Andy Labis, Author at Entertainment Ave!

Everyone Loves a Parade, Real Housewives, Red Pants, Eggs, SNL Talk and More!

Download and Listen

Who doesn’t love a parade? I sure loved the St. Patrick’s Day parade I was a part of, and during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, I tell Stu all about it. Stu, meanwhile, had a busy weekend even though it was his birthday but without a lot of stories, so this podcast is a little shorter than normal. That doesn’t mean we don’t have things to say, so topics include: Waiting for a repair guy, Saturday Night Live is sort of funny, I’m watching too much Bravo as now I’m sucked back into “Real Housewives of Orange County” and now am into “Million Dollar Listing – New York” complete with red pants, Stu’s in need of eggs, “John Carter” analysis, and “21 Jump Street” might be good.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Big Year

Below is an excerpt from The Dude on the Right’s full review of “The Big Year.” He really wanted it to be funnier, especially with the likes of Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black in it…

…Here’s the thing – I felt like “The Big Year” wanted so much to be like a mockumentary about birders, kind of like the movie “Best in Show,” but sadly it tried to keep things a little too nice, namely the PG rating, to push the funny to the next level, which is too bad because Wilson, Black, and Martin do their best to be their funny best – it’s just the movie can’t get there….

The Big Year

MPAA Rated – PG
It’s 1:40 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Big Year Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, Jack Black
MPAA Rated:	PG
Released By:	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date:	January 31, 2012
Kiddie Movie:	It’s safe for them, but not too funny.
Date Movie:	My wife fell asleep, but thought the parts she was awake for were okay.
Gratuitous Sex:	Some talk and hints but no one gets it on.
Gratuitous Violence:	Just some slapstick, birding violence.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	Chuckles.
Memorable Scene:	There is a touching scene with Brad and his dad.
Memorable Quote:	Nothing really.
Directed By:	David Frankel
Cool Things About the Blu-ray:	“The Bird Migration” featurette about the making of what kind of cool.

It’s a movie that has three, comedic powerhouses in the likes of Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. It’s a movie that is ripe for making fun of a culture many might find odd – namely birding. It’s a movie that’s rated PG? Uh oh. It’s “The Big Year.” Okay, maybe not that big of an “Uh oh,” but an “Uh oh,” none-the-less.

So, it turns out a “Big Year” in the birding world has to do with an informal competition among birders (people who like to spot birds), in trying to spot the most species of bird in a period of time. For our movie, the lead Big Year-er is Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson). For our movie we have two other main characters, Brad (Jack Black) and Stu (Steve Martin). Brad is in a dead-end, no fun job, Stu is the elder statesman of a company and looking to retire, and Kenny is a lost soul whose relationships always fall apart because he likes birds.

And so it’s a new year, and for a movie length we get to see our three birders travel the countryside in search of birds, and the competition is fierce. Yup, things start out kind of calm, with the birders calling a magical phone number telling them where the next, magical sighting seems to be, and they all flock to the various locals. They are cordial, nice even, until it starts to come out that they are trying to get the Big Year record, currently held by Kenny. Kenny, of course, doesn’t like this, and some trickery starts to happen. And all along hilarity is supposed to ensue, or at least lessons about life.

Here’s the thing – I felt like “The Big Year” wanted so much to be like a mockumentary about birders, kind of like the movie “Best in Show,” but sadly it tried to keep things a little too nice, namely the PG rating, to push the funny to the next level, which is too bad because Wilson, Black, and Martin do their best to be their funny best – it’s just the movie can’t get there.

It’s not that I didn’t like “The Big Year,” because I sort of did, but I just wanted more. It was a nice enough movie to hang out on a couch and relax for an evening, and it’s kid safe if you want them around, but don’t expect a lot of hilarity, just some chuckles along the way to find out who actually has the “big year.” 2 ½ stars out of 5.

