Reviews (262)

Merman! Merman!
Zoolander, the second film written and directed by Ben Stiller, is a very ridiculous and silly film. Ben Stiller plays Derek Zoolander, an absurdly foolish male model at the top of the business. He's in the best position, career wise, when Hansel [Owen Wilson] enters the industry and steals Zoolander's place as male model of the year--an award that Zoolander had the honor of holding for three years, almost four, in a row. When asked in his acceptance speech whom he admires, Hansel answers, "Sting...Sting would be another person who's my hero. The music that he's made over the years--I don't really listen to it---but the fact that he's making it...I respect that." Owen Wilson is the one that really makes this movie funny. He's funnier than is Ben Stiller--he's a better actor, too. Zoolander is Ben Stiller's and Owen Wilson's funniest movie together--their senses of humor are perfectly harmonized with one another. Though it is funny, there are still some parts of the film that go beyond humor into sheer idiocy--what with the assassination of the prime minister of Malaysia and all. Though the film is often cited as stupid and pointless, I thought it was really cool that David Bowie made a cameo. Zoolander and Hansel are obviously sexually ambiguous--they are male models, yes?--and Bowie is known for his feminine masculinity. Anyhow, I thought that a very commendable and intelligent thing to be added. Overall, Zoolander is a funny movie. Not meant to be taken too seriously, at least Stiller and Wilson know what it takes to make people laugh--stupid brainwashed male models mispronouncing words and stuff.

3% BODY FAT. 1% BRAIN ACTIVITY. 100% FUNNY!
The Ben Stiller film 'Zoolander' took the year 2001 by storm. It quickly became one of the funniest and greatest comedic accomplishments of the year. So what makes a film about a vacuous male model that has trouble turning left such an amusing film?

The answer is simple; finally a modern comedy that actually works. Great cast fabulous characters, good story line, hilarious cameos and the continuous dissing of male modeling.

Derek Zoolander (Stiller) VH1 male model of the year 3 times running life is turned upside down when his is usurped by the young and 'hot' model Hansel (Owen Wilson). Derek goes on a journey to find himself in a world that doesn't make sense to him. When he is brainwashed to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia by the evil Jakob Mugatu (Will Ferrel) who is upset as garment prices will rise due to the elimination of child slavery in Malaysia. Derek is forced to deal with both his homicidal tendencies when he hears the song 'Relax' as well as his superstition by Hansel. The result is pure comedy.

Sure the film essentially has a one running joke basis (That of making fun of the fashion world and male models) but it seems that the jokes don't remain stale. When the audience finally get tired of seeing 50 'looks' from Derek all exactly the same we suddenly see a petrol fight between a group of models set to 'Wake me up before you go, go' by Wham. The result of this constant changing of mood and comedy leads to the same jokes being fresh when they are initiated again.

In many cases having a lead star direct his/her own comedy film doesn't really work. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, namely Kevin Smith's films. But in Stiller's directorial debut who'd of thunk he would pull off the two roles so well. It's so very easy to see the intentions trying to be brought out by both Stiller and Wilson due to the fact they are real life best friends and thus it's easy to see the onstage repore they have and the directing supports this.

Some of the film's funniest moments stem from the cameos by recognized stars. David Duchovney plays a hand model from yesteryear who guides Zoolander through the world of assassination and intrigue that stems from the male model lifestyle. Billy Zane plays Derek's stalwart friend in the party scene and it's simply hilarious to here Zoolander say 'Stay out of it Billy Zane'. I was simply howling with laughter when low and behold David Bowie appears to judge the walk-off in which Hansel decides to be daring and 'go monk'. Also the use of Maury Ballstein (Jerry Stiller- Ben's father) of 'Seinfeld' fame is hilarious and this father and son dichotomy works brilliantly in the context of the film.

The DVD is feature packed for a single disc. Deleted and extended scenes are actually very funny; some memorable scenes include dialogue between Hansel and Winona Ryder that was cut from the film. Sound and picture and both very good, the vibrant colors transfer perfectly to the DVD format and the exaggerated 80's soundtrack sounds great though a home theatre system. Not to be forgotten is the amazing menu screens that are only rivaled by 'This is Spinal Tap' in which Derek puts in his own two cents about each button.

'Zoolander' is a comedy success. For a film that came from nowhere and immediately became a box office hit the film is amazing. A Stiller directorial debut is great and we can only hope he decides to do more base comedy like 'Zoolander' in the future.

Sublimely ridiculous satire
Beneath its ridiculous surface, "Zoolander" is a whip-smart look at one of the stupidest parts of our increasingly stupid culture, namely the world of fashion. Taking a break from his now-standard neurotic-nerd persona, Ben Stiller mugs furiously and often as legendary male model Derek Zoolander, who's sure to go down as one of the most indelible movie characters of the past few years. Derek has a repertoire of looks that have different names but all appear the same, and he's so stupid and shallow that he mangles almost any word with more than two syllables and thinks bulimia is the ability to read minds. The movie sees him searching for some meaning in his life beyond being "really, really good-looking," a search that's interrupted when he unwittingly becomes involved in a top-secret fashion-industry plot to assassinate the prime minister of Malaysia. If you think all this sounds bizarre, that's because it is. But that doesn't mean it's not funny.

Given its subject matter, it makes sense for "Zoolander" to be heavy on stupid humor, and it doesn't disappoint. "Zoolander" starts out over the top, and stays there. This movie throws everything it can think of at you, and some of it sticks, and some doesn't. It's that simple. Everything here is calculated for maximum absurdity, be it Stiller's near-microscopic phone, the ultra-lame '80's soundtrack, or the hairdos and outfits worn by just about everybody (most notably Will Ferrell and Jerry Stiller). Among the more inspired ideas are a "walk-off" between Zoolander and his rival Hansel; a surprisingly intelligent bit that takes off on the Stanley Kubrick classic "2001;" and of course the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good. All in all, this movie has a more than ample supply of laughs crammed into its 89 minutes. While too many movies these days seem to be unaware of their stupidity, "Zoolander" positively revels in it, and even for that reason alone it would be worth watching.

One star because there is no negative 5 option
In a word, innane. In two words, sophomoric and stupid. Don't bother. Between over the top portrayals and no perceivable plot, this is a waste by any standard.

better than expected
Several minutes into this film, I worried that it was going to be a bust, but by the end, it was better than expected. This movie plays out a lot like Austin Powers-similiar in style featuring a dumb male model instead of the secret agent.

I liked the soundtrack of this movie a lot and it was worth watching just for that. Owen Wilson is not too bad either...

My main complaint with this movie is that it was flat. David Bowie was in it (always a pleasure to see him) but he wasn't utilized much. The art direction was competant, but it could of (and should of) been more pronounced. A lot of this film's success depended on the comic tone and the scenery was a bit too bland to carry the story along.
The plot was dull and uninspired however this wasn't an issue for me because the story is about a dull and uninspired model anyway. For the most part, all the elements needed to make a reasonable film were there and it was in balance, but there was a need for a little more "oomf". ... Read more

Amazon.com

How's this for impressive trivia: Dodgeball faced off against The Terminal in opening-weekend competition, and 29-year-old writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber aced Steven Spielberg by a score of $30 to $18.7 in box-office millions. That's no mean feat for a newcomer, but Thurber's lowbrow script and rapid-fire direction--along with a sublime cast of screen comedians--proved to be just what moviegoers were ravenous for: a consistently hilarious, patently formulaic romp in which the underdog owner of Average Joe's Gym (Vince Vaughan) faces foreclosure unless he can raise $50,000 in 30 days. The solution: A dodgeball tournament offering $50K to the winners, in which Vaughan and his nerdy clientele team up against the preening, abhorrently narcissistic owner (Ben Stiller) of Globo Gym, who's threatening a buy-out. That's it for story; any 5-year-old could follow it with brainpower to spare. But Thurber, Vaughan, Stiller, and their well-cast costars (including Stiller's off-screen wife, Christine Taylor) keep the big laughs coming for 96 nonsensical minutes. With spot-on cameos by champion bicyclist Lance Armstrong, David Hasselhoff, Hank Azaria, Chuck Norris, and William Shatner, and a crudely amusing coda for those who watch past the credits, Dodgeball is no masterpiece, but you can bet Spielberg was unexpectedly humbled by its popular appeal. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (38)

I Didn't Stop Laughing
I just finished seeing Dodgeball, and I'll say that this is definitely the quirkiest movie that Ben Stiller has made since Zoolander. It's totally off the wall, and it succeeds as one of his funniest comedies.

