'Scary Movie' Picture-Perfect For Munro
Lochlyn Munro Talks About Infamous Polaroid; Broadcast Film Critics Stormed By 'Gladiator;' Reviews Of New Videos, Films
If there should be any new film honor instituted this awards season, it should be an accolade for bravery for "Scary Movie" co-star Lochlyn Munro. And no, the bravery isn't for being one of the clueless victims fighting off the Wayans' brothers' "Ghostface" bad guy, but for bravery in the face of ridicule, for allowing a certain Polaroid picture to represent him in the film.
Or, to be more specific, allowing the picture to represent a very small part of him, if you get my meaning. But hey, in a movie by the Wayans brothers (Keenen Ivory directed, while Marlon and Shawn co-wrote and co-starred), where the sky's the limit for gross-out sex humor, you've got to be prepared for anything. But Munro wasn't.
"I didn't realize that it was be such a focus in the film," Munro recalled with a laugh in a recent interview. "The day of the shoot, I was so concentrated on doing the improvisation that Keenen wanted me to do that I forgot about it. All they did was show me this Polaroid and said, 'That will be your ...' Next thing I'm talking to reporters at the press junket, and everybody is asking me about it."
Inspired by the "Scream" films by Wes Craven, "The Blair Witch Project" and many others, "Scary Movie" (new on VHS and special-edition DVD) follows a group of brainless teenagers being stalked by a "ghostface" killer. And anybody who's seen Craven's films, in particular, knows that in a sense, they border on being parodies themselves of other horror films. So to do a parody of a pseudo-parody was in a way a special challenge, Munro said.
"We tried to play the characters as real as we could, and the parody came from the situations we were in," Munro said. "We didn't try to be caricatures, we tried to be serious. That's where the comedy came from."
No matter the tone on the set, Munro was shocked into laughter along with the audience when the film came out.
"I always try to avoid seeing the films I'm in, but the night before the film, (Dimension Films honcho) Harvey Weinstein wanted me to see it," Munro said. "So the night before I talked with the press, I went with some friends and sat there and said, 'Oh, my God' -- I had no idea of the stuff they were going to do. But I think the key to the movie was finding that fine line between it being offensive and it being comedy. At least for my own taste, I found it not to be too offensive. At least I wasn't (offended)."
Oddly enough, Munro is going from a Craven-inspired parody to a project under the auspices of Craven himself, with the upcoming horror thriller "Dracula 2000." Look for Munro right off the "bat," where he and a group of friends happen upon a mansion owned by Abraham Van Helsing (Christopher Plummer).
The top films competing for this year's Best Picture honor are (listed in alphabetical order): Congratulations to all the winners!
Even if you take all that garbage away, "Road Trip" amounts to nothing more than another go-round of recycled juvenile dialogue, an utterly predictable plotline and bad acting. College kids might find the movie slightly amusing; the rest will find it easily forgettable. --Tim Lammers
'Saving Grace' (R)
Some may think the movie is pro-dope, but ultimately, "Saving Grace" is a comedy, and most of the laughs are generated from Grace’s fish-out-of-water naiveté (although her hints of vulnerability add depth to the character). If that’s not enough, the film’s unrealistic plot twists – including some hilarious “tripping” by some of Grace’s cronies -- are sure to weaken any serious protests. Sure, the gags aren’t completely original, but you’re sure to revel in their silliness anyway. The only hint of realism is effective, though, as the whole idea of being left in a mound of debt is quite real. --Tim Lammers
'Small Time Crooks' (PG)
"Small Time Crooks" screams out of the gate like a rocket, with utterly hilarious supporting turns by the entire ensemble, including Elaine May as Ullman's totally clueless friend and employee. The film hits a peak with a pseudo "60 Minutes" piece on the "business" ("reported" by none other than Steve Kroft), but loses steam shortly thereafter as Lovitz, Rappaport and Darrow all but completely disappear from the film. And while the remainder of "Small Time Crooks" not as amusing, you have to admire Allen for taking the movie in a different direction rather than stretching the initial premise into an entire film and wearing out its welcome. --Tim Lammers
Where The Money Is' (PG-13)
While the outcome of “Where the Money Is” is ultimately predictable, director Marek Kanievska has a firm handle on story throughout the film. It’s a relatively easy plot to follow; yet it has its fine share of twists. Also, he's smartly chosen not to create a false-sense of sexual tension between Newman and Fiorentino – a major flaw in last year's "Entrapment," with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones. It proves there still is room in films for realistic relationships in today's cinema, and "Money" in that respect, pays off. --Tim Lammers
Also New On Video
'What Women Want' (PG-13)
Our boy Mel plays male chauvinist pig ad executive Nick Marshall. According to his exasperated female assistant, Nick is the king of "T&A" ads. But the agency's head (Alan Alda) decides to go after the female market, and hires Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt) to head up the creative department -- a plum that Nick was sure would be his. While trying out women's products at home, Nick gets electrocuted and suddenly can hear the innermost thoughts of every woman he meets. Of course, he doesn't hesitate to use this new skill to his advantage -- until he starts falling for his super-competent competition.
