SNL 39.8 Review - Paul Rudd, One Direction

Coming down the stretch to Christmas at Saturday Night Live, a dream lineup had been assembled to make for a run of shows that would go down as SNL classics.  The first of the three, comparatively, was bound to be the worst of the group when you consider John Goodman (one of the greatest hosts of all time) and the Jimmy Fallon / Justin Timberlake explosion were going to follow it up.  However, Paul Rudd is no slouch, and once I realized he would be there promoting his upcoming movie that stars possibly the most beloved SNL cast members of the last 20 years, I knew we might be in for something special.

Cold Opening

I knew we might have an appearance of Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team because Paul Rudd was hosting.  What I did not realize was that the random guest stars that always seem to pop up around the holidays would not just be confined to the one Christmas episode this year.  It would be a 3 episode star-studded affair.  This became evident right off the bat when SNL made their statement on the live broadcast of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood.  Enter Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen, two former cast members that really could never be replaced.  They pull out one of their old classic bits that is endlessly entertaining, and I still have no idea why.  Enjoy.

Monologue

If I thought the Cold Opening got the show off to a great start, that was before the Monologue made it perfect.  Paul Rudd, a great actor, has always seemed to be overshadowed in his hosting gigs by his musical guests.  First it was Beyonce, then it was Paul McCartney.  I mean a Beatle and Sacha Fierce?!?  How do you compete with that!  Paul Rudd was determined this would not happen this time, but there was a threat with One Direction as the musical guest.  When One Direction shows up in his monologue, he is determined to make sure he isn't overshadowed by the boy band.  So he brings out his man band.  Newsteam Assemble!!!  Enter David Koechner, Steve Carell, and yes, Will Ferrell.  So what happens in the boy band vs. man band showdown?  A sing off.  What song?  "Afternoon Delight" of course, which was brought back to prominence by the first Anchorman film.  This show couldn't have been off to a better start.  It could only go down from here, right?  Yes, yes it could...

Weekend Update

It's not that the rest of the show was terrible.  It just never reached the perfection that were the first two sketches.  Weekend Update brought back two very popular characters, one brand new and one that has been around for a year or so.  First was Bar-Mitzvah Boy Jacob who is always fun.  It also brought about one of the first blatant references to Seth Meyers's upcoming departure for the new Late Night show as Jimmy Fallon takes over for Leno.  (By the way, odds Fallon has a moment of advice at the Weekend Update desk for Seth Meyers in his final episode?  I would say high.)  The next act, Jebidiah Atkinson, has become an instant classic as he berates and rips apart anything that America holds as beloved.  Today's subject of his attack?  Christmas stories.  Taran Killam can do anything and has quickly become the new Will Ferrell.

Best Sketch

The rest of the sketches after the first two were solid for the most part, but nowhere near great.  The best of these others just happened to also include One Direction as Paul Rudd played their biggest fan, Dan Charles.  The best part of this sketch is watching him talk to all the teen and tween girls waiting in the same line he is in.  They obviously don't like the fact that he is there.

Worst Sketch

Usually the mock movie trailers are my favorite parts of this season.  However, this trailer for White Christmas falls flat.  The premise was to take a basic movie trailer for a Tyler Perry movie or any other recent Black comedy and swap out all the cast members for the whitest people you can find.  Is it still funny?  No, it's not.  And maybe that was the joke.  Maybe it was purposefully stupid.  Either way, the only thing worth seeing here is Paul Rudd dressed as a white Madea.  Once you see it though, there is not much else to see, besides the confused looks on Kenan's and Jay's faces.

Dark Horse Sketch

Like I have said before, this spot is reserved for the fun, off-beat, surprising sketch after Weekend Update that stands out for its odd-ball comedy.  With Will Ferrell in town, they couldn't resist dusting off the greatest Dark Horse Sketch in recent memory: Bill Brasky.  If you haven't seen a Bill Brasky sketch, here it is in a nutshell: Will Ferrell and his cronies dawn bad suits and buck teeth and spout out the most random crap they can think of about their dear friend Bill while drinking from over-sized scotch glasses.  It is so stupid and so hysterical all at the same time.  I wish we didn't have to wait 10 years to see a new one.

