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New Roles For Bradley Cooper, Isla Fisher, and JT!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:42 -0800

Today is packed with casting news for some of my favorite stars:

Isla Fisher's name is floating around for a new comedy titled Desperados. The story follows a woman who sends a nasty email to the new guy she's seeing after he goes MIA. after they have sex. I'm already a fan of Fisher, plus they're describing it as The Hangover for women - so you know I'm on board!

Speaking of The Hangover, Bradley Cooper is picking up a new gig. He'll be replacing Shia LaBeouf for Dark Fields, a thriller following a writer who ingests a few pills to better his career. What he gets is success, women - and a group of shady characters in pursuit. Comparisons are being drawn to Fight Club with Brad Pitt, so Fields could be just what Cooper needs to complete his ascent into leading man status.
Lastly, Justin Timberlake is in talks to voice Boo Boo, alongside Dan Aykroyd and Anna Faris in the live-action/CGI version of the classic cartoon Yogi Bear. You know how I feel about the live-action/CGI combo, but you've got to admit that picturing Timberlake as a fuzzy bear in a bow tie is kinda funny. Hope he brings the pic-a-nic basket!

I think my favorite of these three may just be Isla Fisher's, but which project are you most excited for?

Isla Fisher Lands Two New Movie Roles!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:30:33 -0700

Isla Fisher's career has yet to live up to my expectations. I loved her in Wedding Crashers - who else can hold their own against Vince Vaughn the way she did? - but then Definitely, Maybe and Confessions of a Shopaholic weren't the launch into leading lady status that I'd hoped they'd be. Earlier this year, we heard that she was working on a film script with Amy Poehler, but we still haven't seen her on the big screen in months. Too long if you ask me.

But wait! This week's casting news reveals that Fisher has two new films in the works at Universal. First up is Life Coach, about a woman who consults - wait for it - a life coach. The second project is a rom-com based on a French script titled, Un Jour Mes Princes Viendront or in English, One Day My Princes Will Come.

With so few details at this point, it's hard to say whether either film will prove to be Fisher's big breakthrough, but I really want to see her career take off as the A-list funny lady I know she can be. I'm keeping my fingers crossed - how about you? Are you excited to see Isla Fisher get more work?

Confessions of a Shopaholic: Worth Every Penny

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:30:21 -0800

The irony of releasing a movie about shopping right as the nation's economy is flailing is not lost on many. Confessions of a Shopaholic could have probably gone in one of two ways: Exacerbating the general sense of frustration and helplessness, or providing us with a fun, satisfying escapist's jaunt. Thankfully, it's pure escapism - and not just because of the script, which is surprisingly tight, or the editing which makes the narrative clip along briskly, rarely dwelling in sentimentality. No, this movie is wonderful, happy escapism largely because of Isla Fisher in the role of Becky Bloomwood: Bumbling, adorable, joyous shopper extraordinaire.

Fisher plays Rebecca Bloomwood, a journalist with an intense shopping habit. Like a drug addict or alcoholic, she literally appears to have no restraint when it comes to spending money - even when she is thousands of dollars in debt. Her practical friend Suze (Krysten Ritter) tries to help her rethink her financial situation, but Becky's addiction runs deep and it's going to take a great deal to make her hit rock bottom. The stakes are raised when Becky ends up working at a financial magazine - with a dashing cutie of a boss, Luke (Hugh Dancy) - and receives acclaim for being able to explain money matters in layman's terms. But as she gains more fame, an ornery debt collector (Robert Stanton) is hot on her trail, harassing her about her debts and posing a threat to her new image as a sensible financial writer. You'll have to see the film (and I hope you do!) for all of the funny storylines, but for more of my take, read more.

While I enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's novels as silly fluff, I wasn't always very sympathetic toward Becky, and at times I didn't even really like her. But it's impossible not to like Isla's Becky. Even when she's being ridiculous, even when you know full well that her debt crises are disturbingly stupid in comparison to the challenges facing families across the nation right this minute (and challenges they didn't willingly bring upon themselves, as Becky has) - still Becky earns our sympathy with her well-intentioned silliness and her big, teary eyes. Indeed, she is often endearingly naïve - but thankfully, she doesn't stay that way forever. In a scene in which Luke buys Becky a fan, she sifts through the fans with a childlike excitement, trying to decide on one. It's cute - she's so cute - but in this film, at last, childlike behavior has consequences when you're a grown woman. Contrary to what so many movies (particularly modern films aimed at a young female audience) would have us believe, women actually aren't children, and shouldn't be treated as such.

