steph4 Reviews

Music and Lyrics (2007)

Grant and Barrymore

[6/10 · 8 February 2007]

I'm a fan of Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Their personalities alone are enough to carry a movie. And such is definitely the case with Music and Lyrics. Hugh Grant's self-deprecating, dry sense of humor charms. And Drew Barrymore's slightly daffy girl-next-door shtick lights up the screen. These two could read me an economics book and I'd be entertained.

Music and Lyrics has its moments (campy '80s videos, shots at reality shows and pop divas), but overall, the story isn't as good as its stars. And while I love Grant and Barrymore separately, I'm not sure I love them together. Each of their personalities seems somewhat compromised in Music and Lyrics -- as if Grant's sarcasm and Barrymore's sweetness are both toned down. They meet somewhere in the middle, and it's very pleasant...but it's not as good as it could have been. Music and Lyrics is very much along the lines of Two Weeks Notice (both are written and directed by Marc Lawrence).

Bottom line: it's light fluff with some engaging stars, fun pop culture mockery and a song that will stick with you (like it or not!)

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

a new standard...

[2/10 · 17 December 2002]

I had to wait over a month after seeing Punch Drunk Love to write this. It took that long to get the unparalleled hatred out of my system. Still, this is easily the worst film I have ever sat through (Congrats Island of Dr. Moreau...you're now #2!) I've never walked out of a movie, but it almost happened here. This movie is annoying, pointless and well, stupid. The characters don't have depth; they're crazy. There is a difference. It showed me nothing about life. Never made me laugh. Not that I could understand the dialogue under the migraine-worthy music. Romantic? Realistic? God help us all if this is reality. Personally, I'm using this movie as a new standard of badness. "Oh yes, it was boring, but it wasn't 'Punch Drunk' boring." I also think it may be a good test of sanity. I'm sorry, but if you liked this movie, I'm worried about you. Identifying with these characters is not for the well adjusted among us. For everyone else, 90 minutes of dental work would probably be more pleasant than this movie going experience.

Sweet November (2001)

Train wreck...

[3/10 · 6 August 2001]

SPOILER WARNING

This movie's almost too easy to pick on. It starts out with a good premise. Overworked, cell phone junkie, ad exec meets free spirited, animal loving girl who promises she can change his life. Sounds okay, right? Oh, if only that were it.

Here's what the trailer didn't tell you. She's dying. Of a treatable disease (come on, we all watched Party of Five). Why? Because she's so much of a free spirit that she'd rather "enjoy the time she has." It's no wonder ad boy Keanu never saw it coming. Just days earlier Charlize was doing cartwheels on the beach. All of a sudden, she's got a medicine cabinet to rival any hospital's.

I like romantic movies. But nothing could make me sit through this one again. It's only slightly not as bad as Autumn in New York...if that tells you anything.

Made (2001)

Nice, but no Swingers

[3 August 2001]

Jon Favreau fulfills every male film school student's dream of making a gangster flick with Made. And thanks to his charming writing style and the natural chemistry between Favreau and Swingers pal Vince Vaughn, Made manages to be a cut above the average mobster comedy.

Comparisons between Swingers are inevitable. Vaughn is playing virtually the same character. Only in Made, instead of trying to smooth talk the beautiful babies, Vaughn's a wannabe mob man who's once again, 'so money'. There's also a hilarious bit reminiscent of the painful answering machine scene in Swingers.

But unfortunately, Made isn't nearly as sharp as Swingers. While nobody does total um...jerk better than Vince Vaughn, his act here goes on almost too long. Swingers worked because Vaughn's ridiculous confidence was tempered by Favreau's sweetness. Made needs more of Favreau on screen. Still, the teamwork of Favreau and Vaughn makes the long feeling 95 minutes of Made a pleasure to watch.

Favreau may have convinced himself that he was parodying the mobster comedy with Made, but he's actually at his best when he pokes fun at human nature. The end of Made shows what Favreau's capable of. It's truly wonderful. And much better than any silly mob story. Hopefully now that Jon's got the need to make a gangster movie out of his system, he'll go back to lighthearted social commentary.

America's Sweethearts (2001)

A sweet shame...

[6/10 · 25 July 2001]

America's Sweethearts starts out with a lot of promise.

(SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING)

A simple, funny premise -- Eddie and Gwen (John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones), the hottest on and off screen couple in Hollywood, must reunite at a press junket to promote their last film together. Enter Billy Crystal as a press agent whose career rides on getting the couple back together. And Julia Roberts as Kiki, Gwen's once dowdy sister/assistant who has a thing for Eddie.

Unfortunately the film goes wrong almost from the start. The pacing is atrocious, the tone totally off and the actors, despite a valiant attempt, seem to be in different movies. Julia and John take their characters seriously. While Zeta-Jones, Hank Azaria, Stanley Tucci and Christopher Walken play their roles far over the top. That's not to say the acting is bad. It isn't. Zeta-Jones is especially good (though the character is nails on chalk board kind of annoying). The actors end up being the only thing that makes America's Sweethearts watchable. They also spell out the movie's biggest disappointment. With such talent attached, it should've been a much better film.

For a romantic comedy, America's Sweethearts plays it light on the love story. There's really no chemistry between Eddie and Gwen or Eddie and Kiki. We never really understand why Eddie was with a shrew like Gwen in the first place or why he wants to be with Kiki (aside from the fact that she's Julia Roberts).

Even the Hollywood satire in America's Sweethearts isn't funny. The old adage 'write what you know' should apply. Crystal and writing partner Peter Tolan (The Larry Sanders Show) should have been able to take us inside Hollywood. But their script (which isn't horrible and could've produced a far better film) never really gains momentum or makes us laugh at the absurdities of Hollywood as a film like The Player did. Notting Hill poked fun at the junket with far more success.

Ultimately, it comes down to bad directing. The actors were there. The script wasn't bad. But Joe Roth, who hadn't directed a film in 12 years, needed a little fine tuning on his rhythm. I'll take botched direction for $46 million Alex.

American Psycho (2000)

What's the point?

[9 May 2000]

I'll be honest. I didn't get it. I know it was satire, but I couldn't see past all the violence to find the humor or any kind of statement about society. Nor do I believe the mass movie going audience will understand anything about this movie except that it's a quirky serial killer flick...and that's disturbing. Without a message this movie is just a bloody, twisted mess. And it's not even the actual violence that's so offensive. It's the complete lack of humanity Patrick Bateman displays. Maybe we as a society do need to look at that, but the only thing I took from this movie was nausea. That and some ugly scenes that may forever ruin several 80's songs for me. The last line of the movie pretty much sums it up...pointless.

Gossip (I) (2000)

Interesting idea, but ultimately forgettable...

[1 May 2000]

Not a bad movie. It starts with an interesting premise; where do we draw the line between news and gossip. And the actors, especially Lena Headey, are a step above your usual teen flick pretty faces. Even the predictable plot held my attention. Unfortunately, the overly stylized set and characters (never without a martini in hand) didn't work for the movie. Case in point, the tepid rumor that gets the whole thing rolling. Among such sophisticates, the rumor would seem like no big deal. But cast this rumor into the sea of Dawson's Creek or even a film like Scream or Cruel Intentions and the plot might have been more effective. This movie looks like a good candidate to be remade ten years from now...when everyone has forgotten about Gossip.

The Bachelor (1999)

I don't...

[3/10 · 26 April 2000]

No. No. No. I like old movies. And I know this was based on a Buster Keaton film. (Why you'd want to remake one of those, I'm not sure.) Though I haven't seen the original, I would run screaming like a reluctant groom before I'd sit through this movie again. The ridiculous, slapstick plot, that worked in 1925, should have been updated, adjusted for the 70 years worth of movie savvy today's audiences have. If the plot appeals to you, watch the original. If you like Chris O'Donnell, rent Circle of Friends.

American History X (1998)

Totally blown away...

[9/10 · 26 April 2000]

Simply put, a very powerful movie. To those not used to dealing with racism, it will astound you. But American History X goes beyond social drama. It goes to the heart of human nature, speaking with brutal honesty about the destructive power of hate and the hope that even the most detestable person can change. Edward Norton at times seems possessed, his range and ability to transform himself is breathtaking. Though parts were hard to watch, this movie left me uplifted. Quite a surprise. Highly recommended.