Comedy

30 Rock – Season 2

/ / Home Video
  • Title: 30 Rock – The Complete Second Season
  • tv.com: link

“I like when a woman has ambition; it’s like seeing a dog wearing clothes.”

When 30 Rock originally aired I wasn’t impressed.  To me the first season which was slightly less fun than staring at color bars, was painfully unfunny.  So it was with more than a little trepidation when I sat down to watch the second season on DVD.  Imagine my surprise when it turned out that while I wasn’t watching the show it began to find the funny.

The show takes place in NBC Universal headquarters inside the GE Building at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza (thus the title).  Tina Fey stars as the head writer for a comedy series which stars Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowsi.

The main focus of 30 Rock is the behind the scenes antics of those who work in the building from the other writers on the show (Scott Adsit, Frank Friedlander, Keith Powell), to the loyal page (Jack McBrayer) and the studio suit (Alec Baldwin).

…

30 Rock – Season 2Read More »

30 Rock – Season 2 Read More »

I Served the King of England

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále)
  • IMDB: link

“It was my luck to run into bad luck.”

From the Czech Republic comes this tale of a waiter with dreams of being a millionaire who finds himself caught up in love, money, desire, and the Nazi invasion of his homeland. The story follows the remembrances of Jan Dite (Oldrich Kaiser) who, recently released in prison after almost 15 years, begins a new life and thinks back of the experiences of his younger self (Ivan Barnev).

We follow the young waiter’s experiences as he works himself up the ladder at various restaurants and hotels over the years.  Dite’s slow rise takes some unexpected, and often humorous, turns over the years.

His emotional journey also takes him through the arms (and out of the beds) of beautiful women before falling hopelessly in love with a card carrying Nazi (Julia Jentsch).

…

I Served the King of EnglandRead More »

I Served the King of England Read More »

Religulous

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Religulous
  • IMDB: link

“I don’t believe in Santa Claus.”
“Of course not, that’s one man flying all around the world and dropping presents down a chimney.  One man hearing everybody murmur to him at the same time, that I get.”

In an attempt to better undestand religon, and to make some fun out of the more ridiculous beliefs, Bill Maher takes a trip around the world to discuss relgiion with politicans, scientists, theologians, and the common people.  What results is an often funny, though not that enlightening, experience.

Much like Michael Moore, Maher begins his journey with a preconceived outcome – proving the ridiculousness and dangerous nature of all the world’s various religions.  Although quite humorous with his quips and various well-placed clips from religious films, he’s mostly preaching to those who already don’t believe in organized religion.

…

ReligulousRead More »

Religulous Read More »

Leatherheads on DVD

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Leatherheads
  • IMDB: link

“You’re only as young as the women you feel.”

In 1925 college football was king and professional football was struggling to get by.  Here we join Dodge Connelly (Geroge Clooney) and his desperate last attempt to save the league by wooing college star and war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) into professional football.

Those familiar with the screwball comedy know what to expect as we’re given fast-talking dialgoue, phsycial hyjinks, and a love story between a footballer and a reporter (Renée Zellweger).  For more on the film itself read the original review.

If you missed Leatherheads in the theater it’s worthy of at least a rental.  The extras alone, though nice (at least on the regular DVD edition), don’t scream must have however.  The special features are nothing special and the commentary gives little added insight to the making of the film.  Fans of Clooney, screwball comedy, and 1920’s era style films will still want to take a long look at this good, though not great, DVD edition.

Leatherheads on DVD Read More »

Ghost Town

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Ghost Town
  • IMDB: link

“You died.”
“I died?”
“A little bit.”

Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) doesn’t like people.  The dentist has a disdain for pretty much the entire human race, but his life is changed by an unforeseen side-effect of a routine surgery.

The dentist goes in for a routine colonoscopy, dies for seven minutes on the table, and walks out with an ability to see and hear dead people.  And New York it seems has more than its share of ghosts.

Pincus is hounded by the spirits needing closure led by recently deceased Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) who wants Pincus to ruin his widow’s relationship with a lawyer.  Pincus immediately falls for Gwen (Tea Leoni) and agrees, but most overcome his own personality and self-history to win her over.

…

Ghost TownRead More »

Ghost Town Read More »