Content Preview: rss
Al Kratina 124 days ago
Funny People *** (three stars) 2009, USA Directed by Judd Apatow Written by Judd Apatow Starring Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill 146 minutes, English 35mm There was a time when comedies told stories, rather than listed creative euphemisms for genitalia. I’m not sure when that was, exactly, but the movies were longer, starred actors rather than Paris Hilton’s friends, and were more interested in creating characters than a DVD gag-reel. It’s in that era where Judd Apatow’s latest film Funny People belongs. The film is a grand departure from most of Apatow’s work, more in line with his Freaks & Geeks TV series than his more recent big screen comedies. It’s the story of young, struggling stand-up Ira (Seth Rogan), who gets his big break when he’s offered a job as a personal assistant/joke writer for legendary comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler). Unfortunately, Simmons has recently been diagnosed with a serious blood disorder. Depressed and ...Denise Duguay 126 days ago
He came on stage looking frail – and playing it for laughs, accompanied by Andy Nulman, wheeling in an IV pole (which, I am happy to say, was a prop) – but John Cleese soldiered on through not one but two closing-night galas for the Just for Laughs comedy festival. Sadly during the first of the two galas, circumstances – an utter failure of the audio-visual staff, which killed Cleese's longest bit – and some of the comics on the bill, were just not up to snuff. Here's our review of the gala, with contributions from Bill Brownstein, Basem Boshra and me. And don't forget to send us your fave jokes, by clicking here. – Denise Duguay
Al Kratina 126 days ago
World’s Greatest Dad ***1/2 (three and a half stars) 2009, USA Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait Written by Bobcat Goldthwait Starring Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Evan Martin 99 minutes, English 35mm It should come as no surprise that Bobcat Goldthwait is weird. Prior to moving into film and TV directing, his primary stock and trade was delivering blackened stand-up comedy in a voice not unlike a Torture-Me Elmo doll. And though he starred in three of the family friendly Police Academy films, his comedy records suggest leaving him around kids is a good way to give them ADD or pyromania. So, it’s only natural that he made a film as gloriously twisted as World’s Greatest Dad, which stars Robin Williams as Lance Clayton, a high school poetry teacher with a perverted, sexually aggressive son, Kyle (Daryl Sabara). When Kyle dies during a bout of auto-erotic asphyxiation, Lance fakes a suicide note to cover it up, and finds his ...Bill Brownstein 126 days ago
It’s mighty tough to out-nasty the Nasty Show. Sure, Slayton et al get down and dirty, but even they’ve never shed all their clothing on stage - and for that we can be most thankful. But the 10 p.m. Saturday gala at Théâtre St. Denis featured two incidents of full-frontal nudity. Just to ensure that the CBC will never air the closing of the show, the ever-barking-mad Tommy Tiernan took it all off on stage as the other performers were gathered for a final salute from the audience. Except that’s probably not the salute patrons had in mind. With one foot caught in his trouser leg, Tiernan did his impression of a kangaroo hopping off the stage, body parts a-bouncin’. Nor was the Irish wit the only one to peel all on Saturday night. A member of the The Imponderables sketch troupe spent an inordinate amount of time flashing his member to a largely unamused crowd. Then again, this act of defiance only served to underscore the group’s overall shortcomings. It was a wacky show, in stark ...Bill Brownstein 126 days ago
The Canucks killed at both Friday night Just for Laughs galas at Théâtre St.Denis. It was Stewart Francis and Frank Spadone making mega-impacts during the 7 p.m. show. Then it was Pete Zedlacher and Mike Wilmot bringing down the house for the 10 p.m. gala. Host Whoopi Goldberg also amp'd it up several notches for the second show. Although at ease during the early gala, she was much smoother during the late show. The Whoopster - give her props for working without a teleprompter - scored some Smarties from a patron at the start of the second show. Evidently, the sugar rush let her cut loose with an adoring audience she already had in the hip pocket of her jeans. Still, it was Wawa's gift to giggles, Zedlacher, who left the crowd convulsing with - no guff - impressions of the Canada Goose and Arnie Schwarzenegger. (Arnie also got the royal treatment in the early gala with American comic Aries Spears.) The chrome-domed Zed noted how the Yanks selected the bold and beautiful American ...
