Justin Timberlake

Uproarious, Talent-Packed ‘The Love Guru’ a Script of Destiny From Funnyman Mike Myers

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:17:18 -0600

Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Commendably co-written by Mike Myers (who also wrote characters for 2002’s “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and 1999’s “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”), you know lines like “sheket bevakasha” came directly from his bowels.

Granted, I was one of the few at my screening to understand this Hebrew line as “quiet, please” and laugh at its precision placement, but that’s OK.

Though always known as a hippie funnyman, the novel script for “The Love Guru” actually holds personal and grave emotional value for Myers. He has said the film is a “reflection of the spiritual journey” he traveled after the 1991 death of his father.

Jessica Alba as Jane Bullard in the comedy “The Love Guru”.
Photo credit: George Kraychyk

The Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison died on Nov. 29, 2001, which literally was the final day of filming for 2002’s “Austin Powers in Goldmember”. Upon opening a letter from Harrison, Myers told MTV on April 9, 2008 that he thought to himself: “OK, universe. I think I get it. This is the movie you want me to make.”

Yes, that’s actually Justin Timberlake as Jacques Grande in “The Love Guru”.
Photo credit: George Kraychyk

While Mike Myers proves he’s more than just Austin Powers through new plotlines taking him to new lands, he’s still the relatively same hilarious, hippie-loving beatnik no matter his purpose for being on screen.

Myers co-wrote this highly original script with rookie screenwriter Graham Gordy whose only other writing credit goes to a little-known film entitled “War Eagle, Arkansas”. Gordy also plays a small role in “The Love Guru,” which shot principal photography in Toronto, Ontario.

While for some “The Love Guru” may feel as though its gags were forced and unworthy as a script of pure hilarity, those same opponents will find themselves either secretly snickering or outright chortling in a seat-bouncing fashion.

So, yes, I’m bucking critical consensus and awarding overall funny credit for originality and guffaws that will deliver for you either clearly or furtively.

Part of me can’t believe I’m writing this, but for the first time, mega pop-singer Justin Timberlake is actually transformative as an actor. I went in vaguely remembering he’s featured in this film and then forgot about this nugget of information only for it to be mentioned again later.

On double take, I attempted asking my mental self which character he played.

Mike Myers stars as Guru Pitka in the comedy “The Love Guru”.
Photo credit: George Kraychyk

Having to look him up for a mental image associated with his name, I of course immediately recalled his seminal villain character as Jacques “La Coq” Grande: the hockey goalie trying to steal away the woman who Romany Malco as hockey phenom Darren Roanoke is rightfully married to.

This sets up the plot where Myers as Guru Pitka has a shot at millions in cash, the chance to appear on Chicago’s “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and ultimately the opportunity to best the world’s No. 1 guru – Deepak Chopra (a real-life Indian medical doctor and writer) – and launch himself forward from the No. 2 slot.

Jessica Alba (center) as Jane Bullard in the comedy “The Love Guru”.
Photo credit: George Kraychyk

Guru Pitka – who enjoys speaking into a prehistoric, voice-changing machine that hilariously transforms his voice into Morgan Freeman’s – has to love counsel Roanoke back with his wife to spur his confidence. This is all to assist the ailing Toronto Maple Leafs (owned by the fiery siren Jessica Alba) in “breaking their curse” (OK, that’s unoriginally stolen) and winning the Stanley Cup.

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While Alba again burns up the screen every moment she’s on it, her presence in “The Love Guru” is yet again felt as Hollywood eye candy without meaningful acting substance. Cameos by Jessica Simpson, Kanye West and Rob Blake (a Los Angeles Kings hockey player) are used sparingly and appropriately.

Verne Troyer – who is notably known by his dwarfism and stands at 2 feet 8 inches – plays a key role as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yes, Troyer returns to work with Myers again after playing the ever-memorable role as Mini-Me in “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” in 1999.

Stephen Colbert of the U.S. satirical television show “The Colbert Report” adds another acting credit to his list as Myers’ money-hungry agent and business partner Jay Kell.

The ever-brilliant Ben Kingsley – who played Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in 1982’s “Gandhi” – wonderfully disappears into the cross-eyed role of Myers’ guru trainer Guru Tugginmypudha.

“The Love Guru” opened everywhere on June 20, 2008.

