I haven’t “gotten” Michael Winterbottom yet. I appreciate the skill that went into 24-Hour Party People and the cleverness of Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, I even like Steve Coogan…but while I appreciate the talent, I don’t especially like it. It is a personal preference and nothing more, and I, admittedly, have seen only a handful of his films.

His films leave me in a dour mood, one that feels instilled for its own sake. I don’t mind “dark” films when they use their darkness to impart a deeper message, but I’ve yet to see a Winterbottom film with such a message. Winterbottom’s latest film, The Trip, is a prime example of that displeasure.

The Trip finds Coogan and Rob Brydon, two talents and Winterbottom favorites, on a culinary tour of northern England. Coogan’s been commissioned by The Observer to write an article on the local cuisine, and he sees it as good enough an excuse as any for a paying holiday.

The original plan was for Coogan’s girlfriend to accompany him, but she pulls out at the last minute for a trip to America, so Brydon’s brought in as a last-minute replacement. Brydon’s a good-enough spirit, and, despite Coogan’s insistence that they’re more work acquaintances and not friends.

Far too long has Paul Rudd been cast as the “good lucking cutesy guy with a sense of humor.” It’s about time he dirties up and tries out the look that put Zach Galifiniakis on the map, and that’s just what he’s doing in his newest film, Our Idiot Brother.

The role actually plays very different to what Rudd is normally cast as, and not just in appearance. He’s finally taking on the idiotic comic relief, instead of the constant straight man that we love him for. Here’s the official synopsis.

Every family has one: the sibling who is always just a little bit behind the curve when it comes to getting his life together. For sisters Liz (Emily Mortimer), Miranda (Elizabeth Banks) and Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), that person is their perennially upbeat brother Ned (Paul Rudd), an erstwhile organic farmer whose willingness to rely on the honesty of mankind is a less-than-optimum strategy for a tidy, trouble-free existence.

Ned may be utterly lacking in common sense, but he is their brother and so, after his girlfriend dumps him and boots him off the farm, his sisters once again come to his rescue. As Liz, Emily and Natalie each take a turn at housing Ned, their brother’s unfailing commitment to honesty creates more than a few messes in their comfortable routines.

Check out the first trailer for the comedy after the jump, and catch Rudd, Deschanel,Banks, Coogan, Mortimer, and plenty more in Our Idiot Brother on August 23rd.

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.

This week we’re pleased to have guest reviewer Jane Almirall join us at The Flickcast. Here’s her review of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief — Editor

Until very recently, I hadn’t even heard of Percy Jackson.  I have not read any of the books and managed to not read or see anything about the movie until I saw the film trailer a few weeks ago. Now, having seen the film, an adaptation based on The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, I couldn’t help but notice similarities between Percy Jackson and another literary figure who has successfully segued onto the big screen.

I am speaking, of course, of Harry Potter.  Both young men resemble one another physically, grew up with absent (or dead) fathers and struggle to find acceptance within the context of the real world. Each discovers at a young age that they are powerful and special and are introduced to a magical world in which they are especially gifted and (for the most part) are made to feel welcome.  Both Harry and Percy are accompanied on their adventures by their two best friends – a boy and a girl.

That Percy Jackson & the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief is directed by Chris Columbus, who also helmed the first two – and my least favorite – Harry Potter films (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), is bound to invite comparisons between the two series – in which Percy Jackson will certainly fall short.

While much of the movie-going population will be headed to Valentine’s Day this weekend, there are two other large releases to look forward to: Universal’s Wolf Man and 20th Century Fox’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Based on the first of a series of books starting in 2005, the film focuses around a group of half-human, half-god hybrids that are introduced to the very real world of the Olympian Gods. There are five books in the series total, so expect to see Fox take the franchise a bit further than New Line did with His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass.

This year is shaping up to have an ongoing theme of Greek Mythology, as this film opens tomorrow and Clash of the Titans hits theaters on the first weekend of April. With that in mind, we’ve got plenty of clips for you to get ready for tomorrow’s film.

Check out five brand-new clips from Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, starring Uma Thurman, Logan Lerman, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Kevin McKidd, and many more, after the jump.

Every year, there tends to be a common theme in most big-budget Hollywood films. Back in 2006, magicians were a big hit, as in both The Illusionist and The Prestige. We haven’t even hit 2010 yet, but it looks like the theme for next year may just be Greek Mythology, between Clash of the Titans and Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Though the name is WAY too long, this newest trailer actually makes the film look quite good, and even shows off the who’s who of a cast, from Rosario Dawson to Pierce Brosnon to Uma Thurman. The film is about a regular boy who finds out that he’s actually the son of a Greek God, and must then embark on an adventure which will help him earn his title as demigod.

The film is based on the series of books by Rick Riordan, and even has epic family film director Chris Columbus behind the wheel. The film hits theaters on February 12th, 2010, and you can check out the international trailer after the jump.