The things that make this movie great are, primarily, the cast of characters. Stiller himself does a fantastic job as the owner of a massive chain of gymnasiums that is trying to put Vince Vaughn's gym out of business. Ben Still has some very funny lines, and I was definitely reminded of his Zoolander character. He was equally confused, though with much more testosterone. Sort of like what you'd expect Derek Zoolander to behave like if he started popping tons of steroids.

Vince Vaughn was probably my favorite in the movie, coming across as the protagonist who's basically a disorganized, fun-loving guy with a small gym that caters to the "less popular" in society. He has very funny lines, and constantly made me laugh when he was verbally sparring with Ben Stiller's character.

The cast of the gym known as "Average Joes" is just as funny, and many of the best lines come from them. Also, Rip Torn is perfect as a one-time dodgeball champion turned coach who prefers to teach his team to avoid being hit by throwing wrenches at them. The training sequences he puts them through are priceless, as is the eventual dodgeball tournament itself (sponsored by ESPN 8, The Ocho, which specializes in offbeat sports like squirrels water skiing).

Stiller's wife is also in this movie, once again playing the quick-witted professional who eventually falls for the main character and helps him to outwit the evil Globo Gym.

Is it predictable? Totally. Is it formula? No question. But is it fun? Absolutely. In fact, it's almost worth it to watch it twice just for the cameos (David Hasselhoff, Lance Armstrong, William Shatner and Chuck Norris are just a few that come to mind). One final thing, though. This movie is laced with some very adult humor, and it's definitely not for kids (language, many sexual references, and a fairly blatant lesbian scene at the very end). In my mind, the movie suffered for these. Enough to cause me to remove one star.

So if you're seeking something to watch that won't make you think a lot, and will also keep you laughing out loud, this is a great choice. Bottom line is that if you liked 'Zoolander', you'll like this movie. And I loved Zoolander.

Funniest Movie of the Year! Who would have thought?
I just got back from seeing "Dodgeball" at the theater and it was way better than I expected. I thought it would be funny and was even surprised to see most critics giving a crude comedy like this good reviews, so I decided to go see it. I am usually not a huge Ben Stiller fan, because most of the time he plays the same sort of lame character (much like Adam Sandler), but not here my friends. Dwight Goodman is one of his best characters yet and he plays him so over the top you can't help but be amused. Vince Vaughn is good as the straight man, but the real star of the movie (other than Stiller) is Rip Torn as the old and crazy coach called Patches. He steals almost every scene he is in and hopefully there will be an unrated Dvd coming out which will add in even more of his raunchy lines. If you want to think, go elsewhere. If you want to have a fun time and laugh (...), catch "Dodgeball" now.

Sorry about the confusion
this is a truly great movie. granted, it is not very pansohic, but nonetheless, it is quite hilarious and the absurdity of it all will leave you gyrating upon the floor of the cinema.

"Here at Globo-gym, we're better than you! AND WE KNOW IT!"
I really enjoyed this movie. The randomness of it was great. I had high expectations, and it was still good. Much better than Spider-man 2! I was cracking up from beginning to end. I haven't seen a movie this funny since Kung-Pow! "F****** Chuck Norris!" If you've seen the movie, you know, right?

Surprisingly funny
I say "surprisingly" but actually I waited to see this movie, because I really had little interest in it until I read all the positive reviews. But sometimes even that doesn't mean the movie is good, but I took a chance, not so much for Stiller but for Vaughn and Justin Long and I heard the Jason Bateman-Gary Cole commentary was pretty funny. Well, I was happy.
The plot is pretty thin. Average Joe's needs $50,000 so he can keep his gym, which is right next to GloboGym, a huge gym run by Stiller. Stephen Root suggests a Dodgeball tournament where the grand prize is: $50,000. And so begins the movie.
The worst thing about Dodgeball is that it takes too long to get to the dodgeball and sometimes goes too slowly. The best thing about Dodgeball is that it's short and once we get to the competition it's pretty funny. And I like how it makes fun of itself at the ending, with the "Deus Ex Machina" treasure.
It doesn't have any wit, nor social commentary (two things my local newspaper complained about) but it does have a dry, random sense of humor (well, if you don't count all the crotch-enlargement jokes). I don't really like Ben Stiller but he's good here, not playing his neurotic type but not as annoying as he was in Zoolander (terrible movie, except for Will Ferrell). Rip Torn is kind of the heart of the "first half" of the movie, then sure enough, "The Ocho" takes over. No, it's not as good as Fred Willard (and the other guy) from Best in Show, but it's great. I've concluded that Jason Bateman is an underused comedic actor: first Arrested Development (great show) now this.
Another thing against this movie is that the laughs don't really come from the story or the major characters. They come from cameos (Walker, Texas Ranger!) and improbable things happen. Vince Vaughn is great as the straight man (the closest thing to one in this movie) and Stephen Root has his share of laughs but the other characters don't do much. Justin Long is playing a timid teenager (can the guy play anything else) and the pirate guy is sort of funny except he doesn't do much. Dodgeball is pretty silly and funny but not as good as Anchorman, I thought. It's harmless though but still way better than anything else Ben Stiller has done. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You're better off having been born after, say, 1965, if you really want to enjoy this corny romantic comedy and its abundant references to the MTV culture of the mid-1980s--and even then the odds are only 50-50 that you'll have a shamelessly good time. But a lot of people beat those odds, because The Wedding Singer was a surprise box-office hit when released in early 1998, and it resulted in Saturday Night Live graduate Adam Sandler's salary going ridiculously sky-high. It's a schizophrenic film about a seemingly schizophrenic wedding singer (Sandler) who's charmingly sweet to some people but a tongue-lashing maniac to others, probably out of frustration over his fading ambition as a wannabe rock star (not to mention Sandler's penchant for loud-mouthed lunacy). When he meets an admiring young waitress (delightfully played by Drew Barrymore), it's love at first sight, complicated by their pending marriages to much less appealing fiancés. The plot then contorts itself to accommodate this contrived will-they-or-won't-they? scenario, so you're better off ignoring the love story and focusing on the comedy, which is sporadic but occasionally hilarious. This is also a lighter, friendlier Sandler than moviegoers had seen before, which probably accounts for the movie's success. Toss in a fine supporting cast--including a show-stopping drunk act by indie-movie stalwart Steve Buscemi--and you've got the ingredients for a no-brainer that's ultimately more fun than it is annoying. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (251)

Adam's Best
You are cordially invited to fall in love with one of the funniest romantic comedies of the year! It's 1985 and Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is the ultimate master of ceremonies...until he is left at the altar at his own wedding. Devastated, he becomes a newlywed's worst nightmare - an entertainer who can do nothing but destroy other people's weddings. It's not until he meets a warm-hearted waitress named Julia (Drew Barrymore) that he starts to pick up the pieces of his heart. The only problem is, Julia's about to have a wedding of her own and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a lifetime, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

From big hair to Billy Idol (as himself), The Wedding Singer features a hilarious cast and a platinum soundtrack including 80's hits from Culture Club, David Bowie and The Police.

