BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:30:26 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
My pal Molly had the honor of heading out to the screening of Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay to let the rest of us know how it was. She basically came away feeling that it was a bit on the offensive side of the fence, even for a movie like this. But she also acknowledges that it could be the kind of movie that gets funnier with each viewing, and that Neil Patrick Harris is once again pitch-perfect in his ability to make anything hilarious.

So I'll be honest: I'm adding this to my queue for when I'm in the mood for some dumb laughs. Also, after enduring that-of-which-we-do-not-speak and an Eddie Murphy bomb in the past month, I kinda feel like I can't get too picky about my at-home comedy at this point.

Special features include commentary with the directors and stars as well as a featurette titled "The World of Harold and Kumar."

Two totally fascinating documentaries if you read more.

Surfwise
When I first viewed the trailer for this documentary about nine surfer kids raised in a camper who travel from one beautiful surfing locale to another, I was totally intrigued. At first blush it sounds like an ideal childhood (to me at least): cool parents who thought outside the box, exposing their kids to the joys of surfing and travel. Of course, this isn't as straightforward as it sounds, and in the documentary the kids "speak out" about the unorthodox parenting practices of their father.

Special features include commentary with Doug Pray (director) and Matt Weaver (producer), and lots of outtakes.

Shine a Light
This movie surprised me in its ability to make me reconsider my contention that emptying my wallet to see a Rolling Stones concert in a giant stadium at this point is something I would pass on. Martin Scorsese's rock doc chronicles two Stones concerts from 2006 and totally succeeds at capturing what all the fuss is about. The movie is particularly absorbing when capturing the quiet moments you'd miss as an audience member.

If you're a Rolling Stones fan you'll want to own this immediately, and if you are currently ambivalent about what these aging rockers can bring to a live show, this movie might make you see the light.

Special features include four bonus performances by the Rolling Stones, not shown in theaters.

Box Office: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Win the Weekend

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:30:38 -0700

It's always exciting when a comedy that's genuinely funny does well with audiences, and that was the case this weekend with the female buddy comedy Baby Mama starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The ladies won the top spot with an estimated $18.3 million, handily beating out the other comedy opening over the weekend, Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay. EW reports that while this wasn't the best movie opening for either Fey or Poehler, their film did much better than many box office watchers predicted. In fact, Baby Mama gave Universal Studios its first box office winner of the year.

The Forbidden Kingdom was No. 3 and Forgetting Sarah Marshall was right behind in the fourth spot, with both films earning approximately $11 million their second weekend out - a respectable achievement.

While Fey and company had good reason to pop the champagne, another film didn't post opening-weekend results worthy of celebration. Deception, starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, and Michelle Williams, "fared dismally," as Variety put it. The thriller barely beat Street Kings for the No. 10 spot, earning only $2.2 million over the weekend. I thought that the very talented cast did the best they could with poor material, but apparently that wasn't enough of a draw.

So, which movies did you check out this weekend? Did any of you see both Baby Mama and Harold and Kumar?

Source

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay: They Should Have Just Gone to Amsterdam

Molly — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:30:30 -0700

The great thing about Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle is that there were no expectations. The news of its secret hilarity spread quietly through whispers and surprised admissions - You know what I saw last night OnDemand that was oddly incredible? It was a time when a Neil Patrick Harris cameo was delightfully random since no one had seen much of him since Doogie Howser and the simple fact of two guys on a quest for greasy sliders was plot enough. Unfortunately, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay doesn't have that luxury. The expectations are high (ha, get it?), and sadly, the movie doesn't live up them. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

The thing is, I'm not the only one getting older. Escape From Guantanamo Bay takes place just hours after their trip to White Castle, but somehow the fact that Kal Penn and John Cho are now both in their 30s and look it adds a kind of sad angle to the whole thing that didn't exist when they were fresh-faced 20 somethings who just loved smoking pot. Elsewhere in their acting careers, they're both heart-throbby and respectable in their own rights, but somehow they seem to be too old to still be playing this game. That's a bit nitpicky, though, and really the least of the movie's problems. To see the rest of my thoughts just read more.

For me, the moment the movie went awry was when they ended up at Guantanamo Bay instead of making it to Amsterdam and getting into a whole heap of trouble there. While I appreciate the notion of a noble quest, it's far too convoluted this time, and Amsterdam is just an afterthought. Speaking of bringing Gitmo into it, it's a perfect example of where this movie fails. Time and time again they go for the most offensive lines - racial, religious, sexual, bathroom-related (lots of that) - for cheap laughs rather than a) actually making relevant political satire and comedy or b) making any jokes that haven't been done a million times before.

That isn't to say there aren't good moments. Neil Patrick Harris once again knocks it out of the park, even though at this point we know that real-life NPH isn't going for the biggest boobs at the whorehouse (not even joking: that's in the movie). Plus, at the heart of the movie there's a sentimental angle - a love story, a mushy poem, perhaps a sign that Harold and Kumar are growing up after all. Maybe this is one of those movies that will get better with viewing No. 2, and I'm sure there are plenty of inebriated people of all ages who will think it's a riot. Seriously, the frat boy sitting next to me was rolling in the aisles. In the meantime though, here's to hoping Harold and Kumar think long and hard about their plan before taking another trip.

To see the trailer and video clips from Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, check out movies.ivillage.com.

Photos courtesy of New Line Cinema

First Look: Harold and Kumar 2

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:29:27 -0700

Admittedly, the first Harold and Kumar movie (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) didn't quite interest me enough to watch the whole thing. I know some people loved it, but I was still surprised to find out that their continuing with Harold and Kumar's story in Harold and Kumar 2, also known as Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam.

The teaser trailer was recently released and it definitely made me laugh out loud several times, so it looks like I'll be checking out this installment of the Harold and Kumar adventures. In the trailer it appears that Harold and Kumar try to go on a trip to Amsterdam but are mistaken for terrorists on the plane (best line: "North Korea and Al-Qaeda working together. This is bigger than I thought."). Added bonus: some of my favorite (and, in my opinion, most underrated) comedic actors are featured in the trailer, like Neil Patrick Harris (reprising his role as himself) and Rob Corddry. There's no set release date yet, just sometime in 2008. To watch the teaser trailer and start the week with a laugh, read more

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle image source