Grade

This show got off to the best start it could possibly have.  Although it fizzled a little in the middle, it ended with another classic and got the holiday season off to a great start.  If what I thought before the show is true, and Paul Rudd's turn as hosting would be the jumping-off point for this run of three great episodes leading up to Christmas, then I can't wait to see what kind of genius we have waiting for us in the coming weeks.

***B+***

View the full episode here:

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The Way, Way Back (2013) Review

Directed by 

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

            The title The Way, Way Back refers to either (A) the natural rewritten title of The Way Back after a film of the same namewas released in 2010, (B) how the protagonist of the film sits in the third row of the family station wagon, or (C) the attempt by the screenwriters to search the vast receptacle of recycled ideas until, at the way, way back of it, they arrive at that most reliable and cherished of clichéd cinematic formulas: The Summer Movie.

            There are, of course, examples of Summer Movies that work: The Game of Love (1954), Pauline at the Beach (1983), C’est la Vie (1990), and Fat Girl (2001).  The problem, however, is that all those Summer Movies are French, which means that they are actually realistic in their portrayals of teenage angst, explorations of sexuality, and open contempt of the adult world.  The Way, Way Back is a closer descendant of the Frankie and Annette films and Gidget, which is wonderful for audiences hoping to make their minds doormat for an hour and a half.  It’s the perfect movie for nostalgic philistines, intellectually stunted distant relatives, and insomniacs seeking medical assistance. 

            The Way, Way Back uses dozens of Summer Movie clichés: The unhappy parents – in this case, asshole potential stepdad Steve Carell and meekish mom Toni Collette, the cute girl next door (Annasophia Robb), and, at the center of the film, the helplessly awkward white male teen (Liam James), with the unfortunate name of Duncan, who channels his rage on to the pink girl’s bicycle he rides to the local water park every day unbeknownst to mom and stepdad.  In fact, The Way, Way Back is so conspicuous in its cinematic theft recycling that it even uses characters from previous movies: Allison Janney reprises her own role from Away We Go as the boozy, low-cut vulgarian who openly mocks her kids while downing another martini.  And Sam Rockwell and Maya Rudolph try to breathe life into the postmortem roles of Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig in Adventureland as the lovably cynical park employees who rescue Duncan from the horrors of hanging out on the beach, listening to music on top of stepdad’s car, and romancing the cute girl beneath 4^th of July fireworks.  Oh, the repulsion of summer vacation!

            There is a tendency to forgive The Way, Way Back because The Summer Movie is, by its own nature, so earnestly underachieving – it’s not unlike the unkempt high schooler who walks into class 20 minutes late, says something funny, and incidentally leaves an indelible impression.  But the filmmakers, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, are not content to simply underachieve; they also shamelessly Oscar-bait with contrived tearful confrontations between Duncan and his stepdad (“You’re not my father!”) and heartwarming exchanges between the few adults who actually care about him (“You’ve got a great kid here.”)  The numerous supporting characters all feel half-baked because the screenplay is indecisive about what the true focus of the film is (Duncan and his mom?  Duncan and his girlfriend?  Duncan and the waterpark?) 

            A few other nitpicks.  What year does this movie take place?  Judging by the aged station wagon, the inexplicable lack of cell phones, and the Pac Man arcade game Sam Rockwell plays, it would seem to be the early 1980s.  But the movie’s ambiguousness about this (perhaps in an auspicious attempt to be “timeless”) is less endearing than it is annoying.  And then there’s the numerous scenes that attempt to explain the apocryphal mythology of the waterpark, with the wonderful name Water Wizz.  Treating the park as though it is some aquatic summertime Shangri-La, Faxon and Rash give Rockwell exposition that contains some of the most laughably overwritten dialogue in years.  Noel Coward on top of a waterslide, this is not.

            The best parts of The Way, Way Back are the two young actors (who should be more) at the center of the story, Liam James and Annasophia Robb.  They have exchanges that are mostly natural and lifelike, complete with awkward pauses and feeble attempts at humor.  They talk a lot about how they wish they could get away from all the crazy grownups in the story who are on “spring break for adults.”  Why couldn’t the filmmakers grant mercy on them (and us) by taking them away from the rest of this plot?

