New Comedy Movies

Showing posts with label top 25 comedy movies. Show all posts

Paul (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2011)

The blu-ray had previews but no movie, will be returning! This is not the first time this has happened to me

Paul is the story of 2 British geeks traveling to the USA for Comicon, only to find themselves being the caretakers for an escaped alien.

If you already own the non-steelbook edition, you aren't missing anything as honestly the only difference, other than a higher price currently, is the new steelbook case.

Overall, the film is fun and the video and audio quality are great.

Video:

1080p AVC encoded. Blacks are black and detail feels like it pops. Given the age of the movie this is as expected. There are no anomalies to be found.

Audio:

Phenomenal. DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The audio is crystal clear. Being a comedy, the action is more dialog and sound effect driven, and mainly in the front sound stage. The rear channels do get some love, but being that it is a comedy this is minimal.

Packaging:

The Steelbook case is nice, but honestly if you own the older release there is no real difference. The artwork on the cover looks more like a comic book. Screen shots and description on the back work.

I'm not a huge fan of putting two discs on the same side of the BD case, but since I really only want to watch the Blu Ray it's not a big deal and doesn't cause any issues.

Overall:

Paul is a fun movie. It didn't make me laugh until I peed my pants or anything, but I did get quite a few good chuckles.

If all you want is the movie in HD, look for the less expensive, non-steelbook but almost exactly the same release and save a few dollars.

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The sole reason for me buying this movie is because I am a collector. The product arrived on time and in great condition. I did not open the package... simply added it to my other Steelbox movies. If you are a fellow collector... I would not hesitate to recommend this Steelcase movie for your collection.

Read Best Reviews of Paul (Steelbook) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2011) Here

It tries to play both roles as a comedy and science fiction but it falls flat on its face. I liked other movies like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, but this movie just never clicked.

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Two British amateur ufologists Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost) visit COMICON in the US. Then they are off to the UFO sites in the US. They have a close encounter with a maniac driver. Little did they know they were going to encounter Paul an, an area 51 escapee who just wants to go home. We go along for the ride. There we encounter several cultures on the journey.

I first saw the trailer for this movie on TV; the one where Paul brings the bird back to life and then does what comes naturally. That set the tone for the whole film. The film does offend prudes of all types with it British style of humor (however Universal City, CA) if not it would have let someone down. For me it was the excessive potty mouth. However being part of the aggregate it was probably necessary.

A nice side part of the film is that they make fun of or incorporate a tad of quit a few of the major sci-fi movies. Watching the extras we learn that they went out of the way to also incorporate filming stiles of some great movies.

For some sort on inexplicable reason I really enjoyed the film and it made me think of a lesser known film named Out There [VHS] (1995), of which I am still waiting for an official DVR transfer.

Out There [VHS]

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The Complete Jean Vigo (A propos de Nice / Taris / Zero de conduite / L'atalante) (The Criterion Co

Sight unseen.... the Blu-ray DVD has not yet been released. I have however seen all of these films, and own l'Atalante on DVD--which improved the quality of this very old movie. In Blu-ray it will probably be further improved, but I cannot speak to that.

For me there is no movie more romantic and heartfelt than L'Atalante. It's story is simple enough, a young couple is married in a small town and then begins married life on Seine River barge heading for Paris. The deck hand is Michel Simon, (Boudu Saved From Drowning -Jean Renoir) in another funny role. They arrive in Paris, complications ensue... L'Atalante inspired the French New Wave, especially Francois Truffaut, Claude Lelouch and Jacques Rivette. It's one of the great treasures.

Zero de Conduite is about a rebellion in a boarding school and established that genre. Luis Bunuel's Los Olvidados and Truffaut's the 400 Blows, quote directly from it.

A Propos de Nice and Taris are a City Film and a study of a swimming champion. They will seem very dated, but if you love movies, city films-films about cities-are interesting, both historically, and for the film techniques they used. The qualities of these short movies led directly to Vigo being allowed to make his two feature films.

I can't say enough about Jean Vigo and especially L'Atalante and Zero de Conduit.