As far as the Blu-ray, as a lot of birding is scenic-oriented, it looks beautiful, and is beautifully shot, so it will look great on your big-screen. The deleted scenes are probably better off deleted, the gag reel isn’t that funny (I’m finding that most movie-people can’t put together a decent gag reel), but if you do want a nice explanation of how the movie was made, it does have a great featurette called “The Bird Migration” to help along.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Dudes of Hazzard

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:46 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Dukes of Hazzard Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Seann William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson, Willie Nelson, Burt Reynolds
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Warner Bros.
Release Date:	2005
Kiddie Movie:	There’s some insinuated smoking of the wacky weed and naughty outfits. Leave them at home.
Date Movie:	Only if you want her to leave you.
Gratuitous Sex:	Just lots of skimpy outfits.
Gratuitous Violence:	Some punching and shooting going on, but no one gets killed.
Action:	Lots of car chasing, but then what did you expect?
Laughs:	Mostly chuckles or groans.
Memorable Scene:	Nothing really stands out although the outtakes were kinda funny.
Memorable Quote:	During the outtakes: “Every time I look at her titties…”
Directed By:	Jay Chandrasekhar

Dammit, I hate being so easily amused. I’m not saying that because of that I’m going to recommend “The Dukes of Hazzard,” ah hell no, even though I did get a good chuckle, but before you hand over your hard earned cash for a ticket for this flick, you’d better be doing so expecting some pretty bad dialogue that might make you laugh or groan, you won’t see nearly as much of Jessica Simpson as you figured you might have, and expect an hour and a half movie that could have been turned into your standard one hour episode.

The basic story goes like this…

Bo and Luke Duke return to the screen, this time played by Stiffler and Jackass. Okay, I’m sorry, that joke is too easy. Seann William Scott plays Bo and Johnny Knoxville plays Luke. They’re running moonshine for Uncle Jessie (Willie Nelson), usually one step ahead of the Sheriff, and always messing with the plans of Boss Hogg, this time played by Burt Reynolds. As this story goes, the Duke boys can’t figure out why one of the town’s most famous sons has returned to race again in their little road race, nor why Boss Hogg is going around planting problems on farms so that the county can confiscate them, including Uncle Jessie’s farm. So it’s up to our heroes, along with Daisy (Jessica Simpson), to figure out what is going on, and of course, to save the day with only seconds to spare. In doing so they wreak havoc with a safe, make their way to Atlanta to get some soil samples studied, hook-up with some college girls, and piss of the neighborhood gang members with their car sporting the Confederate Flag and soot covered faces (yes, that is the kind of humor you can expect).

This movie isn’t rocket science, isn’t meant to win any awards, and pretty much has as cheesy a story as one of the television episodes that I barely remember. The dialogue is pretty inane, the car chases don’t really break any new ground, but for some reason I actually liked Scott’s and Knoxville’s portrayal of the loveable Bo and Luke Duke. Sure, they turn this movie a little more risqué, complete with college girls in skimpy outfits, some bong usage with said college girls, and some smoking of something with the Governor, but hell, it’s not 1980 anymore.

I will agree with most critics and say this movie is pretty useless, but I did laugh a little. In the end I’ll give it 1 ½ stars out of 5. The teens around me seemed to find it funnier, and I am easily amused, so take what I say with a grain of salt. You will get exactly the dorky movie you probably expect if you go and see “The Dukes of Hazzard,” so just sit back and enjoy that.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Drillbit Taylor

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:40 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Drillbit Taylor Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Alex Frost, Josh Peck, Owen Wilson, Leslie Mann
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Paramount Pictures
Release Date:	2008
Directed By:	Steven Brill

This trailer really made me laugh, and with Judd Apatow involved, there is a lot potential for this movie, and instead of teens at the end of their high school years (ala “Superbad”), Drillbit Taylor gives us life from a Freshman perspective, from three dudes getting bullied like there is no end. What to do for them – Put out an ad for a bodyguard. And who is the bodyguard they can afford? – Well it’s Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), who infiltrates the high school to protect them and works to give them all kinds of pointers on how to stick up for themselves, as well as grow up.

As much as the high school seniors in “Superbad” were fantastic, these Freshmen look even better. I’m just curious as to what the rating of this movie will be. Not that I really care, because I’ll be there anyway, because I can totally relate.

That’s it for this preview! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Entertaining the Kids, iPad 3 is Coming, Celebrity Apprentice, The Lorax is Good, and Daylight Saving Time.

By: The Dude on the Right

Download and Listen

And here it is, our “Mid-Week Surprise” podcast. Okay, not really a surprise, but some equipment issues kept us from recording a normal “Weekend Wrap-Up,” but that doesn’t make the tales of our weekend old, just well-aged! Me, I spent a lot of time in a suit, a big, blue suit, and Stu Gotz tries to make it dirty, but I won’t let him. I tell Stu tales of good kids, bad kids, and sweatiness. Stu, meanwhile, is helping a Little Gotz make The Ten Commandments, or something out of Mesopotamia.