One of Adam Sandler`s Best Films.
Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is a talented singer, who is the Ulimate Master at Ceremonies but When he`s about to get married, his girlfriend (Angela Featherstone) left him at the altar at his wedding. Mad at the world and especially himself, only thing, he could do is destory other`s people wedding just into he meets a soft-hearted waitress named Julia (Drew Barrymore) helps him to pick up the broken pieces of his heart. When Robbie meets Julia`s fiancee (Matthew Grove) and finding out that he`s a real jerk (especially when he manipulated Julia`s heart). Robbie falls in love with her, unless he could pull off a genuine moment with Julia before she gets married with a SOB.

Directed by Frank Coraci (The Waterboy) made a wonderful memorable romantic comedy that is absolutely satisfying. Sandler brings One of his Best Roles as a Struggling Song Writer & Barrymore is adorable as the Woman of his Dreams. This was a Surprise Box Office Hit, when it was release in the Winter of 1998. Carrie Fisher did some re-writes for this film, which she`s uncredited. Allen Covert is also fun as Robbie`s best friend and Christine Taylor is also attractively sexy as Julia`s Cousin. DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer (also in Pan & Scan) with an fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD Extras are a Theatrical Trailer, Cast & Information & Three Karoke Songs. Billy Idol appears in a amusing cameo and also Jon Lovitz as a ridiculous Party Singer. Steve Bucesmi appears unbilled in a funny bit. Written by Tim Herlihy. Grade:A-.

very funny!!!
Adam sandler and Drew barrymore go nuts in this hilariouse romantic comedy, like 50 first dates.

"PERFECT."

One of the all-time romantic greats
This is one of the best all-time romantic comedies. You should be well-versed in 1980s pop culture to get the true humor, but a good time by all is basically guaranteed. One of my all-time favs!

Drew barrymore, and adam. 22nd may 2004.
The film was ace, i thought by watching it that drew and adam would be brill together for real life. They are great friends and they both act together soooooooo cool! Drew is funny in a couple of parts of the film i certainly think she should be a comedian, she is sooooooooooo funny. I really enjoyed one of there other films they made together 50 first dates, that was soooooooooo romantic. I think this musical film defently deserves a 5 star and not less because the acting is cool, and they are both made to act together. And she's my favorite actress anyway. It got me so tempting in buying this video because i like to see films with them both in together, it is certainly a good film for you if you like drew or adam. GOT TO BE SEEN, EVEN IF YOU ARN'T MUCH FOR A MUSICAL. ... Read more

Reviews (170)

This movie was great, despite it's fictional entities
When I first saw this movie I was blown away buy it. Since then it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. Like many other people this movie gave me false ideas about Witchcraft, which I found otherwise as fictional. Even now as a practitioner of Wicca I still find it to be a great movie. This movie was made for entertainment purposes and not to persuade or disuade anyone one way or the other.

Fairuza Balk as Nancy was awesome. She played and looked the part so well and I don't think anyone could have done a better job. The movie is based around three teenage girls classified as the misfits of the school. They come together to form a small coven and cast spells one themselves and other people. Sarah is the newcomer who is quickly accepted into their circle. As the movie progresses things get out of hand and Nancy ends up way in over her head and it's up to Sarah to use her powerful inheritated gift of magick to stop her. I suggest this movie for anyone who wants to be thrilled.

Craft Services
The Craft is a solid, yet still somewhat predictable thriller, that tried to ride the surging horror wave started by Scream.

Sarah Baily (Robin Tunney) has always felt like an outsider all her life. So, when she and her Dad (Cliff De Young) move to a new town, she finds herself having to start fresh. As the new gal at St. Benedict's Academy, she immediately falls in with the high school's female misfits. But, this group of girls won't settle for being just powerless outcasts, that nobody wants to hang out with. Indeed, Nancy, (Fairuza Balk) Bonnie, (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True) have discovered just how much fun school can be if you have the skills to use "The Craft" and they plan to show Sarah the way.

Director and co scripter Andrew Fleming plays things pretty safe throughout the film. The tried and true horror formula isn't tested that much. Young and trendy stars populate the cast, with moments of humor and a few jolts, thrown in for good measure. The breakout performance for me here is Balk's sassy Nancy. She is one tough witch you don't want to mess with. She helps make the film better than it would be otherwise. As with any film about the wicken way, there's also a certain female "bonding" subtext that has to play itself out, as well.

The special edition DVD substitutes for the movie only edition from awhile back. The audio commentary from Fleming is a nice mix of the tecnical and on set trivia about the film. There are two making Of featurettes on the disc. The first,is a six minute EPK style prepublicity kind of thing, while the second is a 24 minute retrospective, produced for the DVD. Conjuring THE CRAFT features "new" interviews with Fleming, Robin Tunny, Rachel True among others, intermixed with on set comments from Balk and Campbell. This is well produced. Fleming provides commentary for the deleted footage that, doesn't really amount to much as far as the final version is concerned The entire film score from Greame Revell is preserved and given its due as an isolated music track. Talent files, as well as, theatrical trailers for The Craft, among other films top off the bonus material on the disc. Addtional production notes can be found inside the keep case.

The Craft is worth a dabble, with a *** and a half star rating, as long as your expectations are kept in check.

These Girls Know Their Rites!
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) is the new kid in town, but even under the best of circumstances she has never been accepted by the popular crowd. At her new school, she falls in with a trio of other female misfits (Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True) who, it so happens, are trying to learn witchcraft and form their own little coven. When Sarah joins them to make it a quartet, they slowly develop multifold preternatural powers and learn how to focus and use them. With such abilities literally at their fingertips, it's not too long until the little coven, initially formed for self-protection and companionship, becomes an instrument for personal gain and revenge. Sarah soon realizes that one of her friends is evil to the core, and fearful of what THAT one may do with the group's newfound powers, she decides it's best to resign from the coven and thereby weaken the magic abilities of the others. But the coven has different plans, particularly regarding Sarah....

The sleeper hit THE CRAFT (1996) could've easily been played for camp, but it is instead a story of modern urban witchcraft that is both literate and emotionally powerful. The success of the film is due to Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming's tight, well-written script, excellent direction from Fleming, and outstanding acting from principals Tunney, Balk, Campbell, and True. The supernatural elements of the story are handled carefully and earnestly, and witchcraft or the belief in it is never ridiculed or treated derisively. This keeps the tone of the film somewhat dark and edgy, which in turn creates an uneasy, spooky atmosphere that cues the audience to the fact that this is a serious horror film. Fleming wisely keeps the special FX to a minimum until the story's climax on the final reel, and he instead emphasizes the relationships in this group of dysfunctional, angst-ridden girls, well knowing that the primary target audience--to wit, teenagers--will easily relate to these characters and their normal desires and fears.

The Special Edition DVD from Columbia/Tri-Star offers THE CRAFT in anamorphic widescreen at its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The digital transfer is very good, with minimal filmic or digital artifacts. The disc also features an informative commentary with director Andrew Fleming, 2 featurettes, deleted scenes, and more. THE CRAFT is a cool horror film that most fans of the genre will enjoy, and the very reasonable price makes it easy for fans to add this DVD to their collections.

Darkly peculiar, yet entertaining all the same
I was looking for entertainment and I found it in THE CRAFT.

So maybe it was filled with holes. Maybe it's a tad unrealistic. Maybe it doesn't portray Wicca with fair accuracy (not that I care about that). So it's flawed. So what?

That said, THE CRAFT is awfully entertaining and worth more than one watch - hence my umpteenth watch a few weekends ago. I especially appreciated Fairuza Balk's performance - just as much as gorgeous Robin Tunney's. It's a shame she's no Hollywood starlet today. A year or more ago I saw her in this dreadful movie called CHERISH, a truly tedious indie flick.

