BuzzSugar

Movie Preview: Adam Sandler and Chris Rock in Grown Ups

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:30:36 -0800

I've been watching over the past several months as the cast roster for Grown Ups continued to add more of Adam Sandler's previous SNL colleagues and close friends - Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Colin Quinn. It's like he decided to make a project where he could invite everyone he knows to jump on board and have fun. And the cast really does appear to be having a good time in the trailer - I'm just not 100 percent sure I'm right there with them.

The film follows Sandler and his childhood friends (Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade) as they reunite one Fourth of July weekend to honor the death of their basketball coach. Sounds kinda like The Big Chill, but as to be expected with a Happy Madison film, it's ridiculously slapstick. I love all of these guys, but the bits in this teaser definitely aren't as roll-on-the-floor funny as I had hoped with such a star-studded cast. (Really, a breast-milk joke?!) But maybe I'm just judging it too quickly. The film opens in June, but take a peek at the video and tell me your thoughts when you read more.

Cirque du Freak: An Unnecessary Addition to Vampire Entertainment

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:09 -0700

With Halloween just around the corner, October is the perfect time for movie studios to unleash their creepiest films, since we're all in the mood for a good scare. Combine with that the insatiable desire for vampire entertainment, and you've got Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant; a tween fantasy movie that plays out like R.L. Stein's Goosebumps novels on the big screen - but not nearly as scary.

Based on the book series by Darren Shan, Cirque du Freak is the story of Darren (Chris Massoglia), your typical 16-year-old boy trying to quell his high school boredom. Dubbed "Mr. Perfect" by his mischievous best friend Steve, Darren follows the rules, has plenty of friends, and does whatever his parents tell him to do - that is, unless Steve can convince him otherwise. The boys pick up a flyer for the Cirque du Freak and decide to check it out.

That's just the beginning though, so to see what I thought of the film, just read more.

Things go awry when Darren finds himself tangled up in the world behind the Cirque, particularly that of Larten Crepsley, a crotchety vampire who couldn't be bothered with a teenager. When Darren gets himself into a sticky situation, the only way he can bail himself out is by selling his soul to Crepsley, becoming his half-vampire assistant.

If you thought sorting out all the vampire lore in Twilight and True Blood was confusing, get ready for the most convoluted yet. In this story, a war is brewing between two breeds: the Vampanese represent the blood-suckers that are all for killing their prey, while the run-of-the mill vamps prefer to sedate, feed, and then letting their victims return to regular life. As a half-vampire who's reluctant to lose what little human qualities he has left, Darren obviously joins Larten Crepsley's team, while his best friend Steve joins the evil Vampanese.

As for the actual Cirque du Freak, the group of misfits and outcasts are more X-Men and less Carnivale. The crew includes unusual children who were abandoned by their parents (like "Snake Boy" and "Monkey Girl"), along with a few other vaudeville acts like the Bearded Lady (Salma Hayek) and a woman who can regenerate her limbs (Jane Krakowski). Some are friendly, others are surly, but the cirque in itself is more campy than scary; little hideout is basically an island of misfit toys.

The film isn't boring, but it's not exactly packed with pizazz either. Director Paul Weitz was sure to stay on the safer side of the movie's PG-13 rating, rarely pushing the envelope on what could have been a much creepier film. John C. Reilly is always reliable for a good performance, and he has some great comedic timing as the voice of brutal honesty to Darren's naivete. Massoglia gives decent performance for a newbie, and even reminded me of a young Emile Hirsch at times. That said, the movie is also packed with confusing subplots and some truly corny dialogue that evoked collective groans from the audience.

If you're looking for a fun movie to get you into the Halloween spirit, this might do the trick. Just make sure you're in a tween state of mind.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

PopSugar Rush Special: Six Reasons You Can't Live Without Vampires, Part 2!

Molly — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:33:45 -0700

We're back with the second part of our PopSugar Rush Special: The Six Reasons You Can't Live Without Vampires! In case you missed part one, we looked at the history of the vampire craze, as well as the latest from the Twilight saga and even chatted with one of the stars of The Vampire Diaries! Now things are about to get even hotter - we've got the top three reasons that vampires have a hold on our hearts. Plus, we've got a vampire expert psychologist to look at just why we love the dangerous bloodsuckers. There's a lot of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, plus more from Candice Accola on what vampires she loves - watch the thrilling conclusion of our vampire special now!