I tell Stu he should watch “Celebrity Apprentice,” Stu wishes “The Real Housewives of Disney” was a real TV show, we anticipate Apple’s event today announcing a new iPad and Stu’s next birthday gift, an Apple TV, Stu saw “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” and “Moneyball,” and I remind everyone about Daylight Saving Time this weekend!

It’s a mid-week special, it’s a podcast, and it looks like neither of us will go and see “John Carter” this weekend because the trailers don’t seem to make us want to.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Dreamcatcher

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 2:14 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Dreamcatcher Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Morgan Freeman, Tom Sizemore, Jason Lee, Donnie Wahlberg
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Warner Bros.
Release Date:	2003
Directed By:	Lawrence Kasdan

Even though I’m not really sure about the story, I do know it’s based on a Stephen King novel and that’s usually good enough for me to go and see the film. The trailer seems to show some dudes who have some weird powers, out on a hunting trip in a blizzard. Then let’s throw in some alien invasion where Morgan Freeman is hell-bent on making sure the aliens get killed, even if it means killing everyone inside the perimeter.

In any case “Dreamcatcher” looks like a good suspense film, with some horror, action, and violence. I’m just hoping it get an R rating meaning the horror, action, and violence are at the level they should be.

That’s it for this preview! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Dragonfly

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:32 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Dragonfly Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Kevin Costner, Susanna Thompson, Kathy Bates, Joe Morton, Linda Hunt
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Universal Pictures
Release Date:	2002
Kiddie Movie:	Nah. Leave them at home.
Date Movie:	She might get a little scared and grab your arm.
Gratuitous Sex:	One kinda sensual scene, but nothing bad, other than some jungle tribe women with their breasts exposed – kinda like National Geographic.
Gratuitous Violence:	Nah.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	Only as it got dumb.
Memorable Scene:	None.
Memorable Quote:	None.
Directed By:	Tom Shadyac

Dear Movie Promotion People,
Please stop telling me in your ads that this movie “has a surprise ending” that you shouldn’t tell anyone, it will astound you, it will make you inspired, or some other crap like that. You want to know why? Because then I, the person who sees a few too many movies, will be able to ruin the surprise ending myself because of the obvious foreshadowing that most likely will be in the film.

Sincerely,
The Dude on the Right

I try sometimes not to pay attention to the foreshadowing in a movie, but when you tell me there is a surprise ending, it just makes it so much easier to find it. Such was my case with “Dragonfly.”

“Dragonfly” gives us Kevin Costner in another role where we wonder what might have possessed him to take the role. It’s not that it’s a bad role, it’s just that it is a role that doesn’t fit him, nor his acting ability. For this one he is a doctor, Dr. Joe Darrow to be specific, and his wife apparently dies in an avalanche accident in Venezuela. He’s having a pretty hard time with her death, especially with his atheistic ways and the fact that they didn’t find the body, but then things start happening. First we find the connection between Emily (Susanna Thompson), his wife, and the whole dragonfly thing. Now the good doctor has a dragonfly paperweight mysteriously role around in the bedroom, little kids in the hospital cancer ward have messages from Emily to Joe telling him to meet her at the rainbow, only where is this mystical rainbow? Then his parrot goes berserk, the little kids have been making drawings, and yes, eventually the Doc figures out where he should go. I could just go ahead and give the ending away, but I’ll let you go to the movie and see if you can figure it out before it happens just like I was able to do.

The problem with “Dragonfly” isn’t that it is a bad movie, I think it’s just that it tries too hard to push this message of Doctor Joe getting a message from beyond. Other movies have done it subtly, with great success, and the messages from the little kids when they have their near-death experiences is fine, but when the scene comes where Joe starts to pack away Emily’s stuff, then gets distracted by strange noises in the house, then comes back to the room and all of her stuff is back in its original place, it just took the movie to the wrong level and totally tosses out any credibility the movie was trying to have. And that’s too bad.

“Dragonfly” does have some potential, and the ending is touching, but I saw it coming a mile away. Costner does his best to pull of the role, but as the movie became more of a joke than something I could take seriously, well, it was almost too bad his performance was wasted, as well as that of Kathy Bates as his lawyer/neighbor, trying to help Joe through his wife’s death. The movie went for cheap “shock-factor” things, like the little boy, dead on the table, suddenly opening his eyes, and it really didn’t need to because the story was already there.

