Reviews (125)

Finally on DVD!!!
You're not likely to find a more sweet, affectionately drawn portrait of a time and era than this film. The last great one before this was "American Graffiti." Tom Hanks takes a very easy-going hand with the direction of this excellent movie, which is one of the film's strong points. It moves at a fast, yet leisurely pace and has a good story to tell about one of the millions of one hit wonder band that crop up, have a hit or two, and then just when they are about to become the hugest group in the world, disappear into oblivion. The group in this movie, therefore is, aptly called the "Wonders." (The original spelling of their name, the "One-ders" has to be changed because people kept pronouncing it "Oh needers".) This movie is a very light, fun musical comedy/drama with a bouncy, authentic-sounding score, highlighted by the excellent title number and some other faux-60s pop hits, and delightful performances from an exuberant cast. Hanks even has a small part as their manager, in a very downplayed, tasteful performance. This movie is wise to never take itself or its plot too seriously, acknowledging throughout, even during the breakup, that the "Wonders" was really a whim more than anything else throughout their shortlived history. Many clever set pieces compare the "Wonders" to parts of Beatle history, the difference being that the Beatles had more than one or two hit singles. All in all, this movie is a fun, vibrantly colorful look at the 60s music industry, that gently and subtly parodies the era while celebrating it simulaneously. P.S. Look for a fabulous cameo by Rita Wilson, Hanks' real-life wife as a cocktail waitress.

"...like I wonder what happen to the O-NE-DERS?" Lenny
Those words spoken by Lenny just kill me...Zahn plays the part of Lenny, the smart-talking and wild member of the group. This movie takes place in 1964, just as Vietnam was beginning to re-focus a carefree America. Along comes a "one-time wonder" with a hit song which climbs the Billboard Chart in record time...The chemistry that Zahn, Schaech, Scott, and Embry have, combine to form an exciting and comical band who go from obscurity to nationwide fame in a few weeks' time. Each member of the group handles the group's rising success in a different way. That aspect alone is unique! Tom Hanks plays the manager-part very realistically, but adds a twist of humanity when it comes to dealing with Scott's character. Liv Tyler, who plays Jimmy's girlfriend Faye, does a wonderful job of playing the part of the loyal girlfriend (though Jimmy burns her in the end). Tom Everett Scott does a fantastic job as the main character whose drums bring the Wonders to life through his playing. The plot is simple but could've been more developed. The soundtrack is a must if you purchase the movie. The album notes are fictional but add insights to other characters in the movie. Hanks did a wonderful job directing this movie and writing many of the songs involved in the movie. Overall, this ranks as one of my family's favorite movies...

"We can use the 'Wonders' with an 'O' 'N' 'E'"
This is one of Tom Hanks' best!
Written, directed, and starring Tom Hanks, 'That Thing You Do!' tells the charming story of a small town band hitting the big times. It starts with the find of a perfect drum player and ends in a wonder.
Guy Patterson is helping run the family appliance store, something he could live without doing, Jimmy is the lead singer to a newly started rock band with one problem: his band has its first gig and no drum player!
That's when Guy comes in, with his amazing fast drum playing skills, which turns the band's best song, "That Thing You Do", from good to great!!! They recieve a standing ovation and are asked to perform another gig! After making a single recording of "That Thing You Do!" on a record, they get a manager, who leads them to their new manager, Mr. White (Hanks).
After making the radio and hitting a state fair tour, the band fly to California where they are given a chance to perform live on TV!
As the worst would happen, something dramatic with Jimmy and his girlfriend, who is also their costume mistress, and the band break up. Giving the song "That Thing You Do!" a lable as a One-Hit Wonder.
_________________________________________________________________
The movie is awesome, all in all. It delivers fast, fun comedic jokes and has very snappy and catchy music. The ending is very sweet, giving a brief on all the main characters and where they are today. This movie will touch your heart, if not through the story, then the music.

Not deep, but highly etertaining slice of 1960's pop music
This is a movie about a 1964 garage rock band called "The Wonders" that catapults to the big time in one summer then disbands, having made only one hit -- get it? The one-hit-Wonders!

Some reviewers have complained that this movie isn't deep or "real" enough. I'm assuming that it doesn't show enough explicit sex and drug use to satisfy their urge for reality (the movies they recommend as alternatives are rated R). This movie isn't trying to go that deep, but it's a very entertaining, very clean slice of mid-60's Amnerican pop music.

My husband came of age in the 60's and he finds it immensely entertaining. He always laughs at the all-girl band Tom Hanks cleverly creates to showcase local 60's mediocrity -- and he's laughing at himself, remembering some of his own mediocre music ensembles from the same decade. But he only laughs during that one song; the rest of the music in this movie is excellent. Every time he hears the alterative version of the main song (during the end credits) he wishes that his own garage band would have had access to music like that.

1964 was an interesting time for pop music; it included 50's type genres as well as rock and roll (which is usually associated with the 60's, although it began earlier), and this movie (and soundtrack) capture it beautifully. The "Playtone Galaxy of Stars" (Playtone being the fictitious recording lable featured in the movie) includes a black girl's group, a glamourous blond pop singer and a tall, dark, handsome guy, reminiscent of a certain "look" from the late 50's/early 60's who sings a song hummorously reminiscent of "Secret Agent Man." Even jazz is featured: when the group falls apart, the drummer gets to jam with a black Jazz pianist that he's admired for years.

Not only do the Wonders sing the phenominally catchy and immensely listenable title tune (and the actors are really playing and singing, which is quite an achievement) but several others: my personal favorite is the jazzy "Dance With Me." But the wonderful (there I go again) title song is what seems to magically captures a whole decade of rock and roll; it would have been a major hit if it had existed in 1964.

My husband and I obviously love this film and what's really great about it is that our kids love to watch with us; they especially love anything Steve Zahn says or does -- he's hysterical. All the other performances are great as well; it's a very good piece of ensemble work and everyone gives a very natural performance. The plot clips right along, the screenplay is witty and the cinemetography is very cleverly done.

All right, so it doesn't have a deep meaning, but it's not trying to. If you enjoy music from the 60's, you can't find a more entertaining film than this one.

Just OK, nothing special
I expected an entertaining movie judging by these reviews,
but I was disappointed. This is a trite, ordinary movie with a catchy song. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

By now, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have amassed such a fund of goodwill with moviegoers that any new onscreen pairing brings nearly reflexive smiles.In You've Got Mail, the quintessential boy and girl next door repeat the tentative romantic crescendo that made Sleepless in Seattle, writer-director Nora Ephron's previous excursion with the duo, a massive hit. The prospective couple do actually meet face to face early on, but Mail otherwise repeats the earlier feature's gentle, extended tease of saving its romantic resolution until the final, gauzy shot.

The underlying narrative is an even more old-fashioned romantic pas de deux that is casually hooked to a newfangled device.The script, cowritten by the director and her sister, Delia Ephron, updates and relocates the Ernst Lubitsch classic, The Shop Around the Corner, to contemporary Manhattan, where Joe Fox (Hanks) is a cheerfully rapacious merchant whose chain of book superstores is gobbling up smaller, more specialized shops such as the children's bookstore owned by Kathleen Kelly (Ryan).Their lives run in close parallel in the same idealized neighborhood, yet they first meet anonymously, online, where they gradually nurture a warm, even intimate correspondence. As they begin to wonder whether this e-mail flirtation might lead them to be soul mates, however, they meet and clash over their colliding business fortunes.

