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flickchick72
Reviews
My Boys (2006)
OK, I am LOVING this show
It's official. I'm addicted. Yeah yeah, some people may say they don't understand why other people find this show to be funny, but I don't understand how anyone wouldn't. I suppose humor is a very personal thing, and everyone has his/her own style, but this show hits me square on the funny bone. And hard.
I've seen every episode (thanks to my DVD-R), and I have laughed out loud, several times during each. I love the concept of this show. Maybe it's because I have always been a gal with many guy friends, and I can somehow relate, but I love the relationships PJ has with "her boys". The dialogue between them is extremely witty and smart. Each "boy" in the group has a very distinct personality, and the actors play them all very well. The facial reactions, body language, and tone and timing of responses are all spot-on. The guy who shows up in some episodes, to play "Trouty" is so fabulously, irritatingly obnoxious -- he plays the character SO perfectly. Man, he makes me laugh. PJ's lone girl friend is fun too, and even the "guest" characters are great. Watching everyone give each other "advice" on dating and whatnot cracks me up, because none of them seems to be content in their being single (or married, in Andy's case). Even the ringtones used for each person's phone add to the understanding of the characters. Jordana Spiro comes across as a "real" girl -- approachable, likable, fun and smart. I think she was a perfect choice for this role. She's adorable.
I have to say I am very impressed with TBS for putting this show on. It is the type of show I would generally expect to see on one of the major networks -- I typically look to TBS for fun movies and such, but I don't think of them when it comes to sitcoms. This show's tempo seems much like "Sex and the City" to me (I know everyone says that, but there's a reason) -- although it was all women, and this is almost all men, the ensemble works really well together: the banter is quick and sharp, the relationships solid and distinct. It's a truly fun show to watch -- it makes me feel like if they were real, I'd want to hang out with them at Crowley's, or on poker night.. or even at (come on, whisper it...) Streeeissssand.
The *only* thing I don't like about this show? The match.com plugs. Having them write in a scene where they have to mention they are on match.com just breaks up the otherwise fun flow, plus, it's just kind of annoying. Hey, if you want match.com to sponsor the show, great -- just have 'em double-up on advertising time -- during the *commercials*. Not cool, man. It detracts from the show.
In summary, "My Boys" is "my" new favorite show. I am really hoping this gets picked up for years to come, because it is a smart, funny, light show that makes me laugh, and I look forward to watching every new episode. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, gang! Much success to everyone involved in its production!
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
No, Baby, No!
Let me just start by saying I love Mike Myers. I think he is a comedic genius, and he is truly one of my favorite comedians. I have been extremely pleased with most all the characters he has portrayed in films, including all of the goofs in the Austin Powers series (Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard). Much like Eddie Murphy creating completely different and unique characters in Coming to America (which you can barely tell are all him), Mike has the same talent in that regard.
Because I liked `AP: Int'l Man of Mystery' and `AP: The Spy Who Shagged Me' so much, I was looking forward with great anticipation to this, the third installment; `AP in Goldmember', and was curious to see what this new incarnation of Myers, Goldmember, would be like.
Sadly, I was quite disappointed.
The beginning sequence of the film is very funny, I will give you that. The cameos were unexpected, and were carefully chosen, which made the whole idea that much funnier. There were a few industry jokes that I thought were funny, but people from Iowa probably wouldn't have understood them (kind of a benefit of living in the entertainment capital of the world, I guess). And there were definitely moments that made me laugh out loud. There's no doubt that Austin still cracks me up, sometimes even without saying a word.
However, that said, I was disappointed with the fact that SO much of this film was rehashed and put back together to represent new comedy. Many of the same old gags were used, but tweaked slightly, perhaps in an attempt to not seem quite so unoriginal <TINY JOKE SPOILERS AHEAD> (i.e. the whole `Johnson' gag, the ramblings between Dr. Evil and Scott, etc.) Goldmember as a character was really nothing fabulous; he didn't seem to have the distinct idiosyncrasies that would make him stand out, like Myers's other characters. His attempted Dutch accent didn't seem that convincing (although the clog-style roller skates were amusing), and his skin-eating tendencies just flat out grossed me out (much like several other aspects of this film, but I should have expected that). Caine's character was dull, and it was a little bizarre to see Fred Savage all grown up (those mole jokes really got old quickly). I would have liked to have seen Beyonce Knowles's character showcased more, as she seemed to breathe a good portion of what newness this film had into it. I did kind of miss Mustafa, and had been expecting to see him show up, just to get killed again, a-la Kenny from South Park, but no such luck. There were so many other predictable jokes and scenarios (I saw the `Mr. Roboto' joke comin' a mile away) in the film, I figured it would have fit right in.
O.K., and maybe I'm just getting nitpicky, but I have to say it. The shocking blue contact lenses on both Dr. Evil and Mini-Me were distracting as hell. Did anyone else ever notice in "The Spy Who Shagged Me", Dr. Evil's eyes went from blue to brown and back again? Did they think we wouldn't notice? At least they kept it consistent this time. and they decided to slap a pair on Vern as well so they'd be perfectly matched. I can see why, but again, I found them to be extremely distracting and almost freakish to behold. (BTW, Vern is much cuter as mini-Austin, IMO.)
All in all, `Austin Powers in Goldmember' was mildly entertaining, despite the recycled gags and ultra gross visual humor it churned out. For me, it left something to be desired, but for the third movie in a series, it held its own, and will undoubtedly continue to rake in the profits based on the name alone. When it's all said and done, I may have left the theater feeling disappointed, and muttering to my friend, `That was really lame,' but sheepishly, I admit, if a 4th one comes out, I'm sure I'll go see it. My recommendation to you though, is: save your money. It's a rental.