Movie #371 - Dave

Dave
1993 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank , Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley, Charles Grodin, Laura Linney, Bonnie Hunt, Faith Prince

Clever concept here, with a stand-in taking up the helm when the president has a massive stroke.  Dave is the guy replacing the Prez and he takes some liberties as he gets more and more comfortable in his borrowed dress shoes.  Who knows if presidents really have body doubles or not, but it does make a really good premise.

Add Sigourney Weaver as the estranged wife who helps put on a good show for the cameras.  Of course she figures it out, it's only a matter of time... right?  And what happens when the game is over and Dave can't carry on anymore?  The end of this movie seems a bit contrived (SPOILER ALERT), since I really can't see a presidential look-alike being able to mount his own campaign for a political office.  Won't people get confused? Won't conspriacy theorists catch on?  I'd think they'd give him his own private island somewhere or something like that.

Oh well.  If you watch this one, check out little Ving Rhames.... if it wasn't for the voice, I'd never recognize him!

Movie #243 - The Great Muppet Caper

The Great Muppet Caper
1981 - Rated G - 1 hr 35 min
Director: Jim Henson
Starring: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Charles Grodin, Diana Rigg, John Cleese, Kathryn Mullen, Jack Warden

A lone Muppet movie in the G's is a treat. Yay!  The witty dialogue, sing-along songs, and guest appearances that make the Muppets famous are all alive and well in this classic movie.  Wow... this was made the year I was born. It's ooooollllldddd.

Anyway, Kermit and Fozzy play identical twins turned journalists who travel to England to get to the bottom of a jewelry robbery.  In a classic case of mistaken identity, they think Miss Piggy is Lady Holliday, a wealthy fashion designer who was robbed.  Turns out, her brother is the evil thief.  He falls in love with Miss Piggy (cuz, that's what happens, you know?) and the Muppets have to interrupt the heist to save the day.

So not only do the Muppets go international in this movie, but they're solving crimes! What kid from the 80's doesn't love a good Muppet movie, espeically this one?

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.