Greenberg

OPENING: 03/26/2010

STUDIO: Focus Features

RUN TIME: 107 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
He’s got a lot on his mind.

Opening Statement
Greenberg is a film that can go either way with a person; either you’re going to wind up enjoying this movie, or you’re going to be bored to tears. The film combines the elements of comedy and sadness fairly well, meaning there’s something for everyone. The lead character is a rather deplorable man indeed, but Ben Stiller plays him great, and when all is said and done, if you’re like me, you’ll probably leave the theatre and reflect upon the moving pictures rather than forgetting them quickly.

Facts of the Case
Meet Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller, Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian). Best way to describe him? He’s just not put together all that well. He’s a New Yorker who’s out of work, unlucky with the ladies, and has a small history of mental and psychiatric issues. To top it all off, he’s a lazy and unmotivated individual, who is perfectly content with the fact that he’s unemployed. However, when asked by his brother Philip (Chris Messina, Julie and Julia) to house-sit his family’s Los Angeles home while they travel on a cross-country vacation, he does accept the offer. Amongst Roger’s numerous experiences while dwelling in LA include meeting his brother’s dependable, loyal assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig, The House of the Devil). Florence may be a hardworking, dedicated employee, but she has a list of quirks and strange traits of her own which occasionally hinder her relationships with other people. The more time Roger and Florence spend with one another, the more often sparks fly, and they both try to form a relationship and coexist while overcoming one another’s oddities and peculiarities

The Evidence

First and foremost, I’ve just got to say that writing this script could not have been an easy-to-undergo task. The story doesn’t feature a whole ton of depth, it is most of the time Florence and Roger trying to synchronize and find a reason to be with one another, without ripping the other one’s head the hell off. There are minor subplots showered throughout the movie, such as Roger dealing with Philip’s sick dog, and reconnecting with his childhood friend from his early days in LA, but the majority of the film surrounds the budding relationship between Florence and Roger. Some may view this as dull, but I believe director/writer Noah Baumbach made the film interesting and intriguing enough to hold your attention for the film’s duration, including a steady diet of dark humor and drama.

Acting-wise, Ben Stiller enters into a role like we’ve never seen before. We’re all used to seeing Stiller in laughable comedic roles like the characters he portrayed in Tropic Thunder, Night at the Museum, Zoolander, and Meet The Parents. Well, while the movie does make you laugh here and there, Stiller makes it happen through the use of dramatic outbursts and cursing up a storm, rather than through his comedian gifts. And as for the character he plays, Roger Greenberg is about as hatable a guy as you’ll ever want to encounter. He’s egotistical, he’s obnoxious, he’s self-righteous, and a guy no one in their right frame of mind would want to be around. I just can’t buy into Florence’s character ever falling for a guy like this.

Greta Gerwig makes her mainstream debut in Greenberg, taking a break from the mumblecore genre of movies. Overall, she was average. Nothing terribly special, which brings me back to the hard to believe script. I can’t decide whether it was her guppy of a character or Gerwig’s actual acting that made me dislike her in this movie. But whatever the case, she was just run of the mill, and certainly not one of the big draws of the movie.

The ending is left unclear in a lot of areas, and that I think more than anything is what’s going to turn people off from Greenberg. This movie isn’t horrible, but it’s not good enough to leave so many storylines open, no matter how minor they are. This is a movie that required closure due to its occasionally slow playout, and Baumbach failed big time to deliver in this department. Bottom line is this: Greenberg has enough likeable elements to not render it terrible, but at the same is flawed, annoying, and unrealistic. It’s a movie I enjoyed, but certainly don’t need to waste time watching a second time.

Closing Statement
Greenberg the movie isn’t as loathsome as Greenberg the character, that’s for certain. It kind of seems all over the place with weak storylines, unnecessary ambiguity with a severe lacking of closure, and a female lead character that simply didn’t do it for me. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see how the story panned out, and Ben Stiller was very good. See it eventually, but certainly don’t rush to spend your green on the aggravating Roger Greenberg.

The Verdict
6/10

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN

OPENING: 05/22/2009

STUDIO: Fox

RUN TIME: 105 min

TRAILER: Trailer

ACCOMPLICES: Official Site

SOUNDTRACK:

The Charge
When the lights go off the battle is on.

Opening Statement
At a time when studio execs are more than content with slapping a new coat of paint on an old movie and calling it a sequel, it’s encouraging to know there are still filmmakers willing to go the extra mile to bring audiences something smart and fresh.

Facts of the Case
It’s been three years since Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) saved New York’s Museum of Natural History from an Egyptian curse and three unscrupulous security guards. He’s since parlayed that confidence into a successful business inventing and marketing unique household products. Sadly, his new schedule allows very little time to spend at the museum, so he’s blind-sided to discover the place is getting a techno upgrade and his friends are being shipped off to The Smithsonian’s deep storage facility. If that weren’t bad enough, Dexter the monkey has hijacked the enchanted tablet of Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek), giving life to every one of The Smithsonian’s stored exhibits including Ahk’s deeply jealous brother Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) whose world domination plans are now back in business. Not only must Larry break into one of the country’s most secure facilities, but also enlist the help of new friends to rescue his pals and put a stop to Kah before the sun comes up and residents of the Nation’s capitol figure out just what the heck is going on.

