BuzzSugar

Away We Go: Happy to Come Along

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:15:09 -0700

Away We Go starts with a sex scene. There's no nudity, it's not overtly graphic, but it's unexpected and a bit jarring. It's certainly not the overture I was predicting. But just as I was starting to get uncomfortable, the moment becomes quite humorous. The hilarity of the scene is grounded in the screenplay (which was written by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida), but brought to life by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. Known for their respective work on The Office and Saturday Night Live, the duo's comedic chops may not come as a surprise, but here these two are playing it pretty straitlaced. It's this juxtaposition that makes the film so good - seeing funny people playing serious roles with serious situations that end up being funny.

It's a formula that's worked before. As I guessed from the trailer, the film is very similar in tone to Garden State and Juno. All three are quirky little gems with heavy subject matters and great soundtracks (seriously, check out Alexi Murdoch if you haven't already). If I had to fault the film with anything, it would be that it didn't feel particularly fresh, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

To learn more about the film, and its cool costars, read more.

The story follows Burt and Verona (Krasinski and Rudolph) on their quest to find a place to call home. They're about to have a baby and because Burt's proximately close parents (played by Jeff Daniels and the always hilarious Catherine O'Hara) are moving to Belgium, the two find themselves looking for someplace to live. Verona's parents are dead, so they decide to visit friends and relatives in various parts of North America and Canada where they could potentially set down roots. What ensues is a road story that finds the couple in Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, Montreal, and Miami.

Along the way we meet a variety of characters who run the gamut from looney and hilarious (specifically Allison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhaal's characters) to more subtle and subdued. And this goes back to the overall tone of the film: serious sprinkled with a dash of silly. It works most of the time, but occasionally the antics of Janney, Gyllenhaal, or O'Hara seem a little too far-fetched for what is ultimately a dramatic film. But these missteps are mostly forgivable as the actresses are so hysterically funny.

Then again, maybe these women's characters aren't supposed to be realistic or relatable. Maybe we're supposed to identify solely with Burt and Verona as they navigate through their journey. I certainly did. I also identified with the film's key message - that home is truly where the heart is. It's a refreshing idea coming from the director of the great but depressing American Beauty and Revolutionary Road.

Bottom Line: If you're looking to escape the typical Summer fare, Away We Go is a solid option.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Movie News: Allison Janney, Paris Hilton and Pee-Wee?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:30:15 -0800

Weeeeird. . . There's no title yet, and plot details are limited, but this movie news caught my eye today because it's a bizarre collection of people. Apparently, there's an indie movie in the works that:

. . . will be directed by Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness).
. . . will star Allison Janney, Charlotte Rampling, Paris Hilton and Paul Reubens (known to many as Pee-Wee Herman).
. . . is described as "a dramatic comedy about family against the backdrop of a war. The movie will take off on elements from the director's breakout Happiness, in a project producers are describing as a 'part-sequel, part-variation' on that film."

Any Todd Solondz fans out there? Think this could be kind of awesome in a twisted sort of way? Should Paris be in movies?

Again: Weeeeird.

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Would You See 9 to 5 on Broadway?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:30:15 -0700

The recent casting news about Allison Janney reminded me that Janney is also set to perform in the Broadway musical version of the 1980 movie 9 to 5, which starred Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin. The stage musical will premiere in Los Angeles in September and then move on to New York.

I gotta say, I'm pretty excited to see this show! I love the movie, and I can see it becoming a really fun musical. What about you? Do you think this will be a great movie-to-Broadway musical adaptation? Or will it just be silly?

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Sam Mendes' "Relationship Comedy" Gets A Title - And Allison Janney!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:35:53 -0700

Update: As of Dec. 9, this movie is officially titled Away We Go.

This project already had so much going for it: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) directing, a script by Dave Eggers and his wife Vendela Vida, John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph playing the lead characters and Toni Collette recently cast in a supporting role. Now, the previously untitled "relationship comedy" has gotten a title - and Allison Janney!

In the tentatively titled This Must Be the Place, Janney will play "a loud, brassy, decidedly un-PC woman who admittedly has a few screws loose. She reunites with a former employee in Phoenix, where the expectant mother/employee (Rudolph) begins a tour of the country with her husband (Krasinski) to find the best place to raise their child."