"What Women Want" is a laugh-out-loud riot, but then switches gears into a mushy love story. It could have used a little more integration of the two moods. But Mel is at his most charming, especially when he is doing the old soft-shoe to another blue-eyed wonder, Frank Sinatra. Hunt is convincing as the workaholic boss, but her tan tends to make her look rather tired. "What Women Want" is a fun education for men and women alike. --Debra Scott
'The Emperor's New Groove' (G)
There's an Emperor, Kuzco (voiced by David Spade), who's sort of a super-snide and super-rich rehash of that cheeky Aladdin. There's a big, dumb, goofy sidekick (Kronk, voiced by Patrick Warburton), who could fit in as one of Hercules' right-hand men. There's even a gangly, evil old woman -- Yzma, wheezed out by Eartha Kitt -- who could well share bloodlines with that greedy hag from "101 Dalmatians" (Cruella de Incan Village?). Throw in a host of wacky talking animals, a few dance numbers, some slapstick-animated hijinks, and you've got the Disney formula through-and-through.
Fortunately, the comedic swing to this familiar tune has definitely got its "Groove" back here. Although watching a Latin American cartoon character wisecrack David Spade-style is a little jarring at first -- nearly as much so as hearing John Goodman as a humble but spectacularly well-fed mountain peasant -- the film is undeniably fun. Spade's caustic humor pervades the movie, as does a sense of not taking itself too seriously.
There's no great effort to wow the audience with new animation techniques, nearly zero plot to follow and not half as much weepy moralizing as Walt and Co. usually go for -- just some good fun at which adults can laugh as heartily as their kids. --Joseph Ruttle
Special note: This week, @ The Movies welcomes a guest writer, 14 year-old Mathew Rotenberg, to the column. Mathew was generous enough to lend his talents to reviewing "Dude, Where's My Car?" for us. Thanks, dude!
'Dude, Where's My Car?'
Scott, who also starred in "American Pie" (another adolescent classic), and Kutcher ("That '70s Show") do a good job acting like two morons. They try to retrace their steps from the previous night, and slowly discover that they must have had the night of their dreams (or any guy's dreams), but they can't remember a thing.
This is a hilarious movie, at least in the eyes of this teenage boy movie reviewer. I have a feeling that most adults would consider it a total waste of time and one of the stupidest movies ever. So, if you are a normal adolescent boy, I strongly recommend it. If you are just about anyone else, I'd say don't spend your time or money on this one, dude. --Mathew Rotenberg
In the new movie, also set on planet Tattooine, Lucas introduces the younger versions of Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru Lars (from "A New Hope"), with a satisfying amount of interview footage with actors Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse, who portray them (in particular, Edgerton has a striking resemblance to Phil Brown, who played the original Owen). In addition, we gain insight into where C-3PO got his "junkyard" look through an interview with the "droid" himself, Anthony Daniels.
As for the films, Episodes IV, V and VI, they look as fresh as the day they were released, not only in sight and sound quality, but in narrative as well. And while it's not being specifically promoted this way, the versions of the films are indeed the restored "Special Edition" films that came out three years back, not the originals from 1977, 1980 and 1983, respectively. --Tim Lammers
No matter which route you choose, the payoff for oblivious adults is surprising: The storyline -- in which kids use evolving monsters to help save the digital world from evil -- teaches just as it preaches: Good prevails over evil, and to be a hero, you don't have to fight. That's not to say that there isn't moderate violence, although that is softened by a humorous tone through the episodes. --Tim Lammers
Catch up with Tim on these recent @ The Movies interviews:
More Movies:
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
'Gladiator' Topples Broadcast Film Critics
An organization that I was proud to become a part of this year, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, has just announced the winners of its annual Critics' Choice Awards for films released this year. The organization, which consists of 142 television, radio and Internet Critics in the U.S. and Canada, will announce its Best Picture award at its annual luncheon Jan. 22 in Beverly Hills. Listed below are the individual recipients of this year's Critics' Choice Awards:
New On Video This Week
'Road Trip' (R) 
While its trailer looked promising for at least a few laughs, the new college comedy, "Road Trip," is not worth hitching on to. MTV madman Tom Green stars as a college flunkie who tells the tale of a group of friends who trek cross-country to intercept incriminating videotape before it gets to an unsuspecting girlfriend. While "Road Trip" scores points for not heavily relying on repulsive gross-out humor (body fluids and flatulence are surprisingly kept to a minimum), it crashes and burns by taking a U-turn into "Porky's" territory with the shameless exploitation of college women as dim-bulb sex objects. 