The Evidence
Let’s face it, comedy is extremely subjective. What one person may view as a laugh-out-loud farce, another could find to be an excruciating waterboarding session. So, when I tell you I found Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian to be innocuously enjoyable, take that for what it’s worth.

The original Night at the Musuem caught audiences by surprise. Sweet, funny, and memorable, the film’s cast of zany historical characters and special effects made for great family entertainment. Of course Fox saw franchise dollars signs and immediately ordered up a sequel. But give props to Reno 911! stars and scribes Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant for not offering up a rehashed treatment of the first script. The boys did their homework, came up with new historical allies and enemies for Larry to battle with, and although the outcome is similar, the journey we take to get there is just as enjoyable.

I’m far from the world’s biggest Ben Stiller fan, but his schtick works here, tempered by partnering up with Amy Adams (Enchanted) as Amelia Earhart. Amy is adorable, but she’s given so much period dialogue, you find yourself just wanting to shout “Shut up and get to the point!” which distracts us from Ben’s usual mugging for the camera. The one character we don’t get enough of is General George Custer, played with zest by SNL’s Bill Hader. Everyone else on the team is used sparingly. Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan return as mini-mates Jebediah and Octavius, but their roles are reduced (no pun intended) to glorified plot point cameos with not a whole lot to do. The same holds true for Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, Mizuo Peck as Sacajawea (Sack-a-jam-e-ah… Sack-in-the-box… Cino de mayo…), Rami Malek as Ahkmenrah, and Patrick Gallagher as Attila the Hun. Even Larry’s son Nick (Jack Cherry) checks in for a brief few moments to help the story along. This time, the screen focus is on Hank Azaria’s Kahmunrah (doing a bizarre Boris Karloff impersonation), Christopher Guest (Best in Show) as Ivan the Terrible, Alain Chabat (The Science of Sleep) as Napoleon, and Jon Bernthal (World Trade Center) as Al Capone. This Legion of Doom is out to take over the world and there looks to be little anyone can do to stop them, what with ever piece of world history, art, and science at their disposal. But with Larry around, there’s always a way.

Battle of the Smithsonian is one of those turn your brain off experiences. If you sit there trying to figure out where all the other security guards have gone, why there’s absolutely no one on the streets of New York or the National Mall in Washington, why certain pieces of high profile artwork from other celebrated museums have found their way into the Smithsonian, and just how the heck Larry and company are going to clean up all the damage they’ve done to the Smithsonian’s many buildings and exhibits, you’re going to miss all the fun. The sight gags, the banter, and the inventive use of recognizable pop culture and historical significance are what you came for. Plus, we get another lush Alan Silvestri score, bathing the whole picture in escapist, heartfelt fantasy. What more do you want for $12 (plus the cost of concessions)?

Closing Statement
Director Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen) has made a name for himself with these all-ages, hit-and-miss adventures. The good thing is, with the exception a few undercooked scenes which could have easily been cut and saved for DVD, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian hits more than it misses. It’s the first genuine family-friendly film of the summer and sure to rake in a good buck for the studio. Let’s just hope Fox doesn’t get greedy and try for a third. I’d hate to see Larry end up at The Louvre, The Tate Modern, or god-forbin The Vatican. Then again, it could be more enjoyable than a Dan Brown adaptation.

The Verdict
7.5/10

Tropic Thunder

Opening Date: 08/15/2008

STUDIO: Dreamworks

TRAILER: Trailer

ACCOMPLICES: Official Site

The Charge
Get some. 

Opening Statement
Before The Dark Knight captured the mania and hysteria of the summer, the season’s runaway success was that of Iron Man and its star Robert Downey Jr. The film’s $300 Million box office success has opened every possible opportunity for the actor, and since a second Iron Man is a virtual certainty, the only question is what he’ll do next. So yeah, star as a critically acclaimed actor in a Vietnam war film, while wearing blackface. Seems only logical right?

Facts of the Case
Ben Stiller (The Heartbreak Kid) and Justin Theroux came up with the story, which Stiller directed. The film’s hero is Tugg Speedman (Stiller), an action star of a franchise whose recent films have been poorly received both critically and at the box office. His attempted dramatic crossover films have also failed. Hi co-star, Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black, Nacho Libre) has been a franchise star as well, however his films, called The Fatties, are simply nothing more than bathroom humor where Jeff plays all the characters. Think the Klumps from the Eddie Murphy Nutty Professor films, except with more farting. Jeff has a bit of an addiction problem as well, and has been arrested on occasion where he’s acted up. Speaking of acting up, the dramatic star is Kirk Lazarus (Downey), winner of several “Crying Monkey” statues, along with every other acting trophy under the sun. His is a method acting of the highest order. To play Lincoln Osiris in Tropic Thunder, Lazarus dyed his skin black and took on a Detroit accent (of sorts) for the role. When the film’s production falls out of budget and time, their technical advisor (Nick Nolte, Hotel Rwanda) suggests to the director that the boys be taken away from their creature comforts and dropped in the middle of the jungle with limited contact to the outside world. The film documents what occurs afterwards. 

