While doing press rounds for Avatar it appears that Sigourney Weaver accidentally spilled the beans about a major plot point in the upcoming Ghostbusters 3. I give you her exact quote:
“I might be in it; I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don’t think I will have a big part. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it – he’s a ghost.”
Wow…really, Ghostbusters 3? Are you aware that you haven’t even gone into production yet and you’ve succeeded at raping the characters that I loved all through my childhood? I blame Judd Apatow.
Read the rest of what she said (Including the future of baby Oscar!) here.
Am I the only person excited about a Tron sequel? Better question: Am I the only person who will pay to see a Tron sequel? Disney released this teaser poster today which has made me even more excited.
Remember Death at a Funeral, that Frank Oz sleeper comedy from two years ago? While I didn’t think it was an amazing film, I did enjoy it as a fun British farce, which is really all it set out to be. Well, less than two years later somebody in Hollywood thought, “You know what? I think we should remake that funny little British film…but with black people.”
Needless to say, this REALLYpisses me off. Not only is the original film close to still being on the “New Release” wall at Blockbuster, but was there something in it that really screamed “Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan vehicle!”?
I’ve decided to put the trailer on here, but let me just save you the trouble of watching it:Â It’s literally, and I really, really, REALLY want to stress literally, exact scenes from the original film but with Asian jokes, “Daaaaaaaammmnn”‘s, and Tracy Morgan.
I know you’re all tired of hearing me talk about Chevy Chase, but it was either this or an article about the upcoming Jackass 3D movie…
Clark Griswold is back. Yes, you read that right. It seems that both Chevy and Beverly D’Angelo will return to the roles in a upcoming Superbowl commercial for HomeAway. What the hell is HomeAway? Who cares! Read the rest of the details here.
Meanwhile, have you heard they’re making a 3D Jackass movie? ‘Tis true.
Can somebody explain to me why The Simpsons DVDs just jumped from Season 12 to Season 20? Does FOX really think that fans would rather have the current season first? Personally, I stopped caring somewhere around season 10 (and we all know that the show really got raped by the panda during season 12), but I would still be interested to hear FOX’s reasoning behind this one.
Oh, funny Owen Wilson, how I will miss you. There was a time when you were co-writing critically acclaimed films like Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, then making me laugh while you kicked some ass in films like Shanghi Noon. Now look at you: Voicing a CGI Marmaduke in the upcoming comic strip adaptation. Sigh. Maybe you’ve been spending too much time swimming nude with your buddy Woody Harrelson…or maybe it’s all of the pot. Hmmm. The pot would at least explain why you’ve had the same haircut since 1997.  Oh well. Perhaps the death of your comedic talent is for the best. It was either this or another Meet the Parents film, right? Wait…you’re doing one of those as well? Double sigh.
I leave you with what I SWEAR is today’s (November 5, 2009) Marmaduke comic. I can only hope that the movie might feature slightly more timely comedy.
HE EATS BABIES, PEOPLE! When will you learn to shun him!
In a way, I’m glad that Sandler is apparently reversing his decision to go the way of Jim Carrey, filling the latter half of his career with maudlin “sad clown” roles a la Punch-Drunk Love and Funny People. I would have hated for him to gain any degree of semi-legitimacy. Although to be fair, Carrey, unlike Sandler, actually used to be funny.
What I’m getting at is the news that Sandler is set to star in Jack and Jill, a move in which he plays twins. Named Jack and Jill. And it’s a romantic comedy.
Beyond the inevitable Sandler-related factors (Jill will talk in a baby voice for some reason, Drew Barrymore will be put-upon but charmed), nothing more has leaked out about the plot. But Sandler fans will surely hail this as a return to form, and give it a great opening weekend.
With that in mind, I’m getting the jump on my own “Nursery Rhyme Title as Raunchy Romantic Comedy” pitches. Here’s a taste:
Old Mother Hubbard
When Dick Hubbard’s (Dane Cook) foul-mouthed grandmother dies during his annual visit, Dick stumbles upon her will and is shocked to discover that she’s left all her money to a local animal charity. If Dick wants his inheritance, he’ll have to pose as his own grandmother (with the help of his theater school pals) long enough to convince her lawyer to change the will. It’s the perfect plan until the sexy and passionate director of the charity (Kristen Stewart) shows up to plead the animals’ case and get back on “grandma’s” good side!
