Tag: Comedy

Mr. Jealousy: Good Early Baumbach

A picture of Eric Stoltz's head with a sketch that makes him look like the devil. Text: Mr. Jealousy

Mr. Jealousy

Directed by Noah Baumbach
Written by Noah Baumbach

The review:

In 2015, Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America would give us a screwball comedy; 18 years before that film Baumbach gave us a glimmer of coming attractions with an amusing tale of a jealous boyfriend who joins a therapy group to learn more about his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend.* As with most Baumbach films, the people on screen aren’t ones you want to hang out with, but boy howdy are they interesting.** As the situation becomes more complex and the tension builds, Eric Stoltz, Annabella Sciorra, and Carlos Jacott*** really turn up the humor.

The verdict: Good!

Cost: Free via Kanopy, Multnomah County Library’s Streaming Service
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I know! Can you imagine? And there’s the further complication that he pretends to be his best friend so as to remain anonymous.
**Unlinke most other Baumbach films, this also includes a cast member who is a person of color.
***Also fun: Peter Bogdanovich, director of a lot of really good films, plays the group therapist.

Questions:

  • Joining group therapy to get details on your girlfriends ex, how shady is that on a 1–10 scale?
  • What’s your favorite Eric Stolz film?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

On The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance marquee that appears in the film, a quote (“a classic”) is attributed to G. Brown. The critic in question is Georgia Brown, famed Village Voice film critic and mother of writer/director Noah Baumbach.

Other reviews of Mr. Jealousy:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: I'll bet my writing's more of a voice of our generation than his. --Mr Jealousy. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Wild Nights With Emily | Dickinson Like You’ve Never Seen

Susan Ziegler and Molly Shannon in Wild Nights With Emily

Wild Nights With Emily

Directed by Madeleine Olnek
Written by Madeleine Olnek

The review:

I’m willing to bet that everyone reading this knows about Emily Dickinson and I’m also willing to bet that if you watched this film, you would find what you know about Dickinson to be missing a rather important piece of information.* Molly Shannon takes on the Dickinson role and her portrayal is in a lot of ways the opposite of Cynthia Nixon’s portrayal in A Quiet Passion. You’ll get the flavor of Dickinson’s life and learn a truth long suppressed.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Free via Kanopy, Multnomah County Library’s streaming service
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Aside from writing process while alive, the story of the publication of Emily Dickinson’s poems after her death is an interesting one. This movie gives a few insights into what went down, but if you’re interested, you might want to read This Brief Tragedy by John Evandelist Walsh.

Questions:

  • When you think of Emily Dickinson, what do you think of?
  • Once you know the truth suppressed, how do you feel?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

No trivia, but I give you this excerpt of Q&A from a KQED article:

Although the film is set in the 19th century, you wrote the script with contemporary colloquial expressions. Did you want to avoid the trappings of a period piece?

I’ve been really moved, if that’s the right word, by Drunk History. It’s shown us that historical pieces, when they’re stripped of all the pretension that we associate with them, are really about people in situations dealing with ideas. When I was reading Dickinson’s letters, I was surprised by how contemporary so much of the language was. It shocked me: jokes and things that you would never think someone in the 1800s would say. So I didn’t want the actors’ attention on presenting the period. We’ve seen that in a million films. I was interested in everyone focusing on what each person felt in that situation, the connections with other people and what they were struggling with.

(It’s a good article. Recommended) (I’m also a fan of Drunk History for the same reasons.)

Other reviews of Wild Nights With Emily:

Loser is Uneven, Has Charming Bits

Mena Suvari and Jason Biggs in Loser

Loser

Directed by Amy Heckerling
Written by Amy Heckerling

The review:

This is an excellent chronicle* of not fitting in** and has a killer 2000-era soundtrack.*** While I found the performances of Jason Bigg and Mena Suvari subpar, I think this film does represent how awkward starting college in a new town can be. You might only watch this if you are Heckerling completeist or freshman-year curious, but there are some nice scenes.