This is the most refreshing difference between this movie and others that are similarly billed - there is at least some recognition that shopping can be meaningless, or an indication of a deeper problem. That it can be a problem at all is a new and shocking concept for this kind of movie. In other similar films there's a smugness, or defiance about the idea of overspending (the kind that's far beyond just treating oneself occasionally), as though there's always a way to excuse it. Finally, here's a story that sheds a humorous light on it, showing how absurd and truly empty it can be.

What's more, there's way more love (and there's more to love) in this movie's "labels and love" theme. Becky earnestly and deeply loves to shop. She visibly enjoys it. Instead of just a montage of wedding dresses for the sole purpose of listing off a bunch of fancy names, there's Becky's lit-up face, her ecstasy at finding wonderful things and buying them. We see how outrageous this can be, instead of the actual suggestion that buying expensive stuff is something we should want to do all the time.

There is also the character of Becky's best friend, Suze, providing a sensible contrast to Becky's blithe ignorance of all things financial. Suze acts as the straight man in many ways, and I found myself grateful for a female voice of reason (and a strong, funny voice of reason, too - not that of the "unattractive," grumpy, manless friend, a device that might (maybe? Hopefully?) be retired for now). Not all women are psychopaths who would physically harm another woman to get a sale; look at the reasonable Suze. But Becky is that hysterical label-hungry woman at times and it's funny to watch. At long last, there is some self-awareness in this kind of story. It's satirical, and it's about damn time.

And still, even as we recognize that we're laughing at Becky's absurd hijinks and over-the-top addiction to the shopper's high, we can't disparage her. She's too damn lovable! Sure, she's materialistic, but she's also vibrantly warm, loyal and pulsing with a bright light. There's so much more to her than just the constant buying of stuff, and by the end of the movie, to our great satisfaction, she learns that, too.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Movie Preview: Confessions of a Shopaholic with Isla Fisher

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:03:18 -0700

Those of us who watched the 90210 premiere last night got a special surprise in the show's second hour: the first trailer for Confessions of a Shopaholic! The movie, based on Sophie Kinsella's best-selling book, stars Isla Fisher as the adorable, silly, and sassy heroine Becky Bloomwood.

A couple of things: First of all, I thought Becky would have a British accent, but nope, she's American. OK. Second, when the trailer first came on, I thought it was some sort of credit card commercial thanks to all the shopping scenes. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. And third - but probably most important - Isla Fisher looks like she's bringing all of her usual sparkle and charm to the role. Not that I doubted her, really, but I was a little nervous we'd lose her comedy beneath some of those over-the-top outfits we've been seeing. There's a quick succession of scenes at the end - doing a little jig in a dressing room, speaking fake Finnish, and doing something inexplicable with a fan - that just makes me giggle every time.

What are your first impressions? To watch the trailer for yourself, just read more.

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Definitely, Maybe: Definitely Adorable

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

Sometimes I get to thinking that the whole romantic comedy genre could use a good shake-up to get out of the hole that movies like Fool’s Gold keep digging the genre into. Rom-coms with smart, secure yet interesting female characters would be one way to do this. Stories with a likable male protagonist who’s neither misogynistic nor a total weenie would be another good way. Definitely, Maybe actually manages to achieve both these things, and it’s truly a relief to see.

Somehow, the movie hits a sweet balance between completely adorable and realistic. There are a few cheesy moments and some genuinely funny parts, but the real reason the movie succeeds is due to the well-drawn, well-developed characters, each of whom I found myself liking and rooting for. Ryan Reynolds charmingly plays Will, whose young daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) is struggling to come to terms with her parents’ divorce. She begs her father to tell her the story of his relationship with his mother: why they fell in love, etc. Reluctant, Will decides instead to tell her the stories of three women from his past, and Maya can guess which one ended up being her mother.

This sets up a fun storytelling structure: alternating between Will’s sweet, funny tales of romance - though some of them are so true-to-life it makes me cringe - we come back to little Maya and her spunky commentary. Sure, sometimes she’s sort of annoying, but it’s also cute and refreshing to get her take on things. She contemplates which of these three different women could be her mother: the kind, gentle Emily (Elizabeth Banks), the sassy and fun-loving April (Isla Fischer) or the fiercely independent and intellectual Summer (Rachel Weisz). There's more to the movie than just this, though, so read more.

There are lots of good things about this movie. The performances are engaging and pretty much everyone in this movie is completely adorable. The relationship between father and daughter is incredibly endearing - as are the threads of sweet father-daughter relationships throughout the film - and the music is well-placed. In particular, the opening title sequence is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time: Will leaves work to pick up Maya at school and chooses a song on his iPod to enjoy during the walk. As we amble down the streets of Manhattan to the tune of "Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone we watch the kaleidescope of New York life drift by a relaxed Will. My main complaint is that the movie feels long and drags in parts, though I also admit that it might be hard to get the full story with a shorter film.

