Bill Hader

Video Game Review: Adaptation of ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Tastes Rancid

BrianTT — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:24:24 -0600

CHICAGO – Even with the long history of awful video game adaptation of hit films, shouldn’t “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” be a slam dunk? The clever family comedy plays like a video game already with a very fun story that should be easy to turn into something playable with a controller. But the video game version of “Cloudy” has already his stores well past its expiration date.

Video Game Rating: 1.5/5.0

The PS3 version of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” plays more like a retro title, honestly resembling something closer to the Sega Genesis version of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”. The graphics and gameplay are that generic that if a player only saw five minutes of the game and knew nothing about when the film was released, there’s no way they would guess that it was a 2009, next-gen console title.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Photo credit: Ubisoft

Even the storytelling on “Cloudy,” something that would be easy to adapt from the film, feels incomplete and poorly done, as if the game was created by a ten-year-old drawing in his sketch book after seeing the movie. Of course, players take on the role of Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), the inventor who designs the machine that causes food to fall from the sky.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Photo credit: Ubisoft

The game skips the first two acts of the film entirely, missing an opportunity to really capture the feel of the movie from “Start”. It picks up in the final act, when the food weather has gotten out of control, dropping large, deadly entrees from the sky. Flint has a series of missions based only on the concept of over-sized food, not even really based on any of the set-pieces from the film. It honestly feels like the creators of the game knew they were making a movie about possibly deadly food but nothing more about what actually happens in it.

So, Flint goes through tasks that are all variations on getting from point A to point B while food either falls from the sky or impedes his progress. Lockwood has oversized devices like giant forks and a hose that, for example, squirts guacamole on chili so Flint can walk over it. The levels don’t even make sense on a surreal food level. Why not design levels that work together thematically like chili dogs ingredients or Italian food? Why am I bashing giant macaronis while dodging meat falling from the sky and fighting gummi bears? Being edible is the only common link and it hints at a lack of creative energy that there isn’t more to the design.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Photo credit: Ubisoft

The same low-energy approach applies to the graphics, which could politely be called kiddie. It’s one thing for a game to be designed for the youngest member of the family but the older kids should be able to play it and not have the graphics actually impede the experience. The look of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” is so incomplete that it can actually make it difficult to see where to jump or go next on a 52-inch TV in the same way it wasn’t that easy to tell where to go in the original “Golden Axe”. Bad graphics can lead to frustrating gameplay and that happens more than once in “Cloudy.”

Even the dialogue doesn’t match the clever, often adult-driven repartee from the film itself. There’s not a single memorable line and, to a shocking degree, a majority of Flint’s dialogue just repeats ad nauseam. I know kids have higher thresholds for hearing someone yell about guacamole a hundred times, but even the little ones will want to turn down the volume eventually. There are moments where the title threatens to become a consistently good time, mostly due to residual goodwill from the film, but the level designs or so short that the game never develops anything approaching a rhythm, even with a second player cooperatively playing as Steve the scene-stealing monkey.

Only a very young audience will be kept entertained by the video game version of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” which may sound like enough for a movie game adaptation of a family film, but the big-screen edition of the adventures of Flint Lockwood has clearly appealed to a wider audience than those that have yet to graduate elementary school and it’s a shame that the game couldn’t cook the same meal.

‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ was released by Ubisoft and developed by Ubisoft Shanghai. It is rated E (Everyone). The version reviewed was for the PS3, but the title is also available for the XBox 360, DS, PSP, Wii, and PC. It was released on September 15th, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Tastes Right For All Generations

BrianTT — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:35:11 -0600

Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Proving that you should never judge an animated film by its cover or its typically predictable brethren, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a very funny comedy with one of the best voice casts in years, an enjoyable visual aesthetic, and even a heartwarming message that doesn’t come off over-cooked.