Jean Vigo is one of the best directors you might not have heard of until recently. This set completely does his work justice. I have the dvd version, and the transfers are absolutely gorgeous. There are informative commentaries, in depth episodes, an interview with Truffaut and Rohmer about the man and his work (and the short amount of time he had to do it), and a neat little tribute from the director Michael Gondry. This set is essential to any lover of cinema, and its storied beginnings. Get it.

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The Criterion Collection is a beacon of light for film aficionados. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, I do not want to influence your experience. Have your own first impression. For anyone who has seen the work of Jean Vigo (preferable of film screened in a theater with an engaged audience), I do not need to tell you what a master and early innovator he was. He was a great story teller and his influence has been far reaching to every generation of great directors after him. Even those young directors who don't know his work were influenced by his followers.

Thank you Criterion, for continuing to broaden and show appreciation for the medium of film. This was a great inclusion to your canon.

Read Best Reviews of The Complete Jean Vigo (A propos de Nice / Taris / Zero de conduite / L'atalante) (The Criterion Co Here

Accessing Vigo's works has been a challenge until Criterion recently issued this 2 disc set. The image and sound quality has been restored as well as they can be.

Vigo may be obscure to many filmgoers, but his influence on cinema has been substantial since his untimely death at the age of 29. His total film output was under 2 hours, but what a 2 hours they are!

The extra features in the Criterion version put Vigo into context and help the viewer appreciate the conditions under which the films were made and the difficulties faced by the restorers.

Criterion does it again!

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"The Complete Jean Vigo," consists of three short, early silent works of the French filmmaker, "A propos de Nice,""Taris," and "Zero de conduite," along with "L'Atalante," (1930),thankfully a talkie, a romantic drama that is considered one of the lesser known glories of early French cinema, which is a shame, as it is a masterpiece.

"A propos de Nice" is a rhythmic view of life in that bustling tourist city; it occasionally rises to unexpected absurd heights. "Taris" is a portrait of a swimming champion. "Zero de conduite" is an inventive, charming tale of rebellious boarding school students, a topic on which Vigo can be presumed to know a lot: It has been endlessly influential to other film makers world wide over the years.

"L'Atalante"is in black and white, runs a tight 89 minutes, and is the greatest achievement of Vigo, a too-little known but greatly respected and influential film maker, who died of tuberculosis, shortly after its completion, at the shockingly young age of 29. The film is now generally available only on this disk that constitutes the entire oeuvre of the director's short, turbulent life.

Vigo's master work opens as Juliette, a young girl who has never set foot outside her village, marries Jean, mate on a French river barge named "L'Atalante," and sets up housekeeping aboard. Also aboard are a cabin boy, and the colorful old sailor Pere Jules, played by the inimitable Michel Simon (Port of Shadows (The Criterion Collection),The Train). When the barge reaches Paris, Juliette, who has never seen that great city, slips off to take a look at it. Jean awakes, discovers her gone, and leaves her to her own devices in the French capital. She knows no one there, has no money, does not know the city at all, and will have a very hard time there. But so will Jean, on his own again, until Pere Jules goes to find her.

But this simple, engaging plot isn't the reason the film is so loved. It was restored in 2001, making Boris Kaufman's brilliant cinematography and Maurice Jaubert's lovely score accessible again. The picture is legendary for its sheer, sparkling beauty: the waterways of France, and of Paris the movie was filmed in that city's "Bassin de la Villette, Paris 19"-among other locations, have never looked more evocatively beautiful. The characters are full-blown, their actions unpredictable, confusing, true to life. The film is wildly imaginative, inventive, surrealist, and has been compared to the daring early works of Vigo's contemporaries, the better known Jean Cocteau and Luis Bunuel. It remains fresh today, with scenes that still have the power to surprise and absorb us.

Vigo was the son of Miguel Almareyda, a notorious anarchist, who died mysteriously in jail when Vigo was 12. The young boy was always in poor health: he was abandoned by his mother and sent from boarding school to boarding school. Lucky for us, he took up film at age 23. Just because Vigo is little-known today, doesn't mean his work is not accessible. You want to see what we're all talking about.

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What Happens in Vegas (2008)

Okay, so sue me; I laughed a lot while watching this movie. My wife said that the film was horribly stupid but I didn't care. Sure, it was predictable beyond belief but why would you expect anything but a predictable romantic comedy? I mean, yes, at times the humor was a little off color or just plain ridiculous, but in a world embracing the comedic genius that is Judd Apatow (don't get me wrong, this is no where near as good as an Apatow production) why would you get mad over that?

