Comedy – Page 6 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Benny & Joon (1993)

September 12, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Drama, RomanceTagged Aiden Quinn, Buster Keaton, Comedy, Drama, Johnny Depp, Julianne Moore, Mary Stuart Masterson, mental illness, Oliver Platt, RomanceLeave a comment

This might be my favourite Johnny Depp film.

Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) is mentally unwell. Her father Benny (Aiden Quinn) struggles to protect her the way he feels he should. Then they meet Sam (Johnny Depp), an awkward man with an obsession for silent stars like Buster Keaton.

Masterson is wonderful as the emotionally delicate Joon who is fighting for whatever independence she can get.

This film is perfect. It takes a sensitive and dark subject matter and normalises it, adding in the quirks we would expect from any Rom Com. Look out for co-stars Oliver Platt and Julianne Moore.

100 Word Review – Bad Words (2013)

September 11, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, DramaTagged Allison Janney, Andrew Dodge, Comedy, Drama, Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Philip Baker Hall, spelling bee1 Comment

Who said spelling bees are just for children?

Guy (Jason Bateman), a somewhat obsessive adult, finds a loop hole allowing him to enter a spelling bee. Followed by reporter Jenny (Kathryn Hahn), his is determined to win by whatever means necessary.

The first screenplay by Andrew Dodge and directorial feature debut for Bateman, costars include the likes of Allison Janney and Philip Baker Hall. More sincere than the screwball comedy you might expect; while it manages to remain more grounded, Dodge and Bateman still play off the shock-value for laughs.

Rude, funny and relatable, it’s more intelligent than its cover.

100 Word Review – Me and You and Everyone We Know (2006)

September 10, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged Brandon Ratcliff, Comedy, John Hawkes, Miles Thompson, Miranda July, naturalistic, RomanceLeave a comment

This is a beautiful romantic comedy that takes a step away from the Hollywood cliches and sets itself in a much more recognisable universe.

Richard (John Hawkes) is a shoe salesman separating from the mother of his two sons (Miles Thompson, Brandon Ratcliff), when he meets quirky performance artist Christine (Miranda July).

This is the first feature from writer, director and co-star July, who has since gone on to write and direct The Future.

A really lovely and at some moments perfectly awkward film, that acknowledges and includes every single character in its delicate and intricate tapestry of human relationships.

100 Word Review – O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

September 8, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged 1930s, adventure, America, Comedy, Ethan Coen, George Clooney, Holly Hunter, Joel Coen, John Goodman, John Turturro, Tim Blake NelsonLeave a comment

Joel and Ethan Coen, the Coen Brothers (Big Lebowski, The Hudsucker Proxy), do it again.

Set in 1930s American Deep South, three escaped convicts (George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson) attempt to avoid the authorities, tangling with a range of weird and wonderful characters, on their quest for hidden treasure.

Loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey and co-starring John Goodman and Holly Hunter, this film manages to be simultaneously charming, familiar and epic.

Nominated for Oscars in Screenplay and Cinematography, it is absolutely full of laughs, a soundtrack that will get your toes tapping and, above everything else, heart.

100 Word Review – The Addams Family (1991)

September 6, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Angelica Huston, Carel Struycken, Christina Ricci, Christopher Lloyd, Comedy, family, Jimmy Workman, morbid, Raul JuliaLeave a comment

Margaret: Where’s your costume?

Wednesday: This is my costume. I’m a homicidal maniac. They look just like everybody else.

Adapted from The New Yorker satirical comic strip of the 1940s and the TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, this time the inversion of the ideal American family are hitting the silver screen.

After going missing in the Bermuda Triangle for 25 years, Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) is reunited with Gomez (Raul Julia), Morticia (Angelica Huston), Wednesday (Christina Ricci), Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) and Lurch (Carel Struycken). But is everything as it appears.

Family-friendly fun, albeit with a morbid sense of humour.

100 Word Review – Some Like It Hot (1959)

September 3, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged 1920s, 1950s, Billy Wilder, Comedy, IMDb, Jack Lemmon, Joe E Brown, Marilyn Monroe, Oscar, Romance, St Valentines Day Massacre, Tony CurtisLeave a comment

Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star in this classic 1950s Oscar-winning romantic comedy.

When Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) accidentally witness the 1929 St Valentines Day Massacre, they join a women-only band to escape the mob who want them silenced.

This is a very, very silly film.

That said, it is also clever, funny and brilliantly directed by the hugely talented Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, The Apartment). It is dramatic, engaging and speaks volumes about the strict gender roles of the time. It’s currently number 112 on IMDb’s Top 250 films and has the single greatest last line of any movie.

Under 5 Words – The Lego Movie (2014)

September 2, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in Comedy, Under 5 WordsTagged animation, Comedy, LegoLeave a comment

Amazing! You must watch it!

“All I’m asking for is total perfection.” – President Business

Reviewed by Maisie Slade

IMDb

Cinemescope

100 Word Review – Hairspray (2007)

September 1, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged 1960s, Allison Janney, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, Christopher Walken, Comedy, Elijah Kelley, James Marsden, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Musical, Nikki Blonsky, Queen Latifah, Rikki Lake, Taylor Parks, Tonys, Zac EfronLeave a comment

This film may appear corny to start with but it has a heart of gold and a timeless sense of humour.

Tracy’s (Nikki Blonsky) a large girl with a personality to match, determined to dance on a local daytime TV show.

Co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Taylor Parks (pictured) and Allison Janney, this is a musical of epic proportions.

Based on the 8-time Tony Award Winning musical set in segregated 1960s Baltimore and the 1988 film adaptation starring Rikki Lake, it’s an up-beat comedy not to miss.

100 Word Review – Last Action Hero (1993)

August 31, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, ComedyTagged Action, adventure, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Charles Dance, Comedy, family, Game of ThronesLeave a comment

Arnie’s back.

Danny (Austin O’Brien) is a young boy with a big imagination, obsessed with his favourite action hero Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger). When he is given a ticket to the latest Slater flick he jumps at the chance, little suspecting that he might become part of the action…

Co-staring the magnetic Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones), this is lighter and more comedic than a lot of Arnie’s ouevre, but doesn’t quite fit in to his family-friendly-range (see Junior or Twins). It’s a joy to watch, full of the ridiculous one-liners and explosions we’ve come to expect.

100 Word Review – Up (2009)

August 30, 2015April 15, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, DramaTagged Action, adventure, animation, Bob Peterson, Christopher Plummer, Comedy, Drama, Edward Asner, family, IMDb, Oscars, Pete Doctor, pixar2 Comments

Possibly one of Pixar’s most beautiful family features.

Carl (voiced by Edward Asner) has lived a long life. Now widowed and alone, Carl will stop at nothing to prevent developers from seizing his property, including flying away.

Written and directed by Pete Doctor (Inside Out, Wall.E) and Bob Peterson (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc.), it captures the spirit of adventure that lives on in us long after our childhood years. Christopher Plummer along with both directors and various members of their family, lent his voice to the film.

Winner of two Oscars for music and animation, it’s now #114 in IMDb’s Top 250.