Comedies 2010

Comedies 2010

Easy A

Finally something of Mean Girls status has arrived. It’s the story of a smart, likeable but slightly geeky high school girl who tells her best friend a fib so she doesn’t have to spend the weekend with her. But when that fib is that she had sex with a college boy she soon gets a reputation and the attention of all the desperate males in school and things get out of hand. It’s a teen comedy that lacks the miley cyrus cheese and a melodrama in favour of real bite and humour. It’s not smutty or gross out like American Pie, but it has brains and wit to entertain.

Due Date

Pair the guy from the hangover with straight man Robert Downey Jr and set them off on the road trip from Hell. I really liked it, I dont care if it’s a bit Planes Trains and Automobiles, it’s just consistently funny. It’s daft, silly, but entertaining. I’m looking forward to seeing it again.

Scott Pilgrim versus the World

Firstly it stars Michael Cera of Juno and SuperBad so you already know what his usual character type is, the awkward teen niche he’s hired for. It’s a sort of computer game, romcom, comic book mash up with bags of frenetic energy and character. It’s the story of a loser geek who plays in a band who falls in love with the cool elusive rock chick with dyed pink hair and baggage. That baggage is her 7 evil ex’s who in true computer game style Scott Pilgrim must defeat to win her heart. It moves fast, there’s plenty of laughs and comic style fighting. It’s certainly original, colourful and entertaining. A romcom on redbull, or When Harry Met Sally Met Streetfighter.

Kick Ass

So it’s more a superhero film than a comedy, but it’s still fucking brilliant. Loser guy is fed up of being a loser, decides to give being a super hero a try, and gets caught in war between gang bosses and real superheroes.  It has Tarintino style violence, McLovin and a small girl using the c word. And Nic Cage being good in a film! Fantastic.

Get Him to the Greek

I like Russell Brand and I liked his shtick in Sarah Marshall so this appealed to me. Chuck in the fat kid from Superbad and your onto a winner. Story is simple, fat kid is tasked with getting rocker Aldous Snow from London to a comeback gig at the greek theatre in LA. But he is uncooperative and difficult every step of the way. P Diddy is also brilliantly funny in this too.

Four Lions

It’s extremely funny but won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s from Chris Morris who made Brass Eye and did the spoof paedophile uproar, so you know it’s going to be controversial. It’s about 4 young  asian men (well 3 young men and a much older white Muslim convert called Barry). Who are trying to organise a terrorist attack on London. The only problem is they are bumbling idiots. It’s alot more sitcom and slapstick than it is controversial or political for that matter. A bit like Mr Bean goes Gihad.

Cemetery Junction

Ricky Gervais & Steve Merchant of The Office fame write this uplifting little comedy set in 1970’s Reading about 3 teenage friends trying to decide what to do with their lives. It’s quite warm and inspirational but theres still plenty of gags and banter to keep you laughing.

Grown Ups

Adam Sandler makes millions out of mediocrity. He’s has a midas touch. It’s exactly what you expect it will be. I mean exactly. Silly middle aged men bantering and falling over, getting hit. I like Sandler’s schitck, he has me under his evil average spell. Watch it if you like his other films.

Dinner for Schmucks

I actually quite liked this. I liked all the weirdy taxidermy stuff and Paul Rudd has been given the life time stamp of approval since Friends. It’s about an upcoming business type who is invited to smooze with his boss at an exclusive dinner party. The only clause is you have to bring with you the biggest freak imaginable so everyone can laugh at them. It’s a bit longer than it needs to be, but it’s still decent.

Hot Tub Time Machine

It does have a great name, but it's easily just trying to recreate the success of the hangover. A group of buddies try to relive their youth at a ski resort they went to as teens. The place is now a run down mess so they drink their sorrows away in a time machine that transports them back to their 80's heyday. It does have some good laughs, and all the 80's costumes and trends are funny.

 

Date Night

It just didn’t really work. It was kind of actiony, kind of comedy, it had the potential to work but just kind of falls flat.

Greenberg

Indie comedies about neurotics with problems can go either way. This one goes the wrong way. Ben Stiller comes across as winey and depressing. His character is unlikeable and his supporting cast are just too dysfunctional for me to enjoy. Avoid.

Whatever Works.

This doesn’t. Larry David is a God in my eyes because of Curb Your Enthusiasm. But this being a Woody Allen film it’s all about neurotics and the nature of love and romance, and although there are some good moments over all it’s a bit of a drain.

Death at a Funeral

It's an american remake of a British comedy film that came out a few years ago. It's about a familly coming together for their fathers funeral and the tensions that arise and th suprises about their dads private life that unfold. It has some all right bits, but the original wasnt really all that great so this carbon copy clone with Chris Rock is hardly gonna be any better.

Youth in Revolt

A Michael Cera awkward film too far.


















Wild Target

silly British film which stars Bill Nighy as an assassin sent out to kill Emily Blunt but spares her instead. The two then go on the run and Rupert 'ron weasley' Grint gets mixed up in the caper. It just lacked dazzle.