`What Happens in Vegas' is exactly what you'd expect from a comedy starring Aston Kutcher.

The film tells the story of control freak Joy and slacker Jack. Joy was just dumped by her fiancé and Jack was just fired by his own father. When all goes wrong the only viable option is to go crazy in Vegas, so that is what they decide to do. It is in Vegas where they meet and get drunk and get hitched only to wake up desperate to end their relationship; that is until Jack wins $3,000,000 with Joy's quarter and each wants the cash. What happens next is highly unlikely (very highly) but for the sake of the film we'll follow along. A judge sentences them to a half year of marriage before either of them can be awarded the money. Jack and Joy are thus forced to live together and `work on their marriage' in order to attain the cast they so desperately desire.

The pot shots taken are over-the-top at times, but funny none-the-less. The situation is more preposterous than any of the jokes, and the actions taken by the two main characters, as immature as they are, are believable when you take into context the nature of the characters they are playing.

I mean seriously, a lot of people are that stupid.

Cameron Diaz is above this, I will say that. She is a wonderfully talented comedic actress who deserves better than the material she is provided here. Her performances in films like `Vanilla Sky' and `Being John Malkovich' and even `My Best Friends Wedding' all prove her talent and should have garnered an Oscar nomination by now. Instead she is reduced to starring alongside Aston Kutcher in a film tailor made for his persona as apposed to her talent. This is not above Kutcher, in fact it is a step up for him (look at what he's done up until now). Honestly, if you are looking at this film because you are a fan of Kutcher then you have nothing to complain about since this is undeniably one of his better films. If you are watching this because you are a fan of Diaz then you may have reason to be bitter since this may be the worst film she's ever done.

Forget them for a minute though, because the real stars of this film are Rob Corddry and Lake Bell who play Hater and Tipper, the happy couples best friends. These two have such a brilliant love/hate chemistry that is seriously the funniest part of the film.

In the end I can't say that this is a great movie or one that I would highly recommend, but if you are a fan of the genre or the films male lead then you already know what to expect and you most likely will enjoy this film to an extent. If you are not a fan of either then you should really be looking elsewhere. Regardless, look at it for what it is and you will find something enjoyable about the whole experience.

This is a funny "no brainer" movie with a sweet ending. You don't have to think about the plot, it is very predictable. Just relax and enjoy the slap stick humor. This is a good movie to watch after a hard day of work with a couple beers and some popcorn. It will make you laugh and you don't have to bring your brain. This would be a great first date movie too.

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Two people down on life do what losers do. Jack (Kutcher) is a grown up adolescent who just got fired by his own father. Joy (Diaz) is a control freak who just got dumped by her fiancé in front of all her friends.

Naturally, the two dimwits think going to Vegas will solve all their problems. What follows is pure Britney Spears they get trashed, party, and do incredibly stupid things. Awaking the next morning, they learn one of the stupid things was a drunken marriage. No longer inebriated, they agree that the marriage was a mistake, and after a brief argument, they agree to an annulment. Moments later Jack uses Joy's quarter and wins 3 million dollars. Naturally, they argue over ownership, and the wacky paint-by-numbers script ensues.

Considering that I find Kutcher and Diaz two of the less appealing stars in Hollywood, the movie didn't have a great chance of impressing me. The two stars were OK at best, providing a few chuckles along the way. Luckily, however, Jack and Joy's best friends who tagged along to Vegas were hilarious. Their constant banter, asinine behavior, and hatred for one another provide the only real hard laughs of the entire movie. Anyone who walks away from this movie without laughing at their "junk punch" scene doesn't have a sense of humor.

If it weren't for the co-stars, this would be a two-star snoozer for the most part. Much like actual gambling in Vegas, however, there are times when a lucky person rubs off on another. The friends in this movie are the lucky streak and overall I'd recommend it as a light comedy.

Read Best Reviews of What Happens in Vegas (2008) Here

This is the best kind of comedy you can make. Nothing far-fetched just people being people with hilarious humor and not over-the-top romance. It is a little cliche and predictable but what movie isnt. I could watch this over and over again.

