Movie #263 - The Heartbreak Kid

The Heartbreak Kid
2007 - Rated R - 1 hr 56 min
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Starring: Ben Stiller, Malin Akerman, Michelle Monaghan, Jerry Stiller, Rob Corddry, Carlos Mencia, Danny McBride, Stephanie Courtney

A Farrelly brothers movie starring Ben Stiller? This should kick ass. Sadly, it's not as good as some of their other endeavors.  Still, Malin Akerman is perfectly annoying in every possible way, so it's got that going for it.  And Ben Stiller is all bachelor-on-the-brink-of-loveless-curmudgeon until you want to smack him.

This rom-com is too heavy on the com and leaves a lot to be desired from the rom.  Plus, the whole cross-wires in love concept gets tired by the end.

All in all, some fun scenes to watch. And Michelle Monaghan is adorable. Too adorable for Ben Stiller's irritating character in this one.

Movie #166 - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
2004 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 32 min
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Rip Torn, Justin Long, Alan Tudyk

Oh man, do I love this movie.  I realize I say that about 90% of the comedies on the movie wall, but I can't help it, I love to laugh.  And Ben Stiller in this movie, and all his priceless one-liners, really make me laugh. 

As I like to say whenever appropriate, "Nobody makes me bleed my own blood."

I think that says it all.

But then there's Rip Torn and his quotable dodgeball coaching sessions ("If you can dodge traffic, you can dodge a ball.") I'm not sure how helpful they really are, but they're hillarious. 

The movie as a whole follows a predictable trajectory... evil guy tries to stomp out good guy, good guy triumphs after much strife and turmoil.  But if you need a good laugh, and some light subject matter to occupy you for a few minutes, pop this DVD in and enjoy.

After all, Chuck Norris gives it a thumbs up.

Movie #23 - Along Came Polly

Along Came Polly
Universal Pictures
2004 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 30 min
Director: John Hamburg
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Hank Azaria, Alec Baldwin

Ben Stiller plays the same goofy, lovestruck, hopeless guy he does in most of his movies. In this, he's an insurance adjuster who can't take risks. When his wife unexpectedly cheats on him (on the first day of the honeymoon), he freaks out, goes home, and bumps into the least likely woman to be interested in him... Surprisingly, she is interested (What is it that the ladies love so much about Ben?)

Overall, it's just a funny rom-com with a basic plotline, cast of characters, and a few choice one-liners thrown in for fun. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alec Baldwin are probably the best parts about this movie. Still, I enjoyed watching it for the first time in a few years.