Amazon.com

Meet the Parents found such tremendous success in the chemistry produced by the contrasting personalities of stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller that the film's creators went for broke with the same formula again in Meet the Fockers. This time around, Jack and Dina Byrnes (De Niro and Blythe Danner) climb into Jack's new kevlar-lined RV with daughter Pam (Teri Polo), soon-to-be son-in-law Gaylord (Stiller), and Jack's infant grandson from his other daughter for the trip to Florida to meet Gaylord's parents, Bernie and Roz Focker (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand in a casting coup). The potential in-laws are, of course, the opposite of Jack, a pair of randy, touchy-feely fun-lovers. The rest of the movie is pretty much a sitcom: put Bernie and Roz together with Jack, and watch the in-laws clash as Gaylord squirms. As with the original, there is a sense of joy in watching these actors take on their roles with obvious relish, and the Hoffman-Streisand-Stiller triumvirate is likeable enough to draw you in. But the formula doesn't work as well in Fockers mostly because much of the humor is based on two obvious gimmicks: Gaylord Focker's name, and the fact that Streisand's character is a sex therapist. As a result, the movie itself is more contrived and predictable, and a lot less fun than the original. The casting is grand, but one wishes more thought was put into the script.--Dan Vancini ... Read more

Reviews (189)

Since the movie is so impossibly boring...
and cliché, and predictable and tongue-in-cheek, and trited, and mindless, I'm going to summarize this movie as:
Utter Waste of Money and Time.
There's nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing positive to say about this movie. They were pushing it with the first one, however, it was passable and watchable. This sequel is one that should have never put out. It's so enclosed in its idiocy that it obfuscates the acting value of thespians of great caliber. Avoid!

Don't Believe the Negativity...It's Hilarious
I'm so tired of everyone looking for Shakespearian perfection in every film, bottom line, it's a dumb comedy, so turn your pompous search for meaningful dialogue and great script-writing
off and enjoy the laughs. It's a comedy, not Macbeth. I kept hearing how horrible it was, well guess what, surprise, surprise
the critics were wrong again! If you enjoyed the first film, you'll love the second, it was every bit as funny, if not funnier. I don't laugh easy either, but it had me rolling most of the film, in tears laughing at times. I know when to be critical and when to put the brain on pause and just enjoy a good old fashioned laugh. It has that Farelly Brothers-type gross out humor, if you enjoy that sort of thing which I do, then you'll enjoy this. If not, go rent 'Annie Hall,' and spend needless hours pining over the film's lighting and set direction, you know, 'the important things in film'...rolls eyes.

please, not a third time!
Gee, it's pretty sad to see actors of this caliber, who've been in so many memorable movies, get mired in this kind of horrible dreck.

But, this is what really offended me:in "Meet the Parents" there was one trained animal to provide a few cute jokes.In this sequel, not only did they feel the need to throw in a pathetic looking dogfor a few more "America's Funniest Videos" style laughs, they effectively used a child in the role of a third "trained animal".Sick.They must have figured that it worked well with "Mini-Me" in the "Austin Powers" sequel, so why not stick Robert DeNiro with a similar sidekick?The people who made this movie deserve a swift kick (or two) in the pants.

Clash of the Icons
Moviegoers flocked to "Meet the Fockers," making this star-studded sequel to "Meet the Parents" a box-office smash. Now that Gaylord "Greg" Focker (Ben Stiller) and his fiancée Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) are finally getting married, it's time for Pam's conservative parents (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) to meet Greg's freewheeling parents (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand). De Niro is once again terrific as Jack Byrnes, the suspicious ex-CIA operative (though Jack's obsession with the "circle of trust" has grown a bit tiresome). Stiller reprises one of his most humorous--and appealing--screen personas as the beleaguered male nurse. Hoffman gives the films best performance as Bernie Focker, a frisky lawyer-turned-househusband and Streisand is especially funny as Roz Focker, a straightforward sex therapist for seniors. Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are wonderful in their supporting roles and Owen Wilson's cameo appearance is a hoot. The DVD extras include deleted scenes, bloopers, and a Matt Lauer interview with the cast.

