheats the audience. I only felt cheated at the end when the movie ended. I wasn't ready to leave this family behind and wanted to live with them a little longer. That is a good thing when a movie leaves you wanting more.

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When Rose (Amy Adams) needs to make money to put her son Oscar (Jason Spevack) into a private school when he keeps getting in trouble at his regular school, she turns to her unreliable sister Norah (Emily Blunt) to help her start a bio-hazard removal/ cleaning business. Even knowing that part of their job is to clean up after dead bodies, they still don't anticipate the job being as difficult as it is. From Norah trying to find the daughter of a suicide to Rose dealing with the personal issues of being a single mom and having an affair with a married cop, the sisters deal with life and a job that's out of the ordinary.

Christine Jeffs (Sylvia) and first time screenwriter Megan Holley came up with the idea for Sunshine Cleaning from the story of two women from Seattle they heard on a National Public Radio "All Things Considered" segment. In real life the women are actually best friends who own a biohazard removal/ cleaning service, but naturally with all adaptations things are changed to better move along the story, or to help the audience to identify with the plight of the main characters.

By choosing a pair of regular women to go into a job of this nature, the filmmakers have done a great job of making a movie that has a hint of originality. Also, by choosing a profession of this nature, the movie is also able to deal with elements of life and death, moving on and dealing with the darkness in our past. The movie effectively communicates it's messages while never being overbearing in it's way of dealing with them.

The acting in this movie is great as would be expected from this cast of characters. Twice Oscar nominated Amy Adams (Junebug, Doubt) does a great job as the more stable sister who can't let go of her past. Oscar winner Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) returns to familiar territory as the patriarch who is always trying new business ventures to try and help his family out, internally showing signs of inadequacy having raised his daughters as a single father. The real winner in the cast is the up and coming Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Young Victoria) as the unstable daughter who can't get over elements of her past that seemingly tear at the fabric of her being.

I really liked Sunshine Cleaning, but I kept getting the feeling that the filmmakers were trying to exert their independence in this indie film by being a lot like other films. Don't get me wrong, homages are the highest form of flattery and some of my favorite filmmakers make great living by making full films based on homages. The problem comes when watching the entire film makes you think of one film in particular in structure and in characterizations. Also following the indie model means that the characters often times have quirks that don't really further the characterization, but are just there to exert the filmmaker's passion to be non-mainstream.

I do highly recommend the movie, and intend to add the film to my collection. I will admit that the indie-isms have a tendency to frustrate me at times, but that doesn't mean that you'll feel the same way when you watch this film. If you like movies like Little Miss Sunshine, you'll enjoy this movie.

4/5

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There are mega movie blockbusters that beat down the doors of the local multiplex, pushing the competition out with promises of big bucks and taking over 10 of 18 screens at one shot. Sure, this means that the movie in question will be able to handle all comers the first weekend. But what about the little guy? What about the small independent movies that don't garner big budget advertising or multiple screens? These films play art houses and special theaters. Or they arrive on DVD with the chance to be found. SUNSHINE CLEANING is one such film.

We all have dreams of where we want to go with out lives. Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) was the head cheerleader, the girl most likely to succeed, the one in love with the big man on campus. Those dreams died and she moved on, becoming a single mother who works for a house cleaning service to make ends meet. She continues to see Mac (Steve Zahn), her knight in shining armor and now a homicide cop, but he's married with children and unlikely to leave.

When Rose's son Oscar (Jason Spevack) becomes more than the local school can handle, Rose must find a way to not only do better for herself but to be able to afford a private school for her son. During one of their liaisons, Mac suggest to her she start her own cleaning business cleaning crime scenes. The pay is great and she has time for her son.

After thinking it over, Rose takes on the task and recruits her sister Norah (Emily Blunt) to help. But Norah has problems of her own, mainly a rebellious streak that stems from Rose being overprotective and having to deal with a never present mother. But she goes with the flow and helps out Rose, making money for herself as well.

The pair start slowly with tips from Mac about which scenes to go to first. Stopping in a local warehouse cleaning supply store, Rose makes friends with the owner, a one armed shop keeper named Winston (Clifton Collins Jr.). Seeing the problems they are having, Winston helps her along the way with suggestions about cleaning supplies and classes she might want to take.

Their first job is one that almost makes them give in. A trailer whose owner died several days before being found, Rose and Norah do the job at hand. As they clean, Norah finds a fanny pack that belonged to the home's owner that contains a packet of pictures tied with a bow of a young girl from childhood to graduation, a treasure. It hits Norah that this woman held on to these pictures for a reason and rather than toss them out, she holds on to them and searches for the woman in the photos.

The business goes well at first and Rose seems to be getting along fine. But a chance encounter with an old school chum just before she left her old job leaves her feeling hollow and disappointed in the life she expected but that never came to be. Invited to the woman's baby shower, she makes a point of planning to attend to relive her glory days with the women she knew then.

