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Burn After Reading (2008)

I just wanted to point out that every single complaint that the one-star reviews dole out are just icing on the cake as far as me totally loving this movie. The characters had no depth? The plot was too amorphous? THAT WAS THE POINT FOLKS. The characters are examples of typical character flaws that are variations on stupidity. You're supposed to enjoy their lives falling apart. I sure as hell did.

I am shocked at the amount of negative reviews here. This is a comedic masterpiece. I think the one star ratings are coming from simpletons that have no clue about truly subtle and intelligent humor. THE ABRUPT ENDING WAS PART OF THE POINT!

THE LACK OF A PLOT WAS PART OF THE POINT!

THE POINT OF THE MOVIE WAS HOW TRULY POINTLESS MOST THINGS ARE!

In their brilliance, the coens were MAKING A POINT BY MAKING A MOVIE WITH NO POINT!

This film is true genius and one of the funniest films I have ever seen. Clooney was a perverted mess and Pitt was genius as a mindless but fun good samaritan. If you know anything about comedy, you will love this film.

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After the true genius of No Country For Old Men, the Coen Brothers come back with a whole new dimension. Burn After Reading is a dark comedy about idiots faced with an intelligent and complex situation. Two Gym instructors Linda Litsky (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) find a disc containing the memoirs of ex CIA agent Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich). They, being idiots think it's a disc containing top secret information and try to bribe Osbourne for money which would help pay for Linda's cosmetic surgery. Things don't go to plan as Osbourne has bigger things on his mind, his wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with the paranoid Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney).

This film is actually quite intelligent in its own right, the characters seem well defined and are played superbly. The characters were specifically written for the actor playing them and it really shows.

John Malkovich portrays the agent lost of all hope well, you become quite intimidated by both his intelligence and temper.

George Clooney as the paranoid individual who's having more affairs than you can wave a stick at doesn't falter. He's jumpy, but hey who wouldn't be if you were sleeping with three different women. This eratic behaviour becomes a bit tragic and leads to the death of one of the characters in the film.

Brad Pitt as the loveable and wannabe cunning idiot is fantastic, the facial expressions and general stereotypical dexterity of what we would expect a personal trainer to be really works. This becomes especially amusing when he enters into the bribing game with Malkovich and starts to enter into the character of cunning spy. It has to be seen to be believed.

Frances McDormands character is the real shining light of the whole film as she's the catalyst leading up to the films biggest events. She's a middle aged gym instructor paranoid over the look of her body. While trying to get plastic surgery, she's turned down by her insurance company and is the one that convinces Pitts character to bribe Cox. She's a woman on the edge of giving up on life and wants to take one last leap into the chance of a relationship, but is made even more nervous by her own body insecurities.

The Coens once again create a film that is both surreal and believable, the characters are shockingly brilliant. The scenario is a bit over the top but comes together perfectly. There is something that bothered me, however, and that's the fact that every character in the film seemed to be having an affair with someone else. I don't know, maybe that was the whole point that made the film work. For fans of the Coens this is definitely one that sits proudly in their film catalogue next to such greats as No Country For Old Men and The Big Lebowski. I would strongly recommend it to any film fan overall, it's definitely worth it just for the Brad Pitt & Clooney facial expressions. Be warned though as if you're easily offended by swearing, then you might as well take your pad and pen with you to start writing your complaints letter.

Read Best Reviews of Burn After Reading (2008) Here

Do you remember the first Blu-ray you ever bought? Mine was Burn After Reading on the same day that I purchased my first Blu-ray player. It's a title that receives very little recognition and it regularly features in sales. Why is that the case?

The movie is directed by the Coen brothers and stars Clooney, Pitt, McDormand, Malkovich and Swinton. What's not to like?

I'm hard to please when it comes to humor, but several Coen brothers films hit the spot. It's clever dialogue rather than slapstick physical humor, and some of it is unpredictable. I can't laugh when I see a joke coming from a mile away wearing a T-shirt with "This is funny, laugh now" written on it. I like to be surprised.

So what is surprising about Burn After Reading?

Harry Pfarrer (Clooney) has no redeeming features. He's married, but sees other women at every opportunity. He's having an affair with Katie Cox (Swinton). Harry is shallow, paranoid and somewhat stupid and Clooney plays the character with his usual charm and good humor.

If there is anyone dumber than Harry, it has to be Chad Feldheimer (Pitt), who works in a gym. Chad is a complete idiot in every way. His friend at the gym is Linda Litzke (McDormand), who is obsessed with undergoing cosmetic surgery to improve her appearance.

Osborne Cox (Malkovich) is married to Katie and works as an analyst for the CIA. Most of his sentences include at least one profanity and he's borderline alcoholic. The story begins with a meeting in which Osborne is told that he will be demoted, but instead of accepting the situation, he quits. Katie is not pleased, even though she's on the verge of leaving him for Harry.

There's not much of a plot. Chad acquires a CD containing the beginning of Osborne's memoir and believes it to be secrets of national importance. He thinks that Osborne is sure to give him a reward if he returns it and that leads to an amusing phone call. Linda decides that the Russians may be interested in the worthless CD and that they might reward her for the useless information.