Total Mind Pollution... I would rather not give any stars
Listen to the people who didn't like this movie.I LOVED the first movie and watched it several times.The first movie had some crudeness in it, but most of the humor was just plain funny.This movie was nothing but crudeness and I think my IQ went down just by sitting through it.If you enjoyed this movie, you are extremely immature.There are some very funny movies out there, they just don't need to be as crude as this one.I think I only laughed once during the movie and I don't even remember when that was because most of the time I was sitting there debating on whether or not I should just turn the movie off. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Meet the Parents found such tremendous success in the chemistry produced by the contrasting personalities of stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller that the film's creators went for broke with the same formula again in Meet the Fockers. This time around, Jack and Dina Byrnes (De Niro and Blythe Danner) climb into Jack's new kevlar-lined RV with daughter Pam (Teri Polo), soon-to-be son-in-law Gaylord (Stiller), and Jack's infant grandson from his other daughter for the trip to Florida to meet Gaylord's parents, Bernie and Roz Focker (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand in a casting coup). The potential in-laws are, of course, the opposite of Jack, a pair of randy, touchy-feely fun-lovers. The rest of the movie is pretty much a sitcom: put Bernie and Roz together with Jack, and watch the in-laws clash as Gaylord squirms. As with the original, there is a sense of joy in watching these actors take on their roles with obvious relish, and the Hoffman-Streisand-Stiller triumvirate is likeable enough to draw you in. But the formula doesn't work as well in Fockers mostly because much of the humor is based on two obvious gimmicks: Gaylord Focker's name, and the fact that Streisand's character is a sex therapist. As a result, the movie itself is more contrived and predictable, and a lot less fun than the original. The casting is grand, but one wishes more thought was put into the script.--Dan Vancini ... Read more

Reviews (189)

Since the movie is so impossibly boring...
and cliché, and predictable and tongue-in-cheek, and trited, and mindless, I'm going to summarize this movie as:
Utter Waste of Money and Time.
There's nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing positive to say about this movie. They were pushing it with the first one, however, it was passable and watchable. This sequel is one that should have never put out. It's so enclosed in its idiocy that it obfuscates the acting value of thespians of great caliber. Avoid!

Don't Believe the Negativity...It's Hilarious
I'm so tired of everyone looking for Shakespearian perfection in every film, bottom line, it's a dumb comedy, so turn your pompous search for meaningful dialogue and great script-writing
off and enjoy the laughs. It's a comedy, not Macbeth. I kept hearing how horrible it was, well guess what, surprise, surprise
the critics were wrong again! If you enjoyed the first film, you'll love the second, it was every bit as funny, if not funnier. I don't laugh easy either, but it had me rolling most of the film, in tears laughing at times. I know when to be critical and when to put the brain on pause and just enjoy a good old fashioned laugh. It has that Farelly Brothers-type gross out humor, if you enjoy that sort of thing which I do, then you'll enjoy this. If not, go rent 'Annie Hall,' and spend needless hours pining over the film's lighting and set direction, you know, 'the important things in film'...rolls eyes.

please, not a third time!
Gee, it's pretty sad to see actors of this caliber, who've been in so many memorable movies, get mired in this kind of horrible dreck.

But, this is what really offended me:in "Meet the Parents" there was one trained animal to provide a few cute jokes.In this sequel, not only did they feel the need to throw in a pathetic looking dogfor a few more "America's Funniest Videos" style laughs, they effectively used a child in the role of a third "trained animal".Sick.They must have figured that it worked well with "Mini-Me" in the "Austin Powers" sequel, so why not stick Robert DeNiro with a similar sidekick?The people who made this movie deserve a swift kick (or two) in the pants.

Clash of the Icons
Moviegoers flocked to "Meet the Fockers," making this star-studded sequel to "Meet the Parents" a box-office smash. Now that Gaylord "Greg" Focker (Ben Stiller) and his fiancée Pam Byrnes (Teri Polo) are finally getting married, it's time for Pam's conservative parents (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) to meet Greg's freewheeling parents (Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand). De Niro is once again terrific as Jack Byrnes, the suspicious ex-CIA operative (though Jack's obsession with the "circle of trust" has grown a bit tiresome). Stiller reprises one of his most humorous--and appealing--screen personas as the beleaguered male nurse. Hoffman gives the films best performance as Bernie Focker, a frisky lawyer-turned-househusband and Streisand is especially funny as Roz Focker, a straightforward sex therapist for seniors. Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are wonderful in their supporting roles and Owen Wilson's cameo appearance is a hoot. The DVD extras include deleted scenes, bloopers, and a Matt Lauer interview with the cast.

Total Mind Pollution... I would rather not give any stars
Listen to the people who didn't like this movie.I LOVED the first movie and watched it several times.The first movie had some crudeness in it, but most of the humor was just plain funny.This movie was nothing but crudeness and I think my IQ went down just by sitting through it.If you enjoyed this movie, you are extremely immature.There are some very funny movies out there, they just don't need to be as crude as this one.I think I only laughed once during the movie and I don't even remember when that was because most of the time I was sitting there debating on whether or not I should just turn the movie off. ... Read more

Reviews (482)

Gentlemen prefer blondes
If there were 1/2 ratings, I would have granted an extra half-star if only for the moxie and flair for fun acting that Reese Witherspoon displays in Legally Blonde. An absurd storyline is carried by the actress in a script that fits Ms. Reese tighter than the designer outfits made into a running joke in the film.

