Candy, Aykroyd deliver laughs, nostalgia in ‘Great Outdoors’
By Joe Altomere
Posted June 25, 2010
“The Great Outdoors” plays to John Candy and Dan Aykroyd’s strengths. The shticky, slapsticky comedy they do so well works great and is amplified by the fact that they’re working together.Two of my favorite scenes involve Chet (Candy) deciding to accept the challenge of eating a 96-ounce steak at a local restaurant and Chet reacting to hearing that Roman (Aykroyd) decided to make a goat-cheese pizza. Read more...
After ‘Swingers,’ Vaughn and Favreau get ‘Made’
By Joe Altomere
Posted June 9, 2010
Back in 1996, an independent movie called “Swingers” hit the scene and introduced mainstream Hollywood, and society, to two little-known actors named Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. Since then they have become two of the most bankable names in Hollywood. Their movies have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. The dark comedy “Made” is considered a follow-up to “Swingers.” It’s not a sequel of any kind, despite a few throwbacks. But it was considered a big deal at the time of itsrelease because it was the first time in 5 years the two stars had worked together. Read more...
Families should flock to ‘Fly Away Home’
By Joe Altomere
Posted May 28, 2010
One of the great things about a family is knowing someone has your back and that you have theirs. Another great thing about family is that it doesn’t have to be connected by blood or, in the case of “Fly Away Home,” by species. Read more...
Not feel good, but worth feeling
By Joe Altomere
Posted May 14, 2010
There are obvious reasons for watching certain movies. If you watch “Animal House,” you want to laugh. If you watch “The Exorcist,” you want to be scared. But why watch a drama? Don’t we have enough of that in our lives? You could argue it makes us feel better to watch people who have it worse than we do. Read more...
Remember when Tom Hanks was funny?
By Joe Altomere
Posted April 29, 2010
Tom Hanks is one of this generation’s most revered actors. With films like “Forrest Gump,” “Philadelphia,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “The Green Mile,” his body of work speaks for itself. However. And there’s always a however. If you remember a little decade known as the ’80s, you’ll recall a different kind of Tom Hanks who starred in some real classic movies. Read more...
When a prank call turns terrifying
By Joe Altomere
Posted April 21, 2010
I’m sure at some point in your life you’ve received a prank phone call. Annoying as they might be, they’re usually all in jest (at your expense, of course). But given the right scenario, they can be quite frightening. Read more...
Great preview leads to moving movie
By Joe Altomere
Posted April 16, 2010
A few weeks back I wrote a review for “The Answer Man,” a low-budget comedy that ran around in the independent film circles. When I first popped it in, a few trailers (movie previews) played before it and one of them was for a movie that I had never heard of called, “Is Anybody There?” The movie is an all-out drama that does its best to make you cry. Or at least make you think long and hard about it. Read more...
The Movie Dude: In ‘King of California,’ X marks the Costco
By Joe Altomere
Posted April 9, 2010
One of the things that makes life interesting is sometimes it has to keep you on your toes. A flat tire here, a hurricane there. It’s not all bad, though. Sometimes, to keep you on your toes, you’re given a chance to take a risk and an opportunity to trust someone. In “King of California,” you’re given all of that, plus buried treasure. Seriously. Read more...
Need to relax? Pop in ‘Captain Ron’
By Joe Altomere
Posted April 1, 2010
A popcorn movie is something you watch knowing full well it’s goofy and ridiculous but don’t care because you enjoy it. Much how you know popcorn is unhealthy but like it anyway. “Captain Ron” is a great popcorn comedy that reminds us that every once in a while we need to relax.
Read more...‘Sunshine’ a hit even for those who don’t like sci-fi
By Joe Altomere
Posted March 25, 2010
I’ve always had a tepid relationship with science fiction. Setting phasers to stun and robots named HAL just never really interested me.That said, I’m big enough to admit when a science-fiction film comes along that is absolutely amazing, I’ll have no problem watching it and singing its praises a dozen times over. That’s why I’m writing about “Sunshine” this week, an incredible psychological thriller that just happens to take place aboard a spaceship.
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