People often think when they hear Canadian film they think of Red Green,  Strange Brew, Trailer Park Boys or something hockey related… Thanks to films like One Week, Intern Academy, Real Time, Child Star,Passchendale and Now The Trotsky the Stigma has been broken.. People should realize we have good Talent north of the border and we’re chalk full of funny. Every once and a while the good Canadian Jay Baruchel returns to support his home and native land by lending his talents to good Canadian films. The first being Fetching Cody, Real Time and now The Trotsky.

In the Trotsky, Baruchel plays Leon Bronstein, a brilliant, sensitive way past his age student who believes to be the reincarnation of Marxist/Bolshevik leader Leon Trosky.  Believing this he feels it is his destiny to lead a revolution. When his first attempt at unionizing his father’s (Saul Rubinek) clothing company leads to his arrest he tries again to give his new public school a student union in order to give his fellow students a voice worth hearing.

I enjoyed this movie, now the laughs weren’t plentiful but it was quirky and very story and character driven. I caught some resemblances to Wes Anderson’s Rushmore with it’s odd ball characters and solid story. Baruchel, like Bronstein is a very likable guy with a pure heart so you find yourself routing for him. The Film added some credible supporting actors with Rubinek and Colm Foere along with a very funny supporting cast.

With a modest budget this is a movie done proper. It relies on talent, both story and script as well as talented actors. It doesn’t succumb to outlandish budgets and salary demands for what is a simple quirky fun story. It is how movies should be made with passion and is defiantly worth being checked out and supported.

Stars

Jonah Hill: Aaron Green

Russell Brand: Aldous Snow

With the success of forgetting Sarah Marshall Judd Apatow  & friends decided to reprise the character of Aldous Snow, an arrogant self centered rock star. Only this time he is not sober, he is so far off the wagon that thee wagon is three states over. Hill is also back for the spin off film but not as Matthew the creepy obsessed fan from Hawaii but as Aaron,  a nice up and coming agent at a record company who still happens to believe in the magic that is rock and roll and the power it holds. With the 10 year anniversary of Snow’s legendary performance at the Greek Theatre fast approaching the company decides to put on another show. Aaron is summoned to do the insurmountable task of heading to London to pick up Snow & bring him back to the United States. Seems easy enough right? Not when you have a drugged out party crazed rock star derailing your entire plan.

The characters is what really made the film work and their chemistry. Hill is a quiet straight laced good boy with a 9-5 and a routine, he doesn’t live much, just him and is girl friend is all that his life consists of. Snow is a scatterbrained selfish wreck of a star that hides behind women, drugs and booze. Not Much of a stretch for Brand but he’s still funny and makes it work.

This is Jonah Hill’s first time back as one of the main headliners since 08′s Super bad, only instead of  a squeaky clean sissy looking Canadian boy  he teams up with a limey reincarnation of Sid Vicious with the ego five times the size as John Lennon’s. The two are crazy opposite but they make it work. This film was so funny It could challenge as this summer’s hangover with the laughs constant and  huge. There was a lot of slap stick style of gags and just goofy moments but there was a lot of funny one liners and the situations just got so out of control and outlandish that you couldn’t help but laugh your face off. But towards the end the film revealed some real truthful moments that gave it heart and made it more of an all around solid movie, not  a stupid  screw ball comedy where stuff happens for no reason.. Each goofy schenanigan is a stone that gets unturned to reveal a greater truth. Both bring a different comedic element to the film, but there is a third hilarious element; Sean “P Diddy ”  Combs plays Sergio the insane boss & owner of the Pinnacle record company. He is three steps past crazy, some of the things he says and does are so hilarious and outlandish that sometimes you have to double take and say ” did he just say that?”

All in all this was a great film and a solid summer comedy which there seems to be a lack of.

Not often am I a big fan of  remixes, but there are exceptions. To anyone that reads my reviews they know I am a big fan of Keane. A Young man by the name  of Danny Dance chose to remix the song “My Shadow”, A slower paced mellow song of the newly released EP Night Train. I gotta say I enjoyed this track, it added a good kick to the song while keeping it’s melancholy sound. Danny ramped up the speed and bass but not to take away from the original song.