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Hollywood loves copies. it takes some of the risk out of investing in movies, or so the legend goes. This film is another version of Honeymoon in Vegas. I don't mean kind of, or sort of. The male lead is similar, the female lead (Cameron Diaz) is VERY similar to Sarah Jessica Parker. How similar? SJParker is a beautiful actress with great legs AND gym work arms that are better than my own. Cameron Diaz is a beautiful actress with great legs AND gym arms that are better than...well, you get the picture. If they follow similar plots, even similar casting, you know you have a similar film. SO? Well, Honeymoon in Vegas, with James Caan, was very good. It had real plot twists, and real angst about losing a very foxy wife. This film, a derivative, is light and fluffy. It is pleasant enough viewing, but if you must get one film, do not get this but get the original: Homeymoon in Vegas, also in stock on Amazon.

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The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2007)

For those who find it difficult to appreciate the adaptation format of film making from a famous novel, THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH as now released on DVD should help explain the naysayers' opinions. In a very valuable session of conversations among Michael Chabon and Rawson Marshall Thurber (screenwriter and director) and the producer and cast, the transition of this complex novel into a very altered story is comfortably explained and the person most happy with the result seems to be the originator Michael Chabon!

That being said this film stands well on its own terms. June and July in hot Pittsburgh generate mysteries among a variety of people, especially the young college graduate Art Bechstein (Jon Foster) who while working in a bookstore wastes time with a fling with the supervisor Phlox (Mena Suvari) with disinterested post grad classes dealing with becoming a broker and having monthly dinners with his mobster father Joe Bechstein (Nick Nolte), until he encounters an odd couple: bisexual biker and thief Cleveland (Peter Sarsgaard) and his female consort, the violinist Jane Bellwether (Sienna Miller). The bizarre interactions among these characters drive Art to make many decisions and discoveries including his falling in love with both Cleveland and Jane. The summer winds down with Art finally discovering his own identity despite the clouds of mystery that have surrounded his life. It is a piece of life as lived by disparate characters whose direction in life seems at odds with the natural flow of finding happiness and success. But then the question is asked what is happiness and what is success if not survival?

For this viewer the explanation by the makers of this film was interesting enough to encourage a repeat watching of the movie. A good movie not a great movie, but it still tastes strongly of Michael Chabon's genius. It deserves more attention than the critics have given it.....Grady Harp, August 09

I'm sure this was a good novel, and I will read it. However, whoever brought it to the screen made it quite dull and slow. It's also hard to understand why anyone would ever want to be with Peter Saarsgard's obnoxious character at all.

That said, I was glad to see Jon Foster again, having enjoyed his work in The Door in the Floor. Saarsgard is as good as ever, and Sienna Miller was wonderful as the woman caught between these troubled men. Nick Nolte also makes a fine turn as the very unpleasant and controlling father.

Soundtrack recommended too.

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The beginning captivates the viewer and the movies has a decent story. Having said that, it's also worth mentioning that the storyline is hardly Michael Chabon's and why the changes were made (from the book) is unclear, however, as a stand-alone it seems to work (if you ignore that it's a novel adaptation and think of it as a standalone film). It's no the most engaging movie nor is it the worst movie ever. If you haven't read the book or don't mind watching the movie and can refrain from comparing it to the book, there's a good chance that you'll like it.

Read Best Reviews of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2007) Here

In 2000, I saw a great movie, Wonder Boys, and immediately bought the book. When I finished the book, I picked up Michael Chabon's other two novels, The Mysteries of Pittsburg and Kavalier & Clay. Since reading Pittsburg in 2000, I have re-read it three times, most recently when I heard the movie was being made. Upon release, I read several reviews trashing this movie. In the movie, Art (Ben Foster) is a recent college grad trying to figure out what to do with his life when he meets Cleveland (Peter Sarsgaard) and Jane (Sienna Miller). The first 15 minutes are pretty annoying with Art delivering tons of exposition in voice overs. Eventually, the voice overs stop, (well, they stop until the end of the movie), and then I didn't hate it as much. The movie is well shot. I really liked the music. They use a great Ryan Adams song, The Rescue Blues. Sienna Miller is stunning and I've been a fan of Jon Foster ever since I saw him in Life As We Know It. The movie is fine, not good, just fine. If I hadn't read Chabon's first three books before seeing this movie, this would not have convinced me to check out the books. Buy Wonder Boys, unquestionably a better movie. It might motivate you to shut your TV off for a while, and read Pittsburgh, Wonder Boys, and/or Kavalier & Clay. This one won't. This flick is not as bad as everyone made it out to be, but not exactly good either. Mediocrity at best, worth a rental. . . a three star rental.

