jvydelingum
Joined Jun 2004
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Reviews8
jvydelingum's rating
The Frat-Pack, are surely the hardest working collective in Hollywood. Hardly a month goes by without a movie featuring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, or those Wilson boys Luke and Owen being released.
When Starsky and Hutch paired Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller it was good, when Dodgeball put Vince Vaughn with Ben Stiller it was better, but "Wedding Crashers" could well be the finest Frat-Pack pairing to date.
Although Wilson and Vaughn have appeared in four movies together so far, this is the first where they've both taken star billing. In "Wedding Crashers", John Beckwith (Wilson) and Jeremy Klein (Vaughn), are a pair of divorce mediators whose passion in life is sneaking into weddings to take advantage of the free food.. and of course score with girls.
They have a strict 'crashers rulebook', which dictates the etiquette of the pick-up, such as 'never use your real name'. It also suggests, by behaving raucously, loudly and generally being the life-and-soul, people will think you're so obnoxious, you can't not have been invited.
The pair eventually find themselves at odds with each other when John meets and falls for a bridesmaid at the Washington society wedding of the year.
Although "Wedding Crashers" is at times formulaic, the comic performances raise this movie above par and in lesser hands the main characters could have descended into Rom-Com cliché. The fast-talking machine-gun delivery of Vaughn is the perfect accompaniment to Wilson's laconic style. Their single-guy banter's often painfully accurate, as is the acknowledgement they're both a little too old to be acting so carelessly. There are also some great comic set-pieces too, notably the divorce meeting, the weddings montage, the cringe-worthy football game and the hunting trip.
The supporting cast are also an asset, Christopher Walken expertly walks the tightrope of being both broodingly intimidating and likable, while Rachel McAdams' 'Claire' has a charming vulnerability and an easy-to-fall-in love with quality. Former "Home and Away" pin-up Isla Fisher however, is less convincing.
I admit "Wedding Crashers" is far from perfect, at time situations seem too contrived, the nudity is laughably gratuitous, and Claire's evil fiancée Sack (Bradley Cooper) is an almost too heavy-handed device to make Wilson look good.
But if you can look past all that, and simply accept it for what it is, you're left with a very funny film. 8/10
When Starsky and Hutch paired Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller it was good, when Dodgeball put Vince Vaughn with Ben Stiller it was better, but "Wedding Crashers" could well be the finest Frat-Pack pairing to date.
Although Wilson and Vaughn have appeared in four movies together so far, this is the first where they've both taken star billing. In "Wedding Crashers", John Beckwith (Wilson) and Jeremy Klein (Vaughn), are a pair of divorce mediators whose passion in life is sneaking into weddings to take advantage of the free food.. and of course score with girls.
They have a strict 'crashers rulebook', which dictates the etiquette of the pick-up, such as 'never use your real name'. It also suggests, by behaving raucously, loudly and generally being the life-and-soul, people will think you're so obnoxious, you can't not have been invited.
The pair eventually find themselves at odds with each other when John meets and falls for a bridesmaid at the Washington society wedding of the year.
Although "Wedding Crashers" is at times formulaic, the comic performances raise this movie above par and in lesser hands the main characters could have descended into Rom-Com cliché. The fast-talking machine-gun delivery of Vaughn is the perfect accompaniment to Wilson's laconic style. Their single-guy banter's often painfully accurate, as is the acknowledgement they're both a little too old to be acting so carelessly. There are also some great comic set-pieces too, notably the divorce meeting, the weddings montage, the cringe-worthy football game and the hunting trip.
The supporting cast are also an asset, Christopher Walken expertly walks the tightrope of being both broodingly intimidating and likable, while Rachel McAdams' 'Claire' has a charming vulnerability and an easy-to-fall-in love with quality. Former "Home and Away" pin-up Isla Fisher however, is less convincing.
I admit "Wedding Crashers" is far from perfect, at time situations seem too contrived, the nudity is laughably gratuitous, and Claire's evil fiancée Sack (Bradley Cooper) is an almost too heavy-handed device to make Wilson look good.
But if you can look past all that, and simply accept it for what it is, you're left with a very funny film. 8/10
Where do you start when describing a film that covers shopping, philosophy and everything and nothing in between?
"I Heart Huckabees" is a brilliantly quirky movie which ponders the big questions (The Universe, Why we're here) without being short-sighted enough to try and offer up any explanations.
Environmental campaigner Albert Markovski (Schwartzman) hires 'existential detectives' Bernard and Vivian (Hoffman and Tomlin), to investigate his recurring coincidences, but they seem to be more interested in his hate-envy relationship with nemesis and Huckabees ad-man Brad Stand (Law).
Brad's got his own demons to battle with though, including a Shania Twain obsession and a domestic/sexual power struggle with girlfriend and spokesmodel for Huckabees Corporation, Naomi Watts. In turn, Albert gets paired with burnt-out post 9/11 firefighter Tommy (Wahlberg), who's grappling to come to terms with the meaning of life; then a seductive rival French existentialist enters the fray, and all hell breaks loose.
But this movie's strength isn't in the plot. "I Heart Huckabees" sharp, irreverent dialogue, proves that a good script is the bedrock for any energetic farce.
When it comes to performances, Hoffman and Tomlin prove a great understated double act as the private dicks with a twist.
Jude Law's facial gymnastics give way to some strong visual comedy at times, despite a ropey American accent.
