BuzzSugar

Caption It: Which Caption Should Win?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:30:15 -0700

For last week's Caption It challenge, I picked your brains with this photo of Jennifer Garner, Ricky Gervais, and Rob Lowe in The Invention of Lying.

As usual, there were lots of clever one-liners but it's time to narrow them down!

"I suppose you're dorky enough looking for my German version of The Office."
"What do you mean it's not classy to drink Budweiser? It's the king of beers!"
"Why do you look like Clark Kent? Halloween is a month from now!"
"Syd, I refuse to believe that for the third time this month, your alias is to go on a date with an attractive man, no matter how many beers I drink!"

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

Zombieland Eats the Competition Alive at the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:30:55 -0700

Well, it looks like Très isn't the only one who loves a good horror comedy - Zombieland took the top spot at the box office this weekend with $25 million in ticket sales. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs slid to No. 2 with $16.7 million, followed by the Toy Story 1 &2 3-D double feature with $12.5 million.

The Invention of Lying made its box office debut in fourth place with $7.35 million, and Surrogates rounded out the top five with $7.4 million. Drew Barrymore's Whip It couldn't hack it in its opening weekend and finished in seventh with $4.8 million, right behind Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Weekend Movie Reviews, Dave's Multiple Affairs, and the Kanye/Gaga Tour Gets Canceled!

Molly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:50:00 -0700

Trying to figure out which movie to go see this weekend? Check out our one-sentence movie reviews of Whip It!, Zombieland, and The Invention of Lying. Plus, find out what we're thinking about the David Letterman affair/extortion bombshell and possible reasons behind why Kanye West and Lady Gaga canceled their tour. Watch the weekend edition of PopSugar Rush now!

The Invention of Lying: Sweet, but Unsteady

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:45:37 -0700

In his Hollywood directorial debut, Ricky Gervais takes us to an alternate universe where honesty makes the world go round. It's not just that lie-telling is an impossibility; everyone can't help but speak their minds at all times, no matter how personal, embarrassing, or brutal their innermost thoughts may be. The premise of The Invention of Lying is rife for comedy, but the film is also a commentary on religion and has its sad moments as well.

The film tells the story of Mark Bellison, an average joe who just can't seem to get ahead in a world where his mediocrity is ridiculed day after day. His co-workers can't stand him and women reject him based on his looks alone. When he loses his job as a screenwriter, Mark is ready to give up - until he mysteriously becomes the world's first liar.

To see what else I thought of the film, just read more.

Ricky Gervais stars as Mark, living in a world that's mostly free of flair, frills, and aesthetics. Mark's house and office are plain and boring, complementing his every-day appearance. Those who stand out are the people who are naturally attractive, like the object of Mark's affections, Anna (Jennifer Garner) and his snarky co-worker Brad (Rob Lowe). Anna can't help but show her shallow side on her first date with Mark. She immediately rejects him on the basis that she doesn't want to have "fat, snub-nosed" children someday and must find a "better genetic match." Once Mark starts to stretch his newfound talent though, he decides he can have whatever he wants - and begins a quest to win Anna's affections.

Gervais surprised me with his performance because he finally takes a break from his typical British dry humor. As affable, down-on-his-luck Mark, Gervais proves that he doesn't need his signature sarcasm to be witty. The most important scene of the movie requires a lot of raw emotion from Gervais, and he absolutely nails it, showcasing a sweet side that we rarely see from the actor.

There are two major aspects of the movie that wore me down: the cameos and the product placement. I love a good celebrity appearance, but after Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ed Norton, and Jason Bateman pop in, it starts to feel like Gervais is trying to use his comical buddies to keep the storyline afloat when it starts to lose focus. Seeing a familiar face is always fun, but this isn't a Judd Apatow movie.

The product placement is funny and fitting at first; there's not much room for advertising in a world of stark truth. With only a reputation to rely on, Coke and Pepsi are left with the slogans "It's very famous" and "When they don't have Coke," respectively. The film goes way overboard from there though, and suddenly Mark is surrounded by Budweiser bottles at all times and at the film's climax he's standing in front of a group clutching a pair of cardboard Pizza Hut boxes.

The movie's biggest problem is that it tries to appeal to too many genres. It's packaged as a comedy, but Mark becomes a god-like character once the world gets wind of his lies. His peers literally take everything he says as gospel, and Mark becomes a blatant modern-day Moses (complete with long hair and beard). Just as the audience begins to wonder where it's all going, the movie quickly ditches the religious aspect and finishes up as a love story. The ending is satisfactory, but what's the point of satirizing religion when it doesn't hold much water for the overall message of the movie?

Like I said, the premise is rife for comedy and starts us down a path that's packed with laughs - I just wish Invention of Lying didn't wander off before finding its way back home.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Caption It!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the Caption It game on BuzzSugar! Every Wednesday, I'll post a photo still from a TV show or movie here and challenge you to think of the most hilarious caption possible. I'll announce the finalists the following Tuesday, and you'll get to vote for the best caption!

Before we get to the new challenge, congratulations to khowell who came up with the winner for last week's challenge, which featured a distraught Lily from How I Met Your Mother. khowell ran away with 60 percent of the vote with this zinger:

"How many times do I have to tell you?! I've forgotten Sarah Marshall!"