As someone who sees nearly every animated film released in the ’00s, I can tell you that most of them are disposable, interchangeable, and predictable. For every “Up” or “Coraline,” there are a half-dozen “Barnyard” or “Open Season”s. So, it brings me great, surprising pleasure to say that “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” defies all expectations and I doubt any animated film will be as purely entertaining this season. Young kids, older brothers, babysitters, parents, and even grandparents will find something to like here.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” in our reviews section.

Only based on the set-up for Judi & Ron Barret’s beloved children’s book (but fully capturing the spirit of a book designed around food weather), the story opens on the island of Swallow Falls, a dull, gloomy setting known mostly for being hidden under the ‘A’ in Atlantic Ocean on most maps and for its killer sardine industry.

Inventor Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) refuses to give in to his depressing surroundings and works to come up with one great, world-changing invention. Previous attempts include the ill-conceived rat-bird hybrid and a device that translates monkey’s thoughts. It turns out that most monkeys think of only their name and what they want to eat. (In a typically surreal move, the end credits reveal that Neil Patrick Harris voices the monkey Steve even though he has nearly no dialogue.)

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” review.

‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ features voice work by Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Andy Samberg, and Neil Patrick Harris. It was written and directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller. It opened on September 18th, 2009. It is rated PG.

Sam Sparks voiced by Anna Faris and Flint Lockwood voiced by Bill Hader in Columbia Pictures’ animated film Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Song Pictures

Blu-Ray Review: Great Coming-of-Age Story in ‘Adventureland’

BrianTT — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:19:29 -0600

CHICAGO – Jesse Eisenberg (“The Squid and the Whale”) and Kristen Stewart (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) star in the delightful and expertly written “Adventureland,” a slice of ’80s coming-of-age that truly delivers with clever dialogue, well-rounded characters, and excellent performances. One of the best comedies of the year is now available on Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Eisenberg stars as James Brennan, a guy stuck in that period between college graduation and adulthood. When the money falls through for a planned European vacation, he finds himself at the only job in his hometown, working games at the local theme park called Adventureland. It seems like a dead-end job, but he meets the people who will push him into the next phase of his life - the lovely-but-damaged Em (Kristen Stewart), good friend Joel (Martin Starr), and the kinda sleazy Connell (Ryan Reynolds).

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

“Adventureland” is a film that could have easily been a cavalcade of small-town caricatures (and managers Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig sometimes approach that) but what separates the film is how lovingly and thoroughly writer/director Greg Mottola (“Superbad”) has drawn these characters. It’s easy to completely believe James, Em, Joel, and Connell, and those of you of the right age to appreciate the killer ’80s soundtrack and fashion will likely see some of your own young-adulthood in the emotional rollercoaster of “Adventureland”.

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

To be blunt, I could have spent hours with the characters of “Adventureland” (a feeling enhanced by the best soundtrack of the year and a great score from the excellent Yo La Tengo). Eisenberg is good but Stewart gives the best performance of her career (sorry “Twilight” fans) as a girl who feels both like an archetype but also completely realized. We all knew an “Em”. And we all knew a “Connell,” the older guy who hangs out and claims to have “jammed” with a famous musician just to get in girl’s pants.

“Adventureland” works because it feels both believable and yet also completely familiar. There are millions of people having summers of weed, sex, and drama like the one in “Adventureland,” and yet Mottola’s excellent script never feels generic. It feels real.

It doesn’t hurt that Miramax has released a perfect Blu-Ray edition of the film with excellent technical specs and a wealth of special features.

“Adventureland” is pristinely presented in 1080p High Definition with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English 5.1 DTS-HD track. The audio is good but the video is truly remarkable with one of the most expertly balanced HD pictures of the season.

The copious special features on both the Blu-Ray and DVD include a commentary by Mottola and Eisenberg, a digital copy, “Picture Music Selection” (which allows the viewer to jump to their favorite song in the film), “Just My Life: The Making of Adventureland,” and deleted scenes. Blu-Ray exclusive features include “Frigo’s Taps - A Satiric “How To” On Inflicting Unexpected Pain,” “Lisa P’S Guide to Style,” and “Welcome to Adventureland - Adventureland Commercials, Orientation Training Video, Drug Policy”.