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When i first saw this movie the begging was somewhat slow for me but after getting into the middle it started unfolding and was pretty surprised. Thought this was a decently made film with kind of a sad ending.

If you're looking for a good film to watch with some turns in it then take this one out for a spin.

High Road to China

I read all 61 reviews to learn as much as I could about this fine film MISSING from my DVD collection. Then I went to my collection and read the back of the "Quigley..." jacket. I then Googled MGM Home Video, and went to their site. I scrolled to the bottom of the first page and clicked on "Help/Contact/FAQ." This took me to a screen with a pull-down menu from which I selected "MGM DVD," entered my email address, and politely asked them to explain themselves, check these 60 plus reviews as evidence that they should release HRTC in DVD.

I suggest you vote yes on this "review" (I did say it was a "fine film")in the hopes that 100% "Yes" votes will get this to the top of the review heap where it can be seen. Then I suggest that you use the instructions above to contact MGM. Finally, I suggest that everyone buy this film from Amazon when it comes out as thanks for their strong support of end-viewer reviews. God Bless.

Tom Selleck stars as a former World War I flying ace, reduced to reliving his past glories in a bottle and giving flying lessons in two broken down Camels. Sparks fly between Selleck and Bess Armstrong when she hires him to help find her father (a young looking Wilford Brimley), last seen in Tibet, before her inheritence is lost to a scheming business partner (Robert Morley at his humorously evil best). Adventure abounds as the pair wend their way between Egypt and Tibet, with sidekick mechanic Jack Weston holding the dilapidated planes together. An outstanding musical score helps this entertaining film immeasureably. This is the kind of movie that Hollywood should be making ... but isn't!

I find myself wearing out the recording I made from an on-the-air source and fervently wish that "High Road to China" would be re-released on video and DVD so that I could buy a decent copy for my library.

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UPDATE: This movie has just been announced for Blu-rsy and DVD releases in the United States for April 17, 2012.

After passing over the role of Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" three years later Tom Selleck appeared on movie screens, cashing in on his Magnum PI popularity as an adventure hero who owes more than just a tip of the hat to the character made famous by the teaming of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Of course the movie industry was heavily populated with Indy clones in the early 1980s, but this one in which Selleck plays a pilot helping an heiress locate her missing father was a cut above the above the rest.

I never saw this movie in the theater but on television and subsequently the now defunct VHS format. I think I wore that tape out watching the movie again and again.

With a great script and some truly clever dialogue this movie zips along so fast that you overlook the holes in the plot and just sit back and enjoy a good time. It helps that the supporting cast includes Bess Armstrong (so much better here than she was in Jaws 3), Brian Blessed (always fun to watch) and the perenniel villainous Robert Morley.

Very highly recommended, here's hoping it arrives on DVD soon.

There is a DVD of this movie available in Europe (Region 2) for those of us with region-free players. Copies of this Swedish DVD regularly appear on e-bay.

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This is such a fun and feel good film. Not one of the critical "greats" of cinema history but still very much loved. I've lost count how many times I've watched this excellent little movie. There is such a chemistry between the two lead characters that the film is a real joy. I don't think Bess Armstrong played such a likeable funny magnetic character again. (Then again I don't suppose I've seen all her work. Suffice to say , she is wonderful in this).And Tom Selleck demonstrates most clearly how underrated he has been since the days of "Magnum". High Road to China was a bit lost at it's time of release. It was dismissed as a Raiders of the Lost Arc wanna-be. Looking at it again now makes one realise that this was a silly and shallow comparison to make. The only similarity is the time period the film takes place in.

Now to the negative. A DVD release of this film is LONG overdue. Why oh why is it being flopped into the market place with poor mono sound and dodgy unrestored picture that looks like it has been pirated from a VHS tape?

