TITLE
Run, Fat Boy, Run
STARRING
Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel
COMPARABLE TO...
Any movie where a guy works through regret to become the man she wants him to be and in the process discovers he's the man he always wanted to be.
THE JIST
The last time Dennis Doyle (Pegg) ran, he was running from his impending wedding to the beautiful and very pregnant Libby Odell (Newton). Several years later his relationship with his son although characteristically intact is much like that of brothers and his unrequited love for Libby is far from being returned as a new seemingly too good to be true man (Azaria) has entered the picture. In order to best the competition and win back the family he so eagerly fled from six years prior, Dennis agrees to run a full marathon, and perhaps for the first time ever, complete something he starts.
WOULD I SUGGEST IT TO OTHERS?
Yes. It's a slow start - not the best screenwriting in the first 15 minutes, but all the elements are there. More to the point, (and saints be praised) David Schwimmer has contributions to make to the world outside of Friends!
I was also fascinated that the movie is penned by both Pegg and Michael Ian Black, who in his own right, is outrageously funny. I wasn't aware of his off screen contributions beyond the realm of TV sketch and comedy writing, but it was great to see him transfer some of those talents to the big screen.
Run, Fat Boy, Run is honest and heartfelt. It bests most of Pegg's recent work by a mile and despite its predictable ending, there is decent character development and solid writing, meshed with some eccentric trivial characters who add flare.
MORE INFORMATION
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425413/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_Fatboy_Run
Sunday, September 28, 2008
FINDING AMANDA (2008)
TITLE
Finding Amanda
STARRING
Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, Peter Facinelli, Steve Coogan
COMPARABLE TO...
All I Want, Excess Baggage
THE JIST
Taylor Peters (Broderick) has seen better days, personally and professionally. A compulsive gambler and soon-to-be has been in the world of sitcom writers, his relationship with his wife (Tierney) is equally stressed. To leverage some favor with his wife, and because his adventure would take him to heaven on Earth - Las Vegas, Peters agrees to go round-up his niece, Amanda, and take her to rehab. It's been years since they've seen each other and on the outside Amanda appears to be a free spirit with capitalistic qualities. She's also dancer of the exotic variety, whose line of work keeps her abusive boyfriend in the best of goods. As they reconnect and compare notes on their varieties of dysfunctionalties, the Vegas backdrop provides for some winning and losing scenarios.
WOULD I SUGGEST IT TO OTHERS?
This was hardly a favorite, even the description on DVD case read more interestingly than this film played out. There were moments, both brief and fleeting, of entertaining quips between the protagonist and his niece. In general, it was a relatively unremarkable movie. Peter Tolan, who both wrote and directed Finding Amanda certainly did not channel some of the savant from his earlier works. For the record, I thoroughly enjoyed Stealing Harvard and just recently watched it all over again. The series Rescue Me was also enjoyable. The last ten minutes of the film were quite redeeming, but simply not enough to endure the rest of this flop.
MORE INFORMATION
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889134/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Amanda
Finding Amanda
STARRING
Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, Peter Facinelli, Steve Coogan
COMPARABLE TO...
All I Want, Excess Baggage
THE JIST
Taylor Peters (Broderick) has seen better days, personally and professionally. A compulsive gambler and soon-to-be has been in the world of sitcom writers, his relationship with his wife (Tierney) is equally stressed. To leverage some favor with his wife, and because his adventure would take him to heaven on Earth - Las Vegas, Peters agrees to go round-up his niece, Amanda, and take her to rehab. It's been years since they've seen each other and on the outside Amanda appears to be a free spirit with capitalistic qualities. She's also dancer of the exotic variety, whose line of work keeps her abusive boyfriend in the best of goods. As they reconnect and compare notes on their varieties of dysfunctionalties, the Vegas backdrop provides for some winning and losing scenarios.
WOULD I SUGGEST IT TO OTHERS?
This was hardly a favorite, even the description on DVD case read more interestingly than this film played out. There were moments, both brief and fleeting, of entertaining quips between the protagonist and his niece. In general, it was a relatively unremarkable movie. Peter Tolan, who both wrote and directed Finding Amanda certainly did not channel some of the savant from his earlier works. For the record, I thoroughly enjoyed Stealing Harvard and just recently watched it all over again. The series Rescue Me was also enjoyable. The last ten minutes of the film were quite redeeming, but simply not enough to endure the rest of this flop.
MORE INFORMATION
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889134/
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Amanda
Friday, September 26, 2008
So, I took the summer off.
More than one of you has reminded me my last post was in May, but I have no stellar reasons for this (big things like a new job, much needed studying and smaller things like my in-laws lovely pool and outings to the drive-in all contributed). Furthermore, I do not promise a robust writing on this blog, or my current screenplays Anthem 2050 and This Modern Love, until after the GRE on October 11th. That's right, I am headed back to college!
We, (and when I say "we," I mean largely me, because my husband and parents haven't exactly envisioned how working full-time, TAing and getting a PhD go together) are hoping for U of M, IUPUI, or, *sigh*, MSU.
But, in the meantime, dissecting current works on DVD is a great exercise for aspiring screenwriters, and the reviews, I hope, will continue to entertain you!
Happy Fall!
Go Blue! Go Chips! Go Spartans! (We are a blended household here.)
Happy Birthday Blue! 10/31/2005
More than one of you has reminded me my last post was in May, but I have no stellar reasons for this (big things like a new job, much needed studying and smaller things like my in-laws lovely pool and outings to the drive-in all contributed). Furthermore, I do not promise a robust writing on this blog, or my current screenplays Anthem 2050 and This Modern Love, until after the GRE on October 11th. That's right, I am headed back to college!
We, (and when I say "we," I mean largely me, because my husband and parents haven't exactly envisioned how working full-time, TAing and getting a PhD go together) are hoping for U of M, IUPUI, or, *sigh*, MSU.
But, in the meantime, dissecting current works on DVD is a great exercise for aspiring screenwriters, and the reviews, I hope, will continue to entertain you!
Happy Fall!
Go Blue! Go Chips! Go Spartans! (We are a blended household here.)
Happy Birthday Blue! 10/31/2005
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