How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
August 10, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who think Michael Scott and Liz Lemon would make a cute couple: Date Night
Whoever made the call to pair up Steve Carell and Tina Fey in a comedy together probably was paid off handsomely for striking up such an awesome idea. The duo, both big draws thanks to their successful television comedies, seemed like a dream team of funny. And joining them in the project would be James Franco, Taraji P. Henson, Mila Kunis, Mark Wahlberg, Kristen Wiig and many others. For this thing to fail, it’d have to be backboned by a pretty skunk script.
And I’m sorry, but that’s what happened here. Date Night is a little too stupid for its own good with its generic heist plot and stock characters. Carell and Fey did what they could with what they were given, but the results didn’t make me laugh nearly as much as I expected. I guess I should have put more faith in my gut reaction to Date Night’s trailer.
Date Night does have its moments of funny, though. I mean, the running gag that Mark Wahlberg is literally always shirtless in the movie was a nice touch. As was Carell and Fey’s sexy dance at a seedy club. Some of its zanier moments were pretty gold. It’s just that a good number of the jokes didn’t work with me.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, deleted and extended scenes, Directing 301 featurette, Disaster Dates featurette, Directing Off-Camera featurette, Steve Carell and Tina Fey Camera Tests featurette, gag reel, Public Service Announcements featurette
For people who find humor… at a funeral: Death at a Funeral
In what some would think is an impossibly short turnaround, British comedy Death at a Funeral was redone by Hollywood in just three years. Surprisingly(?), both projects share the same writer, which, of course, leads me also to believe that Dean Craig was paid an overwhelming sum of money to pen a movie he had already wrote.
I won’t believe that he wished to redo what he had done three years prior. Greed got the best of him, and this is what we got in return: A movie with the same title, essentially the same plot – although I can’t imagine the original had anything as weird as that Tracy Morgan/Danny Glover bathroom scene – and a worse aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. You’ve done it again, Hollywood!
Disc includes: Gag reel, deleted scenes, Behind the Scenes featurette, audio commentary
For people who pity poor Aunt Edna: National Lampoon’s Vacation [Blu-ray]
And now’s the time for the write-up that happens every now and again when I recommend a classic title that has finally made its way to the Blu-ray format. This week it’s National Lampoon’s Vacation, which I think we can agree is the franchise’s best movie. (I’ll admit, though, that Christmas Vacation holds a special place in my heart. It’s a bit of a staple in my family).
It surprised me to learn a bit ago that John Hughes wrote the screenplay, and that it was this movie that launched his career as a screenwriter. Probably a bit ignorant on my end, considering Hughes also developed the story for Vacation’s sequel and wrote Christmas Vacation. I guess I’ve always associated his name with ‘80s teen comedies and John Candy flicks like Uncle Buck.
While on the topic of Vacation, it was announced earlier this year that New Line Cinema was developing a new Vacation film. This time around, the story would center around Clark’s son, Rusty, and his desire to take his family to Wally World before it permanently shuts down.
Disc includes: Griswold Family Commentary featurette; Introduction by Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid and producer Matty Simmons
For people who will watch anything: Trauma: Season 1
Let NBC’s failure to launch a new procedural about paramedics be a lesson to all the broadcast networks that it’s high time they think a bit more outside the box. NBC’s other hospital show, Mercy, also bit the dust after a full 22-episode first season.
I don’t know. For me, I just have no interest whatsoever in television shows that seem to be little more than carbon copies of a program (or many programs) that came before it. I can get away with watching Nurse Jackie because it’s a dark comedy that’s vastly different from its peers. The same can be said of Dexter because, well, the main character is a serial killer. Yet when advertising promotes a show that is solely trying to be the next ER, I just can’t get behind it.
Disc includes: Pilot commentary with producers, deleted scenes
August 10, 2010
Blu-ray
Crumb (Criterion Collection)
Date Night
Death at a Funeral
Diplomat
An Empress and the Warriors
Helen
Hell of a Ride
Icy Killers
In the Shadow of the Moon
Invisible Target
The Joneses
The Killing Room
La Mission
The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk
Loose Screws: Screwballs 2
Multiple Sarcasms
National Geographic: Forces of Nature
National Lampoon's European Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Tai Chi Master
Triage
What's Up, Doc?
Wild Asia: Forest for All Seasons
DVD
Adam-12: Season Five
Crumb (Criterion Collection)
Date Night
Death at a Funeral
The Good Heart
Helen
Hell of a Ride
Horror High (Anniversary Edition)
The Joneses
La Mission
Letters to God (Widescreen)
Louie Bluie (Criterion Collection)
Multiple Sarcasms
Numb3rs: Complete Series Pack (Set)
Numb3rs: The Final Season
Red Hot Chilli Pipers: Blast Live
Trauma: Season 1
Triage