‘The Heartbreak Kid’
This completely unoriginal “horror” film is the latest in the never-ending zombie genre. I like zombie movies, good ones, and still think there are more innovations that can be made in this genre. However, this year’s example, “28 Weeks Later” and the terminal “Night,” do nothing to reinforce this thought. Starring a thoroughly bored and unchallenged Josh Hartnett, the film seems to think it is setting up some kind of original, epic clash against Alaskan villagers and non-descript zombies, but it is all overly familiar schlock. Ben Foster, as a haunting stranger is a strength to this film however. Prepared to be grossed out and lament the days when horror was scary rather than funny.
Yes, “There’s Something About Mary” was hilarious. Nearly 10 years later, writer-directors Peter and Bobby Farreley re-team with Ben Stiller to re-make an original film of the same title. The original was written by Neil Simon and this one definitely was not. Stiller plays an unhappy newlywed who strays from his new wife on their honeymoon. The love triangle seems forced, as does the attraction between either party. The humor has all been done before, and the Farreley brother’s latest attempt at “growing-up” after the dismal failure of “Fever Pitch” is embarrassingly bad. The film waffles from slapstick comedy to gross-out flick and relationship commentary with as much ease and comfort as an epileptic elephant. See this for a funny scene or two when flipping through HBO in 2008 or later preferably. ‘The Darjeeling Limited’
Wes Anderson also trudges familiar ground. Fortunately the ground is much more scenic and lush. Not often will I recommend a film for that, and I don’t fully recommend this one. Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson do pull off being brothers despite obvious physical dissimilarities and there are some very quirky characters and original situations. The brothers all head to India for a journey of self-discovery and to re-kindle a relationship with their mother, played by Angelica Huston. But this is too much of the same emotion in each film. “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “The Life Aquatic” and now “The Darjeeling Limited” might as well all be the same film. They all have the same moody, quasi-upbeat soundtrack and the same conflicted character shtick without ever really seeming real. This film is hardly a triumph and is no match for “Tenenbaums,” but still worth watching. If the next Anderson flick is the same, I may boycott it. ‘Why Did I Get Married?’
Tyler Perry is a phenomenon. A very popular play producer and writer and actor for the African American community, his recent films have created him a unique film niche. He is one of the only continually successful African American filmmakers since “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Madea’s Family Reunion.” I figured I would see what all the fuss was about. In this film, various couples deal with marriage turmoil. Wow. Call me crazy, but I didn’t laugh once and was shocked. The performances (if you want to call them that) coaxed by Perry from Janet Jackson and others are boring and seem like a cold-reading. Nothing original emanates from this film and it is actually very painful to watch. Perry’s talents are sadly lost on me.
KEN TARR is a student at Santa Monica College, an actor and writer and is also taller than 99 percent of the population. He telepathically or at
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 27, 2007. Read the original PDF.