It's no small testament to the two stars that we wind up liking and caring about them despite the inevitable (and highly manipulative) arc of the plot. Although their chemistry transcended the consciously improbable romantic premise of Sleepless, enabling director Ephron to attain a kind of amorous soufflé, this time around there's a slow leak that considerably deflates the affair. Less credulous viewers will challenge Joe's logic in prolonging the concealment of his online identity from Kathleen, and may shake their heads at Ephron's reinvention of Manhattan as a spotless, sun-dappled wonderland where everybody lives in million-dollar apartments and color coordinates their wardrobes for cocktail parties. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (480)

Caviar Garnish
This is the second remake of "The Shop Around the Corner". The first was Technicolor musical called "In the Good Old Summertime" which starred Judy Garland. References to Miss Garland's most famous film "The Wizard of Oz" abound in "You've Got Mail" (Meg Ryan hanging ruby slippers on a Christmas tree and reading the book "The Scarecrow of Oz" while ill, the song "Over the Rainbow" being sampled throughout and sung in its entirety at the end, etc.) In addition to reminding me of the two previous versions, I was also reminded of "Pillow Talk". In "Pillow Talk", Doris Day and Rock Hudson, who hate each other, fall in love over a party line without either realizing who the other is. Here, it's Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks falling in love over the Internet. The plot is lightweight and predictable, but the performances more than make up for that. Dabney Coleman, Jean Stapleton, Greg Kinnear, and indie-queen Parker Posey are all brilliant, and although neither of the leading rolls are much of a stretch for Hanks or Ryan, they are at least likeable and have more than enough star power to make this picture work. The script is light and funny, and this film is sure to please if you don't ask it to be more than it is.

The best romantic flick I've ever experienced.
There are a couple of things this film has going for it. First is the chemistry between the on-screen characters. There's a reason Hanks and Ryan were casted for this flick- it's because audiences (including myself) like to see the sparks between these two people. They were a great team in Sleepless in Seattle, and it's pretty obvious the 'magic' is still there.

The soundtrack to this movie is absolutely incredible. Harry Nilsson is perfect (the puppy song, over the rainbow), and the rest of the songs fit so well with the mood of the movie at all times. Sinead O'Conner's addition (I think it's called the lord must live in NY city) adds to the mood I talk about later, and Carol King's Anyone At All is one of the best romantic songs I've ever heard/played.

The mood to the movie is always incredibly upbeat- which is strange- most movies have their lulls or depressing moments. This movie, however, never gets itself in that rut. It's always very very cheery and bright. Although some may hate that, I can do nothing but appreciate the change of style. Everytime I watch You've Got Mail, I just think, "I WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK!!!"

Overall, the movie just makes you feel good. It's one of my favorite movies, and is certainly my most favorite romantic film. Even techies won't get annoyed, because thank goodness the focus isn't aol or anything of that matter.

Bouquets of sharpened pencils, indeed
Here's the main and completely irrelevant reason to love this movie: New York City in the fall. Honestly, it should have no bearing whatsoever on the plot, but it does -- and it's impossible not to fall in love with the bright, sunshiny, orange-leaved sheer beauty of the city encapsulated in this movie. Without even resorting to shots of Central Park in all its glory (and really, who can resist that?), "You've Got Mail" takes you on a lovely scenic tour of the Upper West Side, Starbucks and all. Who can resist the street fairs, the parks, the stores, the dock? It's picture-perfect, and if it's a bit surreal, I won't admit it: New York really is rather lovely in the fall.

Aside from making me want to run away to the Big Apple and work in the children's section at Fox Books, "You've Got Mail" also features Meg Ryan at her most adorable ("Aren't daisies just the friendliest flower?"), Tom Hanks at his most charming, and a terrific supporting cast (Greg Kinnear and those typewriters!). The story, a modernized little "remake" of "The Shop Around The Corner", is more fairy tale than realism -- two people fall in love over email, in war in real life, and however can such a thing be solved -- but it's an enchanting story nonetheless. In a time when romance on the web seems all-too-seedy and in reality, sometimes frankly dangerous, this little tale of two people sharing their most intimate thoughts long before they share a single glance is like a breath of fresh air. Sure, the technology's a little faded, but the magic's still there.

I know, I know...
I know what you're thinking. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear. You think you're too good for this movie, don't you? It's the sappiest, dumpiest little half-a-flick ever reared by Nora Ephron. Romantic comedies suck. Do I paint a correct picture, or do I exagerate? Well I think you're just cinematically jaded.

Yeah, that's right! I said it!

A lifetime of Vietnam movies and tragic love stories has left you too cynical to enjoy a simple romance between two adults. Teenagers getting into car crashes, mothers being diagnosed with breast cancer, murderers who you like despite the fact that they're pure evil. These are the cinematic icons that appeal to you, yes? Well what about hard-edged bookstore manager and idealistic bookshop owner? What about oddly-principled boyfriend who owns two identical typewriters? What about...uh...Jean Stapleton? She was funny, right?

Look, the point is it doesn't suck and don't judge it just because it's a Hanks/Ryan romantic comedy on par with "Sleepless In Seattle" (Which was a good one too, by the way).

Although, I still prefer the original "Shop Around the Corner" with Jimmy "Not Bow-Legged" Stewart.

Clever!
This is an excellent updated version of "The Little Shop Around The Corner" with anonymous penpals using email instead of the letters used in the original with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks,as always,make a great team. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Sweet with a bite to it
I loved the first Stuart Little movie (Aren't we all just ever-aging children?) and the sequel was every bit as good, perhaps better--except for the mildly irritating effort of Melanie Griffith who delivers her lines as if English wasn't necessarily her first language. That said, the production is entirely redeemed by the rest of the cast--particularly the outstanding Nathan Lane as Snowbell, delivering some of the funniest one-liners this side of the Catskills. What is especially wonderful about this film is the production design: the use of Crayola-like primary colors in the great sets and costumes, and the crisp cinematography. The special effects blend seemlessly into the film so that the viewer isn't constantly saying, "Oh, wow! Cool effect." Because everything is so beautifully integrated, it's pure pleasure simply to watch and smile and savor a movie that never falls into saccharine mode but has great sweetness none the less. Geena Davis is, as before, just lovely as Mrs. Little--dimples flashing in genuine-seeming pleasure (perhaps merely at being in such good company, in such a delightful film.)
Most highly recommended for kids of all ages (even the wrinkled ones.)

Stuart Little 2" is a fun movie for kids
I think "Stuart Little 2" is a better movie than its predecessor. The sequel has more humor, more effects, and is faster paced than the original. The effects in this film are stunning. Stuart Little has incredible detail in his movements and hair. The bird Margalo is also well animated. She moves just like a bird but still manages to have a cartoon kind of face. The falcon is pretty cool and evil looking, too. All in all, it's an amazing accomplishment by Sony Imageworks. The effects hold up particularly well on the small screen and the colors are bright and clear. The DVD presentation looks great.

The voices in this film were well cast. Though I despise Melanie Griffith, her voice fit the bird well. She had just the right mix of innocence and street smarts. James Woods is excellent any time he plays the bad guy, and his voice fits the evil falcon well. And if you saw the original then you know Michael J. Fox fits the mouse's voice perfectly. However, the show stealer is Nathan Lane as Snowbell. Pretty much all of the characters are dull compared to this cat. He has some of the funniest one-liners of any film this summer and steals the show any time he's on screen.

The music in "Stuart Little 2" is pretty good, too, and sounds great on a home theater system. You may find yourself tapping your toes to this soundtrack.

A fun and good-natured movie for all ages.
This sequel to the 1999 original Stuart Little movie is every bit as good as that one and in some ways I would go as to say that it's even better.

The legendary mouse Stuart Little goes on an another adventure when after returning to a normal life with his human family, The Littles, Stuart finds himself developing a crush on a canary but she is in danger of being imprisoned by a tyrant falcon who hates mice and the female bird has never gotten a chance to migrate south with the rest of her species. She and Stuart's worlds collide one day and they've sparked a romance but after she is kidnapped by the evil falcon, Stuart Little and his former feline rival and now somewhat friend Snowbell work together and set out to find and rescue her from the evil falcon before it's too late.

This film is yet another good sequel in moviemaking that dodges the infamous sequel-slump and brilliantly continues the story from the first Stuart Little movie. The mix of live and computer animation is really excellent and even the canary and Stuart Little look almost realistic and perfectly blend in with the live footage. It may not be anything phenomenal but it is pure entertainment for those who just want plain fun without anything graphic nor beyond PG rated.