You don’t have to be high (unless it’s natural, of course) to feel the good in the new marijuana-laced comedy, "Saving Grace," a classic "feel-good" movie. In yet another wonderful performance filled with her subtle charm, Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets & Lies") stars Grace, a 50-something widow suddenly left in the lurch to the tune of 300,000 pounds; a mortgage debt left by her late husband’s bad business dealings. Strapped for cash while the creditors hover over her like vultures, the only real asset Grace has left is her own keen sense of gardening – which come in handy when her un-employed caretaker, Matthew ("Drew Carey Show's" Craig Ferguson), needs a hand (and green thumb) in curing some “sick plants” of his own. But Grace is no dope -- by “weeding the garden,” she finds this “joint venture” with Matthew as a potential way to get herself out of debt, despite the obvious risks on both sides of the law. 
Much like his other films, Woody Allen plays a neurotic in his new comedy. But you have to admit, nobody does it better -- and with "Small Time Crooks," Allen at his best. This time around, Allen plays Ray, neurotic thief hatches a plan with his fellow cronies (Michael Rapp port, Jon Lovitz and Tony Darrow) to rob a bank by tunneling under from an abandoned business next door. Naturally they botch the job, but the "front" -- a cookie business run by his wife, Frenchie (Tracey Ullman) -- turns into a culinary phenomenon. Now rich beyond their wildest dreams the small time crooks are far from being in the clear – they're now vulnerable to big-time crooks. 
He's obviously not in the business still for the cash, but at 75, Paul Newman has once again proved that he can easily put his money where his mouth with new caper heist aptly titled, "Where the Money Is." Newman plays Henry, an aging bank robber who's pulling off the biggest con of his life by faking severely debilitating stroke to get out of prison. Assigned to a nursing facility for his recovery, he catches the eye of Carol (Linda Fiorentino), a former prom queen longing to shake the small-town doldrums. Convinced he's faking his condition, Carol exposes the ruse and looks to Henry to help pull off one last score. 
Jennifer Lopez plays a psychotherapist who enters the mind of a comatose serial killer (Vincent D' Onofrio) to in "The Cell" (R). Music video director Tarsem Singh makes his debut at the helm with this horror-thriller, which also stars Vince Vaughn . . . Kirsten Dunst stars in "The Virgin Suicides" (R), a tale of five doomed sisters set in 70s suburban America. Sofia Coppola makes her directorial debut with this drama, which also stars James Woods and Kathleen Turner. New In Theaters This Week
What do women really want? Well, I guess the obvious answer would be Mel Gibson, the star of this new romantic comedy from director Nancy Meyer. But the real answer turns out to be a bit more complicated. It seems that what they actually want is for men to listen to them. What a concept! 
Disney doesn't exactly break new ground with its latest feature, "Disney's The Emperor's New Groove." In fact, the story, set in a mostly Incan-influenced "Meso America," is filled with legions of recycled ideas and characters. (13-16 year old boys) (other audiences) 
"Dude, Where's My Car?" is about two guys, Jesse (Ashton Kutcher) and Chester (Seann William Scott), and the adventures/fun that they go through. They wake up one morning and can't seem to find Jesse's car. They figure that they must have lost it the night before because they can't remember driving it since then. Recently Released On Video
'Star Wars' Trilogy (PG) 
If there ever was a sure thing for a great movie trilogy, this is it -- so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that the "Star Wars Trilogy" has been repackaged and re-released on VHS again (sorry, everybody, the DVD release date is still indefinite). But what makes this particular offering special is creator George Lucas' sneak peek into the much anticipated "Episode II," a 10-minute overview that doesn't offer much on-set footage, but does nonetheless let out some plot details. Among them, creator Lucas said the film tells the story of "the beginning of the end of the Republic" and the start of the "Clone Wars," and further explains Anakin Skywalker's complex emotional journey into adulthood. On DVD
'Digimon: Season One' (NR) 
I'm not even going to begin to try to explain the whole "mon" phenomenon ("Digimon" is short for digital monsters, while its predecessor, "Pokemon," stands for pocket monsters"), but younger audiences obviously get it, which might explain the debut of Fox TV's "Digimon: Season One" on DVD. If you have a DVD player, this is obviously the best way to go for parents, where you can get the season's first 13 episodes on one disc (plus a set of "digi-bloopers), as opposed to buying individual sets of episodes on VHS.