In the end I’ll give “Dragonfly” 2 ½ stars out of 5. Catch a matinee, or wait for the video, but just don’t expect too much.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Drag Me to Hell

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:39 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Drag Me to Hell Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raven
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Universal Pictures
Release Date:	2009
Directed By:	Sam Raimi

So you’ve got this dudette, Christine, and she works at a bank. An old lady needs some help with her loan, but hey, the girl wants to get ahead in the eyes of her boss and bam, the lady gets turned down. Turns out this isn’t such a great idea as the lady puts some kind of curse on Christine.

Christine’s life is now crap, and she is destined for hell, unless she can reverse the curse. And so Christine enlists some help, her boyfriend doesn’t understand, and hopefully she can be all good again and end up in heaven, or at least live a happy life.

The news about this movie is that Sam Raimi is back doing horror movies, but what bums me out is that it’s going to be rated PG-13 so it will be low on the gore fest

Dr. T & The Women

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 2:02 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Dr. T & The Women Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Shelley Long, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler, Tara Reid
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Artisan Entertainment
Release Date:	2000
Kiddie Movie:	Don’t even think about it.
Date Movie:	Don’t go with her, let it be a girl’s night out, unless, of course, you want to see Farrah Fawcett’s boobies.
Gratuitous Sex:	Farrah shows her boobs, so does Helen, and there’s some sex going on.
Gratuitous Violence:	Nah.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	A couple of chuckles.
Memorable Scene:	The ending because it sucked.
Memorable Quote:	None.
Directed By:	Robert Altman

Alright, dudes, don’t let your dudette take you to see “Dr. T & The Women.” Period. You will see the glowing reviews, you will think it can’t be that bad, and your dudette will want to see it because it looks cute, has Richard Gere, and you made her see “Remember the Titans.” But don’t let her take you. Suggest she get together with her gal-pals and make an evening of it. Then let her come back home and when you say “How was the movie?” have her lie to you and say it was great. How’s that for an opening paragraph?

I almost looked forward to seeing “Dr. T & The Women.” It looked kinda cute and yea, maybe a chick-flick, but I can get in touch with my sensitive new-millennium side for a couple of hours and get a chuckle, but then I started seeing review ratings from critics who usually don’t find a funny movie funny but think an artsy movie is the funniest thing since sliced bread. They found “Dr. T…” a great film and I wished I had spent my hard-earned dough on “Ladies Man.”

“Dr. T & The Women” revolves around Dr. Travis (Richard Gere). He’s a gynecologist in Dallas with an upscale clientele. Yup, rich bitches. His life is quickly falling apart as his older daughter, Dee Dee (Kate Hudson) is planning her wedding. Bad things start happening to him like his wife (still looking good Farrah Fawcett) stripping naked and dancing in a fountain at the mall then getting institutionalized, his clientele getting even more uppity, bad luck on the hunting excursions, cheating on his wife with Bree (Helen Hunt) – well, maybe that’s not a really bad thing, but anyway, just a lot of crap keeps happening to him. His younger daughter Connie (Tara Reid), can’t deal with the wedding happening, and for very good reason, and his office manager nurse has the hots for him but doesn’t really show it. All is going to hell for Dr. T, and that’s just the beginning.

I won’t waste any more time on the story line because, well, other than his life going to shit there isn’t one. Alright, sure there is if you get all artsy and symbolic and like seeing rich people made fun of, but for me I was just a hodgepodge of too many people around Dr. T. Yes, Richard Gere was good in his role, I generally always love Helen Hunt and liked her in this movie too, and Farrah was great in playing the truly spacey wife, but this movie was so damn over the place that in the end I just didn’t care. And, oh yea, then there is the symbolic ending complete with tornado and baby being born. I didn’t need to see it, it just seemed stupid, and I know Robert Altman is one for symbolism and artistic films, but give me his M*A*S*H any day over “Dr. T & The Women.”

You will either think this movie is great or think this movie sucks. I thought it sucked. I’ll give it a star for the acting, give it a star for Farrah getting buck-naked in a fountain, give it a star for Helen Hunt and her somewhat nude scene, but take away a star for the stupid ending. Altman should have skipped the tornado and had Dr. T drive his ruined convertible off of the bridge because his life just hit the total bottom.

Adding the stars it’s 2 out of 5. This film could have been great, it had so much potential, but a potentially good movie gets fucked up by a director just making it too artsy.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!