Reviews

With all of the Marvel and DC movies coming out these days, this film should have been a monster success. The only problem is, it came out when superhero movies were just getting started. Had this been released in 2009 instead of 1999, after X-Men, Spider-Man, Superman Returns, and Iron Man all came out, audiences would have gone crazy over this lovable group of wannabe superheroes who have to save the day when real superhero, Captain Amazing, is captured.

Certainly few movies boast a murder's row of actors such as this movie did. William H. Macy was hysterical as family man The Shoveler, Hank Azaria's Blue Raja was a master of throwing forks (never knives), Janeane Garofalo (back when she was likable) was The Bowler, Kel Mitchell as Invisible Boy (who can only turn invisible if no one is watching), and even Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens was a riot as The Spleen, who took passing gas to a whole new level.

The ringleader of the group is Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) who seems to become the focal point of the movie more than anyone else. I thought it a bit ironic Stiller would trash this film given most of the scenes that annoyed me involved him, although he does redeem his role by movie's end.

The group of supervillians is impressive as well, led by Geoffrey Rush as Casanova Frankenstein and Eddie Izzard and Pras as the two Tonys. Even Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) isn't much in the way of a superhero to the Mystery Men, given how condescending he acts towards them and how full of himself he is. Kinnear did provide a great performance there, no question.

If you're a fan of what Marvel is putting out these days, this movie will make you laugh and cheer for the good guys.

This is a show, like The Big Bang Theory and My Boys, that has improved as it has gone on. Although the plots sometimes get over the top and the pacing tends not to change much, it's a show worth watching. It's not the best show on TV, but you certainly see what you get for an hour of your time each week.

Get by the ridiculously-silly plot line of an ex-CIA agent sending an email filled with all our government secrets to the brain of an ex-classmate working in a Best Buy clone in its tech department, and you actually get a fun, if light, show. Very reminiscent of "The Greatest American Hero," (probably the last one-hour action-comedy on TV I can name) now Chuck has to be protected and used to help solve cases of espionage.

Zachary Levi does well as the put-upon lead of the "Nerd Herd" at the Buy More, being brought in and out of danger, typically kicking and screaming. Adam Baldwin (can you believe he was the title character in "My Bodyguard?") plays the Robert Culp role to perfection as the hard-as-nails (with a few cracks) NSA agent John Casey, who would like to shoot Chuck just as soon as help him. Yvonne Strahovski plays CIA agent Sarah Walker, who has to protect Chuck at the same time as fighting off his feelings for her (or is it her feelings for him?) The best of the secondary characters would be Morgan (Joshua Gomez) as Chuck's conspiratorial comrade at the Buy More, dealing with situations that makes management at The Office's Dunder-Mifflin seem forward-thinking by comparison. Chuck's sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and her boyfriend Devon AKA Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin)are also in the show, but primarily for comic relief and for Chuck to occasionally consider what it means to be working as a spy and not being able to tell anybody.

Masterpiece Theatre this isn't, but you don't go into the show expecting that, especially with McG as executive producer. That would be like going to a John Woo film and thinking there won't be any doves. It's an hour of escapist fun, something seriously lacking on the tube these days with so many copycat crime shows and highly unfunny comedies. Chuck is worth your time, even if it won't be getting any hardware for awards.

If there was a movie that you could say followed the plot step-for-step by the manual, this would be it. It was neither raised nor torpedoed by the actors, plot, or directing. Everything was as it was. Nothing spectacular nor grating. Clooney and Kidman work well together in the film, and Mimi Leder doesn't try to throw any Hollywood hyperbole into the film, sans the very end. Scenery, especially in the former Soviet Union, was effective, and we probably get something slightly closer to how to handle the situation presented in reality than Hollywood tends to give us. (I point to films like Volcano and Armageddon as examples of Hollywoodizing a film.) All in all, a solid film.

This is a show with a good concept. Granted, it's "Sex and the City" meets "Friends" minus the pretentiousness of either show, but that makes it one of the better shows to pop up in the post-Friends era. These are characters you might have actually met, been friends with, or possibly were yourself. (really, do you know ANYBODY who can afford 50 pairs of $400 shoes or afford a 2-bedroom apartment off Central Park, even with rent control?) Jordana Spiro, who received a lot of buzz for her part in "Must Love Dogs" plays the tomboy-like role of a female sportswriter for the Chicago Sun-Times. But like Anthony Michael Hall's geek character from "Sixteen Candles," she bashes many of the tomboy stereotypes by not only having a good rapport with her male friends but also with her Sex and the City-inspired best female friend, Stephanie. (not to mention she's as comfortable in a little black dress as she is in a tank top and jeans.) Jim Gaffigan, whom I was really worried about in terms of playing a role in this sitcom, does very well as her "whipped" older brother. Her friends, Brendan (Reid Scott), Mike (Jamie Kaler), and Kenny (Michael Bunin) work very well both individually and as part of the group. Stephanie (Kellee Stewart) might seem like a weak spot in the show, but she is an effective counter to P.J.'s "hang out with the boys" persona. If there's one weak spot to the group, it's rival sportswriter and on again-off again potential love interest Bobby (Kyle Howard).

Although some of the plots may get a little goofy, the group works very well together. All in all, it's a solid show in an era where the TV comedy is definitely in bad shape.

This is a show that has definitely needed to find it's footing. Prior to the strike, there was perhaps 1 1/2 episodes that I found even remotely amusing. But once they came back, the writing seemed to sharpen up, and the show is definitely improved over its early episodes.

I think it will have to improve immensely to get a third season (it's already been renewed for a 2nd), but the potential exists.

Three things need happen to make the show work: 1. Involve Penny (Kaley Cuoco) more into the show, not just as the sometimes annoyed/sometimes amused neighbor. Right now, she only serves as the outside observer to the nerd/geek factory generated with the other 4 characters (Sheldon, Leonard,Wolowitz, and Raj) Perhaps integrate a few "street smart" lessons from her into the lives of the guys. They do that a little now, but they need to do it more.

2. Continue to crack into Sheldon's demeanor so he doesn't come off, as one person put it, like Frank Burns in the lead role. (Remember, the character of Frank Burns became useless once they decided to marry off Hot Lips.) Let some humanity creep in there. Whether he develops it himself or learns the hard way, completely hate-able characters don't work on a sitcom.

3. Decide a pathway for Leonard and Penny and move with it. Right now, it's all a tease, and not a very good one. This is not to say pull a Dave/Maddie, a Sam/Diane or a Ross/Rachel. But if you plan to put the two together, start the process rather than tease one way and pull in the other direction constantly.

All in all, it's not the best comedy on the air, but it's got potential.

***UPDATE ON 2/18/09*** I really hate to think the producers of the show actually read my comment, but all 3 things listed above for the show actually happened. (scary)

1. Probably the biggest thing that happened is that Penny is far more integrated into the group, and the results have paid off huge dividends. More than that, each character has had a show that focused on them, rather than this being strictly the Sheldon/Leonard/Penny show. The results haven't always been effective, but it's good to see the effort.

2. Although Sheldon continues to show signs of sufferability beyond redemption, you see changes in him from season 1. For good references, I suggest the 2nd season episodes "The Bad Fish Paradigm," "The Panty Pinata Polarization," and "The Financial Permeability." Very surprising. (The Bath Gift Item Hypothesis will have you on the floor at the end.)

3. It seems like the show wants to keep Leonard and Penny friends, but still give us the occasional tease. For this, might I recommend "The Bath Gift Item Hypothesis" and "The Maternal Capacitance."