Though ably directed and acted by a supporting cast including Luke Wilson and a chihuahua, 5 star storyline it is not. This movie is for fun, not for keeps. Yet, as weak as the foundation may be in Legally Blonde, I found myself smiling at the antics of Elle Woods (Reese W.), a grown up version of Alicia Silverstone's Clueless character. The sorority depictions were frightenly parallel to the one's I recall in college, which only made the stereotype more humourous. And Elle's college entrance video submitted to the Harvard Admission Committee makes the film almost worthwhile on its own.

Men, be not afraid to rent this film with your girlfriend, wife, or boyfriend. Whatever your fancy, Legally Blonde has enough tom-foolery of the collegiate level to keep you laughing. Women, you will only solidify your stature as the significant other who can pick out a movie even your Marine Corp. boytoy will enjoy.

fun despite the weak idea
Reese Witherspoon is Elle Woods, a blonde and beautiful if slightly ditzy college senior whose life is turned upside-down when her rich boyfriend Warner Kensington the Third (Matt Davis) dumps her. With her daddy's plastic, a bottomless wardrobe and a college career based on "Fashion History" Elle is something of a Barbie Doll come to cruel life. Getting into Harvard Law School, and having a promising future ahead of him, Warner sees himself as a future JFK, and JFK isn't supposed to choose Marilyn over Jackie O. Convinced that she still has a chance, Elle pulls out all the stops and manages to crack into the freshman class at school where she sticks out like a sore (and poorly accessorized thumb). Making no friends, and confirming every dumb blonde stereotype ever conceived, Elle is ruthlessly victimized by her seemingly smarter and insecure classmates. Elle wouldn't make it past her first day if not for her inexplicable capacity to dig out the common sense buried under the heady legal theory. Instead, she sort of prospers becoming a success story and more mature person while still being the same cute Elle that only Reese Witherspoon can create.

It's a thin plot, and the tacked criminal trial added at the end seems an excuse to keep a lame idea going, but it works because, like Elle, the script has an endless reservoir of pluck and manages some cute tricks of its own. The dim homilies guiding Elle's sorority lifestyle are bound by a fierce sense of loyalty (people who exercise can't kill people - the endorphins make them too happy), one that the script remains true to. In the end, Elle wins her case because of her loyalty to an accused killer and former sorority sister, one that you'd never think twice about doubting. Neither seem to deserve the attention or loyalty, but manage to win the case anyway. See it if only for Reese Witherspoon.

A film for girls everywhere
I was expecting this movie to be full of dumb blonde jokes, but was pleasantly surprised. Considering I'm naturally dark, and dye my hair as dark as possible, I'm never gonna be blonde, and it probably wouldn't suit me. But I do have what people would call my "blonde moments" where I say/do something stupid. I don't see why brunettes can't be labelled a bit daft at times too! Cos I definitely am!

This movie is carried by a strong cast: Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Stifler's Mom from American Pie, Ali Larter, Thomas Andrews from Titanic, and many more! My faves out of the cast have to be Ali Larter and Stifler's Mom! They stole the movie out from underneath Reese Witherspoon.

What is amazing about this movie, is the sheer amount of time spent on Reese's hair (which looks suspiciously like extensions). Throughout the movie, she has a mere 40 different hairstyles, which sometimes feels like a different hairstyle for each scene of the movie. Reese also wears a lot of different clothes for each scene, a lot of them with something pink in them, which she all got to KEEP after this was finished shooting! Free clothes, alright for some!

Once again, Selma Blair comes across as a bit of an ice queen in her role as Vivian, but you'll be glad to hear, the ice melts before the end of the movie!

What didn't I see coming in this movie? What Victor Garber's character really turns out to be. And trust me, he's not as nice in this, as he was in Titanic.

There is a sequel too, which I'm sure I'll manage to get my hands on eventually. And Stifler's Mom comes back for that too! That's how good her role is! But this is basically a feel good movie, which shows you don't need to change for anybody.

Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde DVD ~ Reese Witherspoon is a funny movie without any real social pretense. Witherspoon is awesome in her depiction of the felmale lawyer in stiletto heals and super feminine approach to life. More women should be like her...

Hilarious comedy!
This movie is one of my favorites. It's a fish-out-of-water comedy about a feminine, ditzy (but actually quite smart) sorority girl, Elle Woods (Witherspoon), who goes to Harvard Law School to get her boyfriend back. She ends up realizing that she's a lot smarter than people give her credit for, and succeeding beyond everyone's expectations including her own. The movie is hilarious the whole way through, and Witherspoon plays her part just perfectly. This is also one of those movies, at least for me, that you can watch over and over again and not get tired of it. I recommend everyone who enjoys comedy to watch this! ... Read more

Reviews (41)

This is my favorite movie!!!
I've seen it so many times I could almost play each part. In fact, it comes on this afternoon on Showtime. It's a continuing story of Delores Van Cartier aka Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) who uses her gifts of music and determination to keep a school open as well as change the lives of all those her life touches. Great music, great humor and drama. Lauren Hill (pre-Fugees) is in this as well as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Monica Calhoun if you look really, really carefully. Buy it, enjoy it.
Hey, maybe you'll catch it on Showtime during one of it's airings. I'm positive when it's over, when you can finally stop yourself from humming one of the great tunes, and possibly put down your tissue (I cry EVERY TIME I see it)( and baby, I've seen seen it so many times that I've got ot turn it off when my husband comes home because he says "Are you watching that again?) You will say "I wish I had that movie!" So get it so you'll have no regrets!