It's not necessarily an essential movie but this is certainly worth renting or at least checking out.

An even more wild adventure
Engaging and fun, but not up to the mark set by the first Stuart Little movie. Not much level of plausibility, which was the case in the first movie, where you actually come to believe this little mouse is real. This movie takes on a video game aspect with plenty of action to keep kids enthralled to the very end. The animation team outdoes itself with the level of detail in their animation. Stuart's little eyes are so expressive and Margalo comes across as a winsome soulmate. The falcon steals the show, with James Woods adding a touch of humor to the "fierce creature," who creates quite a bit of tension in this movie. My little one (2-1/2) was a little worried about the fate of Stuart, but after multiple viewings feels assured as to the outcome. Now that the two movies come packaged together you might be better off buying the box set, if you don't already own the first movie.

Mouse Hunt
The sequel to the E.B. White story of Stuart Little is so amazing and much better than the first. Kids will love the sequel if they enjoyed the first E.B. White story Stuart Little and Charolette's Web. Rob Minkoff did a great job making the sequel. Michael J. Fox was so amazing doing his act as Stuart Little. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You can almost hear the studio pitch meeting echoing throughout Crimson Tide like the sonar on the soundtrack: "It's The Cain Mutiny on a nuclear submarine!" When radio communications problems aboard the USS Alabama prevent the sub from receiving its orders clearly during a tense confrontation with Russian warships, Navy officer Denzel Washington faces a huge ethical dilemma: countermand the orders of legendary Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) to fire nuclear missiles, or follow his command and risk launching an unprovoked nuclear war. It's really an actors' picture, and the fun is in the fireworks between Washington and Hackman, each of whose characters articulates solid reasoning behind his decision. There are no easy villains, and there's no easy way to tell right from wrong--that's what makes the nuclear stakes so terrifying. Director Tony Scott (who directed Quentin Tarantino's True Romance script) called in Tarantino to punch up the dialogue, which is why, for example, the sailors talk about Silver Surfer comic books. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen; the sonorous underwater rumblings on the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack will provide you with a good opportunity to show off your system's bass response. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Crimson Tide rocks the boat!
After experienceing Crimson Tide for the 15th time, I believe this is my favorite movie of all time. From the very beginning of the movie you are swept into a very plausible scenario: Russian rebels have captured nuclear missle silo's and are threatening to launch at the U.S.. The USS Alabama has been deployed to launch a preemptive strike against Russia. This movie has what DVD owners are looking for: Excellent visuals, bass thumping sound, and great acting. Denzel Washington gives the best performance of his career as Lt. Commander Hunter. His character's by-the-book style is at direct odds with Captain Ramsey's (Gene Hackman) old-school ways. The result is an incredible clash of wills that results in mutiny and the near destruction of the world in a nuclear holocaust. The tension is thick in this drama, and the movie has emotional moments and moments of extreme joy. You will be on the edge of your seat rooting for either Capt. Ramsey or Commander Hunter throughout the movie. This is a must-see movie!

Hoovers the greasy tool!
This movie sucks. It's a disservice to the men of the US Submarine Service. Let's look at what's wrong with this movie. Firstly we have Gene Hackman playing the gunger-than-ho submarine captain in a way that makes you think he prepared for this role by trying to channel George C. Scott from _Patton_. Cigar chomping, scenery-chewing aside the US Navy doesn't let guys who act like Gene Hackman did in this movie anywhere near nuclear weapons. I worked with three men who were former commanders of missile submarines and they were the polar opposites of Gene Hackman's character. Then we have the pseudo-dramatic tension of the conflict between Denzel Washington and Hackman over whether or not to launch the missiles, of course the problem with this bit of dramatic tension is that it's BS, one of the standing orders for nuclear launch is "when in doubt, don't." If you can't get a good authorization you don't just pull a wild hair out of your ass and decide to launch some missiles. Anyone who has a problem understanding this doesn't get near the nuclear missiles. People in the Navy have watched _Dr. Strangelove_ and know not to let people who don't understand this sort of thing near the nuclear missiles.

A JOKE
I am an American Submariner. The Boat I was on at the time this "movie" premiered in Canada was invited to partake in the first showing. There were about 50 of us including officers and chiefs. From the word "go", we tore this movie apart. No wonder the Navy didn't participate in its making. IT IS A JOKE! The beginning scenes where they were diving the boat included pictures of all sorts of other submarines diving. I remember at least 6 classes of boats being shown. Maybe if we were not "bubbleheads" we would have thought it was an interesting movie. Highly doubtful tho. The differences in classes is telling. As far as the plot goes there are fail safes incorporated to prevent this from happening. This movie was made to promote hysterics just like some news media only show one side of a story. I have seen this movie once and would reccommend you seeing " The Hunt For Red October". It's closer to what we did than this one.

isn't fit to scrape barnacles off "Das Boot"
I didn't think it was possible for there to exist a badly-made submarine movie, but I watched this and realized I was wrong. If you know anything about submarines, you'll not like this film very much. Examples? Ok, how about this: The boat (sub's are referred to as "boats" not "ships") is crippled by a torpedo explosion, and the Chief of the Boat announces to the XO (Denzel Washington),"forward ballast tanks damaged. we've lost forward air". The next moment, the boat's main propulsion plant is lost, and the sub is shown heading downward into the depths. Do they move the bow planes / fairwater planes or stern planes to use forward momentum to help the boat rise? NO. Do they blow after ballast (the after ballast tanks are presumably still operational)? NO. What do they do? They just ALL STAND THERE staring at the depth gauge, awaiting their arrival at "crush depth", the depth at which the surrounding pressure of the sea will be more than the pressure hull can withstand and the sub will implode and kill them all. But what saves them? Ah, someone in the Engine Room apparently flicks a switch to start the turbines again! "well, whaddya know, I've started the plant again!" Look, if you suffer an engineering casualty that causes the plant to be lost, chances are you're not going to be able to repair the cause in 5 minutes. Add to this the flimsy character development, the "musical chairs" Caine Mutiny - meets - Keystone Kops command changes, the contrived 'drama' - it's just not believable, folks.
So what to do? I recommend you rent, buy, or borrow "Das Boot" (or its very-well-dubbed version "The Boat"), come home and watch it. Immerse yourself in a real submarine drama. And deep-six this artificial-reef of a movie.

Hackman & Washington Chew Up the Screen
Superior performances by Denzel and Gene. Good supporting performances by Tony Soprano and Gandalf. Great tension. Perfect Tarantino dialogue. Lots of nice realistic touches. Aren't that many good sub movies out there. Only a handful come to mind. Definately worth repeated viewing. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Daddy Day Care: Daddy'll Fall Asleep
Daddy Day Care seems like the perfect kids comedy. Don't get me worng, it is. But the daddies might snooze off during it. When a father gets fired from his job, he starts a day care center for kids. Eddie Murphy doesn't look happy doing this little kiddy-joke comedy, but his acting is still grade-A. All the good jokes are given away on the commercial. The movie still ain't bad, for a kid flick. Each child in the movie you get to know better and better and every character as his/her own funny joke. The movie keeps kids awake, but age 20 and up might find it boring. Daddy Day Care is 90 minutes, just enough to cram all the jokes and punchlines into. The ending is happy, the characters are happy and the movie itself seems happy. Bottom Line: There's better movies out there, but if the latest box-office hit is sold out, Daddy Day Care is the way to go.

Fun for the whole family
We first went and saw Daddy Day Care at the theater and really enjoyed it. My mother in law bought it for our family for Christmas and we have watched it 3 times since, and I laugh more and more each time. Eddie Murphy is truly a genius. I enjoyed his hard core stand up comedy, his Beverly Hills Cop movies, Coming to America, etc. and now am enjoying watching him in family movies like the Dr. Dolittles and Daddy Day Care. It is good clean fun our family can enjoy together, and that is rare nowadays. The little boy who plays Murphy's son is absolutely precious, and the casting for everyone was perfect, from Murphy's wife to his day care business partners.

