"I'm still just kind of wondering what the hell happened..."

Day 364
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
2006


I'm just gonna go ahead and say straight away that this is certainly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Just awful. (Ok, still not as bad as Bad Seed. Like that's sayin' a whole lot...).

I don't blame Mr. Wilson's lack of 'leading-man'-skills, a crime for which he has too often been accused. I believe he's fully capable (see The Wendell Baker Story) of carrying a movie. Rather, I believe the true culprit here is the sorry excuse for a script and the lamentable execution of what could have been a remotely interesting, or at least funny and entertaining story.

There is very little, if anything, interesting, funny or entertaining about this film. It's mostly just sort of unsettling. Uma Thurman just flounders. Or rather, she embodies to a 'T' the awful part for which she has been cast. Even Rainn Wilson and Eddie Izzard can't save this film. It amazes me that films like this one are ever even funded, let alone made and released for consumption.

To repeat, once more for emphasis:  just awful.

MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING:  0 out of 5 stars. 
Throwing a sandwich at the person nearest you would without a doubt be much more entertaining than actually watching this movie...




Up next...
Idiocracy

"I'm very sorry to be here right now."

Day 364
Mini's First Time
2006


I first saw this movie on that glorious channel called Lifetime. I dare say I even liked it.

It's creepy. It's off-color. It is less than heart-warming. I'm not sure how I'd really describe it. Maybe a 'coming-of-age-meets-murder-plot-gone-wrong?'

But it's got Alec Baldwin AND...wait for it...Jeff Goldblum. So, it could be a whole lot worse.

Luke Wilson plays the only decent human being in the entire film, and quite well, too.  He truly is a great supporting actor, and I mean that in the most complimentary sense.

Truthfully, I found this one pretty entertaining, but I think it's the sort you've just got to see for yourself.


MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING:  3.5 out of 5 stars (an extra .5 for Mr. Baldwin and Goldblum, tehe)
Why stop at sandwiches when you could seductively eat a popsicle?  




Up next...
Hoot (if I can find it before midnight tomorrow, that is...)

"Meredith, don't quit! C'mon!..."

Day 364
The Family Stone
2005

This is one of the few of Mr. Wilson's movies that I saw in the theatre. It remains one of my very favorites of all his films.

Admittedly, though, a good portion of it is just painful for me to watch. It does not shy away from awkwardness, from gritty honesty. It's like Meet the Parents, but on a much more emotional, more realistic level. It's still very comedic and clever in its own right, but certainly a different brand than the Stiller/DeNiro dynamic. 

This is all precisely why I like it. As far as 'holiday movies' go, this one seems remarkably substantial.

I love the interactions among the family members. I love the intermittent sign language. It all seems quite genuine and natural. As a person with a fairly large family, it makes me long for holidays with my siblings. 

There's also just no chance I can watch this movie without tearing-up. Surely this is a further testament to the film's success. It's funny and entertaining, but it's got heart.

For Mr. Wilson's part, I have to add 'Ben Stone' to the list of my all-time favorite Luke Wilson characters. He's kind, blunt, charming and adorable. And (***spoiler***) am I not at least the slightest bit pleased that he ends up with the Meredith-character by the film's end? :)

In any case, I know it's sappy, but I really love this film. Maybe check it out this Christmas, if you're in to that sort of thing. 



MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING:  5 out of 5 stars
You might nearly spit out or choke on your sandwich a time or two. Use caution...


Up next...
Mini's First Time

"Don't call me dude, bro!"

Day 361
The Wendell Baker Story
2005


There is just a whole lot of Wilson going on in this movie.

For starters, this film was actually written by Luke Wilson. If that isn't enough, he and eldest brother, Andrew, also directed it. To round it out, Owen Wilson plays opposite of Luke as his unscrupulous employer. (Imagine an 'Evil Dignan'...). According to those in the know, even his aptly-named dog, Brother, appears in the film as 'Junior.'

The youngest Wilson plays the title role of Wendell Baker, and quite well, too. He appears naturally well-suited for the part and obviously should be, considering he wrote it. In any case, he did well with the writing and acting as it seems a very good fit for him.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty darn good movie, too. It's fun. It's entertaining. It's good for some laughs and it's a decent story. (Speaking of laughs, LOVED Will Ferrell's turn as 'Dave'). It feels distinctly Texan, which I suppose is either a good thing or bad thing, depending on how you feel about Texas...

My only real criticism is that it occasionally felt a little too hokey. A little too posed to the point of appearing almost a little 'Disney'-esque at times. The story itself is obviously a little unrealistic, though, so it only makes sense that they take some liberties here and there.

