Movie #250 - Hamlet 2

Hamlet 2
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 32 min
Director: Andrew Flemins
Starring: Steve Coogan, Elisabeth Shue, Catherine Keener, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, David Arquette, Amy Poehler, Melonie Diaz

Oh my God, I love this movie so much.  It's one part Waiting for Guffman and one part Napoleon Dynamite all grown up.  Awkward and lame high school drama director tackles his inner demons by rewriting Hamlet with a happy ending? Done.

The kids in this movie are also fantastic.  Epiphany's racist, Rand's in the closet, and Octavio's a secret genius, mistaken for a troubled, "ethnic" youth.  As they work together despite their differences, and their director's life falls apart, and the school bans the show, you're never in doubt that the show will go on.  It's just funny to watch how they'll get there. 

Maybe I love this movie because I'm a theater person. But I'm pretty sure it's hillarious even if you don't know which direction stage left is.

Movie #190 - The Ex

The Ex
2006 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 17 min
Director: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Charles Grodin, Jason Bateman, Mia Farrow, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, Amy Adams

Here's a first-time watch. And I'm still kinda scratching my head about this one. I have many questions. For example, why was it made? And what happens to Jason Bateman at the end? That's it?! Problem solved? Is he OKAY?!

So Zach Braff and Amanda Peet are young, married, and have fallen upon hard times that lead him to work with her father.  Despite their honest effort, they can't seem to be happy in their new roles: Braff as marketing ad guy, Peet as full-time mom.  And Jason Bateman, an old boyfriend of Peet's and new coworker of Braff's, is not making life any easier for both of them.

My big problem with this was it's general mean-spiritedness. It's not that funny and, at times, it's just awkward.  There's also a lot of wasted talent here. These people are funny and they're not allowed to act like it. Amy Poehler, Amy Adams, and Donal Logue are mostly wasted here. It could've been so much better. 

Now, I love a good awkward comedy scene as much as the next guy, but scenes in this movie made me cringe.  Not to mention that Zach Braff is incapable of playing any character other than J.D. on Scrubs. Amanda Peet and Charles Grodin were good though.

That's all I've got on this one, folks.

Movie #82 - Blades of Glory

Blades of Glory
Dreamworks
2007 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 33 min
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson, Romany Malco, lots of skating pros

Any time I need a pick-me-up, I turn to a good Will Ferrell comedy.  (You'll notice I said "good," so Semi-Pro is strategically missing from the movie wall.) When I was pregnant with my daughter, this was often found in the DVD player just because it makes me laugh.

For pure entertainment purposes, this movie is fantastic.  The plot is a bit fantastical, but the satire of figure skating is a lot of fun.  A huge list of skating pros appear in this movie, which just makes it that much better.  And how can you not love "Coach" playing their coach? Craig T. Nelson is a quiet tyrant in this movie and it's awesome.  Ferrell is outrageous and Jon Heder is the farthest thing from Napoleon Dynamite that a man can be.  From start to finish, I love these characters and this movie.

Movie #45 - Baby Mama

Baby Mama
Universal Pictures
2008 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 39 min
Director: Michael McCullers
Starring: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Greg Kinnear, Dax Sheppard, Romany Malco, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Martin, Maura Tierney


Two movies in a row about women preparing for babies! Weird.


Anyway, this movie is pure insanity, mostly because of Amy Poehler and Dax Sheppard. Tina Fey plays her typical character - work-driven, wants to become a late in life mother, hopelessly awkward in a social setting, wears glasses. Poehler does the same, but with some extra spunk. She takes "crazed white trash" to a whole new level. And then sells it to you.


If you watch this movie, you're mostly watching it for the two of them and their priceless interactions. Romany Malco is pretty funny as Oscar, the doorman. And Greg Kinnear is his usual handsome, chipper self. The plot is fairly predictable and has a nice neat ending, where everyone gets something. Don't watch it to analyze, just watch it to laugh,

And don't be surprised if you find yourself quoting it later.

Hey... "I don't know your life!" Ok?