The Couch Potato Report – June 21st, 2014
The number one reason I watch movies is because I like to laugh. Sure, I also enjoy great documentaries, dramas, action films and thrillers, but overall I love comedies, and laughing the most.
Tisdale, Saskatchewan’s Brent Butt has made me laugh many times over the years, through his stand up comedy and the television show CORNER GAS.
Unfortunately Brent’s detective comedy NO CLUE doesn’t have as many laughs as even a single episode of CORNER GAS.
Amy Smart from CRANK and JUST FRIENDS stars in NO CLUE as a woman who hires Brent Butt’s Leo to find her missing brother.
Only problem is, he’s not a private eye, she merely walked into the wrong office.
Obviously Leo doesn’t tell her the truth because she is beautiful and he wants to be around her, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll actually solve the case, and maybe, just maybe she’ll fall for him too.
NO CLUE was made-in-Vancouver and while it isn’t laugh out loud funny, it does have a few laughs. If you’re a fan of Brent’s, it’ll tide you over until the CORNER GAS MOVIE comes out later this year.
And I’m sure – with that film – Brent Butt will definitely have us laughing again.
Of all the films released so far in 2014, my favourite one is the animated adventure comedy THE LEGO MOVIE.
THE LEGO MOVIE is fun and funny and interesting and enjoyable and features a tremendous voice cast that includes Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Toronto’s Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Liam Neeson, Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum AND Morgan Freeman!!
There is actually a very good story in the film, about believing in yourself even when all the odds are against you, but what makes THE LEGO MOVIE so worthy of your time is how much fun it is, and it is fun…laugh out loud fun…for the whole family.
I absolutely loved this film, and highly recommend THE LEGO MOVIE to kids of all ages.
In the past, I have also enjoyed and highly recommended the quirky, odd, dramatic and comedic films of writer – director Wes Anderson.
From BOTTLE ROCKET in 1996 to RUSHMORE, THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS, THE LIFE AQUATIC, THE DARJEELING LIMITED, and FANTASTIC MR. FOX, to the Academy Award nominated MOONRISE KINGDOM in 2012, his movies usually offer the audience something magical.
And it’s not like his latest – THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL – isn’t magical, and it sure also is quirky, odd, dramatic and comedic, it is just with this film there is too much of all of those things that usually benefit Wes Anderson’s films.
The story here takes place between the first and second world war and introduces us to Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel.
We also meet Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
The teriffic cast of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL includes Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Léa Seydoux, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson.
Some are used well, some only have cameos, but they all appear as the legendary consierge tries to thrive and survive after one of the hotel guests dies and leaves him a priceless painting in her will.
The family thinks he tricked her into leaving it to him.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is interesting and engaging, and seeing that cast is a real treat, but the movie is just too quirky and odd for it’s own good.
It’s never awful, and I do still mildly recommend it, but I hope Wes Anderson dials the quirky back a bit for his next film.
If you don’t know him, I’d like to introduce you to Alan Partridge right now.
Alan Gordon Partridge is a fictional character created in the early nineties and portrayed by British comedian Steve Coogan of TROPIC THUNDER and HAMLET 2. He was originally created for the BBC Radio 4 programme On The Hour.
Alan Partridge is a parody of both sports commentators and talk show hosts and he has appeared in two radio series, three television series and numerous BBC television and radio specials.
The man is insecure, superficial, narcissistic and very, very funny
I think he is one of the greatest characters ever created.
And now a feature-length film simply called ALAN PARTRIDGE in North America has been released and I really enjoyed it…the second time I watched it.
The first time I saw it, I just love the character and his creators so much, that I thought the movie would be a laugh riot. Instead, like just about everything that has come before it featuring Alan Partridge, the humour is subtle, black and very witty and well written.
Upon my second viewing, I really enjoyed it
In the film, Alan Partridge is working as a radio station that has been taken over and rebranded by a new media conglomerate.
That leads to the firing of a long-time staff member who takes the staff hostage. Alan then has to work with the police to try and defuse the situation.
ALAN PARTRIDGE is primarily for people who know the character from “The Day Today”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge” and the other shows he’s been in, and to you I suggest you either lower your expectations, or watch it twice to appreciate it…and in those situations, you will appreciate it.
To those who are just hearing of Alan Partridge for the first time right now, do yourself a favour…search out those TV shows – and then the movie – and enjoy!!
Finally this week is something spectacular…THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of the Netflix series HOUSE OF CARDS.
This exceptional show is a political drama set in present day Washington, D.C.
Oscar winner Kevin Spacey plays a very ruthless and brilliant politician who – after becoming Vice President of the United States – works hard to keep the job, and become President…hopefully sooner, rather than later.
Spacey’s main confident and advisor is his wife, played by Robin Wright. No matter how dirty his hands get, and they occasionally get very, very dirty, no matter what happens her tells her just about everything.
HOUSE OF CARDS tells a great story, using some amazing – and believable – twists and turns, and it is all driven by Spacey’s amazing performance.
I highly recommend HOUSE OF CARDS, SEASONS ONE and TWO, and don’t feel that you have to save it for a rainy Summer night, it’s available on disc and Netflix right now for you to watch…and enjoy!
THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of the spectacular series HOUSE OF CARDS; the funny but just not as good as the television shows that inspired it Steve Coogan comedy ALAN PARTRIDGE; Wes Anderson’s good, but just a little too quirky comedy THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL; the superb, for the whole family, animated comedy THE LEGO MOVIE; and the likeable detective comedy NO CLUE starring Brent Butt from CORNER GAS are all available now, either on disc or on demand.
And that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here again next time on The Couch!