pauloone1989 Reviews

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Funny in places, but disappointing

[5/10 · 6 July 2007]

Will Ferrell's "TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY" like many other have said already, seemed to have had promised so much but delivered so little. Coming in off the back of "ANCHORMAN" an excellent title, TN really was pretty much the same movie cut to a southern American NASCAR plot line.

You expect more from Ferrell don't you. As a guy often labelled as a genius by some, you would expect innovation, new ideas, fresh new ways of creating laughter. After TALLADEGA NIGHTS, I'm still a big Ferrell fan, but this film came across as lazy and as simply a cash generator.

There was no innovation.

Granted, and credit where credit is due, there were some very funny one-liners but the multiple plots didn't seem to link together coherantly, the story was academic, over-used and rushed. A botch job.

I'm hoping for a huge improvement from Ferrell's next comedy.

Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000)

Good.

[6/10 · 17 February 2007]

'Kevin & Perry Go Large' is a really successful follow up to Enfield and Burke's original TV characters. There is always an ever present danger with feature length adaptations of TV shows, in that they'll not always transfer onto the big screen with quite the same clout (Think Family Guy).

BUT, K&P have done very well.

So maybe the content is crude, but quite frankly it's a perfect reflection of youth culture abroad (yet obviously within a slanted comedic context). People do go to such destinations as Ibiza, Malia, and Ayia Napa and they DO lose their moral code.

K&P is if not anything else, a depiction of REAL youth culture.

Whether it glorifies that culture or not is up for debate. I'd argue that it doesn't as I feel that Enfield's character rather pokes fun at the naivety of youth, and whilst I've been partial to my own dalliances in nutty behaviour, I can sense a critical undertone in the Kevin character.

The film is funny, and the plot is definitely good enough to keep you watching. As a pre-pubescent teen at the first time of watching, I found the film better then, than perhaps I would do now - but I know I could always whip out the DVD, watch it, and enjoy it time and again.

Enfield and Burke were obviously well versed in their roles, but as always too the Mum and Dad characters played by James Fleet and Louisa Rix, were fantastic. Their uppish standards and typical parental attitudes are thrown out the window in Ibiza, and the denigration of these standards not only shocks, but humours you too.

Eyeball Paul (Rhys Ifans) is a refreshingly crude character, and the relationship between him and the boys is one of the anchors of the flick. Typically Ifans plays the role with precision, taking any subtleties and throwing them straight out the window.

All in all, K&P is a good film, but perhaps nothing but. It's hard to tell whether it's supposed to be a no hold barred comedy, or a tongue in cheek critique on British society. Am I supposed to take the film seriously? Or not? For that reason, I've given it six out of ten.

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005 Video)

Griffins can't jump.

[4/10 · 17 February 2007]

I'm a HUGE Family Guy fan and I awaited the UK release of the movie with high anticipation. It should have been brilliant, but I'm afraid it wasn't.

Through no fault of it's own (they had to try a movie, it was always going to be touch and go), I found it tedious after about half an hour. Family Guy is absolutely awesome, utter genius in fact when viewed in short bursts. As many people have already said, the dynamic works very well as thirty minute bites.

That genius couldn't be transferred to feature length, and it failed miserably for me. I really was left gravely disappointed (I fear the same with The Simpsons movie).

The story wilted and I found it hard to stay with, but the film is saved from the scrapheap, because of some cracking one liners. The only problem was, was that they should've been incorporated into the TV show.

A shame.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Perfect example of British comedy talent.

[10/10 · 16 February 2007]

Hot Fuzz is the best movie I've seen in a long time. Fact.

Surprisingly maybe, I have to admit Shaun of the Dead really disappointed me in 2004, and also again when I re-watched it not six months ago. So as you can perhaps imagine it took a little persuasion from my Girlfriend to get me to see the latest incarnation from Penn, Frost and Wright...

... But, I'm really glad she did.

The composition was excellent. Comedy, gore, direction and CGI are all integrated fantastically to create a cleverly unpredictable plot. It's not often I enthuse as much as this about a film, and I didn't think I would be doing so about this one, but I am.

The wealth of acting talent involved was staggering, with names such as Broadbent, Nighy, Bailey and Dalton occupying slots on the roster. Not only that, but all of the other roles were portrayed in remarkable fashion, and one can be proud of one's Britishness for it.

The CGI was fabulous, really good. With it, the film had that Hollywood touch, but with spades of Britishness. It worked fabulously as a parody more than anything.

Very good idea, very good plot, very good film. At last something which satisfies.

Employee of the Month (2006)

Awful Movie

[2/10 · 3 February 2007]

I'd seen numerous previews for this flick in the months leading up to it's release here in the UK, and I thought it looked pretty cool. The typical easy viewing, good for a laugh, evening out with the girlfriend kind of film.

There were a few laugh out loud moments; "This is a 1981 Honda... How Dare You" being one of them, but in general the story, it's humour and the acting performance of Jennifer Simpson in particular were all totally cringe worthy, and I found myself almost embarrassed to be watching.

I felt also that some of the language and references hinted towards a more adult audience, but a lot of the humour was pretty childish. It was an uncomfortable balance.

I've seen better films.