After four weeks, we finally sat down to watch 2009′s breakout comedy The Hangover. The film was directed by Todd Phillips, and stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galiafianakis. I think, at this point, hasn’t everyone seen this film but us? Four guys head to Las Vegas for a swingin’ bachelor party, and three of them wake up the next morning with no recollection of the night before. Furthermore, the groom-to-be is missing, and the guys follow various clues to backtrack their evening of debauchery (and dare I say it, chicanery?) to find the groom. 

Although the Blu-ray disc contained both the rated and unrated version my wife “woosed out” on watching the unrated version. Having watched the rated R version, I’m curious to know what the heck they took out that was too crazy for normal consumption. The Hangover was hilarious, it didn’t hit slow parts, and I found it to be fun movie to watch. I was laughing hard at times, which is always a good sign of a comedy. If you examine the film, there are no big-name celebrities, so I hope this is another nail in the coffin in the Hollywood belief that studies should pay celebrities big money to bring in the audience. If you have a good movie, people will come.

The Hangover (2009)

On a Sunday night, we made arrangements with my sister and BIL to drop off the kids at their house for babysitting, while we two would go see a movie. For adults. Not an adult-themed movie per se, but one we could watch without worrying about diaper changes. We went to see Date Night, the new comedy starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey.

The premise of the movie, if you haven’t heard, is that a married-with-children couple living sedentary lives in NJ suburbia until a married couple within their circle announce their upcoming separation and divorce. Shaken up, they decide to spice up the old routine weekly date nights with a trip to NYC. Beginning with a case of mistake identity, they get involved in a hectic night of hijinks.

Initially, the movie looked pretty good, and I’m a big fan of Carell and Fey. I suggested this movie to my wife, but we needed to find sitters for the kids, which is always a big pain. Also, the reviews for this movie weren’t outstanding, so I started to have my doubts. However, it’s not the movie or the meal that makes a date night for us. We’re just thrilled to spend some quality time with each other.

As for the movie, you know, it wasn’t the great comedy of 2010, but I laughed. There were some funny moments, and there were moments where the two characters actually had a realistic conversation. What I appreciated more than anything, I liked that there were more true-to-life situations. Now, I’m not talking about the car chases with corrupt cops, but I mean the down and dirty being married with kids. The awkwardness of finding time to be intimate, managing the kids, finding the romance, etc. This wasn’t a drama that focused on those concepts, but a comedy that had roots in that reality of life when you are not newlyweds, have kids, committments, etc.

Like I said — it wasn’t the greatest, but you know what? I still laughed.

Date Night (2010)

Last month, I started watching Men of a Certain Age, after I saw TNT running ads to promote their network lineup, including this show (see that, ABC? That’s how you promote your programming.)  So far, I’ve only missed the 2nd episode. The show features Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula as 40-something men in various phases of their lives. It follows the bonds that these three college friends have while dealing with the issues of middle age:

• Romano’s character is a neurotic family man with two kids, but his wife is divorcing him.
• Braugher’s character has a wife and kids, but is forced to work as a car salesman for his father’s dealership, in order to support the family.
• Bakula’s character is an actor and ladies man, but he struggles-and-despises the roles he’s getting, e.g Lifetime movies.

Men of a Certain Age (2009)

It’s a new show, so it hadn’t been getting stellar ratings, but I think it’s pretty decent. Good stories, and good acting. It’s interesting to watch these three guys deal with the crap in their lives, but still talk and bond with each other. In every episode, they meet up at a diner to talk about what’s going on. If my best friends lived nearby, I know I’d be doing the same thing. Out of all the characters, I identify the most with Andre Braugher’s Owen character. He’s a family man who hates working for his unforgiving father (and who constantly disrespects him), but needs to keep doing what he’s doing to take care of the family. I haven’t seen Braugher in much, but he’s a terrific actor.

The good news is that TNT renewed it today (January 14 2010) for a second season. Again, TNT must believe in letting a new show develop an audience (again, ABC, you suck.)

This must be an original uncensored video for an upcoming episode about swearing. It’s NSFW, so…… listen with your headphones on while the cast swears profusely with some nice insults. [I give credit to the folks over at io9.com for the original title, because it's right on the money.]

Last month, I heard about a relatively new show called Better Off Ted on ABC. I forget exactly where I heard about it.  I think someone mentioned it was funny. I didn’t remember much in the way of ABC tv promos, but I searched for it, and watched a season 1 episode available on Hulu.

I am in love with this show, and frankly, I find it consistently better than The Office has been these days. This show has a fun ensemble cast, great writing, and is just a smart comedy. Meanwhile, ABC is apparently burning off episodes one after another, and not even bothering to market this show. I heard nothing about this show beforehand, so really, that kind of mistake is ABC’s fault.  What is with network television executives and their cliched stupid decisions? How can they get rid of good shows, and leave crap like According to Jim on the air since 2001?

If you search for news on Better Off Ted, you’ll find journalists and critics and regular Joe’s saying how great this show is, and that it is worth saving.

While it’s still available, watch the season 2 premiere “Love Blurts.” The company decides to dabble in eugenics by trying to hook up employees in order to save on health insurance.

