Reviews (157)

Hilarious stoner comedy
Half Baked is a hilarious movie that some complain has no plot, but that does not detract from an otherwise very funny movie. Four stoner friends in New York live for one thing and one thing only. Pot. On a munchies field trip, one of the friends, Kenny, feeds all the food to a diabetic horse, killing it, and is then sent to jail for the murder. The remaining three must raise the money for Kenny's bail so they decide to start selling marijuana. At the same time, a fellow drug dealer takes notice that they are stealing his business and goes after the trio. This is a hilarious movie with too many great moments to even mention. Each member of the cast has their own personal shining moment at some point in the movie. This is a great movie with low-brow humor that never ceases to be funny at any age.

The cast of Half Baked is truly hilarious, working well together throughout. Dave Chappelle plays janitor Thorogood, Jim Breur plays Grateful Dead fan Brian, Guillermo Diaz as foul-mouthed Scarface, and Harland William plays Kenny. All four are great. The film also has cameos from Snoop Dogg, Tommy Chong, Janeane Garofalo, Jon Stewart, and Willie Nelson. What the movie may lack in plot, this very funny cast makes up for. The DVD offers production notes, the widescreen presentation, and theatrical trailers. This is a very funny movie that will have you laughing throughout. Don't miss Half Baked!

Bob Saget's greatest role
An uneven attempt to revive the stoner comedy genre made famous in the '70s by Cheech and Chong, Half-Baked deals with three potheads who become drug dealers in order to raise money to get their friend out of jail. The plot is an excuse to give us a comedic tour of the wide, wonderful world of marijauna. For every funny joke, there's about ten that fall flat but, under the, shall we say, right circumstances, I've found this film to be truly hilarious. (And if you can't pick up the hidden meaning of that statement then this film probably ain't for you.) None of the four leading actors are all that funny (I've never been a big fan of Dave Chapelle who has always seemed to be a third-rate Wayans Brother) but the film features some truly hilarious cameos with everyone from Willie Nelson to Janeane Garofalo to Snoop Doggy Dogg showing up as examples of common stoner types. (My favorite was Jon Stewart with his whole, "But have you ever tried watching TV ... on weed!?" routine.) Probably my favorite cameo (and the one scene that always has me on the floor laughing no matter what circumstances might have led to me watching the film) comes from Bob Saget of all people who, with one simply question, manages to make you wonder what really was going down on the Full House set! I can't quote the line on this service, sadly, but anyone who hears it will never be able to get it out of their head. Hopefully, someday, Saget and Stewart and all the other cameo actors in this film will get together to remake Reefer Madness.

very funny
this is one of the funniest movies i've ever seen. i hope a special edition comes out soon. there is a good chance because it has become very popular.

"I Wanna Talk To Sampson!"
Half Baked has to be one of the funniest movies around. Even if you are not a weed smoker, you can enjoy this movie. I think the big misconception here is that one must be a pot smoker to enjoy this movie and it is not true. The movie is about 3 friends trying to raise bail money for their friend who was arrested for feeding a diabetic police horse junk food which resulted in the horse dying. That right there is reason enough to see this movie. The characters are great and there are so many funny scenes in this movie. It's a must see...and if you still have doubts, watch the movie just to see the scene where Bob Saget (The dorky dad from Full House) says "I used to suck d*ck for coke."

Nick Hinton's Stop being a Hater
Hey Nick Hinton if you don't like stoners or the movie why are you wasting your time writing a review about it... what type of movies you like Monsters Inc & Lilo and Stitch... my opinion is if you like stupid comedies like the scary movies and not another teen movie this movie you gotta watch you won't stop laughing Dave Chapelle one of the best comedians out there right now is hilarious this is a must watch.. you'll laugh at how burnt and stoned these guys are... and the guy who sleeps on the couch... another great add on.. who ever hasn't seen this movie i recommend it gather a few of your friends and watch it while drinking some beers you'll love it .... this your boy .. JT LiL Money... ... Read more

Amazon.com

For Adam Sandler fans only, this dopey comedy features the former Saturday Night Live star as an overindulged rich guy whose father insists he repeat grades 1 through 12 before taking over the family business. The scenario is perfect for Sandler's infantile leanings (which he has fortunately outgrown in more recent movies), and for the most part the jokes about being too old and too big for the experiment are obvious. Chris Farley and Steve Buscemi turn up in uncredited cameo appearances, but otherwise the film is pretty dismissible, except for those diehards who can't get enough of Sandler. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (153)

Overall Great Movie
Billy Madison is the hilarious story of a 27 year-old millionaire who goes back to school to prove to his father that he is capable of running a fortune 500 company.
Adam Sandler's performance is one of the funniest of his career, and other actors add to the humor of the movie as well, such as a cameo appearance by Chris Farley.
The movie itself can be hard to stand at some points, mostly because of the stupidity of the entire situation, and Adam Sandler's character can get annoying at times.

