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Kellan and Ashley Joke About Robert in SF, Aniston Hits the Stage in NYC, and Twilight Dominates People's Choice Noms!

Molly — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:29:32 -0800

Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene popped up to San Francisco yesterday for a fan event where they joked about shaving Robert Pattinson's head and what vampires smell like. They also have reason to celebrate - the Twilight saga dominated today's People's Choice Award nominations. Plus, we have video of Jennifer Aniston at last night's 24 Hour Plays in NYC and Spencer Pratt threatening to get a vasectomy. Watch PopSugar Rush now!

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer Try Again, Britney Is the No. 1 Mom, & a Sneak Peek at Project Runway and The Vampire Diaries

Molly — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:41:20 -0700

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are supposedly giving it another go, but we're a little suspicious about the perfect timing to line up with his new album release. Plus, behind the scenes at a New Moon cast photo shoot, and Britney Spears edges out Angelina Jolie to be named mom of the year in a UK poll. Watch sneak peeks of Christina Aguilera on Project Runway and the The Vampire Diaries flashback episode. Watch PopSugar Rush now!

Love Happens: Not Happenin'

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:30:40 -0700

Love Happens is not a romantic comedy, like the promo photos of Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston smooshed together might have you believe. The real focus of the film is Burke (Eckhart), a widower who's hooked on Grey Goose and his own delusion that he's "a-okay" like the title of his self-help book suggests. He's constantly quoting his own chapters, with turning-lemons-into-lemonade kind of lessons, as a means to get through his day - frankly, the guy's a downer.

The story follows Burke as he reluctantly travels to Seattle - his deceased wife's hometown - to conduct an A-Okay therapy workshop for families who have lost loved ones. He gets drenched in the rain, drinks alone, and basically mopes whenever he's not faking a smile for his book's fans. That is, until he meets Eloise (Aniston), a local florist who supplies the arrangements at his hotel.

To hear what else I thought about the film, read more.

Burke takes an interest in Eloise and comes out of his doldrums seemingly instantly. As for Eloise, even though she wants nothing to do with him at first, she has a change of heart when Burke pushes her away. As much as I love both Eckhart and Aniston separately, their chemistry is lukewarm and you never really understand why these two are working so hard to get together.

The stronger focus of the film is Burke's grieving process. Prepare for buckets of man tears. Not only does Burke shed a few, but there are also two subplots that work them in. I enjoy seeing a sensitive guy as much as the next girl - I even got misty over one scene - but when tears happen five or so times in a nearly two-hour film, it just feels overwrought.

Not that the movie doesn’t try for laughs. Try being key. They bring in Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) to play Burke’s best bud/agent and everyone's go-to sidekick girl, Judy Greer, as Aniston’s co-worker friend. Unfortunately, the jokes fall flat, and the talented Greer, who I've always loved from Arrested Development and 13 Going on 30, is underutilized.

What I did enjoy: the soundtrack, which includes everyone from Rogue Wave to Priscilla Ahn to Postal Service. But as for the movie? It's not sure what it's trying to be. Is it a tug-at-your-heartstrings drama about a PhD overcoming his wife's tragic death? Or is it a sweet love story with the obligatory cheesy jokes? Instead, Love Happens tries to cover all the bases, gets mucked in cliches - there's actually a slow clap at the film's climax - and love never seems to quite happen. They really should reconsider that title.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Jennifer Aniston to Play a Puma

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:30:26 -0700

For Jennifer Aniston's next role, she'll play a thirtysomething woman who, together with a female friend (possibly played by Elizabeth Banks, whom Aniston wanted for the role last year), makes "a habit of romancing younger men." The two ladies "take a French skiing vacation that challenges their romantic expectations." The title of the movie is Pumas, as, of course, an alternative term to "Cougars."

In an interesting juxtaposition, this news arrives at the same time that we learn of another project about women's sexuality: Diane Keaton's HBO movie about a feminist who starts a sexually explicit magazine for women.

Does "Pumas" just have a nicer ring to it than "Cougars?" And as we also prepare for ABC's upcoming series Cougar Town (starring Aniston's Friends friend, Courteney Cox), is the whole "Cougar" concept getting a teensy bit tired? Do you think either (or both) of these projects (Pumas, Keaton's HBO movie) is empowering?

Jennifer Aniston Makes a Date with Prom Film

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:30:40 -0700

We were just talking about the documentary Prom Night in Mississippi, and today brings news of another project about a segregated prom. Jennifer Aniston will executive produce a film called Holler, about the racial politics of prom season in one southern small town.

Written by Dana Adam Shapiro - who previously co-directed the fabulous documentary Murderball - the film is based on a true story. Here's more:

[T]he script centers on a biracial high school student who returns with his white mother to her hometown in Mississippi, where he falls for a white girl. When prom season arrives at the high school, he is shocked to discover that she cannot be his date at the segregated prom. He soon finds himself the catalyst for change for not only the prom but for the school and entire town.

It seems like an of-the-moment topic worth exploring on the big screen. Your thoughts?