Rating: 2 stars

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If There Were a Remake: [POLICE ACADEMY]

Actually, there is currently another Police Academy being developed, but that has been the case for the last nine years. It has been written and re-written. It is supposedly some sort of sequel, so this remake is an original idea…I think. Anyway, I have been brainstorming and discussing this for weeks now, and I finally decided to write it down. I was a huge fan of this series as a kid, watching all of the original six movies over and over. This is not going to be anywhere near as in-depth as my The Deer Hunter remake article, but it should be fun. Check out my dream remake cast and crew:

WRITER/DIRECTOR

Original: Hugh Wilson (writer/director), Pat Proft(writer), Neal Israel (writer)

My Choice: Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg. This choice is not exactly a groundbreaking or original choice, but seeing how well the comedic pair has done slapstick humor during their past few movies (and how well directed This Is the End was), I think this would be absolutely brilliant. Even more than a fit in style, this is about the potential of casting the Apatow guys. There are a handful of flawless fits. Rogen and Goldberg would make this a hilarious hit if they were given the creative freedom.

Other Potential Choices: Paul Feig, Christopher Guest, Harold Ramis, Paul Weitz

 Fackler

Original: Bruce Mahler

My Choice: Jay Baruchel. Fackler is a lesser character, but he is always at the forefront when something goes horribly wrong. He inadvertently causes a riot in the streets that forms the entire basis for the second half of the movie. His form of humor is relatively deadpan, so a guy like Baruchel would be ideal because he wouldn’t overdo it.

 

George Martin

Original: Andrew Rubin

My Choice: James Franco. George Martin or Jorge Martín. Either way. He is the character who gets all the girls because of his phony Spanish accent and suave persona. James Franco would make this character hilarious, even though his presence might take some focus away from the other characters. We already know that he is ok appearing in drag, and that scene where he gets busted by Callahan would be gold.

Other Potential Choices: Eric Bana, Colin Farrell, Jason Segel, Channing Tatum

Commandant Lassard

Original: George Gaynes

My Choice: Fred Willard. This is the casting choice that seems most obvious to me. Willard has already played forms of this character in several different movies. Lassard is all about the goofy dimwitted humor. He is the head of the entire academy, but to listen to him talk or watch him obsess over his fish would imply that he has completely lost his mind and out of his element. Willard wears that character effortlessly and would create just as great of a commandant as Gaynes’s classic character.

Other Potential Choices: Jeff Goldblum, Steve Guttenberg, Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray

Hooks

Original: Marion Ramsey

My Choice: Mindy Kaling. This was a fairly obvious choice for me as well. Kaling has sort of burst onto the scene recently with The Mindy Project, but the first time many people got acquainted with her was with the Apatow crew in The 40 Year Old Virgin. She has that real dry humor, but if she tried to play the shy and awkward Hooks, she just might steal the show. I love the potential of this casting.

Jonesy

Original: Michael Winslow

My Choice: Lamorne Morris. Obviously, there is only one Michael Winslow and the role was written specifically for him. Morris, most known for New Girl and that Miller Lite commercial, at least could fit into the quirkiness and attitude of Jonesy. The sound effects and everything might just need to be piped in by Winslow himself, but that is not a big deal.

Hightower

Original: Bubba Smith

My Choice: Shaquille O’Neal. All that is required to play Hightower is being tall and intimidating. Shaq would easily be able to play that role, even though his previous acting ventures have not exactly been successful. I think he would have a blast in the role, and we would have just as much fun watching him flipping a car and working as a flourist.

Other Potential Choices: Craig Robinson, The Rock, Terrell Suggs

Callahan

Original: Leslie Easterbrook

My Choice: Jane Lynch. She essentially has played the part on Glee (from what I understand), except there is one obvious characteristic (well, technically two characteristics) of Callahan that Lynch doesn’t exactly fit. I think in terms of sheer badassness, Lynch is a flawless choice. Some of her scenes would be a bit awkward, but it would work.

 Other Potential Choices: Christina Hendricks, Leslie Mann, Sofia Vergara

Tackleberry

Original: David Graf

My Choice: Danny McBride. This would be the one casting choice that I would most want to see. After watching the original recently, I couldn’t help but think of McBride in that role, strapped with heavy guns and going crazy in the gun range. Picture his character in The Is the End as Tackleberry, with a bit of the Kenny Powers careless attitude. Perfect, right? Right. 

