Tag: Chris Klein

Election

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:43 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Election
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell
MPAA Rated: R
Released By: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: 1999
Kiddie Movie: Don’t even think about it.
Date Movie: Sure, bring her along.
Gratuitous Sex: Some, but nothing gratuitous. More talk than action.
Gratuitous Violence: Nah.
Action: Nah.
Laughs: Chuckles and gut-busters usually caused by character lines totally unexpected.
Memorable Scene: Anytime Reese changes facial expression.
Memorable Quote: A couple. One by Tammy Metzler, “Sometimes, when I’m sad, I sit and watch the power station.” Another by Paul Metzler, “I really was surprised when Lisa Flannigan asked me for a ride home and then began blowing me.”
Directed By: Alexander Payne

Ahhh, high school.. Where kids learn about growing up, sometimes get laid, play sports, get involved in extracurricular activities, and just want to get the hell out of there. The groups are always the same, the teachers are always the same, but nowhere could I have imagined a run for student government president as came out in the movie “Election.”

“Election” tells the story of Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), the always with the right answer, always involved in drama, yearbook, government, and any other student organization as long as she is usually the head honcho, and the always is the most known student in high school but not the most popular. It is finally her senior year and her dream is about to come true – President of student government. Enter Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), the bestest teacher in the school, the one everyone goes to with their problems, the one always there grooming the youngins for adult life, and the one who finally gets sick of miss goody-to-shoes Tracy. He can’t stand that Tracy is running unopposed for President and decides that she needs to lose, and who better to lose against than Mr. Popularity – Paul Metzler (Chris Klein). So, teacher Jim convinces Paul to run, and all is well until Paul ends up with his sister’s girlfriend (or wishes she was her girlfriend), so Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell) figures she can get back at Paul by running for President too.

Sounds a little confusing, huh? Well, it’s not, and throw in some comical sidelines of teacher Jim’s screwed-up life at home and you get an adult comedy that won’t be seen by many people because it’s kinda artsy, kinda stuck in only a few theaters, but had me laughing and really enjoying the performance by Reese (her ability to switch facial expressions from concerned to cheery to totally pissed-off to pleased to a vindictive bitch is most excellent), by Broderick (he’s so much better playing the confused character rather than the hero), and by Campbell (she’s great as the lesbian high-schooler who is the loner yet finds her place should really be at the catholic school for girls and does everything she can to get there). A lot of dry humor, some out-right laugher spots, and a twisted look at how lives can become unmanageable in just one day.

Leave the kids at home for this one, it’s definitely for the older crowd able to reflect back on their own twisted high school lives. Too adult and you might be offended, too young and you might not be able to relate yet.

It’s 4 stars out of 5 for “Election.” It made me laugh, made a lot of the audience laugh, and the two ladies leaving the theater next to me said it was pretty good, too.

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

American Pie 2

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:50 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

American Pie 2 – DVD Review
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Haningan, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Eugene Levy, Seann William Scott, Tara Reid, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas
MPAA Rated: R
Released By: Universal Home Video
Kiddie Movie: Only if you want to explain why super glue can be funny.
Date Movie: Sure.
Gratuitous Sex: Lots of talk, a nipple or two, unfortunately none of them were Michelle’s nor Vicky’s.
Gratuitous Violence: Maybe shoving a trumpet up someone’s ass, but that’s about it.
Action: Only boys hoping they don’t get caught by potential lesbians.
Laughs: Just like the first movie.
Memorable Scene: Stiffler’s unrequested golden shower as well as Jim playing the trombone.
Memorable Quote: Jim at band camp: “My name is Petey and I have gigantic balls!” and Jim’s Dad: “Don’t forget your penis cream.”
Directed By: J.B Rogers

I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Did you like “American Pie?” You did. You’ll probably like “American Pie 2.” You didn’t like “American Pie?” Don’t rent or buy “American Pie 2.” It’s as simple as that.

So our favorite characters are fresh out of their first year of college and they’re all looking to party for the next three months, as well as get laid, but when the cops bust Stifler’s summer, kick-off party it’s looking like a boring summer. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), though, is extra bummed because he ran into Vicky (Tara Reid) and again turns to his older brother for advice. The brother’s suggestion – rent a beach house for the summer, work during the day and party every night, and by the end of the summer you’ll have a life revelation. So our boys rent a house and work as painters.

Well, kinda like the first movie all of our characters have their problems. Jim (Jason Biggs) is worried because Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) is coming to visit and she’s hoping Jim has learned a little control. Jim, though, knows he still doesn’t have what it takes. Then you’ve got Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), still in love with Stifler’s mom, learning tantric sex to improve his lovemaking. Oz (Chris Klein) is in general okay but a little worried because Heather (Mena Suvari) is over in Europe. And you know what, screw it, I’m not going to explain to you their problems, I’m sure you’ve got your own, but do you get the jokes like you did in the original? Yes, you get the jokes you expect, you even get some that are a little more gross, and you also get the predictable story you probably want, too.

