This week, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn foretell their own destiny, assuming they've actually broken up.
The Break-Up
This is the part where I say how ironic it is this is coming out right when Vince and Jennifer are breaking up, except Jennifer says they aren't and that when she gains weight it goes right to her boobs. That last part has nothing to do with the break-up rumors, I just found it interesting.
Anyhow, critics didn't like this so much, but everyone I've talked to says it's a nice enough way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Extras include commentary from Jince (or Vennifer, if you prefer), potentially while spooning, but I wouldn't count on it; an alternate ending; deleted and extended scenes; outtakes; a tour of Chicago; and some improv from Swingers' alum Vince Vaughan and Jon Favreau.
Over the Hedge
In one of the many examples of the snarky-critters-take-on-The-Man CG cartoon templates this year (along with The Wild, Barnyard, The Ant Bully, and Open Season), Bruce Willis and Gary Shandling voice a raccoon and turtle, respectively. This is probably the best reviewed of those films, so if you have to see only one movie with talking animals this year, this should probably be it.
As with most kids' DVDs, this is very well tricked out, including a feature called "Learn to Draw Hammy." I don't know who Hammy is, but just knowing I could potentially learn to draw him instills me with confidence.
American Dreamz
It seemed like such a good idea. A political satire from the guys behind such modern classics as About a Boy and In Good Company (and American Pie, for that matter), with the President (Dennis Quaid) appearing on a reality contest show, The show is hosted by Hugh Grant, and Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Jennifer Coolidge, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Klein, John Cho, Judy Greer, and Shohreh Aghdashloo are thrown in for more than good measure. And what do you get? 41 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. That's not horrible, per se, but remember, those first two movies I mentioned scored 94 and 82 percent, respectively. Even American Pie managed 60 percent.
Among the numerous extras is a feature that teaches you how to dance. I just love educational DVDs.
The Omen
My very first article for Blogcritics was a review of the original The Omen starring Gregory Peck and directed by a pre-Lethal Weapon Richard Donner. Now, we have Liev Schrieber (whom I love, but is no Peck) and Julia Stiles (who probably is on a par with Lee Remick) directed by the guy who did Behind Enemy Lines (but he may have a Lethal Weapon in his future, you never know). The result, not so much with the good reviews. Still, probably better than the one with Sam Neil as the adult devil spawn.
Article comments
1 - Pat Evans
"The Breakup" may be ok for a Saturday afternoon but only if you really, really have nothing better to do. I couldn't decide which of them was the more annoying. Mind you Judy Davis was good as was Jon Favreau (once you get over how much weight he has gained; this is also true of Vincent D'Onofrio who is nearly unrecognizable in this flick).