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

‘Southland Tales’ Starts With Bang, Ends With Sensory-Overloading Whimper

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:50:16 -0700

CHICAGO – Unlike the world, “Southland Tales” starts with a bang but ends with a whimper. Richard Kelly’s opus of a film is little more than sensory overload meant to look like a political statement on the state of privacy, the war, news, entertainment and celebrities.

Sarah Michelle Gellar in “Southland Tales”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The story is set in the near future after two Texas towns fall victim to nuclear attacks and throw the country into a new world war. The world is falling apart all around the citizens as the government sets up even more agencies to spy on the populace.

Kelly has stated that he was inspired by “Pulp Fiction” and “Dr. Strangelove” when he made this film. His choices and storylines prove it with its characters and arcs weave in and out of one other with reckless abandon.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Dwayne Johnson in “Southland Tales”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The main character – if there is one – is Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson). He’s an amnesia-stricken movie star who falls in with an ex-recovering porn star – Krysta Now – played by Sarah Michelle Geller.

The two get mixed up with twin brothers Roland and Ronald Taverner (both played by Seann William Scott). The ensemble cast is rounded out with Justin Timberlake, Miranda Richardson, Mandy Moore, John Larroquette, Jon Lovitz and Cheri Oteri.

At this point, I wish I could tell you more about the plot itself. In reality, it was just vignettes thrown together to make a film that tried to be a whole lot hipper and cooler than it actually turned out to be.

Mandy Moore in “Southland Tales”.
Photo credit: IMDb
While Kelly tried to do away with the traditional formula of telling a story, all that happened was storylines got lost and forced moviegoers to say to themselves: “Wait. What?”

However, the big surprise of the film was the performances by Dwayne Johnson and Scott. Both have shown they are now real players and have transcended the characters they portrayed at the start of their careers (The Rock and Stiffler, respectively).

Even though the narrative left something to be desired, the writing of “Southland Tales” was incredibly funny and dark.

The dialogue was sometimes so over the top and monumental that you have no other choice but to let out a little chuckle while hoping the people around you understood the joke as well.

Ling Bai in “Southland Tales”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The film did succeed in making a funny and poignant commentary on celebrities, news and commercialism. Even though it didn’t quite work the way it should have, it proved itself as a mirror reflecting our society to the nth degree.

Even though the movie did end with a whimper – and a confusing one at that – the stylized nature of the film can be appreciated at the price of a DVD rental.

“Southland Tales” opened on Nov. 16, 2007.
By Evan O’Donnell
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

‘Shrek the Third’ is Foxy Flirt Between Kid’s Play, Adult Wit

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:41:35 -0600

CHICAGO – To thwart his fate of being royally screwed (“mommy, what does that mean?”), the ornery ogre who smells like the shallow end of a swamp has unwavering resolve to crown someone else as proxy for his kingdom’s recently croaked king.

“Shrek the Third,” which vigilantly flirts with the grey matter between child’s play and adult humor, creates curious questions for children while bringing back beloved characters for another joyride in Far Far Away.

Shrek begrudgingly submits to a royal primping as he prepares to stand in with Fiona as the king and queen of Far Far Away due to King Harold’s illness.
Image courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
In the eyes of the filmmakers, they never had to lead the irascible Shrek anywhere. They view the series to be a natural progression of a normal man’s life. This time around, he’s faced with the finery and lumber of adulthood. Initially freaked by the notion of fathering ogres, he comes around.

The stories are designed to be clear and mimic real life. In the first, Shrek gets married. In the second, he meets the parents. In the third, he learns to be a dad. All three follow the trend of bucking what Shrek thinks about himself.

“In the first film, he didn’t think he was worthy of falling in love,” Mike Myers said in the film’s production notes. “In the second, he didn’t think he was worthy of being a husband. Now he’s struggling with worthiness because he’s afraid of being a king and a father. You really have to rely on yourself and not listen to what people think about you.”

These CGI films, of course, are designed to crack grins and play to youthful fantasies and imagination. The unanimous funniest moment in the film was when Gingy – the gingerbread character you can’t help but love – reveals that he’s not one tough cookie. He’s so petrified he poops a gumdrop. It was a simply jocular moment.

