@LabanGaia: "lede" is actually the proper spelling of that term in a journalistic context. it goes back to the days of the printing press in which internal newsroom communication (a chalkboard) didn't risk confusing the lead (you know the element Pb) with the lead for a story. So that's how lead became lede.
Now you know - and knowing is half the battle.
(i learned this from a journo prof. way back when and seldom have an occasion to tell people)
Good lord. Just because this movie had a little emotional value, people slam it. It was funny. And there was character development. And it wasn't cliche. And it was nice to see Eric Bana and Seth Rogen play different roles than they normally do. I guess people would have preferred the typical comedy that we've all seen a thousand times. It's nice to see a movie that pushes the boundaries of its genre every once and a while
@Trulymadlyme: I liked it too. Compare it to other "serious movies" or to other "funny movies" that have come out recently and I liked it better than both. It's just a movie.
Moviegoers prefer their Adam Sandler to be dumb and their Seth Rogen to be fat. They like it when their "funny" movies have a running time of less than 2 1/2 hours. Oh, and Judd? Next time you insist your main character has some fatal disease, be sure you cast an actor who is marginally likable. That way, the audience will root for him rather than the disease.
Did anyone else notice a shift in the advertising for this movie in the last week? Any notion of seriousness and bromance disappeared in fave or dick jokes and lame riffs on Harry Potter and German accents.
I haven't see the film, but it seems to belong to this baffling new comedy genre that's been in fashion for almost a decade that features plump, dumb guys as the heros. Trying to segue the plump, dumb guy into interesting dramatic characters appears to be a non-starter though, at least we can hope so.
There is something really weird going on here with Leslie Mann, her daughter, and Zac with the little boy hairdo (she is kinda funny nearly unscripted).
Natasha, I think describing Leslie Mann as a 'comedienne' is being way too complimentary. She merely specializes in acting in funny films that are produced by her husband where she says lines written by Seth Rogen and her husband. It's not hard to be funny when someone else has done most of the difficult work for you.
Most male and female comedians spend at least a few grueling years agonizing over and writing material and then having to perform it in seedy stand-up venues or with very selective comedy troupes. If they're lucky enough to get their own TV shows or star in movies, they still have the shared burden of coming up with the jokes. I think calling someone a comedian/enne is something that must be earned. Leslie Mann is just a member of the lucky wives club.
@Wrapitup: Wow. You are just really, really wrong. "Lucky wives club?" Ugh. If you want to point out the difference between a STAND UP comedian and a comedic actor, fine, but I think "comedienne" is completely right.
Her performance in 40 Year Old Virgin MADE those lines funny, not the other way around.
Awww! 'Lucky Wives Club'? that's mean! So in LM's defense and my own, I think she has really great timing and phrasing. She rarely goes for the obvious or screechy gag. I thought her and Rudd were the best part of 'Knocked Up'. Serious!
@MrsButterworth: Agree. Even with a funny script not every actor is funny--sometimes they even suck the life out of material. I hate nepotism, but Mann always proves herself and is a legitimately funny, talented actress. She nails it.
@Natasha VC: Thanks for your response. Yeah I agree with you about her strong acting talents. So as the others said, maybe 'comedic actress' then?
As for the 'Lucky Wives Club' dig, I stand by that. There are tons of actresses in LA who are at least as talented as Leslie Mann. But she's lucky enough to be married to someone who gets to make major casting decisions while many other really good actresses toil in obscurity.
I forgot he had to do with the near-perfect Larry Sanders show until I caught him on "Inside the Actors Studio" the other night, one of the strangest shows on TV. Lipton rattles off film titles, "Knocked Up," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall..." like they're cures for cancer. I think Apatow is at least self-aware enough to be uncomfortable.
The spoiled man-child unwillingly dragged into adulthood by an accomplished woman who ought to be spending her time more wisely is a meme that has to die. In art and in life.
I think he needs to be careful. There is a such thing as the Shyamalan effect. Where you internalize your movies sooo much that you can't see past the vision, to the lunacy, and the overall major suckage, and so you lose that thing that made you unique, cool, and irreverent. And at the point you're making movies about make believe, stupid, villages that lie about the year, and sea-people or some such that confound Paul Giamatti, who got in on the wave wayyyy too late. (I'm also looking at you Wahlberg. The Happening! Yeah, the happening of the suck-ass confirmation.)
So yeah, Apatow. Don't do that. Don't be Prince in Purple Rain.
@Spirit Fingers: I wish I could promote your comment. That third sentence needs to be framed and nailed to the wall of every artist and businessperson in America. It says more about the need for dissent in projects than most management textbooks ever could.
OOoo yes! The Shymalan effect! It's true. Why did no one grab M. Knight and say "Hey! There are sea-people in your movie, getagrip!" The Happening is only redeemable on the campy level.
I loathe most of this man's films but find his riffs amusing and appealing. If he really does want to make the world a better place, he should just Twitter, 24/7.
08/03/09
08/04/09
Now you know - and knowing is half the battle.
(i learned this from a journo prof. way back when and seldom have an occasion to tell people)
08/03/09
08/02/09
08/03/09
08/02/09
08/02/09
No, you got comedy in my leukemia!
08/02/09
08/02/09
08/02/09
Not too familiar with the history of comedy, are you?
08/02/09
08/02/09
08/03/09
08/03/09
07/30/09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TDMoj0LQfI
07/30/09
Most male and female comedians spend at least a few grueling years agonizing over and writing material and then having to perform it in seedy stand-up venues or with very selective comedy troupes. If they're lucky enough to get their own TV shows or star in movies, they still have the shared burden of coming up with the jokes. I think calling someone a comedian/enne is something that must be earned. Leslie Mann is just a member of the lucky wives club.
07/30/09
Her performance in 40 Year Old Virgin MADE those lines funny, not the other way around.
07/30/09
Awww! 'Lucky Wives Club'? that's mean! So in LM's defense and my own, I think she has really great timing and phrasing. She rarely goes for the obvious or screechy gag. I thought her and Rudd were the best part of 'Knocked Up'. Serious!
07/30/09
07/30/09
07/31/09
As for the 'Lucky Wives Club' dig, I stand by that. There are tons of actresses in LA who are at least as talented as Leslie Mann. But she's lucky enough to be married to someone who gets to make major casting decisions while many other really good actresses toil in obscurity.
07/30/09
07/30/09
07/30/09
Mr. Larry Sanders has a pretty great cameo in 'Iron Man 2'. I saw the clip and I missed him.
07/30/09
07/30/09
07/30/09
07/30/09
So yeah, Apatow. Don't do that. Don't be Prince in Purple Rain.
07/30/09
07/30/09
OOoo yes! The Shymalan effect! It's true. Why did no one grab M. Knight and say "Hey! There are sea-people in your movie, getagrip!" The Happening is only redeemable on the campy level.
07/30/09
07/30/09
Do not fear the beard. Give in to Apatow, I have. The water's fine.
07/30/09