Choke (2009)

Choke (link to amazon)

Directed by Clark Gregg
Viewed on 3-28-10

One of the weirdest movies I could have picked to watch. I didn't know much about this movie going in... turns out it's about sex addiction, mother and jesus. Victor, the main character played by Sam Rockwell, works by day as a historical reenactor at a colonial Williamsburg theme park, and his hobbies include hitting on the milk lady, having meaningless sex (preferably with strangers) and choking on food as a way to augment his income. His best friend Denny is also a sex addict.

Let me explain... Victor's mother, played by Anjelica Huston, is a con-artist with a terminal illness. Denny falls in love with a stripper who recites biblical theory, Victor repeatedly fails at having sex with a willing, ovulating, would-be doctor... okay... there is too much to explain, allow me sum up... This movie is a zany trip through the universe of sex, family ties, therapy and growth, unexpected love, and learning the truth about one's self.

I found the movie to be funny, but usually not in a cute way. Deep, adult oriented themes and humor at least kept me from turning it off. However, when I strictly compare it to the previous movies I have just reviewed, Brothers and Hurt Locker, Choke should earn a B+. But this is not the case. As far as being a great "American Movie" it is not. Choke is so bizarre that I really don't know what to make of it. It may be worth your time for the adventure of it.

Grade: a solid C for entertainment value.
Age: adults only

You Kill Me (2007)

You Kill Me (link to amazon)

Directed by John Dahl
Viewed 3-25-10

Frank Falenczyk, played by Oscar-winning British actor Ben Kingsley, is a hit man in Buffalo and an alcoholic. His drinking interferes with his work, so he is sent by his family-run business to San Fransisco to dry up. He takes a part time job in a morgue preparing bodies, and goes to AA meetings. Téa Leoni's character becomes Frank's romantic interest after meeting her at a funeral. Luke Wilson's character becomes Frank's AA sponsor.

This off beat film is clever, funny, and a nice progression and transformation for the characters. The creative ending was interesting to me, and I enjoyed the movie a whole lot better than watching Brothers.

Grade: I give this a B. It wasn't amazing, but it didn't disappoint.
Age: Aside from the language, some mild adult content and violence... really a pretty tame movie. 13+

Sydney White (2007)

Sydney White (link to amazon)
Directed by Joe Nussbaum
Viewed 4-29-09

I feel silly. When I pulled up imdb for this movie, so i could spell the Director's name, that's when I read that this movie's concept was stolen from the Snow White formula, complete with the seven dwarfs. Dope!

Now forget I said that. Ready, OK.

Sydney White is a unique girl, yet so normal that she could make you sick, in a good way I suppose. Amanda Bynes pulls off the "anti- Legally Blonde" role with ease and class. I'm not the hugest fan of hers from watching her on the show What I Like About You but her performance in this movie was really pretty nice. I actually forgot all about her teeny-bopper show while watching Sydney White.

She jumps from life on the construction site to rushing for the Kappas her freshman year. She enters the Legally Blonde lifestyle, attempting to fit in and trying hard to make friends. Sara Paxton plays Rachel, the antagonist. Her relaxation words are "Gucci Armani Chanel" if you get the picture. Sydney's romance with president of the Betas pushes Rachel to drastic measures.

Too bad the last movie reviewed was also about "Greek Row" life on campus. Compared to Old School which failed to make a grade, Sydney White gets a solid B. Did I mention the seven dwarfs? Nice ensemble of misfit dorks. Dorks rule! Cute and safe movie.

Old School (2003)

Old School (link to amazon)
Directed by Todd Phillips
Viewed 4-11-09

Our favorite sports seasons are done, it is time for movie season once again.

Old School (Unrated and out of control) turned out to be about what we expected. The attempt to organize a university sanctioned fraternity to avoid losing a house seemed to be the main theme. An updated spin on Animal House? The dean is out to shut them down and throws a barrage of schemes to out the unwanted house to make way for developers to move in.

Much of the humor is crude, vulgar, and zany. Any hint of a romance oriented storyline was wasted. This movie is basically the journey of bachelors and the fraternity style gluttony portrayed by men much too old to be in college. Party hardy, dude. We did not rate this movie because it lacked the merits of a quality film experience. Definitely rated R for good reason.

One warning: too much male butts and not enough female body parts for balance. We were left scarred for life and I feel this might be the beginning of Will Ferrell burnout. His role is again similar to the role he played in Elf and the "Ricky Bobby" role. Just as Adam Sandler and Chevy Chase repeated the same comedy roles over and over, I'm afraid Will Ferrell will soon be an impersonation of himself.

Mr. Woodcock (2007)

Mr. Woodcock (link to Amazon)
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Viewed on: 07-17-08

Newly published author John Farley (Seann William Scott ) returns home to a small Nebraska farming town and learns of his Mother's (Susan Sarandon) recent engagement to his former high school gym teacher Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). Farley's distain for the old coach comes from years of high school gym class torment and ridicule, which are often shown in flashback scenes throughout the movie. This flick actually had a lot of potential, Billy Bob Thornton played the hard-nosed and condescending gym tyrant to a tee, coupled with Sarandon the two had award-winning chemistry. The major downfall of this movie was the lack of acting from Sean William Scott and the overuse of his role in the movie (shouldn't Sarandon and Thornton be the focus or at least be in more scenes?). As Scott attempts an intellectual character, his portrayal of a self-help motivational author fell way short. His acting inadequacies made it hard for us to relate to the character and ultimately the movie itself. The towns folk his age were worthless too. Unfortunately he may be forever pigeonholed into the "Stiffler" character from the American Pie movies. The gym flashback scenes were amusing, also Amy Poehler's bit character was pretty funny. And although Susan Sarandon has a little more junk in her trunk now, somehow it was still aesthetically pleasing on her. But overall the script was weak and predictable. This movie could have easily fell into the F-grade range. It was the perfect example of a Hollywood movie where the main actor is chosen because of "who's hot" rather than who's the best actor for the part. "Stick him with some pros and we can't lose."

We gave this movie a C+ and would recommend that you spend no money on it whatsoever. Maybe catch it when it comes out on a cable network, if nothing else is on.