Though Adam will probably fly under the radar this summer, overshadowed by the likes of more publicized films such as 500 Days of Summer and Away We Go, this quirky romantic comedy is one that is worth seeking out, with its tackling of a disorder that affects as many as three out of 1,000 people, reports a 2005 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and evolution of Hugh Dancy, whose time in Confessions of a Shopaholic almost completely fades away after his performance as Adam.

Check out our review below…

The Plot:

With all its heartbreak, awkward moments and miscommunication, love is simply put, hard. Throw Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism that is characterized by an inability to read what other people are thinking and feeling in the mix, and things get elevated to an entirely new level, and that’s exactly what happens when Adam, a shy, socially sheltered, yet extremely bright and enthusiastic man meets his new neighbor Beth (Rose Byrne) a young, aspiring children’s book author who moves in next door.

Though Adam, with his personality quirks and odd behavior that Beth can’t seem to figure out is world away from the men she’s known before, a chemistry between the two begins brewing. Adam somehow charms her with his fascination of a family of raccoons in Central Park and makes a virtual solar system in his apartment for her, while Beth begins to teach Adam the ways of the world. Though whether the relationship survives through the course of the film remains to be seen, the result is a humorous and unconventional relationship that breaks the mold of cliched and cookie cutter romantic comedies.

The Good:

• Spotlight on Asperger Syndrome – Adam puts a disorder on the map that  not only many may not know about, but at a convenient time, as Asperger Syndrome sufferer Gary McKinnon is facing extradition to the U.S on computer hacking charges. Asperger Syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum, has seen a rise in diagnosis in recent years, although very few films have addressed the disorder, excluding Mozart and the Whale, starring Josh Hartnett, which had a limited release.
• Hugh Dancy – Though it might be premature to say Dancy’s performance as Adam is award worthy, especially coming after such an airy film as Confessions of a Shopaholic, his versatility shines when he portrays all the characteristics of Asperger’s in relation to Adam and those around him. His mannerisms and dialogue delivery draw you in to the point where you feel Adam’s pain and share his laughter – this is one of the many mark’s of great acting, and Dancy accomplishes it this round.
• Plot line – This is one fine romantic comedy that does not by any means fall under the curse of its genre – it’s original, funny and doesn’t rely on gimmicks, crass humor or  a rehashing of the tired and tested plot lines of its predecessors. From Adam trying to clean Beth’s windows in a NASA space suit, to Beth’s introduction of Adam to her parents, where he subsequently rattles off the entire history of the Cherry Lane Theatre in NYC from memory, Adam will make you laugh, smirk and exercise your strength to control heavier emotions. It’s the type of romantic comedy you can appreciate, without it leaving a bad aftertaste in your mouth.

The Bad:

• Peter Gallagher – Listen,  I like Peter Gallagher, I truly do, especially when he flashes those Groucho Marx eyebrows at me, but in all honesty I’m a bit sick of him playing the never ending supporting role of the suave dad/business man with tricks up his sleeve, although he plays it well. Gallagher’s portrayal as Beth’s patriarch dad, while believable, just reminds me in his previous similar roles (The O.C, How to Deal)  and takes the focus away from the story.
• Script: Slight tweaking required – Though the script is well written and not particularly overwhelming  (pauses and subtle body language is always better than having the characters unrealistically speak at every turn) a few minor adjustments should have been made to smooth out the kinks, such as both Adam and Beth repeating statements as questions.

Overall:

Adam is a breath of fresh air not in its typically unoriginal genre. Its focus on a disorder that many suffer from, coupled with an amazing performance by Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne is film making you can appreciate and savor, long after you’ve stepped out the theater and thrown away your popcorn.

Rating: 9/10

Opens July 29 with limited release. Directed and written by Max Mayer; Producers, Miranda De Pencier, Leslie Urdang, Dean Vanech; Music, Christopher Lennertz; Cinematography, Seamus Tierney

Written and directed by John Hindman, The Answer Man starring Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham tells the tale of a reclusive best-selling author whose misanthropic tendencies all but rule his life until he meets Elizabeth, a chiropractor who straightens him out in more ways than one. Though first-time director John Hindman deserves credit for putting together a romantic comedy that is gimmick free and thought invoking, it doesn’t help that The Answer Man takes a page (or several) straight out of the magnificence that is As Good As It Gets.

There’s only one mean-spirited, off kilter and down right bigot I can handle, and that’s Melvin Udall. For all its familiarity, The Answer Man is bearable, but not bearable enough to keep me from waiting, and wishing and hoping for plot development that never came.

The Plot:

Celebrated author Arlen Faber “redefined spirituality for an entire generation” with his book, “Me and God.” Twenty years later, his status as the man with all the answers hasn’t changed, although he wishes it would. Irritable and self-absorbed, Arlen wants nothing to do with the readers and crowds that seek him out until he happens to meet Elizabeth, a chiropractor dealing with the perils of being a single mother when he throws out his back and crawls (literally) to her office. Fascinated by her demeanor and obliviousness to his celebrity status, Arlen begins to form a strong bond with Elizabeth, despite his antagonistic tendencies. Playing second fiddle to Arlen and Elizabeth’s relationship is Arlen’s quasi-friendship with Kris, a book store owner who recently finished rehab and is trying to find meaning in his life. The film also stars Kat Dennings of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist fame and Olivia Thirlby (The Wackness, Juno)

The Good:

• Lauren Graham – Fans of Gilmore Girls will love Graham’s nonchalant demeanor and sarcastic lines. Her interactions with other characters, including her son and assistant are natural, unlike the rest of the cast, whose dialogue seems forced. Graham has genuine appeal and is probably the one thing that kept The Answer Man afloat its 95 minute duration.
• The Concept – Author writes best-selling book that changes a generation’s relationship with God, but author’s relationship with humanity gets a big fat fail. It sounds great, and is quite the step away from the usual drama that ensues in cookie cutter romantic comedies, without coming off as overtly religious or heavy — Unfortunately the story did not live up to expectations.
• The Mail Man – Arrested Development will recognize Tony Hale as the persistent mailman who would give his life to meet his idol, Arlen Faber. Hale is slightly good comic relief in a film that struggles to be wholly romantic or comedy, especially in a scene where his family joins him to sing a song to Faber like misplaced carolers in the wrong season.