To check out more by Danny Dance Check out Danny Dance.com or danceisafeeling.com

To Hear the song, check out this Link:

http://danceisafeeling.com/media/musicstorage/Keane%20-%20My%20Shadow%20%28Danny%20Dance%20Remix%29.mp3

Directed by Jorma Taccome

Will Forte: MacGruber

Kristen Wiig:  Vicki St. Elmo

Ryan Phillippe:  Dixon Piper

Val Kilmer: Dieter Von Cunth

With the string of terrible SNL films such as Superstar & Night at the roxbury, fans of the legendary sketch show were looking for a funny sketch to transfer over into a funny movie. Well they answered the call with Macgruber, a parody of the Macgyver television series. There are only a handful of people that can have you in stitches without doing anything but Will Forte is one of those people. With a simple face, noise or just his voice Forte has the magic touch for comedic gold. He put his magic touch to the script which he co wrote with Taccome.

PLOT:

After Dieter Von Cunth becomes in possession of a dangerous nuclear warhead the United States government turns to their only hope; Macgruber. The legendary ex operative is pulled out of retirement to once again serve his country. But he can’t do it alone, he recruits an old friend Vicki St. Elmo & Lt. Dixon Piper is a rookie who can learn under Macgruber.

This film was hilarious. It was so off the wall and goofy, but it had some great gags. Forte proved he can lead a film and carry it on his unique comedic talents. Phillippe also fit in great, as a man who doesn’t often do comedy but was able to hold his own, a good counter weight to Forte. Kilmer is no stranger to comedy was great in his smaller role. The beautiful Wiig was also enjoyable as the crush and love interest to Forte. Due to the nature of some of the one liners and the slapstick gags and how weird they are this film will definitely have a niche audience but it may not be for everybody.. I will say this that it had me in stitches.

This is one of the better comedies of 2010, a great summer film &  thus far & in terms of SNL films it is in the top three with Blues brothers & Wayne’s world.

Night Train EP

Tom Chaplin:  Vocals/Piano/Organ/ Guitars 

Tim Rice- Oxley: Keyboards/ bass/ synthesizers / backing vocals

Richard Hughes:  Drums/ Percussion/ Backing vocals

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Brit piano pop rockers Keane are back with a new EP! For those who care, and can get off the cold play bandwagon they can hear the smooth tracks these guys lay down.

Night Train was dropped on may 10th, it is eight songs that were written and recorded along the way in the Perfect Symmetry tour of 2007.

I loved this EP, I wish it was a full length album. There are no weak links, each song is different and has it’s own charm. They went away from their signature ” Piano Ballads”  & as frontman Tom Chaplin says it shows them in a different light.

There is a great mix, the first song starts out with an instrumental Muse esque sound. From there its a whirl wind of  synth rock, hip hop, soft rock, pop, alternative and It all comes back full circle with  ”My Shadow”, a signature Keane style sound.

This also marks one of the first times they collaborated with someone outside the band. Two songs feature  Somali/ Canadian rapper K’naan, & one features Japanese emcee Tigrah. The first single “Stop for a minute” with K’naan is nothing short of brilliant, with a powerful beat and piano line and a catchy chorus.

In my opinion Keane has a flawless discography and Night Train is another fantastic addition that keeps me eagerly waiting for another full length album. GO BUY IT!!!

Directed By John Favareau

CAST

Tony Stark: Robert Downey Jr.       Pepper Potts:Gwyneth Paltrow          

Natalie Rushman/ Natasha Romanof: Scarlet Johansson

James Rhodes/ War Machine:Don Cheadle        

 Justin Hammer: Sam Rockwell        Nick Fury: Samuel L. Jackson    

                                                                                                     Ivan Vanko: Mickey Rourke

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It’s an obvious statement, but sequels are a dangerous territory; either they can’t live up & it fails, or they ramp it right up and far surpass the original. The first Iron man set the bar pretty high, and for years fans held their collective breath wondering what Favareau would do for an encore. Iron man 2 was a bright spot & a great start to a summer movie season that has this guy less than impressed.

