AltWeeklies Wire
'The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard': Buyer, Bewarenew
Jeremy Piven stars in this swift-moving, cynical, equal-opportunity offender about a team of used-car liquidators.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
08-14-2009 |
Reviews
'The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard.' is a Worthless Waste of Timenew
When you can't get will Ferrell, you get ... Jeremy Piven? That's apparently what the makers of this awkwardly titled film decided, since the movie originally conceived as a starring vehicle for Ferrell (who's still on board as a producer and has a small cameo) has been reinvented as Piven's first major studio film as a lead.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Staff |
08-14-2009 |
Reviews
In 'Funny People,' A Master of Giggles Goes for Real Laughsnew
With this story about comedians, filmmaker Judd Apatow rewrites his own songbook in the key of James L. Brooks, a tricky mix of humor and heartfelt.
Austin Chronicle |
Kimberley Jones |
07-30-2009 |
Reviews
Judd Apatow on the Making of His 'Citizen Kane'new
The director talks about what it's like casting his preteen daughters in a comedy with so many penis references, why comedians are such dicks and his hard-on for Steve Martin.
Boston Phoenix |
Lance Gould |
07-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Funny People' Proves Judd Apatow is the King of Comedy
Apatow raises the stakes on his already stellar formula for generating laughs with a comedy that is equal parts sincerity and wit.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
07-27-2009 |
Reviews
The Surprising Disappointment of 'Bruno'new
Borat offended us with an ignorance so profound the ignorant found it sympathetic, inspiring them to reveal their prejudice. Bruno, on the other hand, is an archly superior fashionista nearly equal in stupidity to Borat but nowhere near as sweet.
Eugene Weekly |
Jason Blair |
07-16-2009 |
Reviews
'The Hangover': What Happens in Vegasnew
The first third of The Hangover is so chokingly funny that I actually heard people wheezing to catch their breath.
Eugene Weekly |
Jason Blair |
07-16-2009 |
Reviews
'Beth Cooper' is Out of Touchnew
After a promising start, I Love You, Beth Cooper quickly becomes a tedious, cliched high school comedy.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
07-16-2009 |
Reviews
'Bruno' Pushes the Limits but Isn't As Consistent as 'Borat'new
Whatever Sacha Baron Cohen does next, he's bound to give the folks at the Motion Picture Association of America some major headaches. This movie pushes the boundaries of the R rating to the limit, and some will undoubtedly think it goes too far.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
07-16-2009 |
Reviews
'Bruno' Fails to Detonate With the Force of its Predecessornew
The movie's provocations connect only fitfully, and despite its comparatively strong narrative, it feels less of a piece than Borat, and more like an overlong episode of Sacha Baron Cohen's TV show.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Sam Adams |
07-14-2009 |
Reviews
Sacha Baron Cohen's Shock Tactics in 'Bruno' Are Ass Backwardsnew
In scene after scene, Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles throw transgressive images and suggestions at the audience, daring them to take offence. It's shock comedy based entirely on gay panic.
NOW Magazine |
Norman Wilner |
07-13-2009 |
Reviews
'Humpday': Would-Be Pornographers Talk About Transgressive Artnew
Let's save the snickering bromance jokes for another day, another movie. Seattle director Lynn Shelton is no Judd Apatow, nor does she mean Humpday to be a raunch-com.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
07-13-2009 |
Reviews
'Whatever Works': Confessions of a Cranky Misanthropenew
Though Larry David makes for a good Woody Allen avatar, consider our enthusiasm for Whatever Works curbed.
Austin Chronicle |
Marjorie Baumgarten |
07-03-2009 |
Reviews
Sacha Baron Cohen Makes Funny, But Can't Get His Story Straight in 'Bruno'
Sacha Baron Cohen's follow-up to the hilarious Borat provokes half as many laughs in a seemingly less improvised comedy that goes twice again as far as Borat in goosing sexual sight gags designed to make even the most numb audience members blanch.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
07-02-2009 |
Reviews
The Last Meatball: The Extinction of Harold Ramisnew
Ramis went missing several years ago after back-to-back flops and now, thanks to his arguable heir, Judd Apatow, Ramis returns. The problem is that he's awakened in a future much different than the time he knew.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
06-19-2009 |
Reviews