I bought this DVD from another source in Australia and was just so glad to finally have it on DVD in any condition. However I do fear that the uncreative twits who make the decisions as to which movies are to be released on DVD, are simply testing the waters with this unrestored release. If this sells well then maybe High Road to China will eventually be given the treatment it deserves and fully restored and re-released on DVD.

These decision makers aren't fans of movies. They don't understand why or how a film is a success. (just look at the number of sequels that are made, when the first in any series always has to struggle to be approved).

This DVD release is well worth getting in my opinion because the characters and story hold one's attention so well that the dodgy quality of the DVD itself is not too distracting an issue. I just know I'll be sucked in to updating to a fully restored edition one day. Ah well...... that's private enterprise for you.

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Love this movie! I remember going to see this with my mother, I loved the movie so much that I took the bus across town, by myself, the next day to see it again. There I was sitting alone, waiting for the movie to start and my father walks in and sits next to me. He's said to me, "Must be a good movie if you are willing to see again..." Indeed it was.

Glad to see it finally on disc... and Blu-Ray at that.

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Weekend at Bernie's

I gave this film 5 stars because it is one of those rare movies that made me laugh out loud! This is a very dark comedy about 2 idiots who find their boss dead and convince hundreds of gullible people that he is actually alive. They walk him around a resort, go boating with his remains, have parties. They even convince the hitman who killed Bernie that he's still alive! So, you guessed it, the hitman tries and tries again to "kill" Bernie. The physical humor is absolutely the best. It's a unique concept. I guarantee that you will laugh until you hurt. It's totally 80's with a great theme song sung by Jermaine Stewart. Highly recommended.

The cast is perfect and the sets, music, and all that went into this movie seem to meld to make a very funny movie. Andrew McCarthy as Larry Wilson and Jonathan Silverman as Richard Parker are a good match for co-workers at an insurance company. Larry the brown nosing party man and Richard the hard working nerd. When Richard discovers a two million dollar mistake in claims their boss Bernie invites them over for the weekend to discuss it. What happens after that is sick, demented, and funny. Any fan of "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag" and "The Whole Nine Yards" should enjoy it. This is one of those rare movies were seeing a dead person being lugged around, beat up, dropped, bareface ski, washed around in the tide, shot, strangled, and more is just plain outrageously funny.

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This is a great film to make you laugh. Just old fashioned humor, I laughed from start to finish. The corps [bernie] is great and the two guys on holiday for the weekend have unfortunatley fallen into a difficult situation and try hard to get out of it, with many histerical idea's. Certainly a film to cheer you up on a cold dark evening, my sides ached after watching it.

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Fantastic film that i first saw when i was little and i like it still. Amazing black humour, nice and relaxing comedy. After 20 years is still funny: funny actors, funny scenario and just 5 stars.

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Terry Kiser is a blast to watch as "deadbeat" boss Bernie, whose former employees -Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy -find themselves dragging him with them for an entire weekend. Don Galfa also is a treat as the hitman who makes the unusual weekend possible.

The biggest problem here is that, in order to truly enjoy the movie, you have to buy into the premise that virtually everybody on the island is completely braindead: McCarthy, who has fun beating the dead man in cards; Silverman, who can't get past constantly lying to his love interest; Bernie's mistress, who still thinks he's alive AFTER a night of passion; and an island full of people, who somehow miss the odor of a rotting corpse in their midst.

Yes, this is a fun movie to watch. Just don't engage your brain or you'll miss out on the party.

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Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition) (1988)

No doubt at all that, 'Coming to America,' is one of Eddie Murphy's finest movies of all. A true comedy classic, this film will have you rolling from start to finish at the zany characters and performance throughout.

The DVD itself, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. As far as extras go the only ammenity offered is 1 lousy trailer. Also, the video transfer itself is far from pristine and the Dolby 5.1 audio track sounds like it could still be sweetend up. Sure, i suppose the fact that this DVD was authored back in 1999 may explain why the disc comes across as a bit primitive in terms of bells and whistles, but with that being said, it's high time for a proper re-release to do this comedy classic some audio-visual justice!

