With the big election this year (BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN ELECTED AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!), I've been distracted from commenting on some of the pop culture I've run across in the last few months. So, in the waning moments before I have to get ready for bed, here are a few VERY quick notes on some movies and DVD's from recent months:
--BABY MAMA (PG-13) Starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Greg Kinnear with Romany Malco and Steve Martin. A fitfully amusing comedy about the desperate attempts of a very successful nearly-40 businesswoman (Fey) to become a parent when conception and adoption fail her. She hires a White trashy surrogate (fellow SNL-alum Poehler, who steals the movie) and all kinds of wacky adventures and misunderstandings follow. The movie was funny when it indulged its wacky, farcical side and not quite as effective when it veered into more sentimental territory, but overall it was an hour and forty-five minutes not wasted and Fey proves to be a winning (and sexy) presence even though she's saddled with arguably the least interesting character in the movie. (My grade: B-)
--The season 2 finale of MAD MEN - Did I talk about this? Terrific television that felt more like one hour of a movie from a classic 70's film than an episode of a television show. One scene that will go down as one of the classics in modern television was when Peggy, played by Elisabeth Moss (who really came into her own this season) explains to Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) in gentle but direct terms that she cannot love him, that she "could have had him if she wanted to" but that ultimately neither she (nor apparently any woman) could ever get from him what he deserves. It was a marvel of acting, writing, atmosphere and mood that was hardly atypical for MAD MEN but in this case was exquisitely well done. I already can't wait for Season 3!
--MADAGASCAR 2: BACK TO AFRICA (G) Starring animated versions of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alec Baldwin, Sascha Baron Cohen and Cedric the Entertainer. Not as funny as the original (surprise, surprise), but packed with enough sight gags, one liners and heart to be worth the time it takes to watch it. Cohen's "King of the Lemurs" character once again provides most of the belly laughs, although this time his character isn't quite as out of left field as in the original. By the way, my friend's brother-in-law Karl Rasche did an excellent job as one of the "lead post animation engineers". Or something like that. Whatever it is he does, I'm sure he does it spectacularly! Warning though: it's kind of obvious there will be a Madagascar 3, so don't expect a nice, tidy, completely fulfilling ending. (Grade: B)
--RACHEL'S GETTING MARRIED (R) Starring Anne Hathaway, Debra Winger and Rosemarie DeWitt. Here's my review--
You didn't miss anything. You see, I went after work tonight to see this movie only to find out that the theater had scheduled a special advance screening of something else and neglected to include this information on their website or on Moviefone. Good times. You wanna know why this country's economy is in the dumper? No one bothers with the details anymore and too many things we take for granted are outsourced to other countries. But I digress--this movie is still on my list of "must sees", so hopefully I'll have a chance to share my thoughts about it before the year ends.
You've been a great crowd. I'll be here all the week.
Peace.
That's enough for now.
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