I have read reviews where people thought the movie was juvenile. Well, it is about children, so I don't know what the expectation was. Anyone who has spent time with little kids, or has kids of their own will definitely appreciate this hysterically funny film.

The special features are fun too. There are interviews with the kids, and the kids do some interviewing too. Great music also!

Great flick
What do you have when two cereal promotional guys are fired off from the only thing they know how to do and they bills are piling up, and they need a job badly? In the same time, you need to find a good day care center for the kids when both parental units are off to work and find work. The main problem is, it is hard to find any at least a daycare that is trustworthy to even leave your kids and not to worry at all if it is safe enough and cheap!

So back to question to unemployment. What do you do? Open an excellent daycare yourself! Open a business up! The only problem is you have a very strong and able competition, from an established day care which act like preschool. And the owner is very keen to keep every kid in her daycare not anybody else's.

Much to add, there is a short animated movie in this dvd set and you gotta watch it *grins* Early Bloomer is the cutest animation I have ever seen and I must admit of watching it repeatitively way too many times hehehe

Good for a Laugh
The movie isn't dealing with profound concepts and ideas, but it is a light hearted movie that provides many laughs. Very enjoyable.

a very cute kids movie
if you have a choice between this or the haunted mansion get this this movie is a very good kids movie that the whole family will enjoy. All of the characters are awesome ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Great Movie- Truly Terrific
This wonderful movie by Director Penny Marshall asks the question: Are parents to blame for the wrong choices of their children?

"Riding in Cars with Boys" involves wrong and right choices. Because the class "Mr. Popular" insults the class "live wire" consolation is given by the class "drop-out" and the "live-wire", aptly played by Drew Barrymore is "knocked up." What do you do about that in the late 1960's. You marry the class "drop out" and deal with the results usually unhappily.

The results entail about 20 years of troubles, joys, disappointments, triumphs, and growing up experiences. This true story does not fail to satisfy. Barrymore is good, but so is James Woods as her caring but sometimes insensitive father (who may have saved himself a pile of troubles if he had just bought that bra she wanted for Christmas when she was 13.)

It spans the live of Beverly Donofrio from age 15 to age 35. Drew Barrymore does a very good performance at all ages. I've never seen any of her other work compare to this performance.

What we have here is a comedy-drama about relationships between parents and child and parent as child and child and best friends too. Touching and tender the movie is just right to bring back hilarious and not so funny memories of what it is like to and what happens to girls who go around, "Riding in Cars with Boys." and, too, what it is like and what happens to boys who go aound "Riding in Cars with... (you get the picture).

Drew Barrymore as a single mother
Drew Barrymore is Bev, a precocious young woman from a conservative working-class family in Connecticut. Bev is sassy but also has her sights set on escaping her sleepy Connecticut home and pursuing college and a career as a writer. That is until her unplanned pregnancy at 16. Forced to marry her baby's father, a jolly, if barely employed loser named Ray Hasek (Steve Zahn), it becomes clear that Bev's future is effectively squelched. The story is told in flashback by Bev's now grown son (who is visibly not much younger than his mother) during a car trip back to CT. (In our present, Bev has just completed her memoirs. But can't publish them until Ray agrees not to sue the publisher for the undoubtedly negative things the book will tell of him.). Though her friend Fay (wonderful though underused Brittany Murphy) becomes a teenage mother as well, the story glances over all but Bev's travails. Although the screenplay makes sure we're aware of the passage of time - the music, hairstyles and cars change, and Bev becomes a sulky frump - Bev's life remains painfully stuck in time as the world passes her by. (She's too pregnant to got to the prom; friends she discarded in high school are either on their way to college or have already graduated).

"Riding" is meant to be bittersweet, sort of like "A League of Their Own", but it's uneven. At moments the ordeal of single motherhood is sad, scary and funny at the same time, but the plot never works up to anything. No matter how much better Bev's life could get, nothing will give her (or her son) back years enslaved to an unwanted motherhood. Bev is meant to be intelligent, but she's too clueless about how to endure motherhood to become a mother. Her son bears a fair amount of resentment, having replaced Ray as the source of Bev's misery. Like Bev, the story uses and discards characters who don't serve its immediate needs. The flick wastes some interesting potential of having James Wood play Bev's conservative minded but loving father, the local police chief. At times he is both the greatest source and recipient of Bev's pain, but he disappears as a pivotal character soon after Bev's miserable wedding, only to make a last ditch appearance in the final few frames. Lorraine Bracco is similarly underused as Bev's mother. There are many funny bits, but on second thought, some seem a bit misplaced - like pregnant Bev trying to get herself to fall down the steps in order to induce an abortion. The movie also lacks an effective conclusion - the flashback concludes when Bev's son is about 8. At that point, Bev makes a desperate move to escape her dreary fate. With Ray gone, the boy turns on his mother and not only ruins her plans but drives away Bev's best friend. The end of the flashback occurs in the deep heart of a CT winter, yet nothing explains how these characters managed to pull their hearts and minds out of that bleak winter. Ironically, though Ray is useless as a person, his character is the only one to offer insight - near the film's end, and when he's been reduced to withered shell of his former self. If you're Drew Barrymore fan, you may want to go just to see your star done up as a prematurely middle-aged frump. Otherwise, you'll find the 2 hours dispiriting.

Why should we care?
The acting, cinematography, and overall filmmaking for this movie were fine. What I fail to comprehend, however, is why this movie was even made in the first place.

I found nothing special about Beverly Donofrio's life that would make me interested in hearing about it. In fact, the fact that she wrote a book about her situation (having a kid while still being a kid)--a situation that is in no way unique in this country--is illustrative to me of the fact that she never did grow up.

I'm not saying that this woman's life is not important, or that her struggles were not very real and tragic ones. However, how are they different from what hundreds of thousands of women go through in life? What supposedly makes her special? I can think of nothing except the fact that she was a terrible, self-absorbed mother, whereas most mothers are willing to make sacrifices for their children.

My life is nothing like Beverly Donofrio's was. I did go to college, and received my Master's degree before getting married. Then I had my family. And you know what? I still have to make sacrifices. That's what being a mother is about. Even though I got to do the things Beverly didn't get to do, there are still things I would like to do. Like voice lessons, violin lessons, dance lessons, even own my owm business. But I can't do these things, because if I did, I couldn't be a good mother. But then, I guess it was different for her because she didn't love her son; she just resented him and the burden he was to her. The only problem with her attitude is that, HE didn't make the choice to ruin her life--SHE did! And then at the end of the movie, she has the nerve to declare "I was a good mother!" Then I must be a saint.

I usually judge a movie by whether it makes me a better person having watched it. Not only do I consider that this movie was a complete waste of my time to watch, but it actually took something away from my life and made me feel dirty and low. I could never recommend this movie to anyone.

A moving story of mistakes, consequences, and perseverance.
I honestly wasn't expecting to be totally blown away by this movie. It didn't create much hype in theaters, and I only rented it now for two reasons - a friend recommended it, and I'm a fan of Drew Barrymore, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did, as I absolutely loved it. Based on the life of Beverly Donofrio, as written in her memoir (which I haven't read, and cannot compare the movie to), this film tells the story of a girl who gets pregnant at the age of fifteen. Through a series of flashbacks and narration by Donofrio's adult son, we see her struggle to raise her child while still growing up herself. She is determined to make a life for herself against all odds. And oh what odds they are!

Guilted by her father into marrying the boyfriend who knocked her up, Beverly finds herself with a loving yet dim-bulb husband. He drinks excessively, routinely forgets things he should have remembered, shows up for work only when he feels like it, and ultimately succumbs to a drug addiction. Meanwhile, Beverly is estranged from her own parents, particularly her father, and is all alone save for her one loyal best friend. And when her friend is forced to move away, Beverly has only her son. And she was certainly not the best of mothers. When the tag line says "She did everything wrong," it's no joke. But somehow the two of them are able to keep going, and Donofrio's story turns into one of the most inspirational and heartwarming I have ever seen.