The Bad:

• The Book - A book called “Me and God” in which the author claims to have spoken to God and received answers to pertinent questions sounds really intriguing. In fact, I’d love to read it – and seeing as to how that won’t happen because it doesn’t actually exist, I would have liked to see why exactly people were so fascinated with this book. Besides a few shots where a few pages of the book run across the screen during the opening montage, there is never any explanation what kind of questions the all-knowing Arlen supplied the answers for or why it’s so celebrated. The bottom line is that it’s unrealistic to expect an audience to understand the caliber of claims made about a novel when they’re given no insight about it, other than the fact that the it’s so popular, that a 20th anniversary edition has been printed.
• Delivery -  Watching The Answer Man was like waiting for the punch line that never comes, and there was nothing in the 95 minutes that made it lean towards either romantic or comedy. Sure, there was a love story brewing between Arlen and Elizabeth, but the sparks seemed forced, not only between the characters but between the characters and the audience, and funny moments did ensue, like Arlen referring to himself as Uncle Zebulon during a conversation with Elizabeth’s son’s teacher. Nothing elicited more than just a faint chuckle. The interactions all around seem contrived, which definitely leaves much room for improvement for The Answer Man.
• Olivia Thirlby and Kat Dennings – Apart from the occasional line, both Thirlby and Dennings are absent for most of the film, their roles blending into the background so much that you forget they’re there. Thirlby plays the wide-eyed, shy secretary at Elizabeth’s chiropractic business, while Dennings is the one and only  free spirited employee at Kris’ book store. Coming off from such films as The Wackness and Nick and Norah respectively, both of their performances fall flat, although this is really no fault of their own. Their supporting roles really offer no support at all and despite track records in the romantic comedy genre, their skills aren’t utilized.

Overall:

The Answer Man’s spirituality angle is quite well done, so if you’re weary about seeing a God film, don’t fret. What should be a bit troubling is that The Answer Man doesn’t have enough, well, “umph” to steer it towards being a comedy or a romance, and ultimately a romantic comedy. Despite its unique concept, the film falls flat, from the performance to the chemistry and over all general flow of the storyline. While Graham’s acting skills shine through, and the love story basically stays on life support throughout the film, with a little improvement, The Answer Man could play out well.

Rating: 6/75

Opens on July 24 in selected theatres. Directed and written by John Hindman; Executive producers, Rachel Cohen, Daniel Crown, Michael Lesser; Original music, Teddy Castellucci; Cinematography, Oliver Bokelberg.

After a two-year hiatus, Sandra Bullock is back in romantic comedy The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and best of all, forever Golden Girl in my heart, Betty White. Sadly, the tagline “Here Comes the Bribe” is the most clever thing to do with this movie. Aside from a handful of laugh out loud moments and the scenery, The Proposal is chock full of enough clichés that even the romantic comedy aficionado will be screaming “oh come on!”

Check out the good, the bad, and the plot below…

The Plot:

Margaret (Bullock), a prominent and constantly PMSing New York book editor who forces her assistant Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) into marrying her, lest she face deportation back to her native Canada. He begrudgingly agrees and in an effort to avoid speculation from a nosy INS agent, they set off to Andrew’s hometown of Sitka, Alaska to meet his parents (Steenburgen and Nelson) and his quirky grandmother (White). Soon city girl Margaret, finds herself in all sorts of unfamiliar situations in the backdrop of Andrew’s scenic small town of Sitka, Alaska.

The Good:

• Ryan Reynolds - Though Sandra Bullock portrays snarky Margaret quite well, it’s Ryan Reynolds’ that shines with his stoic looks, great line delivery and interaction with other characters. When Margaret comments on his choice of drink, he replies “It’s like Christmas in a cup!” That line could fall flat for others, but Reynolds’ facial expressions and predicaments make him very believable and entertaining.
• Betty White - If there’s one reason you should go see The Proposal it’s the magnificence that is Betty White. With hilarious lines like “Do you prefer to be called Margaret or Satin’s mistress?”, and her pop culture appeal and antics, this scene stealer will be the cause of most of your laugh out loud moments and she’ll make you miss your grandmother.
• Scenery – The picturesque mountains, trees and lakes will make you want to head out on the first plane to Alaska, until you find out that they actually shot the film in Rockport, Massachusetts. Either way, one look at the wide angle shots of the town, along with the glorious Paxton house that sits on a hill and you’ll be itching for a nature-themed vacation.
• Laugh Out Loud Moments -In one scene Margaret lands on Andrew while she’s trying to make her way out of the bathroom after an encounter with the family puppy – a scene that would have been funny on its own, but brings the laughs more so as both of them are stark naked. In another memorable moment, Margaret improvises the best version of “Get Low” by Lil’ John and the Eastside Boys that has eve been captured on film. What can I say, it’s stupid, but I laughed!

The Bad:

• Lack of Chemistry – Though the genre suggests that The Proposal is a romantic comedy, I frankly found nothing romantic about it. Bullock and Reynolds are great in their roles and their snippy interactions with each other can be appreciated, however even that needed to be counterbalanced with some chemistry and sexual tension. The film needed more awkward romantic interactions that would have broken up the comedy and provided the audience with at least a good make out scene to indulge in.
• Clichés Galore – From the addition of the cute furry puppy to wreak innocent havoc, to Andrew’s tense relationship with his father and Margaret and Andrew’s uncomfortable situation that must be kept secret from family and friends, The Proposal draws material in many ways from its romantic comedy predecessors like Meet the Parents and The Wedding Date. It’s a formula that works and I don’t know why I expected anything more, but it was too hard to get past the overdone plot lines for me to enjoy the film.

Overall:

If you’re looking for an easy laugh, The Proposal is right for you, but don’t expect anything new or original in this 107-minute distraction from reality. If you’re looking for eye candy, this film will also satisfy you – there’s no need to state the appeal Ryan Reynolds holds, but at 45, Sandra Bullock looks amazing whether she’s in New York City or Alaska.

