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Whitney Cummings: I'm Your Girlfriend (2016)
Genuinely Speechless
I have always been a big fan of Whitney Cummings. She was unpredictable, bawdy and hilarious. I'll never forget the first time I saw her standup act. How the mighty have fallen! I don't mind a certain level of mean-spiritedness, but Whitney's view of men seems to have devolved, and that's putting it mildly. Sure, there are male morons in the world, and it's perfectly acceptable to mine some humor out of that. But based on this hour, you'd think all of us want to choke her and degrade her in ways I'd never even heard of before. The special starts amiably enough, but it gradually becomes an all-out hatefest, with so much negative preaching and scorn that I began to seriously wonder who green-lit this alleged comedy taping. Forget the punch lines—Whitney would rather punch your lights out.
Butter (2011)
Sporadically Funny But Irritatingly Flawed
Full disclosure: Not only did I laugh out loud numerous times during the new comedy "Butter," but a couple of the scenes were genuinely moving as well. That's why I'd like to be able to rate this wonderfully cast and superbly acted comedy a full-on "10." Unfortunately, too many illogical plot points prevented me from feeling fully satisfied by what should have been a homerun in the spirit of Alexander Payne's "Election," after which it clearly patterns itself. A savvy mix of outrageous, profane humor and tearful sentimentality, director Jim Field Smith's film is certainly the best movie ever made about the art of butter carving. In it, Ty Burrell (of TV's hit series "Modern Family") is an Iowa-based champion sculptor who uses the titular dairy product; when political forces encourage him to bow out and give others a chance to win the blue ribbon, his power-obsessed wife (Jennifer Garner) blows a gasket and enters the competition herself to keep the family name on the trophy table. Enter Destiny (Yara Shahidi), a 10-year-old black foster child who discovers she's pretty darn good at butter carving herself, and takes on Garner. Here's where those pesky plot flaws start to rear their ugly heads. How does Garner learn this art practically overnight? Why is Burrell elbowed out of the running at all, when he clearly has no other serious competition? Worse yet: after Garner's character accuses Destiny of getting help from Hugh Jackman, why does anybody pay her any attention, when Destiny's solo handiwork was observed by an audience? I realize this is a comedy, but you've gotta have some logic or the house of cards just falls apart. Still, if you can somehow overlook some of the irritating and quite frankly lazy plot conceits, what's left is enjoyable enough, especially thanks to Olivia Wilde's over-the-top portrayal of a lunatic stripper, and newcomer Shahidi is a winning Destiny. Additionally, there are also humorous turns by familiar supporting players from comedy TV shows (Phyllis Smith of "The Office," Kristen Schaal of "Flight of the Conchords"). Thumbs up for some hilarious bloopers at the closing credits mark.
Murder by Natural Causes (1979)
Spine-Tingling Suspense
Contrary to what another reviewer wrote about this title, it HAS been released on video and can be readily obtained via Amazon; I believe a DVD version is still pending, although those too may be easily found online. Either way, it is definitely worth seeking out. Fans of TV's "Columbo" series will be especially delighted, as it was written and devised by the same team (Richard Levinson and William Link) who created the cigar-chomping detective, and has the same ingenious flavor and excellent plotting. As a TV "mentalist" like Kreskin who finds himself the target of a murder plot, Hal Holbrook is simply smashing. Possible Spoiler Ahead: There's a British film that predates this one by nearly 15 years, "Man in the Dark" (aka "Blind Corner") that would appear to have directly inspired the murder plot, particularly the third-act twist; although the earlier movie has nothing to do with mentalism, the rest of the plot of "Murder by Natural Causes" would appear to have been lifted wholesale from "Man in the Dark." Interestingly, rather than having purported the "second sight" that Hal Holbrook has, the intended murder victim in "Man in the Dark" has no sight at all.
A Little Help (2010)
Jenna Fischer Shines in Ensemble Cast
This indie dramedy casts cutie-pie Jenna Fischer (of TV's "The Office") as Laura, a woman suffering from a variety of problems—dead-end marriage, unappreciative son, bitchy sister, condescending mom—that no amount of beer and cigarettes can make go away. Then things take a turn for the worse. The movie is about how lies infect the soul—how they grow, like a cancer, and end up spoiling life. There are impressive turns by Ron Liebman and Lesley Ann Warren as Laura's parents, and Kim Coates as a calculating attorney—the embodiment of Satanic dishonesty, he might as well have been carrying a trident. "A Little Help" may not wind up in a lot of the year's Top 10 lists, but I found myself caring about the characters, warts and all. (For once, Fischer is photographed in a way that is not particularly attractive). A winning effort by first-time feature writer/director Michael J. Weithorn.