What do you guys think? I’ve also got a great poster for Little Jack Hornier…
Did you know that they’re making trailers for books now? See for yourself:
I admit that this look great. Pretty good effects for a book! I can’t wait to see it…or read it…or whatever it is they want me to do. I just hope that they didn’t ruin all of the best parts in the trailer.
Listen, I promise I’ll stop talking about Community as soon as it becomes a huge hit and I’m forced to read intensely personal details about the entire casts life in every new issue of People. Until then, if you ever needed a reason to watch it, I give you this nearly perfect comedy moment from the upcoming Halloween episode, featuring Chevy Chase as The Beastmaster. Yes, you read that right.
The only thing that could even come remotely close to topping that? Chevy and Joel insulting each other:
Your pals at Critical End! would like to wish a super happy birthday to Sir Chevy Chase (we’ve knighted him in our own minds). Can you believe the man is 66 today?! Most people don’t know that Chevy didn’t become the household name that he is today until around his 32 birthday when he first started getting noticed on some show called NBC’s Saturday Night. I wonder what ever happened to that forgotten gem?
Speaking of great moments in Chevy history, Ryan and I have listed our five all-time favorite Chevy films below. In celebration of this special day, why not take a few hours to get reacquainted with one of the greatest comedians of all time?
Ryan’s Top Five Chevy Picks 1. Caddyshack
2. Three Amigos!
3. Fletch
4. National Lampoon’s Vacation
5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Logan’s Top Five Chevy Picks 1. Caddyshack
2. National Lampoon’s Vacation
3. Fletch
4. Three Amigos!
5. Spies Like Us
And finally…news hit the web yesterday about a rumored fifth Vacation film from New Line Cinema. However, I couldn’t find a single website that had a source on this, so I’ve decided to hold off reporting the “details” for now. Just be aware that this could possibly exist outside of my dreams within the next few years. More info to come.
Seriously, Avary? Logan goes and honors you by giving Rules of Attraction a prime spot on his Top 5 College Movies list and you go and throw it all away? I even stood up for your Silent Hill adaptation when no one else would. Bad form, sir.
I’m not about to turn this into a book review website, but I will quickly say that Michael Ian Black’s My Custom Van and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. One essay in particular, entitled Taco Party, was so funny that I actually had to put the book down I was laughing so hard. This has never happened.  I later found out that Black read this essay on several stops of the official book tour. The thought of hearing him read this aloud is one thing, but imagining him reading this in a quiet bookstore or library with old ladies and kids around is even better.
Yesterday the publisher of the book, Simon and Schuster, uploaded a video of Black reading Taco Party, and I must say that it’s simply not to be missed.  I won’t tell you what it’s about, but I would recommend turning your speakers all the way up, especially if you’re at work or church.Â
You could say that Li’l Logan was a freak for all things Pee-wee Herman. Unfortunately, this unnatural love has followed me throughout the years…I currently own two t-shirts, a poster, the complete show on DVD and VHS, and the majority of my original Pee-wee’s Playhouse toys. What can I say? Girls dig me.
It also seems that I was a bit ahead of my time: Thanks to Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and current shows like Blue’s Clues and SpongeBob Square Pants (both have acknowledged the influence of Pee-wee’s Playhouse), Paul Reubens has finally decided to bring his classic character back, starting with a revival of the original stage show. Tickets and information can be found here. Please remember that my birthday is coming up.
What’s that you say? You can’t afford $50 tickets AND a trip to Los Angeles? Well, it looks like you’ll just have to catch Pee-wee’s big primetime return on the September 22nd episode of The Jay Leno Show. It’s free so you have no excuse, you cheap bastard.
Hey kids, this is just a friendly reminder to set those VCRs (seriously, does anybody do that any more?) and be sure to catch the series premiere of Community this Thursday at 9:30/8:30c. Ryan and I will release a Critical Hit! of our thoughts soon after, and wouldn’t it be nice to actually know what we were talking about for once?
Landis is finally returning to the big screen with the tale of Burke and Hare, two 19th century Irish murders that I recall reading about in this fantastic book. They killed people for the purpose of selling their cadavers to Edinburgh University, and although they got away with it for a year, they were fairly sloppy and obvious about it.
Lots of comic potential there, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to star than Simon Pegg who Landis has apparently secured for either Burke or Hare. No word yet on whether their going the obvious route and grabbing Nick Frost too, but I can’t say I’d be disappointed. Either way, this sounds like a perfect comeback movie for Landis.