Everybody seems to be sleeping with everyone else and what could go wrong does go wrong. This is not a serious story in any way.

There's a great cameo by J. K. Simmons who plays a CIA boss. He's utterly clueless about the significance of the events we witness because they are all meaningless. Watch his reaction at the end of the movie when he makes a decision about what further action to take.

Burn After Reading is a good way to spend an hour-and-a-half. No analysis is necessary. All of the characters have funny moments. Ignore the negative reviews and see it for yourself. You can pick it up for under $10 if you like it.

Overall score 4.5/5

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Every once in awhile the Coens love to throw one at you just for fun. Burn After Reading is in many ways a "Double McGuffin," playing into a wide range of conspiracy theories and jaded views on life. A pair of misfits hope to extort a former CIA analyst when they stumble across a disc at a fitness club. I suppose in many ways this film is a satire of the political thrillers, set during the last days of the Bush administration when we were still living on colored alerts. The Coens draw on a wealth of talent, from John Malkovich as the disenchanted CIA analyst preparing to write a book of his experiences, to Francis McDormand who stumbles across a CD that contains much of the information he has garnered, to George Clooney as a two-timing federal marshall. Even Brad Pitt gives a stand out performance as McDormand's screwball accomplice. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, but this movie is played mostly for laughs.

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Hard Core Logo (1996)

If you go to Amazon's Canadian branch (at www.amazon.ca), you can order the much superior version of this classic movie. Here's what you get:

A few years ago, Miramax released a bare bones DVD of Hard Core Logo, but now Bruce McDonald has re-released his movie with a new transfer (strangely full-frame as opposed to the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the Miramax disc) and a new and improved 5.1 surround soundtrack.

First up is the rowdy audio commentary between Bruce McDonald, actor Hugh Dillon and the screenwriter, Noel S. Baker. McDonald and Baker dominate the track at first, but then Dillon gets more vocal (or is that drunker?) as the commentary progresses. There are a lot of interesting observations from all the participants. Initially, Dillon wasn't interested in doing the movie because he felt that most rock 'n' roll films didn't get it right but McDonald convinced him that this one would be different. What makes this commentary such a treat to listen to is that it's obvious that everyone involved hasn't watched the film in years and that they're having a blast revisiting it. They are all clearly proud of the film and aren't afraid to poke fun at it and themselves.

Also included are the obligatory cast and crew biographies and the theatrical trailer that was originally on the Miramax DVD.

Another new feature are two music videos: one for Dillon's band, The Headstones and the other for Hard Core Logo, which parodies A Hard Day's Night (the band in ridiculous wigs runs away from their fans) and features clips from the movie.

Fans of Canadian music will be happy to know that the tribute CD-with actual Canadian rock bands covering the songs of Hard Core Logo-is also included. For those that think Bryan Adams, Celine Dion and Avril Lavigne sum up Canadian music, think again!

In keeping with its DIY roots, the DVD booklet is designed and written like an independent punk rock fanzine that is a nice added touch.

This movie is an absolute MUST for Callum Keith Rennie fans; he shines in his role as a reluctant returning member of the Canadian punk band Hard Core Logo for their reunion tour. This movie has been described as a dark, realist Spinal Tap, and was billed as a black comedy. While the movie has its funny, often hilarious moments, it actually concentrates on the real, human emotions driving each character. This is a character-driven movie, rather than a plotor action-driven movie, and shows a great deal of insight about the internal politics of friendship. Though the performance scenes are also very cool.

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"This is Spinal Tap" created the mockumentary genre in film with brilliant caricatures of washed-up rockers, and a sly wit that often slipped past on the first viewing. Bruce McDonald has upped the ante with "Hard Core Logo," his mockumentary about a defunct band of punk rockers who come together for a charity show, stay together for a short tour, and implode rather spectacularly on the road from obscurity to nowhere.

Yes, it's funny. It's monumentally funny in a nasty, painful way. You can't like these people, but you can come to love them, unloveable as they are, because they are so completely human and messed up. Though you know there is no way on earth the band can hold together you'll find yourself wanting them to succeed. The performances are amazing; there is not a false note in the whole film. Particularly fine are John Pyper-Ferguson as John Oxenberger, Julian Richings as Bucky Haight, and Hugh Dillon who gives a brilliant performance as Joe Dick. There's even a cameo by the late Joey Ramone.

HCL requires steady nerves, it's harrowing, but it's absolutely worth the time. "4 guys 5 nights 3000 miles 764 gallons of gas 987 bottles of beer 3457 cigarettes 1 last shot" Amen.

Read Best Reviews of Hard Core Logo (1996) Here

Hey, if you want to watch something like Spinal Tap see, Mighty Wind, Best in Show, or Waiting for Guffman. This a much more dramatic mockumentary. I'm amazed I hadn't heard of this powerful movie before now, considering it's around 10 years already. While not a straight comedy I haven't laughed this hard in a while. The acid freak-out scene was almost too silly but the reactions once they sobered up were priceless, hysterical and believable. The sadness that runs through this film is chilling but probably familiar to anyone who has ever known someone involved with the real business of music. Having chased these dreams myself in a similar fashion I always feel somewhat lucky to have given up on the dream and this picture seems to confirm the notion that no matter how long or satisfying your 15 minutes was, there is a price. In Rock and Roll terms,"The Devil Will Collect".