“Adventureland” had a very disappointing take in theaters (just over $16 million domestically) but I have rarely been more confident about how a film will be viewed in years to come than I am about this underrated gem. It’s one of the best coming-of-age films in years and will become a word-of-mouth hit on the home market. Don’t miss it.

‘Adventureland’ is released by Buena Vista Home Video and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds. It was written and directed by Greg Mottola. The Blu-Ray and DVD will be released on August 25th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’ is Predictable, Clustered Drivel

Ebeth — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:26:56 -0600

CHICAGO – The sequel “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” is, presumably, an effort by director Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” in 2006 and “The Pink Panther”) and writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon (who both wrote the first film) to weave together an exciting and educational film.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

After all, the concept remains clever and plot endless in possibilities. Museum exhibits come to life through ancient magic with wildlife running amuck, significant historical figures repossessed and left to interact as well as all sorts of artifacts renewed and at the disposal of all.

Add to this formula a knockout cast – with Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader and Jonah Hill – and one can expect hilarity and stimulation.

Instead, the filmgoer will quite amazingly find little engagement in this movie and instead will be confronted with a predictable, “when’s it going to end?” storyline that amounts to little but clustered drivel. The opposite of stimulating, the film simply numbs and dumbs the mind.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” in our reviews section.

Upon opening, we find that former museum guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has left his job at the Museum of Natural History to pursue a more lucrative career: inventor and infomercial personality.

It becomes clear through rushed and skipped-about scenes that he’s unfulfilled in his new life and is quickly led back to wander the halls of his former museum-guard dwellings.

Upon his return to the Museum of Natural History, Larry finds that the majority of the exhibits he came to know in the original “Night at the Museum” are being shipped for storage in the basement of the Smithsonian.

“Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” which stars Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader and Jonah Hill from director Shawn Levy and writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, opened everywhere on May 22, 2009. The film is rated PG for mild action and brief language.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” in our reviews section.

Ben Stiller returns as heroic museum guard Larry Daley in “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”.
Photo credit: Doane Gregory, Fox Pictures

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” in our reviews section.

Slideshow: 29-Image Gallery For ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’

BrianTT — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:11:57 -0600

CHICAGO – This 29-image slideshow contains the official press images for “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, and Christopher Guest. The film, written by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant and directed by Shawn Levy, opens on May 22nd, 2009.

Synopsis:

“Night has fallen upon the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The guides have gone home, the lights are out, the school kids are tucked in their beds … yet something incredible is stirring as former night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) finds himself lured into his biggest, most imagination-boggling adventure yet in which history truly comes alive. In this second installment of the Night at the Museum saga, Larry faces a battle so epic it could only unfold in the corridors of the world’s largest museum. Now, Larry must try to save his formerly inanimate friends from what could be their last stand amid the wonders of the Smithsonian, all of which, from the famous paintings on the walls to the rocket ships in the halls, suddenly have a mind of their own.”

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Doane Gregory and Fox Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