This is one of my all time-favorite African-American movies. First of all, Eddie Murphy is hilarious (in all of his roles). Arsenio Hall is a perfect foil for Eddie's hijinks. Eddie let his full range of talent show in this film; he played an innocent person who grows into a mature adult right in front of our eyes and realizes that there is a price to pay for love; whether or not you are born into royalty. This is one of those movies that a person watches over and over again and ends up reciting the lines as the movies is playing. James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair are wonderful in this movie as well as the King and Queen. Madge Sinclair was one of the world's best actresses and I miss her greatly. She tells James Earl Jones "put a sock in it, Geoffrey, the boy is in love." Nobody can deliver that line to a black king, except a black queen. John Amos, (whom I have loved since Good Times), is a great actor as well. He plays the part of a black businessman so well, and as a father he takes no stuff off of the King. He tells James Earl Jones, "I will break my foot off in your royal _____); now that's a ghetto father for you. James Earl Jones knew where to draw the line with Cleo McDowell.

I also like the fact that the Kingdom of Zamunda was filled with kindness, and the people were happy, the royal family was truly wealthy and had everything. You know, this movie is truly a fantasy and helps us escape from our everyday lives. Just to see the Queen and King eating breakfast and talking to their son on a "speaker phone" because the table is so long, is funny. The King and Queen taking their entourage to Queens when they received the telegram to send $1 million to Semmi who had spent up all his pocket change is one of my favorite scenes. That music that is playing during the sequence when the entourage arrives in Queens is so wonderful, moving and swirling, I am buying the soundtrack just to get that song. When I get married, I would like that song to play as my "court" walks down the aisle before me.

All the cameos in this movie are great as well. Nobody can play a doped-up thug like Samuel L. Jackson; Samuel is a natural at playing a killer. Also, Louie Anderson was funny, so was Eriq LaSalle, and Alison Dean.

Now the guys in the barbershop have to be taken from classic characters in the black community. In all the black neighborhoods I have been in during my whole life; there has got to be a black barbershop full of men eating, talking stuff, and cutting hair. When "Clarence" says that Martin Luther King, Jr. ran up to him and hit him in the chest, I just crack up, cause Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prophet of non-violence. And, Eddie Murphy playing a white man is too funny, and a Jewish white man on top of that. Now, that takes creativity; and comic genuis, and Eddie's got it. And, Arsenio's portrayal of Rev. Brown is right on target, there is always some country preacher in the neighborhood that comes to every event, eats up the food, and blesses the weddings, blesses the children, and buries the dead.

One of my favorite parts is when Lisa tells Prince Akeem, she cannot marry him; because he lied to her about his identity. That made Akeem grow up very fast, and learn that nobody; no matter who he is, can buy love.

The clothes in this movie are also wonderful. Deborah Nadoolman did a great job showing how royalty would dress in a foreign country where it is warm, Also, how they would dress in Queens during the winter; those fur coats Madge Sinclair had on were fantastic and so were the suits worn by the King himself. His coat of an entire lion's skin was dramatic and the diamond eyes on that lion's head were cool.

The ending this cinderella story was great, love did really win out in the end.

Well, I could go on and on about how much I liked this movie but, I am going to stop now. Get this movie and keep it in your video collection so you can watch it and laugh over and over.

Buy Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition) (1988) Now

A charming, polished and original comedy featuring a great performance from Murphy and some memorable laughs. Some of my favorite scenes are:

when they all get up from the leather couch and there is soul glow grease all over it from where their heads were ("Just let your Soul GLLLOOOWW!!").

when Samuel L. Jackson robs the McDowell's restaurant that Murphy and Hall are working at. The ensuing scene between Jackson and Murphy is classic.

when Murphy gets his hair cut off in the barbershop (Snip. "that'll be 10 dollars").

that "She's Your Queen to Be" song.

There are so many more scenes that I love that I could mention. A must-see!

Read Best Reviews of Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition) (1988) Here

Eddie Murphy has made many great movies (Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places & The Distinguished Gentleman) but Coming to America is his very best. This movie is so funny and I never get tired of watching it!

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Hilarious tale of an African prince named Akeem (Murphy) and his royal servant (Hall) who head off to the United States in search of the perfect Queen. After deciding to go to New York City (they saw that the city had a borough named "Queens"), Akeem becomes a pauper in order to woo the perfect woman (Shari Headley) to become his wife.