But it's Wahlberg who shines in his best role since 'Boogie Nights', and is the notable standout in this strong ensemble cast. Tommy's insistence on riding a bike to the scene of a fire (so he doesn't line the pockets of US oil barons) and a dinner scene where he infuriates his 'God-fearing' hosts are among his best moments.
With 'Huckabees', director David O.Russell's hit cinematic gold, evoking the best traits of Spike Jonze, the Coen Brothers, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
These are most evident in the original visual touches to reflect Bernard's take on the 'Universe as a blanket'.
It won't be to everyone's taste, but if it's an intelligent, off-beat comedy you're after, you can't go far wrong. 8/10
"I Heart Huckabees" is a brilliantly quirky movie which ponders the big questions (The Universe, Why we're here) without being short-sighted enough to try and offer up any explanations.
Environmental campaigner Albert Markovski (Schwartzman) hires 'existential detectives' Bernard and Vivian (Hoffman and Tomlin), to investigate his recurring coincidences, but they seem to be more interested in his hate-envy relationship with nemesis and Huckabees ad-man Brad Stand (Law).
Brad's got his own demons to battle with though, including a Shania Twain obsession and a domestic/sexual power struggle with girlfriend and spokesmodel for Huckabees Corporation, Naomi Watts. In turn, Albert gets paired with burnt-out post 9/11 firefighter Tommy (Wahlberg), who's grappling to come to terms with the meaning of life; then a seductive rival French existentialist enters the fray, and all hell breaks loose.
But this movie's strength isn't in the plot. "I Heart Huckabees" sharp, irreverent dialogue, proves that a good script is the bedrock for any energetic farce.
When it comes to performances, Hoffman and Tomlin prove a great understated double act as the private dicks with a twist.
Jude Law's facial gymnastics give way to some strong visual comedy at times, despite a ropey American accent.
But it's Wahlberg who shines in his best role since 'Boogie Nights', and is the notable standout in this strong ensemble cast. Tommy's insistence on riding a bike to the scene of a fire (so he doesn't line the pockets of US oil barons) and a dinner scene where he infuriates his 'God-fearing' hosts are among his best moments.
With 'Huckabees', director David O.Russell's hit cinematic gold, evoking the best traits of Spike Jonze, the Coen Brothers, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
These are most evident in the original visual touches to reflect Bernard's take on the 'Universe as a blanket'.
It won't be to everyone's taste, but if it's an intelligent, off-beat comedy you're after, you can't go far wrong. 8/10
If Sarah Michelle Gellar ever admitted to having some kind of pact with the devil, I wouldn't be surprised.
After slaying the living dead in 'Buffy', playing tortuous eye-candy in 'Scream 2' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', even unmasking ghosts in 'Scooby Doo' it seems she's happiest when there's something creepy in the air.
'The Grudge' is a remake of a cult Japanese horror flick 'Ju-on-The Grudge', and sees Gellar as 'Karen', an American student living in Tokyo.
Karen helps out at a care home, and when a colleague of hers fails to show for work one day, she is dispatched to a scary house in the hills to look after a woman. It soon transpires that all is not well within those four walls, as the house harbours a violent secret.
Director Takashi Shimizu's first foray into dealing with Hollywood is an admirable one, although there is a worrying familiarity with other recent US reworkings of Asian cinema, notably 'The Ring'. However, where that version succeeds due to the specific channelling of the evil, (ie, a videotape),'The Grudge' falls down due to the vague manner in which the spell manifests itself.
That's not to say there are no redeeming features. 'The Grudge' has strong suspense and heart-stopping shocks throughout, but often there's a sense that they are contrived plot devices which contribute little towards the complete story.
Gellar acquits herself as the frightened Westerner trying to unlock the origins of the curse, but it is young Yuya Ozeki who deserves a special mention for his sinister performance as 'Toshio'.
A little derivative at times, 'The Grudge' nonetheless has numerous scary moments horror lovers will devour, but fans of the original should probably approach with caution. (6/10)
After slaying the living dead in 'Buffy', playing tortuous eye-candy in 'Scream 2' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', even unmasking ghosts in 'Scooby Doo' it seems she's happiest when there's something creepy in the air.
'The Grudge' is a remake of a cult Japanese horror flick 'Ju-on-The Grudge', and sees Gellar as 'Karen', an American student living in Tokyo.
Karen helps out at a care home, and when a colleague of hers fails to show for work one day, she is dispatched to a scary house in the hills to look after a woman. It soon transpires that all is not well within those four walls, as the house harbours a violent secret.
Director Takashi Shimizu's first foray into dealing with Hollywood is an admirable one, although there is a worrying familiarity with other recent US reworkings of Asian cinema, notably 'The Ring'. However, where that version succeeds due to the specific channelling of the evil, (ie, a videotape),'The Grudge' falls down due to the vague manner in which the spell manifests itself.
That's not to say there are no redeeming features. 'The Grudge' has strong suspense and heart-stopping shocks throughout, but often there's a sense that they are contrived plot devices which contribute little towards the complete story.
Gellar acquits herself as the frightened Westerner trying to unlock the origins of the curse, but it is young Yuya Ozeki who deserves a special mention for his sinister performance as 'Toshio'.
A little derivative at times, 'The Grudge' nonetheless has numerous scary moments horror lovers will devour, but fans of the original should probably approach with caution. (6/10)