by Nat Almirall, Mar 2 2012 // 11:15 AM
The story of The Lorax has never felt right to me. Either the Once-ler is the most short-sighted whatsit in the world, next to the Lorax himself (or at least the forest creatures), or the entire tale is a buried parable on the importance of stable property rights. Given Seuss’s general lack of subtlety when making a political point, the latter probably isn’t the case. In any event, why does no one preserve the Truffula trees? If the Once-ler owns the forest, and his business is based on the Truffula trees, why on earth would he practice clear-cutting?
He, like pretty much every other private timber company that owns the forest they log, has an incentive to preserve the forest (unless he’s renting it from the creatures, but that doesn’t seem to be the case) – clearly the Once-ler needed to fire his business planner. Or, once the land had been deforested, should have sold it and the seed to another logging concern.
Heck, they’d probably seek him out, since Truffula trees are a hot commodity, and there’s a lot of Thneedians; we already know that one of the characters is a budding entrepreneur, it’d be a lot easier and a lot more profitable for him to replant the forest than find a way to sell air. Evidently the Thneedians don’t understand marginal utility, but that’s okay, what gets me is how Seuss (and the movie) stacks the odds in his favor.
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Posted in: Animation · Movies · Reviews · Universal Pictures
Tagged: Animation, Betty White, Chris Renaud, Danny DeVito, Dr. Seuss, ed helms, Illumination Entertainment, Janet Healy, Janet Slate, Ken Daurio, Kyle Balda, Rob Riggle, Taylor Swift, The Lorax, Universal Pictures, Zac Effron
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by Matt Raub, Oct 28 2011 // 7:30 AM
Last year didn’t have many major hits, but one film that managed to sneak past critics and turned out to be one of the highest grossing films of the year was the animated film Despicable Me. Bringing in both kids and adults alike, the film was able to prove that Pixar isn’t the only studio to produce quality CG-animated films.
Now, from the same studio, and the man who brought us The Cat in the Hat, comes The Lorax. For those who aren’t aware of this lesser known Seussian tale, here’s a breakdown.
From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
The film has a pretty awesome cast, featuring Danny DeVito, Zac Eforn, Betty White, Taylor Swift, and Ed Helms. We’ve got a bit before the film hits theaters on March 2nd, but you can check out the trailer after the jump.
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Posted in: Animation · Comedy · Kids · Movies · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Betty White, Danny DeVito, Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss, ed helms, Rob Riggle, Taylor Swift, The Lorax, Zac Efron
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by Matt Raub, Oct 7 2011 // 7:00 AM
For the past year, Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim has been branching into less of the animated comedy and more into live action spoofs. It started by bringing Rob Corddry’s Childrens Hospital from the web to the TV, and continuing with Paul Scheer’s NTSF:SD:SUV::. With Hospital into its third season, it looks like the network’s second spoof is getting some love too.
NTSF has been picked up for a second season, and will continue to rip on shows like 24 and every CSI show on the air. Here’s the official press release for more:
The ratings have consistently built throughout the first season and we love what we’re seeing from the show,” said Mike Lazzo, head of Adult Swim, “and how can you not love SUVs?”
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Posted in: Action · Adult Swim · Announcements · Cartoon Network · Comedy · News · TV · TV Ratings
Tagged: Adult Swim, Brandon Johnson, Cartoon Network, Children's Hospital, June Diane Raphael, Kate Mulgrew, Martin Starr, Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Rob Riggle
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by Sebastian Suchecki, Aug 23 2011 // 9:00 AM
Not since the casting of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell has news of two top-list comedians playing siblings been more exciting. That’s exactly the case as Johnny Knoxville and Patton Oswalt have been signed to play brothers in an upcoming beach comedy from executive producer David Gordon Green.
Johnny Knoxville and Patton Oswalt have signed on to star in an untitled comedy that will be directed by Todd Rohal and financed by Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf’s Big Beach Films. Knoxville and Oswalt will play battling brothers who attempt to honor their ailing father by taking a troop of boys on a camping trip. It all goes awry.
Rob Riggle, Maura Tierney and Patrice O’Neal also star. Rohal, who originally wrote the script under the title Scout Master, most recently directed The Catechism Cataclysm. Production on the new comedy starts this week.
With a cast like Riggle, O’Neal, Oswalt, and Knoxville, you can only expect the film from the same people that are bringing us Our Idiot Brother this Friday to blow the doors off of the off-beat indie comedy.
We expect to hear more (and hopefully a title) soon as production kicks in this week. Who else would you like to see join this upcoming comedy? Sound off!
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Posted in: Announcements · Casting · Comedy · Indie · Movies · News
Tagged: Big Beach Films, David Gordon Green, Johnny Knoxville, Mark Turtletaub, Maura Tierney, Patrice O'Neal, Patton Oswalt, Peter Saraf, Rob Riggle
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by Matt Raub, Jul 23 2011 // 2:00 PM
A few days ago, we brought you the final trailer for Adult Swim’s newest show, NTSF:SD:SUV::, one that we’re pretty excited about. The premise is that this show is to CSI, NCIS, and 24 like how Childrens Hospital is to Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and House.
With a pretty amazing cast including Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager), Rebecca Romijn, Rob Riggle, and Martin Starr, the show was a pretty big success here at Comic-Con, as it debuted to a full audience on Thursday during its first panel.