Tunney plays Sarah, newcomer to the neighborhood. After being shunned by the popular girls, a circle of peculiar witches take her beneath their collective wings. Nancy, Bonnie, and Rochelle all have supernatural powers and the rumor mongers have always been spreading gossip about them. (They are played by Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True, respectively.) Now, it is time to get revenge on those who have wronged them - yes, revenge is the only remedy to their teenage angst and turmoil.

Each girl has a different situation. Rumors have been churning through the mill that Sarah Bailey slept with popular jock Chris Hooker (played by Skeet Ulrich, who later appeared with Campbell in SCREAM). Not only that, but he claims she sucked in bed, according to Nancy. Sarah had really been into Chris during their first date and after one kiss on a rooftop, he'd tried to take her back home with him. She'd declined and Chris had seemed a little disappointed. Still, Sarah never guessed he'd begin spreading lies about her. Now, she will get Chris, who snubs her in the halls, to fall truly, madly, and deeply head-over-heels in love with her. In fact, with Sarah's powers, he develops humorous stalker-esque tendencies.

Nancy Down's troubles mainly concern her homelife. Her father is a bum. She and her two parents live the stereotypical white trash lifestyle. Nancy uses her powers to give her father a heart attack (odd, yes...I know) and because of his death, she and Mrs. Down are left with a big 'ole sum of money. They move into a very nice apartment and are able to live quite comfortably.

Bonnie was involved in a terrible accident that left her permanently scarred - much of the high school knows about the disfiguring scars. She has a beautiful face but her scars inable her to wear certain clothes and she's oh-so self-concious about it. She undergoes a painful hospital operation that may or may not improve her condition - it does, thanks to her supernatural powers. :) Because of the operation, her mother and the doctors aren't all that suspicious. They just assume it to be the goodness of medical technology.

Rochelle's dilemma concerns racist Laura Lizzie (Christine Taylor), who is on the school's swim team with her. Laura makes it crystal clear that she can't stand Rochelle because she's black. Whenever Rochelle is at work perfecting her dives, Laura shouts out cruel remarks to distract her and she also calls her racial slurs in the locker room. Rochelle's spell causes Laura's hair to begin to fall out in huge clumps that leave bald patches all over her blonde head. Within days, she's totally bald.

But what you do to others in your spells comes back to haunt you. Times three. So now, the girls will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Sarah must also deal with the fact that her three friends are turning on her and she must face the harrowing battle all on her own.

That is, if they don't kill her first.

With good performances and an exciting plot, this movie may appeal to fans of HEATHERS, MEAN GIRLS, and other movies in which the theme of all-girl friendships are stressed. Many critics took an intense disliking to this film, but it has been rather popular with many audiences, doing mildly well in the box office and on video.

Awesome movie
On her first day of school, Sarah is snubbed by the more popular girls and ends up becoming part of a circle of girls who are witches.

One by one, it goes through and shows each one of the girls problem. Bonnie was in a fire and left with horrible burn marks, Rochelle is the target of a racist clique, Nancy comes from a broken home, and Sarah is still haunted by memories of a suicide attempt. They all cast spells to improve their lives, and they work. Sarah makes a guy fall in love with her, Rochelle causes her harasser's hair to fall out, Bonnie overcomes her scars and Nancy ends up killing her jerk stepfather, resulting in her mother and her to inherit a bunch of money from him.

As the girls get deeper and deeper into the craft, Sarah realizes that they are taking everything too far. Bonnie has turned into a total snob, Rochelle's tormentor goes completely bald, Sarah's love spell has turned into dangerous obsession, and Nancy has completely turned power hungry. When Sarah makes her desire to leave the circle known, they will not hear of it. Nancy ends up trying to kill Sarah, resulting in one of the best fight scenes EVER.

Overall, some of the stuff referring to the craft in this movie is true. The quarter calls made by the group are actual Gardnarian Tradition quarter calls, and the threefold law is TRUE (I know from experience, lol) ... Read more

Reviews (38)

I Didn't Stop Laughing
I just finished seeing Dodgeball, and I'll say that this is definitely the quirkiest movie that Ben Stiller has made since Zoolander. It's totally off the wall, and it succeeds as one of his funniest comedies.

The things that make this movie great are, primarily, the cast of characters. Stiller himself does a fantastic job as the owner of a massive chain of gymnasiums that is trying to put Vince Vaughn's gym out of business. Ben Still has some very funny lines, and I was definitely reminded of his Zoolander character. He was equally confused, though with much more testosterone. Sort of like what you'd expect Derek Zoolander to behave like if he started popping tons of steroids.

Vince Vaughn was probably my favorite in the movie, coming across as the protagonist who's basically a disorganized, fun-loving guy with a small gym that caters to the "less popular" in society. He has very funny lines, and constantly made me laugh when he was verbally sparring with Ben Stiller's character.

The cast of the gym known as "Average Joes" is just as funny, and many of the best lines come from them. Also, Rip Torn is perfect as a one-time dodgeball champion turned coach who prefers to teach his team to avoid being hit by throwing wrenches at them. The training sequences he puts them through are priceless, as is the eventual dodgeball tournament itself (sponsored by ESPN 8, The Ocho, which specializes in offbeat sports like squirrels water skiing).

Stiller's wife is also in this movie, once again playing the quick-witted professional who eventually falls for the main character and helps him to outwit the evil Globo Gym.

Is it predictable? Totally. Is it formula? No question. But is it fun? Absolutely. In fact, it's almost worth it to watch it twice just for the cameos (David Hasselhoff, Lance Armstrong, William Shatner and Chuck Norris are just a few that come to mind). One final thing, though. This movie is laced with some very adult humor, and it's definitely not for kids (language, many sexual references, and a fairly blatant lesbian scene at the very end). In my mind, the movie suffered for these. Enough to cause me to remove one star.

So if you're seeking something to watch that won't make you think a lot, and will also keep you laughing out loud, this is a great choice. Bottom line is that if you liked 'Zoolander', you'll like this movie. And I loved Zoolander.

Funniest Movie of the Year! Who would have thought?
I just got back from seeing "Dodgeball" at the theater and it was way better than I expected. I thought it would be funny and was even surprised to see most critics giving a crude comedy like this good reviews, so I decided to go see it. I am usually not a huge Ben Stiller fan, because most of the time he plays the same sort of lame character (much like Adam Sandler), but not here my friends. Dwight Goodman is one of his best characters yet and he plays him so over the top you can't help but be amused. Vince Vaughn is good as the straight man, but the real star of the movie (other than Stiller) is Rip Torn as the old and crazy coach called Patches. He steals almost every scene he is in and hopefully there will be an unrated Dvd coming out which will add in even more of his raunchy lines. If you want to think, go elsewhere. If you want to have a fun time and laugh (...), catch "Dodgeball" now.

Sorry about the confusion
this is a truly great movie. granted, it is not very pansohic, but nonetheless, it is quite hilarious and the absurdity of it all will leave you gyrating upon the floor of the cinema.

"Here at Globo-gym, we're better than you! AND WE KNOW IT!"
I really enjoyed this movie. The randomness of it was great. I had high expectations, and it was still good. Much better than Spider-man 2! I was cracking up from beginning to end. I haven't seen a movie this funny since Kung-Pow! "F****** Chuck Norris!" If you've seen the movie, you know, right?

