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Movie Preview: Despicable Me, Starring Lots of Famous Voices

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:30:56 -0800

The same guys who brought us the Ice Age franchise are back to create another potential hit with the 3-D CGI Despicable Me. Seems like every animated movie nowadays wrangles A-list names, but the Despicable roster is even starrier than most. Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Mindy Kaling, Jack McBrayer - it's like a laundry list of my favorite comedy people. And while I sort of wish we could see them all acting together in the flesh instead of just lending their voices, their involvement really has me hyped.

The story follows the world's No. 2 villain Gru (Carell) on his plot to steal the moon - a plan that gets thwarted by three little orphan girls who challenge his evil ways when they want him to be their dad. The trailer doesn't reveal much, but I'm sure we'll get more footage as we near the June release date. In the meantime, check out the cute preview when you read more.

I Love You, Man: Bromance at Its Cutest

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:45:52 -0700

I Love You, Man is a sweet, low-key comedy about two guys who find true friendship. As I left the screening a friend said it struck her as a kind of poor man's Judd Apatow movie (meant as a positive thing, BTW) - in the literal sense, it seems lower-budget but it's also just quieter, tamer, and less yucky. There's tons of super awkwardness, similar to the kind we see each week in The Office, and little gross-out humor. It's also simply more genuine than something Apatow might do, and it's a nice change.

The movie focuses on the platonic relationship between two guys, and the fact that they're guys is central to the humor of their awkward blossoming friendship. It all starts when Peter (Paul Rudd) proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones) and realizes that he has nobody to be his best man in the wedding. So, on the advice of his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg), he goes on a series of "man dates" to try and find a friend to be his best man. Finally, Peter meets Sydney (Jason Segel), the carefree and fun-loving antidote to Peter's buttoned-up steadiness. Peter discovers what it's like to talk frankly with another guy and how to loosen up a little bit and not always play by the rules. Sydney's relaxed attitude starts to rub off on Peter, which is refreshing until it gets to the point that Peter (and Zooey, for that matter) feels like he's not totally himself anymore. He then has to figure out if he can balance both romance and bromance in his life. For more of my thoughts on it all, read more.

There are a lot of perfect fits in this movie. Rudd and Segel are natural together, and they strike a comfortable balance of sincere affection and dudeliness. Rudd fits well with his character, Peter, who's just a nice, stable guy with a calm and respectful temperament. It's easy to like Peter for who he is, though we recognize that he lacks some confidence and might be more successful if he believed in himself. Rudd easily takes on this role, without judging Peter, and it's satisfying to see that he's quite capable of carrying a movie as the lead character.

The emphasis is on the "bromance" between these two guys - their totally straight man-love - and a lot of the humor stems from Peter trying to navigate a male friendship. How to get close but not really intimate? How much of himself should he show? It's an exploration of friendship in general, really (finding the people who bring out the best in us, etc.). It's just a new and funny story because of the ever-changing societal norms that dictate how men should acceptably express emotion and love.

There are funnier movies out there, but I Love You, Man is certainly one of the easiest and most digestible comedies I've seen in a long time. The boys are cute and funny without being over-the-top, and the girls are relatable and funny without being naggy psychos. There's no poop or menstrual blood, but there are lots of silly lines that people will be quoting for a long, long time ("Sleppin' da bayse, mon"). It's like this year's Anchorman or Superbad in that sense - but it's a helluva lot cuter than both of those.

Photos courtesy of Paramount

Buzz News Roundup, 1/30

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:30:33 -0800

ABC has ordered Lauren Graham's comedy pilot, while CBS wants pilots from three dramas. - The Hollywood Reporter
Over a month after Disney passed on The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 20th Century Fox has picked it up. - E! Online
Leonardo DiCaprio's production company will produce a biopic about James Bond creator Ian Fleming. - The Hollywood Reporter
There's a prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 horror-thriller The Thing in the works. - Variety
Emily Blunt and Jason Segel are joining Jack Black in Gulliver's Travels. - ComingSoon
Ellen Barkin will star in a half-hour comedy pilot for HBO. - Variety
Oscar-nominee Viola Davis will join Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler in the psychological thriller Law Abiding Citizen. - ComingSoon
Channing Tatum has been tapped to star in an adaptation of the David Morrell novel The Brotherhood of the Rose. - Variety
Madonna will crank up her Sticky & Sweet tour again this Summer with about 25 more shows, which will add to the total of what's already the top-grossing tour ever by a female or solo artist. - Billboard

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Movie Preview: I Love You, Man

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:32:21 -0800

In theory, I think the premise for I Love You, Man is funny and cute: A guy (Paul Rudd) gets engaged to his lady (Rashida Jones - yay for her having more movie roles!) but he doesn't have a best guy friend so he basically goes on a manfriend-hunt to lock down a best man for the wedding.