Movie Preview: Aniston, Eckhart in Love Happens

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:30:46 -0700

The romantic movie Love Happens used to be titled Traveling, and I'm not sure which title is better. Both are somewhat bland and nondescript, though after watching the trailer for this movie, I guess that's appropriate. Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart star in this drama about "a widower (Eckhart) whose book about coping with loss turns him into a best-selling self-help guru. On a business trip to Seattle, he falls for a woman (Aniston) who attends one of his seminars, only to learn that he hasn't yet truly confronted his wife's passing."

For a drama, it doesn't appear to be particularly dramatic. But who knows? Maybe Love Happens will shock and amaze. The romance happens Sept. 18. To check out the trailer, read more.

Movie Preview: Management Gets a Trailer

BuzzSugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:30:34 -0700

When I think of Jennifer Aniston, things that immediately spring to mind include stuff like high-profile relationships (and breakups), really toned arms, nice tan, perfect hair. In other words, she can sometimes seem larger than life, and it's easy to forget that she can still play the "everyday gal" with the best of them.

I loved her in The Good Girl and really enjoyed her performances in Office Space and Friends with Money, which is why it's exciting to get a good look at Management, a movie in which she portrays a pretty average lady alongside Steve Zahn and Woody Harrelson.

That said, um, I don't know what to make of this movie. The essentials all seem to be there (quirky with emotional depth) but something is a touch off about it. There are some strange scenes with Zahn flying through the air and dropping into pools, and Zahn on a tandem bike, etc. And then there are more earnest moments that look like they're aiming for realism. I'm up in the air about this one, but I'll keep an open mind.

Management will have a limited release on May 15. To check out the trailer and tell me what you think, just read more.

Source

Aniston and Bateman Get Together For The Baster

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:30:16 -0800

Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman have signed on for the comedy The Baster, in which Bateman's character dupes Aniston's character into having his child. Hilarious! Here's more:

The Baster centers on a neurotic and insecure man (Bateman) who finds out his best friend (Aniston) wants to have a child through artificial insemination. He surreptitiously replaces her donor's semen with his own and is then forced to live with the secret that he is the child's real father.

The directors of Blades of Glory, Will Speck and Josh Gordon, will direct. Curiously, the script is adapted from a short story by Jeffrey Eugenides, who wrote the book Virgin Suicides as well as one of my all-time favorite books: Middlesex. I love Jason Bateman and will see almost anything he's in. This might end up being very funny, so I'll keep my mind open. You?

Source and Source

Marley & Me: Sweet, Just as Expected

BuzzSugar — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:30:17 -0800

In many ways, the movie Marley & Me is itself like a sweet little squirmy puppy. It's good natured and earnest, funny and cute. It turns out to be pretty much exactly what you expect if you've seen the trailers and/or read the book on which the movie is based: Literally a story about a crazy, uncontrollable dog whose life impacts a young couple's marriage in unexpected ways.

That said, the movie is often just as much about the protagonist, John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and his relationship with his wife Jennifer (Jennifer Aniston) as it is about the dog. And it's about the sacrifices we make for the ones we love - even for the ones we love who are furry and four-legged. Much of the time is spent following this husband and wife as they go through the growing pains of marriage: Finding a home (and then trying to find new homes in better neighborhoods), figuring out what they need professionally, having children, and making decisions about work goals vs. family, etc. etc. It's all very simple and normal, but there's a kind of comfort in that. For more of my thoughts on this, read more.

In terms of the narrative itself, there's nothing new here. Marriage is harder than we thought it would be! Kids are stressful! I wish I had a different job! It's all the same old normal things that most people go through. The main difference is that all the while there's this wacky dog who makes the humans' lives even more complicated - but also ultimately more rewarding.

There's something inherently good-humored about watching the crazy antics of a dog. With human drama and relationships there's all the judging that goes on and the complex emotions, but most people really enjoy animals on a basic level so there's a sort of purity to the enjoyment that comes from this movie. However, you can be sure that the dog is used at times to symbolize things for the humans ("Time to let you off your leash . . . hey, I'd like to feel that free, too . . ."). And plenty of scenes are entirely about the human characters. These performances are good but this isn't a movie you see for the performances (though Alan Arkin's portrayal of John's no-nonsense, vaguely paternal boss is consistently a breath of fresh air).

Overall, it's just nice to have something so purely good that a whole audience can agree on: That dog is cute and funny. There are plenty of provocative, divisive films in the world and then there's this one that only asks you to relax and have a good time. It's an easygoing movie about things that feel relatable and normal to us. There's no reinvention of the wheel, but what better movie to open around the holidays than one that is so familiar and comforting?

Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Buzz News Roundup, 12/10

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:37 -0800

ABC will show Wipeout opposite the Super Bowl. - The Hollywood Reporter
Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are in negotiations to star together in an untitled comedic bounty hunter movie. - ComingSoon
Five people, including Martha Plimpton, have joined the cast of Matthew Perry's Showtime pilot. - Zap2it
Kiss has decided to hit the studio next year to record its first new album since 1998's Psycho Circus. - Billboard
And speaking of circuses, Britney Spears's album topped the charts this week, making it her fifth No. 1 album. - Billboard
John C. Reilly has signed on to play the love interest to Marisa Tomei's character in an untitled comedy. Jonah Hill will play Tomei's son who comes between the two lovebirds. - Variety
A commencement speech by David Foster Wallace will be turned into a book. - New York Times
Keanu Reeves will play a samurai swordsman in the epic period film 47 Ronin. - ComingSoon