Iron man 2 picks up a few months after Stark admits to the media that he is Iron man. This leaves Tony fighting battles on multiple fronts. He’s got lingering health problems that are taking it’s toll, the U.S. Senate is trying to take his suits to give to the military, a wanna be arms manufacturer is trying to compete with Stark Industries & finally he’s got an angry Russian with a vendetta to settle. Even with all this going on Tony never loses his glib, dry        free wheeling sensibility. This provides for a lot of comedic moments.

I thought this film was excellent and surpassed the original. It was a great balance of style and substance. It was a funny, smart, well written and well layered story. It also progressed the Story of Stark in a well timed natural way & also set up for a great third film and Avengers film. While having a great story the special effects and action sequences were top notch & bigger and better than the first. This film even had more eye candy adding Scarlet Johansson to the team (in a very tight and hot out fit).

I enjoy the cast of this film; Downey Jr. was his usual fantastic self, while Cheadle stepped in and portrayed James Rhodes better than Terrance Howard. Mickey Rourke was also superb , from the believable accent to the unhinged scientist demeanor he held his own. ( Perhaps learned a few things from Aronofsky) The cast all gelled together well with both a great sense of chemistry and comedic timing Favareau couldn’t have asked for a better cast.

The only negative thing I can say is that it sucks we have to wait another couple of years for Iron man 3 or the avengers. Whether you’re a comic fan, action junkie or just enjoy Robert Downey Jr. & hot chicks there is something for everyone.

Stars:  Aaron Johnson (Kick Ass/ Dave Lizewski)                     Chloe Grace  Mortez (Hit Girl/ Mindy Macready)

             Nicholas Cage (Big Daddy/ Damon Macready)              Christopher Mintz- Plasse ( Red Mist/Chris D’Amico)

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Any Film that can make a little 11 year old girl out to be the baddest ass in comics has the winning formula for a great comic book film.  Tarintino, Rodeiguez, Snyder & Raimi can currently all suck it, there is a new king in the genre of comic book films and he hails from the merry old land of England….. Mr. Matthew Vaughn, who comes from the Guy Ritchie world of  gangster films takes a fresh stab at the quickly dwindling world of comic book adaptations.

Kick ass is the moniker of comic book aficionado & wanna be super hero Dave Lisewski. Always curious why average joes never took to the streets in costume to right wrongs and help the helpless. After a bystander watches and does nothing as Dave and his friend get mugged  he decides to Armed with a wet suit & good intentions  he tries to do just that. With a few road blocks in his path he still doesn’t let that get him down. After intervening in a gang fight that is captured on film  his popularity skyrockets and becomes intertwined with the D’Amico crime family.

Now for the review, this film kicked fricken ass!!  It was hilarious, violent and action packed.  I really connected with the character of Dave, being a nerd, always craving respect and attention, and I thought scenes & the dialogue between Dave and his friends ( Clark Duke & Evan Peters) was hilarious and brilliant.

The action scenes had a good mix of style and substance. While they were crazy violent, bloody and a tad over the top, they were well choreographed, and  shot with a slick style like in 300 or watchmen. I really enjoyed how Vaughn wasn’t afraid to go over the top and didn’t restrict  the film in terms of language or violence, he went straight for the jugular and went for the 18A/ R rating. 

Kick Ass, Hit Girl and Big Daddy. A first meeting of the minds

I also really liked the actors, and how they weren’t the A listers, they were just right for the part.  Aaron Johnson ( Dave) had this awkward sensibility and was not very handsome, at least in the classic way.  Unlike Toby Maguire in Spiderman you actually buy Aaron as an award outcast with little going on in his life.   Cloe Mortez ( Hit Girl) had the attitude and spunk needed for a bad ass super heroine.  She’s the anti Dakota Fanning, she was crude, confident and pulled it off fantastically.  My favorite part of the movie was Nick Cage, his parody of the Adam West 60′s batman was hilarious and campy and  Cage was able to work with it. It was a welcome back  to good roles for the talented Cage.