The trailer features some funny folks (Jason Segel, Andy Samberg, Thomas Lennon) and people I just love seeing pretty much anytime (JK Simmons), and yet, it doesn't really make me laugh. Also (and I'm assuming this is explained in the movie), why doesn't he just ask his brother (Samberg) to be his best man, instead of asking his brother for tips on going on man dates to find some guy he barely knows to be his best man? Time will tell, I suppose. I do appreciate the use of the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" in the trailer, anyway.

I Love You, Man opens March 20. To check out the trailer, read more.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:30:14 -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. In addition to the titles below, the Oscar-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side is also now available on DVD.

Iron Man
Hurray! It feels like just yesterday the Summer box office was electrified by this superhero hit. I really loved it (and saw it twice in the theaters), mostly due to a super cool performance by Robert Downey Jr. and the skillful storytelling abilities of director Jon Favreau. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Terrence Howard also do well in this fun action movie. It's a good way to go back in time and shake off those dark, depressing blues you may have caught from your 10th viewing of The Dark Knight.

Special features include deleted and extended scenes, featurettes titled "I Am Iron Man: 7-Part Making-of Documentary," "The Invincible Iron Man: 6-Part History of the Hero," and "Wired: The Visual effects of Iron Man." Something I'm really curious to see in the extras is a Robert Downey Jr. screen test and a featurette on his acting process. More time with RDJ is always good.

Two more spiffy choices, so read more!

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Another comedy from the Apatow universe to add to your at-home collection (or your Netflix queue): Forgetting Sarah Marshall, starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis in a story about a guy trying to get over his most recent ex. And this could be considered a good thing or a warning, depending on your opinion: VMA host Russell Brand is in this movie and has a ton of screen time.

The unrated version is cryptically described as including scenes "you couldn't see in theaters" which I pray does not mean more of Jason Segel's private parts. I saw plenty myself, how about you? Other special features include a gag reel and a featurette titled "Line-o-rama: Lines you'll be reciting for ages."

Sports Night: Complete Series
On days like today, I really wish Aaron Sorkin would stop fiddling around on Facebook and get back to writing really awesome TV shows. He's definitely more hit than miss on the small screen and today's release of the special anniversary edition of his acclaimed Sports Night is an example of what it's like when he's hit his stride.

If you've never heard of the show, it's loosely based on ESPN's Sports Center, and it takes a look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics. The awesome cast is led by Peter Krause and Felicity Huffman who skillfully deliver those faster-than-the-speed-of-light dialogues that Sorkin is so good at writing.

The special edition DVD set includes new interviews with Sorkin, cast members Josh Charles, Robert Guillaume, Felicity Huffman, Peter Krause, and Joshua Malina; a featurette where real SportsCenter employees compare their experiences with the characters on Sports Night; a look back with creators Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme; and of course, gag reels.

Would You Watch a New Muppet Show?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:30:36 -0700

You know, I was already really excited about the news that Jason Segel was working on a new Muppet movie. But could he also be plotting a new version of The Muppet Show? According to a report from the UK, the answer is yes. Segel's movie script apparently "involves all the Muppets uniting to save their studio with one last variety show," and it leaves open the possibility of continuing in TV form - presumably if the movie does well.

Maybe it's just because I recently watched a few vintage Muppet Show episodes (with guests Peter Sellers and John Cleese!), but I think a modern-day Muppet Show could be fantastic - if it could recapture the spirit of the original. (That's where I think the 1996 ABC/Disney update, Muppets Tonight, fell short.) What do you think?

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Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Lots of Laughs, Not a Lot of Heart

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:30:30 -0700

For the first half of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I laughed out loud almost nonstop. Deliciously rife with Apatowian elements - bumbling self-deprecating characters, bawdy jokes, "call-'em-like-I-see-'em" bits of social commentary - it's a satisfying parade of sarcasm and sight gags. It even begins with a shamelessly, utterly nude Jason Segel, a move I fully admire. Yet somewhere along the line everything starts to lose steam, and it's hard to care much about any of the characters - least of all our schlubby protagonist. And sure, it's still funny, but - awesome musical puppet interpretation of Dracula notwithstanding - the heartbeat of the film weakens tremendously.

Of course, for many people this won't matter, and the fact remains that it's still a good comedy in that it makes us laugh. But is it a tight story with great characters? I'm not so sure. In case the extremely pervasive marketing techniques for this movie never permeated your consciousness, here's the story: Pete Bretter's (Segel) TV actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) breaks up with him. Grief-stricken, Pete sleeps with as many women as possible before finally deciding a trip to Hawaii will better help him forget Sarah Marshall. But when he reaches the lush, beautiful hotel, there she is - with her new boyfriend, Brit rocker Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Awkwardness ensues as Pete obsesses over Sarah and also tries to avoid her. Enter hot girl hotel employee Rachel (Mila Kunis) who is happy to take Pete's mind off Sarah, which only ignites Sarah's jealousy. Soon, Pete must decide what - and who - he thinks will make him happiest.