Fright (1971)
Excellent setup followed by preposterous resolution
"Fright" starts off extremely well. Susan George is a very pretty girl who comes over to babysit while the lady and gentleman of the house spend an evening out. The setup of this film is done very skillfully, and I was rapt with interest as the groundwork was laid for the terror to come. As Susan spends the first quarter-hour alone in the house, there is a growing sense of foreboding...and then, much to my disappointment, the film proceeds to slowly jump the shark. The source of the film's evil menace—which should deliver the paralyzing fright that the film's title promises—is far more annoying than horrific, and modern-day viewers are apt to be bewildered by the police response (if you can call it that), which involve standing around outside the house talking somewhat loudly. What a terrible pity this movie couldn't follow through on what starts out so well. Although Susan George is quite easy on the eyes.
Flipped (2010)
Winning, beautifully moving and well-acted coming-of-age story
Back in 1973, an episode of "All in the Family" told the same story from three different perspectives, one of which was from the point of view of Mike "Meathead" Stivic, played by Rob Reiner. Watching his latest directorial effort, I wondered if the "he said / she said" gimmick of that episode ("Everybody Tells the Truth") was what attracted Reiner to "Flipped," the young-adult novel by Wendelin Van Draanen, which employs the same multi-POV technique that Lawrence Durrell perfected with his "Alexandria Quartet" in the late 1950s. The film version of "Flipped" shows Reiner at the top of his form, a worthy addition to an ouevre that includes such classics as "This Is Spinal Tap," "Misery," "When Harry Met Sally" and "Stand By Me," the 1986 period piece that "Flipped" most recalls, with its younger characters and coming-of-age theme. At the heart of "Flipped" is Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll), a smart, pretty and thoughtful girl who you just can't help losing your heart to. Juli herself flips for Bryce Loski, who is at first repelled by Juli and then slowly starts to see her for the lovely person she is. The cast is augmented by such pros as John Mahoney (Frasier's dad on "Cheers"), Anthony Edwards, Aidan Quinn and Rebecca De Mornay and Penelope Ann Miller. The film offers up various slices of life from the late '50s and early '60s that makes for a nostalgic, romantic and very moving film. Special kudos to the filmmakers for finding a girl to play young Juli (Morgan Lily) who looks chillingly like Madeline Carroll; I would have bet anything the two were sisters. For those who are bored by the dumb-dumb summer comedies of 2010 ("The Other Guys," "Dinner for Schmucks") and the special-effects hijinks of "Inception," this is a tender and emotionally satisfying journey that will stay with you for years.
Harmony and Me (2009)
If Quirk Is Your Poison, Welcome to Paradise
Halfway through the film "Harmony and Me," the central character's ex-girlfriend sizes him up and declares, "You know how sometimes you're watching a movie, and halfway through, you realize that you don't care about these characters? That's what's wrong with you." The line simultaneously demolishes our suspension of disbelief and reminds us what's wrong with "Harmony and Me." Ultimately, it's a chore to care much about Harmony, a sad-sack amateur songwriter with a boring day job and a bevy of quirky co-workers, quirky friends, quirky family members and quirky neighbors, all of whom are immensely more watchable and fun to listen to than he is. Shot in three weeks, "Harmony and Me" is an indie comedy with a budget so low that the cameraman couldn't afford Windex to wipe off the perpetually dirty lens. The film is relentlessly quirky, with some inspiringly improvisational-type humor, and only loses its footing when it settles for being quirky for quirk's sake. As Harmony, glum Justin Rice whines to anybody who will listen that his ex won't stop breaking his heart, and you can't help wondering how Jessica (fresh-faced Kristen Tucker) put up with this whiner for ten minutes, let alone a full year, before dumping this loser. (Tucker's shtick about mourning the relationship several weeks before actually breaking up with him is the funniest thing in the film -- somebody needs to give this gifted actress her own comedy.) Viewers with a high tolerance for quirk are encouraged to give the movie a chance for the occasional moments of brilliance and for the excellent supporting players -- including a genius turn by director Bob Byington and "Modern Family" actress Suzy Nakamura, who has been cast as so many doctors that she deserves a medical diploma.
