The Good, the Bad and the Blu-rays

Just because it's Halloween week don't go expecting a whole new array of horror films to enjoy, as bar one or two exceptions, we're in for a tame October 31st. It's not a bad week for fans of mumblecore, American indies and Emily Blunt though, so good news for me.

Liberal Arts Trailer

Following his debut as writer, director slash actor with Happythankyoumoreplease, Josh Radnor, the sometime Ted Mosby, is back with a new film but the same director's beard. When Jesse, a teacher in New York, gets invited back to Ohio to visit his old professor (Richard Jenkins), he meets and falls for a 19 year old student called Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen).

Although his character Ted in How I Met Your Mother has skated dangerously close to becoming the 'Dawson Leary' of his own story, I'd argue that away from the show Josh Radnor's film career is the one to envy. He may not have the Judd Apatow connection like Jason Segel or the eye-catching showmanship of Neil Patrick Harris (most recently seen in The Smurfs), but he's a man in charge of his career, both in front of and behind the camera.

In his directorial outings (Liberal Arts and Happythankyoumoreplease), he's made some smart casting decisions, surrounding himself with talented character actors who'll raise the quality of any movie by at least two notches. Richard Jenkins AND Allison Janney? Mr Mosby, you're spoiling us. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of casting is Elizabeth Olsen, able to free herself from the shackles of familial expectations with her performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene. Incredibly watchable and precisely the kind of girl a 35 year old teacher would fall for, her presence makes this one of the must watch indies of the autumn.

Liberal Arts is in cinemas September 14th (US) and October 5th (UK).

JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME review

The latest from the mumblecore duo known as the Duplass Brothers, the Ed Helms/Jason Segel starring Jeff, Who Lives at Home is now in cinemas.

THE MUPPETS review

Have you ever asked yourself the question, am I a man or am I a Muppet? Well thanks to Jason Segel we finally we have a film that can answer that very question.

Jeff Who Lives At Home Trailer

The latest film from the indie film geniuses that are the Duplass brothers (The Puffy Chair, Baghead and most recently, Cyrus), the first trailer for Jeff Who Lives At Home has just hit the net. Check it out, next...

GREEN WITH ENVY trailer

Curious as to why this deserves your attention? Well, once you've watched the trailer, join me after the jump for some more information...

Reasons to be Fearful 1.2.3

After all the hopes I had at the start of the year, 2010 ended up being a bit crap at the cinema, especially for comedies. Well, having looked at these next three trailers for upcoming releases, we may well look back on 2010 being a bit of a classic in comparison. Oh dear...

Hitting the webs this week with all the subtlety of a desperately ageing comedian in a fat suit, we have Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (aka Big Mommas House 3). Do you want to know what's funnier than one guy wearing a fat suit in drag? Well, the answer's sure not two. It's interesting that in the ten years since the first film, the make-up appears to have got worse (or maybe that's just cheaper, like the laughs), and I imagine Lawrence's paycheck has risen the more his dignity has fallen. It's a living I suppose.

Firstly, there's nothing more lazy than using Danny Elfman as a temp track in your trailer. Oooh, it's a mysterious wonderland where anything is possible! Again! Starring the corpulent (jolly and chubby) Kevin James, this looks like Paul Blart: Mall Cop but with more elephant shit-shovelling, complete with the monkey from Pirates of the Caribbean as a comedy sidekick. If this isn't just Night at the Museum...but in a zoo, I'll be shocked. At least it's not out for a while, appearing on our screens...

It's November mate.

I'll be honest that my feeling for this film have been damaged exponentially from the amount of times I've been forced to sit through that damned Jack Black Orange ad at the cinema (I'm up to 14 at last count); but still, it doesn't look great. Pissing all over a classic story, this film (the most of which I think is in the trailer) looks really bad, and even the appearance of Jason Segel and TJ Miller can't save it for me. As for what they're selling it on, the following claim inspires zero confidence.

Gulliver's Travels arrives in cinemas on December 26th, so if you're looking for a way to ruin Boxing day for all the family, you have your answer.


Not to sound too defeatist about next years crop of comedy releases, but 2011 may end up being the year the laughter died. Here's hoping it's a banner year for drama and horror. Please.