The entire cast was excellent, but Drew Barrymore was simply amazing. She must portray Beverly from the age of fifteen all the way up through thirty-six (a decade younger and a decade older than Barrymore herself at the time), and she does it beautifully. At each stage of the film, she nails down all the little nuances that define that partcular age. I think this is one of Barrymore's very best performances. Brittany Murphy also shines as Faye, Beverly's best friend. The two of them are a perfect match. Steve Zahn does an exceptional job as Ray, the husband. He manages to add a great sensitivity to his otherwise deadbeat character. Adam Garcia turns in a moving performance as the grown son, and James Woods does an excellent job as the father who truly does love the daughter who so disappointed him.

The whole film has a great realism to it that is touching. These are real people. They have flaws, and make mistakes. Boy do they make mistakes! But we can relate to them, because we've all made mistakes. Donofrio's ability to keep going, to pick herself up and keep striding forward until she makes something of her life is truly inspirational. And not only that, but there is a real humor to the film. Through all her mistakes, Donofrio is able to laugh at the absurdity of it all, and I think this is a large part of what got her through.

The DVD also has some nice extra features. In addition to audio commentary by Drew Barrymore, there is an HBO "Making Of" featurette in which we meet the real Donofrio and learn how her story was transfered onto film, and are given further insight into Donofrio's own life. There are also featurettes on the cars in the movie, the set for the house where Beverly and her son lived, and Donofrio's relationship with her son, as well as the theatrical trailers. This is a great story, and is executed to perfection. Even the soundtrack adds depth and feeling to the film. I'd highly recommend the movie to anyone, and intend to add it to my own collection.

Over 2hrs! 15th april 2004.
Over 2hrs and i never wanted it to finish. I am a mad drewbie fan, so i could sit and watch her films allday. Anyone who likes her, will enjoy this film i can garantee it. A MUST SEE ITS BRILL ... Read more

Description

Earl (Martin Lawrence) and Hank (Steve Zahn) can't seem toescape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during aroutine traffic stop but now they've been thrown together to bust amillion dollar smuggling operation. As hare-brained as their plan maybe, these unlikely partners might just solve a crime... if they don't kill each other first. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

GET A GRIP PEOPLE!!!
As a white guy, I was not the least bit offended by this movie. I think most people out there simply didn't get it. Martin Lawrence was PURPOSELY playing a character who was over the top in his suspicion of white people, especially cops.

I don't understand why so many people are put off. Lawrence was hardly subtle in playing a black Rodney-Kingesque character who then has to team up with the white cop who allegedly abused him.

And Lawrence's character is put in his place later in the film when he finds that the Steve Zahn character has a black girlfriend. I admit that this was a little heavy-handed, but that's how this movie goes.

That said..it was not a great movie. it was very predictable in plot. I knew right away who the bad guys would turn out to be, and pretty much how the story would unfold.

There were some funny moments, but this was pretty standard "odd-couple" action comedy ala Lethal Weapon and Rush Hour, but not nearly as good as those movies.

Hilarious
The movie doesn't start off as Martin Lawarnce and Steve Zahn as partners. Hank Steve's character is a cop and Martin's characters gets his keys stuck in his car and Steve thinks Earl Martins character is stealing his car. Hank then trys to consult Earl but he won't bit. A bumble bee then stumbles in and Earl is alergic to bumble bee's and Hank trys to get it out and a local citezin records this incident. Then Earl charges Hank with assualt because he's black. You have got to watch this film. It is fu&^$&& funny!!!!WATCH IT!!!

Goofy and entertaining - but nothing special
In this goofy cop drama, Martin Lawrence plays Earl, a white-bashing, easily terrorized black man who sends Los Angeles cop Hank (Steve Zahn) to jail because of his hysterical and inaccurate testimony. When, six months later, the two find themselves unwittingly together as security guards protecting a warehouse during a heist, they team up to track down the bad guys. Lawrence is funny at first with his poor-oppressed-black-guy routine, but it gets tired - and even offensive - fast, mostly because Earl is such a buffoon; he seems too clownishly stupid to be much more than a stereotype. Hank is the straight man, and you can't help feeling sorry for him as he endures Earl's completely misguided riffs. Yeah, this film has some laughs, especially during the slapstick scenes, but they are either mild or mindless, fine as long as you don't expect uproarious comedy.

This film is definitely a rental, not a purchase. It is entertaining, humorous, but nothing you'll remember in a few days.

Good film,but flawed...
National Security was a good film,but had some flaws.The stunts and action secquences were satisfying,but if there had been more action in the film,the action would have been excellent.Another flaw is that Steve Zahn's acting was horrible as Hank Rafferty.Zahn wasn't convincable one bit.Terrible casting choice.Also,Martin Lawrence took up most of the movie with racist humor and dialogue and being afraid of bees.Overall,you should see this movie.Rating:9/10

Weak!
Weak performance by Martin Lawrence. If you saw him in Bad Boys, this movie looks bad. ... Read more

Reviews (162)

Fun entertainment that suffers from an overly-mawkish tone
Stuart Little

Score: 64/100

He's clever. He's enthusiastic. He's a can-do little guy with an attitude. And he's a mouse. From the co-director of The Lion King and the writer of The Sixth Sense comes an entertaining family film from classic American author E.B. White. It's surely a star-studded crew there, and there's not much a family of four could white other than a couple of talking mouse's and many exciting scenes. Even though Stuart Little falls flat from a few flaws, it's still a fun children's comedy, that will be worth your time, depending on your feelings towards movies like this.

In a cosy house near New York City's Central Park, Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis) bring home a surprising addition to the family...Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox), and he's a er...mouse. Despite the urgings of Mrs. Keeper at the orphanage to adopt within their own species, the Littles beam with the pride of new parents. At home the little guy with a big heart (not to mention whiskers, a little pink nose and a really dapper wardrobe), searches for a sense of belonging and a place to call home in the decidedly supersized world. When Stuart is adopted by the Littles he embarks on an adventure with a variety of characters - including his nemesis, the cat Snowball (voiced by Nathan Lane) - and learns the true meaning of family, loyalty and friendship. The Littles, in the meantime, each discover there is a Stuart in all of us - the spunk, spirit and courage to be true to ourselves and follow our dreams despite the odds.

Stuart Little is a good movie, but it suffers majorly from an over-corny note. It's big smiles and drowning frowns all the time, none of the characters ever look normal. Their expressions are practically drawn in, and none of them have much originality about them apart from Stuart, of course. Still, the film provides plenty of entertaining scenes, including an exhilarating cat chase and a superb boat race. It may have a sense of bore in some parts of the film, but overall, it's a very bearable movie that will silent children and, surprisingly, adults for a rainy day. It's a film that combines live action with some groundbreaking visual effects by artists and innovators who have taken digital character creation to a bold new level with the birth of Stuart. The visual effects are the most plausible thing about the film, they are truly memorable, it's some of the most amazingly done animal-talking done since Babe.

Not as good as it could've been, Stuart Little is still watchable fun, a film where you can really expect the whole family to enjoy it.

Pleasantly surprised
I rented this DVD because I am a huge fan of British actor (and musician, comedian, novelist...) Hugh Laurie, and was very pleasantly surprised.

The animation is outstanding, so much that you don't even notice it, and Michael J. Fox is absolutely perfect as the voice of Stuart. The very colorful, almost-realistic-but-not-quite setting was quite well done, and the group of acting cats must have been a monumental accomplishment. Jonathan Lipnicki is cute as a bug, and Hugh Laurie (great fake accent!) and Geena Davis are perfect storybook parents who finish each other's sentences and eat a lot of meatloaf. Rounding out the talent is Nathan Lane as the voice of Snowbell, the cat who is mortified at having a mouse in the family.