The verdict: Skip

(unless motivated by the above categories)

Cost: $3.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*It’s a lesser chronicle of nuanced characters in that the bad people are very bad and the good people are very good.
**I completely related to the not fitting in plot when I first watched this as I was in the midst of not fitting in at the time.
***”Teenage Dirtbag” starts us off, and it just keeps getting better.

Questions:

  • Would this movie have worked better if the characters had some nuance?
  • What was the most memorable scene?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In a February 2017 feature at The Ringer that interviewed Amy Heckerling and wrote about her entire career, Heckerling said that the main reason this film failed is that the studio insisted it be delivered as a PG-13 film even though it was intended by everyone else, from Heckerling to the since-departed studio executives who’d greenlit production, as an R-rated comedy. The studio said that R-rated comedies weren’t welcomed by enough audiences and forced the film to be watered down considerably. Heckerling said the movie failed because audiences could tell it was not doing what it was intended to do

(Yet another opportunity to observe that making good movies is hard!)

Other reviews of Loser:

The links are all dead. Here are some takeaways:

  • Amy Taubin, Village Voice: The most progressive, good-hearted studio film of the summer.
  • Maitlan McDonagh, TV Guide: A sweet-natured and refreshingly uncartoonlike look at the trials of an unworldly Midwestern college boy negotiating his freshman year at NYU
  • Kim Morgan, The Oregonian: The script is atypically bland for Heckerling.
I love self-loathing complaint rock you can dance to. —Loser. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Shithouse: An Imperfect Window into Freshman Year

Cooper Raiff and Dylan Gelula in the film Shithouse

Shithouse

Directed by Cooper Raiff
Written by Cooper Raiff

The review:

Movies that capture transition periods are my favorite, especially of those that capture transitions around college,* so I greatly enjoyed watching Alex Malmquist (Cooper Raiff) struggle during his freshman year. This film is great at capturing the discomfort of not connecting,** and echoes a bit of Before Sunrise, though it also lingers a little too long in the middle. I’m also not thrilled with the ending, but enjoyed the performances*** enough to make it worth watching, though I do think the title could have been better chosen.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: $6.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Either into college or out of college. I think those times, which generally feature the loss of established support networks, leave a lot of room for drama.
**The conversations Raiff had with his stuffed animal were both amusing and painful to watch.
***Dylan Gelula is great as the RA that Cooper spends the night with. Logan Miller (whom I last saw in Love, Simon) continues his mostly odious streak as Sam, Alex’s roommate.
****The name comes from a house where a party is held. The house is named Shithouse. The scenes spent at the house were few, and I didn’t feel like the title extrapolated to the rest of the movie in a way that made it worth its use of a swear.

Questions:

  • College freshmen with full beards, do they exist? Did Cooper Raiff’s facial hair make him seem much older than a freshman?
  • Did anything about this movie seem similar to a college experience you had?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Nothing IMDB, I found a rambling interview that gave me this factoid:

Jay Duplass served as Cooper Raiff’s mentor after Raiff tweeted a screener at Duplass with the caption, “Bet you won’t click on this link!”

Other reviews of Shithouse:

Punks and Aliens Learn How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Alex Sharp and Elle Fanning in the film How to Talk to Girls at Parties

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell
Written by Philippa Goslett and John Cameron Mitchell

The review:

Having gone into this film without knowing anything about it, I was surprised when a cute film about three kids into punk music took a very galactic turn.* While I found a lot of the alien stuff to be focused on worries of straight fourteen-year-old boys, I thought all the alien set decoration was very fun, especially when compared to the punks.** I don’t think this movie holds together very well, but it’s interesting to look at, I enjoyed both Fanning and Sharp, and there was a recurring joke about the alien music I found amusing.***

The verdict: Good?

(There were just enough elements to push this from Skip to Good, but it’s barely over the line. Proceed with caution.)

Cost: free via Hoopla, one of Multnomah County Library’s streaming services.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

  • Teen Spirit (a serviceable movie about music set in Britain and starring Ellen Fanning.)
  • Starman
  • Side note: this film is currently ranked #15 on the IMDB List “Most Popular Alien Disguised As Human Movies and TV Shows”
  • And, I have no other suggestions.

