Movie #348 - Knocked Up

Knocked Up
2007 - Rated R - 2 hr 9 min
Director: Judd Apatow
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Harold Ramis, Alan Tudyk, Kristen Wiig

Knocked Up was one of those movies that came out and everyone raaaaaaaaved about it. "Go see it! Go see it! It's hillarious!" I waited till it came out on DVD and saw it at home, expecting really good things.

Instead, I felt like it wasn't as funny as it could have been. And Katherine Heigl annoyed the piss out of me.  Especially in the delivery room when she's arguing that she can't get induced because her birth plan says no drugs... when the doctor says the baby's health and safety is at risk.  What?! Helllllllooooooooo?

I'm a mom and I wanted a natural delivery. But when the doctor said, "Your baby needs to come out now," I did not argue for a second. I said, "What do I sign?"

Sorry, kids. But that one irksome scene isn't the only issue I have.  Heigl and Rogen have absolutely no chemistry.  I really want to like this, cuz I love these guys and Judd Apatow.  I don't hate it... but I think it got talked up to me too much and the only way to go was down.

Movie #291 - I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man
2009 - Rated R - 1 hr 45 min
Director: John Hamburg
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Sarah Burns, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Jane Curtin, JK Simmons, Andy Samberg

Who doesn't love this movie? Paul Rudd's so adorably awkward that you can't help but laugh.  And the modern bro-mance is forever captured here on film.  The twist on the rom-com is clever and the relationship between our two "bros" is fun and realistic. It may not be heavy on the thinking, but it's a good laugh.

It's also nice to see the Hulk working again, sleeper holds and all.  The Lou Ferrigno subplot is one of the best parts of this movie, as well as the Rush concert cameo.  There's enough here to make this a great comedy, even if the plot is a tad bit predictable.  But hey, isn't using two dudes in a rom-com enough of a twist to keep things interesting?

Movie #210 - Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 51 min
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Liz Cackowski, Maria Thayer, Jack McBrayer, Jonah Hill

From the awkward naked breakup in the very beginning to the Dracula puppet musical at the end, I love this damn movie.  Jason Segel hits every note of this movie perfectly and in an adorably charming way like no other.  Who could blame Mila Kunis for falling for him? And who could forgive Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) for leaving him?

And then, of course, there's Russell Brand's Aldous Snow - a character that is the stuff of legends.  Seriously, he inspired a second, unrelated movie to be written about this character.  So well done.  So what if it's not really acting because Russell Brand truly is that nuts? Now we all get to enjoy it together.

If you haven't seen this, please do.  It's smart and funny, and tackles a topic near and dear to all of our hearts: how to move on when you've been brutally dumped.

Movie #124 - Clueless

Clueless
Paramount Pictures
1995 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 37 min
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Breckin Meyer

I had to skip Clue because it's out on loan, so I'll add that one back in when it's returned.  For now, onto a movie that defined a generation of teenaged girls... myself included.

As if!

I love love love this movie, especially since it's a (loose) adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. How clever and relevant to the times, how touching to bring Austen into modern cinema under the radar.  For years, I didn't even know about that. Look at that - the subtle influence of classic literature on an unsuspecting generation of girls.  Brilliant.

Anyway, Alicia Silverstone's career was made on this film, as well as Brittany Murphy's (man, do I miss her!!) And Donald Faison (Turk from Scrubs) is in this too, which is weird for me now because I watch that show.  When I first started watching Scrubs, he was "that guy from Clueless" but now, watching the movie, he's become "that guy from Scrubs." Funny how that works.

As the most quotable movie ever - in my opinion - this one's hard to watch without reciting the lines.  Maybe guys don't love this as much as I do - okay, I know they don't - but I think this movie is completely awesome, probably because of how unobtrusive the wit is.  It's satire done well and even now, 15 years later, I can still appreciate that.

Man... 15 years? That's disgusting.

Movie #27 - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
DreamWorks
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, Kathryn Hahn

Oh, I looooooooooooooooooooooove this movie. Watching it again was just fun for me, quoting all my favorite lines and singing along with the four-part harmony to "Afternoon Delight." I just got to sit back and enjoy Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and David Koechner be absolutely weird (and 100% bought-into their characters). In fact, that's probably what makes this comedy so awesome - you really believe they are these outrageous 70's era newscasters.

Oh yeah, and you get to add a little Fred Willard (and a brief moment of Jack Black).... sweet.

Movie #9 - The 40-year-old Virgin

The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Universal Pictures
2005 - Rated R - 1 hr 57 min
Director: Judd Apatow
Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd

It was nice to get a good comedy in between 28 Days Later and the pending 300. Nice for some Steve Carell/Judd Apatow hillarity. And my God, do I love Paul Rudd!

Anyway, this is one of the mountain of funny movies created by this lot in the last decade. Apatow, Carrell, Rudd, Seth Rogen... even Jonah Hill pops up in this one. And that doorman guy from Baby Mama, he's in this too. Add Jane Lynch (yay!) and Catherine Keener and it's a perfect cast.



This is the movie that made Carrell more than a side character, Kelly Clarkson a swear word, and virginity hillarious. Love it :) If you haven't seen this, take a peak. Totally worth the watch and you'll probably laugh your butt off.



I can't believe I hadn't seen this movie since we rented it!