Congrats, khowell! Now let's get to this week's challenge with this photo from The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, and Rob Lowe.

There's a lot of funny hiding in there, so leave your caption suggestions in the comments before 5 p.m. PDT on Monday, Oct. 5 for a chance to win!

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

Buzz's Picks For Fall Movies: Comedies

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:45:00 -0700

I've already given you previews of tons of upcoming Fall films, but now that their release dates are fast-approaching, I'm going to share my picks for the ones most worth seeing. Mark your calendar (or just write 'em in on your TV calendar!). First up, comedies.
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures, Fox Searchlight, and Sony Pictures

View Slideshow ›

Movie Preview: Gervais, Garner, Fey in The Invention of Lying

BuzzSugar — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:30:49 -0700

According to Ricky Gervais's blog, J.J. Abrams has seen Gervais's movie The Invention of Lying and is raving about it. Whether Gervais is joking or not remains to be seen, but he writes:

J.J. Abrams (Star Trek director) watched The Invention of Lying and said it was one of his favourite films. I know I shouldn't care what people think - some people will like it, some will hate it, and some won't care either way. But the reason I'm so excited in this instance is that I think J.J. is one of the most exciting directors out there at the moment.

Well, that's a nice endorsement. The movie (previously titled This Side of the Truth) certainly does look interesting, and it's chock-full of fun people like Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, and more. Of course, Gervais himself is also in the movie, as the central character who lives in a world in which everyone only ever tells the truth - always. The movie shows what happens when lies are introduced to such a world. Naturally, Gervais's character is the inventor of lying.

The movie opens Sept. 25. To check out the trailer, read more.

Ricky Gervais' This Side of the Truth Is Going to Be So Awesome

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:30:00 -0700

First off:
This Side of the Truth, written and directed by Ricky Gervais, looks like it's going to be awesome. The story is set in a world where no one has ever lied, and, according to Gervais, he plays "a loser who discovers one day that he, and only he has the ability to lie. In a world where no one even understands the concept of lying, everyone totally believes, without question anything I tell them. I can say anything at all and they accept this as the gospel truth. I can get anything I want. Or can I?"

Secondly:
Gervais is awesomely blogging his experience of working on this movie, from his collaboration with co-writer and director Matt Robinson ("During the [conference] call me and Matt passed each other off-putting notes and obscene pictures to make each other laugh. I lost, and at one point had to leave the room") to observations about picking out costumes as an actor ("Some directors/lead actors would choose their wardrobe based on style, creation of original iconography and aesthetic enhancement of the fictional world. I chose mine based on comfort, how long they take to get in and out of and on what I would want to keep when the movie is complete.")

Thirdly:
Look at all the ridiculously cool people in this movie. Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K. are confirmed, while Gervais has stated on his blog that Tina Fey, Christopher Guest (Christopher Guest!), Jeffrey Tambor and John Hodgman have also been cast.

This is going to be awesome.

Buzz News Roundup, 2/4

BuzzSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:32:30 -0800

Yesterday's Patriots-Giants game was the most-watched Super Bowl ever with 97.5 million viewers, the Associated Press reports.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, the Arcade Fire apparently didn't give permission for their song to be used in an ad for NFL on Fox, Pitchfork reports.
A Jim Henson biopic titled Henson is now in the works, though casting hasn't yet begun, writes ComingSoon.
E! Online has news that the Spice Girls will wrap their world tour later this month, canceling dates in China, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Variety reports that Robert Englund, mostly known as the man who played Freddie Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, will direct The Vij, "a dark gothic fantasy in which Christopher Lee is attached to star."
People has more on that Sarah Silverman/Matt Damon video for Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Sylvester Stallone has signed on to direct and star in two more action flicks with the same producing team he worked with on Rambo, writes Hollywood Reporter.
The Wall Street Journal has more on what a strike settlement could mean for getting TV shows back this season., while Broadcasting & Cable reports on a WGA memo saying a deal isn't done yet.
According to ComingSoon, Rob Lowe will join Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner in the comedy This Side of the Truth.
Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn't signed on yet for the Buffy reunion at the Paley Festival, the LA Times reports (update! She will be attending after all); the festival will also include panels for Friday Night Lights, Damages, and Chuck, among others.

Source

Link Time! 11/20

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:26:04 -0800

TV Filter is stunned at The Bachelor's actual surprise ending.
Kenneth Branagh tells MTV Movies Blog that he'd hoped his character in the Harry Potter series would have turned out to be Harry's dad.
Popwatch wonders who has the catchier commercials: iPod or Zune?
TV Squad wonders if there will really be a Green Acres remake.
Cinematical dissects the news that Jennifer Garner will join Ricky Gervais in the comedy This Side of the Truth.
Color me jealous: TiFaux saw 30 Rock's live show.
Over on Stereogum you can enter to win 2007's 50 best CDs
The TV Addict has an interview with Sarah Strange from Men in Trees.
You Ain't No Picasso has a hysterical playlist of songs for Pushing Daisies.
Give Me My Remote is livid over the Thursdays-at-9 time slot for The Apprentice.