Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Director: NIcholas Stoller
Starring: Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis Paul Rudd, Bill Hader
Year: 2008 
Run Time: 110 Minutes
How: Apple TV (iTunes)

Peter Bretter (Segel) is a composer is musician who composes the music for his beautiful actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall's (Bell) TV Show, that is until Marshall breaks up with him and reveals that there is another man. Peter goes into a spiral after the breakup and at his brother's (Hader) insistence, he flies to Hawaii to clear his head as the title suggests. 

Peter arrives in Hawaii only to find that Sarah is staying at the same resort with her new lover Aldous Snow (Brand). Snow is a lothario rock star and is yet another roll in which Brand plays himself, though he manages to be funnier than most of his other work. Peter frets over this for a while but starts the befriend the hotel staff, including the hilarious Paul Rudd as Kunu the surf instructor who doesn't quite all there mentally. Meanwhile Peter falls for the front desk girl played by Kunis.

Produced Judd Apatow, the film feature many of his regular actors, notably: Segel, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill.  Segel once again showcases his musical abilities which we have seen as far back as Freaks and Geeks, which was also produced by Apatow. Peter performs songs from his Dracula musical, which features puppets (along the lines of Avenue Q).

The film is solid throughout with a strong performance by Segel and Kunis. Brand holds his own but fails to show any range, once again playing a role similar to himself. Rudd, Hill and Jack McBrayer all provide laugh out loud moments and help make this movie quite rewatchable.

Rating: 7.2/10

Average User Rating: 9

Bottle Rocket

Director: Wes Anderson
Staring: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Andrew Wilson

Year: 1996

Run Time: 91 Minutes
How: Apple TV (Netflix)

Bottle Rocket was Director Wes Anderson's first major film. Along side friend and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson, Anderson directs a quirky heist movie in his own unique style.

The film opens in Texas as Dignan (Owen Wilson) "rescues" Anthony (Luke Wilson) from a voluntary mental facility where Anthony has been staying for exhaustion. Dignan, has developed a 75 year for the pair to work their way criminal world. 

Dignan is eager to please, but does not take criticism well and has a compulsive need to be in charge. The first step in this plan is for them to rob Anthony's do a series of practice heists.

Dignan recruits Bob Mapplethorpe (Musgrave) to be the crew's getaway driver as he is the only person they know with a car. The gang buys a gun and Digan plans to rob a bookstore and subsequently "go on the lam". All this is in order to impress Dingnan's old boss and rumored thief, Mr. Henry (Caan).

The crew hides out at a motel where Anthony falls madly in love a housekeeper named Ines. The two spend time together while she works. After Bob takes off in the middle of the night to bail his brother, played by third Wilson brother, Andrew. Dignan feels betrayed by this. Meanwhile Anthony asks Ines to run away with him, but she knows can't just pick up her life and leave with him.  

Dignan and Anthony have falling out and Anthony goes off to live with Bob. Dignan goes back to work for Mr. Henry and plans yet another heist. This one of a cold storage facility and tries to recruit Anthony once again.

This film, being Anderson's first, lacks a lot of the polish of his later work. His trademark visual style, highlighted by symmetry, bold colors, and framing are not as pronounced as you see in his newer films. This also is the first film of both Wilson brothers and it shows. Its an interesting film that show the promise  of a young director. It can move a little slow at times, but it is heartfelt and unique in a way only Wes Anderson can be. 

Rating: 6.5/10

You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W Bush

Starring: Will Ferrell
Genre: Taped One Man Show
Run Time: 115 Minutes
How: Apple TV (HBO)

This is the first movie I will be reviewing for my currently unnamed blog so Im going to make this quick. This one man show was put on by Will Farrell in 2009 after Barack Obama was inaugurated. Based on Farrell's infamous SNL sketches. This is a new blog and please reply with movie you want me to review, ways I can improve the blog and things you want to see in the future.

Rating: 6/10


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