Opens on June 19, directed by Anne Fletcher, written by Peter Chiarelli, produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Executive producers, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Mary Mclaglen and Sandra Bullock; director of photography, Oliver Stapleton, B.S.C

In the Venn diagram of dating, it’s pretty much agreed on that blind dates spell out disaster, no matter what probabilities they’re paired with, especially when they come about as a result of the newest vehicle in the dating game: the internet. In CU@Ed’s, Tina and Tadd, two socially-challenged Los Angeles who are single and ready to mingle (or so they think) showcase just how excruciatingly awkward the dating game can be.

Directed by Casey Stangl and written by Drew Larimore, this 13-minute film is humorous, well-directed and shot, however it definitely could have benefited from more dialogue.

Tina (Will McCormack) and Tadd (Rhea Seahorn) have developed an online relationship and finally decide to meet at a diner to take their relationship to the next level. Tina arrives first and receives unsolicited advice from a patron at the diner, while Tadd struggles with following dating etiquette before he arrives to meet his potential partner.

Tadd finally arrives and the date commences, only to be made difficult by their snooty waiter. Straying from normal social protocol, Tadd decides to take charge of the situation and Tina follows suit.

What ensues is an interesting look at how the comfort zone formerly known as the neighborhood diner has morphed into the personal computer. Relationships are complex, especially when they’re just starting to form and dating is a monster few are able to conquer. What should I wear? Will she like me? What are we going to talk about? What if he’s boring? Who’s going to pay? What will we do afterwards? These amibiguous questions demand answers. The internet, on the other hand, is simple.

Behind the screen and keyboard and instant messages, you’re free to be what everyone always tries to to avoid on a date: yourself. In under a quarter of an hour, CU@Ed’s examines the dynamic of  relationships (version 2.0) quite well.

Oh high school, that tumultuous, awkward, drama filled time that you don’t want to remember, but you can’t seem to forget. If you think it’s any better in, say France, you better think again.

In “The Class,” the winner of the coveted Palme D’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, ideals, attitudes and cultures collide, all within the confines of the classroom. Based on Francois Bégaudeau’s book, Entre Les Murs (Between the Walls), “The Class” chronicles the lives and times of a group of teenagers from a struggling French neighborhood as they interact with their open and honest teacher (Bégaudeau), each other and their families. In a poignant and moving exploration of racism, sexism, classicism, angst and themselves, this 2-hour long narrative conversation has ups and downs, turns and spirals that are not to be missed.

This is not your typical film about high school where the teacher and the student are in a struggle for power ala “The Breakfast Club,” on the contrary, the authority figure is refreshing, and at times almost too good to be true. Take for instance, when Soulemayne, an outspoken member of the class asks Francois about his sexual orientation. The consequences that would follow such a question are imaginable, however Francois never falters. He doesn’t flinch, he doesn’t get angry, nor does he buckle under pressure. This type of open discourse and dialogue between teacher and student has perhaps never before been seen. Like his students, Francois is trying to deal with the world’s problems and as such, never becomes better than them, or an outsider who doesn’t understand, he almost becomes one of them, a student, albeit much wiser and older, learning life lessons from his students as he is teaching them.

At times the film becomes so raw and real, you wonder if you’re watching a documentary or actors playing their parts. The selection process of the students in the film is quite an interesting one to note as are the characters they represent.

There’s Khoumba, the opinionated and tough student who criticizes Francois’s use of the name “Bill” in an example during a language lesson, and Soulemayne (Franck Keïta), the archetypal tough guy with a sensitive side who is also a serious trouble maker, Wei (Wei Huang), the soft-spoken and smart Chinese student who is still struggling to adjust to French language and life, Arthur, the shy “goth” of the class who says people dress the way he does because they feel sad on the inside and Sandra (Esméralda Ouertani), the strong, independent and talkative one of the bunch, who is smarter than Francois might perceive.

In a poignant scene, Francois asks the class to write self-portraits detailed who they are and what they believe. This ultimately becomes a sort of turning point in the film, as most of the class takes it as an opportunity to actually have their voices heard. Through their self-portraits, you feel their ideas, thoughts, hopes and dreams and perhaps the obstacles they surely face in their lives.

Francois’s colleagues also must deal with the obstacles in not only teaching a group of teenagers with school as their lowest priority, but students who are truly a handful. “The Class” highlights the struggles teachers face in making the right decisions and managing to maintain composure and respect when dealing with a group of rebellious and rowdy teenagers.

Though there are separate lines drawn between the role of the teacher and student, Francois’ approach blurs those lines and bridges them, it’s the only way he feels perhaps, that he might understand his students better. The lines, however, at times, are crossed and result in emotional scenes that leave you entrapped in the lives of those involved.

Perhaps what makes “The Class” so captivating is its simplicity. Make no mistake, there is no fancy film making involved, no flashbacks, or musical backdrops, scenery or confusing plots that make you think twice. The tools you need to view this film are ones you already have: a high school experience and hopefully some recollection of it. Whether you’re from the United States or Europe, the struggles, the fears and conflicts largely remain the same.

Directed by Laurent Cantet; based on the novel “Entre les Murs” by Francois Bégaudeau; directors of photography, Pierre Milon, Catherine Pujol and Georgi Lazarevski; edited by Robin Campillo and Stéphanie Léger; produced by Carole Scotta, Caroline Benjo, Barbara Letellier and Simon Arnal. Rated PG-13 for language. French, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours and 8 minutes.

On the days between Sept. 16 and 18 in 1982, during the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanese Christian Phalangist militiamen entered two Palestinian refugee camps and slaughtered innocent civilians inside. The lives of mothers, brothers, fathers, daughters, friends and lovers were destroyed in an act of atrocious genocide. Although exact numbers are not known the estimates run anywhere from 800 to 3500 killed. The incident became known as the Sabra and Chatila Massacre, forever ingrained in the minds of all involved, including filmmaker Ari Folman, who was a soldier in the Israeli Army and in Lebanon during the war.

A stunning and highly emotional film by Folman, “Waltz With Bashir,” which won the Los Angeles Film Critic’s award for “Best Animation,” combines the insightful nature of a documentary with the world of animation to form the unique retelling of a story that must not be forgotten.

With a haunting and painfully beautiful score by Max Richter, “Waltz With Bashir,” is a visual masterpiece with an eye-candy approach that also has a deeper meaning. The color and style of the animation, the music, which ranges from OMD’s “Enola Gay” to The Click’s “Inkubator” as well as the subject matter make this one movie that you’ll be sorry to miss.