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...try picking up a copy of the book H.ARD CORE ROADSHOW, a making-of diary kept by the HCL screenwriter, Noel Baker. The book is alright, but at least it satisfies some of the behind-the-scenes cravings you might have after watching the movie. Found out some surprising things, like how several GREAT story plot points and that ending came to be. What's up with Quentin being so stingy with the extras on the DVD?? Even though I give the movie itself five stars, the DVD presentation merits only three. Somebody re-release this thing, and do it RIGHT!

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Grumpy Old Men / Grumpier Old Men (Double Feature) (2010)

I owned both of these movies on Laserdisc, long, long ago. And until this Blu Ray was released, that was the only way to see these funny movies in a WIDESCREEN transfer! I was very excited to get this Blu Ray in the mail a few days ago! The transfers look awesome! Very clean, and sharp, and, at LAST, in 16x9 WIDESCREEN.

I do agree with the reviews that I've read, stating most people are kind of upset about being able to own BOTH films for the same price, or less than, the cost paid for Grumpy Old Men on Blu Ray. I too bought the Grumpy Old Men Blu Ray, back in December. I paid $17.99 here on Amazon for it. Then a few weeks later I saw the listing, thanks to High Def Digest () and was bummed to think I bought 1 film for 17.99, when the pre-list price for BOTH was 17.99! But oh well! I am just EXTREMELY happy to see both of these great films on Blu Ray!

Now I am hoping that FOX will release Out To Sea on Blu Ray! Walter and Jack were the greatest duo in the past 30 years, and are always a joy to watch!!!

Sure this disc is missing the trailers, and there are NO special features. But, if you like the movies, BUY this Blu Ray! You will NOT be disappointed!!!

I must respond to the negative comments concerning the DVD format...Are we really going to condemn 2 fine films just because they're not available in widescreen?? The back clearly states "in fullscreen", so we can't claim we were "duped". Plus, I checked my old separate collections of each film, and they were also in fullscreen--nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Just kick back and enjoy the work of 2 masterful actors who have since left us; the lovely/saucy presence of Ann-Margret (and later, Sophia Loren); plus, the scene-stealing "dirty old man" Burgess Meredith.

However, it would've been nice to have a "making of.." featurette or cast & crew interviews.

Buy Grumpy Old Men / Grumpier Old Men (Double Feature) (2010) Now

Although Warner already released Grumpy Old Men on Blu-ray last year and now are technically re-releasing it again, I am pleased that the underrated sequel, Grumpier Old Men finally received a proper widescreen transfer versus the full frame video the DVD versions have had.

The Blu-ray itself, for both films, look as good as they probably can and the audio (both sport DTS-HD Master Audio, with Grumpy has 2.0 channels and Grumpier has 5.1) for both are better than acceptable. Also, both films are on one disc but given there are no features, a 50GB Blu-ray disc easily handles them both.

If you're a fan like I am for both of these films, Warner has set a respectable SRP ($24.98 at the time of this writing) so it very well may reach the $10 mark in the not too distant future. For those who don't appreciate Warner doing this, I understand, but if you can get it on the cheap, then just think of it as getting this sequel and ignore the original (if you already own the stand alone Blu-ray).

Personally, I think it's worth it to get the widescreen transfer at long last...

Read Best Reviews of Grumpy Old Men / Grumpier Old Men (Double Feature) (2010) Here

I knew one day Warner Bros. would put these great movies in Widescreen and thus, help me add them to my shelves. But today is not that day! After seeing this advertised as Widescreen on this website and the Warner Home Video website, I was beside myself with glee and anticipation. I went to four different stores in California, and found that each time I went to purchase, the back of the DVD read, Includes full screen version. Confused I bought it anyway. Thinking maybe the back was a mis-print? Or maybe it meant, includes widescreen and full screen. I was wrong... On both counts! So when I contacted Warner Home Video, and nasty Nurse Ratched answered the phone and told me that "If I didn't buy it on their website then what did they care that it was being advertised wrongfully", I knew that these movies would not find a place on my DVD shelves anytime soon.

Buyer beware! This is not only being advertised wrongly but, no one will care once you purchased it!

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I was really looking forward to the double feature blu-ray Grumpy/Grumpier package. I returned my first blu-ray copy to Amazon and got an exchange.

Then the second copy had the same audio issue:

the audio on the Grumpy title would only play in French and Spanish, not English.

The Grumpier title had no problem.

So I decided to search the web for any other comments about this. Ah, there was someone else out there. I do have a DTS receiver, but for whatever reason, and I am no rocket scientist, I had to reset my audio out feature on blu ray player to PCM? I don't know. Somehow I managed, and it worked. Since the Grumpy feature is only a 2.0 DTS. while the foreign language was Dolby Digital. Since the track was only 2.0 why did they have to make it DTS? In my opinion the manufacture %#@!ed up on this.

Would love to hear feedback if anyone knows the science. I am so much grumpier since I purchased this disc. But I loved these movies.

