I was once asked to explain the secrets behind my prowess when it came to the matter of wooing over members of the opposite gender. I know you may ask yourself why someone would ever need to know such information, but the question was one that was honest. I gave the very simple explanation that in a relationship I have always been slow to start, but I have the unique ability to finish well. In seeing Lucky Number Slevin, the latest offering from the Weinstien Company, I feel that I have found a film that parallels my ways with the ladies.

At first sight this film may seem like your average murder comedy, falling in line with the likes of The Whole Nine Yards or even The Whole Ten Yards. This sentiment is enhanced by the fact that this film stars Bruce Willis as a legendary contract killer with a hidden agenda. Hmm, I think we have seen this before, eh? Willis’ character, known as Goodkat, is a man with a secretive plan that includes the use of a young guy named Nick Fisher, played by Josh Hartnett. The only problem is that Hartnett’s character is not actually Nick Fisher, he is Slevin. And despite the mistaken identity, being in the wrong place at the wrong time lands Slevin in the middle of an impending gang war between two very old foes, played by Morgan Freeman and Sir Ben Kingsley. He soon finds out that not only are tensions high between the two very powerful men, but also that the mysterious Nick Fisher is in debt deep to both sides, leading to him being charged with the most dangerous tasks of redemption: murder. As if to say that being forced into being a contract killer isn’t enough, Slevin is sidetracked by the energetic and alluring girl next door Lindsey, played by Lucy Lu. And with the chips all stacked against him, the unshaken Slevin is forced into a path that leaves a lot of blood and a significant dose of laughter along the way.

Read the rest of this entry »

In an effort to help anyone reading this understand whether this film is worth seeing or not, I am going to place a disclaimer on this review. And the disclaimer is as follows: There are times when I make the trip to my local cineplex and see a film that is wrought with immature themes and cheap “poop and fart joke” humor. During these films it is very likely that I am transformed into a 12 year old boy, and become very easily amused. This was very recently the case…

I have long considered some of the great post-SNL comedians who have gone on to make some of the best comedies of their time. The likes of Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and even the most recent success of Will Ferrell come to mind. But Chase and Murray dominated the 80’s, while Ferrell is taking over in the first decade of the 21st Century. In the 90’s, there were two SNL alums that stuck out in my mind: Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. And you have to look at where they have gone since their hay-days to understand this next comment. Farley, as we all know, met an untimely end due to drug overdose. Sandler on the other hand, has matured in his career and gone on to make films that are actually recognized as being more than just slapstick comedy, but of a solid dramatic quality (Punch Drunk Love comes to mind.) This is a maturity that seems to be the natural progression for most comedians.

But this is not really about Sandler and Farley, is it? No. They are not in this film. It is about two actors who road on the coattails of Sandler and Farley: Rob Schneider and David Spade. These two brought balance to the comedic antics of the afore mentioned Sandler and Farley. They were the second half of two solid comedic teams . Just think Tommy Boy or Happy Gilmore. What would Tommy Boy have been without David Spade’s snide remarks about Tommy’s weight? What would Happy Gilmore have been without the “You can do it!” guy? They may have been entertaining, but not quite as much. This brings me to my point, finally. While the likes of Adam Sandler have grown up and become real actors, what has become of Spade and Schneider? To say the least, they have become Benchwarmers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Entire societies have been constructed based on the eternal battle between good versus evil, right versus wrong, and not to mention freedom versus tyranny. These epic battles have always taken place with clear cut sides; a predominantly black and white affair. But what has become of modern society? We are less drawn to the great good versus evil story, but rather we are able to be controlled by those who are able to blur the lines between one side and the other. Such is the subject of Thank You for Smoking, a dangerously heartwarming new comedy from Jason Reitman, son of the legendary Ivan Reitman.

Thank You for Smoking is the tale of Nick Naylor. Nick is the man whose job it is to stand up for big tobacco; and he is extremely good at what he does. The proclaimed “Sultan of Spin,” Naylor travels the country casting shadows over the dangers of smoking, allowing those whom he serves to profit off of the addictive substance. But as mounting pressure from a Liberal Senator from Vermont, played by William H. Macy, begins to throw Naylor into the battle of his career he is torn between the job at which he has become incomparably successful and his place as a role model for his 12 year old son, Joey. With his arrogance and his smooth way with words, Nick sets forth on his journey through the highs and lows of being the marked man at the top of one of the world’s most despised entities.

Read the rest of this entry »