Elizabeth Banks

It’s Eddie Murphy Inside Eddie Murphy in Made-For-Children Sci-Fi Comedy ‘Meet Dave’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:42:56 -0700

CHICAGO – The longtime career of Eddie Murphy has lately taken an interesting turn.

After a meteoric career with huge box-office comedies, Murphy has steered toward more family oriented fare (“Daddy Day Care,” the “Shrek” movies, etc.) before his Oscar-nominated performance in “Dreamgirls”. After the stumble of 2007’s “Norbit,” Murphy has again returned this summer in kid-friendly mode with “Meet Dave”.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

This high-concept, science-fiction comedy involves a giant robotic spaceship that plunges to New York City and is shaped like – well, Eddie Murphy. It’s designed that way to walk among earthlings unobtrusively. It’s controlled by a tiny crew inside the body led by ship captain Eddie Murphy.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Meet Dave” in our reviews section.

View our full, high-resolution “Meet Dave” image gallery.

The mission is to retrieve a meteoric orb that their home planet, Nil, sent to Earth to suck up the oceans. As in what usually happens in the movie universe, the orb ends up mistakenly in the hand of a scrappy but sensitive boy (Austin Myers) who naturally lives with his widowed mother (Elizabeth Banks).

Meanwhile, the crew has to assimilate within the strange customs of New York City while keeping their outer space alien composure within the seductive world. They steer the “Dave” spaceship to hook up with the boy’s mother. The race is on to find the orb before the police (or at least the “X-Files” agents) can catch up with them.

“Meet Dave,” which opened everywhere on July 11, 2008, stars Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union, Ed Helms, Austin Myers and Judah Friedlander.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “Meet Dave” review.

Dave (Eddie Murphy) is shocked by some unexpected micro-boogying happening atop his shoulder in “Meet Dave”.
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Micro-sized humanoids the Captain (Eddie Murphy) and #3 (Gabrielle Union) are pursued by a rubbery object previously unknown to them in “Meet Dave”.
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “Meet Dave” review.

‘Definitely, Maybe’ Borrows From Successful Romantic Comedies, Adds Fresh Hook

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:12:54 -0700

CHICAGO – The makers of “Love Actually” and “Notting Hill” know how to do romantic comedy that doesn’t somehow fall into the trap of a formulaic chick flick like “27 Dresses”. “Definitely, Maybe,” which is their latest effort, on the other hand isn’t particularly original and really isn’t very funny.

That said, the picture still feels fresh and doesn’t do anything overly cutesy that will elicit groans from the reluctant boyfriends who will be dragged to the film this weekend. So long as you pick a comfortable seat, you’ll have an enjoyable two hours.

Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes: the quintessential Manhattan advertising executive. His hectic life gets a little crazier when he’s served with divorce papers.

Click here to read Dustin Levell’s full review
of “Definitely, Maybe” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “Definitely, Maybe” image gallery!

Seth Rogen to Play Lead in ‘Zack & Miri Make a Porno’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:35:17 -0700

I just received official word from the Weinstein Company and Dimension Films that Seth Rogen (“Knocked Up,” “Superbad”) will play the lead in “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” from writer/director Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier.

Seth Rogen
Photo credit: WireImage.com
Elizabeth Banks (“40 Year Old Virgin,” “Invincible”) will star opposite Rogen as Miri. The film will begin shooting in Jan. 2008 in Pittsburgh. The announcement was made on Friday by Weinstein Company and Dimension Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

“Getting Seth in this flick is like suddenly growing an extra six inches in the crotch,” Smith said on the announcement. “As if that wasn’t awesome enough, we scored the comedically and aesthetically gifted Elizabeth, too. Cast-wise, I’m now extremely well-hung.”

He added: “I wrote the part expressly for Rogen because he’s a funny as [f***] comedy god and we’re insanely lucky he said ‘yes’. Dude, coming on board is a total mitzvah. In order to show my appreciation [and] fit in better with Seth, Harvey and Bob, Scott and I will be converting to Judaism. Bar Mitzvah invites are in the mail.”

In the film, Zack and Miri are two lifelong platonic friends who are heavy with debt. They seek the help of their friends to make a porno for some fast cash.

As everyone starts “doing” everyone, though, Zack and Miri realize they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

“Once again, Kevin has written a daring and entertaining screenplay that has attracted some of the most talented comedic actors working today,” Bob and Harvey Weinstein said on the announcement.

The studios say additional cast will be announced soon.

Vince Vaughn to Walk Chicago Red Carpet on Nov. 5 For ‘Fred Claus’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:57:42 -0700

I have just learned that Vince Vaughn is confirmed to walk a Chicago red carpet on Nov. 5 for “Fred Claus”. Red-carpet arrivals start at 5 p.m. that day on the second floor of AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St.

Paul Giamatti (left) and Vince Vaughn in “Fred Claus”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The event is presented by Warner Bros. and American Eagle Outfitters. Directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”), the film features Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks and Ludacris.

“Fred Claus” was filmed in Chicago and parts of England. The story centers around Fred Claus – Santa’s bitter, older brother – who is forced to move to the North Pole. The red-carpet event is open to the public.