The Evidence
I was fortunate enough to catch an advance screening of Tropic Thunder in San Diego the night before Comic Con started, and it was a surreal experience to say the least. After a filmed introduction to the film by the stars (exclusive to San Diego crowds and which will no doubt make the DVD), the film’s experience is designed to get you to buy into the characters as much as possible. Trailers for the ‘fake’ stars’ films will air before the feature, along with a commercial for “Booty Sweat,” the drink that another one of the film’s stars, Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson, Roll Bounce) markets. Then you’re dropped right into the shiz, so to speak.

In advance press for the film, Ben Stiller has said, in several places (notably Playboy) that “There was something so ironic and funny about actors talking about how hard it was to go off to boot camp for two weeks for a movie about a war when it obviously had nothing to do with the real experience of war.  It might have been my own bitterness about not getting parts in these movies, but I did think there was the seed of something in the irony of actors taking themselves too seriously.  Maybe this movie is my revenge. “  This revenge, combined with the observations made in the film, makes Tropic Thunder as enjoyable as it is. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some humor at its base elements, where Speedman encounters severed heads of humans and animals which, within the context of the bit, is a little on the disappointing side, but other jokes designed to poke fun at Hollywood’s expense are quite good.

Speedman’s agent, Rick Peck (Matthew McConaughey, in the role Owen Wilson was due to play before his suicide attempt) is a supporter of all things Tugg, but when he’s presented with a moral quandary choosing between his longtime client and friend and the wealth and luxury of a Gulfstream jet, things become muddied. He wants no part of the jungle, but when Tugg isn’t given his contractual obligation of a TiVo at his temporary jungle residence, that’s when things start to hit the fan. Oh yeah, the guy who presents Rick with this dilemma? That would be Lee Grossman, played with some prosthetics and a bald cap by Tom Cruise. Yes, THAT Tom Cruise. As the fictional Grossman, Cruise plays a loud, profane alpha dog of a man, a studio boss with no time to dispense platitudes, but will woo anyone over to the dark side if it will advance a greater good, and throw them under the bus if they get in his way. Cruise swears, dances (almost worth the admission price alone with all the makeup), and in a particularly funny sequence near the end of the film, congratulates and chastises executive Bill Hader (Superbad) within the same sentence. What little time he spends on screen isn’t wasted, and there’s usually a bellylaugh or two to be gained from watching him.

Much of the film’s jokes and dialogue are on the guilty laugh / cringeworthy side. When discussing Speedman’s failure with the film Simple Jack, Lazarus says that the failure of the role was because he didn’t temper his character’s mental deficiencies, using a funny yet oddly logical argument that puts Rain Man and I Am Sam in some context. Downey’s African-American inflection borders a little bit on the Kingfish side of things, and when Chino starts to belittle all things Aussie, Downey (as Lazarus) defends them, and does so as Osiris to boot. When one of the cast members is found out to be gay, Portnoy, in an attempt to feed his addiction, talks in detail of what he would do with him if he could be allowed to get drugs.

If there was something that could be considered a little bit on the weakish side, it would be the story within the film. Getting to the last battle sequence seems to drag a little long. Even at 1 hour and 47 minutes it’s about 10 minutes longer than the film should be, but the performances are still excellent. Stiller’s actual Vietnam story seems to lean quite a bit on Apocalypse Now, with Tugg acting as Colonel Kurtz, while Lazarus, in blackface, wears white makeup in an attempt to break him out. Yes, he’s white, made to be black, then white again. Got it? Black tends to ham it up a little, but his hamminess does have a slight edge to it, and Downey is no C. Thomas Howell (Soul Man). The lines are funny, he stays in character even after the camera stops rolling, and although McConaughey took over Wilson’s role, it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it. It’s the best portrayal of an agent I’ve seen since Martin Short in The Big Picture. And Cruise damn near steals the film in the limited screen time he has.

This kind of material is something I’d been wanting to see Stiller do for ages. He got close to it in the early ‘90s, but I think with age, perspective, and given the chance to go all out, he could make an excellent and hilarious satire of Hollywood as it’s laid out right now. Tropic Thunder is a great first step towards that destiny, if he chooses to take it.

Closing Statement
Tropic Thunder does a couple of things for me as a moviegoer I didn’t think were possible. First, it made me pretty much absolve Ben Stiller for all the cinematic sins he’s committed through the years. Second, (and this is the bigger one) never, NEVER did I think that Tom Cruise could be so biting and hilarious. This is the funniest performance he’s ever given, in part because it’s so blustery and without depth. Combine that with a hearty dose of politically incorrect humor and a finger in the eye to the Hollywood establishment, and you’ve got a winning comedic formula. Tropic Thunder stands to be the highest-grossing comedy of 2008, and with everything that happens here, it’s worth the ride.

The Verdict
Come for Downey, stay for Cruise and the jokes. It’ll be well worth your time.

9/10