Fantastic sequel
Though there is room for improvement with regards to the story line, this movie delivers what I most enjoy in a film. The acting is superb, including the minor cast roles. The music is absolutely fantastic!...Lauren Hill and Ryan Toby steal the show with their voices. The plot, though quite simple and predictable, is believable. Many of the scenes are very moving, including the ending sequence involving Lauren Hill's character, Rita, and her mother.

Overall, this is a great family movie that everyone can enjoy. The comedy is simple enough for children to understand, and there isn't one scene in the movie (that I can recall) which is inappropriate for all ages. Like a few other reviewers, I've found that I long to hear a few of the songs from the movie when I need cheering up.

If you enjoy good, clean family movies, you can't go wrong with this one.

Part 1 was Great..Part 2 Wasnt.
SAw it in the movies.... Fell asleep midway... All the magic from part 1 which was AWESOME...was lost. Boring story... They should have left it at part 1.

So much fun!
FANTASTIC sequel! Just as enjoyable, if not more, than the first! All of the musical numbers are glorious!! A successful sequel all the way!

Loved it
I've read all of the reviews on SA2 and it is quite obvious this movie is not for everyone, however, if you enjoy "feel good " movies , this is for you. The storyline iis quite predictable, the acting is good , but the music is a delightful bonus,just wish there was more of it. I know that if I'm feeling a little down, I can pop in this movie and feel better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Freeway is one of those movies that has the power to simultaneously amaze and disgust just about anyone who dares to view it. Like Seven, Kalifornia, and Natural Born Killers, it's a movie that could be called a product of our times, since it caters to our societal fascination with serial killers and outrageous psychopathic behavior. But make no mistake: director Matthew Bright isn't out to feed anyone's sickest impulse. This is a scathing satire in the age of Jerry Springer fistfights and "real" TV shows like Cops, in which the "I-5 Killer" (Kiefer Sutherland) meets a wayward teenager (Reese Witherspoon) on the freeway that provides his nickname. She confides in the man but soon discovers his gruesome intentions, and ... well, let's just say she effectively defends herself, only to find later that the killer (whose wife is played by Brooke Shields, no less!) has used the media to his advantage. Fine performances make this a provocative thriller, but it's definitely not for the innocent or squeamish. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Simply Hilarious Satire
I have a different sort of sense of humor than most people, so that may be the reason that I did not find this movie too violent or disturbing as some reviewers did here. They seem to be missing the point: this is SATIRE. The movie does not take itself seriously once, and that is what makes it so great. Everything is attacked here with acerbic wit, from tweaked out prostitutes to parole violations ("he most certainly does not have a gun, he's on parole, he hasn't owned a firearm in a long time") to welfare vouchers and wayward, illiterate teens to the foster care system and the media circus to serial killers and glue-sniffing jailhouse lesbians...this is a grab bag of American society at its rotten core and it works better than you expect it to.

Reese Witherspoon plays Vanessa Lutz with glee. You can just tell she has a ball with her character, and the lines she gets to utter are priceless. This is a movie where the dialogue will stick in your head long after the end credits roll. Keifer Sutherland also seems to enjoy playing the "Bad Wolf" I-5 killer Bob Wolverton, almost disturbingly so. The violence in this movie is not as explicit as many reviewers have stated. Freeway comes across more as a twisted comedy than a thriller, although there are some brief instances of violence.

The action flies by quickly and by the end, we don't want the ride to conclude. Freeway succeeds in all parts.

Tragically Funny
I can't believe Reese Witherspoon not only didn't win an Oscar for this performance, but that she wasn't even nominated. Now THAT'S tragic. This has to be one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Every performance, from Witherspoon to Keifer Sutherland to Veronica Cartwright, is a tour-de-force. Witherspoons plays Vanessa, a modern day Red Riding Hood on a journey to meet her long-lost grandmother, running away from the Child Services Department after her alcoholic, drug-addicted mother [Cartwright] is once again arrested for solicitation. On her way, she encounters Sutherland, a child psychologist of dubious nature. There's the ensuing hilarity, poignant moments and satisfying resolution.

Why should you see this movie? Because it's downright hysterical. Reward yourself with a movie that you'll laugh through from start to finish and never skip through.