Perhaps those terribly cheesy and poorly written rom-coms like Fool's Gold have lowered my standards for this genre, but I enjoyed the film immensely. It’s not the best movie you'll ever see, but as a heartwarming romance, it easily and satisfyingly hits its mark. Here's hoping other rom-coms take some cues from Definitely, Maybe.

To see the trailer and clips from Definitely, Maybe, along with cast interviews, check out movies.ivillage.com.

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Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter Sign On for Shopaholic

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:32:16 -0800

Hugh Dancy and Krysten Ritter have joined Isla Fisher for Confessions of a Shopaholic, the film adaptation of Sophie Kinsella's bestselling Shopaholic novels. Fisher will play the Shopaholic herself, Becky Bloomwood. The film version focuses on Becky, "a compulsive shopper in Manhattan up to her neck in debt who becomes a financial-advice columnist." Want to find out what Dancy and Ritter have to do with it? Just read more.

Dancy will play the editor of the financial magazine where Becky works and Ritter has nabbed the role of Becky's best friend.

Dancy (a.k.a. Claire Danes' boyfriend) was last seen as the completely adorable Grigg in The Jane Austen Book Club as well as the lovestruck Buddy in Evening. Ritter appears in the upcoming 27 Dresses.

Still no word on who will play the handsome Luke Brandon. Who do you think would fit this role best?

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It's Official: Isla Fisher Will Play Becky in Shopaholic!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:15:50 -0700

Well, the many of you who proposed that Isla Fisher would make a good Becky Bloomwood in the Shopaholic movie were spot-on with your casting. This was rumored to be true for some time, but now it's official: Isla Fisher will play Becky in the movie!

Jerry Bruckheimer will produce and P.J. Hogan (Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friend's Wedding, Peter Pan) will direct. Apparently the script version "centers on a compulsive shopper in Manhattan up to her neck in debt who ironically becomes a financial advice columnist."

To me, this makes perfect sense. Becky strikes me as funny, silly and adorable - but also smart. I think Isla Fisher can play all of these things with aplomb. Production will begin in January, and the name of the movie will be The Secret Dream World of a Shopaholic. I can't wait to see what Isla does with this part!

What do you think of Isla as Becky Bloomwood? And who should round out the rest of the cast? Who should play Becky's man Luke and her best friend Suze?

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Where Are All the Female-Led Comedic Movies?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:18:20 -0700

Having recently seen the screenings of Superbad and Hot Rod and having also enjoyed Knocked Up earlier this summer, I have found myself wondering where the comedies written by, directed by or focusing on women have been hiding. Not counting younger fare like the Amanda Bynes-style comedies (the upcoming Sydney White, for example), where are the lady equivalents to Superbad, or even Blades of Glory? I really enjoyed Superbad, actually, but this summer feels like it's pretty heavy on the dude humor.

So I was intrigued to come across a Popwatch post yesterday which referred to an article in Siren Magazine asking these same questions. More specifically, the writer on Siren wonders why there aren't more star vehicle projects for some of the funny women who are out there right now, like Aisha Tyler, Amy Poehler, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Sedaris. I would add to that list some of my favorite funny ladies, like Isla Fisher, Maya Rudolph, Jenna Fischer, Cheryl Hines and even Kristen Bell.

Some of the best female-led comedies in recent years for me have been Waitress and Mean Girls, though for whatever reason neither of these movies has enjoyed the kind of success that movies like Knocked Up have had. The future looks bright, though: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are working on their comedy Baby Mama, and Isla Fisher will star in a Girl Scout-themed flick called The Cookie Queen. And, of course, there's the exciting news about the Shopaholic movie. Maybe this is just Judd Apatow's summer, and we'll get ours next year.

What about you? What funny ladies would you like to see given more meaty screen time?

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Hot Rod: More Like Lukewarm Rod

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:01:11 -0700

After meeting the funny, friendly Andy Samberg and his buddies ("The Dudes") I wanted very much to give Hot Rod a great review. But I just can't do it. Luckily, Samberg himself said once in a separate interview that he knows the movie will get bad reviews. So... woo hoo! I can write this guilt-free.