It is fascinating to watch the extra features and to see just how much work went into making Stuart so real. Excellent work! A clean, fun, enjoyable movie.

Stuart Little brought to life
This is a marvelous adaptation of E.B. White's tale of the little mouse who found himself a place by the hearth in an all too human family. It is such a wonderful story and the animation brings Stuart Little to life. Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis play the adoptive parents to a tee, and the other members of the family provide excellent support. Jonathan Lipnicki turns in a first class performance as the reluctant brother.

The story plays out effortlessly, with wonderful scenes moving back and forth between mad-cap adventure and family bonding. The animation team really outdid themselves with Stuart and his fake mouse parents, who make a fantastic entrance midway through the movie. The conspiracy of cats is mostly humorous, and not overly frightening for little ones. Every scene appears to have been meticulously created. The toy boat race is riveting. The kids will love every minute of it, as will adults as this movie avoids the typical pratfalls of family entertainment. The DVD also provides some nice add-ons, such as storyboard sequences for some of the scenes and mouse trivia games for the kids.

Mickey Mouse
Magical, heartwarming family film based on E.B. White's children's book. A couple's adoption of a second son, oblivious to the fact that he's a mouse, leads to problems with their human son which plae in comparision to the family cat's resentment. High-quality computer-generated detail allows the mouse to appear real and permits the many featured cats to talk freely. Jonathan Lipnicki is adorable as the human son and the voices of Michael J. Fox as Stuart and Nathan Lane as his nemisis Snowbell perfectly fit the roles.

Animals steal the show
There are few kids movies I can sit through more than once--this one I've already seen 7 times! My son is now over 3 and he can load the DVD player himself and turn on the TV. Guess what gets put on now?! I must say that I love that the movie doesn't patronize my son. There are heavy issues here: fear of being alone; fear of violence; fear of failure--but the characters aren't obsessed or broken by their fears, they confront them and work through them. For example, when Stuart is trying to make friends with the family pet cat Snowball, Stuart says rather naively, "Can't we just be friends? Do you want me to scratch your ear? Can I pat your tummy?" to which Snowball answers, "How'd you like to pat it from the inside mouse-boy!?" Direct, without wishy-washy handwringing, or moralizing. My son says that he "loves Stuart." I too love Stuart. ... Read more

Reviews (97)

ONE OF THE FUNNIEST FILMS OF THE YEAR
There really hasn't been too many successful comedies this year. "Joe Dirt" pretty much got some of the worst reviews from critics all around, and "Nutty Professor 2" also wasn't a favorite as well. Well, there was one funny film that critics hated, but I thought was outrageous and hysterical. That movie would be "Saving Silverman".

Meet Darren Silverman; a lonely, and desperate romantic who never catches a break when it comes to women. His one and only true love Sandy had moved away a long time ago, and since then he has feared that he will be alone forever. The only thing he has are his two best buddies, Wayne and J.D., who are more than hopeless geeks. Everything changes when Darren meets Judith; a cold-hearted woman who wants to prey on a man she can control. Soon, the two start to go out, and Judith demands that Darren shall no longer be associated with J.D. and Wayne.

Well, the two friends are not going to surrender and see their pal, Darren, throw his life away so he can be controlled by a psychotic woman who J.D. refers to her as "Hannibal Lecture". They decide to kidnap Judith so they can have their buddy back. And that's when all of the laughs and chaos starts to come at you like an out of control train.

"Saving Silverman" is an outrageous comedy that delivers non-stop laughs. Though there are some moments where the movie seems to go to desperate lengths, it is still a great comedy. Don't pay attention to the critics, just see the movie for yourself and make up your own mind.

Disappointing
The general idea of this dumb teen comedy is that a group of three friends have been broken up by one of the friends' girlfriend. I watched this movie because I'm a fan of Jack Black, but this movie doesn't work on so many levels. First of all, you never really get the feeling that the friendship between these three friends is really very strong. So when they start kidnapping and planning murder, you don't really understand why they're going to all the trouble. Another thing is the obsession with Neil Diamond. It's never really funny and it just falls flat. Third, the chemistry between the supposed romantic interests is terrible. The characters are all supposed to be in such deep love, but you never see it in this movie. If you're interested in comedy, you can find lots of better movies than this. For Jack Black fans, head for High Fidelity, or School of Rock instead.

Don't Be Fooled!!
I am so angry at the people who put this out. It was a mean trick to play on the unsuspecting movie-going public! I thought with a title like "Saving Silverman" it would be a war movie like "Saving Private Ryan" but this is a dumb teen comedy. Not a single shot is fired in anger or for any other reason for that matter. Don't be taken in.

More aggrivating than funny (around 2.5 stars)
More often than not, I found myself wanting to jump through the TV and strangle Jason Biggs or Amanda Peet (usually both), and I must tell you, aggrivation is not something I enjoy feeling in a comedy. I felt a little aggrivated watching American Pie 1 and 2 also b/c of Biggs, but hey, when you've got Sean William Scott (as well as a bunch of other talented actors), you're guarenteed a damn good time, and anyone who doesn't like the American Pie movies has horrible tastes in movies. Anyway, onto this decent (but not great) movie.

First, the good parts about it (and I will not waste much time on plot so as not to ruin the movie). Anytime Jack Black (and sometimes when Steven Zahn) is on screen, you will laugh. Period! I've always believed in Black, and this is no exception (infact, this may be one of his best works, where he is just as dumb and clueless as can be!). Zahn is ok in this film, but he's been better. He's a little too serious for my taste here, but he provides a few genuine laughs. Also, R. Lee Ermey is hilarious as the football coach; sugesting that the best way to separate Biggs from his hell of a girlfriend is to kill her. Now, I will discuss what disgusts me about this movie.

First of all, the parts created for Biggs and Peet are way overdone. Biggs plays such a big loser (wow, what a shocker!) in this film that whenever I see him on screen, I want to beat him senseless and say "Quit being a G.D. pushover!!! Use that brain that God gave you!!" Throughout the movie, he constantly gives into Judith's (Peet) every demands, including butt implants, burning his beloved Neil Diamond albums (why young guys in their late 20's would worship Neil Diamond of all people is a mystery to me), and, get this, not hanging out with his lifelong friends. GET A G.D. CLUE AND QUIT BEING A MORON!!! ......Ok, I'm cooled down now. Equally as annoying is Peet, as she takes her character way over the top. She is such a horrible bitch that not even the hounds of hell would want to date her. I really was hoping that Black and Zahn would kill her, because the characters that Biggs and Peet play are losers you really wouldn't wish on anyone. (by the way, having Zahn marry Peet at the end is a lame way to end the movie; he should have beat the crap outta her!) Finally, Jason Biggs cannot act; period! Someone should just give him the pink slip and end his career; American Pie would have been funnier (by epic proportions) if he was not in it, and unless he completely changes his acting style, I will await his demise.

Hilarious
This movie is excellent. It's true that the writing is not possibly the best, but there are so many slapstick stunts, and people doing stupid things, that this movie is hilarious. It is funny from beginning to end, and it is fast paced. Excellent acting, excellent directing, funny characters. A must see!! ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Macy Makes Happy!!!!!!!!
Happy Texas is one GREAT movie!!!!
I remember standing in line for HOURS to see it at Sundance!!!

Happy is a wonderfully sweet, totally odd little ditty of a film. A FIRST rate cast with an easy directing style filled with very real, funny, quirky and off the cuff characters that well ALL know. Just look around your own hometown....You know people just like those in Happy....We all do!!
Macy really makes Happy, TX-------William H. Macy is one of our most talented actors working today. I was really hoping for an Oscar nod for his work. Macy's character "Chappy" is his finest to date. As you watch his character, one tends to forget that you are watching "an actor". "Chappy" becomes totally real!!! Witness the "Proper Date" and the " Rejection" scenes if you have any doubts.

Happy is really much better after 2 or 3 watchings. Small little details surface that are easily missed the first time. Example: Check out the photo on Sheriff Dent's desk!!!
Also some of the characters odder than normal mannerism become more visible and more funny!!!

