111. The Other Guys

             The Other Guys suffers from what I like to call a case of the Previewitis. What is Previewitis? It is when you see a preview of a movie and think that is going to be one amazing movie only to see that movie and realize that you fell for a really well done trailer.
             The Other Guys is a movie starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in a buddy cop movie. Except for this time Ferrell plays the straight man and Mark Wahlberg plays the crazy  out of control guy. You know I kept waiting for this movie to get really good. It never quite gels and takes off like one would hope or expected. There are some real funny parts. I actually enjoyed a more low key Ferrell and Michael Keaton was great as their boss.
             But The Other Guys ultimately lets down. Its like when you are really craving pizza and you have one delivered but when it arrives its kind of not put together well and lukewarm. That is what this was like. Really excited then just disappointing. But hey Im not expert. Im just some guy watching movies. I think it would have been funnier with SNL's Andy Samberg played Mark Wahlberg is this movie. Say hi to your mother for me!

Final Verdict: Not worth owning.

35. Father of the Bride Part II

                I just love Steve Martin. I love everything from The Jerk to Bowfinger to Cheaper by the Dozen to the Pink Panther. Love Steve Martin.  And I love both the Father of the Bride movies.

                The sequel picks up a little after the last one ended. George Banks, aka Party Pooper, has watched his beloved daughter get married. Now the family faces a new crisis when they think Annie and Bryan are going to move to Boston. But little they did know that the real surprise is that Annie and Bryan are not moving but with Child! This puts George into a crazy mid life crisis that involves everything from hair dying to selling the beloved family home.

and who exactly is the father?

                The real twist is when George and Nina find out they too are pregnant! So it’s both mother and daughter pregnant at the same time. The best scene ever is when they are in the doctor’s office when they find out the news. George’s reaction is priceless.  Then since we are having two babies it’s a perfect reason to bring back Frank the party planner played again by the great and underrated Martin Short.  The movie gets a lot of depth out of the fact George is struggling with the self doubt of being both a new dad AND a new grandfather. So how does he cope? He takes a strong sleeping pill. LOL.

Final Verdict: Love it. Keep it.

29. Just Go With It

               Adam Sandler. What does one think about when you hear that name? First thing that always pops in my head is Billy Madison.  Maybe then Opera Man.  But do you still think Movie Star when you hear the name of Adam Sandler? You should.

                His movies have made over a BILLION dollars at the box office and its almost a sure thing when it comes to his style of movies. His latest, which we saw at the always awesome AMC 16 in Creve Coeur,  Just Go With It is good. Really good. I can't help but wonder when people will start to look past the sophomoric, frat boy humor that he injects into his movies and see the depth that he does layer his films with.  It's not all Happy Gilmore. Bedtime Stories, Click and 50 first dates have some of the most genuine heart tugging moments  that are just as good as any other movie.

  Just Go With It is about a guy whose whole scam to pick up women is to pretend he is in a bad marriage and plays the victim to get their sympathy. But he finally meets a girl who likes him for him but then mistakenly thinks he is married. SO he comes up with a plan to ask his assistant,  Jennifer Aniston, to play along as his soon to be divorced wife. Then it escalates to where her children are involved and it just keeps going and going and going.  In fact the two child actors that play the  children steal almost every scene they are in. Great casting there.  The movie is funny, lots of improv was involved and you can tell they were having fun making this movie.  If you liked 50 First Dates then you will love this one.

Final Verdict: I think it will added to my Sandler Collection.

Other Tidbits:

-Nicole Kidman plays a minor role and it was awesome to see her express her crazy zany side. And she was really funny.

-Sandler plays a plastic surgeon so look for many of his SNL alum who appear as his patients.

16. Tommy Boy

Wow. Has it really been over 15 years since Tommy Boy came out? Really? I can't believe it. I also can't believe how funny this movie still is. Chris Farley at the top of his game for sure. It's a shame that we lost him 1997! It would have been nice to see how he would have evolved over the years as a comedian and an actor.
For those living in a black hole Tommy Boy is the story of a not so bright son whose father passes away leaving him with the company auto parts factory. The factory is in danger of closing if they can't get enough orders of the new break pads. Tommy then sets off on the road to try and sell “like his dad” Joining him on the trip is Richard. A rude, sarcastic, prudish little man. Richard so wonderfully played by the snarky David Spade. Farley and Spade will be forever linked as one of the greatest comic duos. Again, a shame we will never see anything beyond this and Black Sheep.

In a weird twist. Tommy Boy’ s message is more relevant today than in 1995.

With the economy off track for the past 3 years any so many real life closings are happening all time like the small town featured here. Yes, Tommy Boy is not the smartest of plots or the most dramatic of acting but it's solid and it's funny.

Final Verdict: Tommy Likey. A Must own.