Comedy

Rock Me Sexy Jesus

  • Title: Hamlet 2
  • IMDB: link

“It was stupid, but it was also theater.”

A rather strange high school teacher puts together a musical sequel to Shaekespeare’s play which involves sex, profanity, a time machine, and Jesus Christ.  Say what you want about the film, and there are many valid criticisms you can make, but this original little gem, even when it goes off-course, is rather enjoyable.

Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) is a former actor turned high school drama teacher in Tuscon, Arizona (which the movie reminds repeatedly is the worst place on Earth).

Dana’s simple life is complicated when his class of two (Phoebe Strole, Skylar Astin) is increased by other art and computer classes being shutdown, followed by the news that the Drama department is the next to get the axe, leaving Dana unemployed.

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Tropic Thunder

  • Title: Tropic Thunder
  • IMDB: link

“I don’t read the script.  The script reads me.”

In an attempt to teach their spoiled stars a lesson the director (Steve Coogan) and author (Nick Nolte) of the new war film send the actors into the jungle where they encounter real danger and are forced to fight for their lives.

The platoon is led by action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) whose career is on a downhill spiral.  His choices for roles outside his chosen genre (with his insane amount of sequels), such as a mentally-impaired farm hand called Simple Jack, have earned him scorn and tanked at the box office.

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Swing Vote

  • Title: Swing Vote
  • IMDB: link

“You’re ruining America!”

When the outcome of the Presidential election comes down to one uncounted ballot in New Mexico the entire country’s attention becomes focused on Earnest “Bud” Johnson (Kevin Costner) an unemployed single father from a small town called Texaco.

Both campaigns, along with news media from around the country land in Texaco to court this doofus who, in ten days time, will decide the fate of the election.

The film is many things, part parody and part cautionary tale.  At the heart of the film is the relationship between Bud and his much smarter daughter Molly Johnson (young Madeline Carroll, who steals the film in her first performance on screen).  There’s also a subplot about the secret of Bud’s ballot which, although sets up the story, is a bit burdensome to the plot.

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Mamma Mia!

  • Title: Mamma Mia!
  • IMDB: link

The British stage show based on Swedish pop music comes to American theaters.  Well, you don’t see that every week.  The long-running international musical has made more than a few quid since its premiere in London in 1999.  Just how successful?  It’s the 17th longest running Broadway show of all-time (beating out little muscials like Sound of Music, The Music Man, and My Fair Lady).  It’s been adapted in eleven different languages and has grosssed and estimated $2 billion worldwide.

On a small Greek island Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for her wedding to Sky (Dominic Cooper), but something is missing.  Sophie has been raised on the island by her loving mother Donna (Meryl Streep), former lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos who now owns and runs a small villa on the island.  Sophie loves her mother and her life, but she has always been kept in the dark about the identity of her father.

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Psych – The Complete Second Season

  • Title: Psych – The Complete Second Season
  • tv.com: link

psych-season-two-dvdPsychic Detecive Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best pal Gus (Dulé Hill) return for a second season of wacky antics, 80’s references, and crime solving. The Season Two investigations include attempted murder of a reality-TV celebrity judge (Tim Curry), an FBI counterfeiting investigation, a former bully (Ben Giroux) in need of help, Gus taking a turn as the psychic, Henry (Corbin Bernsen) going undercover at a retirement community, murder at a secret society, a trip back to school, and evil nannies.

Also this season the pair (only somewhat successfully) try their hands at bounty hunting and male modeling, get a visit from Gus’ wife (Kerry Washington), spend time on the set of Spanish soap opera, and try to keep both of Gus’ parents (Ernie HudsonPhylicia Rashad) out jail for murder.

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