Norah seeks out the young woman and finds her in a staling type way. They become friends without the woman knowing the real reason for her meeting Norah. The resolution to this friendship is unexpected and more real than one would think.

The chance to make it big comes with a call from State Farm Insurance who wants to hire Sunshine Cleaning for a job. Excited by the prospect, Rose shrugs off her responsibilities to go to the shower and sends Norah to do a job by herself. Face it, a happy ending is not waiting around the corner. Perhaps.

The movie does a great job of storytelling, not only moving along at a nice pace but giving us characters who feel real and who we can care about as it unfolds. Rose is a determined woman who wants the best out of life but for some reason just can't seem to reach the goals she sets for herself. Adams does a fantastic job as Rose, bringing home the despair and hope seen in the character from one moment to the next.

Emily Blunt does an outstanding job as well, offering a sister with problems that began years ago searching for the answers the questions she's not even quite sure she knows to ask. A history that involves the girl's mother and what became of her results in one of the most touching images towards the end of the film.

SUNSHINE CLEANING may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's low key, it feels like it's in the real world we want to escape while watching a movie, but at the same time it offers hope and a spark of life seen in few films. This may not be the biggest or most expensive film released this week, but it is one that has plenty of heart in its center and worth giving a watch.

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I Love You, Man (2009)

There is an audio commentary by director John Hamburg and actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The three guys joke and banter with each other like old friends while heaping a lot of praise on their cast-mates as this track veers into a shameless love fest at times. They also point out acquaintances and crew members who have small roles in the film. They do tell some amusing filming anecdotes which somewhat salvages this commentary.

"The Making of I Love You, Man" is pretty standard press kit material as key cast and crew members talk about the characters and the film's plot. There are plenty of clips from the film along with behind-the-scenes footage.

"Extras" features 22 minutes of outtakes as we see the actors improvise various takes for a given scene that is pretty funny, especially whenever Paul Rudd is involved as he comes up with some amusing variations on dialogue.

Also included are six extended scenes that feature the cast riffing beyond what we saw in the film.

There are three deleted scenes which feature Peter going on a man date where he plays a game of rugby and gets injured. There is a scene where Peter and his brother talk about man crushes and friend sluts over bowling. And we see The State's David Wain as a wedding photographer getting Peter and his friends to do some silly poses.

Finally, there is a pretty funny gag real as cast and crew goof around on the set between and during takes. They also take pleasure in making each other crack up.

I hadn't heard anything about this movie before my husband dropped it into my lap today and said, "watch this. It's funny." He was entirely correct. I laughed out loud so many times that watching it was totally entertaining. The silly plot didn't even matter. This was more about the performances of some talented comedic actors than it was about the contrived tale of a young groom looking for guy friends to fill out his wedding party. What I especially appreciated was that it wasn't just base-level male humor, there was some base-level female humor in there too.

Fun to watch for couples who aren't easily embarrassed in front of one another. And BTW: How fun was it to see original Not Ready For Prime Time Player, Jane Curtin??? Great ensemble cast.

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This is a very funny movie, yeah its a bit of a guy movie, well maybe a lot guy movie, some of the humor is very crude. The good news, its not mean funny, the laughs are good natured. Jason Segel, seems to be getting better and better in films.

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd, The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition), Knocked Up (Unrated Widescreen Edition), The OH in Ohio, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition)), is engaged to Zoe (Rashida Jones, The Office Television series). Zoe has a bunch of girl friends, Peter has no male friends. In fact, Peter is very creepy around guys; and is pretty darn clingy with Zoe (she really should have run and hidden when he served the hot chocolate to her girls night out). So Zoe kind of pushes Peter into finding some male friends and manning up. Peter's younger brother (Andy Samberg, SNL) is openly gay and advises Peter on how to get male friends. Eventually Peter runs into Stewart, (Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother, Knocked Up (Unrated Widescreen Edition), and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Unrated Widescreen Edition)), and they quickly become friends. The movie moves into a form of love triangle at this point. Along the way, a lot of funny things happen. I really enjoyed Jon Favreau being the butt of many jokes in this film. Jamie Pressley (My name is Earl) was just outstanding in her directness.

Please don't expect this film to be cinema, its just a good solid comedy, that will appeal to a mostly male audience. Jason Segel emits confidence in this film. After doing full frontal nudity in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, he seems to have nothing more to prove. Paul Rudd is good at being annoying early in the film Mr. Clingy, Mr. eveything is too nice. He does a good job transitioning to a more likeable, normal character later in the film.

There were a few good hommages to SNL and How I Met Your Mother (in the man cave, Stewart was frequently seen in front of Marshall amps). Funny, fake movie critic conversations. This is a pop culture / cinema literate film.

