Blackout total

This one was surprisingly good.

If you're going to a movie with a hot blonde in a tight yellow dress on the poster - you better expect what such type of movies usually puts on the screen. You'll get your laughs.

Yet, Walk of Shame was so much more than just a slightly dirty comedy. It gave an insight to the life of LA area some might not realize there is. It showed how friendship is important and that total strangers are not necessarily wierdos and perverts.

And, of course, Meghan is a nice girl from Texas. That's great.

As a cat lover, I was mildly surprised to the problem that Banks' character has. So strange. I have the same problem with some dogs, so no big deal!

Forget every negative review you may have read. This is a delightful film from start to finish. It's hilarious, first of all, and second of all, it's about people you actually care about. What a refreshing change!

With echoes of "The Out of Towners" and "After Hours," the movie works mainly because of Elizabeth Banks's character. She's funny, she's likable, she's sexy... what more could you want out of a screen heroine?!

The writing, for the most part, is realistic and smart. A well-structured story full of unpredictable events and offbeat characters. Full of surprises. Full of tiny details (like the plastic center in a pizza delivery box... how many times have we dealt with that... yet when has it ever been in a movie??)

But perhaps most importantly, the movie has heart. And taste. It goes so far above and beyond what passes for comedy these days, it's ridiculous. Farrelly Brothers, Apatow and especially Adam McKay -- watch and learn.

So if you want to see a well-written, well-directed, hilarious movie with a great premise that will put a smile on your face for 95 minutes, see "Walk of Shame." I have absolutely no shame in admitting I loved it.

(And normally I hate just about everything these days.)

Elizabeth Banks plays a local reporter who has a chance to move up to the big time but that's largely dependent on her making it to an interview. The problem is while she was having a one-night stand with bartender James Marsden, her car was towed, and now she's stranded in downtown LA with no car, no money, and no phone.

I really looked forward to this. I like Elizabeth Banks and it looked promising. The early parts aren't that funny but once the plot kicks in and she has to find her way out of "the hood," it picks up. It reminded me somewhat of After Hours or maybe even Adventures of Babysitting. Banks is very good, as well as being particularly hot in this. The supporting cast is really what makes it work. Kevin Nealon is fun as a weirdo helicopter reporter. Bill Burr and Ethan Suplee are great as a couple of clueless cops. But the highlight for me was the trio of Pookie (Alphonso McAuley), Hulk (Da'Vone McDonald), and Scrilla (Bob from Walking Dead). I don't want to spoil too much about their scenes but all three are terrific, especially McAuley who talks like a Fat Albert character come to life.

This is a funny comedy with a generally pleasant tone that I liked. Yeah it's somewhat predictable and formulaic but no one's trying to reinvent the wheel here. It's a good way to spend an hour and a half. One little thing I wanted to mention because when it happened in the movie, I had to roll my eyes a bit. James Marsden's bartender character is revealed to not just be a bartender but also a writer. Why is it that movies always do that? Someone can't be JUST a bartender or a waitress or a mechanic -- they always have to be something more "respectable" on the side or they are aspiring to be something like that. Just once I would like one of these movies to feature a working-class character who is happy with their life and does not want to go to law school or own the company or become a big movie star. Because ultimately what they are saying is that Marsden is not good enough for Banks if he is just a bartender, which is shallow and sad.

This movie is far from a masterpiece. It's pretty corny at times, and also has a couple of racist moments that are just glossed over. But ultimately, I enjoyed it. While some parts are hard to believe, watching the main character wind up in bizarre situations was entertaining enough. If you're looking for a chill comedy and don't have Oscar level standards, give it a shot.

You know how it is: Strange things happen when you least expect them. But this is of course more like a female (tweaked) version of Hangover. The situations occurring here are a crude mix of what might have happened to someone on many different nights. Elizabeth Banks is a good sport, having to endure and go through a lot. If you want to see one, there's also a message about strong women here (which is not a bad thing at all, considering the stereotypes we get to see here).

Clichés and jokes may not always mix well, but the passion of the actors involved (even if James Marsden is merely a bystander in this one as are most of the other in the Banks show on display) do help the movie to elevate above other comedies. Not much, but at least a little bit. Obviously comedy/humor is not something that will be viewed the same by everyone. Tastes are different and this might not be your movie to watch