NATM2-01: Ben Stiller returns as heroic museum guard Larry Daley.
NATM2-02: Ben Stiller returns as heroic museum guard Larry Daley.
NATM2-03: Amy Adams is famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart.
NATM2-04: Amy Adams is famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart.
NATM2-05: Amy Adams is famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart.
NATM2-06: Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) strikes an appropriately villainous pose.
NATM2-07: Museum of Natural History official Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) doesn’t seem perturbed by the antics of the Capuchin monkey Dexter.
NATM2-08: General Custer (Bill Hader) and Able the Space Monkey are pleased by the events unfolding during the epic Battle of the Smithsonian.
NATM2-09: Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) behold the wonders of exhibits that have come to life inside the Smithsonian.
NATM2-10: Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) behold the wonders of exhibits that have come to life inside the Smithsonian.
NATM2-11: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has a showdown with evil Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria).
NATM2-12: Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) again offers sage advice to beleaguered museum guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller).
NATM2-13: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) sizes up matters with Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat).
NATM2-14: Three of history’s greatest henchmen – Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest, left), Al Capone (Jon Bernthal) and Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) pause during the epic Battle of the Smithsonian.
NATM2-15: Director Shawn Levy on the set of Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian.
NATM2-16: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets a helping hand from a statue of Abraham Lincoln, which has magically come to life in The Lincoln Memorial.
NATM2-17: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) wreak havoc in the Smithsonian as they take a thrilling ride through its historic corridors.
NATM2-18: A statue come to life triggers a flight of fancy from Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), as Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) looks on.
NATM2-19: A bobble-head Einstein entrances Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams).
NATM2-20: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) consult a bust of Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams).
NATM2-21: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) plan their next move in their epic “Battle of the Smithsonian.”
NATM2-22: A giant octopus presents yet another challenge to Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) in their epic “Battle of the Smithsonian.”
NATM2-23: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) think it’s time to get help from The Thinker.
NATM2-24: Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) and museum official Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) marvel at the new holographic exhibit of Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams).
NATM2-25: Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) watches the sands of time run out for miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson).
NATM2-26: Trapped in an hourglass, miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) is seemingly helpless as the sands of time run out on him.
NATM2-27: Miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson), diminutive gladiator Octavius (Steve Coogan) and friends emerge from the crate in which they traveled from New York to the Smithsonian.
NATM2-28: Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and comrade-in-arms Octavius (Steve Coogan) prepare for battle.
NATM2-29: The massive statue of Abraham Lincoln comes to life – and to the rescue during the epic Battle of the Smithsonian.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Admit-Two Passes to Chicago Screening of ‘Adventureland’ From ‘Superbad’ Director

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:16:26 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of “Adventureland,” which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart (from “Twilight” and the “New Moon” sequel “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”), Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Wendie Malick, Kelsey Ford, Michael Zegen and Matt Bush from “Superbad” director Greg Mottola. Sidney Kimmel is a producer.

To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Adventureland” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 30 people to submit a comment in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup. That’s it!

The screening will be held on April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The poster for “Adventureland” from the director of “Superbad”.
Image credit: Miramax Films

Here is the “Adventureland” plot description:

It’s the summer of 1987 and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) – an uptight recent college graduate – can’t wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe.

But when his parents (Wendie Malick and Jack Gilpin) say they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park.

Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute French girls. James’ summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas and screaming kids high on cotton candy.

Lucky for James, what should have been his worst summer ever turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his captivating co-worker, Em (Kristen Stewart), and learns to loosen up.

Greg Mottola – fresh off the hit film “Superbad” – is directing his script drawn from his own job-from-hell experience.

Ted Hope and Anne Carey of This is that corporation (“The Savages,” “Nothing is Private”) are producing along with Sidney Kimmel of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. Executive producers are William Horberg and Bruce Toll.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this simple question:

What is your ultimate 1980s movie or musical playlist?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 30 people to comment below win! We will be in touch with the 30 winners to distribute your passes.

“Adventureland” with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Wendie Malick, Kelsey Ford, Michael Zegen and Matt Bush from “Superbad” director Greg Mottola opens nationwide on April 3, 2009. The film’s Web site can be found here.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Brandon T. Jackson of ‘Tropic Thunder’ Breaks Out With ‘Booty Sweat’ Calling Card

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:30:45 -0600

CHICAGO – For “Tropic Thunder” star and Chris Tucker protégé Brandon T. Jackson, the fictional Booty Sweat literally is his Hollywood calling card.

The Red Bull-like energy drink is a scripted creation of writer, director, producer and star actor Ben Stiller in the new comedy. The film’s talent list, which includes both “A”-list actors and up-and-coming actors, is longer than two or three typical films today combined.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller, left) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr., right) are shooting an epic war movie and wind up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rapper Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) tackles his first serious acting role in “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Along with recognized actors Robert Downey Jr. (who plays the memorable role of an actor who surgically blackens his skin), Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte and rising actors Danny McBride, Bill Hader and Steve Coogan, director Stiller takes a chance on newcomers Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel.

