Judd Apatow
Aziz Ansari Gets Three Thumbs Up From Judd Apatow
Am I asleep? Because this sounds like a match made in heaven — Judd Apatow (along with Universal Pictures) has just picked up not one, not two, but three comedies starring Aziz Ansari. The yet-to-be-written ideas were pitched by the Parks and Recreation star as well as Jason Woliner, who is on board to direct.
What's Your Favorite Judd Apatow-Directed Movie?
When I saw Funny People last week, I was quick to call it my least favorite of the three movies Judd Apatow has directed. I just didn't have quite the same feeling as I did after seeing 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up when I wanted to watch them again and again. Out of the three, I have a particularly special place in my heart for 40-Year-Old Virgin, but tell me — what's your favorite Judd Apatow movie?
Funny People: Apatow Almost Gets It Right
Before we get right into my thoughts on Funny People, let me preface by saying that I loved Judd Apatow’s first two films, The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. I would count both among the best comedies to hit Hollywood in the past few years, and I had full faith that he would hit another home run with his third directorial stint. I understand that he was ready to try something new and a get a little more serious, but looking back at his first two achievements I have to wonder: when the formula works so well, why mess with it?
Watch, Pass, TiVo or Rent: Funny People
For Judd Apatow's third directorial feature film, Funny People, he has Seth Rogen starring as a fledgling comedian who looks up to the seasoned comedian/Hollywood actor, George Simmons (Adam Sandler). George learns that he has an untreatable blood disorder and that he has one year to live. He notices Ira's act one night and takes Ira under his wing — though it doesn't change the fact that George is a prickly, difficult guy.
Link Time! 4/28
- If only we could all live in an Apatow world. — Cinematical
- The Decemberists and Stephen Colbert meet for the first time since the great ShredDown of '06. — Videogum
- Could you see Benico del Toro as Bret Easton Ellis?
Movie Preview: Judd Apatow's Funny People
The trailer for Judd Apatow's new comedy, Funny People, has arrived, and it looks like a bittersweet mix of Apatowian humor and genuine emotions. Apatow's wife Leslie Mann stars as the love interest of Adam Sandler's character, with an ensemble filled out by Eric Bana (sporting an all-natural Australian accent), Seth Rogen (naturally), Jason Schwartzman, and those two adorable daughters of Apatow and Mann. It looks like this movie could contain everything I so enjoyed about Knocked Up: a lot of laughs but also a lot of heart.
What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday
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.
Link Time! 8/14
- Lost's Hurley belts "Mustang Sally" with the Band from TV. — TV with MeeVee
- Check out this nifty little chart that helps everyone keep track of the many projects of the busiest boys in Hollywood (a.k.a. Apatow's entourage).
Link Time! 8/7
- The TV Addict has a play-by-play of his visit to the set of 24.
- Popwatch is excited (as am I) that the hilarious website Garfield Minus Garfield is going to become a book.
- Vulture picks out some indie directors who should join Judd Apatow's team.
- Give Me My Remote informs me of a union between two awesome things: Ikea and So You Think You Can Dance contestant Robert Muraine.
- DearSugar has the top 10 striptease songs.
- Check out Stereogum for really great concert footage of Jenny Lewis performing her song "Acid Tongue."
- TV Filter is dismayed because it looks like The Middleman may be dead — or at least seriously in trouble.
Pineapple Express: More Than Just a Stoner Movie
How much you enjoy Pineapple Express may depend more on how charmed you are by the chemistry between James Franco and Seth Rogen and less on how funny you find pot jokes. Don't get me wrong, marijuana jokes abound in this comedy written by Rogen and his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg, and they are funny. But I was surprised by how much more Pineapple Express falls into the category of buddy movies like Lethal Weapon, rather than the stoner category like Half Baked.
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