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Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)

"It's a disaster waiting to happen," Jack Singer's mother told him as she lay, in the hospital, on her death bed. She is talking about marriage. In this hilarious romantic comedy titled "Honeymoon in Vegas", Nicholas Cage stars as Jack Singer who is an undercover spy for spouses who feel as though they are being cheated on. He is in love with a beautiful school teacher, Betsy Nolan, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Unfortunately, Jack Singer is procrastinating marriage to Betsy (who really wants a commitment) because of what his mother says about the atrocious word "marriage", and also because of what he sees when he is "at work". Finally, when Betsy comes out and says that she wants to be married and that she will not be his girlfriend forever, Jack decides to go to Vegas and marry her. Betsy is ecstatic about his decision. However, this is where they meet Tommy Korman, played by James Cann, who falls in love with Betsy, a look-alike of his deceased wife. He is a circuit gambler in Vegas and he invites Jack Singer to play in a poker game the day he and Betsy arrive in Vegas. Even though Betsy has a bad feeling about the game, Jack convinces her that it will only be a couple hours and that there is a significantly large money prize to be won. Needless to say, Jack goes and he loses with a straight flush. Tommy gives him two options: come up with the money or give Betsy to him for the weekend. Since Jack has no way to come up with the money, he decides to give away his girlfriend for the weekend; he is not one bit pleased about his decidion. Tommy decides to take Betsy to Hawaii to his beach house where they can be alone. While they are there, Jack is a wreck because his conscience is taking him over. All he wants is to get his girlfriend back. During his adventure he takes, he gets held up in the airport on the way to Hawaii, taken to Chief Orman instead of Tommy Korman, and when he finally arrives in the right place, finds out that Betsy is already on her way back to Vegas. This is where he meets up with the Flying Elvis's: his only ride back to Vegas. Back in the hotel lobby in Vegas, Betsy escapes Tommy and dresses as a show girl for the Flying Elvis's. Jack is paranoid but he jumps out of the plane and pulls the correct chute to land him safely. Betsy sees it all and runs to Jack's arms, and you can guess what happens next.

The movie is ironic in the sense that what Jack does as a career is happening to him, or so he thinks. Tommy Korman is trying to steal his girlfriend and is a character that rubs you the wrong way the very first time you meet him. This is a major strength in the movie because it keeps you watching and knowing that there will be excitement on the way. The ending is of course predictable it's a love story but the Flying Elvis's bringing the two back together adds to the twist and shows that the good guy always wins, even in the worst circumstances.

I recommend this movie to anyone who wants a funny, twisted love story. It's a story about one man and all the different things that can go wrong in his life. The actors and actresses do a wonderful job playing their characters which makes the movie even more enjoyable. I give it a five star rating!

I thought this movie was really funny and Peter Boyle's scene is side hurting funny. Sarah Jessica's body is smokin' in this film too!

Buy Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) Now

WHY WHY WHY ? This is one of my all-time favorites movies! I thought the DVD would have it all....boy what a disappointment. Come on MGM! Smell the damn coffee!

Read Best Reviews of Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) Here

One romantic comedy often overlooked by fans of cinema is Honeymoon In Vegas, a light-hearted, feel-good movie about two lovers overwhelmed by the temptations of Las Vegas. A relatively early film in the careers of both Nicholas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker, Honeymoon In Vegas should have been early indicator to audiences everywhere that these two would become Hollywood mainstays. Along with celebrated industry veteran James Caan (who plays a surprisingly similar role on the present TV show Las Vegas), the three combine to create an interesting, if not extremely hilarious, storyline which adds a new twist to the traditional conflict of the love triangle...

Jack Singer (Nicholas Cage) is forever haunted by a deathbed promise he made to his mother, giving his word that he would never get married. But the promise threatens to end his relationship with long-time girlfriend and true love Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker). So Jack proposes and the couple decides to race off to Las Vegas and get married. However, their trip to Vegas is soon interrupted when Jack is set up in a poker game by professional gambler Tommy Korman (James Caan).

With a single hand of poker, Jack loses $65,000 to Korman who promises to forgive the debt in exchange for a single weekend with his fiancée Betsy. Initially outraged at the setup, Jack sees the proposed solution as a way out of the debt, so he convinces Betsy to go along with the idea. But Jack soon becomes horribly jealous and changes his mind. When he goes to find Betsy, he's forced to fight against Korman and his minions who have arranged to keep Jack away permanently. Now, Jack must get to Betsy any way he can and tell her how much he loves her before Korman convinces her she's marrying the wrong man, and that the right man is no other than Korman himself...

One of James Caan's best performances, the character of Tommy Korman comes off as a somewhat likeable guy even though he plays the role of antagonist to our hero. The best characters are those that are multi-dimensional, and the director creates a great environment which allows the various cast members to act out the emotions of their characters. Put together, these diverse characters interact in exciting and interesting ways, making Honeymoon In Vegas a fun and enjoyable film.

Featuring several Hollywood icons, Honeymoon In Vegas is a character-driven romantic comedy capable of holding its own with any film in its genre. Although it never experienced the widespread commercial success of some of its contemporaries, the film nevertheless maintains a high level of entertainment value. If you haven't seen Honeymoon In Vegas, then I highly recommend it. It's worth the time. Due to its exotic settings and a well-written screenplay, Honeymoon In Vegas is a definite must-see movie...