Surprisingly funny
I say "surprisingly" but actually I waited to see this movie, because I really had little interest in it until I read all the positive reviews. But sometimes even that doesn't mean the movie is good, but I took a chance, not so much for Stiller but for Vaughn and Justin Long and I heard the Jason Bateman-Gary Cole commentary was pretty funny. Well, I was happy.
The plot is pretty thin. Average Joe's needs $50,000 so he can keep his gym, which is right next to GloboGym, a huge gym run by Stiller. Stephen Root suggests a Dodgeball tournament where the grand prize is: $50,000. And so begins the movie.
The worst thing about Dodgeball is that it takes too long to get to the dodgeball and sometimes goes too slowly. The best thing about Dodgeball is that it's short and once we get to the competition it's pretty funny. And I like how it makes fun of itself at the ending, with the "Deus Ex Machina" treasure.
It doesn't have any wit, nor social commentary (two things my local newspaper complained about) but it does have a dry, random sense of humor (well, if you don't count all the crotch-enlargement jokes). I don't really like Ben Stiller but he's good here, not playing his neurotic type but not as annoying as he was in Zoolander (terrible movie, except for Will Ferrell). Rip Torn is kind of the heart of the "first half" of the movie, then sure enough, "The Ocho" takes over. No, it's not as good as Fred Willard (and the other guy) from Best in Show, but it's great. I've concluded that Jason Bateman is an underused comedic actor: first Arrested Development (great show) now this.
Another thing against this movie is that the laughs don't really come from the story or the major characters. They come from cameos (Walker, Texas Ranger!) and improbable things happen. Vince Vaughn is great as the straight man (the closest thing to one in this movie) and Stephen Root has his share of laughs but the other characters don't do much. Justin Long is playing a timid teenager (can the guy play anything else) and the pirate guy is sort of funny except he doesn't do much. Dodgeball is pretty silly and funny but not as good as Anchorman, I thought. It's harmless though but still way better than anything else Ben Stiller has done. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Brady Bunch Movie
The big-screen version of the hugely popular 1970s television sitcom takes an original angle: instead of simply re-creating the old series, the film spoofs it by presenting the merged family as blithely unaware that fashions and customs have changed in the '90s. Shelley Long and Gary Cole are hilarious as the ultra-square yet libidinous Mr. and Mrs. Brady, Christopher Daniel Barnes is an ideal Greg, and Christine Taylor seems practically cloned from the original Marcia. But director Betty Thomas (Private Parts) shifts the emphasis away from comparisons between old and new Bradys and concentrates on quasi-surreal parodies and set pieces featuring the Brady kids doing their spirited, singing thing for a disbelieving public. Smart, sharp, and happy to share its conspiratorial mood with an appreciative audience, The Brady Bunch Movie is a kick.

A Very Brady Sequel
This second ironic send-up of the old Sherwood Schwartz sitcom is even funnier than The Brady Bunch Movie. Shelley Long and Gary Cole return as the married heads of the merged family known as the Bradys, and Christopher Daniel Barnes and Christine Taylor reprise their roles as eldest stepsiblings Greg and Marcia. As with the first film, the clever premise finds the Brady clan caught in a kind of '70s time warp, while the rest of the world has moved well into the '90s. Greg is still looking for a "groovy girlfriend," Mr. Brady thinks the idea of a cable that sends 50 channels to one's TV set must be a joke, and Mrs. Brady spends hours at the beauty shop only to look exactly the same as she went in. There's a plot involving an imposter (Tim Matheson) who claims to be Carol's long-lost husband, but the real charge in this comedy comes from the way these pseudohip characters deal with sexual taboos (is there any real reason that Greg and Marcia shouldn't get it on?) and the incredulous reactions of other people. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Two Great Movies, I will Gladly Put Down The Money
I personally think that these two movies were very very underated. They were both a dead on spoof to the actual tv show. I think the person who casted the actors for this movie deserves a huge award, they did an absolute wonderful job. The second is actually a little bit better than the first. My only dream is that they would come out with a third one, I belive that it is a dismal wish however since the second one came out a while a go, and there has been no talk about a third. Do yourself a favor and watch these you won't be displeased. ... Read more

Description

When college guy thinks his highschool sweetheart is cheating on him, he and another girl send her the world's most disgusting poison-pen letter...via overnight delivery. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

You Won't Believe Your Eyes...Not Both of Them Anyway!
You will recognize almost everyone in this film and I don't think it ever even made the big screen. This is one of those pictures that became a cult classic on cable and video. If you're not yet a Hudson Leick fan-and if you're not, we'll send a few of the boys around to speak wit youz-buy this now because when it finally hits network TV, her entire role will be in the program director's VCR, not on your screen. I have no idea why they changed the name from Denial to Something About Sex but I can only imagine that it was...and still is...too hot to handle. I've never seen such a classy combination of sex and humor and, as a licensed private detective, I am compelled by law to give it 5 Stars.

Yes,the scene with Hudson Leick is worth buying this video!!
Let me make this perfectly clear,the only reason why I even heard of this movie,rented this movie and ultimatly bought this movie was because of the infamous sex scene with Hudson Leick AKA
Callisto to Xena fans.And yes,the scene is really,really good and yes,Hudson Leick is really,really sexy!If you're an admirer of Hudson Leick/Callisto(which 9 out of 10 you are if you're checking out this review)then buy this video as it is extremely rare.She is not credited on the box cover nor in the opening credits,but you will find her name at the end.If you can buy this movie for a good price,then do so!

Woody would like it.
While I was watching this film I couldn't help but think of Woody Allen films. This movie is very much like some of his films. Something about sex focuses on the sex lives of three married couples and there various stages and insecurities about fadelity. The film opens at a dinner party where a guest, Art Witz(Jason Alexzander), proposes to the three seemingly happy couples that monogomy is not natural. The rest of the film covers the journey these people take to answer that question. I found this film quite entertaining. The cast was very good. Each character had there own sort of neurotic qualities that made them unique. To be more specific one character uses the same line over and over to pick up women, another has a fetish for porn(which leads to a hilarious cameo from Ron Jeremy), another a liking for "special" massages, and one character is obsessed with larger women. All this makes for some really funny stuff. I thought the film was well edited. It seemed to know just when to cut, never too much, which is a credit to the director Adam Rifkin. I recommend this film. It delivers exactly what it promises with it's title. I said earlier it reminded me of a Woody Allen film, well yes, but without New York, and with graphic sex scenes(Allen never has these). If you like this film I also suggest Friends and Lovers which is very similar in context to this film. If you like comedies about sex you will like Something About Sex.

Hudson Leick makes Something about sex special
First up, Hudson wasn't in the opening credits of the film. The movie begins when Art(played by Jason Alexander of Seinfield fame.) is invited to a party with three couples. They are Issacc(Ryan Alosio) and Claudia(Amy Yasbeck), Joel(Jonathan Silverman) and Sophie(Leah Lail) and Sam(Patrick Dempsey) and Sammie(Christine Taylor). Art begins to discuss that adultery is "the monogamy denial". He says, "I think that monogamy is not natural. I really don't think it exists. At least not in practice. It turns otherwise honorable people into liars.....people cheat! It happens all the time.That`s why they don't like to talk about it." There's an argument from the three couples saying that he doesn't know what he`s talking about. And the rest of the story it shows you that Art is right.

I`m only discussing one of the couples, Issacc and Claudia because of Hudson's involvement. Issacc cheats on his wife with various women. In the story we see Eve(Shawnee Free-Jones) a young college girl who he has sex with and believes all his lies and Deborah(HUDSON LEICK) who he and Joel meet at a hockey game. Claudia also cheats on Issacc with Art. She tells him that she and her husband have an agreement on to never ask questions. So when Art meets Issac he gets nervous around him and Issacc asks Claudia why he got psycho, all she does is smile. So he asks her did she sleep with him and she said remember our agreement, so he stops and thinks about his affairs and doesn`t say boo. And they start to play wrestle in bed.