Although the film had many pre and post-production problems (director Landis almost walked off the set due to a fight with Murphy; Murphy was successfully sued by columnist Art Buchwald for "stealing" his idea of an African prince who goes in search of a wife) the final production is pure comic genius at it's best. Undeniabley, Murphy is the king of a thousand faces. Just like his success in doing multiple roles in such films at the "Nutty Professor," in this film he plays 4 roles.

Besides Akeem, Murphy is hysterical as the barbershop owner, the old Jewish man who frequents the barbershop, and finally as the talentless singer Randy Jackson (who performs with his band "Sexual Chocolate"). Makeup artists Rick Baker does a spectacular job as always when creating the different personas.

Shot mostly in New York, this happens to be Murphy's last great comedy during his years at Paramount. Most of his later films such as "Harlem Nights," "Distinguished Gentleman," and "Another 48 Hours," were not big box office hits. With a recent string of hits produced by Imagine/Universal, Murphy is back to his comedic genius.

Keep an eye out for a pre-"ER" Eriq LaSalle as Daryl, the Soul-Glo King, and Samuel L. Jackson as a guy who holds-up the McDowell's (not "McDonald's"--watch the film to understand why) restaurant. Other celebrity players such as James Earl Jones, Louie Anderson, and Frankie Faison give the film more comic momemts. Also, several band members of the great funk group "Cameo," appear as members of the band "Sexual Chocolate".

Before Martin Lawrence, there was Eddie Murphy. Check out this film to see one of the greatest comic geniuses at work.

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It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

The movie should be called "It's Kind of an Amazing Movie". When you go see a Zach Galifianakis movie, you don't expect anything more than a stupid comedy (that has potential to be good), but "It's Kind of a Funny Story" was way better than the exceptions I had. The movie was funny, intense, and some-what depressing/sad. The movie makes you think about life. The movie makes you think about how lucky you are or realize the good things in life. This movie is a must see. It is truly amazing and probably one of the best movies of 2010 so far.

It's Kind of a Funny Story is an uplifting tale about a teenager overwhelmed by academic and social pressures who briefly checks himself into a psychiatric hospital. The lead actor, Keir Gilchrist (Craig), nails his role as a somber and confused 16-year-old. The supporting cast is good as well, although the female love interest is a bit cardboard and the resolution clichéd. The psychiatric hospital is also much more benign than any I have encountered (See Lemas Mitchell's Amazon review for a list of reality checks). But that's not really the point; it's more of a coming-of-age story about an adolescent trying to find his place in the world. What I liked most is the film's message about the importance of kindness; Craig is truly a kind person who feels for other people, and the other patients and staff for the most part echo that kindness and caring. Another highlight is Zach Galifianakis's creative and quirky direction, especially the scenes when Craig retreats into his active fantasy world as he sings, draws, and reminisces. Overall, I would recommend this movie for a pleasant and humorous escapist jaunt.

Buy It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Now

I saw It's Kind of a Funny Story in theatres for a friend's birthday party. She gave us the options for movies and I had no idea what any of the suggested were about. I had no expectations (actually I didn't want to see the movie at all... I voted for one of the other movies) but after the movie was over I wanted to watch it again!

One of the great things about this movie is the characters. They're screwed up, and likeable, and an interesting band of personalities all shoved into one spot. The different insights they make on living life are, yes a little cliched, but stuff wouldn't be cliched if they weren't applicable! It's fun watching the main character turn into what he wanted and take charge of his life. It was funny, awkward, romantic, made some really good points, sad, and it gives a warm fuzzy feeling!

After I saw that movie I went straight to the bookstore! I needed more! I read the book in a matter of days. This is the first time I've ever said (typed) anything like this: I liked the movie better than the book! Don't get me wrong; the book was awesome and funny, but I loved the movie so much!

All in all a fun watch! Great characters, good points, witty dialogue, and just enough romance! Highly recommended!

Read Best Reviews of It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) Here

You would think a movie about a kid who checks himself into a psych ward would NOT be "kind of a funny story". This is an amazing story it will make you laugh, chuckle, and think. Every actor/actress gives a great performance. As the mother of a 17 and 18 year old it made me understand the amount of pressure they are under in their every day lives and how we sometimes, unknowingly, add to that pressure.

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Personally at a low point in my life, this film was perfect to help me with my giddy up. The point is to be grateful for life and live it. A very meaningful story.

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