Buzz News Roundup, 10/3

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:32:35 -0700

Frasier's John Mahoney is joining the cast of Burn Notice. - Entertainment Weekly
Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt will play a couple in a troubled marriage in the upcoming drama Every Day. - Variety
David Strathairn and Catherine O'Hara are among the new additions to HBO's Temple Grandin film, which already stars Claire Danes. - Hollywood Reporter
Feist is turning her Fall tour into a charity drive. - Pitchfork
AMC is developing a TV series about a human colony on Mars. - TV Guide
Salma Hayek will reportedly guest-star on 30 Rock. - New York Post
Tyler Perry's in trouble with the Writers' Guild for firing four writers. - Variety
Live tracks from Ben Folds' tour will be available almost immediately on iTunes. - Billboard

Source

Another Trailer for Your Consideration: Beverly Hills Chihuahua

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:30:07 -0700

We've discussed some of the big trailers that premiered over the weekend, and now I would like to point your attention to another little summer movie preview hitting the Web.

I think there are several ways to approach the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua (previously known as South of the Border): with excitement (singing dogs!), dread (what the heck is going on in Hollywood?), or wonderment at the jaw-droppingly ridiculous fact that this thing is happening. I've chosen the last approach because this thing is just so funny to me.

Not that you'll get any of this from the preview, but the movie's plot is summed up by IMDB as such: "While on vacation in Mexico, Chloe, a ritzy Beverly Hills chihuahua, finds herself lost and in need of assistance in order to get back home."

There are a bunch of celebrities lending their voices to this canine bonanza, including Drew Barrymore (Chloe), Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia, and Cheech Marin. Of course, I'd only subject you to something like this on Cinco de Mayo, as you're probably more likely to be in the mood for this little song and dance number on a holiday. As the poster says, the chihuahuas will rise September 26. To check it out, read more.

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 1/11

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:35:14 -0800

Reuters reports that the Writers Guild of America has canceled its own awards show, promptly after announcing this year's nominees.
According to ComingSoon, Salma Hayek will play the bearded lady in the horror drama Cirque du Freak, which also stars John C. Reilly.
First Reuben and Taylor, now this: Former American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee has also left RCA Records, Billboard reports.
Vanessa Hudgens will star in the coming-of-age dramedy Will, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Variety reports that Steve Buscemi and Stanley Tucci are starting a production company together.
Forbes wonders: Why so many save-our-show campaigns these days?
The Hollywood Reporter has new details on Sons of Anarchy, a new FX pilot about motorcycle clubs from an executive producer of The Shield.
Variety reports that Olivia Wilde (who plays 13 on House) will star opposite Jack Black in the Judd Apatow-produced "biblical-era comedy" Year One.
Networks are going overboard to make sure people know they have new shows, writes the Wall Street Journal.

Source

Movie Preview: Salma Hayek in Lonely Hearts

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:01:00 -0700

Salma Hayek's new movie, Lonely Hearts, really snuck up on me: It debuted at last year's Tribeca Film Festival, and it's now rolling out in limited release.

Based on a true story, the movie follows the killing spree of Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) and Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto), who target single women discovered through the "lonely hearts" personal ads. John Travolta plays the detective, Elmer Robinson (John Travolta), who becomes obsessed with catching them, while James Gandolfini of "The Sopranos" plays his partner in crime-fighting.

The well-known story has provided fodder for several films, including the 1970 movie The Honeymoon Killers, but this time, there's an interesting twist: Director Todd Robinson is actually the grandson of the real detective on the case. Leto and Hayek seemed like a strange pairing, until I saw the trailer for what looks like a fun film. You can watch the trailer when you read more

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 4/9

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:01:28 -0700

Leonardo DiCaprio will star in Ridley Scott's Body of Lies, according to Variety.
Billboard reports that Kanye West and Lily Allen will join Common on the rapper's next album.
The Geico Caveman show will be produced by the folks who did "3rd Rock from the Sun," according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Pitchfork discovers that the adorable Zooey Deschanel will record an album with help from M. Ward.
Salma Hayek and MGM are forming a company to create mainstream Latino films, Reuters reports.
"How I Met Your Mother" is trying another MySpace-related story tonight, according to the New York Times.