The DVD Report

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This is one of my favorite Nicholas Cage films. This movie was perfect for his style of humor. I can and have watched this film at least 35 times :-)

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Ted - Limited Edition Gift Set - Blu-ray Combo Pack + Exclusive T-shirt (2011)

When you grow up with a woman who makes teddy bears by hand and sells them for a living, they kind of become that extra member of the family. As a child, there were times when the bears would be in positions or places that weren't where they were thought to have been left. Our theory was that whenever we weren't around, whether it was if we left the house or went to bed or whatever, the bears would get up and throw parties when we weren't around. So any movie that features something like a living teddy bear that can talk probably resonates a bit more on this end than for the average person.

"Ted" pretty much already had that nostalgic factor to it with the concept alone. While Seth MacFarlane doesn't always hit it out of the park with each episode of "Family Guy," "American Dad," or "The Cleveland Show," when he does get it right it's something special; it's hilarious, it's emotional, and its references are spot-on. "Ted" is MacFarlane at his best. The trademarks he's known for are all in there whether it's the incredible music that is heavily Frank Sinatra inspired, the ridiculous movie and pop culture references, or the humor that always seems to take a flying leap over whatever the accepted standard might be; it's all in the stuffing/inner workings of "Ted." The only difference is this is a different medium; a different plane for MacFarlane to bring his offbeat humor and influences into.

The spin MacFarlane puts on a familiar story is what makes everything so good. Of course, hearing Patrick Stewart as the narrator is a pretty great way to start any movie. There are a few surprises in "Ted" that are worth keeping that way. There's this huge emphasis on "Flash Gordon" that results in some really memorable sequences.

By now, you've probably heard the thunder song that John and Ted sing whenever a thunderstorm hits. It's still funny no matter how many times you hear it. Giovanni Ribisi was the best part of last year's "The Rum Diary" and he always seems to show up when you least expect him to like in "Avatar" or "Public Enemies." He has the most hilarious sequence he's ever been a part of in "Ted." It'll be difficult not to think of this particular scene whenever you see him from now on.

"Ted" is an R-rated comedy first and foremost, but it also crams a lot of heart into its 106-minute run time. The strain that's put on both the relationship between John and Ted and John and Lori's relationship results in the last twenty or so minutes of the movie being purely emotional. So while you'll more than likely remember the movie for the farting scene at the restaurant, the dirty fozzy scene at the grocery store, or the most amazing hotel room brawl involving a teddy bear that you've ever seen, "Ted" is secretly setting you up for that tight feeling in your chest when that pull string on your heart is tugged a little too hard.

"Ted" is the best thing Mark Wahlberg has been a part of since "The Fighter." It also gives the impression that Seth MacFarlane is still in the upswing of his prime and still has a lot to offer to anyone who's a fan of comedy in general. With its magnificently rich score, flawless use of CG, heartfelt sucker punch neatly tucked away at its core, and endless barrage of references and foul mouthed and vulgar humor, "Ted" gives "21 Jump Street" a run for the funniest R-rated comedy of the year. In fact, it may even get your vote as the best comedy of the year. It's like 2012's secret weapon for comedy at least until we can get our hands on an Apache helicopter.

After being beat down by Hollywood's recent (say, the last 15 years) interpretation of comedy, I was skeptical of this movie.

But, since it seemed different from your basic mindless, re-hash comedy(Epic Movie), or endless do-over (W. Farrell, J. Carey), thought I'd give it a chance.

After watching Ted, I was actually happy to have taken the time to see it, and that doesn't happen often in this age of re-makes and sequels.

Being 49 years old, it's tough to come across a new, funny comedy. This is definitely one.

Admittedly, there are one, or two, scenes that even made me cringe.

This is NOT a movie for kids, or folks whose laces are tied a bit tight(as noted by a few bad reviews,... 'What did you expect, Teddy Ruxpin?').

Most people will find this quite funny. 'Most'.

Buy Ted - Limited Edition Gift Set - Blu-ray Combo Pack + Exclusive T-shirt (2011) Now

I kind of expected Ted to be crude, but it surprised even me. There were a couple of chuckles, but the novelty of the talking teddy bear wore off quickly and the humor was too shallow to sustain my interest so I didn't even finish the film. Ted's voice is *exactly* the voice of Peter Griffin, too, which was more distracting and annoying than comical.

Read Best Reviews of Ted - Limited Edition Gift Set - Blu-ray Combo Pack + Exclusive T-shirt (2011) Here

Keeping this short this movie was great on many levels. It was dead-on Boston accents, regional humor, while also appealing to comedy lovers in general! Growing up in MA, and living/working in Boston for years this movie is personal to me but what a funny premise, great use of CG, and frankly great characters throughout the film. This is on my must-buy list when it comes out! Instantly a classic comedy in my opinion.

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i love this movie full of laughs and not a dull moments wish i could have got the movie on kindle instead of rent it

Valentine's Day (2010)

In honor of today actually being Valentine's Day, I wanted to see this movie. I actually liked it. It is very funny, and very romantic. All the characters are interesting and you care for them. There were a few twists that I didn't expect. This movie is filled with a lot of great actors.