I just started the first two mins of “The Great Repression” [also below] about sexual harassment, and it’s already great two mins in.

Watch the show.  Decide if you think this show is worth saving. Join the campaign with me! Facebook it! Tweet it! Email an idiot at ABC! Do something! Just don’t let dumb comedy win out.

As per Ipe New Year’s Eve tradition, my wife and I ignore all the regular hoopla, and settle in for a nice, personal evening. This NYE, we celebrated it with drinking wine and watching Adventureland, a 2009 film written and directed by Greg Mottola (yes, of Superbad fame.)

The move takes place in 1987, and is about a recent college grad Jim (Jesse Eisenberg.)  He was to go to Columbia for graduate school, but needs to raise money over the summer, so he begins working at the Adventureland amusement park in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. While working the summer, he meets various people working the park, bonds, and experiences an interesting summer. He also meets Emily (Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame), and falls for her. You know, one of those deals. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig also star in this movie, but they are only supporting cast members.

This was a pretty good movie. It’s similar to many other movies in this vein, but it was still an interesting movie to watch.  I liked the direction, the acting was rather excellent by non-famous actors/actresses, and it was entertaining. Best of all? I loved the 80′s soundtrack.  According to the Wikipedia entry, 41 songs were licensed for use.  The original film soundtrack on iTunes doesn’t have all the songs, but I will have to check out the rest. Here’s the listing of songs [from Wikipedia]:

Additional songs

A selection of the songs not included on the soundtrack album:

• “Here She Comes Now” by The Velvet Underground (plays during the opening credits)
• “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest
• “Taste of Cindy” (acoustic version) by The Jesus and Mary Chain
• “Limelight” by Rush
• “Bastards of Young” by The Replacements (opening sequence)
• “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake
• “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes (used in the trailer)
• “Tops” by The Rolling Stones
• “So It Goes” by Nick Lowe
• “Let the Music Play” by Shannon
• “Point of No Return” by Exposé
• “Obsession” by Animotion
• “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung
• “I Want Action” by Poison

And that makes 42 movies for Joel in the year 2009. It’s a wrap!

Adventureland (2009)

I was home sick today.  When I wasn’t sleeping and clutching my rebelling internal organs, I watched The Heartbreak Kid on one of those HBO channels that we’re enjoying during our 3-month trial. Man, who knew that bad chicken curry could kill you?

While The Heartbreak Kid came out in 2007, I didn’t know that it was a remake of a 1972 pic starring Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd. It’s a Farrelly Brothers movie, so it’s got all the gross-out humor you would expect.  During its initial release, I heard negative reviews, so I didn’t bother watching it.  Hostage to my innards, I watched it in the afternoon.  Basically, Ben Stiller’s character meets and marries Malin Ackerman’s character and they get married after a whirlwind romance.  During the honeymoon, she soon reveals herself to be a nutjob.  Oh, and he meets Michelle Monaghan’s character on the honeymoon, and she appears to be the real woman of his dreams. Hilarity ensues.

The movie wasn’t so bad, but it turned predictable near the end.  It certainly had its moments of comedy, so I’d recommend it, but don’t expect some thought-provoking horror movie.  Frankly, why would you? You knew it was a comedy going in.  Dumbass.

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

After two long weeks, I finally had an opportunity to pop in the DVD from Netflix, and watch Tropic Thunder, starring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, etc.  So many people have mentioned this as a hilarious, and the trailers have made the movie look very promising.  My friend Raj came over to visit, and had a nice guys night.  We had pizza & beers, played some Madden ’07, and then watched Tropic Thunder.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

I have to confess that I wasn’t all the impressed with the movie. It had its occasional moments, but I didn’t think it was all that funny.  Being that this movie was about so-so actors not initially realizing they were not in an actual movie reminded me of the old 80′s comedy classic Three Amigos!, but I thought Three Amigos! was more consistently funny.  Tropic Thunder was only okay in my book.

After waiting two weeks, we watched Be Kind Rewind, a movie my wife added to our Netflix queue.  I had heard of the movie’s premise.  A couple of video rental store employees lose the inventory, and recreate each movie using schlocky homemade methods.  Starring Jack Black and Mos Def, I saved this type of movie in the “I’ll watch it on cable on a lazy Saturday afternoon category.  It was actually a decent little movie.  Some odd/humorous parts, with a  story thrown in about the town of Passaic’s backstory / community and saving the store.

Yeah, Passaic.  It takes place in Passaic, NJ, which is a hop, skip, and a jump to our old stomping grounds.

Be Kind Rewind (2008)

I got this as a joke email at work yesterday, and I thought I’d share it for fun.  Don’t get offended.  I chuckled at a few, because I got a few of these in the past week.  I’m not easy to live with.

1. Fine

This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2. Five Minutes

If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3. Nothing

This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with Nothing usually end in Fine.

4. Go Ahead

This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!

5. Loud Sigh

This is not actually a word, but it is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing.
(Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6. That’s Okay

This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. “That’s okay” means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7. Thanks

A woman is thanking you, do not question it or faint. Just say you’re welcome.

8. Whatever

Is a woman’s way of saying F*&@ YOU!

9. Don’t worry about it, I got it

Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but she is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “What’s wrong?”

For the woman’s response refer to #3.