We got the chance to speak with the man who came up with the idea as crazy as this: Paul Scheer. Some may know him from VH1’s I Love series, and some may know him from FX’s The League, but everyone will soon know him as the lovechild of Jack Bauer and Horatio Caine, Trent Hauser.
Paul talks about his inspiration of the show (a pretty tough question), some of the great guest stars he’s got lined up for this season, and thoughts on a possible crossover with the sister show Childrens Hospital.
Take a look at our interview after the jump, and be sure to catch NTSF:SD:SUV:: every Thursday night on Adult Swim.
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Posted in: Action · Adult Swim · Cartoon Network · Comedy · Comic-Con · Drama · Exclusive · Interviews · News · SDCC 11 · TV · Video
Tagged: 24, Adult Swim, Children's Hospital, CSI, Kate Mulgrew, Martin Starr, NCIS, NTSF:SD:SUV, Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Rob Riggle, SDCC, SDCC11
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by Matt Raub, Jul 19 2011 // 12:00 PM
In proving that they are truly a separate entity than Cartoon Network, Adult Swim has been creating more and more non-animated content such as Robot Chicken, Children’s Hopsital and Eagleheart. Now they’ve got another, new show which spoofs procedural action/dramas called NTSF:SD:SUV
Also known as the National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle, the team is made up of some of the funniest people working today, such as Paul Scheer, Rob Riggle, and more. Here’s the full breakdown of the show.
In the same vein as Childrens Hospital spoofing medical dramas, NTSF:SD:SUV’s season of 15-minute episodes is ripped from the headlines and full of suspense, action, drama, cliffhangers, yelling, passionate love-making, more yelling, death and plenty of pregnant pauses. NTSF:SD:SUV:: is created by Paul Scheer and stars Scheer, Rebecca Romjin, Rob Riggle, Kate Mulgrew, Brandon Johnson, June Diane Raphael, Martin Starr and S.A.M., the first sentient robot on television.
The first episode is set to debut this Thursday at 12:15 ET/PT on Adult Swim, but we’ve got just enough to get you ready with a brand new extended trailer. Check it out after the jump and keep it here for more coverage of what is sure to be a hilarious new series!
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Posted in: Action · Adult Swim · Comedy · News · Trailers · TV · TV Previews · Video
Tagged: Brandon Johnson, Childrens Hopsital, Eagleheart, June Diane Raphael, Kate Mulgrew, Martin Starr, NTSF:SD:SUV, Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romjin, Rob Riggle, Robot Chicken
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by Matt Raub, Apr 11 2011 // 9:30 AM
Billy Crystal is back! After a long and mysterious hiatus from Hollywood, the legendary comedian has taken to the web with a star-studded trailer for his newest flick, When Harry Met Sally 2.
OK, not really. In this spoof video courtesy of Funny or Die, both Crystal and director Rob Reiner are pitching a sequel to an unnamed studio (though we’re going to assume it rhymes with Schmummit Schmentertainment) in which Crystal’s “Harry” falls for Hellen Miren in an old folks’ home. With one tweak. They’re both vampires–sorry, “grampires”.
With a pretty amazing cast, including Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph, Rob Riggle, and Mike Tyson, this spoof of both When Harry Met Sally and where today’s films are headed is both brilliant and hilarious.
We’re just happy to see Crystal back at it again. Maybe this means the attention can be off of Robin Williams dressing like a tiger for a few years.
Check out the video after the jump, and here’s to hoping we can see Billy Crystal in a few more upcoming projects like this!
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Posted in: Action · Comedy · Fan Films · Horror · Movies · News · Prequels and Sequels · Video
Tagged: Adam Scott, Billy Crystal, Funny or Die, Hellen Miren, Maya Rudolph, Mike Tyson, Rob Reiner, Rob Riggle, Summit Entertainment, Twilight, Vampires, When Harry Met Sally, Zombies
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by Matt Raub, Dec 10 2010 // 12:00 PM
There were a few competitors for this year’s biggest movie comedy but hands down one of the ones in the top 3 is Adam McKay’s The Other Guys starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. The film was a great satirical take on some of the top buddy cop films of the 90’s and had an all-star cast. Starting December 14th, you can relive the laughs from the film unrated on DVD and Blu-ray.
If Ferrell and Wahlberg aren’t enough to keep you entertained, how about Michael Keaton, Rob Riggle, Eva Mendes, Daman Wayans Jr., Dwayne Johnson, Steve Coogan, and Samuel L. Jackson? Here are the official features and bonus material from the releases.
Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Material
- The “Mom”-mentary- Unrated Version
- Additional Deleted & Extended Scenes
- Line-O-Rama
- Gag reel
- “Pimps Don’t Cry” music video
- Alternate Action
- Bonus Featurettes:
- Extreme Close Up
- Everyone Hates The DVD Guy
- Wasn’t That
- Why Are There Brits On This Movie?
- Rob Riggle Like To Party
- We Shouldn’t Kiss a Chicken
- Mark Walberg’s Eating Contest Entourage
- Lendl Global Commercial
- movieIQ®+sync and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie
Be sure to catch The Other Guys on Blu-ray and DVD next Tuesday from Sony Entertainment.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Blu-Ray · Comedy · DVD · Movies · News · Sony
Tagged: Adam McKay, Daman Wayans Jr., Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Rob Riggle, Samuel L. Jackson, steve coogan, The Other Guys, Will Ferrell
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