Life in the trash lane...
Freeway (1996), written and directed by Matthew Bright, takes the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, infuses it with part Jerry Springer, part America's Most Wanted to create a highly disturbing, yet often times satirical, dark look at our collective fascination with serial killers.

The film stars Reese Witherspoon as Vanessa Lutz, a somewhat illiterate 15-year-old California girl whose life is anything but a bowl of cherries. Her mother (Amanda Plummer) is a drug-addicted prostitute, working just outside the motel where the family lives, while her step-dad Larry, played by Michael Weiss (The Pretender), is a lecherous, alcoholic, drug abusing parolee who has spent more of his life in prisons than out. Trouble develops when Vanessa's mother gets arrested, along with her stepfather, and Vanessa is headed into the foster care system once again. Deciding to forgo the system, Vanessa escapes, trying to make her way to her paternal grandmother, a woman she's never met, but figures it's got to be better than the alternative.

Upon breaking down on the freeway, she meets Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland) who offers assistance in a ride. The man seems a bit too helpful (at least to me), but Vanessa takes Bob up on his offer. We learn Bob is some sort of councilor, and he begins to probe (figuratively speaking) Vanessa about her family problems, getting her to discuss more and more details. She trusts him initially, given that it is usually easier to discuss highly personal matters with a complete stranger than those closest to you, but, when Bob begins to get too explicit, Vanessa tries to walk away, to which Bob's true colors come through. You see, there's a serial killer on the loose, one whose target appear to be young women picked up on the freeway. As Vanessa determines that Bob is in fact the killer, she manages to escape, but not before shooting Bob a number of times, leaving him for dead. But Bob doesn't die...he's severely messed up, but doesn't die.

Soon Vanessa is picked up by the police, as Bob, now a victim, and his wife (played by Brook Shields) aggressively press for the prosecution of Vanessa as an adult. It's no surprise to Vanessa that the police are reluctant to by into her version of the events, seeing only a troubled youth who viciously shot and then robbed a man trying to assist her. As the authorities try to determine whether or not they can prosecute Vanessa as an adult, she manages to escape, and makes her way towards her grandmother's house, while the police, finding new evidence to support Vanessa's story, begin investigating Bob, who has since gone missing.

I've given you a fair synopsis so far, but I left out a lot of things, like the dark, comedic elements, the graphic violence, and the incredible amount of profanity. Reese Witherspoon does a wonderful job, presenting an interminably cute, yet violent and brutal when she needs to be, product of her environment. Her character seemed very similar to the one she played in a later film, Election (1999), except a lot trashier, but less devious. Kiefer Sutherland seemed to enjoy his role, presenting an initially suave exterior hiding a fairly hideous and disgusting individual, full of contempt and thoughts of uber-violence. His visage after suffering the attack from his would be victim nicely matched what I felt the character to be like on the inside, disturbing, disgusting, and intensely grotesque. The supporting cast including Dan Heyda, Bokeem Woodbine, and Brittany Murphy all add nicely to this intensely out-of-whack modern day version of the little girl in red and the big, bad wolf. One can't help notice influences of Oliver Stone's 1994 surrealistic nightmare Natural Born Killers within this film, and I wasn't surprised to learn Mr. Stone was actually an executive producer for Freeway. While lacking the intense, skewed, and sometimes confusing visual imagery of Natural Born Killers, Freeway does share it's darkly comedic elements, holding little back from its audience. As I said, the violence is more of the visceral sort, but I did notice in many instances the aftermath of the violence was shown, rather than the actual act as it happened. The amount of profanity seemed a bit extreme at times, but it was there for a reason (what that reason is, I am unsure). With elements in film like this, I am usually of the opinion that less is more, in that a subjective placement of such language in certain areas of the movie can create the shocking elements desired rather than large quantities spread throughout.

The quality of the print here looks very good in wide screen format, and the audio is excellent. Not much in the way of special features other than a commentary track by the writer/director and a theatrical trailer. The price for this DVD is certainly attractive, but know that it earns its' 'R' rating, and certainly isn't for everyone.

Cookieman108

"'Cause I'm p*ssed off, and the whole world owes me"
There is nothing sacred in FREEWAY. Movies like this get your friendly neighborhood "family values" handwringers drooling in righteousness. Oliver Stone was executive producer, which may be one reason why it feels just like an one of his movies. Yet I think its far better than the self-indulgent NATURAL BORN KILLERS (definitely superior to U-TURN). Its pretenses are much lower, and then there's Reese Witherspoon.

This is possibly her best performance; she definitely doesn't play it safe here. An endearing, sociopathic and illiterate 15-year old who "had an anger problem, but not any more." It's fun to think of the LEGALLY BLONDE fanatics renting this and being horrified at their princess turning tricks and having a black boyfriend. At the same time, she really does do interesting movies. ELECTION is way different, yet I think is a great companion to this movie with its dark, subversive humor. AMERICAN PSYCHO and CRUEL INTENTIONS are by no means good movies, but we're not talking Sandra Bullock's stuff here.

