Comedy – Page 12 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Pitch Perfect (2012)

May 8, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-RatedTagged a cappella, Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Comedy, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Moore, John Michael Higgins, Musical, Rebel Wilson, singing, university1 Comment

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I presumed I would hate it. I could not have been more wrong.

Anna Kendrick stars as Beca, a freshman who is determined to become a music producer. She joins The Bellas, one of the university’s singing groups, against her wishes, and “changes the face of a cappella”.

There is a little more to it than that, but you’ll have to watch it. Yes, there is a lot of singing (it’s about a cappella!), but there is enough humour (gross-out and otherwise) to keep even the biggest grouch entertained. Watch it!

100 Word Review – Election (1999)

May 7, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged About Schmidt, adaptation, Alexander Payne, Comedy, dark, election, high school, humour, manipulation, Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Sideways, The Descendants, vengenceLeave a comment

An Oscar-nominated comedy which felt somehow fitting for today.

Whatever you think of Reese Witherspoon, this film is brilliant and she shines as the obsessive high-achieving student determined to become student body president. Matthew Broderick stars as the teacher who gets in her way.

Directed by Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways, The Descendants), although it may be set in a high-school, this is not a teen comedy. It is certainly not Ferris Bueller!

Witherspoon is truly chilling and plays off Broderick’s frustrated civics teacher beautifully. The result is a dark, dark comedy with underlying themes of vengeance, fixation and manipulation.

100 Word Review – Braindead (1992)

May 6, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged Braindead, Comedy, Dead Alive, gore, Horror, Peter Jackson, rat monkey, zombiesLeave a comment

Also known as Dead Alive, this is one of Peter Jackson’s first feature films. But don’t expect hobbits.

I don’t know what to say about the plot. There is definitely a leading man. And something about monkeys raped by rats to create killer rat-monkeys.

To be honest the whole thing is a visceral blur of severed … everything. And just when you think they must have run out of fake blood, there will be more.

I have a strong stomach when it comes to onscreen gore, but this is something else.

Equal parts hilarious, ridiculous and disgusting. You have been warned.

100 Word Review – Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

May 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, DramaTagged Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin, Comedy, Drama, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano, Steve Carrell, Toni Colette2 Comments

This is the first film that made me both laugh and cry in equal measure.

When Olive (Abigail Breslin) finds out she is a finalist in a beauty pageant on the other side of the States, her father (Greg Kinnear), mother (Toni Colette), brother (Paul Dano), grandpa (Alan Arkin) and recently suicidal uncle (Steve Carrell) set out on a road trip none of them will forget.

There is not a weak link. By the end of the film you will feel like part of the family. It also features one of the greatest dance sequences ever choreographed. It is sublime.

100 Word Review – Romancing The Stone (1984)

May 4, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged 1980s, Action, adventure, Comedy, Danny DeVito, Diane Thomas, Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, Robert Zemeckis, RomanceLeave a comment

With promotional images like this, what’s not to love?

Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas star in this romantic action adventure about a novelist (Turner) who sets off to rescue her sister from Columbian smugglers. On the way she encounters a soldier-of-fortune (Douglas) and becomes embroiled in an adventure she could never have imagined.

I’ll admit to being rather sceptical going in to this, but it is actually brilliant. Think Indiana Jones, but with more romance and a three dimensional female lead. Why all adventure films aren’t like this one, I don’t know. A wonderful escapist film, and it’s on Netflix.

100 Word Review – Robot & Frank (2012)

May 2, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Drama, Sci FiTagged Comedy, Drama, Frank Langella, future, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, robot, Sci Fi, Susan SarandonLeave a comment

This film is the perfect Sci Fi for people who don’t generally like the genre.

Set in the not-so-distant future, Frank (Frank Langella) is a retired jewel thief whose son (James Marsden) gives him a robot designed to look after him.

Susan Sarandon and Liv Tyler also star in this brilliantly made film which is simultaneously funny and tragic in parts. Although the film is set in the future, assisted-living robots are not as futuristic as they seem, making this ultimately a very moving story about the importance of family, the passing of time and the human need for companionship.

100 Word Review – Safety Not Guaranteed

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Comedy, Romance, Sci FiTagged adventure, Aubrey Plaza, Comedy, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Mark Duplass, Romance, Sci Fi, time travelLeave a comment

Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke… You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.

In 1997, this actually appeared in the classifieds section of an American magazine.

Three journalists (Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni) attempt to find out the truth about Kenneth (Mark Duplass), the recluse who placed it.

There are wonderful characters, so prepare to be moved. Don’t expect explosions. It’s very human, with a grounded level of action and adventure, and a dash of deadpan humour.

100 Word Review – Easy A (2010)

May 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged 1980s, adaptation, Amanda Bynes, Comedy, Dan Byrd, Emma Stone, John Hughes, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Patricia Clarkson, Penn Badgley, Romance, Scarlett Letter, Stanley TucciLeave a comment

More than your average teen Rom Com.

Olive (Emma Stone) is a clean-cut student who, in an attempt to save her gay friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) from endless bullying, fakes losing her virginity at a party. But no-one can manipulate the High School rumour mill for ever and get away with it.

There are some seriously sized head-nods to classic John Hughes movies and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter (Easy “A”, get it?) plays its part. If Emma Stone wasn’t enough, the supporting cast’s fantastic; Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell.

Funny, romantic and empowering.

100 Word Review – Life of Brian (1979)

April 23, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged Comedy, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, history, Jesus, John Cleese, Judea, Michael Palin, Monty Python, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones1 Comment

He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!

Now piss off!

Brian is just a normal guy who happens to live in Judea just after the BC/AD switch over and spends his life being mistaken for Jesus Christ.

If you’re already a fan of the Monty Python gang (John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman), you’ll love it. If not, prepare yourself for satire, silliness and delightfully dark humour.

Between them, the Pythons play 40 characters throughout the film. Perhaps not the most historically accurate but definitely an imaginative and only mildly offensive film.

100 Word Review – This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

April 18, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged Christopher Guest, Comedy, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, mocumentary, Musical, Rob Reiner, Spinal Tap1 Comment

If you have never seen a mockumentary, this is where to start.

Director Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) tries to capture the “sights, the sounds … the smells of a hard-working rock band”, Spinal Tap (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer). But this “legendary” British band turns out to not be quite so sort-after on their American comeback tour …

What follows is simply brilliant. When this film first came out many rock bands were convinced it was based on them. That’s how clever it is.

Once you’ve seen it, watch with the commentary which is Tap in character 25 years on. Priceless.