The premise of Hot Rod is pretty funny, really. Rod Kimble (Samberg) gets no respect from his surly stepfather Frank (Ian McShane). So when he learns that Frank will die unless he gets an expensive heart transplant, Rod vows to raise the money to get Frank a new heart so he can then kick his ass and prove that he's a man. Rod and his buddies cook up a plan for a fundraising event in which Rod will jump his motorbike over a bunch of buses. Montages set to '80s music ensue. That's just the plot, though, so to see what I thought of the movie, read more

Despite not having written the movie, the entire thing has the look and feel of one of Samberg and Friends' "SNL" shorts that goes on for way, way too long. It was originally written as a vehicle for Will Ferrell, and indeed it seems just like a Will Ferrell movie... without Will Ferrell. I think Will Ferrell can sell through a lot of poor scripts just on his fully committed, blithely innocent charm. Andy Samberg... not so much. It's funny that Samberg's buddy and Hot Rod director Akiva Schaffer claims to have tweaked the script to make it more appropriate to Samberg's humor because they didn't want it to be "like Samberg doing a Will Ferrell impression." Because that's exactly what it seems to be.

I enjoyed the allusions to 80s movies - all the synth music, the homages to Rad and Footloose, the wacky low-budget tone. And I love anything Isla Fisher does, though as the generic "girl" part in the movie she's insultingly underused. The focus isn't on her at all, but on these dudes and their gimmicky antics. The most entertaining and relaxed scenes are those that include "Arrested Development"'s Will Arnett whose breezy ability to play the ultimate douchebag comes in handy once again.

Andy Samberg has a great comedic mind for writing "SNL" shorts ("Dick in a Box" was hilarious, for example), but he isn't commanding enough to be the lead in a feature film. In fact, he doesn't seem particularly comfortable playing the lead in a feature film. Next time someone writes a Will Ferrell film, I hope they can get Will Ferrell to be in it.

Photos courtesy of Paramount

My 5 Favorite Comedy Couples

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:30:00 -0700

It almost seems unfair that some of the funniest people in Hollywood right now are also in committed relationships with each other. Hilarious, good-looking, totally in love - what more could anyone want? From Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor to Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, there are a ton of fantastic comedy couples out there right now. Here are my five favorites:

No. 5: Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher
Look at them! He's so tall and she's so utterly adorable! In my opinion, this couple absolutely has it all: They're both good-looking, smart, and hilarious, with his Borat-style improv and her Wedding Crashers cuteness. And soon there will be a golden child borne from their funny/beautiful loins. Okay, so maybe I'm a little too excited about Baby Baron-Cohen-Fisher, but come on: The little one will probably spring from the womb looking gorgeous and making inappropriate jokes about religion and politics and third-world countries.

No. 4: Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres
These two are endearing to me for a variety of reasons. For one, they seem to genuinely adore and respect each other. Secondly, they are individually hilarious, yet they rarely - if ever - tend toward gross-out, scatalogical or otherwise cheap humor, which is always honorable in my book. Third, they're an openly gay couple in a society and industry where that's still something to gawk at, and they conduct themselves with grace and elegance. Plus, Portia de Rossi is drop-dead gorgeous and they make a very handsome couple.

To see my three favorites, read more

No. 3: Steve Carell and Nancy Walls
Can you even imagine what it must be like for two former "Daily Show" correspondents to watch the late-night news together? Or, really, to do absolutely anything together? It makes me happy to think of Steve and Nancy going through life hand-in-hand, making fun of random things and cracking each other up at every turn. The thing I love most about them is how down-to-earth they seem, even though Steve's a major star now. I once saw a tabloid photo of them walking out of an ice cream parlor, and they each had huge cones and she was wearing one of those Little Miss T-shirts, and it struck me that a) they looked refreshingly normal, and b) they seemed to be having so much fun.

No. 2: Amy Poehler and Will Arnett
These two are fantastic individually, but what makes them stand out is how amazing they are together. Need proof? Some of my favorite "Arrested Development" episodes involved Amy playing Will's accidental wife, and they stole scene after scene as a brother-sister pair in Blades of Glory. Apparently all of Hollywood is starting to realize how great these two are as a set: They'll soon appear together in On Broadway and Spring Breakdown, and they're each set to voice a character in the Dr. Seuss adaptation Horton Hears a Who. I can't think of a better package deal in comedy.

No. 1: Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann
Leslie Mann is my favorite part of Knocked Up, a movie I loved so much it's hard to pick just one favorite part. And, of course, that movie - not to mention "Freaks and Geeks," The 40-Year-Old Virgin and many of my other favorite things - wouldn't exist without Judd's keen, clever vision of modern life. With the way he thinks and the way she delivers lines, they are a comedic powerhouse. I also find it totally sweet that their real children were in Knocked Up, lending a wholesome little element to a not-so-innocent movie. Kind of makes you wonder if there are lots of unseen Pearl-style home movies with little Iris and Maude Apatow floating around somewhere, doesn't it?

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