THE HANGOVER

THE HANGOVER PRESENTS A GOOD REASON TO DRINK

So first we had 'chick flicks'. Now we have 'bromances'. Judd Apatow has owned the market with 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, but now it has spread. The Hangover is the latest in this vein brought to us by Todd Phillips (Old School). Four friends (three friends and a soon to be brother in law) head out for a blowout party before one of them gets married. In an interesting twist, we wake up with them the next morning and very much like them, we want to know what happened. The twist is that no one remembers and the groom to be is missing. It is a perfect set up for a caper comedy.

MY SISTER'S KEEPER

MY SISTER'S KEEPER A KEEPER INDEED

Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was brought into this world specifically to save her sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) who is dying from leukemia. For her entire life, she has been subjected to numerous medical procedures all in efforts to save her sister’s life. When it comes time to donate a kidney, Anna turns to lawyer Campbell Alexander, (Alec Baldwin) to sue her parents for medical emancipation, letting her decide what she wants and doesn’t want to do with her body.

MY LIFE IN RUINS

MY LIFE IN RUINS: MY BIG FAT ROMANCE ON A BUS

 Truly a sweet and unexpected romantic comedy... Georgia (Nia Vardalos) is a teacher in Athens who isn't teaching but acting as a tour guide trying to push her knowledge onto a big group of wacky, ungrateful tourists who just want to go to the beach and buy souvenirs. She has lost the joy she once had for Greece and now just follows pathetically along as her tourists begin to teach her. They help her find balance between her love of the academic and love of life.

THE ROCKER

THE ROCKER: Something to watch on a rainly day with no cable TV

If you think this film will be funny because it stars Rainn Wilson, think again. The film is about an old man (at least 40) who once in a band turned mega-stars, feels a bit unfulfilled as he was kicked out of the band before they made it big. One thing leads to another and suddenly he is drumming again, but this time for the prom of his nephew’s high school. And again, one thing leads to another and this band of high school misfits turns into a huge success. It wasn’t a terrible film, but that’s hardly a preamble to a great review. I was bored. I watched it. I made it to the end and paid moderate attention. There are several members from Saturday Night Live who have funny enough roles and that’s just what it felt like, a really long skit on Saturday Night Live. I like Rainn Wilson, and he does a fine job but I still find him more fun to watch on the Office.
Nibble: Mildly entertaining, but nothing you MUST watch.

BRUNO

Was kann ein Mädchen sagen über Bruno?

What is not to love about Sacha Baron Cohen? He is a talented actor, not afraid to push the envelope, and that’s an understatement, in order to drive home a point. In Borat it was more funny and new and not over disturbing for most viewers because it was such a new concept to do a “punked” film. However, Bruno is another can of wienerschitzel. Bruno is a male model and entertainer from Austria who comes to America to try to achieve fame and fortune. There are parts of this film so explicit I wouldn’t just not want my mother to watch it, I wouldn’t want her to know I watched it. Vulgar and explicit, the target ranges from celebrity to fashion to bigotry; extreme anti-gay bigotry. One of my favorites was when he interviews the parent’s of children eager to be placed in a TV spot agree to the most outlandish things just to get their kid working. I do like having a new word for my va-jay-jay…. Vah-gee-nah; talk that Oprah. Overall, it was a fun film and Cohen made his points, sharp as nails. The best is saved for last; a video Bruno does which includes, Bono, Slash, Elton John, Sting and Snoop Dog. It is a lovely ending and well worth any uncomfortable scenes previously viewed.


BITE: I’ll never tire of Cohen’s colorful characters and his bold social statements.