Further sentences:

*I found my way to this film because I enjoyed Alex Sharp in The Hustle and this was an easily accessible film he starred in, plus I like Elle Fanning. The summary of the film begins, “An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets…” Had I read that before watching, I would have been prepared for the strange alien turn. Because I was not, I was probably more amused at this film than I would have been.
**Or, for that matter, Enn’s home.
***Ethan Lawrence describing the aliens’ music at the record shop and to a DJ cracked me up.

Questions:

  • What’s your favorite human/alien film?
  • You’ve just watched this film. Do you think you wasted your time?
  • Have you read Neil Gaiman’s original short story on which this was based? How do the two compare?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

American DJ James Murphy developed a new genre for the soundtrack, described as “extraterrestrial dance music”.

Other reviews of How to Talk to Girls at Parties:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Evolve or die, love. —How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Read the three sentence review. 3SMReviews.com

Saving Face is a Great Debut

Lynn Chenn looking at Michelle Krusiec in the film Saving Face

Saving Face

Directed by Alice Wu
Written by Alice Wu

The review:

While this movie starts as the classic mom-sets-up-daughter-with-eligible-men story it introduces two wrinkles, one with the daughter and one with the mother. Both Michelle Krusiec (as Will, the daughter) and Joan Chen (as Hwei-Lan Gao, the mother) are fun to watch as they navigate their changing relationships.* Overall, an enjoyable film with a few fun surprises.**

The verdict: Good

Cost: $3.99 via Google Play, but free because I had a credit.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I sometimes check to see if actors in indie films from 10+ years ago are still acting, and all of the cast members I checked up on are still working regularly.
**I also enjoyed seeing one aspect of New York City’s Chinese community circa 2005.

Questions:

  • What was the most surprising moment in the film for you?
  • Did you think that the family’s expectations were reasonable?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The picture of Vivian as a child in Dr. Shing’s office is actually a photograph of Joan Chen’s daughter.

Other reviews of Saving Face:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Younger people. Today they love you. Tomorrow, who knows?--Saving Face. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Table 19 is Seated in the Right Place

Craig Robinson, Lisa Kudrow, Stephen Merchant, June Squibb, Anna Kendrick and Thomas Cocquerel in the film Table 19.

Table 19

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz
Written by Jeffery Blitz (story credit also to Mark and Jay Duplass)

The review:

A solid ensemble piece where we discover more about the wedding guests seated at a far-flung table. While the guests’ stories sometimes made great jumps to keep things moving along, the antics of the table were entertaining enough. This is the kind of movie that is good for a plane ride, or to pass a few hours when you’re too sick to follow a complex film.

The verdict: Good (enough)

Cost: Free via DVD from the Multnomah County Library
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

The lack of further sentences it itself an indication of this film’s entertainment value.

Questions:

  • Which character at Table 19 was the most like you?
  • Would this have been a better film if the Duplass brothers had directed it?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Costars Lisa Kudrow and Craig Robinson previously worked with each other in an episode of Friends. Robinson’s character was the one who enabled the possibility for Kudrow’s character to change her name from Phoebe to Princess Consuela Bananahammock.

Other reviews of Table 19:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: It's the same wedding. It's the same celebration no matter what table you're at. —Table 19. Read the three sentence movie review 3SMReviews.com

Long Shot Hits Its Target

Picture of June Diane Raphael, Seth Rogan, and Charlize Theron in the film Long Shot

Long Shot

Directed by Jonathan Levine
Written by Dan Sterling, Liz Hannah

The review:

There’s some good stuff in this comedy, especially if you are fan of Seth Rogan’s brand of humor.* And while it’s one of those stories that schlubby guys write so they can get an attractive woman,** it still had a goodly amount of barbs directed at the sexism women politicians face.*** The supporting cast didn’t shirk their duties either was amusing performances from June Diane Raphael as an aide to Bob Odenkirk as the President.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Free via DVD from Multnomah County Library
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I am. For those who are not, this is probably not your film.
**Here I must point out that Theron is very good at comedy, as well as drama.
***Probably because there was a woman on the writing team.