At almost 2 hours, the film is just about the right lenght. Technically, surround sound was well used. There were a couple of bad edits where reaction shots were cut off early or changed too quickly. Shots were good and steady, no stupid random handheld camera movement. Overall, nicely done. The director, John Hamburg, has done mostly television; however this effort is very nicely done way better than those credentials.

The movie is definately rated R, and is not for younger viewers. There is no nudity in this film. The R rating is for strong language and explict discussions about sex. No violence, unless you count Lou Ferrigno putting Jason Segel in a sleeper hold. The jokes are crude.

The DVD is packed with some nice bonus features. There is a commentary track with Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, and John Hamburg (I can only imagine that is very funny).

Three deleted scenes that gratefully were left out of the movie (a rugby game, gay bowling, and groomsmen photo session) they were bad.

Extended scenes were actually really great Rush fans, there is an extended version of the concert footage that is excellent; the discussion at ladies night is longer and cruder; the engagement dinner at the Chinese restaurant Stewart talks about his job; Tuxedo shopping goes on a bit longer (not so good); Peter and Stewart hugging in front of the fountain gets another story thread added; and additional conversation at the wedding about gifts.

Extras a bunch of short clips that were in the film, but pushing the joke a lot further a combination of extended scenes and out takes. Best watched long after seeing the movie, they kind of overplay the jokes.

A making of featurette forgettable.

A good funny movie. There are moments when Peter made me feel uncomfortable with his stupid comments, he says things that he regrets or says without thinking. But overall, the jokes work well.

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I think the previews of this movie made it seem better than it really is.

I expected more laughs out of it, but instead got BASICALLY the same scene at least 10 times.

Here's the gist:

A couple gets engaged, and the groom-to-be has trouble finding a best man because for about his entire life ALL his friends have been women. Desperate to find a group of guy friends to call his own ;P he gets into a few "man-dates" before FINALLY finding a guy that seems to have potential "bromance" material. The groom-to-be and this guy soon become the best of friends, but eventually this "bromance" gets to be a bit too much for his fiance to handle, and a conflict breaks out between the two friends.

While I wish this movie had more to the storyline, my boyfriend and I did get a few good laughs out of it, but this isn't a movie that I'd/we'd watch a second time in a row without at least a six months to a year time interval since the last time I/we saw it.

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When `I Love You, Man' first came out I rushed to the theater with my then best friend to see it. We had the type of relationship that was very rare I think; a bond that was unlike any I had with anyone else and, to be honest, one I never want to have again (the closer you are the harder they hurt you). Anyways, I'm not trying to be a downer, and I know that no one wants to hear this, but the reason I bring it up is this; when I left the theater that day I really, really loved this movie. I was ready to give it a five-star blazing review. Now that my then best friend and I are no longer speaking to one another I began to wonder if my adoration of this film was blinded love based on a personal connection I had with the subject matter.

It wasn't.

So that is why I mention my god-awful story of betrayed friendship, because in the end `I Love You, Man' still holds up, regardless of you current situation. It is genuine, charming, authentic, original and very, very funny.

The film tells of Peter Klaven; the `girlfriend guy'. He never really had steady friendships because he's not like most men. He's sweet and sensitive and emotional and caring and so he has a great track record with women, but when it comes down to selecting his bridal party (a guy that perfect can never stay single for long) he realizes that he has no friends. So, he embarks on a quest to find a best man, and that is when he runs into Sydney Fife; the complete opposite of Peter. He is crude and abrasive and a total womanizer and comfortable bachelor, but he possesses the same genuineness that Peter has. Each man compliments the other, helping them edge out their own personalities and become more complete individuals.

Why is writing this review making me so depressed?

Anyways, the film is littered with very funny scenes and a lot of well placed humor, but the heart of this film takes a tenderer and even more serious tone of true friendship and that act of finding oneself for the first time. The acting is very good all across the board, especially for this type of feature, but no one does as good a job at really reaching the audience as Paul Rudd. Rudd is flawless here, really grabbing hold of the awkwardness of making friends, of being yourself while constantly trying to impress another person. I know exactly what it's like to call up someone you don't really know but want to get to know (on a friendly level) and find yourself stammering through the most painfully awkward voice mail you've ever left.

I'm telling you; he really is OSCAR worthy here, and that is not something you say very often about performances in this genre of film.

Everything in this film feels so genuine because it is all so believable. I remember looking at my then best friend throughout the film smiling and nudging him, saying "this is so us" and it was; yet sadly it wasn't.

Friendship, and by that I mean TRUE FRIENDSHIP is a rarity today, and I'm thankful that someone finally broke the male bonding stereotype by making a film that is a true testament to the need for real friendship. This is a very smart film that mixes the funny with the heart without ever overdoing it and without ever straying from its objective. With a slew of nicely placed supporting performances (and a scene stealer by Andy Samberg), `I Love You, Man' is the complete package that will make you laugh and smile and, if you're me, cry.

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