Alan Rapp

This Week in Animated Film

/ / Film News & Trailers

That wacky family from Springfield earn their own film as Homer (Dan Castellaneta) tries to save the world from one of his boneheaded mistakes.  Fans have been waitng 18 years for a feature film; so why aren’t we more excited?  Maybe it has to do with the studio (20th Century Fox) making it all but impossible for critics to see the film and review it before the release, or maybe it’s because the show hasn’t been all that good for the last decade or so.  Doh!  Check out the official site.  This extra-long TV episode shows up in theaters everywhere this Friday.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.

The Simpsons Movie
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This Week in Film

/ / Film News & Trailers

A rapper (Big Boi) and his entourage take on the owners and members of a high-scale country club.  Do Chevy Chase and Bill Murray show up?  No, then what’s the point?  Jeffrey Jones, Susan Ward, Sherri Shepherd, Terry Crews, Tamala Jones, and Andy Milonakis also star.  Check out the official site.  The film laughs itself into theaters everywhere on Friday.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnosis.

Who’s Your Caddy?
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I Know Where I’ve Been

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Hairspray
  • IMDb: link

“I wish every day was Negro Day.”

hairspray-poster

Hairspray is a toe-tappin’ good time with a strong cast, good music, and plenty of fun.  It would be easy to dismiss it as simply a feel good story and the discovery of first-time actress Nikki Blonksy (who was found, in all places, at a Coldstone Creamery).  But beneath the film’s smiles, laughs, dances, and shakes, there’s a story about acceptance and struggle, about a willingness to sacrifice for doing what you believe is right, no matter what it may cost you.

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is your average teen who daydreams in school about being a celebrity.  Tracy and her best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes) race home every day to catch the Corny Collins Show on television.  Hosted by Corny Colins (James Marsden) the dance show is the hippest thing in all of Baltimore.

From here the story breaks into two parts, that are surprisingly wll meshed together.  The first involves Tracy earning a spot on the show despite her size and the concerns of her mother Edna (John Travolta), her crush on Link Larkin (Zac Efron) and her hopes to win Miss Hairspray against the beautiful but malelovent Amber Van Tussle (Brittany Snow).

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You Can’t Stop the Beat (80’s Style)

/ / Film News & Trailers

With the new version of the film ready to open tomorrow (watch that trailer) I thought it a good time to take a look back at the trailer from writer/director John Waters original film.  Larger trailer available in the Full Diagnois.  Enjoy, and come back tomorrow for our review on the new film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, and newcomer Nikki Blonsky.

Hairspray (1988)
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Harry Potter, the Adventure Concludes

/ / Books & Magazines

Better watch out Muggles!  After taking over the movie theaters last week the legions of Harry Potter fans are about to descend on your local bookstores.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final entry into the series by J.K. Rowlings is scheduled to be released at 12:01 am on July 21.  Many bookstores around the country are staying open late to hold Harry Potter parties and promote the book’s release.  Will Harry die?  Will Voldermort be defeated?  Will Ron and Hermoine get together?  Will this be a satisfactory conlcusion to the series?  All these questions, hopefully, will be answered in a few days.

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