On Valentine's Day, we see the lives of different couples and how they deal with love and friendship. Some hearts are broken, and some will find true love on this magical day.

Ashton Kutcher plays a florist named Reed Bennett who pops the question to his girlfriend. Jennifer Garner plays a teacher named Julia who falls in love with a doctor who is unfaithful. Anne Hathaway plays a receptionist named Liz who tries to hide the fact that she is a phone sex operator. A kid in Julia's class named Edison tries to send flowers to his Valentine. All this and much more happens on the day of love. I highly recommend VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I thought this would be a fun light-hearted movie, but it was a mess of differenct stories and lack lustre performances. I was even disappointed in Jamie Foxx, and I think he is a top notch actor in other films. Taylor swift was extra ditsy in this, and I don't think it helped her aspiring movie career. I would recommend renting it from Redbox for $1 before you decide to purchase it.

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Garry Marshall takes a play from the Robert Altman handbook with "Valentine's Day", a romantic comedy about interconnecting people on the famed holiday in Los Angeles. It's a cheerful but shallow picture to say the least. While the film is packed with stars (23 in total) and a few good laughs, this modern day romance has nothing important to say, hell, it has nothing to say at all. The main lesson learned is that everyone needs to make their own definition of love... okay, thanks. Regardless, it's a really breezy film. It's bright, the stars plays to their strengths and it's just long enough to have all the stories resolved. It is what it is and "Valentine's Day" makes for a good film to accompany the holiday.

Read Best Reviews of Valentine's Day (2010) Here

This is such a cute movie and has so many amazing actors and actresses in it! I like how they're all connected in some way. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

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A painful collection of obvious vignettes, stilted dialogue and walking paychecks. It was like making a lasagne with the ingredients for a pie.

Love, Actually may have turned in its grave.

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Jerry Maguire (+ BD Live) (1996)

Well, I'm incredibly late to the Jerry Maguire party, but I'm glad I finally made it. I thought this was just a comedy, but I should have known better because laughs alone usually don't generate the kind of success this movie enjoyed. This is a wonderful, feel-good movie with a surprisingly effective emotional payoff. Tom Cruise is great, Cuba Gooding, Jr., steals every scene he's in, and that Renee Zellweger is nothing short of perfect. They even threw in a clip of McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O and sent me away with Bob Dylan singing over the credits in my book, that's going above and beyond the call of duty. And I never tire of seeing someone break away from the cynicism of big business and actually put some heart back into an increasingly heartless way of life.

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is, of course, a bigshot sports agent who has it all then loses it all. For some inexplicable reason, he develops a conscience late one night, puts together this huge "mission statement" all about reducing the number of clients and giving those remaining the genuine personal touch, and sends it to everyone in the company. With a schlep of a boss like Bob Sugar (the always annoying Jay Mohr), his days with the company are, not surprisingly, numbered. He vows to start his own company, desperately trying to hold on to the clients he has been representing but all he ends up taking with him are outrageous Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger), an accountant who was truly inspired by what he had written. It doesn't seem like much, but he really has all he will ever need he just doesn't realize it until the end of the movie.

Life on his own is quite a struggle, especially after he breaks up with his vicious fiancée (Kelly Preston), and I know it must be truly demoralizing to be defeated time and time again by Jay Mohr. Rod Tidwell, a great player who doesn't get the notice (or money) he thinks he deserves, stays loyal to him, though, for rather inexplicable reasons even after Maguire fails to get him the kind of big money he is looking for in a new contract. Dorothy also stays with him, and Maguire grows increasingly close to her and her little boy Ray (Jonathan Lipnicki). There's love in the air, and Maguire's famous problem with emotional intimacy makes what should be the simplest thing in the world immensely complicated. We see a lot of Maguire at his worst double-crossed, drunk, beaten up, wallowing in self-pity. He never gives up, though, and that's what's important. I find it a little problematic that he did not apply the principles of his "mission statement" to the way he lived his life, but in his defense guys tend to be pretty dense about this kind of thing (and would that we all had a Dorothy to help us see the light).

There's a wonderful cast on display here, with uncommonly meaningful secondary characters: there's little Ray, of course, but Dorothy's bitter yet loving sister Laurel (Bonnie Hunt) and Rod Tidwell's wife Marcee (Regina King) really do lay claim to a commanding presence in the story. You can also make a little game of spotting all of the sports personalities that make cameos (usually silent ones, thankfully) in the film.

This isn't a comedy; it's a serious story that just happens to feature a lot of laughs. It's a commentary on the depersonalization of business, a complicated yet wonderfully sweet love story, and a movie with a surprisingly big heart. And I love Renee Zellweger. As far as I'm concerned, she not Tom Cruise was the star of this film.

This is probably one of the best performances I have seen by Tom Cruise. He portrays Jerry McGuire, a sought after sports agent, that gets a wake up call causing him to reevaluates his priorities in life. Renee Zellweger is cast as his partner and wife. She is delightful and always a joy to watch. Cuba Gooding Jr. commands attention in every scene he is in. He was very impressive in this film. Who couldn't be in love with little Jonathan Lipnicki!