Anyway, FREEWAY is in its own class, taking urban white trash clichés in absurd and droll directions. Vanessa Lutz's prostitute mother, pederast step-father and their crack rocks are taken away by the County cops, and she just wants to get to grandmother's trailer park where everything will be okay. (Her dream sequence, with a trailer park paradise with kitsch giraffe statutes makes for an hysterical ideal) So she sets off, on the I-5 in southern California. She eventually falls into the hands of bourgeois child therapist and ambitious serial killer Bob Wolverton (Keifer), who manipulates her into talking about herself. This is one of the best parts of the movie.

Sutherland is fine as the wolf. The two detectives are hilarious. Dan Hedaya as the slightly bemused older guy, and Wolfgang Bodison as the patronizing young guy who Vanessa beats the crap out of at one point.

Strange moral debates constantly play out in the subtext of the movie, and I think enhance its humor. There are few well-written movies that even approach the black humor and socially sacriligeous quality of this movie. It's up there with REPO MAN and WAY OF THE GUN. Director Matthew Bright's commentary is pretty interesting, especially talking about the dynamics of filming on a very limited budget. Also, through his constant remarks about girls, girls' hair, Reese, and hints of his own perversions, he comes across as a very weird fellow on his own. So it is worth listening to if you're a fan of the movie.

A Very Deceiving Movie
The official Amazon.com review got this movie all wrong. Although it is kind of about post-Springer/Cops world, this is less of a social commentary as it is a dark comedy. There's so many good one liners ("Do you wanna get shot a whole buncha times?!") and just generally funny characters (the mildly-retarded yet aggressive lesbian). If it is a commentary on society, it's not commneting on the media, but on the modern-day family unit. An interesting note is that the picture Vannessa shows Bob of her father is actually a picture of a convicted serial murder Richard Speck.

All in all, a very funny, very odd little movie. I can't recommend it enough, especially for the great acting of Witherspoon and the typically bad acting of Brooke Shields. ... 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

Amazon.com

Science investigator Beakman's hair may look like it took the business end of a powerful electric shock, but as host of the silly but enlightening The Best of Beakman's World, he proves far too savvy about natural forces to make such a blunder. With the help of penguin smart alecks Don and Herb (voiced by Alan Barzman and Bert Berdis), and ratty-looking rodent Lester (Mark Ritts), Beakman (Paul Zaloom) explains, in brief, sketch-like blackouts, how a lot of Stuff works. Sure, one can contain water in an upside-down glass with a mere playing card; it's called air pressure. Yes, a tennis ball that bounces off a bouncing basketball will shoot 15 feet in the air. No, one can't push a stick through a small pile of table salt sitting in a tissue-covered paper tube. Indeed, the mysteries of a camera obscura can be explored with a cardboard box. Big ideas, simple (and fun) execution. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (3)

WE LOVE IT
The first time my 4-1/2 year old son saw this video, he just sat there with his mouth open. Since then, we have done three of the experiments. Having recently "graduated" from Barney, I am just thrilled with this video. I only wish there was more.

The Best of Beakman's World
I only ever saw one episode of this show on TV in June 2000, but I really started to like it fast. I thought it was really funny, but I can't seem to find out where to catch it anymore. I was so excited when I found this at my library; it has a lot of cool stuff on it and it's kind of like Bill Nye, but sometimes weirder. I'd definitely recommend this to just about anybody.

This show is a great way to learn basic science
I have always been a Beakman fan, and I was sorry the show was taken off the air. The experiments are great and the presentations are funny and informative. Science can be fun! This "Best of" gathers a number of experiments and "fast facts", and it's a great gift for people who either liked the show or who need a fun introduction to scientific principles. I'm only sorry Josie doesn't appear much, since the in-between bits she was featured in are trimmed here. Liza doesn't appear at all. I bought this tape for myself and I have now gone back and ordered two additional copies to give to my nephews for XMas. ... 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

Reviews (168)

Basically copy of 1st flick, but still fun
If you caught the first flick, you'll find little different in its sequel, but "Legall Blonde 2" is still a bag of preposterous fun.

