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Movie Preview: Amy Adams in Leap Year

BuzzSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:30:04 -0800

You can rarely accuse a romantic comedy of being original, and the set up for Leap Year is no different. Amy Adams stars as Anna, a woman who's waiting for her boyfriend (Adam Scott) to propose when she learns that according to Irish tradition, women are "allowed" to propose to men on February 29, leap day. She chases him to Dublin and when she's diverted to Wales, meets a handsome stranger (Matthew Goode) who makes her rethink her scheme and relationship. Stop groaning.

I know the movie sounds cliche and sexist, yet I can't dismiss anything with Adams in it - her charm is just too powerful! Seriously, though, amid the mildly offensive plot details and too-familiar setting (how many times have we seen that stuck-in-the-road-while-cows-cross scene?), Adams still shines along with her freakishly dreamy foil, Matthew Goode. Take a look at the trailer to see for yourself, and watch out for a small bit from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson, when you read more.

Leap Year comes out January 8, 2010.

TV Tonight: Kristen Bell on the Finale of Party Down

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:00:30 -0700

The end of the TV season is always full of big, blockbuster drama, but sometimes I just need a break from all the death, destruction, and cliffhangers. So when I've needed a laugh these past few weeks, I've been turning to the Starz series Party Down. Over its first season - it's already been renewed for a second - this show about a group of misfit caterers with big Hollywood aspirations has only gotten funnier.

Tonight's episode sounds like it could be the best yet, with Kristen Bell (obviously a favorite muse for Party Down co-creator Rob Thomas, the man behind Veronica Mars) swinging by for a guest turn as the snappish Uda Bengt, head of a powerful rival catering firm. Oh, and the event being catered in this episode? A gay wedding with George Takei as one of the partners. Awesome!

Don't have Starz? If you can access Netflix's instant viewing feature, watch all the episodes online. And to watch a preview of tonight's episode, just read more.

Photo courtesy of Starz

Why I Love . . . Adam Scott

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:30:00 -0700

It's not that surprising anymore to wake up to the news that actor Adam Scott has another job. For years, he was one of my favorite "that guy"s in Hollywood, playing a brief love interest of David Fisher's on Six Feet Under (remember "happy holidays from the Fisher-Coopers"?) and popping up in small roles everywhere from Veronica Mars to Knocked Up to Art School Confidential.

But with today's news that Scott's been cast in HBO's The Wonderful Maladys as Sarah Michelle Gellar's character's ex, I figured it was time to take a broader look at why I'm loving Scott so much these days. It's not just that he keeps showing up in TV shows and movies I like - though that's true, too, starting with HBO's Tell Me You Love Me last year and continuing with Party Down this year.

It's that he might be my favorite Hollywood jerk.

I mean, not him, per se. I'm sure he's a very nice guy. But he's somehow able to play horrible people in a way that makes me squeal with delight even when I know I shouldn't be rooting for his character. I'm not sure there's anyone in Hollywood right now who does self-centered, righteous confidence better than Scott; it's something in his dry line delivery, and it makes me laugh (or, in the case of Tell Me You Love Me, squirm uncomfortably) every time.

In this recent interview, Scott talks about playing the ultimate jerk: Derek in Step Brothers. He mentions that Adam McKay and Will Ferrell created a character who was awful from the start, then encouraged him to be more and more horrible, the worst person he could imagine. Maybe it's scary that he's so successful at it, but it sure is fun to watch.

So, while there's no confirmation that Scott's character in Maladys is a jerk, my fingers are crossed. It just seems like that would be best for all of us.

Source

First Look: Party Down on Starz

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:39:56 -0800

Starz isn't necessarily the most popular of the premium cable channels, but here's a good reason to rustle up a subscription: Next month, the channel will premiere Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas's new series, Party Down.

Thomas is one of the co-creators of the half-hour comedy, which revolves around a team of cater-waiters and aspiring writers and actors in Los Angeles. The cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Adam Scott, Ken Marino, and Martin Starr, and there are a few big-name guest stars lined up - including Ms. Mars herself, Kristen Bell, who will appear in the May 22 season finale. Another Mars alum, Jason Dohring, will pop up in the series as well.

The trailer made me laugh out loud a bunch ("Who's your agent?" "State Farm"), and if you've ever known any struggling creative types, you've probably known people like this. I'm excited to check it out when it premieres March 20. To watch the trailer, just read more.

Photo courtesy of Starz

Step Brothers: Middle-Aged Men Behaving Badly

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:30:03 -0700

Step Brothers is yet another entry into the canon of movies that have resulted from the collaboration between director Adam McKay, star Will Ferrell, and (. . . wait for it) producer Judd Apatow. After mining all kinds of scenarios for comedy (anchormen, race car drivers, the '70s in general, etc.), even these funny guys have to hit the bottom of the barrel sometime. I imagine the concept that would result from that rock-bottom brainstorming session would go something like this: "How about instead of making a movie about a guy who has a grownup job but sometimes acts like a childish loser, we literally just make a movie about a childish loser?" In other words, it would look a lot like Step Brothers.