Thompson

Original: Kim Cattrall

My Choice: Elizabeth Banks. This is not a role that really requires much of the actor, but Banks needs a reunion with the Apatow crew. She has been great in her career playing the love interest, and even though she does a lot of serious movies now, she is still ridiculously funny and make the character a lot more memorable than Cattrall did.

Harris

Original: G.W. Bailey

My Choice: Steve Carell. This was a tough role to cast. Bailey has a voice that makes it pretty hard to imagine anyone playing the role he owned. Carell would be a riot as Harris, though. He fits the profile, acting much larger than he actually is. He has devious intentions, but he also needs to be able to play the helpless part at times. I would love to see the scenes where he has to yell and try to intimidate Shaq and McBride. It is not a perfect choice, but I would love it.

Mahoney

Original: Steve Guttenberg

My Choice #1: Mark Duplass. Mahoney is of course the key character in the first four films, so he needs to have that twinkle in his eye, as well as wear the innate laziness that gives him that normal guy charm. Basically, he is Duplass’s Pete character in The League. That is really all he needs to do to equal Guttenberg.

My Choice #2: Paul Rudd. This choice would be my top one if he were the right age. Like 10-15 years ago, Rudd would be obvious to play Mahoney. His characters in the Apatow movies, Mike in Friends, a bit of Role Models…basically all of his characters. Rudd is a total Mahoney. 

Bonus casting for sequels:

Will Ferrell as Mauser

Michael Cera as Proctor

Russell Brand as Zed

Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Sweetchuck

Jonah Hill as Nick Lassard

Tim Robbins as Mr. Mayor

So, thoughts/comments? Your casting/director choices? What other characters would you like to see come back in the remake? Let me know!

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Despicable Me 2 (2013) Review

Directed by

Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud

Everyone's favorite super-villan turned super-dad is back! Gru returns with his three adopted daughters and (most importantly) thousands of minions.  It was going to be hard to top the genius of the first installment in this series, and it didn't in many ways.  However, this was still a good continuation of this fun, heart-warming story.

Despicable Me 2 starts off where the last one left off.  Gru (still voiced brilliantly by Steve Carell) has left his life of world domination for a life as a father to Margo, Edith, and Agnes.  He is also trying to establish an honest business venture to earn some honest money.  Of course, as it was with his evil plots, Gru cannot do anything without his swarms of minions that act as babysitters, maids, and overall mischief-makers.  While establishing his normal lifestyle, he is kidnapped by the Anti-Villain League so he can help them catch the latest super-villain trying to take over the world.  Since Gru is a former super-villain, they figured he can better get into the mind of a super-villain (Hannibal Lecter style) and discover who their mystery nemesis is.  Gru and his AVL-appointed partner (voiced by Kristen Wiig) go undercover to find their guy and in the process, yes, Gru starts to fall in love.

This movie takes awhile getting going.  The start has some good moments and jokes in it and is quite entertaining, but once the premise is set it hits a lull in the middle that really takes until the dramatic ending for it to break out of.  The beginning is strong, and the ending is strong.  The middle is interesting, but it just doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of this film and the first film.

Everything that made the first film great is there in this sequel as well.  Gru is brash but has the heart of gold, the girls are cute and adorable, and of course there are the minions.  You could say the minions were the breakout stars of 2010 as they stole every scene they were in.  The filmmakers knew this, and gave the minions a more extensive part of the storyline this time around.  They still steal the show, but (I hate to say it) it is almost too much of a good thing.  By the end of the film, the charm was slightly starting to wear off.  I still love them and their craziness, but they were much better used in the first one.

Overall, this film is just fun.  It doesn't live up to the first one, but like I said, it had some pretty big shoes to fill.  It also doesn't disappoint.  If you liked the first one, you will like the sequel.  It is a fun franchise that through two films has been able to stay somewhat fresh and not tired.  However, one of the first things I thought when the movie ended was, "I hope they don't make another one because the material could get tired really quickly."  I knew they would, and sure enough they are.  Not only are they making a third one, but they are continuing a trend that could be dangerous.  It appears there is a movie planned for Christmas 2014 simply entitled Minions.  I have to say, this scares me.  Focusing a story on a supporting character, or characters, isn't always a good idea.  It would be like giving Urkel or Screech his own show or movie.  They are great as the comic relief in the background, but can they really carry their own plot?  I guess we are going to find out with our little yellow friends.  Until then, enjoy this second adventure.

Rating:

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