Gingy stands up to a line of questioning in “Shrek the Third”.
Image courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
While such witty and light-hearted scenes define the Shrek franchise, the third humble fairy tale lacks as much as the other two packed in. With a strong sequel that majestically followed the first, the third – while certainly an entertaining, feel-good film – is the weaker of the bunch.

Shrek – played by Mike Myers and viewed by the actor as a family reunion – is reluctantly persistent to scout Artie – played by Justin Timberlake – as new king. Picked for his “malice, melodrama and comic timing,” according to producer Aron Warner, Rupert Everett as Prince Charming erringly vies to be king and challenges the Shrek and Artie duo.

Just as Timberlake’s selection took some convincing, his character’s likability takes some growing. Warner added: “He’s got a great soul and he brings that to Artie. Even when Artie says stuff that isn’t necessarily likeable, you can tell he’s just a teenager trying to use this kind of language to … cover up his own insecurity.”

Justin Timberlake voices Artie in “Shrek the Third”.
Image courtesy of Saeed Adyani
Eddie Murphy as Donkey – again always having Shrek’s back – is described by director Chris Miller as “an endless stream of funny” while Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots “sings, dances and coughs up hairballs with gusto,” according to Warner.

While author and comedian Amy Sedaris was also wary about playing Cinderella because it seemed astray for her, she warmed up to the idea of being involved in a “Saturday Night Live” girly gang.

“No one’s ever asked me to play a princess before. I thought it would be challenging. Once I heard who the other princesses were going be, I couldn’t pass it up,” Sedaris said. “With TV and film, it’s always ‘bring it back, pull it back and make it smaller’. I never hear that with animation. ‘Can you go bigger?’ [It’s] my dream to hear that. ‘Bigger’ and ‘one take’ are my two favorite phrases.”

In addition, the film features a massive, gold-plated voice cast including Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona), Julie Andrews (the queen), John Cleese (the king), Eric Idle (Merlin), John Krasinski (Lancelot), Ian McShane (Captain Hook), Cheri Oteri (Sleeping Beauty), Amy Poehler (Snow White), Maya Rudolph (Rapunzel), Regis Philbin (Mable) and Larry King (Doris).

In total, the film utilized a catalog of nearly 5,000 characters. All approved by the directors and art directors, many were “digital extras” that may have been way off in the background and relatively unnoticed.

As for the tech of Shrek, the creative team aimed for dazzle in the details. Down to the tiny bits of fur on the Three Blind Mice to the individual strands of hair in Merlin’s beard and Fiona’s hair, DreamWorks Animation advanced already advanced systems to push the envelope and bring alive what started as pencil sketches.

“Going into each new film, we will have a list of tools and techniques we want to improve,” said effects supervisor Matt Baer. “The tricky part is deciding which improvements will have the biggest impact.”

John Krasinski voices Lancelot in “Shrek the Third”.
Photo courtesy of Kelvin Jones
While DL145 HP ProLiant servers, HP xw9300 workstations powered by AMD Opteron processors and HP nx6125 notebooks based on AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core mobile technology likely sound like gibberish to most people, such raw computing power afforded the ability to render incredibly detailed characters at a faster pace.

When Shrek winces, you can now see the wrinkles in his nose. The project couldn’t realize such specificity its first two times around. Special effects veteran Arnauld Lamorlette depicts No. 3 as the “difference between drawing and sculpting”. The film also exploited new hair simulation tools for more realistic motion and collisions with geometry.

“You can really feel the material of the fabric in Fiona’s dress,” said co-director Raman Hui. “It’s a little bit shinier when it’s facing the light. I swear you can feel the texture of it. You can feel the softness.”

When Donkey and Puss in Boots drink a potion and switch bodies, the animators were challenged with transferring their personalities. Puss had to move like a cat in a donkey’s body and Donkey had to awkwardly exist in a cat’s hide.

“Most of the environments in this film are even larger and more detailed,” said art director Peter Zaslav. “Of course, we [also] exaggerated things. We put carvings into the wall and even created a medieval vending machine. If you look closely, you’ll spot several clever little jokes. It’s always fun to infuse contemporary humor into a medieval world.”

Prior to the third film, Shrek has raked in $1.4 billion in box-office receipts and divvied out 90 million DVDs. For the 2007 holiday season, “Shrek the Halls” will appear on ABC. In 2008, the saga will evolve into “Shrek: The Musical” on Broadway.

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