I won’t ruin any of the jokes, although if you did see the trailer for “American Pie 2” you know what Jim’s masturbation problem is this time. And true to form you get Jim’s Dad (Eugene Levy), perfect as the goofy dad who is a great dad and, well, now seems to just want Jim to sleep with Nadia.

Did our boys grow up any? Yes, but not nearly as much as the girls. Tara looks even better, and Alyson Haningan as Michelle is even more adorable in her slightly annoying way. There are some hilarious scenes, some gross scenes, and some boring scenes, but as sequels go “American Pie 2” does its best to keep you interested in the characters (although some you wonder why some are listed so high on the credits, like Mena who is barely on screen) while still has you looking forward to seeing two women get it on.

The DVD version is full of extras that are actually worth having a DVD player (see “Cool Things About the DVD” below), and it still holds up as a comedy about growing up.

I got what I expected and the DVD stuff was worthwhile, so I’m giving “American Pie 2” 4 stars out of 5. Shannon didn’t get naked this time, although, honestly, she’s lost a couple of notches in my book while Tara moved up a few (she didn’t get naked either), but that doesn’t compare to the extended scene of the two dudettes our heroes think are lesbians.

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

American Pie

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:50 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

American Pie
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Natasha Lyonne
MPAA Rated: R
Released By: Universal Pictures
Kiddie Movie: No way.
Date Movie: She should laugh.
Gratuitous Sex: Nudity, too.
Gratuitous Violence: Nah.
Action: Nah.
Laughs: Tons.
Memorable Scene: The internet broadcast, among many others.
Memorable Quote: I won’t say where they occur, but some of the lines I loved the most are: “Again?”, “Aged 18 years… Just the way I like it.”, “What’s my name, bitch!”
Directed By: Paul Weitz

There were a few movies I was totally looking forward to seeing this summer, but with that build up of anticipation always comes the chance of the movie being a flop in my eyes. “American Pie” was one of those movies I wanted to see ever since I nearly fell out of my chair laughing after seeing the trailer, but I was worried that the trailer contained all of the funny scenes which would leave a lot of boredom for the rest of the movie. I will simply say that I was not disappointed, and “American Pie” goes on my list of funny movies that I will never take my mom to see.

In a nutshell, “American Pie” tells the story of four friends in high school who vow to get laid by the end of the school year. Each kid has his work cut out for him because neither of them are the suave and deboner types to get all of the chicks. Nope, Jim (Jason Biggs) is the normal dude, not really knowing how to talk to girls, especially the way-hot foreign exchange dudette Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), and resorts mostly to masturbation to cool his jets. Then you’ve got Oz (Chris Klein), the jock dude who isn’t jock enough to get the chicks, and then scares away the rest of the girls by hanging with the foul-thinking teammates. Kevin’s (Thomas Ian Nickolas) got a girlfriend but can’t get past the oral homage area mostly because of his inability to say the right thing when his girlfriend says “I love you.” And then there’s Finch (Eddie Kay Thomas) who is just too smooth for the young girls and better fitted for the older ladies (yea right!). At least that’s what he seems to think. Each of them has their challenge, and Prom night’s coming so time is running out, and “American Pie” takes us through each dudes right of passage into adulthood. And a funny right of passage it is.

I won’t tell you much more than that because detailing any of the boys plans for scoring will probably ruin the anticipation of most of the jokes, so I will just say that, well, I laughed my ass off.

Yes, “American Pie” is a rude and crude as you think it might be from the commercials, and the teenagers will want to see it by sneaking into the movies, but really this movie is kind of a funny way for adults to look back and remember their first experiences with sex. I won’t say it’s a funny way for adults to look back at their first use of alcohol because I don’t think any of us drank as nonchalantly as these teens do, but hey, you can’t have everything in a movie.

If jokes about sex disgust you, if seeing teenagers drinking bothers you, and if you think tasteless movies are the downfall of society, for God’s sake don’t do see “American Pie.” You will become more disgusted, more bothered, and expect the second coming as you’re walking out of the theater. But if you can laugh about masturbation jokes, aren’t offended by things that happen at band camp, and think that internet porn isn’t such a bad thing, well, I think you’ll like “American Pie.”

Keep the youngins at home and relive your first time. Go see “American Pie.”

To wrap it up, this dude gives “American Pie” 4 ½ stars out of 5. It wasn’t the most cinematic of films, the acting wasn’t the greatest, but I laughed my ass off and that’s just what I wanted to do.

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