6 Rms Riv Vu (1974)
Outstanding performances, a few creaky jokes
This made-for-TV version of the Bob Randall comedy play is available for viewing at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills and New York City. I saw it today in Beverly Hills after searching for it for many years. Perhaps because I had already enjoyed another adaptation of a stage play starring Alan Alda as a married guy who starts a relationship with a married woman (Bernard Slade's "Same Time Next Year," filmed four years after this aired), I was expecting something more along those lines. But this TV version of "6 RMS RIV VU" is more like a videotaped stage play recorded in front of a live audience, thus having more of a sitcomy feel a la "One Day at a Time." Both leads are quite young and in excellent form here, although some of the material is naturally quite dated (i.e., jokes about "shrinks"). As others have pointed out, it does have a distinct Neil Simon flavor, so if you like him, you'll probably like this. I have no idea why the IMDb page omits the supporting cast; somebody should add Millie Slavin and Lawrence Pressman, who play Alda's and Burnett's spouses, as well as Jose Ocasio and Francine Beers in small but pivotal roles.
Thriller: Screamer (1974)
Decent rehash
Pamela Franklin is stunning and commanding in virtually anything she appears in, and she's the best reason to tune in to this installment of the Brian Clemens series. Unfortunately, fans of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" will note more than a passing resemblance to that series' early episode "Revenge," which lifts its twist wholesale and without apology. Like most of the hour-long suspense anthology shows, from the 60-minute "Twilight Zone" format to "One Step Beyond," this episode of "Thriller" has the feel of being 15-30 minutes too long. Even with the padding, though, Franklin makes it worth tuning in for. I'd watch her read from the phone book!
Old Dogs (2009)
Incomprehensibly Awful
A friend and I saw a screening of this feeble excuse for a major motion picture right before Thanksgiving, and the look of exasperation we exchanged during the closing credits is one I hope we never have to show one other again. Evidently, John Travolta, his wife, daughter and siblings needed an excuse to take a working family vacation with Robin Williams, and this cinematic open sore is the result. It is an insult to the intelligence of anybody over, or under, the age of 10. Here's an example of the film's logic: Kelly Preston (Mrs. T) plays a mother of 7-year-old twins; on the eve of being sent to prison, she tells Robin Williams that he's the dad. Even so, she is extremely concerned about whether he can live up the responsibility of taking care of them while she's in the cooler. (The irony is not played for laughs.) If you relish stupid situations, potty humor and extreme predictability, this is the movie for you.
Little Britain USA (2008)
Here's How They Screwed Up My Favorite Show....
To begin with, I'm a major fan of Little Britain. I consider these guys to be geniuses, on par with Monty Python when it comes to English humor. I own all of their works on DVD and have seen the sketches numerous times. So what happened in the transition from the UK to the USA? We happened to them. For as many great comedies HBO has produced -- The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mr. Show, et al. -- somebody at the pay channel really fumbled in bringing this classic British duo to Yankee turf. Here's what happened: they added the clumsiest, most fake-sounding laugh track in the history of television to the soundtrack. WHO thought it was necessary to do this? It sounds like rubbish! I'm talking great hysterical frenzies of laughter, even at the most subtle of jokes (which I know is rare in Little Britain territory). It was so painful to watch the first episode, I abandoned it a quarter of the way through. I really hope they will tone it down in future -- I have been looking forward to Little Britain USA for such a long time, it is terribly dispiriting to see what HBO has done with this grotesque soundtrack.
Tinker Bell (2008)
Sweet Family Film, Better Than Many Theatrically Released Disney Films
Saw this movie today (9/26/08) with my young nieces at a special El Capitan Theatre preview in Los Angeles. We were all delighted by Tink's excellent backstory, the ingenious story and the handsomely rendered 3-D animation. Cast is uniformly excellent, including Lucy Liu, Kristen Chenoweth and Anjelica Houston. This was much better than some of the theatrically released Disney animated films I've seen (notably "Atlantis"), making it among the best of the Mouse's direct-to-video titles. Well worth checking out with your kids, but don't be surprised if you find a tear in your own eye at the conclusion of this delightful surprise.