In Hudson's performance she plays Deborah. At the hockey game Issac says to Joel that women can't seperate the difference between sex and love. To them it's all the same, but men can seperate the difference. So Deborah, Hudson's character, overhears it and says that it isn`t true. A woman can have a one night stand and forget about it. Also, she tells him that every female he had sex with isn't sitting at home by the phone waiting for him to call. But infact Eve is doing that. Here it shows you that some women are like what Issac said and some women are like what Deborah said. Hence they are both right and both wrong. The next scene of Hudson is that she is in bed with Issac(her first nude scene to best of my knowledge). Issac is trying to feed her the lines he fed Eve and Deborah doesn`t buy it. Deborah tells him to shut up and go back to the sexual intercourse.

Overall the movie tried to give a reasonable explaination of what happens in marriages, but it doesn't tell enough. What it does tell is true in some relationships, if not all. The movie to a certain extent can be used as a documentary on the way people interact in mid to late 1990`s. What it lacks is that it isn't diverse enough and it was too positive. At the end there are some marriages that end like that, but many more are different.

Something About Infidelity
This movie was very entertaining. A writer inplants the obsessions of infidelity to three seemingly happy couples. It leads onto a road of self havock. A great representation of the taboo thirsts in all of us. Some characters you love, some you hate, some you sympathize with others just disgust you. Even big man Ron Jeremy make a funny cameo while at the "office", if you know what I mean. Only disappointments were the full screen format and the mono sound. Overall a good flick. ... Read more

Description

THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE brings the lovable family of the 1970’s into the modern world, to see how their good old-fashioned values pan out in the streets of Los Angeles. The Brady’s house still sparkles with the same orange and olive green furniture as the original show, but the surrounding area has changed drastically. Confronted by carjackers, new fashion trends and popular culture in general, the Brady’s remain perky and pleasant to the world around them.When their next-door neighbors try to buy the Brady’s home in an attempt to raze the neighborhood and develop a mini-mall, the Brady family must unite and find a solution. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Come on Home with the Bradys.
When I first watched this movie, I really wasn't looking forward to seeing it. I enjoyed watching the television show when I was a kid, but it wasn't one of my favorite shows. However, this film really surprised me and turned out to be the funniest movie I've seen in years.

The movie is hilarious. It parodies everything that made the Brady the Bradys (Cindy's lisp, Mike's family talks, potato sack races, etc) . All the actors have a dead-on impersonations of the original characters and make the spoof totally believable.

The major plot of the film is fairly simple. The Brady's owe $20,000 in back taxes and their beloved home is going to be sold if they can't raise the funds. Their next door neighbor is a greedy developer who wants to build a shopping mall in the Bradys neighborhood. All the other homeowners have sold, but the Bradys won't bite. The desperate developer seems to have lost, until he finds out about the Bradys' back taxes. Then things get messy. There is also a subplot revolving around Jan's struggle with being a middle child and always being overlooked by Marcia. Jan's "struggle" is one of the most hilarious things I have seen on film in a long time. You'll never think of hearing voices the same again (or Jan Brady for that matter).

Overall a hilarious film that parodies the original television series. The movie has the blessing of the Bradys creator (he wrote the screenplay). It is a delight for anyone who remembers the original series and even if you don't, you're sure to have a few laughs with this 70's family living in a modern world.

Great Movie - Disappointing DVD
I remember watching this movie in the theatres. The audience was packed and I LOVED every minute of it. Shelly Long made an outstanding Carol Brady, loving wife and doting mother to six (count 'em six) children. The movie captured the classic camp of the television show perfectly down to trademark episode storylines inter-woven into a bigger story. The real stand out actors though has to be Christine Taylor as Marcia and Jennifer Elise Cox as Jan. The dynamic duo really set the stage with not only their remarkable resemblance to the characters but the way they captured even the inflections of the blonde Brady girls. It was almost like being taken back to the series. And speaking of which, several original series cast members make cameo appearances in the film, such as Florence Henderson as Grandma Brady, Barry Williams as a music producer, Ann B. Davis as Shultzy (named as an homage to her character on the Bob Cummings Show), and Christopher Knight as the school coach. And you can't miss the ever talented Jean Smart or RuPaul as the drunk next door neighbor and school guidence counselor. The drawbacks of the DVD release though is that Paramount skimped on any bonus material. We are benefited with seeing the movie in crystal clear widescreen and in Dolby sound, but there are no behind-the-scenes clips added though such material was shown on television when the movie was just released. There are no character/actor bios. There are no photo stills. There are no Brady song montages. There isn't even a movie trailer of the movie itself. There is just simply nothing added to make this DVD as special as it could have been than just the movie standing alone. In my mind, the purpose of releasing a movie on DVD at all is to provide the audience with a higher level of product than you would recieve on a standard videotape. Because the movie wasn't released with any of these I have to grudgingly give the DVD a three out of five stars. Not because the movie isn't good, because it is. It's one of my favorites. No, I gave it three stars because companies such as Paramount and others like them really should know better. The word 'cheated' comes to mind.

Classic Bradys
This is a show I grew up on. And I watched all 6 Brady kids grow up on TV as well, so to see them (well not all the original kids) on the big screen had to be a must see. Two decades later the Brady's still have a following, judging by the commercial success of this film and a whole new generation is introduced (though probably don't understand) the wholesome white bread image the Brady's portrayed. Stuck in their 70's world while everyone around them has progressed? to the cynical 1990's, Mike, Carol, Alice & the Brady kids face the problem of a disgusted neighbor (Michael McKean, Lenny from another 70's favorite sitcom, Lavern & Shirley)trying to get rid of the bell bottom wearing Bradys as neighbors. Fans of this show, will recognize many familiar themes from the Brady Bunch's successul sitcom run such as Greg as Johnny Bravo, Cindy's tattle tale, and my favorite Jan's envy of Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. By the way Marcia really looks like a twin Maureen McCormack (the original Marcia). Florence Henderson (the original Carol Brady makes a guest appearance as the grandmother and so does the original Greg (Barry Williams). But the new cast, who look nothing like the originals except for Marcia, do a great job of mocking the Brady sitcom I grew up watching.

Why oh, why does Hollywood want to ruin icons?
Why do they insist on making a mockery of television shows we all loved? Brady Bunch, Scooby Do... there have been others. They make a movie that serves SOLELY to make the characters and premise look dumb. It's irritating and stupid.

This is the best comedy!!!
If you are looking for a hilarious comedy that will have you rolling on the floor for hours and hours that isn't too bad for the little children? Well if the answer is yes, then this movie is the perfect movie for you. Then after this movie won 6 Emmy's they came out with another sequal that earned 4 Emmy's, and then, the final and the best sequal(The Third) is the most funny, it is where Greg Brady becomes President. ... Read more

Description

This 2-title giftpack contains the Adam Sandler hits the Wedding Singer and Little Nicky. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

AWESOME DVD!!!!
Both of these movies are by far some of Adam Sandlar's best movies ever.The Wedding Singer is about a struggling singer trying to get noticed but falls in love with his partner in teaching singing lessons (Drew Barrymore) who is marrying the wrong guy. With the help of his friend and his crushes roommate he must try to win her back before it's too late.Little Nicky is a hillarious story about the son of the devil (Sandlar) trying to save his father after his two brothers escaped from hell and froze the portal.Before his fater deteriorates Nicky must capture his brothers in a flask and bring them back. Both will make the perfect gift for any occasion.

AWSOM MOVIE !!!!
I saw this movie on USA and immediately fell in love with it. It is by far one of Adam Sandlar's best. This romantic comedy also stars Drew Barrymore.Together these two talented people will make you want to watch it over and over again.This makes the perfect Valentine's Day gift,Birthday gift,or X-mas gift. For any Adam or Drew fan I would STRONGLY suggest buying this.You'll laugh till you cry and collapse!