Now, while I still can't wait for Mendes' adaptation of Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm also insanely curious to see how he does with this comedic material and phenomenal cast. Also in Janney's future is a role in an Eddie Murphy movie A Thousand Words in which she'll play Murphy's boss, "a savvy, money-grubbing head of a literary agency."

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Buzz News Roundup, 3/5

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:31:00 -0800

Though she seems slightly young for the role, Joan Cusack will be playing the mother to Isla Fisher's character in the Shopaholic movie, Variety writes. John Goodman has been cast as her dad.
Allison Janney will voice a character in Fox's proposed animated series The Pitts, Zap2it reports.
Paris Hilton will star as herself on My Name is Earl when the show returns April 3 with a one-hour episode, the Associated Press reports.
The CBS '70s-set swinger drama Swingtown will premiere in May, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Janet Jackson's new album topped this week's charts, Billboard reports.
According to Variety, Away From Her and Eastern Promises were the big winners at Canada's big award ceremony, the Genies.

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Juno: Sweet, Cute, and Funny as a Newborn Puppy

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

As you may have heard by now - since one can't throw a hamburger telephone without hitting another Juno lover - there are so many reasons to see Juno and basically no reason not to. So, just how endearing can one movie be? Let me count the ways . . .

The story.
The plot is basically this: Smart-talking teenage Juno (Ellen Page) and her goofy (yet self-aware) best guy friend/onetime sexual partner Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) find themselves unexpectedly expecting, and Juno seeks out a well-to-do young couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) to adopt the baby. What's wonderful about this story is that it's simple, and the things that make it interesting are merely the things you would expect to make it interesting in real life: the actual emotions involved in being a pregnant high school kid; the strains of parenthood on a couple; the what-now limbo pains of two people who had sex and now don't know where they stand. It's sweeter and stranger than real life, but only by a little bit, so it's still relateable.

More reasons, "homeskillet," so read more.

The script.
First-time screenwriter Diablo Cody astounds me. There have been countless comparisons drawn between this movie and Napoleon Dynamite, but Juno simply has more compassion and is way cuter. Cody manages to balance humor and heart in a way that's accessible but not overdone, quirky but not "weird for weird's sake" and touching but not saccharine. She's my new American hero.
The music.
From the original music by Kimya Dawson to beloved favorites by Belle and Sebastian and Sonic Youth, the soundtrack to this movie is a hipster's dream. Every song in the film is so in keeping with the tone of Juno's world, you can't help but be swept along her journey with her. And if I think about the final scene's song too much, I will cry immediately. So, there's that.
The main character.
Juno is such an engaging character in every way. She's funny, sharply sarcastic, adorable, and a huge know-it-all. She's at times very young and scarily vulnerable, but this is easy to forget because she considers herself such a tough girl. Even if her adventure weren't so compelling, you would want to accompany her anywhere.
Jason Reitman's direction.
There is something about this director's attention to detail that is somehow comforting. The audience is completely immersed in this world, especially in the characters' homes, down to the last goofy-yet-still-preppy photo of the wealthy married couple and Juno's parents' worn furniture. Reitman truly wants us to sit cross-legged in Juno's room for a while, and this welcoming tone only deepens our affection for Juno and all the people she cares about.

Bottom line: If you're prone to enjoying these kinds of films - smaller indie movies with a lot of humor and some moments so sweet you might burst - Juno is for you.

To see the trailer and more clips from Juno check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Movie Preview: Juno, Starring Rainn Wilson, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:27:03 -0700

I was feeling a little groggy this morning after so much Emmys excitement, so imagine my delight when I discovered that there is (finally!) a trailer online for the indie film Juno! The movie stars all sorts of hilarious people (like Rainn Wilson, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman and Allison Janney), and some other people who are not necessarily funny but still welcome faces (like J.K. Simmons and Jennifer Garner).

The story follows the cynical teenager Juno (Ellen Page) who unexpectedly becomes pregnant by her geeky, um, gentleman friend Paulie (Cera). They decide to give the baby to a couple in town (Garner and Bateman) who are looking to adopt. There's so much more humor and sweetness than just that in the trailer alone, though, so it's worth it to take a look. The tone of this movie reminds me of one of my favorite dark indie comedies, Saved!, so I cannot wait to catch Juno in theaters December 14. You can watch the trailer if you read more

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