The film begins with a friend of Folman’s telling him a story at a bar about a recurring nightmare in which he is being constantly chased by 26 rabid dogs.

After their conversation, they both come to the realization that the dream is connected to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early 80s. While his friend seems to have a clear memory of the time he spent there, Folman has developed a strange amnesia about that time in his life and now has large holes in his memory of his army days. Confused by his inability to remember such a significant part of his life and haunted by a recurring sequence in which he finds himself standing a crowd of screaming, grieving women, Folman goes on a mission to piece together the events he has completely blocked out from his memory.

The result is an animated documentary, with seven of the nigh interviewees in the film supplying their actual voices to their characters, drawn from 2300 illustrations that were turned into animation.

When dealing with such sensitive subject matter, other filmmakers not only shy away from animation, but not even consider it a viable option to get the messages of their films across. The animation however, not only enhances the film on a completely aesthetic level, but gets the message across loud and clear, more significantly than many documentaries who could have benefited from the use of illustrations. The animation only intensifies the deep issues more.

The imagery is stunning, ranging from a dream sequence in which one of Folman’s friends describes an out of body experience in which he clings on to a giant sea-foam colored woman to escape the ship he fears will be bombed, to the snowy hills of Holland, where he visits another soldier who was in the war with him in order to help him piece his memory back together.

The surrealist visuals shown through Folman’s own mind and those of his fellow soldiers clearly illustrates the trials and tribulations of young men living a sort of half-life, blindly following orders in a life without order of any kind.

The story is Folman’s personal experiences and follows what he went through from the moment he realized that there were major parts of his life missing from his memory, he said. In fact seven out of the nine interviewees in the film are the actual people who supplied their own voices to be featured in this animated documentary.

When the film ended, I found it very hard to get up from my seat. It was perhaps the only time I didn’t have the will to get up when the credits rolled. I was just frozen there in time, with Folman’s visions and experiences told through the most thought-provoking and amazing animation I had ever seen, in my head. It was days before I stopped thinking about. I’d say that’s the mark of a great film. “Waltz with Bashir” is beautifully animated, provocative and definitely a story that needed to be told, especially while the war in Iraq still exists. It might just leave a bigger impression on you than you thought, perhaps enough that you wont be able to leave the theatre.

Written and directed by Ari Folman; producers, Yael Nahlieli, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul; art director and illustrator, David Polonsky; director of animation, Yoni Goodman; lead animators, Tal Godon and Gali Edelbaum; Artists, Michael Faust, Asaf Hanuka, Tomer Hanuka, Ya’ara Buchman; original music, Max Richter. In collaboration with Noga Communications, The New Israeli Foundation for Cinema & T.V., Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Israel Film Fund. Running time: 87 min. Original language: Hebrew, with English and French subtitles.

If you’re like me, then you’re probably more interested in watching the Christmas classics of yesteryear like “A Christmas Story” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” instead of what present day cinema has to offer. Although the genre of holiday movies has suffered considerably the last couple of years (think “This Christmas,” “Fred Clause,” and “Deck the Halls), Mr. Clause might just be bringing along some treats for us this year.

Four Christmases – Perhaps the most well known (and possible anticipated) Christmas film coming out this year, “Four Christmases” revolves around Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and their disdain for family gatherings for Christmas. Every year, the couple ditches their families to go on a relaxing vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the season, including potential fights and mayhem. After a bad case of fog cancels their flight, and they’re seen on tv by a local news crew at the airport, Brad and Kate are forced to visit their divorced parents and all four of their families. As you can expect with all good Christmas movies, chaos all of kind ensues, however the couple might be on a road to self-discovery that they didn’t expect. Release date: Nov. 26

Un Conte de Noel (A Christmas Tale) – This French film starring classic actress Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Anne Cosigny and Mathieu Amalric about a family with checkered past who is reunited during Christmas in a concocted scheme by the three youngest family members has received favorable reviews. With cancer, mental illness and family estrangement included, this isn’t your typical holiday film, but then again, what did you expect from French cinema? Release date: Nov. 14

Nothing Like the Holidays – Starring John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina and Jay Hernandez, with a film score by Paul Oakenfold, “Nothing Like the Holidays” is about three Puerto Rican siblings returning to their parents’ home in Humboldt Park for what may be their last Christmas together. Release date: Dec. 12.

Although all three look promising and a world away from holiday films that rely on gags and gimmicks to get laughs, “A Christmas Tale” takes top billing for originality and depth in my book.

In this highly anticipated sequel to box office success “Madagascar,” directors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath have once again managed to present an animated feature full of laugh out loud moments, emotional dilemmas and enough fun for kids and adults alike to enjoy.

We join Alex, a happy-go-lucky Lion with intriguing dancing skills, Marty, a chatty zebra, Melman, a hypochondriac giraffe and Gloria, a hippo with a bountiful backside as they plan to depart Madagascar to return to the Central Park zoo. Their mode of transportation? An old plane left on the island that the penguins have repaired with precision, or so we think.

The plane ride, although epic, is short lived, as it crashes with passengers and crew intact in the most unlikely (or likely!) of places – Africa.

Amazed that they’ve literally reached their homeland and encounter animals that look and talk like they do, Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria quickly assimilate into the society of animals on the reserve and begin to rethink even trying to go back to New York City. However, living among their kind isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be.

Alex struggles with acceptance from his father, Marty discovers he’s no different than any other zebra, Melman contemplates professing his love for Gloria, and Gloria, well, she’s just looking for love, like any other sensible hippo.

With a marvelous cast, including Ben Stiller as the voice of Alex, Chris Rock as Marty, David Schwimmer as Melman, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria and Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, the late and great Bernie Mac and Alec Baldwin lending their voices to supporting characters, Madagascar’s animals are well played, even though ethnic stereotypes make their way into the film.

The crown of glory however, ironically goes to King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), the little self-proclaimed King of the Madagascar Lemurs who will provide you with so much entertainment, you’ll start to miss him when he doesn’t appear on screen.