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This film is definitely what I would call a feel good movie. I came away from it feeling that there are decent people in this world and that we are not all disappearing into the obscurity of just a name on a piece of paper.

The story follows Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, falling from grace working for a sports star agency when he has a flash of inspiration and takes the moral high ground on the way people should be treat within the company. His eventual rise to becoming a better person is aided from the love of woman and her son and the realization that everyone who he represents should be treated with the same respect.

The person that stole the show for me was Cuba Gooding Jr. Every scene he was in made me laugh. This was the first movie I had seen him in and thought he was a terrific actor, deserved of the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor. The "Show Me The Money" scene will have you in stitches.

This is not a DVD that is to be bought for it's technical qualities or abundance of extras. All you get is a static menu with no trailer, character biographies or other extras. In this day and age of DVD's like "Contact" and "The Matrix" I would have expected a bit more from a quality movie like this. The picture quality is good, as is the sound but it certainly won't tax your Dolby Digital amplifier, but then again it is not expected to.

Jerry Maguire is a film to cuddle up to your partner with and watch on a cold rainy night. It is funny, poignant and thought provoking. Worth watching at least once.

Steve.

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this movie is about love. The hard thing in life is to simply love, not to mete out your love in a miserly fashion, but to love hard. To love with a visceral intensity that keeps getting stronger. "I refuse to not love" is the moral of this film.

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This film spoke to me in so many ways. It was almost as if "Jerry Maguire" had been written with me in mind. From Jerry's epiphany at the start of the story through his struggle and eventual triumph over his fear of intimacy, it all seemed to be drawn from my experiences. These are the things that concern me every day.

Tom Cruise was beautiful. He showed perfect acting the whole time. It is perhaps, the finest work so far in his career. You could see every flicker of doubt and insincerity cross his face. I was laughing out loud, then crying and then so tightly happy that I forgot to breath. All of the other cast members seemed perfect as well. I particularly liked the doubting, divorced but totally caring sister Laurel. And let's not forget Dorothy's son Ray, what a little charmer.

The basic story is a simple one and yet it is fresh all the same. One of the slogans that the promoters used was, "A legend that became a man". For me, that is not a bad summary of the plot. Jerry is a highly successful sports agent who has an attack of conscience which gets him fired. He manages this rather early on in the film by writing a new mission statement entitled, "The things we think and do not say", which harks back in time to simpler days where a man's word was his bond. As one of his work mates says, "I give him a week". Sure enough, Jerry was doing a Lone Ranger in seven days. And as happens to so many of us, this disaster turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to him.

In the hectic moments as he tries tries to keep all his clients he is tied up by one rather loud and demanding footballer. In the end it is this one man who fills Jerry's client roster. Not to be daunted, Jerry strides out into the land of cubicles and coffee machines and firmly asks who would like to join him in exile.

Of course he is less than overwhelmed by the response. Just as it looks like his only colleague will be a gold fish, a young accounting clerk named Dorothy, who was inspired by Jerry's mission statement, pipes up and falteringly joins the crusade. Unfortunately she has a very young son named Ray and no other means of support. This puts Jerry under a little more pressure than he needed which is well illustrated when, before they even get out of the building's elevator, Dorothy starts enquiring about her health plan.

But in the end Jerry finds a strength he didn't know he had, an empathy he has never needed before, an integrity that used to be a handicap and finally he finds the love of his life. If you dream about finding any of these things in your own life I suggest you could do a lot worse than following Jerry's example.

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The Rocker (Born to Rock Edition) (2008)

Rainn Wilson plays Robert Fishman---"Fish"---the left-behind drummer for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame big hair band Vesuvius, who was dumped just as the band got its first real break.

Fish spends the next twenty years working 9 to 5 and brooding over his bandmates' betrayal. He never touches a drum kit again until his teenaged nephew, in a band called Attention Deficit Disorder, begs him to fill in for the band's absent drummer.

Fish agrees. He gives the lead singer, Timothy Geiger, a few new arrangements and some lyrics, and within months, A.D.D. is the biggest act around with a hit record and a national tour. Although Fish quickly readopts his hardcore rocker lifestyle, his young bandmates act as a sea anchor, calming him somewhat.

All is well until the band's manager convinces Geiger to dump "the dinosaur," and Fish finds himself once again relegated to the bargain bin. But A.D.D. is not Vesuvius, and they quickly lose momentum without their sparkplug. Although begged to return, at first Fish is embittered, especially when he discovers that A.D.D. is to be the opening act for Vesuvius's world tour. But in the end, his love for his young bandmates overcomes all.

This is a fine, fun, and goodnatured film in the vein of SCHOOL OF ROCK, and is well worth a bowl of popcorn and a Sunday evening.

"Dwight" from The Office fans should find enough Dwight in this film to satisfy. Those of you who can't stand "Dwight" well, you may not find The Rocker experience a great one. The story is amusing enough. Twenty years previously, Fish (Wilson) is the drummer for the band Vesuvius. Good news for the band, a big label wants to sign them. Bad news for Fish, the president of the label has a drummer nephew who will be the band drummer. Fish never gets over this slight. As the band Vesuvius grows in popularity, Fish grows in bitterness. After losing his job, girlfriend and apartment he moves into his sister's attic. His nephew has a garage band with a gig at the prom. They lose their drummer and, well, you can figure it out from here.