“Tropic Thunder” serves as the first major roles for both Jackson and Baruchel. The film also features cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks.

While the film is an offensively complicated picture that certainly has figured out how to whirl about a laugh around every corner, so does its complication sometimes force the story to tug about in many different directions.

“Tropic Thunder” sometimes feels like it clearly knows where it’s going and at other times is completely lost in the black hole of Stiller’s uniquely melodramatic brain.

Along with Justin Theroux and Stiller, the film also lists Etan Cohen as a co-writer of the film’s screenplay. This Cohen is not to be confused with Oscar-winning phenomenon Ethan Coen (the brother of Joel Coen) of “No Country for Old Men,” “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo” fame.

Left to right: Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) are actors shooting a war movie who get caught up in a real battle in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

Rating: 4.0/5.0

While the drink Booty Sweat is a smash hit in the film and merely serves as one of its comedic asides, in real life the liquid isn’t nearly as renowned. It’s currently selling at novelty stores such as Spencer’s Gifts (as well as Amazon.com) and is one of many ways the movie is drumming up buzz.

Still, it’s trying to explode virally for the film at BootySweat.com and Alpa-Chino.com. Clearly borrowed from actor Al Pacino, Alpa Chino is Jackson’s character name in the film. In addition to Chris Tucker, Jackson names Jim Carrey as another comic inspiration.

HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed the 24-year-old Jackson about his breakout role, today’s struggle to best the masses competing for Hollywood work and why he’s trying to build his own “star brand” that’s nothing like Kanye West.

“I know how to be funny to black audiences,” Jackson told HollywoodChicago.com, “but the challenge in ‘Tropic Thunder’ was having universal appeal.” He added: “It’s very difficult getting work in Hollywood right now especially for a young black comic. I’m trying to build a brand. I’m not just doing one-off projects. I’m always doing comedy and will never hit up a 9-to-5 desk job.”

Cody (Danny McBride) is a trigger-happy explosions expert on an epic war film that goes awry in the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder”.
Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace

The Detroit born and bred Jackson makes the clear differentiation between how he’s crafting his nascent “star brand” as a “young black comic” in stark contrast to “all that hip-hop stuff” in which people like Kanye West are rolling in fat rolls of dough.

Jackson also says he’s continuing to use the concept of a “class clown” in his branding that he just hasn’t been able to shake since high school.

In 2005, Jackson was also seen in the lesser-known, coming-of-age comedy “Roll Bounce” about rollerskating, which was filmed in Chicago and also starred Mike Epps, Bow Wow and Meagan Good.

The young comic describes his first role of prime Hollywood prominence in “Tropic Thunder” as his “most proud and challenging role” thus far. As for working for director Stiller (who also directed 2001’s “Zoolander,” “Reality Bites” and a few others), Jackson said: “Ben knows what he wants. You’d better be funny or go home.”

RELATED IMAGE GALLERY
View our full, high-resolution “Tropic Thunder” image gallery.

RELATED READING
More film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

We spoke with Jackson at a time in his career where he describes being in “mystery mode”. He’s attempting to delicately navigate a balance between “taking any work I can just to get paid” and “being selective” with the roles like in “Tropic Thunder” that’d get him the biggest bang for Hollywood’s buck.

While 2008 still has many more performances left to see, in Jackson’s view the two he’d pick for an Oscar would be Robert Downey Jr.’s role in “Tropic Thunder” (yes, he’s biased) and Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker in the epic film “The Dark Knight”.

While Jackson was mostly business in our Chicago interview, he also enjoyed lounging about in the hotel room’s plush couches. He left us with the following line in describing his favorite aspect of being in film as compared to stand-up comedy: “The best thing about doing film is the food. It’s just magical.”