The penguins come in as a close second, as the most entertaining group besides Alex and co., Named Skipper (Tom McGrath), Rico (John DiMaggio), Kowalski (Chris Miller) and Private (Christopher Knights), they form the brains of the entire operation, in charge of reconstructing the skeleton of an airplane that landed in Africa. The landing, while leaving all on board fearing for their lives, causes the troupe to rejoice and exclaim, “who says penguins can’t fly?”

While Alex, Gloria, Melman and Marty deal with intra and interpersonal issues, King Julien and the penguins provide comic relief without the melodrama the rest of the animals are experiencing. Not to say that it’s unnecessary at all, in fact, it provides a great balance between the laughs, but the plot lines are more suited to parents than their kids.

Take in point the love story between Gloria and hot and happening hippo Motto Motto, brought to life by Black Eyed Peas’ member, will.i.am. Motto Motto, the apparent alpha male and womanizer in the hippo herd is in love with Gloria because of her ample bosom. Although kids might understand the love plot, only an adult could connect with the fact that Motto Motto likes his girls “big, chunky, round and plumpy.” The interaction between the hippos also gives way to an underlying theme of body image. The pairing of curvy Gloria with a love interest relays a positive message of body image, while her disdain for Motto Motto’s only reason of attraction (her junk in the trunk), puts less emphasis on physical appearance, and more on substance.

Other occurrences such as the chimps fighting for higher wages and maternity leave after being recruited by the penguins to repair the plane and the gecko left in charge of Madagascar declaring “let them eat cake” are enough to leave an adult wanting more.

And don’t forget the humans, whose most notable member, a cranky old lady made out of New York steel, harasses and even tries to hunt Alex whom she calls a “bad kitty.”

“Madgascar: Escape 2 Africa” was cleverly and clearly crafted to appeal to people of all ages, and it more or less succeeded. Despite tried and true story lines and the ability of the supporting characters to overshadow the main ones (please give King Julien his own star-studded film), it will most likely score big. With themes of family, friendship and originality running through the film, you’ll be hard pressed to find someone not singing “I like to move it, move it” out loud. A sequel has been confirmed to be in the works

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa opens today nationwide and is rated PG, with a running time of one hour and 29 minutes.

Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation/Paramount Pictures

Today, Americans from far and wide will go to their respective polling centers to decide the fate of this country. The political atmosphere has been so thick in the world, that you can almost cut it with a knife. To ease the tension a bit, here are some honorable and funny political films to think about. I’m sure there are many that shoulda, woulda, coulda made it, if there are any politically charged and funny films you love, let us know by leaving a comment!

10. The Great McGinty (1940)

Written and directed by Preston Surges, “The Great McGinty” is about a bum who is recruited to commit voter fraud by casting ballots under fake names in order to make some quick money. When he impresses the conductors of the operation by the amount of votes he contributes, he quickly becomes an ideal candidate for a new “reform” mayor who is forced to marry in order to take the position. Starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff, the film was sold to Paramount Pictures for only $10, on the condition that Sturges would direct it. Though the film might seem old fashioned and hardly cause laugh out loud moments for many young people, Tamiroff and Donlevy’s performances, as well as the setting of the Great Depression (which might remind you of today) assures it a spot on this list.

Memorable Quote: The Politician: If it wasn’t for graft, you’d get a very low type of people in politics, men without ambition, jellyfish!

9. Primary Colors (1998)

You remember this one, don’t you? The one where John Travolta stars as democratic Southern Governor Jack Stanton, who in the midst of a presidential campaign is dealing with a sex scandal, but nonetheless soldiers on, with his staff and wife’s support and is hailed as the greatest thing since JFK. Sound vaguely familiar? Maybe you’re remembering former president Bill Clinton, as his story more or less mirrors Stanton’s, or vice versa, whichever you prefer. The movie is mostly told through the eyes of Stanton’s campaign manager Henry Burton who firmly believes that Stanton is the ‘real thing.’ With a supporting cast that includes Emma Thomspon, Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates. “Primary Colors” was nominated for two Oscars. The critical reception of the film is quite bipolar, with many hailing it a great political satire and others calling it a comedic tragedy.

Memorable Quote: Libby Holden: I am a gay lesbian woman! I do not mythologize the male sexual organ!

8. Dave (1993)

Initially hired as the President Bill Mitchell’s body double, Dave Kovic finds himself in an unusual situation when Mitchell suffers a stroke and becomes incapacitated. Although normal American politics dictate that the vice president takes over if something renders the president incapable of his responsibilities, Mitchell’s Chief of Staff Bob Alexander, in an effort to protect himself, convinces Dave to continue to pretend to be the president, as he believes the vice president would most likely get rid of him. However Alexander has bigger plans and decides to take the vice president down to pave the way for his own presidency. Meanwhile, Dave is now completely enamored with the First Lady and comes to a head on confrontation with Alexander when he restores funding to one of her projects that Alexander cut off. Kevin Kline stars as the kind-hearted and simple Dave, along with Sigourney Weaver as First Lady Ellen Mitchell, and the presidents men are played by Frank Langella and Ben Kingsley. This “feel good” film is definitely one worth watching more than once.

Memorable Quote: Ellen Mitchell: Why couldn’t you die from a stroke like everyone else?

7. My Fellow Americans (1996)

Jack Lemmon and James Garner star in this comedy about feuding ex-presidents who eventually come together when they realize they are the focus of a scandal orchestrated within the current president’s administration. To clear their names, they go on a search that takes them across the Southern Appalachians where they meet a homeless couple, stand up against kidnappers and participate in a gay pride parade and see first hand how their policies might have affected every day citizens. With a supporting cast of Dan Akroyd, Lauren Bacall, John Heard and Sela Ward, “My Fellow Americans” is a definitive politically comedic hit. Although originally Walter Matthau was meant to star alongside Jack Lemmon as usual, he became ill and James Garner came in – either way, it’s a great film to catch, especially since Jack Lemmon did all of his own stunts.

Memorable Quote: Russell Kramer: I was Time Magazine’s Man of the Year.

Matt Douglas: So was Hitler.

Russell Kramer: Not twice.

6. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Stanley Kubrick‘s film has not only earned the number 25 spot on IMDB’s list of greatest films of all time, it has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and has the rare distinction of receiving a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although it will most probably appear in any “top 10 political film” list, this film deserves a special mention here, as it’s roots are planted deep within comedy and satire. Starring Peter Sellers, and George C. Scott, “Dr. Strangelove,” is a story set around a mentally unstable U.S Air Force General, Jack Ripper, who sends a nuclear attack on the U.S.S.R. The Soviet ambassador then tells the president that this might trigger a “Doomsday Machine” which will destroy all life. Actor extraordinaire Peter Sellers, portrays not one, but three men who might avert this crisis. It’s up to U.S President Merkin Muffley, British Group Captain Lionel Mandrake or former Nazi scientist Dr. Strangelove to save the world, but can any one of them succeed? Although this black comedy might be hard for present generations to grasp, that’s hardly a reason to dismiss it. Considering the fact that Peter Seller’s ad libbed most of his dialogue, this is a must see for film lovers in general.

Memorable Quote: President Merkin Muffley: Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.

5. Bulworth (1998)

Warren Beatty is Senator Jay Billington Bulworth, a Democrat running for reelection in California in 1996. When he begins to lose his bid for continuing his term as a Senator, he also begins to lose himself as he finds he has given up his liberal views with moderate ones. Disappointed and depressed with turning his back on his true beliefs, he decides to order a hit on himself, while negotiating a $10 million life insurance policy to make sure his family is taken care of. With nothing else to lose, Bulworth starts to speak honestly to the people, a quality rarely found in politicians. This inadvertently causes his campaign to get back on track and he instantly becomes a hit. He soon becomes involved with Nina (Halle Berry) a woman living in South-Central Los Angeles who was meant to carry out the hit contract but refused to be involved with the assassination. Bulworth’s candidness (and perfectly blended raps), as well as the brilliant social commentary in the film, make this an all around hit.

Memorable Quote: Bulworth: All we need is a voluntary, free-spirited, open-ended program of pro-creative racial deconstruction. Everybody just gotta keep fuckin’ everybody ’til they’re all the same color.

4. Wag the Dog (1997)

What is a president that’s up for reelection and caught in a scandal to do? Create a fake war to divert attention of course! Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman star as a Washington spin doctor and Hollywood producer who construct a made for television “war” with Albania (in which they hire wannabe actress Tracey Lime played by Kirsten Dunst to portray a young Albanian caught in the midst of battle) to focus attention back to the courageous way the president handles the erupting crisis. Loosely based on the novel “American Hero” by Larry Beinhart, the film incorporates the themes of mass media and public opinion, with the fictional war taking place in the basement of the White House with the use of blue screens, scripts and scenarios. Willie Nelson even makes a guest appearance as faux-singer “Johnny Dean,” and creates a theme song for the “war.”

Memorable Quote: Stanley Motss: The President will be a hero. He brought peace.

Conrad ‘Connie’ Brean: But there was never a war.

Stanley Motss: All the greater accomplishment.

3. Election (1999)

Although “Election” doesn’t deal with real-world politics, often times, the political atmosphere evidenced in microcosms, such as high school in this case, seem to mimic real life in quite an uncanny way. Matthew Broderick stars as Jim McAllister, a Social Studies teacher at Carver High who aims to get back at Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), an ambitious and annoying girl by convincing Paul (Chris Klein), a football player to run against her. In a surprising move, Tammy, Paul’s lesbian sister who gets dumped by her girlfriend in an effort to date Paul, decides to get back at her brother by running against him. The trouble and drama however, are not contained just in the election, but in their personal lives as well, as both Tracy and Mr. McAllister are having quite unsavoury affairs. Broderick and Witherspoon play their characters to a tee, both trying to out win the other and using typical political gimmicks such as ripping down posters, certifying this as a great political comedy.

Memorable Quote: Jim McAllister: [while counting the votes, he sees Tracy in the hall looking into the room] The sight of Tracy at that moment affected me in a way I can’t fully explain. Part of it was that she was spying; but mostly it was her face. Who knew how high she would climb in life? How many people would suffer because of her? I had to stop her… now!

2. Dick (1999)

Before we actually knew who the real “Deep Throat” was, speculation on the matter was rampant, and as far as writer and director Andrew Fleming was concerned, it was two teenage girls living in Washington D.C who brought down Nixon’s presidency. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams star in this hilarious tale of Besty and Arlene, best friends who, while trying to sneak out to send a letter to teen heart throb Bobby Sherman, accidentally discover G. Gordon Liddy breaking into the democratic headquarters at the Watergate Building. The next day, while on a class field trip to the White House, they separate from the group and stumble upon Liddy. The girls are taken aside by White House staff and interrogated, during which they meet Nixon’s dog Checkers. In order to keep them silent about the break-in they witnessed, Nixon appoints them as “official dog-walkers” and they begin to visit the White House often, accidentally influencing events such as the Vietnam peace process and the Nixon-Brezhnev accord. After a series of events in which they learn of Nixon’s true nature, the girls decided to reveal everything to The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, played hilariously by Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch.

Memorable Quote: Arlene Lorenzo: We have a very important school report on turquoise jewelry due in two days, and we can’t find any books on it, and the President’s having us followed. It’s too much pressure.

1. Duck Soup (1933)

Starring Hollywood legends of yesteryear, Harpo and Groucho Marx, this slapstick comedy follows the rescue of the small country of “Freedonia” from bankruptcy, when wealthy and widowed Mrs. Teasdale, agrees to donate 20 million dollars if and only if Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) is appointed its new president. Rufus, is hardly experienced in politics and quite a tyrant, cutting work hours by reducing employee lunch breaks. His primary goal is to woo Mrs. Teasdale, but he’s not alone in his quest. While Freedonia is experiencing problems of its own, neighboring Sylvania plans to take over the country. Sylvanian Ambassador Trentino is also seeking the hand of Mrs. Teasdale, resulting in  Trentino and Firefly become involved in a love triangle that results with their countries declaring war against each other.

The film contains a number of memorable scenes and one-liners, including the famous “mirror” scene, where Pinky (Harpo) from Sylvania  pretends to be FireFly’s reflection in the missing mirror. Although “Duck Soup” was initially a flop, it is now considered a Marx Brothers masterpiece and was declared a “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress.

Memorable Quote: Rufus T. Firefly: Oh, I’m sick of messages from the front. Don’t we ever get a message from the side? – What is it?

Bob Roland: General Smith reports a gas attack. He wants to know what to do.

