Maybe it’s a Canadian thing. Like his countryman, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen has a voice that’s 10 years older than he is — a combination of world-weariness and exuberance, an instrument that he’s mastered for specific comic shadings. Sutherland wrings anger and shock from the premature gray in his, and by the time 24 ended, he’d physically caught up with the age emanating from his larynx. In the likable, misfits-on-the road comedy Paul , Rogen’s soulful rustiness is used for the sound of the intergalactic traveler. With it, he lays a claim to being one of the premier vocal talents of his generation.
While his castmates Amy Adams, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo got Oscar nominations for their roles in The Fighter (out this week in a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack from Paramount Home Entertainment) — with the latter two winning the trophy — Mark Wahlberg’s performance went unheralded. (He did, however, share in the film’s Best Picture nod as one of its producers.) But given the larger-than-life quality that Bale and Leo, in particular, brought to their roles, it seemed like an intentional call on the part of Wahlberg and director David O. Russell to let Wahlberg’s on-screen personality recede a bit so the spotlight could shine elsewhere. Still, he’s just fine in the film, and it inspired me to think of the sublime (and the ridiculous) turns he’s had elsewhere — and no, we’re not counting The Marky Mark Workout in either category.
Movieline’s own Jen Yamato saw Bridesmaids at SXSW and declared it a magnificent crowd-pleaser and the best R-rated comedy since The Hangover . I believe her! But I can’t believe the tone set by the new Bridesmaids trailer, which undersells the movie’s intelligence and goes for cheap romcom laughs. Rage!
Movieline’s own Jen Yamato saw Bridesmaids at SXSW and declared it a magnificent crowd-pleaser and the best R-rated comedy since The Hangover . I believe her! But I can’t believe the tone set by the new Bridesmaids trailer, which undersells the movie’s intelligence and goes for cheap romcom laughs. Rage!
Movieline’s own Jen Yamato saw Bridesmaids at SXSW and declared it a magnificent crowd-pleaser and the best R-rated comedy since The Hangover . I believe her! But I can’t believe the tone set by the new Bridesmaids trailer, which undersells the movie’s intelligence and goes for cheap romcom laughs. Rage!
SNL superstar Kristen Wiig breezed into Austin midnight Sunday for what director Paul Feig accurately termed “Kristen Wiig Appreciation Night” — a double header of this Friday’s Paul followed by a special work in progress screening of this summer’s Bridesmaids . The May 13 comedy marks Wiig’s first honest-to-goodness starring vehicle, an event in itself, but here’s even better news: Bridesmaids isn’t just the smart and grounded antidote to the shrill chick flicks we all hate; it’s the most raunchy, sweet and wonderfully vulgar R-rated comedy in recent memory. Bring it, Hangover 2 .
SNL superstar Kristen Wiig breezed into Austin midnight Sunday for what director Paul Feig accurately termed “Kristen Wiig Appreciation Night” — a double header of this Friday’s Paul followed by a special work in progress screening of this summer’s Bridesmaids . The May 13 comedy marks Wiig’s first honest-to-goodness starring vehicle, an event in itself, but here’s even better news: Bridesmaids isn’t just the smart and grounded antidote to the shrill chick flicks we all hate; it’s the most raunchy, sweet and wonderfully vulgar R-rated comedy in recent memory. Bring it, Hangover 2 .
Kristen Wiig realizes that not everyone is going to universally love every single character that she creates on Saturday Night Live . It’s not that she spends a lot of time (or any time, for that matter) thinking about what the overall consensus will be, but it’s kind of hard to ignore when her own mother calls to voice disapproval over a new character.
The biggest shock about the Golden Globes? That they exceeded our expectations here at Movieline HQ and were actually enjoyable . Unprecedented. But don’t think it was all perfection; we also had our reservations. Join us for a recap of Sunday’s five most disappointing victories.