“Tropic Thunder,” which is directed by Ben Stiller, stars Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Steve Coogan, Brandon T. Jackson and Jay Baruchel with cameos from Jason Bateman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jon Voight and Tyra Banks. The film opened everywhere on Aug. 13, 2008.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

God’s Vajoojoo Tastes Like Semi-Glorious ‘Pineapple Express’ in Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen Stoner Film

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – If god had a vajoojoo, Judd Apatow and company think it’d taste something like smoking “Pineapple Express”. There’s no question “Pineapple Express” is ultimately a stoner film, but is it the ultimate stoner film of our decade?

Always the most difficult proposition in a comedy is maintaining its comedic pacing with consistency.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

A comedy’s goal is to sidesplittingly laugh your socks off from start to finish (and even after the credits roll). So often, though, a semi-successful comedy will instead feel like a humorous rollercoaster replete with some ups and some downs due to the inability to maintain its “A”-game material in a consistent fashion.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Pineapple Express”.

View our full, high-resolution “Pineapple Express” image gallery.

“Pineapple Express” falls victim to the comedic consistency trap. While the story has its heart in the right place for a film that’s centered on reefer madness and the script successfully grows ever-more complex and ridiculous, the story needs to be sliced and diced.

For every two comedic lines that successfully land one falls short. While the film certainly has the beginnings of stoner-film greatness, it’s still sometimes stifled by lines that had the potential to be roundhouse knockouts and instead were crippled stumbles.

That said, everything successful about “Pineapple Express” comes in threes from its writing (Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg) and its primary actors (Rogen, James Franco and Danny McBride).

There’s a lot of talk about James Franco playing against type for this role. Based on his performance, though, this shouldn’t be viewed as Franco playing against type. This should be viewed as Franco having found his type. For Franco, all other roles pale in comparison.

“Pineapple Express,” which is directed by David Gordon Green and is written by Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow and Evan Goldberg, stars Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Rosie Perez, Amber Heard, Gary Cole and Kevin Corrigan. The film opened everywhere on Aug. 6, 2008.

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “Pineapple Express” review.

Dale Denton (Seth Rogen, standing) and Saul Silver (James Franco, being carried) are two lazy stoners running for their lives in “Pineapple Express”.
Photo credit: Dale Robinette

Saul Silver (James Franco, left), Red (Danny McBride, center) and Dale Denton (Seth Rogen, right) in “Pineapple Express”.
Photo credit: Dale Robinette

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “Pineapple Express” review.

Judd Apatow Again Fashions Gimmick Into Gold in Uproarious ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:00:19 -0600

CHICAGO – After being blitzed by an onslaught of attention-demanding advertising that begged the question “who is Sarah Marshall?” even before you realized it’s a film, anticipation was ravenous.

It became nothing short of voracious upon learning it’s backed by producer Judd Apatow of “Superbad,” “Knocked Up,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” fame (also with high hopes for his “Pineapple Express,” which opens on Aug. 8, 2008).

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in our reviews section.

View our huge “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” image gallery.

Through his Apatow Productions company, Apatow has made beaucoup bucks and a mountainous name by banding together the same stooges time and time again. In “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” we’re treated to the return of Bill Hader and Jonah Hill (both in Apatow’s “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” together).

While it’s still early in the year and few films have stood out to date, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” indeed delivers on its hype as the funniest comedy so far in 2008.

Apatow has once again fashioned what could have been cheesy gimmick into delicious gold. In a telltale sign of its riotous good time, Chicago critics have even been promising to return on opening weekend for a second paid viewing with friends.

While first-time filmmaking talent is often a precarious, hit-or-miss gamble, it pays off in spades here.

Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Jason Segel (left) and Kristen Bell in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” review…

‘R’-Rated, Three-Minute ‘Superbad’ Clip Leaks Onto YouTube

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:15:55 -0600

A high-quality, “R”-rated “Superbad” clip has leaked online. This is three minutes from the film and is not the television trailer.

The film, which stars Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen and Bill Hader, opens in theaters on Aug. 17.

My July 26 post about the Chicago Q&A with Hill, Cera and Mintz-Plasse can be found here.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com