"Ugly Betty" Recap: Episode 12, "Sofia's Choice"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:19:12 -0800

What is it with this show and flashbacks? This week's "Ugly Betty" goes back in time again, though luckily this time it's just one day, not four months. Daniel finds out Sofia has been using him for a story on how to get a guy to propose in 60 days, and Betty decides she can't possibly work for such a deceitful woman. Meanwhile, we briefly see a kinder, gentler Wilhelmina when Texas Ted sweeps her off her feet.

We start with Betty rushing through the hall in a TV studio, yelling that she has to speak with Daniel. Security pulls her out of the room, and amid her kicking and screaming, we catch a glimpse of Daniel and Sofia getting cozy on the set of a morning show.

Title card: "24 Hours Earlier"

Daniel brings Sofia a breakfast parfait in bed. He tells her to keep digging till she gets to the surprise in the bottom. An engagement ring? Nope, it's papaya.

As Betty gets off the elevator at MYW, a woman calls out: "You are NOT wearing that sweater vest." "You don't like it?" Betty says. "No, I don't like it," the voice says, "I love it!" Ah, Betty's home.

Wilhelmina and Ted are in bed together. Her phone keeps ringing, and he tells her to be "a little more armadillo, a little less roadrunner." Wilhelmina points out that armadillos end up dead on the highway, but she turns the phone off.

More wacky developments and lots of pictures, so read more

Betty's dad meets with his immigration caseworker, who's looking for something to prove his year of entry was 1977. "I think there are some ticket stubs to Saturday Night Fever somewhere in there," he snarks.

Betty attends her first MYW staff meeting, which is full of regular-looking women and a heap of food. Sofia assigns Betty to write a "fish out of water" story about working at Mode, then starts sobbing and says she's sure she's about to lose Daniel. Betty agrees to do the interview, and once Betty's gone, Sofia chuckles evilly and fixes her makeup.

Meanwhile, a blissed-out Wilhelmina walks in to Mode, smiling and wearing jeans. "Ted took me to an outlet mall," she says. "I shopped next to fat people." Betty tells Daniel she she saw Sofia crying over him earlier, so she hopes he's still planning to propose. Except this is "Ugly Betty," so nothing can go so perfectly. Betty's getting lunch when she spies Sofia with her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, who's supposedly in Europe. Sofia slips him a wad of cash before he walks into a strip club called Boylesque. Betty tells Christina, who proposes they investigate, mostly because she wants to go to the strip club. Meanwhile, Daniel takes Sofia to dinner with his parents.

Betty and Christina to go Boylesque, where Betty asks Hunter if he's ever posed as someone's boyfriend, and he says it happens all the time. "Is that what you did for Sofia Reyes?" "Is she already giving me recommendations?" Hunter asks. Betty frantically calls Daniel, who tells her he's just proposed. Meanwhile, Ted breaks up with Wilhelmina, bringing the old ruthless Willi back.

The next morning, the other MYW assistants show off a mock-up of the magazine cover, which has a picture of Daniel and Sofia with the headline "From Fling to Bling in 60 Days." After a hilarious action sequence involving bean-bag chairs, Betty snatches it away and takes off for the TV studio.

During the TV interview, Sofia pulls out the magazine and reveals that she knows how to get a man to propose in 60 days: "If it'll work for me with Daniel Meade, it will
work for any woman out there." Daniel protests that they fell in love, and Sofia says no, only he fell in love. Bradford says he'll fire Sofia, but Daniel says not to bother - she'll deliver the biggest launch in Meade Publications history.

Betty yells at Sofia for lying and says at least the people at Mode don't pretend to be more than they are. She quits and returns to Mode, where she learns that Daniel has disappeared.

Source and Source

(Click on the images to enlarge.)

View 12 Photos ›

30 Rock Gets James Franco and Maybe Julianne Moore

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:30:35 -0800

I can't wait to see James Franco head to General Hospital later this month, but if soaps aren't your thing then maybe today's news will be more up your alley. Franco is the latest actor to make an appearance on 30 Rock! He'll be playing himself, but the best part is that he'll be involved in a showmance with Jenna. If you've seen any of Franco's Funnyordie videos (of which there are many), you know this guy has no problem poking fun at himself, and a fake relationship between James and Jenna should be hilarious.

But wait - there's more! Jack Donaghy will be getting a love interest as well (though his a real one) for a handful of episodes. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but word on the street is that it may be Julianne Moore. Salma Hayek had a great run as Jack's girlfriend last season, but can Moore measure up?

What do you think of 30 Rock's newest guest stars? Do you think they'll be as funny as Jon Hamm and Jennifer Aniston?