Movie #390 - The Italian Job

The Italian Job
2003 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 51 min
Director: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sutherland, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def, Scott Adsit

I've never seen the original, so I can't compare. And I can't give my typical spiel about remakes either, since there's nothing for me to be upset about.  Regardless of its predecessor, I like this movie.  Revisiting it, I was surprised how much, in fact.  There's a great cast of young actors here and an Ed Norton baddie that's kinda fun to see.

A good balance of action scenes, humor, and drama keeps this movie going for me.  It doesn't get too caught up in the heist piece to tell you a decent storyline and the concept of avenging a friend's (or father's) death is much more stomachable than just a group of people out to steal some gold.  It works, it feels like a fresh reboot, and it makes me want to rent the original just to compare.

Movie #366 - Can't Hardly Wait

Can't Hardly Wait
1998 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 40 min
Directors: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green, Freddy Rodriguez,  Sean Patrick Thomas, Donald Faison, Jaime Pressly, Selma Blair, Jason Segel, Chris Owen

Oh, high school. This movie came out the year before I graduate high school, so the whole party-before-college premise rung true for me at the time.  Jocks, nerds, cheerleaders, and X-filers alike can revel in this movie's accurate rendering of high school in the 90s.  And what a cast... so many great bit parts played by actors who have real careers now!

See if you can spot Selma Blair. Or how about Jason Segel?  Yep, that's him all right!  This was fun to revisit after so much time has passed.  Not only could I still remember my favorite lines, but finding all these "new" faces in the crowd became a game for me. 

Anyway, it's no Oscar winner, nor does it have the kind of original plot that keeps you riveted.  The characters are stereotypes, the acting's okay, but the real joy here is in what it represents for me.  If you didn't graduate high school in the late 90s, this might not strike the same chord for you.

Movie #40 - Austin Powers in Goldmember

Austin Powers in Goldmember
New Line Cinema
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Mike Myers, Beyonce Knowles, Michael Caine, Seth Green, Michael York, Verne Troyer

Beyonce is pretty good, and this was the first time people said, "Oh look, that chick from Destiny's Child is acting!" But the best part about this movie is Seth Green becoming evil. Hillarious.

Mike Myers takes on yet another character with Dutch nutbag Goldmember. Michael Caine plays his dad -- and all I can say is at least Mike Myers didn't play the part himself. Anyway, recycling jokes is the name once again and it's starting to get old. The Dr. Evil / Mimi Me raps are still hysterical though.

I love these movies individually, but watching them back to back to back made for one long day.

Movie #39 - Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
New Line Cinema
1999 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 35 min
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Mike Myers, Heather Graham, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Verne Troyer

I think this movie was written for the express purpose of introducing Mini Me. And I can't say I blame Mike Myers. Who doesn't want a mini version of themselves?

Many of the jokes from the first movie get re-hashed and Mike Myers takes on a third character with Fat Bastard. Heather Graham is fun, existing solely to speak the line: "Felicity Shagwell. Shagwell by name, shag very well by reputation." Oh my.

Still, lots of fun. I mean, this movie supplied most of the quotes used and reused with friends during my college days. What can I say? Mini Me, you complete me.

Movie #38 - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
New Line Cinema
1997 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 34 min
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Seth Green, Mimi Rogers

I don't think Austin Powers was used by Mike Myers on the show, but much of this movie feels like an SNL-skit-turned-film. Maybe it's just Mike Myers that makes me say that. But don't get me wrong, I still think it's hysterical.

In this first movie, the jokes were still new, the whole Austin's-60's-style-doesn't-hold-up-in-the-90's thing was kinda funny, and Mike Myers only played two characters. It's mostly pee, fart, and sex jokes, but since he buys into the character so well, it works. Another fun one to pick up and watch again.