Movie Review The Hangover

The Hangover (2009) 

Directed by Todd Phillips

Written by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore 

Starring Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha 

Release Date June 5th, 2009 

Published June 5th, 2009 

The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas has long been a tempting target for the movies. But, rarely has the ever so carefully un-wholesome Vegas mantra "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" been better explored than in the brilliant new comedy The Hangover. Directed by Old School's Todd Phillips, The Hangover is male arrested development and Vegas debauchery at its finest.

Four pals travel to Sin city with plans to drink and gamble and be back home with a day to spare before one of them, Doug (Justin Bartha) gets married. Those plans go out the window fast as a night of PG-13 debauchery takes an X-rated turn and the groom ends up missing.

The story picks up the day after the debauchery when Doug's pals Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Andy (Zach Galifianakis) awaken in their high roller suite to find a purloined tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet and one missing groom. They remember nothing of the night before and have to piece the night together from available evidence.

A medical bracelet tells them they took a trip to the hospital. A valet claim card delivers the police cruiser they evidently stole and a photo tells them that Stu married to a complete stranger. The trip to the hospital, the cop shop and the chapel lead to more bizarre revelations as we follow on a debaucherously amateur detective story.

The story is inventive in the way it continues to spin the boys' behavior out into new and ever more outrageous action but what really sets The Hangover apart are the three actors at its center. Bradley Cooper plays the handsome ladies man as a wannabe bachelor bitter about having given up his freedom for marriage. He is the traditional lead in a comedy of this sort but Cooper gives the role an edge by blending into the ensemble and truly being one of the boys.

The Office co-star Helms is the nebbish nerd with a harridan girlfriend (Rachel Harris) whose so henpecked he has to say he's in wine country instead of Vegas and has some real tap dancing to do when the trip is extended by another day. Helms gets the privilege of playing opposite the radiant Heather Graham as the proverbial hooker with a heart of gold who may be the key to him leaving his old life behind.

And then there is Zach Galifianakis. The enigmatic comic, known for making the great Steven Wright look cheery in comparison when on the stand up stage, is the breakout star of summer 2009.

Roger Ebert fairly compares Galifianakis to John Belushi in Animal House. It's that iconic. Zach's Andy is a wealth of comic non-sequiturs and manages to make a character generally played as a creep into a sweetheart of a man-child whose naïve observations and physical carriage are parts of the funniest performance of the summer.

The Hangover is arguably the funniest movie of 2009. Destined to break out the pack thanks to its absurd amount of laughs and slightly tweaked take on material that seems more familiar than it really is. It's essentially a road picture filled with human caricatures, recognizable types who should work through a mechanical plot to a rote end. Not the case here where the mechanics are twisted and turned in such surprising and hilarious ways.

This is one time where you will welcome a Hangover.

Movie Review Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011) 

Directed by John Schultz

Written by Megan McDonald, Kathy Waugh

Starring Heather Graham, Paris Mosteller, Preston Bailey, Jaleel White

Release Date June 10th, 2011 

Published June 11th, 2011

"Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" arrives in theaters on Friday, June 10th and while author Megan McDonald, who originated the character Judy Moody in a series of Kid-Lit books in 2000, has a book out now of the same title, in a rare break with convention, the story of Not Bummer Summer was created specifically for the Judy's big screen debut.

Judy Moody The Movie

"Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" stars newcomer Jordana Beatty as Judy Moody, a quirky pre-teen with big plans for a thrilling summer. Judy has devised a game for her friends that involves earning thrill points. But, when Judy's best pals each have to leave for the summer and Judy is suddenly left with her little brother Stink in the care of their unusual Aunt Opal (Heather Graham), Judy's summer looks like a bummer.

In 2009 producers with Smokewood Entertainment approached author Megan McDonald about bringing Judy Moody to the big screen. Many of the biggest movie studios in Hollywood chased the project but it was Smokewood that offered the most unique and daring opportunity for the author.

A Break from Convention

In an effort to stay true to the spirit of Judy Moody, Megan McDonald was offered the chance to author the screenplay herself with the aid of her longtime friend, and professional screenwriter, Kathy Waugh. Together, McDonald and Waugh launched a story that, in a break with Hollywood convention, was not a direct adaptation of an existing Judy Moody book but a new story that launched from the existing characters.

Producer Sarah Siegel Magness, who was producing the Oscar Nominated drama "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" when she obtained the rights to Judy Moody, says "We drew inspiration from the existing books without repeating actual storylines." That means that fans of the Judy Moody books are in for an entirely new Judy adventure on the big screen.

Heather Graham is Aunt Opal

Heather Graham co-stars in "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer '' as Aunt Opal, a character that Judy Moody fans will get to know for the first time in Judy's first big screen adventure. Says author Megan McDonald of Aunt Opal, "We spent a good deal of time developing (Aunt Opal) and writing a whole backstory for Aunt Opal." "She's very artistic and a little bit outside the box but not wacky, she sparkles with energy."

Your Judy Moody Favorites

Aside from Aunt Opal, each of your favorite Judy Moody characters are back in '˜Not Bummer Summer' including Amy Namey (Taylar Hendar), Rocky (Garrett Ryan), Frank (Preston Bailey), Stink (Paris Mosteller) and Judy's favorite teacher, Mr. Todd (Jaleel White.)

Characters new and well known will enjoy a '˜Not Bummer Summer' in theaters nationwide Friday, June 10th.

Movie Review Sidewalks of New York

Sidewalks of New York (2001) 

Directed by Ed Burns 

Written by Ed Burns 

Starring Ed Burns, Rosario Dawson, Heather Graham, Brittany Murphy, Stanley Tucci

Release Date November 21st, 2001 

Published February 3rd, 2002 

Sidewalks is the story of interconnected New Yorkers being interviewed for the same documentary on sex and relationships. Ed Burns is a TV executive who is newly single and living with his boss played by Dennis Farina who in turn meets a divorcee played by Rosario Dawson. David Krumholz plays Dawson's ex-husband who is attempting to woo a waitress played by Brittany Murphy. Murphy's waitress is also seeing a married man played by Stanley Tucci who's married to Heather Graham who's a real estate agent showing apartments to Ed Burns character.

Once were introduced to the characters they set about on a series of mundanities meant to be insightful about relationships, fidelity, and sex but it's all really hot air from a bunch of characters so self centered it's amazing they have time for relationships with anyone else. Burns' relationship with Dawson is particularly insignificant, with two dates, sex and that's it. We have just witnessed the least interesting relationship in each character's lives, and only at the end does the director try to make the relationship something worth caring about. The gimmick is cheap and obviously only in the film to provide the relationship with significance.

The biggest problem with Sidewalks of New York is its documentary gimmick which is both confusing and unnecessary. Confusing because the documentary camera never stops filming, which doesn't jibe with the characters who are called on not to notice they are on camera unless they are performing their testimonials. The gimmick becomes even more confusing when you try to figure out how the documentary filmmakers just happen to catch the first meeting of 3 of the couples. Was it luck and why didn't they notice they were on camera? Why does the camera follow Burns on his search for an apartment when the documentary is about relationships? And if those scenes weren't actually a part of the documentary, why do we still have to put up with the documentary style shaky cam?

Sidewalks of New York is a complete mess and a sad misstep for the very talented Burns whose two previous films, The Brothers McMullan and She's The One treated the same relationship turf as Sidewalks but with more insight and realism. Burns should consider going back to his humble roots and leave the talkative uptown New Yorkers to Woody Allen.