Happy is a quiet, gentle little movie------It doesn't shout at you. It makes you laugh---BUT---It REALLY makes you smile. Which is PRETTY cool!!!!

A Ming Vase - that is a WyoMing Vase
What a delightful movie. I heard about this when it was released at the theatre and I was expecting something quirky and zany. It is testament to the direction of Illsley and to the great acting that the story is really brought to life.

A simple story: prison breakout, the fugitives are mistaken for gay children's pageant organisers, they plan a bank robbery but are changed by the charm of the inhabitants of Happy, Texas.

This is real laugh out loud stuff: Steve Zahn trying to teach kids to dance (based on an MTv video), Jeremy Northam (in a character that is a million miles from An Ideal Husband) as the subject of the local sherrif's affections (played by an always brilliant William H Macy), the theft of the RV (which gets the main characters into the fix in the first place) and the car chase (with a tow truck).

The DVD allows you to see the scenes Illsley deleted and listen to his reasoning. It is easy to see just from this how much effort went into story and character development. It has certainly paid off. These are people you meet for 98 minutes but they are formed well enough for you want to meet them in real life.

I highly recommend watching this movie and I guarantee you will get one of the best renditions of Bjork's "Its so quiet" you are likely to see.

Good Behavior
Hollywood can't resist making rural southern folks, Texans, appear dumb, religious, and oversexed. The Cohn brothers did a better job with Raising Arizona, but I'll give enough praise here to recommend a daft copy. Steve Zahn certainly has mastered the prison-bird-dysfunctional. He barely can express himself in southern drawl so thick, 'how ya doin' sounds like 'hdauon.' Zahn and Jeremy Northam take the identities of two beauty pageant twits and set up shop in Happy, Texas. William H. Macy as the local sheriff is fascinating, brilliant, again. He's a lawman and he's in love with Northam, a 'homoasexual.' Naturally, the in fact straight Northam falls for the blonde clerk of the local bank while Zahn teaches little girls how to win a beauty contest. Zahn finds new sensitivities in dance, song, and Junior Misses. Then the bank robbery goes wrong. Don't worry; they'll be out in 22 months for good behavior. A little slow, but nice try.

hilarious
this is hilarious, theres no denying its story about a couple of convicts who escape and then go to Happy,Texas where they pose as a couple of gay/talent show teachers. Zahn is hilarious as Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. and his moments include where he helps the kids rehease for their talent show. though the violence and gunplay shorta warp it alittle bit and the bit at the end with the 2 gay guys stuck at a beach resort is just uproarous

A little bit cheesy, but still side-splitting hilarious
The small town of Happy, Texas is a quiet little place. It's more like a big family than a town, really. For the past seven years, they've been shamed at the annual Little Miss Fresh Squeezed beauty pageant. This year, however, it's their turn. They're going to make Happy proud. To aid in their efforts, they hired Steven and David, a pair of traveling pageant professionals, who drive from town to town in their dilapidated motor home, teaching little girls to be beauty queens.

Little do the town's residents realize, though, that instead of the homosexual couple they were expecting, they got a pair of escaped convicts (Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn), who stole the motor home -- and its owners' identities.

The cons, too, have no idea what they've gotten themselves into. So while they try to keep their cover, David (whose name is really Wayne Wayne Wayne, Jr.) teaches a handful of little girls to sing and dance. And Steven (actually Harry Sawyer), tries to figure out how they can rob the local bank -- all the while falling in love with the banker (Ally Walker) and attempting to escape the advances of the town's sherrif, Chappy (William H. Macy).

Happy, Texas is a little-known film, but it's definitely worth seeing. It's absolutely side-splittingly hilarious. Sure, it's a little cheesy sometimes, but what do you expect? It's a comedy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stuart Little
This live-action version of E.B. White's novel doesn't have quite the magic of, say, Toy Story. Instead of entertainment the whole family can be enthralled with, Stuart Little is squarely aimed, and successfully so, at the 4- to 10-year-old watcher. Does this make it a bad family film? Not in the slightest. The gee-whiz visual effects (created by original Star Wars wizard John Dykstra) and the film's ebullient wholesomeness make this a welcome addition to the home library.In E.B. White's world, it's hardly surprising that human parents would adopt "outside their species." The smooth-talking mouse Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox) seems the perfect new child for parents Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie, especially with an adorable wardrobe of very small sweaters and pants. Harder is fitting in with the Littles' family cat, Snowbell (voiced by Nathan Lane, who also deftly voiced Timon in director Rob Minkoff's last feature, The Lion King). The simple story deals with Stuart trying to fit in with his new life, including big brother George (Jerry Maguire's scene-stealing Jonathan Lipnicki). And of course there's an adventure when Snowbell's schemes lead Stuart into true danger, in the form of the devious plans of an alley cat named Smokey (voiced by Chazz Palminteri). Brisk--85 minutes--amusing, and tolerably cute, Stuart Little stands tall. Two curios: The effects are so cleanly done that we could call Stuart the first successfully computer-animated actor, and the screenplay was cowritten by M. Night Shyamalan, who made bigger waves in 1999 writing and directing The Sixth Sense. --Doug Thomas

Stuart Little 2
Stuart Little 2 is that rarest of movie breeds, a sequel that surpasses its charming, popular predecessor to achieve near-classic status. Mr. & Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie, Geena Davis) are portrayed with good-natured, storybook purity, and the rest of the movie follows suit, beginning when their lonely mouse "son" Stuart (perfectly voiced by Michael J. Fox) befriends an orphaned canary (Melanie Griffith), who is reluctantly stealing from the Littles for the villainous Falcon (James Woods). The con game turns into a search-and-rescue thriller, with family cat Snowbell (Nathan Lane) quipping like a borscht-belt comedian, but the real fun of Stuart Little 2 comes from Bruce Joel Rubin's hilarious, marvelously inventive screenplay and returning director Rob Minkoff's visually dazzling combination of live action and lavish computer animation. Matching the Babe movies as a wondrous marvel of family entertainment, Stuart Little 2 is an all-ages romp that's smart, sweet, and completely irresistible. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Two fun movies, but best to buy the DVDs individually
As has been noted by other reviews, this Stuart Little 2-Pack only contains a Fullscreen format for the original film. A few years ago, it was issued in a wonderful "Collector's Series" widescreen disc with just about everything that is included on the "Deluxe Edition" (save a promo or two for the sequel). It's out-of-print now, but you should still be able to track it down, and it is worth it. Remember, you want "Collector's Series", NOT "Deluxe Edition."

As for the movies, well, both are fun. The original is undoubtedly superior, as it's entirely enveloping for young and old alike, with a mix of heartwarming drama and some witty humor. Michael J. Fox is perfectly cast as Stuart, the little mouse with a big heart and a big family. His adventures in New York City are handled with fairy-tale treatment, that also, seems appropriate.

The sequel feels a little too formulaic, while not remaining entirely true to the first film at the same time. Overall, it doesn't work as well as the original, but it's very entertaining all the same, and James Woods voices the villain like only he can (his recent resume illustrates that this role is a forte).

"Stuart Little 2" contains both Widescreen and Fullscreen on its only release, but you'll want to pass this 2-pack and get the "Collector's Series" (Widescreen) for the original "Stuart Little." (Rating applies to the DVD 2-Pack.)

The Adoption theme is problematic
Adoptive parents should be aware of the problematic aspects of this movie for kids who were adopted. When Stuart's biological parents arrive on the scene and announce that they want Stuart back, his adoptive parents hand him over, no questions asked. There is no sense that adoption is permanent. If your adopted child sees this movie, be prepared to discuss it afterwards and assure your child this would never happen in real life.

CAN'T BELIEVE ONE DISC IN FULLSCREEN OTHER IN BOTH SCREENS
Why should a studio pick a two pack, one disc in fullscreen and the other disc in fullscreen and widescreen. Don't you think it is stupid? Yes it is stupid. Although I wish there was a 5 pack.

