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markgoff
Reviews
Wedding Crashers (2005)
I'm a tough sell on comedies, but
I'm admittedly a very tough nut to crack on comedies but this one broke the shell wide open. Most of the time I chuckle once and a while at best but I was in stitches for the whole two hours in Wedding Crashers. It ranks up there close to A Fish Called Wanda, When Harry Met Sally and Get Out Your Handkerchiefs in my book. An almost seamless film that takes stereotyped characters and bends them completely out of shape. There's a touch of genius in the interaction between Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn that hints at the great comedy teams of Martin & Lewis, Burns & Allen and Abbott & Costello. Amid their screwball and cynical antics they let reveal an odd but working dynamic that drives through the madness of their own devices. Isla Fisher's addition as the kooky, nymphomanic sister is a great little sidebar entry adding more spice to the stew.
This is a movie that easily could have devolved into cheap visual tricks and potty humor but managed to rise to the occasion and deliver a quality product. Even the sappy and predictable ending doesn't diminish its overall shine. A good, solid eight. I hope we see more of these guys.
(BTW, my brother-in-law is a longtime wedding photographer and he says this kind of activity is not only feasible, he thinks it's fairly common at large weddings)
The Same River Twice (2003)
Life is not a lazy river
This is the movie of all of us in a lot of ways. It follows life from the carefree and uninhibited days of twentysomething to the burdens of fortysomething. With one exception, each of the half-dozen river guides of the 70's grew up, settled down and became entangled in the humdrum, perplexities and small successes of adulthood. Yet in watching film of themselves mostly naked and carefree 20 years earlier there's little wistfulness, nostalgia or regret for the loss of youthful abandon. That was then, this is now. As one woman said, "we did it because we could." But most people can't do it forever and these former river rats have largely found as much adjustment and peace amid mortgages and child-raising as they did floating through the Grand Canyon.
One of the most interesting aspects is the fact that three of them have held elected office, and in fact two are mayors of their small towns. Not what anyone would expect watching them negotiating rafts through the rapids in the early footage.
The filmmakers, and particularly the editor, did a masterful job of letting characters in his documentary reveal themselves. It's a compelling film, not as powerful as "When We Were Kings" or "Don't Look Back", but nonetheless a strong and worthy effort. It was highly recommended by the New York Times reviewer and I concur wholeheartedly. No doubt will be appreciated by middle-aged people who, like myself, were lucky enough to have a few years of completely uninhibited life before being drawn into much more conventional settings.
I was surprised to even find this movie at the video store because it never really found distribution outside the film festivals. You may have to dig around for it but it'll be well worth your trouble. A good, solid eight.
(I have sympathy for the kinds of people who watch this movie and can only focus on the nudity.)
Maggie Moore (2000)
An Elementary Delight
This is a charming little short even though the story line of a couple with conflicting attitudes towards permanancy in a relationship is a bit shopworn. Though her character is a bit uneven, Alison Simpson as Maggie shows strong acting ability, particularly in the last scene as she struggles with her emotions. David Norona, as her commitment-shy boyfriend, does a fine job as he tries to return to the carefree life modeled by his loser best friend (Peter Bedgood) while his hearstrings continue to pull him back to Maggie. The director, David Berkman, handles quick edits and cutbacks with aplomb, and the opening scene of a chaotic kindergarten provides a perfect prelude to the disarray of the emotions between the characters.
Not a bad way to spend a half-hour. Thanks much to Independent Film Channel for showcasing this little gem.