And so it goes, with Ferrell of course taking the overgrown-child role. Add to the mix a crew of esteemed supporting actors including Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins, and you end up with a familiar comedy that explores some unfamiliar territory (Ferrell's private parts - I'm not even joking). The movie had me buckled over in my seat laughing about half the time, but I spent the rest of it horrified and a little bored with how standard it all felt. To see what I loved and what I'm tired of, read more.

Stripped of all the bravado that his moronic characters usually boast, Ferrell's Brennan Huff is actually humble, painfully aware that he is the world's biggest loser (he still lives at home with his mom even though he's 40-something years old). His mom (Steenburgen) speculates that things went wrong for her son after some public humiliation by other kids, led by Brennan's older brother Derek (the pitch-perfect Adam Scott). Then a middle-aged fellow in a similar boat, Dale Doback (John C. Reilly), is forced to move in with Brennan when their parents get married. The two immediately resent each other - and by "resent," I mean Dale tells Brennan how much he hates him, and then they quite literally go at each other's throats.

For the most part, the shtick works, and the two stars have great chemistry together. And when Ferrell whips himself into an angry, manic, f-bomb-laden frenzy full of sex jokes and scatological humor, it's occasionally worth a chuckle. Mostly, though, the act feels tired: The novelty of Ferrell flying off the hook like that has worn off for me by now. It's a little different when Reilly does it; we're not as used to seeing him channel immaturity and comic rage. But even then, the infantile tantrums that resort to third-grade jokes get old fast.

But, when the movie is actually working and thinking at how to make us laugh (rather than resorting to the tried-and-true stuff), it's really, really good. The fellas stay true to their characters, and in a lot of moments the natural humor inherent in their situation comes through. For example, Brennan is believed to be a great singer but is hesitant to perform for anyone. When he finally does sing for his new brother, Dale is so moved that he describes the gorgeousness of Brennan's voice as "a combination between Fergie and Jesus." Later, when we're introduced to the d-bag that is Brennan's tormenting brother Derek, he's driving his family along in a car, demanding they sing a song together and that everyone's harmonies are in key and timed perfectly. It's one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

Ferrell is a talented guy. He's especially great when he puts a little effort into making us laugh and saves the angry meltdowns and the exposing of body parts for when it really counts. Thankfully Step Brothers has more going on than just its star's juvenile proclivities.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Tell Me How You Feel about "Tell Me You Love Me"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:23:33 -0700

HBO's "Tell Me You Love Me" premiered last Sunday, but the ratings didn't live up to the hype - much of which focused on the "is it or isn't it real?" debate about the sex in the show. I'm surprised so few people tuned in, because when I finally watched "Tell Me," I found that it had a lot more going on than graphic bedroom antics (though those were certainly present). The show is a gritty, bleak look at intimacy and love, and at times it's almost hard to watch. It does have its graphic elements, but it's also surprisingly sensitive and realistic, and I'm planning to stick with it through the rest of the season.

I have a few clips from upcoming episodes to share - one for each of the show's three couples. Check them out below, and then tell me how you're feeling about "Tell Me" so far. Just read more

In this clip from Sunday's upcoming episode, Hugo and Jamie talk about fidelity and trust:

In this clip from the third episode, Palek and Carolyn share their struggles with infertility:

In this clip from the fourth episode, David and Katie talk about how sex fits (or doesn't) with their everyday lives:

Photo and videos courtesy of HBO

Amy Adams and Zach Galifianakis Move In to Town House

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:24 -0700

Zach Galifianakis's star continues to rise. The Hangover funny man is reportedly in talks for Town House. Loosely based on the novel by Tish Cohen, the dramedy follows an agoraphobic dad (Galifianakis) living off royalties from his rock star father - the dilemma being what to do when the money runs out. Amy Adams would play a call girl who befriends him.

Adams, aka Miss Enchanted, as a prostitute? Galifianakis as a father?! I love both of these actors, and I'm excited to see them branch out. With Tony and Ridley Scott producing, and John Carney of Once fame is attached to direct, I have high hopes for this one.

What's your take on the news? If the plot gets romantic - which I'm guessing it will - do you think Galifianakis and Adams will make a good pair? (I wonder if he'll shave that beard!)

SYTYCD: Which Dancers Do You Like So Far?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:30:50 -0700

It's Vegas week on So You Think You Can Dance, which means that the contestants who've gotten a ticket to Nevada get evaluated again before they get to go to LA.

All of the judges are on hand to watch the dancers try out different dance styles out of their comfort zones to see if they can be put through in the competition, and the high stakes mean the dancing is rigorous. It's stressful just watching talented people struggle with different dance genres, and many don't make it. But for those who do, I'm already pegging my faves.

I'm into krumper Russell Ferguson, whose partner dance to "Disturbia" rocked Adam Shankman's world, and liked Teddy Tedholm, the argyle pants-wearing naif who shockingly owned his hip hop routine (but was cut in ballroom). By the by - I was disappointed when the judges cut Ryan Kasprzak because of his weak performances. I really thought he'd be a part of season six. But anyway, as for the girls, I'm declaring myself a huge fan of Elinore Scott right now.

Who are you impressed with in these early stages?

Photos courtesy of Fox