Planning for her wedding to law professor Emmet Richmond (Luke Wilson), Elle Woods becomes determined to (Witherspoon) track down the biological parent of her Chihuahua, Bruiser. Elated to find the dog belongs to Versace, Elle is shocked to find that the animal (and countless others) is subjected to testing by cosmetics makers. Losing her job at a tony law firm when she tries to make an issue of animal testing, Elle heads for Washington where she hopes to change the law. Linking up with an apparently successful and sympathetic congresswoman played by Sally Field, and learning the ways of Washington D.C.-style politics, LB2 essentially follows the pattern of the first movie - replacing law with cut-throat politics (initially hostile characters prove to be friends while friendly characters turn out to have their own agenda; Elle wins out over all using her mix of wackiness and wisdom). The flick makes good use of some side characters, like Bruce McGill as a right-wing conservative who, luckily for Elle, is a proud dog owner (McGill may best be remembered as the mysterious "D-Day" from "Animal House"; it's fun watching this flick thinking that his character may very well be the same as D-Day, only 40 years later); also Bob Newhart as a D.C. doorman who knows a thing or two about DC power politics (where was his character during Watergate?); but really belongs to a horde of extras mobilized by Elle to lead the fight on Capitol Hill. The moral of the story - never look down on the apparent savviness of your opponent who, though unsophisticated, is motivated by a cause they find noble. At least not in Hollywood.

It's okay....
Being the complete opposite of the beauty-obsessed, cheery 'ditzy' blonde that Elle Woods is myself, I somehow manages to find the original "Legally Blonde" to be a really good, cute, funny movie. After all, at least Elle Woods is an animal-loving vegetarian animal rights activist. So am I. So naturally, I bought this movie.

The idea behind it is great: Elle Woods wants to save her dog's mother from an animal testing facility and end cruel animal research in the cosmetic industry for good using her new status in the legal profession. So it carries a great message. Sadly, the movie isn't much of a comedy at all. It isn't even all that entertaining. I probably wouldn't want to see it more than once, especially because Elle's constant "preppy blonde" antics are really starting to get annoying. Sure, the movies are cute, but let's face it: they're entirely unrealistic. No such person as Elle Woods could ever make it as a lawyer, let alone make it very far in the real world.

Sally Field and Bob Newhart aren't in this as much as you may be led to believe, either. It focuses on Bruiser, the dog. Somehow, a serious subject like animal rights gets Elle's comments on shoes, clothes, make-up, etc., thrown in every few minutes to really grate on your nerves and wonder how someone so superficial could also be so good, caring, and deep. There you go, deep: Not the best word to use for this film. More like "fluffy." It's definite fluff. Like her quote: "In this case, the price of beauty is too high....I can't believe I said that!" Ugh.

Still, if this is the only way to get across to people the problems with animal testing, it'll do. One woman Elle runs into says, "I don't think about it, that does the trick!" when asked to consider the horrible ways some animals get treated and abused. This shows the ignorance that so many people have that needs to change. A serious lesson in a movie that involves a Chihuahua falling in love with a Rottweiler. For corns' sake.

So while Elle's political views are right-on, the movie itself isn't exactly the greatest. Still, it's worth a see.

Holy...
I saw this movie in the theater and I thought it was horrible. I didn't laugh once and this movie just bored me to death. It wasnt entertaining, funny, nor did it hold my attention. Then I had the misfortune of having to watch it again on a roadtrip (my car has a DVD player in it) and I just could not take it. THIS MOVIE SUCKS SO BAD! Stay away at all costs!

egally Blonde 2 - Red, White & Blonde (Special Edition)
egally Blonde 2 - Red, White & Blonde (Special Edition)
DVD ~ Reese Witherspoon is just as good and ditzy as the original. Many people said that it paints a bad picture for women. I could disagree more. This is how men want women to act.

Legally Blonde 2
This film is great it has a certain age. This film has an occasional use of bad language.
This is about a girl who has a dog poodle and she wants to be a lawyer but will she ever become one you wont find out yet.......
This video/dvd is excellent.I think the person who plays the judge is a great actor/actress and so is everybody else but the judge is best.
I like this film because it is funny and even more enjoyable.I thought everything was marvellous and nothing was bad. ... Read more

Description

A gritty and poignant look at the world of male prostitutes through the course of a single day on the streets - hustling for money and love while hoping for a little decency. A veteran male prostitute, John, befriends the new guy who looks to John for advice and friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Touching Portrait of Street Hustlers
I was pleasently surprised after watching this film. I wanted to pick up Lukas Haas and hug him--he was so adorable. David Arquette did his finest work to date. Despite some very minor flaws in the plot, the overall effect of the movie lasts for days after you watch it. A must see!!

Slow but still good
The movement of the story is very slow. There are 10 chapters on the DVD. Around chapter 4 I thought I was near the end of the film.

The film doesn't pick up speed until the middle. Here, we finally get to see how all the hustlers are related to each other. Also, the two main characters reveal a lot of themselves. We learn at how Donner's (Lukas) family mistreated him when he decided to stop hiding. And we learn about how sad John (David) is about the unfortunate placement of his birthday on the calandar.

The movie is actually better with the commentary on. But, you should see the film as is first before you watch it with the commentary.