A Fine Example of why Adam Sandler is so loved.
Two killer movies in one pack. First up you have The Wedding Singer which I have no shame in saying is one of my all time favourite films. It's one of those movies that makes you laugh, cry and get involved and is guarenteed to leave you with a warm tingly buzz after watching. Second movie is Little Nicky which although isn't as funny as The Wedding singer has some great moments of it's own and a celebrity cast to die for featuring appearances by, Reese Witherspoon, Rodney Dangerfield, Dana Carvey, Henry Winkler, Rob Sneider and many more... While it's obvious Shakespear didn't put pen to paper on this one you still will enjoy it for the light hearted laugh fest it is. Check it out well worth the minimum dollars for two great nights in. ... Read more

Amazon.com

How's this for impressive trivia: Dodgeball faced off against The Terminal in opening-weekend competition, and 29-year-old writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber aced Steven Spielberg by a score of $30 to $18.7 in box-office millions. That's no mean feat for a newcomer, but Thurber's lowbrow script and rapid-fire direction--along with a sublime cast of screen comedians--proved to be just what moviegoers were ravenous for: a consistently hilarious, patently formulaic romp in which the underdog owner of Average Joe's Gym (Vince Vaughan) faces foreclosure unless he can raise $50,000 in 30 days. The solution: A dodgeball tournament offering $50K to the winners, in which Vaughan and his nerdy clientele team up against the preening, abhorrently narcissistic owner (Ben Stiller) of Globo Gym, who's threatening a buy-out. That's it for story; any 5-year-old could follow it with brainpower to spare. But Thurber, Vaughan, Stiller, and their well-cast costars (including Stiller's off-screen wife, Christine Taylor) keep the big laughs coming for 96 nonsensical minutes. With spot-on cameos by champion bicyclist Lance Armstrong, David Hasselhoff, Hank Azaria, Chuck Norris, and William Shatner, and a crudely amusing coda for those who watch past the credits, Dodgeball is no masterpiece, but you can bet Spielberg was unexpectedly humbled by its popular appeal. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (205)

Full of Laughs
This movie is not without flaws, but I've never laughed harder before almost to the point of not being able to breathe and Ben Stiller's performance as a gym mogul is the best I have seen yet of Ben Stiller. This is truly his best performance yet.

The plot is pretty simple and straight forward. I was very pleased to see in the cast of characters, for they are real characters, some alumni from the movie, Office Space, another film about regular folks trying to forge a way through life. The supporting actors were superb, except for one exception. I didn't like Vince Vaughn's performance in this movie, which consisted more of giving "pep-talk" lines rather than acting.He appeared more to me as a slick businesssman than a "regular Joe," trying to keep his gym afloat. He's also too much of a pretty boy to play the "average Joe" role...

Nevertheless, Ben Stiller and the rest of the supporting cast are hilarious and their performances are superb. For a good laugh, don't miss this one.


*N.B.*
This movie is meant to be goofy and shouldn't be taken in any manner seriously.

Dude, where's my dignity?!
OKay, Ben, not even guys getting hit in the face with [dodge]balls is gonna save you this time. Did they just unfreeze your Starsky charcter and put you in this movie? You're killin me!!!!!Do something different!

The rest of the cast was good, although not the same can be said of the jokes. This could have been a thirty minute movie, maybe add another 10 minutes of that kid getting hit with the wrenches.

If you love Ben Stiller please "See all my reviews"

So Silly, So Crude, and So Funny
You find no subtlety here, and you shouldn't try to.Here is the a comedy with lots of ultimately crude, rude, unsophisticated gags.But I like 'Dodgeball' because of that, and if you love kind of a comedy like 'There's Something About Mary,' this film is for you.

Story?It's about a bunch of underdogs who need money very badly.So they join in the national dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas to get $50,000.That's it, and they form a ragtag team called 'Average Joes' while another team attempt to crush them, called 'Purple Cobras.'

Vince Vaughn, cast against type, plays the reluctant leader of 'Joes' and Ben Stiller plays the greedy gym owner named 'White Goodman.'Add to them, Christine Taylor (Ben's real-life wife) joins in the cast as the lawyer who is sexually harassed by Mr. Goodman.Is there any depth, subtle touch, or social message?But should there be any?

[SLAPSTICKS AND CAMEOS] Rip Torn's funny dodgeball coach says, 'If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.'Right?In fact, red rubber balls fly around and hit the characters in the face.The traditional slapstick comedy like pie-throwing is done in another style, with more energy and vitality, with lots of raucous humor.Dirty languages abound, and the gags are often very sexual.Plus, you see many cameos -- William Shatner, Chuck Norris, Hank Azaria, David Hasselhoff (as German coach), and Lance Armstrong -- all of them adding more unexpected humor to the film.

I don't say this is the best comedy of the decade, but it is true I enjoyed watching the film very much.Silly, to be sure, but sometimes, just sometimes, absolute silliness with unstoppable energy produces a hilarious comedy like this.And as far as the box office figure goes, which exceeded $110,000,000 in USA alone, many people seem to have felt the same way as I do.

One of The Funniest movies of All Time!!
I saw This movie and I liked it. So When The PSP version comes out, I will be first to get it. I've heard that some psp movies are very dark even when the brightness setting is all the way up. I hope this movie looks just like the one on dvd. pick it up when it comes out!!!!!!

It was okay
Really the only person I felt was good in this was Ben Stiller he should have won not the dorks that beat him. Great performance again by Ben Stiller and by the guy that played "Milton Waddams" was nice too. A true parody of it's self ... Read more

Description

The unprecedented broadcast of the live, star-studded, two-hour entertainment spectacular America: A Tribute to Heroes on Friday, September 21, 2001, served to both raise money for the victims of the September 11 tragedy and to bring our nation together to salute the American spirit. All net proceeds of this DVD will be donated to the United Way's September 11th Fund. Songs: My City of Ruin (Bruce Springsteen), Love's in Need of Love Today (Stevie Wonder featuring Take 6), Walk On (U2), There Will Come a Day (Faith Hill), I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Hero (Enrique Iglesias), Imagine (Neil Young), Someday We'll All Be Free (Alicia Keys), Wish You Were Here (Limp Bizkit with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls), New York State of Mind (Billy Joel), I Believe in Love (Dixie Chicks), Everyday (Dave Matthews), Redemption Song (Wyclef Jean), Hero (Mariah Carey), Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi), Safe and Sound (Sheryl Crow), Fragile (Sting), The Long Road (Eddie Vedder), Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon), God Bless America (Celine Dion), America the Beautiful (Willie Nelson). 120 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Instant Media Classic!
I saw this with a group of ten or so friends when it originally aired. We sat there in awe for two hours. I think it was the power of the people who spoke and of those who performed. The DVD was on my wish list nearly immediately after. Their selection of songs, was nearly impeccable. I didn't care for Iglesias mostly because it was more a love song, but maybe it was appropriate to others. The highlights for me were Neil Young doing "Imagine." That alone is worth the admission. Also the appearence of Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits of "NYPD Blue" standing together like partners again, and talking, appropriately enough, about the cops who risked their lives, and died saving others. Limp Bizkit with Johnny Rzeznik (of Goo Goo Dolls) doing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" was equally awesome. Fred Durst looked to me like he was talking to us as he sang many of the lyrics. The Boss, Billy Joel, Eddie Vedder (with Neil Young on the organ), Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi (a spectacular rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer") round out the cream of the crop musically. Superb speeches by Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Jim Carrey, Will Smith and Ali, and many more strike a chord both uplifting, and I think heart-breaking at times. It closes out with awesome speeches by Robert DeNiro (wow!) and Clint Eastwoood (wow! wow!) along with a performance of "God Bless America" by Celine Dion and a moving performance of "America the Beautiful" by Willie Nelson, with backup by everyone present. WOW! is the least I can think of to describe it as a whole. GOD BLESS the USA!

Brings it home
...

