Playing Catch Up Yet Again

Hey folks,

Sorry it's been a bit longer than I intended, but you know how it is. Life intrudes.

Anyway...let's get right to the chase. Here's a whole bunch of mini reviews to keep you happy and up to date for a while.

The Devil Wears Prada is a funny film in spite of Meryl Streep actually seeming to repeat herself from Death Becomes Her. It can wait until its on DVD though.

The Pink Panther is probably the most useless remake ever made. I don't understand why Steve Martin & Kevin Kline were even involved in this dreck. The only thing funny about it is listening to all the bad French accents. Steve Martin's is outlandish, Kevin Kline's is either non-existant or British and Jean Reno (taking the place of Burt Kwok as a Kato wannabe) who is actually French even sounds like he's doing a bad French accent. When the best part of the film is the opening credit sequence and main title theme, you know you've got a long night ahead of you. Avoid it like the plague.

Clerks II sees Kevin Smith selling out by bringing back Jay & Silent Bob when he said that Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back would be their last appearance. Luckily, it's still a very funny film (not sure how it got an R rating as there's a scene involving a man having sex with a donkey) and utilizes Smith's wonderful gift for dialog and character very well. I only wish it had tied into the Clerks animated series a bit. Still hoping we eventually get that animated feature.

Cold Comfort Farm is an older film (1996) that I finally got around to watching. Based on a classic novel it's very funny. If you like things like Pride & Prejudice then you should also get a kick out of this film.

Transamerica is a great movie that got much deserved acclaim. Felicity Huffman definitely deserved the Oscar she got for her portrayal of a transgendered man. Funny and touching.

Psych joins USA Network's Friday night lineup and is the perfect companion for Monk. It's about a man who helps the police solve crimes with psychic powers. Of course, it's all an act he's just very smart and has a photographic memory. It's a great way to spend a Friday night if you're in.

Eureka airs on Tuesday nights on SciFi and is a fun, quirky new show that is another notch in the network's belt of good programming (unlike their made for TV movies which are pure drivel). A federal marshall stumbles upon a town that houses a whole bunch of geniuses who work for the government creating new technologies. Of course things don't always go right. Plus there's a small arc story (involving stolen technologies and a conspiracy) that seems to be brewing nicely as well. Add it to your watching list.

Who Wants To Be A Super-Hero is a truly bizarre entry in the "reality" show genre. Stan Lee hosts this show where 12 people are competing to become a super hero...well...sort of...if they prove their moral fiber to Stan, they may get a comic book deal and SciFi TV movie out of the deal if they win. So far the characters are just silly for the most part (Cell Phone Girl?? Fat Momma?? Major Victory -- who is actually a DC Comics villain) and the one task so far was hysterical to watch. The heroes had to change into their costumes in public without being seen and then race to a finish line...but what Stan didn't tell them is that there would be a lost girl along the way who needed help. Only 4 of the ten remaining contestants stopped to help (of the original 12 one turned out to be a spy and Stan booted one after the spy revealed the guy was a jackass). It's very surreal and just plain weird, but a hoot to watch.

Doctor Who finished its second season in Britain. David Tennant steps into the role very nicely. He's different enough from Christopher Eccleston while still retaining certain personality traits set in the character when the first season aired. Unfortunately, a few of the stories were a bit clunky...but the return of the Cybermen more than made up for that. See it however you can. DVDs won't be released here in the U.S. until it gets a broadcast (presumably on SciFi), but who knows when that'll happen.

Well...that's all for today. Not sure when I'll be back next...so...

Be seeing you.

Psych