Movie review - "Sex Tape" (2014) **1/2

It's got a fantastic concept, title and cast, and some very funny moments and nice scenes, but it's not a complete slam dunk. First of all Jason Segel, who you would think would be perfect (and is certainly perfectly cast, and co-wrote the script) isn't in good form - he seems distracted, and not all quite there; he's going through the motions, and relying on his technique but his game isn't "on" in the way that Cameron Diaz's definitely is. She throws herself into her part and his obviously keen on aging disgracefully, showing off her backside and generally being raunchy. They should be a perfect couple but Segel's unfocused performance stops the fun.

Secondly, there's the plotting; this is set up as a farce, but there are too many holes in the storyline - the stakes are set up being about not wanting family-image-friendly Rob Lowe finding out about the sex tape, but a third of the way in he's revealed to be into cocaine (a really funny sequence) so the stakes go away; they try to reactivate it with a blackmailing kid but it doesn't hold. There's also too much of characters "oh I didn't realise you could do that" or "that doesn't matter".

I love Ellie Kamper but her part seems a bit of a waste - she and Rob Coddrry are Diaz and Segel's best friends, and you keep expecting them to complicate the action somehow, but they don't, really Characters come in who you think are going to do something interesting - eg Diaz's mother, Segel's co worker - but they disappear. The movie needed a genuine villain or something else - some structural work.

But there are lots of laugh out loud moments and the movie does say something about marriage. It is also better directed than Jake Kasdan's previous feature, Bad Teacher.

Movie review - "This is Forty" (2012) ****

A follow up to Knocked Up was not as popular despite a similarly strong cast and script full of observant moments. Yes it's long but so was Knocked Up. I think the relative lack of popularity stemmed from two things: stories about turning forty aren't as inherent appealing as ones about falling pregnant (the latter is the start of a new chapter, the former is a mid point next stop death); and secondly, Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd can't carry a film as stars. I admit that's a harsh, personal judgement - both are very talented, capable actors, likeable and all that... but they're not stars. They're not Jason Segel or Kristen Wiig or Seth Rogen or even Katherine Heigl and it hurts in a film on which so much is dependent on these two.

Compounding the problems are the two Apatow kids as the Mann/Rudd children. They were weak in Funny People too - the elder daughter more so than the younger - and that problem is repeated. They are okay, but they're not exceptional, and character driven comedies like these need exceptional casting.

This becomes more obvious when the lead four actors engage with the superb support cast: Segel, Albert Brooks (some brilliant work as a funny very reluctant late in life father), John Lithgow, Rob Smigel, Melissa McCarthy (again, brilliant), Lena Durham and even Megan Fox who is really funny. When the lead four characters engage with them is when this really comes alive. Even with them it's still pretty good - full of honesty and warmth and funny observations (husbands sneaking off to the toilet to get alone time, partners fantasizing about killing each other in a loving way).

Movie review - "The Five Year Engagement" (2012) **

The team that made Forgetting Sarah Marshall fail to come up with something as good, despite a very talented cast, including two charming leads, and some very effective moments, including the use of one of my favourite songs, "Sweet Thing" by Van Morrison. 

The main problem is the story, which is based on a weak concept that doesn't improve on execution. Knocked Up or Sarah Marshall was based upon strong conflict (pregnancy, going on holiday and finding your ex there) but in this case the only reason the characters can't get married is because, well, they're reluctant to do so. Instead of just driving to Vegas or a registrar they hum and haw, and it drags on and on and does feel like a long engagement.

This wouldn't matter if we really got into the characters, in the matter of say Two for the Road, which I occasionally got the impression this was trying to go for, but we don't. (Two for the Road had more story than this.) There are some lovely bits of observation, and insight into being a couple, but there's too much schtick for it too work as a drama-dy. (The finale feels as though it's straight out of How I Met Your Mother, which is a good show, it just feels too broad and not realistic, and thus out of the tone of the rest of it). Supporting actors come on and do their comic turns (as opposed to playing real people), there's lots of "business", some really dull complications (they breaks up and she goes for Rhys Ifans),  and it goes on and on.

It's really frustrating because there is a good movie inside here - Emily Blunt and Jason Segel are movies stars who we like, and Mindy Kalin gives a stand out supporting performance. Maybe this needed to be more snapshots in their whole relationship, like Two for the Road, or maybe it needed more in-built conflict like she can't get married because of paperwork or something. I don't know, but the film doesn't work.

And what is it with Hollywood's current obsession with food vans? Happy Endings, What to Expect When You're Expecting, this...

Movie review - "The Muppets" (2011) ****

A brilliantly successful to update the old franchise (a horrid word but appropriate nonetheless). They really pulled it off - it explains why the Muppets were important for a new generation, the characters are treated with respect but not reverence, the new songs and gags are really good, there's some great oldies, including 'The Rainbow Connection' and 'We Built This City on Rock and Roll', and a genuinely uplifting ending. I even liked Walter, the new muppet guy - they've learned from Pixar to give new characters decent backstory; after seeing what Walter went through growing up (wanting to grow, only feeling at home when he saw the Muppets) you are totally on his side.

All the fate of the Muppets make sense - Kermit lonely in a mansion, Fozzie playing Reno, Gonzo making a fortune in plumbing, Scooter at google, Ralph doing nothing, Piggy at Vogue, Sam the Eagle as a news reader. Jason Segel and Amy Adams are perfect for this sort of movie - they are muppets too in their way.

The plot embraces the spirit of the show and the first Muppet Movie. The voice work wasn't as good as the original (maybe it was as good - it just sounded too different for me that's all) and maybe the story could have done with a bit more logic (making fun of the fact the logic was weak doesn't quite make up for it). But it was wonderful.

Movie review – “Bad Teacher” (2011) **

All the ingredients for a knock out film – terrific idea, wonderful cast – but they stuff the execution. The macguffin of having Cameron Diaz want to raise up enough for fake boobs sounds funny, but doesn’t really hold up – will they definitely work to get her a rich man? What if she doesn’t get them, what will happen? 

 

The action is dragged out too long, not enough time is given to her relationship with Jason Segel, or to show how she could be a good influence on students (this is no School of Rock), there seems to be a scene missing in her seduction with Justin Timberlake (one minute they are talking the next they are dry humping), the villain is actually just a good teacher, there’s this weird scene set in the men’s room (it’s a badly directed movie – the pacing is all off). 

 

Diaz is excellent, Segel very good, Lucy Punch (nemesis) impresses, but Justin Timberlake is allowed to go over the top and caricature himself. A real shame.

Movie review – “I Love You, Man” (2009) ***1/2

This would have made a great Australian movie because of the mateship undercurrent but it’s still pretty good. It’s made in that casual-seeming Judd Apatow style – scenes tend to amble along, with a semi-impro feel and often obsessional references to slightly obscure pop culture items (here it’s Lou Ferrigno, the band Rush – not the Australian one, and Chocolat). 

The casting isn’t quite as strong as for the best of Apatow, but it has some fine lead performances; Paul Rudd, a girl’s guy star, is very well cast as a girl’s guy who needs a friend and Jason Segel further establishes himself as the next big comedy star. Rashid Jones is very likeable as Rudd’s fiancée, and Jamie Lynn Presley and Jon Favreau (as a bullying, angry Jew – a type we don’t see often on screen) are strong in support. Some great moments, such as Rudd excitedly trying to introduce Jones his favourite band via the tinny sound of itunes