I Know the film differed from the book a little bit, but It was great in spite of that. No film follows the book to the letter and I felt that the  changes made the film a little better, I think the film would have been a bit too dark and  went against the new tone of the film.  I couldn’t find any problems with this film, it was funny, fun and filled to the brim with action and will give Iron man 2 for the best comic book film of the year.

Some of my favorite shows that I feel weren’t given a long enough shot are:

COMEDY

Andy Richter Controls the Universe- Some may know him as Conan O’Brien’s rotund sidekick, but Andy is a funny guy.  In this hilarious show Andy is living in Chicago as a writer for a faceless corporation , where he gets himself into a whole bunch of mishaps. The show ran for 19 episodes on FOX. Andy hasn’t had a really good show that has had longevity in several tries.

Stella- The bizarre day to day lives of three peculiar gentleman in suits ( Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, & David Wain).  It started out as a comedy sketch troupe, then moved on to online shorts before hitting Comedy Central.  The show only got 10 episodes, and if that wasn’t hard enough it was replaced by mind of mencia. Since Stella’s cancellation the guys have done okay, Black & Showalter have a new show Michael and Michael have issues, and David Wain had a web series called Wainy Days & directed two films; The Ten & Role Models.

Greg the Bunny- A very funny  sitcom where humans & puppets co exist. The show focuses on a little bunny puppet  Greg ,his best human  friend Jimmy ( Seth Green) who wind up working on a popular kids show sweetknuckle junction. The show was another shining star on the FOX quick pull trigger finger.

Clerks The animated Series- The beloved characters of the cult classic bring their quick wits to the small screen. This show ran on ABC for a brief period. This show was axed due to Kevin smith having problems with… well probably everyone.
Freaks & Geeks- Judd Apatow’s first big endeavor into TV. A coming of age comedy/drama about a family in 1980′s Michigan & the nerds and burnouts that revolve around them. It was a launching pad for a lot of young Hollywood’s big names in comedy. It got rave reviews but since it was an off beat show it wasn’t a mainstream success until DVD.

Undeclared  - Judd Apatow’s 2nd big kick at the can that is TV. A College based comedy/drama  set in the early  2000′s with Jay Baruchel playing the nerdy but lovable protagonist trying to find his way at college. After 17 episodes and poor ratings the show was canned. Apatow chalks it up to the fact that you can’t paint a full picture of college life on cable TV so it’s always a toned down version which doesn’t always win the kids over.

Clone High- An animated venture by ” scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence. Set in a high school all the characters are modern day teenage clones of important historical figures. The show was zany , goofy and off the wall but it was hilarious. Even though it had great voice talents and clever writing It was a show that  fell victim to being a cult favorite and really not taking off until after it’s hiatus/cancellation.

Undergrads- A cartoon show about four best friends and their lives together at college as freshman. It was also a hilarious one season wonder that grew after it was cancelled. However creator Pete Williams has tried to get it back on the air, and since he does all the voices and is a major creative hand it is possible but still a slim chance.

DRAMA

Veronica Mars- The spunky & crazy hot teenage wonder balanced life as a student and P.I. Where she faced spoiled rich kids, latin gangsters and a proverbial  melting pot of lowlifes in the town of Neptune, California just outside San Diego. The show was smart, funny, creative and well thought out. It’s signature was season long story arcs with huge twists at the end. The show altered its format in the third season, that combined with a changed time slot , a dip in ratings, & the writer’s guild strike brought a very good show to a screeching halt. There is talks of a spin off as V Mars working for the FBI but thats almost been dashed by Rob Thomas the show’s creator.

Black Donnelys-  a Crime drama about four Irish- American brothers living in Hell’s Kitchen, NY and their involvement in organized crime. It was a great show that ended in limbo and it was upsetting. Big wigs at NBC have kept a tight seal on the details of the shows cancellation, there may be sketchy details involved because it got great reviews, and average ratings. normally those types of shows get put on the bubble but this show got quickly ripped from the air after 13 episodes.. Tis was a shame, normally Paul Haggis= Gold  and this was no acception, just didn’t get the chance.