All the same, it did feel mildly heavy-handed at times. I think the intention was to give some credit to the acting veterans who appear in the film (ex: Seymour Cassel, Harry Dean Stanton). Perhaps moreso, an attempt in general to convey the notion that there is much we can learn from those who have gone before us. Certainly not a bad message...

This movie was also just genuinely pretty at times. There are more than a few shots that are simply very lovely.

Lastly, I just have to add, I was really pleased with myself for recognizing 'Bob,' (aka Robert Musgrave), of Bottle Rocket-fame, playing the part of the motorcycle cop in this film. Even with the sunglasses and helmet, he was all but unmistakable to me. I just adore that man's voice.

Truly, I think this was a great effort and an entertaining flick. Check it out, as I highly doubt you've ever even heard of it...


MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Perhaps a barbequed sandwich and a cold beer would pair well with this one...




Up next...
The Family Stone

"I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story..."

Day 360

Update:

Say what you will, but I can't not finish this. I've come too far. And a year-long joke-of-a-blog is never something to take lightly. I will finish.

As it stands we have 16 films left to go. That's approximately 24 hours of film to watch. About 3.2 movies to be watched every day for the next 5 days.

This is officially about to get even more ridiculous...

"If I had to guess, I'd say--female."

Day 357
Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy
2004


There is just so, so much to say about this film. ("PANDA WATCH!")

When television trailers first began advertising Anchorman, I recall that I was dying to see it, solely because of the lead character's dog, shown in the preview wearing pajamas and headgear. Not to mention the fact that this lead character was played by Will Ferrell. ("The human torch was denied a bank loan.")

Little did we know how very quickly and easily this film would exceed our low expectations. ("It's science...")

To this day, Anchorman consistently makes me laugh out loud. And the frequency at which we find its most memorable lines applicable to daily conversation is both alarming and absolutely fantastic. ("Oh my god, you did!")

The script and premise are wonderful, but surely the casting, too, is perfection. The ad-libbing, the facial expressions and physical comedy at work throughout, the ridiculousness of the whole entire damn thing just leaves this woman in a fit of giggles. ("Knights-of-Columbus, that hurt!")

I'm also very glad Luke Wilson made the cut for this film, if for no other reason than that I get to include it in this blog. He's perfectly lovely and silly as the 3rd place-ranked news-team leader, Frank Vitchard. And is it just me, or is he really going for Clint Eastwood with the "Oh yeah? Well, you're about to be in... dead place!"-line?

Be warned that the DVD release is most often not the same as the theatrical version. It's typically the noticeably less-funny 'un-rated' version. I highly recommend seeking out the rated theatrical version when at all possible. ("It's the pancake breakfast. We do it every month...")

I know I'm not really doing it justice here, but suffice it to say, I just completely, shamlessly, adore this movie. ("She's really great.")

So, when in Rome...

MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING:  5 out of 5 stars
Maybe skip the sandwich and try three fingers of Glenlivet with a little bit of pepper, and some cheese...


Up next...
The Wendell Baker Story

"Rules are made to be broken. Or stabbed by a spike-y shoe."

Day 355
Around the World in 80 Days
2004


This movie was remarkably watchable. Certainly you have to consider that it was meant for children, but it is entertaining, none the less. It manages to remain a focused, fairly intelligible story without taking itself too seriously. Even the accompanying animation shorts, which serve as chapter markers throughout the film, are pretty effective and interesting

Steve Coogan delivers some genuinely entertaining moments (see the blog post title quote), as does Jackie Chan. Personally, I am just a sucker for Mr. Chan's fight sequences. They're obviously highly-choreographed, but always so clever and creative.

I knew nothing about the book upon which the film is based. From the little research I did, it sounds like the film is quite a ways off on several parts. The inaccuracy most relevant to this blog was the addition of the characters Orville and Wilbur Wright, played by Luke and Owen Wilson, respectively. Not only do they randomly appear in the middle of the desert driving a horse-drawn wagon, (presumably not in N. Carolina or Ohio), but there seems to have been no mention at all of the Wright Brothers in Mr.Vernes' actual story. These characters do at least figure in to the movie's plot towards the end, though.

I was truly, pleasantly surprised and entertained by this film. It's silly and inaccurate, and probably not for everyone, but thankfully it really wasn't so bad.


MERE'S OFFICIAL RATING:  3 out of 5 stars
Someone should really invent a sandwich or drink, or something, called 'The Phileas Fogg'...


Up next...
Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy