From the show The Office, this is a movie within a TV show, about Michael Scott writing a screenplay which is discovered by the gleeful office mates who do a table read of the screenplay to poke fun at its silliness. Episode 2:7
The joke's on them as the screenplay is actually "made into a movie" years later which stars all the co-workers of The Office, past and present. Michael is very thin-skinned about it and is upset if he preceives that people don't like it. Episode 7:17
Late last year, the full movie dropped and you can watch it right here:
It's a parody/spoof of every 80s and 90s action movie you can imagine. Some elements include:
Die Hard
Batman
Goldfinger
Shawshank Redemption
Karate Kid
Independence Day
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Lethal Weapon
Some talent involved: Starring Steve Carrel, John Krasinski, Jenna Fisher, Rashida Jones, plus voice over by Morgan Freeman, music by Billy Joel.
Wonder what the budget would be if you had to hire these actors on their current contract? Instead of Before they were Big?
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Today is Will Ferrell's birthday and yesterday the anniversary of a fine movie release, Wedding Crashers, starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as two buddies who make it a party to crash weddings and pretend like they are friends/family, all while drinking the host's booze, eating their food and boning their women.
They get in over their heads when they are invited back to the government official's home since Owen Wilson has become smitten with Rachel McAdams (who could blame him?) Vince Vaughn has to be the good wingman (Rule # 5, never leave a crasher behind). They are afraid of getting caught the whole weekend and Bradley Cooper is their nemesis who sets out to reveal their charade.
Where do the rules come from? They were laid down by Chaz, who is revealed at the end as Will Ferrell, uncredited, in perhaps his defining role.
They get in over their heads when they are invited back to the government official's home since Owen Wilson has become smitten with Rachel McAdams (who could blame him?) Vince Vaughn has to be the good wingman (Rule # 5, never leave a crasher behind). They are afraid of getting caught the whole weekend and Bradley Cooper is their nemesis who sets out to reveal their charade.
Where do the rules come from? They were laid down by Chaz, who is revealed at the end as Will Ferrell, uncredited, in perhaps his defining role.
Palm Springs
Andy Samberg and Cristin Millot star in this Sundance 2020 favorite to Hulu production. Samberg is Nyles, a wedding guest in Palm Springs. He's quite a goofball, who helps out Sarah (Millot) sister of the bride to avoid an embarrassing situation. The next thing, they are about to hook up on the beach, when.... the movie really starts.
I won't give anything else away, but suffice to say, it's a complicated plotline that part of the fun is t figure it out as you go.
Good choice to set in Palm Springs, a place that time stands still, and also the setting of the books Generation X and Less Than Zero, of a place of vapid existence.
* * * * *
I won't give anything else away, but suffice to say, it's a complicated plotline that part of the fun is t figure it out as you go.
Good choice to set in Palm Springs, a place that time stands still, and also the setting of the books Generation X and Less Than Zero, of a place of vapid existence.
* * * * *
Mallrats (1996)
Trying to bookend some Kevin Smith movies, I sprung for the $3.99 for this 80s/90s take on that great American edifice, the indoor shopping mall. The set was very on point, like Stranger Things, the Eden Prairie Mall had the B. Dalton books, the carpet store (Rug Munchers), the cookie place, the food court, the fashion men's store, and even a comic book store. That's where reality left off.
A couple of slackers Brodie (Jason Lee) and Jeremy London (T.S.) are reaching the end of their rope when their girlfriends Rene (Shannon Elizabeth) and Brandi (Claire Forlani) get sick of their vapid existence. To fight back they turn to two even greater slackers, Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith), to wreck the game show being set up at the mall. Their nemesises are all adult authority figures: fathers, teacher, mall security, employers, strong women. Kind of an Animal House plot.
Pretty silly but a pretty interesting period piece.
* * of 5
A couple of slackers Brodie (Jason Lee) and Jeremy London (T.S.) are reaching the end of their rope when their girlfriends Rene (Shannon Elizabeth) and Brandi (Claire Forlani) get sick of their vapid existence. To fight back they turn to two even greater slackers, Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith), to wreck the game show being set up at the mall. Their nemesises are all adult authority figures: fathers, teacher, mall security, employers, strong women. Kind of an Animal House plot.
Pretty silly but a pretty interesting period piece.
* * of 5
V for Vendetta (2005)
A surprisingly good movie, based in general on The Count of Monte Cristo, which is a elaborate revenge plot against the enemies who wrongly imprisoned our hero.
There are actually 2 heroes here Natalie Portman (Evey) as well as Hugo Weaving (V). V has been imprisoned and tortured as a political prisoner due to the fascist rise of Sutler. V, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, blows up a building in dramatic fashion on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day, and promises to do more of the same a year later. His paths cross with Evey at the TV station that she works, and he kidnaps her, both for his and her protection.
It's a twisted relationship they have and it's tricky to say where one ends and the other begins.
A nice subplot with the detectives Finch and Ditrich trying to solve the crimes of V and find out who he is while uncovering deep state secrets about the Larkhill Prison.
Reminded me a lot of Batman, and it came out about the same time of the Dark Night trilogy of Batman moves.
* * * * * highest
There are actually 2 heroes here Natalie Portman (Evey) as well as Hugo Weaving (V). V has been imprisoned and tortured as a political prisoner due to the fascist rise of Sutler. V, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, blows up a building in dramatic fashion on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day, and promises to do more of the same a year later. His paths cross with Evey at the TV station that she works, and he kidnaps her, both for his and her protection.
It's a twisted relationship they have and it's tricky to say where one ends and the other begins.
A nice subplot with the detectives Finch and Ditrich trying to solve the crimes of V and find out who he is while uncovering deep state secrets about the Larkhill Prison.
Reminded me a lot of Batman, and it came out about the same time of the Dark Night trilogy of Batman moves.
* * * * * highest
Independence Day (1996)
A good movie on basic cable TV, but it drags due to the many commercial breaks. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Jeff Goldblum, aliens invade the USA and the good ol' US Military is called in to Save the World. Some interesting subplots about a broken home and Area 51. A bit ahead of its time in that respect.
A prototypical 90s action movie, star studded, flag waving, alien-busting, feel-goodness. How did I miss it back then? I guess it's because Sarah was only 2 years old and action movies were not high on my list back then. I do remember my brother in law Rick liked it a lot and enjoyed watching it on his home theater, where he was certainly ahead of his time. Directed by Roland Emmerich.
* * * of 5
A prototypical 90s action movie, star studded, flag waving, alien-busting, feel-goodness. How did I miss it back then? I guess it's because Sarah was only 2 years old and action movies were not high on my list back then. I do remember my brother in law Rick liked it a lot and enjoyed watching it on his home theater, where he was certainly ahead of his time. Directed by Roland Emmerich.
* * * of 5
The Wrong Missy
An Adam Sandler production, it's got all his hallmarks but starring David Spade and Rob Schneider instead. Adam's probably got a part in there somewhere heavily disguised.
Spade plays Tim, a corporate executive who has a blind date with Missy (Lauren Lakpus) which goes wrong. Vowing never to see her again, he meets Melissa who he falls for. Via texting he invites Melissa to a corporate retreat in Hawaii (50 First Dates) and is surprised when Missy shows up on the plane. He confused the two on his phone contacts.
Tim is vying for a promotion and is pitted against his business rival (Jess - the Barracuda), interestingly played by Mrs. Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler who does a good job. The obligatory talent show is a highlight.
Rated MA, it's still pretty tame by our standards, but does include hand jobs, and a screwball threesome as well as a healthy attitude toward sex. Shocking!
Not a bad original comedy summer TV watch.
* * *
Spade plays Tim, a corporate executive who has a blind date with Missy (Lauren Lakpus) which goes wrong. Vowing never to see her again, he meets Melissa who he falls for. Via texting he invites Melissa to a corporate retreat in Hawaii (50 First Dates) and is surprised when Missy shows up on the plane. He confused the two on his phone contacts.
Tim is vying for a promotion and is pitted against his business rival (Jess - the Barracuda), interestingly played by Mrs. Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler who does a good job. The obligatory talent show is a highlight.
Rated MA, it's still pretty tame by our standards, but does include hand jobs, and a screwball threesome as well as a healthy attitude toward sex. Shocking!
Not a bad original comedy summer TV watch.
* * *
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