For more of my take on it all, read more.

In a largely character-driven comedy, the problem is that we're not entirely sure how to feel about most of the characters, and eventually we give up and feel nothing. This is a directional issue that most afflicts our main twosome, Pete and Sarah. I get the feeling that I'm supposed to hate Sarah, but frankly, I just can't. She shows a vulnerable side, opening up and crying to Pete about what made her break up with him and though her reasoning seems sensible, we're still supposed to hate her. Also, by the time it all comes out, we've been so entertained by all the slapstick and silliness that we end up judging and mocking Sarah's vulnerability, and it feels awkward. So, maybe it's not so much that there is no heart to the story, but that it comes too late to take very seriously.

Same goes for Pete's journey. When Rachel inspires him to jump off a cliff into the ocean (after they've talked about him taking risks with his career, insert heavy-handed life metaphor here), I find it difficult to care about what's going on with him. The following montage of scenes indicating that he's on the up and up (he attends a stranger's wedding! He swims with kids! He refuses alcohol!) rings empty, and again, I can't seem to care about this guy. Thus, whether or not Pete ends up with Rachel, a character I find to be incredibly obnoxious and, well, trashy, isn't something that concerns me in the least, especially since, while he's a relatively nice guy (or, "too sensitive," as Rachel so helpfully puts it), he's sort of a blah person. As the epicenter of an entire narrative, he doesn't quite manage to hold it all together.

There is one character who is both well-defined and endlessly entertaining, and that is Sarah's new man, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). This is the perfect situation: a fantastically gifted comedic actor combined with a solidly formed character. At least with Aldous we know where he stands and what he's about: egotistical fame-hungry rock-n-roll personality by day, tireless lothario by night - all the while maintaining this relaxed comfort with the world, this assumption that pleasure will find him. This movie won't make it to my DVD collection, but I do want a clip montage of Aldous Snow-isms to cheer me up on sick days.

Bottom line: It's not my favorite comedy ever, but the character of Aldous and a bunch of funny jokes make it more or less worth the price of admission.

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To see the trailer and more clips from Forgetting Sarah Marshall check out movies.ivillage.com.

Link Time! 4/17

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:30:36 -0700

Maura Tierney apparently wants her character to be killed off ER, so TV Squad wonders: How should Abby die?
FilmExperience has the lowdown on Baz Luhrmann's challenge for young filmmakers.
According to Cinematical, there's now an R-rated trailer up for one of this year's most well-received Sundance movies, Hamlet 2.
Vulture has video of Jason Segel's five best moments on the short-lived series Undeclared.
Got a question for Neil Patrick Harris? Popwatch needs more ideas for what to ask him in an upcoming interview.
Stereogum has some thoughts on Lily Allen's new tunes "I Don't Know" and "I Could Say."
Awesome! A Pop Candy reader writes about her experience as an extra on the set of Lost.

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Jason Segel to Make Muppet Movie

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:29:30 -0700

This is some of the most endearing movie news I've heard in a long time: Jason Segel (star of Freaks and Geeks, How I Met Your Mother and the upcoming comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall) will collaborate with director Nick Stoller on a new Muppets movie. Here's the cute part, though: He got the idea from his Forgetting Sarah Marshall character. Variety has more:

In Sarah Marshall Segel's character writes a Dracula musical performed by puppets. Those cloth creatures were custom-made by the Henson puppeteers, and the experience emboldened Segel to pitch his concept for a Muppets movie when he was invited in for a general meeting with exec Kristin Burr. Segel got a deal in the room and enlisted Stoller to co-write and direct the project.

I just love the idea of Segel being struck with the inspiration to do a Muppets movie while working with puppets, it makes me think that he could sense Jim Henson's spirit. Or something. In other Muppet news, did you know that there is a MuppetWiki? It's true!

Are you excited to see the Muppets on the big screen again?

Segel photo courtesy of CBS
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Movie Preview: Kristen Bell, Jason Segel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:30:09 -0800

What with the names Kristen Bell, Jason Segel and Judd Apatow all attached, I've been looking forward to the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall for quite some time so today's trailer is a welcome sight. Jason Segel (previously of Freaks and Geeks, now on How I Met Your Mother) wrote the script and Apatow produced the film which, from the trailer, seems a little tame. It's not altogether un-funny, but it doesn't look like it'll be joining the ranks of Apatow's greatest hits. There's also a bit at the very end of the trailer that I don't think is necessary at all and it just makes me kind of hate the main character.

Segel plays a guy whose girlfriend (Bell) breaks up with him. When he goes on a Hawaiian vacation to try and forget about her, he ends up at the same resort as his ex - and her new boyfriend.

There are some laughs to be had in the trailer, and I almost always find Kristen Bell to be charming, so to check out the preview, read more

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