Rufus T. Firefly: Tell him to take a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda and a half a glass of water.

If only every President got this kind of an entrance…

Call it a manufactured holiday or an ancient tradition with its roots dating back to a Celtic Festival known as Samhain, Halloween has been celebrated all over the world for at least two centuries. Along with the costumes, caramel apples and the ever obligatory jack-o-lantern, movies have also become a staple during All Hallow’s Eve. However, they don’t always have to be scary. I’m giving Freddy, Jason and Leatherface the night off and exchanging them for some Munsters, Charlie Brown and three resurrected, goofy witches.

10. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1958)

Based on Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which was first released in 1948 under the name “The Adventures of Ichabod Crane and Mr. Toad” and narrated by Bing Crosby, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a piece of childhood nostalgia. Ichabod Crane, an odd looking and lanky schoolmaster, travels to the town of Sleepy Hollow for a teaching position, however he quickly becomes a subject of interest for the town bully, Brom Bones. Brom Bones, having noticed that Ichabod has fallen in love with the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, takes matters into his own hands and tells Ichabod the story of the Headless Horseman, knowing full well that Ichabod is very superstitious. Ichabod heads back home for the night, with his fears about the reality of the tale increasing every second. Though he laughs off his fright with his horse, he is suddenly met by the Headless Horseman, where an adventurous turn of events begin to take place. From the music, to the animation, to the pure oddity of the characters involved, The original Legend of Sleepy Hollow is not one to miss.

9. Teen Witch (1989)

Louise is a high school student who describes her life as a “walking, talking tragedy.” That is, until she discovers that she’s a descendant from the witches of Salem and has consequently inherited their powers. What is a once unpopular teenager to do? User her power to get back at people and win the heart of the school hunk of course! As time goes on however, Louise begins to wonder if “cheating” her way to the top is the road she should take. Originally intended to be a female version of the cult classic “Teen Wolf,” “Teen Witch” comes complete with an awesome soundtrack, the best of 80s fashion and a rap scene (below) that is really out of this world.

8. Munster, Go Home! (1966)

In another classic that has stood the test of time, t.v’s The Munsters star in their first full length feature film, in color! When Herman discovers that he is the new lord of Munster Hall in England, the Munsters travel to Britain by boat to formally inherit the English estate, however Herman’s relatives, most particularly Freddie Munster, are jealous that he has been named Lord Munster. Hilarity ensues from beginning to end. Herman gets seasick, Grampa is accidentally turned into a wolf and Marilyn (the normal one, if you remember) looks like she’s found true love. In the middle of all the excitement, the Munsters find that a counterfeiting operation is taking place in the basement of the estate. Fred Gwynne shines in his role as Herman Munster, as usual and is notable for this memorable line: “I want to go to the party and put on funny hats and be obnoxious and talk too loud and get stoned- uphold the American image abroad.”

7. The Addams Family (1991)

In this film adaptation of the 1960s television series, which was nominated for an Oscar, Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Lurch, Thing and Pugsley return as the mysterious family who inhabit a gloomy mansion. The disappearance of Uncle Fester 25 years ago has left Gomez distraught, and when an evil doctor finds out, she introduces an impostor Fester in order to gain control of the family fortune hidden away in a vault. A number of dramatic events occur, including the family losing their mansion and being forced to live “in society,” where Lurch starts work as a vacuum salesman, and a motel becomes their home. Although we never quite figure out what the Addamse’s connection to the supernatural is, this film is great fun just the same, with great performances from Raul Julia, Anjelica Houston and Christopher Lloyd.

6. Young Frankenstein (1974)

In the “scariest comedy of all time,” Gene Wilder stars as Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced Frokensteen), a young neurosurgeon who inherits a castle from his grandfather, Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. Although dismissive and very critical of his grandfather’s work, the famous scientist who attempted to bring the dead back to life, he grows interested after discovering a book with his theories and soon decides to do some experimentation himself, with the help of Igor (pronounced eye-gor) and his attractive lab assistant Inga. Frederick manages to successfully reanimate a body, however “the monster” soon escapes and reeks havoc across the city. Voted in the top 250 films of all time by the Internet Movie Database, Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” is an amazing satire, filled with a well-rounded cast and hilarious one-liners. Watch perhaps the most hilarious scene from the film below.

5. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

Forty-two years after its official release, Charles Schulz’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” has remained a timeless classic and is broadcast every year on cable television in anticipation of Halloween. Linus, convinced that “The Great Pumpkin” is going to show up on Oct. 31st, decides to spend the entire night of Halloween in a pumpkin patch, awaiting his arrival with Sally. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang plans to go trick-or-treating and then stop off at Violet’s Halloween party, which Lucy believes that Charlie Brown was mistakenly invited to. As the gang travels house to house, Charlie Brown ends up getting a rock, while everyone else gets candy, no matter which residence they visit. Linus and Sally however, await the whole night in the pumpkin patch, waiting for “The Great Pumpkin.” Will he ever come? If you’ve forgotten, or if you haven’t seen it, you should definitely add it to your list to find out.

4. Hocus Pocus (1993)

Anytime “Hocus Pocus” is announced on a television lineup, you can rest assured that when it’s on, I will be glued to the screen, watching vintage Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and a young Thora Birch battling it out on Halloween night. The film follows three, 300-year-old witches, The Sanderson Sisters, who are accidentally brought back to life when Max [the virgin] lights the black flame candle on Halloween night. As the witches pursue Max, his sister and his soon-to-be girlfriend, to essentially suck their souls and gain immortality, their only hope lies in the smarts of Thackery Binx, a young man trapped in the body of a black cat due to a curse by the Sanderson Sisters. Throughout the film, the sisters are met with and puzzled by modern society, using vacuums as brooms and mistaking a man dressed as Satan as the real thing. Although “Hocus Pocus” didn’t do too well at the box office, it has grown into a cult hit over the years. The film even features a cameo from Doug Jones of “Hellboy” and “Pan’s Labyrinth fame.” Catch a magnificent interpretation of “I Put a Spell on You” by Bette Midler below.