Okay enough of that -- This tribute DVD let me see part of what was going on, and this DVD truly portrays how much we have come together. And not just America, as it was quite awesome to see Celine Dion sing God Bless America, to see Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz singing along on those secondary hard-to-remember verses of America The Beautiful with Willie Nelson and everyone else. U2 and Sting's performances from abroad. These parts let us know that the whole world was, and is, with us.

All the performances were great, ...... Wyclef Jean was possessed by Bob Marley for Redemption Song. Neil Young's Imagine was superb. Fred Durst and John Rzeznik took a serious note with Wish You Were Here and did a great job. Coming from the heart were Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smits, Kelsey Grammer, Lucy Liu, George Clooney and Tom Hanks.

This DVD definitely is a keepsake.

My Most Anticipated DVD Purchase
I was not able to watch the show live, but I did see it a few weeks later, and not from the beginning either. I came in just after the Dixie Chicks had performed. But from that point on, I was held transfixed.

Performances that stood out include Wyclef's version of "Redemption Song", the excellent acoustic version of "Livin' On a Prayer" by Bonjovi, the entire appropriate "Hero" by Mariah Carey, and Sting's "Fragile". But then even the performances by people I hardly knew were good as well.

I mean what I say next in a positive way: this was the most manipulative piece of television I have ever seen. By this I mean that it totally achieved its objective, to make me feel sympathiy with the victims of the events of 9-11, and to make me want to do something about it. The first thing I wanted to do is get a friend's copy of the show on VHS. And the second thing was to get the DVD. I fully intend to.

God bless America.

Do you think we can change?
It's been over two years now since September 11, 2001, and perhaps there is need for a retrospective look at this unique DVD.

I only caught part of the original airing of "Tribute to Heroes" on TV.

Watching the whole thing for the first time on DVD was a moving experience, except when Enrique Iglesias showed up - I couldn't help but wonder whether he was wearing false eyelashes and whether they would fall off.

I was saddened to see the Dixie Chicks on this DVD, not that they didn't belong here. What made me sad was the memory of how strongly all Americans were united together at the time of the making of this Tribute. Not since December 7, 1941 had Americans felt so strongly about their country.

Tragically, this unity of spirit and purpose has proved to be all too brief, as just a year and a half later, the Bush administration used the faith and trust of the American people to plunge American troops into Iraq, against the wishes of the world, against any evidence that Iraq had a direct connection to 9-11, and having fooled everyone, including themselves, into thinking that the going would be quick, easy, and cheap.

As a result of their vocal oppositon to the Iraq war, the Dixie Chicks fell from grace, but have since rebounded again. Which is what makes me sad, to see them on this DVD, and to remember this moment in time when ALL Americans were united in a common purpose.

Finally, I just wanted to say that the part of the Tribute that I caught on TV was Fred Durst (from Limp Bizkit) and John Rzeznik (from Goo Goo Dolls) singing their version of "Wish You Were Here". This piece was my favorite from the DVD. If you are a Pink Floyd fan, you will know that the lyrics and musical arrangement (with strings and voice reverb) are significantly different, but still very recognizably Pink Floyd. The new lyrics are really, really beautiful and appropriate, not only for this Tribute to Heroes, but for what has happened since. As the words are a bit hard to find (compared to the original version), here they are:

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold, steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

So, do you think we can change,
Everybody that hates,
Before it's too late.
So proud to be free,
But who can we blame?
Don't be ashamed,
Do you think we can change?

How I wish,
How I wish you were here,
We're a world of lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year.
Running over the same old ground,
What have we found?
The same old fears,
Wish you were here.

We don't need,
Need any more pain.
We just need to remain on the very same page,
So much to gain.
No more losing a friend,
We're losing ourselves.
We just need your help,
So glad you're here.

So glad you're here.

This TRIBUTE IS BAD and I THINK THAT NOW
IT'S NOT TRUE whitch the heros are dead for something because, NOW I KNOW THAT WAS the USA governement's ERROR ! SURELY AND NECESSARY FOR THE BAD ANCIENT AND ACTUALS GOVERNMENTS
MICHAEL MOORE SAID AND SAY THIS MORE THAN ME ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Buffy the Vampire Slayer represents the lighter side of high school as a macabre experience, here's a movie that asks the burning question, "What happens when angst-ridden teenagers develop supernatural powers?" More to the point, how do four outcast teenaged witches handle their ability to cast wicked spells on the taunting classmates who've nicknamed them "The Bitches of Eastwick"? The answer, of course, is "don't get mad, get even." That's about all there is to this terminally silly movie, which makes up for its ludicrous plot by letting its young female cast have a field day as they indulge their dark fantasies. Fairuza Balk is enjoyable as the most wicked of the witches, and is therefore the focus of the film's most dazzling special effects. But it's Neve Campbell from television's Party of Five who made this film a modest box-office hit, just before she became her generation's fright-movie favorite in Scream and its popular sequel. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (170)

This movie was great, despite it's fictional entities
When I first saw this movie I was blown away buy it. Since then it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. Like many other people this movie gave me false ideas about Witchcraft, which I found otherwise as fictional. Even now as a practitioner of Wicca I still find it to be a great movie. This movie was made for entertainment purposes and not to persuade or disuade anyone one way or the other.

Fairuza Balk as Nancy was awesome. She played and looked the part so well and I don't think anyone could have done a better job. The movie is based around three teenage girls classified as the misfits of the school. They come together to form a small coven and cast spells one themselves and other people. Sarah is the newcomer who is quickly accepted into their circle. As the movie progresses things get out of hand and Nancy ends up way in over her head and it's up to Sarah to use her powerful inheritated gift of magick to stop her. I suggest this movie for anyone who wants to be thrilled.

Craft Services
The Craft is a solid, yet still somewhat predictable thriller, that tried to ride the surging horror wave started by Scream.

Sarah Baily (Robin Tunney) has always felt like an outsider all her life. So, when she and her Dad (Cliff De Young) move to a new town, she finds herself having to start fresh. As the new gal at St. Benedict's Academy, she immediately falls in with the high school's female misfits. But, this group of girls won't settle for being just powerless outcasts, that nobody wants to hang out with. Indeed, Nancy, (Fairuza Balk) Bonnie, (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True) have discovered just how much fun school can be if you have the skills to use "The Craft" and they plan to show Sarah the way.

Director and co scripter Andrew Fleming plays things pretty safe throughout the film. The tried and true horror formula isn't tested that much. Young and trendy stars populate the cast, with moments of humor and a few jolts, thrown in for good measure. The breakout performance for me here is Balk's sassy Nancy. She is one tough witch you don't want to mess with. She helps make the film better than it would be otherwise. As with any film about the wicken way, there's also a certain female "bonding" subtext that has to play itself out, as well.

The special edition DVD substitutes for the movie only edition from awhile back. The audio commentary from Fleming is a nice mix of the tecnical and on set trivia about the film. There are two making Of featurettes on the disc. The first,is a six minute EPK style prepublicity kind of thing, while the second is a 24 minute retrospective, produced for the DVD. Conjuring THE CRAFT features "new" interviews with Fleming, Robin Tunny, Rachel True among others, intermixed with on set comments from Balk and Campbell. This is well produced. Fleming provides commentary for the deleted footage that, doesn't really amount to much as far as the final version is concerned The entire film score from Greame Revell is preserved and given its due as an isolated music track. Talent files, as well as, theatrical trailers for The Craft, among other films top off the bonus material on the disc. Addtional production notes can be found inside the keep case.

The Craft is worth a dabble, with a *** and a half star rating, as long as your expectations are kept in check.

These Girls Know Their Rites!
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) is the new kid in town, but even under the best of circumstances she has never been accepted by the popular crowd. At her new school, she falls in with a trio of other female misfits (Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True) who, it so happens, are trying to learn witchcraft and form their own little coven. When Sarah joins