This is my personal opinion, and there will be an honorable mention coming soon, but if you feel I missed any gems or campy greatness feel free to comment.

After the travel, a freakout

Imagine the Hangover crosses paths with Back to the future, and you get a hilarious time travel adventure.  Steve Pink directed the new comedy  that stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry(Daily Show), &  Craig Robinson (The Office) as three best friends with a strained relationship.  They are miserable at work, at home and they don’t even have each other. When Lou (Corddry) suffers an accident the guys take the reunion as an opportunity to reconnect and get their friendships back on track. Lou, Nick (Robinson), Adam(Cusack) )head up to Kodiak Valley Ski Resort where they had some of the best times of  their lives. Adam brings his nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) who is in desperate need to get out and experience life.  While partying in the hot tub a drink is spilled on the tubs console sending them back to 1986, the weekend of “Winterland ’86″ to be specific. It was a key weekend that set the course for their personal and professional lives.  It is their second chance to right the wrongs and take that leap, the chance most people do not get in their lives.

A raging good time, with unthinkabule concequences

When people they will compare it to The Hangover, as it is a crazy comedy that takes place over a day.  HTTM rises to the occasion, it is hilarious. The main cast (Corddry, Cusack, Duke & Robinson) have great chemistry and are very funny together. Corddry is the main focus and he delivers. He takes a step away from his satirical style of comedy that is his comfort zone,  and steps to a style that is vulgar, volatile, slapstick and goofy. Each main character really gets their own chance to shine, whether its Cusack being a drugged out mess, Robinson’s musical number, or Duke’s great one liners and slapstick gags.

Crispin Glover ( who is no stranger to time travel), Collette Wolfe, Chevy Chase, & Lizzy Caplan are great supporting characters that give the film backing. I also enjoyed how they played with the characters knowledge of the future (very back to the future Pt 2) but they had fun with it. I also enjoyed the pop culture of the 80′s and the tremendous art direction that went into the film, a credit to Bob Zembicki & his art & design team. It is something that is so important and one wouldn’t normally notice unless it’s a period piece, not expected from a goofy comedy but it was fantastic. The film was also backed with a solid soundtrack from key bands from the 80′s such as  The Talking Heads, Poison, Motley Crue, New Order,  Men without Hats, INXS, Public Enemy, & many others.

Young Corddry, Cusack, Robinson & Duke.. well he stays the same

This was a great, creative & well written comedy. It was a fun and interesting take on two old topics that are second chances and time travel.  Hilarious Jokes and a great cast really made the film work. I would strongly recommend this film, also I would put it in the top five comedies of the last couple of years amongst the hangover, I love you man, superbad and Role Models. Which is some great company to share.

Last Night, Feburary 25th 2010 Canada’s Womens team captured Gold by shutting out the United States 2-0. After the medals were handed out , an impromptu celebration took place with a bit of boozin’ and cigar smoking. One of them Marie- Philip- Poulin, just 18 and under age to drink in B.C.  Team Canada sent out their apologies this morning for their behaviour.

I feel the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Serious ly needs to get the sticks removed from their collective asses! It’s ametur sports which means little to no pay, it is all done for the love of the sport, competition and their country. If they want to party on their hom soil after winning a GOLD MEDAL who gives them the right to stop them. When in the moment things just happen and they wanted to party harty so what’s the big deal.

Poulin is a mere month away from turning 19 (march 28), not to mention she has dranken in her own province of Quebec, and she was under the supervision of teem mates and coachesm all over 19.

TheIOC plan to investigate the situation, which is lame because there are more pressing matters at hand like th DEATH of the luger and all the subsequent accidents.The IOC cant hand out any lame reasons like they have to set an example, Bull shit! They’re not on a pay roll and if it is its miniscule and in a few weeks  most of these ladies will slip back into obscurity so who the hell cares what they do.

Those hosers at the IOC need to realize we do things differently in the great white north and if they don’t like it they can take off!!

Congratulations to the Women’s team on the gold and celebrating their way