Questions:

  • Do we have any schlubby-women-get-the-hot-guy films?
  • What was your favorite talking head moment?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

When Fred plays the song “It Must Have Been Love” on his phone, it shows it’s playing from the Pretty Woman soundtrack. However, the version used in this film is the Christmas version, not the original version from Pretty Woman.

(Oh internet, I love you!)

Other reviews of Long Shot:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Okay, but you dressed me like Cap'n Crunch's Grindr date, so I'm going to drink and enjoy the part. —Long Shot. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Destination Wedding is Fun, Excruciating

A picture of Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder in the film Destination Wedding

Destination Wedding

Directed by Victor Levin
Written by Victor Levin

The review:

The charm in this film lies in Keanu Reeves acting like a normal person rather than a movie star* and the witty dialog** of two very resigned, very sad, very depressing people. It’s also interesting to watch a relationship develop between two people who have clearly given up on anything good coming their way in life.*** It’s a movie about sad people that didn’t bring me down, and I’m right there with their views of destination weddings, so this was a short (87 minutes!) interesting exercise in filmmaking.****

The verdict: Good

(Though I recognize that for many people this would be a big Skip. Proceed cautiously.)

Cost: Free via DVD from Multnomah County Library
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching (or watching instead):

Further sentences:

*His coughing up phlegm while also jiggling his ear with his pinky finger struck me as the most normal person/least Hollywood leading man thing he could do.
**I mean, you have to want to spend time with these two people and that’s not a thing that might be true for most. Also, there’s a discussion of pansexuality that had me grimacing at its ignorance.
***The usual trajectory is that the happier person shows the sadder person that life is good. When you have no happy person, it becomes an interesting exercise in how the two will connect.
****Plus, I enjoy Winona Ryder, and she hasn’t been in many movies of late.

Questions:

  • Three months from that door opening, what’s become of our characters?
  • What’s your favorite middle age romance?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In real life, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves have been friends since the 1980s.

(This is also a fun element when watching.)

Other reviews of Destination Wedding:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: I believe that there is nobody for anyone. —Destination Wedding. Read the three sentence movie review at 3SMReviews.com

The King of Staten Island is Okay?

A picture of Alexis Rae Forlenza, Pete Davidson, and Luke David Blumm in The King of Staten Island

The King of Staten Island

Directed by Judd Apatow
Written by Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus

The review:

It was hard for me to separate Pete Davidson the person, from Scott Carlin, the character* and this made for depressed feelings while watching this film, despite its funny moments. It was also a film where the character development seemed to have more to do with Scott finding out about his dead father rather than developing or changing on his own. But I did get to see Bel Powley** and Marisa Tomei,*** so that was a nice treat.****

The verdict: Good?

It’s right on the edge. It’s not quite bad enough to be a Skip, but not quite good enough to be Good

Cost: $1.42 via Redbox (take that, VOD price of $19.99 back in June!)
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*It doesn’t help that like the main character, Pete Davidson’s firefighter father was killed when he was seven years old and I know that Davidson has mental health problems. It also might have to do with the humor stemming from Scott Carlin’s sub-par tattoos he gives to his friends and family. Those things don’t rub off, and they made me sad. I think I was supposed to find them funny.
**Would you like to watch Bel Powley in other films that are more fun than this? Cool. Check her out as Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out, a minimally supervised teenager in The Diary of a Teenage Girl, and a floundering post-college existence in Carrie Pilby
***Remember when I wished she was the focus of this film? I feel the same way about the King of Staten Island.
***Also, hooray for Moises Arias! He was great in the Kings of Summer. And also in Five Feet Apart. Plus, his presence in this film led to a funny height gag.

Questions:

  • Would you eat at a tattoo restaurant?
  • What was your favorite moment in this film?
  • Which was the worst Scott Carlin tattoo? My vote is for the Moises Arias one that incorporated his navel.

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The film was scheduled to open in about one-hundred theaters, mostly drive-ins. Due to the 2020 pandemic, two days before the release date the theaters were abruptly informed they would not able to show the film. Instead, the release was limited to video-on-demand.

Other reviews of The King of Staten Island:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: We're like the only place that New Jersey looks down on.—The King of Staten Island. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com