Disc One: Stuart Little Fullscreen
Disc Two: Stuart Little Spanish Package Fullscreen
Disc Three: Stuart Little Widescreen
Disc Four: Stuart Little Deluxe Edition
Disc Five: Stuart Little 2

Ding dong ever heard of these collections before. That will be more cooler. The Deluxe should be like the Shrek 2-Disc DVD or The Grinch 2-Disc DVD. Why can't Stuart Little Deluxe Edition be in widescreen or choice of viewing? Columbia Pictures make a Stuart Little Special 2 Disc DVD.

Disc 1: Deluxe Edition
Disc 2: Widescreen Edition,

or make a Stuart Little Widescreen Special Edition of a Stuart Little Fullscreen Deluxe Special Edition.

BEWARE if you have a widescreen TV!
What's the deal, slipping the fullscreen version of Stuart Little in with the widescreen version of Stuart Little 2 and mislabeling the package?! A 4:3 aspect ratio film should NOT be called a "Deluxe Version" when there is a 16:9 version available. I feel very deceived/taken by this, and am docking these otherwise cute movies 2 full stars for Studio Stupidity. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Glass half full
"Shattered Glass" is a clever film about the rise and fall of an attention-craving, fawning huckster. It's rare these days to watch a suspense movie that literally has no action, but "Shattered Glass" succeeds marvelously. I had a blast watching the film's self-fixated protagonist squirming as the screws were tightened and he was snared in a web of his own deceit. Stephen Glass wanted the big byline, the articles that would catapult him to fame and grant him the status he desired. In order to achieve this, he fabricated stories with such enthusiasm one couldn't help but be swept up in the excitement. Hayden Christensen plays him to the hilt, with nuanced mannerisms, golden boy charm, and a sincerity that gradually grows stale. His insecurity is evident when he ends his conversations with apologies, false compliments, and self-deprecation designed to elicit sympathy or praise. His theats at suicide are at once chilling and pathetic.
The story is deceptively simple, but the details are complex, adding layers of psychological instability. I also enjoyed Peter Sarsgaard's performance as a poised editor who will do the right thing even if it means alienating himself from the office staff, who fall prey to Glass's manipulations. The film is brilliantly bookended with fantasy scenes that show Glass's true motivations--lying to gain public attention and acclaim, not unlike a serial killer who turns himself in to become a figure of notoriety.
Amazingly, the story seems to continue as Glass published a novel, "The Fabulist", which also tries to twist the truth to shift responsiblity to other parties. Online reviews of this novel smack of author participation, as if the writer sought to balance the negative reviews with his own glowing summations. Why else would the reviews be so incredibly polarized, with most giving the novel one star, while others give it five stars? Decide for yourself.

"Glass" is see-through but still compels
March was a big month for ethically challenged journalists.

First, infamous ex-New York Times reporter Jayson Blair published his book, "Burning Down My Masters' House," a tome that generated reviews uniformly more interesting than the actual contents of its pages.

Then "Shattered Glass" was released on video. The film looks at Stephen Glass, a young writer and associate editor for The New Republic who, in the mid- to late '90s, rose to notoriety with his vivid, colorful articles - many of which were later found to be, in whole or in part, simply products of his imagination.

The movie focuses on the period in 1998 when Glass' jig was just about up. In order to cover his tracks, he's forced to fake his notes, manipulate office politics, create phantom voicemail accounts and manufacture Web sites and business cards. As depicted by "Shattered," passing off fiction as journalism isn't just a despicable practice, it also appears to involve about four times more sweat than doing actual, honest work.

It's a fascinating story that, on the whole, is deftly handled. Unfortunately, Hayden Christensen, who plays Glass, doesn't seem as skilled a con artist as the guy he's portraying had to have been. With his passive-aggressive apologies and transparent flattery, he's more of an Eddie Haskell than a convincing fraud. I'm a reporter at a newspaper that's a long way away from the infinitely more sophisticated, more competitive New Republic, yet Glass' manipulation, as rendered by Christensen, wouldn't fly in my newsroom for five seconds.

As a result, the movie suffers somewhat and, while that may also be a fault of the writing, the script doesn't fail actors Peter Sarsgaard and Hank Azaria who, as Glass' editors Charles Lane and Michael Kelly, give smart, flawless performances and are the best reasons to see the movie (yes, Sarsgaard is every bit as good as the hype claims).

Also solid is Steve Zahn as Forbes reporter Adam Penenberg, and the scenes in which he disproves one of Glass' articles fact-by-fact play like lighter reversals on "All the President's Men."

On the DVD: The lone extra feature is a brisk "60 Minutes" segment on the real Glass, in which we see what a low-key, blank-eyed cipher he actually is. There's also a somewhat self-serving though no-less-interesting commentary track by Lane and writer-director Billy Ray that, ironically, points out the many inventions and dramatic licenses that were taken in order to make the story more cinematic. It's too bad they didn't give the actual subject of the movie an opportunity to comment on the movie that's been made from an unfortunate, pathetic chapter of his life; that would've been something to hear.

EXCELLENT
After missing this one in the movie theatres, I made a point to rent this one when it came out on DVD. I now want to purchase my own copy--and I will be revising my Favorite Movie List.

Shattered Glass revolves around Stephen Glass, former reporter for The New Republic Magazine during the 1990's. Glass achieved outstanding status as a reporter. Turning out great story after great story, everyone thought Glass an outstanding journalistic talent.

Too bad he did not write fiction at the time. It turned out 17 of his features for TNR turned out to be either partially or totally fabricated.

His tapestry of lies unraveled in May of 1998 as a writer for Forbes Online, Charles Penenberg (Steven Zahn) tried to do a follow-up story on Glass' latest piece called "Hacker Heaven." Unable to find a website for a fictitious software company, nor credible phone numbers for any of the sources, Penenberg contacted TNR editor Charles Lane.

At this point, Lane starts to have his own doubts and does his own investigation. As he uncovers the truth, Lane discovers that Glass not only fabricated the whole Hacker story, but may have done the same with other stories. Of course, the fiction ends as Glass is fired.

The independent movie has so many strengths going for it. First and foremost is the cast. Hayden Christensen plays Glass who uses his childlike charm and innocence to dupe superiors. Christiansen, who played young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars is able to spin his yarns and congratulate himself for it. As Glass, Christensen tenaciously sticks to his lies even when proof flies in his face. A quick wit even tries to modify lies to suit his own needs. The charm works more as Christensen uses his innocent and sincere voice to issue hollow apologies.

Another outstanding performance is Peter Sarsgaard who plays new TNR editor Charles Lane. Sarsgaard provides the most subdued, yet powerful performance. Often, experts tell us 85 per cent of all communication is non-verbal. This is where Sarsgaard has a true strength. He displays diappointment, concern, skepticism, and downright anger without flamboyant gestures or pitch and tone in voice.

Another noted performance is Hank Araria, who usually does many voices for "The Simpsons." In real life, Azaria shows some real acting credibility playing the wise and insightful Michael Kelly, Lane's predecessor at TNR. Kelly went on to serve as editor for the Atlantic Monthly and was killed in April 2003 while coveirng the war in Iraq. In fact, Shattered Glass was dedicated to Kelly's memory.

Probably the ultimate muscle for Shattered Glass is the accuracy for what really happened. Although I liked the 1999 release of The Insider, writer director Michael Mann sacrificed the truth in order to "add drama" to the story. That does not happen, though, in Shattered Glass. In this case, writer/director Billy Ray tells it like it happened--as if knowing journalism's main goal is to search for the truth.

The conjectural end (which I will not reveal) probably has the greatest dramatic affect on the whole movie. While some in the audience might feel sympathy for Glass and his duplicitous methods, others will feel betrayed, angry, and skeptical. Still, it struck me that Glass' habitual lying actually took him to another realm where he believed his own lies. Within the mind of Glass, he DID do a story on Young Repub