Surprisingly clean, there are no sex scenes, the language is tolerable and low-key. However, there is a scene with an angry mother who shares the fact that her son drew a male body part on a female teacher's face....which is a very funny scene, but contains the anatomically correct word several times. There is also a band manager who is very free with come-on's and has a sexually oriented potty mouth. A scene of Fish drumming naked becomes the YouTube hit -The Naked Drummer -and propels the band to popularity. Viewers are treated to a whole lot of naked man rear shots.

The humor level is moderate. Like I said, you probably need to be amused by Dwight to fully appreciate Fish's humor. He has a very unique delivery, sweet blended with doofusy sarcasm/nastiness. There are several amusing one-liners and situations that are laugh out loud including quite a bit of physical humor. Christina Applegate delivers some great sarcastic lines. The writing is good. The songs are easy to listen to and I really liked their sound. Solid friendship, do-the-right thing and forgiveness themes run through the film. Fish is a classic 80's rocker who likes the party scene, including the trashing of hotel rooms. The three younger band members are annoyed with his boorish behavior and that's a nice refreshing change from the usual teen movie.

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This is such a fun movie that will keep you laughing. I'm glad I decided to give it a try.

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Yesterday, I had stayed up for 24 hours, and I watched this movie along the way! I thought it was extremely funny and perfect for any teenager who likes Rock 'N Roll. Robert Fishman is kicked out of the band Vesuvius, and for 20 years, he tries to be normal. When is nephew and their band A.D.D. need a drummer, Fish reluctantly agrees. The band is finally given the chance to tour around America. Fish actually becomes friends with his new band members, until they have to play with his old band, Vesuvius. Will they make it to the big time? I highly recommend THE ROCKER!!!

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THE ROCKER has been berated by a number of reviewers, one of whom stated something to the effect that Rainn Wilson lacks the substance to carry off his lead role. As a 40+-year rock veteran, I respectfully disagree.

OK. So I disagree, and I'm NOT really respectful. What do you want? This is a fun film, meant to entertain, not to ride the red line on the raunch scale. If you want a "rocker education," read the book I'm writing on real rock road travel in the '70s and '80s. Jack Kerouac couldn't cut it, folks. By 1974, he'd have bailed out the side door of our red, unairconditioned Dodge Maxi-Van halfway between Memphis and Tunica, Mississippi, heading down Highway 61. No Beat Generation road novel can capture what it was really like to wear the changes of the 1960s and gypsy your way through the '70s into position as "Top Band at The Varsity Club, just off Cherry Street in Helena, Arkansas."

But Fish gets it. Wilson's performance in THE ROCKER embodies a sort of "blood knowledge," if you'll pardon my quoting D. H. Lawrence, of a musician's paying dues with back-breaking work, too little sleep, way too much beer, and still loving it. Trust me. In the rock business, you never "work at nothing all day."

Spending years as a rock musician doesn't lead one to grow up, either. My former band mates? We Facebook. We're all still "Fish" in one way or another.

As THE ROCKER, Wilson captures the essence of Fish--of all of us--and brings him to life. Let's not forget: THE ROCKER is a comedy. Never growing up? That's more in the tragedy line, but THE ROCKER addresses this magical Peter Pan stance, which few of us rock vets ever lose. We're all crazy, and Rainn Wilson renders that mostly harmless insanity into something that even I can laugh at. As one of my former mates always said of us rockers, "There's one good thing about being crazy. You never have to worry about losing your mind!" Fish is THERE.

My only complaint about the "Born to Rock" edition is its exclusion of the complete bit with Pete Best. Those few seconds mean a great deal to rockers of my generation. I've seen the out-take, and I wish it were at least set up as an a bonus feature on this DVD. Even without that option, THE ROCKER: "Born to Rock Edition" still earns its full five stars.

No, you won't find authentic rock word choice in this film. You won't find the outrageous practical jokes bands play on each other just because they can. THE ROCKER is not an X-rated venture into that world. It's a comedy. Remember the theatrical mask with the smile?

If you're so slick that you're too hip to sit back and have a laugh with THE ROCKER, you might benefit from knowing that not all the musical "big fish" (pun intended) are decent players, singers, or songwriters. Thousands of bar bands blast some of these acts off the stage. Sure, the business is a "not what you do, but whom you know" operation. Then again, sometimes you're too good not to be noticed. These issues, too, are addressed in THE ROCKER. Me? I was ahead of my time. Doesn't matter. I'm still rocking. I'm still kicking butt. I'll never grow up, and I'll never have to worry about losing my mind.

Yes, the real world, for real rockers, is "soul-crushing." THE ROCKER lifts that weight, even if only for a little while. Every performer in THE ROCKER does his/her share of that lifting. Let go and laugh. You'll feel better. And if you're not a rocker, Rainn Wilson offers you a thoroughly entertaining armchair roadtrip--no dues required.

A. Long

(Check Amazon's book section for IMAGES OF AMERICA: HOLLY SPRINGS)

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