3. Beetle Juice (1988)

Day-O. Day-ay-ay-o. Daylight come and me wan’ go home and watch Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in “Beetle Juice.” After Adam and Barbara are killed in a car crash, they become ghosts bound in their former home. Life, errr death, is going smoothly for the couple, until the Deetzes, a quite quirky and cooky family buy the house and move in. In an effort to regain ownership of their house Adam and Barbara plot to scare the Deetzes away, using every scare tactic in the book. However, when their efforts fail, they’re forced to call in “bio-exorcist” to the dead, “Beetle Juice,” but it turns out that he’s more than they ever bargained for. Aside for Winona Ryder (Lydia), the shining star in the film, is Catherine O’ Hara by far, with her portrayal of Lydia’s stepmother, Delia.

2. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The asymmetrical hair, the elaborate costumes and horrifying display of suburbia, the soundtrack, a young and blond Winona Ryder, and of course, the magnificence that is Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands. What more could you ask for in a film? When Avon lady extraordinaire Pegg Bogs discovers a mansion on top of a hill on her route to sell products, she finds a lonely young man named Edward with scissors for hands and brings him back home with her to integrate him into society and enrich his life. As Edward begins to make friends and in the process falls in love with Pegg’s daughter Kim (Ryder), he discovers that life isn’t as good as it seems beyond the mansion. As with many films in this list, Edward Scissorhands is a cult classic and although some might argue that it doesn’t have much to do with Halloween, I would say that it really doesn’t matter. Edward Scissorhands is a movie that seems appropriate for any time, whether or not it involves a holiday devoted to the scarier things in life, or death!

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

If you’ve been reading thus far, you may have noticed that the top three films on this list are Tim Burton classics, and really, that should come as no surprise, considering he won this year’s “Scream Immortal ” award at Spike TV’s Scream awards, for his unique interpretation of horror and fantasy. When Pumpkin King Jack Skellington, who calls Halloweentown his place of residence, grows bored of being the scariest entity in the world, he stumbles upon Christmastown and it catches his eye enough that he proposes Halloweentown celebrate Christmas this year, instead of the usual holiday of, you guessed it, Halloween. Although Jack’s idea is grand, it is also twisted. Blinded by the excitement of Christmas, he decides to kidnap Santa Clause and take over his duties of delivering presents to the children of the world, and as you can imagine, chaos does indeed ensue. With Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington and composer of the original score and Catherine O’Hara as Sally, Jack’s love interest, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is everything you could ever ask for and want, not only in a Halloween film, but in general. From the set design, to the originality of the plot, to the characters and the score, this definitely deserves top billing on any Halloween film list. Besides, virtually no one can resist Jack Skellington singing, “And on a dark cold night, under full moonlight, he flies into the fog like a vulture in the sky! And they call him, Sandy… Clawssss!”

Photo by vox_efx

Sir Anthony Hopkins received the “Legend Award,” while Tim Burton, who descended down to the stage in a hot-air balloon took home the “Scream Immortal Award” for his unique interpretation of horror and fantasy. Horror legend Wes Craven swept the “Scream Mastermind Award” for his contribution to the world of horror. The late Heath Ledger was also honored as he took away “Best Fantasy Actor” and “Best Villain.”

In perhaps the most surprising twist of the night, Star Wars creator George Lucas appeared at the awards to collect the “Comic-Con Icon Award” along with an entire army of Stormtroopers. The award, which is given in association with Comic-Con International, has previously been awarded to Frank Miller and “The Spirit” director Neil Gaiman.

In a world of run of the will award shows, the Scream Awards definitely win in the category of originality, presenting such awards as “Most Memorable Mutilation,” “Holy S*** Scene of the Year” and “Best Line.” This year, the mutilation honor went to “Teeth,” as The Dark Night owned the scene of the year and best line.

Though only in its third year, the show attracted such big names as Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Winona Ryder, Kate Beckinsale, Milla Jovovich, Kevin Smith and Liv Tyler. Comicbook legends Stan Lee and Frank Miller were also in attendance.

The two hour show featured performances by Smashing Pumpkins, who performed their single “G.L.O.W.,” and new and upcoming artist Kerli.

Also, some other fun highlights. Robert Downey Jr. accepts his award…

The Scream Awards air tonight on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET/PT

For a full list of the winners go here.

Hank and Mike are two Easter bunnies whose jobs fall victim to downsizing, due to losses that Easter Enterprises, a division of a multi-national corporation that owns all holidays has endured. The film follows them as they struggle with unemployment, love, life and each other.

As a general note, structuring a movie around any holiday like Easter should be only suitable for the animated realm of children’s films.

Trust me on this one. Secondly, I perhaps cringed throughout the entire movie as Hank and Mike never ever removed their bunny suits, despite the chocolate fight stains and accumulating filth as the movie progressed. They’re not people dressed as Easter Bunnies, they really are Easter Bunnies, you know, the kind that eat carrots and of course, deliver Easter eggs. It didn’t matter at that point, I couldn’t recover from the ridiculous plot, the filthy bunny suits, the fact that there were only 2 people in the theatre (literally) and that the entire never managed to get a laugh out of me.

Did I mention Chris Klein is in it? Chris Klein, you remember him! To jog your memory, he was in such cinematic classics as American Pie and Rollerball, although you might remember him better as Katie Holmes’ boyfriend before there was Tom Cruise. In “Hank and Mike,” Klein portrays Conrad Hubriss, a wealthy business man and entrepreneur who is brought into Easter Enterprises to revitalize the company when profits begin to take a nose dive.

Other strange characters, such as a homeless man who carries around a watermelon and a next door neighbor who tries to commit suicide and is unsuccessful, as well as a bully Bunny who taunts Hank and Mike, make the film even harder to digest.

Joe Mantegna, (whose name is spelled Joe Mantebna in the press kit for Hank and Mike, by the way) makes appearances throughout the film as Mr. Pan, the CEO of Easter Enterprises. Even this Tony Award winning actor can’t save the film, and perhaps contributes to make it all the more strange.

The film is original in its concept, but originality does not always equal good. Though Mancini and Michael, as well as Klein are great in their respective roles, because of the lagging plot line and “trying to hard” nature of the film, the acting takes a back seat and is overshadowed by its inability to keep even an audience of three interested. Good effort, horrible execution and definitely not my cup of tea.

“Hank and Mike” is rated R with a running time of 86 minutes.

Photo via the official website