All in all, this film isn't bad. I think it is best viewed when you borrow your friends DVD of this movie. It will not bore you, but you won't have any trouble hitting pause to go to the bathroom, or talk to friends, or answer the phone, or do anything. This film is really for those that LOVE independent films.

Closer to life than most would like
Anyone want to catch a glimpse of what happens to kids who are neglected or rejected by their families? Then you need to check out this movie. While incredibly tame compared to real life, it at least takes the average "john" into a pseudo world of the streets, and the actors are excellent in their roles. I have watched this movie SEVERAL times and have cried at the end each time. While I agree that it is a dramatic close-to-life rendition, and many want a fantasy world in which to escape when watching a movie, it also has a great message, one which you must find for yourself. I believe this is why no other character has a background, save the one, so that each viewer can find themselves in one of the characters. I love David Arquette in this movie...he reminds me a lot of a close personal friend.
Oh, yea, and most of them don't work because they have been on the streets since a very young age. They have few skills, no address or phone number, and perhaps are even a bit scared. My advice, watch this without the rose colored glasses.

Endlessly, relentlessly downbeat
This is not the worst gay-themed movie out there, but it IS among the most depressing. It's about two young guys reduced to hustling on Santa Monica Boulevard. Lukas Haas is reasonably convincing as the teenage cast-out looking for someone to care for irritating. In fact, he's supposed to be straight, and even has a girlfriend, but services middle-aged gay men for money. It's never explained why he doesn't just get a job (his character is a legal adult) and leave that life behind. If the movie did, then I must have dozed off before the story got to that. I really began to lose track after the fancy hotel scene. The locations are authentic, and there are a couple of mildly entertaining scenes here and there. But nearly every moment of this film is downbeat and never gave me any reason to care. The film's endless self-pity inspires depression, followed by boredom, sometimes followed by falling asleep. The only thing the film succeeds in is illistrating the point that prostitution is a dead-end life, but it's never enlightening or compelling in the process. Too bad.

Bittersweet Drama
Arquette at his dramatic best. Haas shines too in this bittersweet drama told on stark sets with painfully true dialogue. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Right up there with Office Space
I had very low expectations going into this movie, as it had Jenny McCarthy in it, but it was a nice surprise. What a great date move! Rented it on a friends recommendation and bought it the next day. It is a must for your movie collection. Consider Crazy Little Things as the romantic comedy version of Office Space.

Funniest movie I've seen in a long time...
I had never heard of this movie, but it was recommended by friends.

It is very funny story about two people that seem to keep running into each other. It's not a quote "chick flick" but it will more than keep her happy and it is funny enough to make you cry with laughter.

It's the same type comedy as Office Space.

Hilarious and Clever
I am looking forward to this DVD very much. I was only able to catch this movie on the Oxygen channel a few months ago and have had trouble tracking it down (it's other name is "A Perfect You").

I thought this movie was hilarious!! The scene where she thought he was a gigalo and he thought she was a prostitute, had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I am completely unfamiliar with Jenny McCarthy (wasn't she some MTV personality before?), but she really was this character to me - positively perfect for the part. This film really is in my top 10 of favorite films... and only now will I be able to see it whole, unbeeped (cuss words) and without commercial breaks (I taped it off the tv in case I wasn't able to find it elsewhere!).

I have no idea how another reviewer could have found this boring!!?? It had good, quick pacing; the characters and the story were interesting as well as hilarious. Even my husband thought this moview was well written even though it's not his usual storyline of choice (girl meets boy, boy/girl have conflict, boy/girl keep meeting, work through it and finally see each other as the true people they are... **sigh** it's been awhile since I've enjoyed a romantic comedy so much!!)

UGH.
I think Jenny McCarthy is pretty funny, but not in this DOA stinker. Poorly shot and with a terrible script, this movie is the equivalent to watching paint dry...BORING. I hope she fares better in Scary Movie 3. ... Read more

Description

A magical story about an older couple (Ben Gazzara and Rita Moreno) who try to rekindle their love one night in the Catskills. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Once in a Blue Moon
The movie uses a sci fi twist to make a point about love, commitment, relationships, and physical and emotional child abuse. I like this movie very much. It sets up a mysterious and romantic tone very well, it is well-acted, and the scenes are perfectly timed to maintain a good pace.

A Really Sweet Movie
It's the kind of movie that is so warm and humorous that couples absolutely have to rent it. I saw it in LA with my husband and even he got a little teary. I think the film is especially great for couples making up after a fight. Trust me on that one!

Blue Moon
I caught this movie in New York and I am looking forward to the video! Ben Gazzara and Rita Moreno are so perfect together. It is a film that will rent well to the romantic in us all. And the youngsters, Brian Vincent and Alanna Ubach bring a sweet charm to this lovely film. Will be especially well recieved on television I believe. ... Read more

Description

A Latina working in Los Angeles as a messenger is randomly discovered and fashioned into a pop music star ... Read more