Even so, this movie is one of my favorites, and I recommend it to any Saturday Night Live fan, Adam Sandler fan, or just anyone who is looking for a good laugh.

Adam Sandler at his most inane and comical best
Billy Madison is the most hilariously inane character that Adam Sandler has portrayed, and while I don't consider this one of Sandler's best movies, it is easily one of his funniest. A lot of the comedy seems to have come directly from the set of Saturday Night Live; it was funny there, and it is funny here. Even a few SNL buddies, namely Norm MacDonald and the late Chris Farley, turn up to revel in the infectiously entertaining silliness. Sandler plays Billy Madison (of course), the son of a filthy rich hotel magnate. He spends all of his time lazing around the pool, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, and pawing over nudie mags; his only hobby seems to be lighting bags of poo on fire on the front porch of people he doesn't particularly like. Even after his infantile behavior at a big business meeting, he is shocked to hear his father say he is giving the company to a particularly annoying executive rather than turning it over to him. He swears he will do anything, even go back to school and actually earn the diploma his father bought for him, to make his father change his mind. Monday morning finds him camped out in a first grade classroom, where he actually fits in pretty well. Every two weeks, he is tested and bumped up another grade. Billy really enjoys his time in third grade because he makes some good friends among the children and laps the elixir of knowledge from the fountain of the gorgeous Veronica Vaughn (Bridgette Wilson). As time goes by, Eric starts sweating and sets Billy up for a fall. Only the disciplinarian love of Veronica and the support of his new childhood friends can pick Billy up and get him back in the game.

I think Sandler is a comic genius, and few comedians could make such a silly, silly movie a real success. I mean, Billy does things like chase imaginary giant penguins around the house; that kind of thing just doesn't fly with any other actors. I should point out that there is actually a strong human element to this story as it progresses, though. Once all the alcohol is out of his bloodstream, Billy is a nice, good-hearted fellow, and the reliving of his old school days makes a profound impact on his character. I'm still not exactly sure what Veronica sees in him, but true success pretty much requires a good-looking woman to be there to kiss you at the end. Perhaps I should just say a final word to the parents of teenaged boys: while this movie does provide a strategy guaranteed to make any young man study his heart out, it is probably not something you will want to sanction in your own family life.

This is the second funniest movie ever!
This is the second funniest movie on the whole planet. The only thing that beats it is Jackass: The Movie. Okay, this is Adams best movie ever. What I don't get, is that theren't aren't hardly any special features on the DVD. There aren't any deleted scenes. Hold on, I remember a kickaball scene from when I saw this on T.V. But it is nowhere on the DVD. Weird. Here is my favorite quote. Old Man: Who the h*ll is it and waddya want? Dagnabit, its one of those flaming bags again. Wife: Don't put it out with you boots, Ted. Old Man: Don't tell me my bussines devil woman! Call the fire department, this one's outta control. (Stomps on bag, takes of shoe and smells it.) Awesome movie!

Wow
Adam Sandler plays Billy Madison who is over 20 years old son of a very rich man. Billy is lazy beyond belief and he is unemployed. When his father wants to retire and wants to hand over the family business to Billy but his vice president Eric protests thinking that he deserves to be in charge of the business instead. Billy is not happy about Eric taking over his father's business at all so his dad makes a deal with both, Eric and Billy.
Billy has to go to the school again and if he passes all the exams then that's when he'll take over his family business. But will Billy actually succeed???

Extremely funny like every Adam Sandler's movies

"I want a snack pack!"
Billy Madison...one of the funniest movies in history. From the beginning when Billy jumps out of his pool with suntan lotion in the form of a smiley face on his abdomen yelling "Nudie magazine day!" to the end, I was laughing so hard that my ribs ached. I personally thought that everything that had to do with the silly penguin was the funniest, but Billy's maid was hilarious, too. If you've seen Big Daddy, then this is a must-have. Having a pickle slice race on the window of a restaurant looks like a lot of fun...I'll have to try that sometime. ^_^ ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Excellent DVD
The Beastie Boys Video Anthology offers so much, I have had it for 3 weeks now and I feel I have only begun to scratch at the surface of all of the angles, remixes , extras, photos, commentary etc. If you are a Beastie Boys fan and you have a DVD player, this is a must have, if you are a Beastie Boys fan and you dont have a DVD player, go out and get a DVD player for this. The Anthology is very well put together featuring 18 different videos, ranging from early work (Holy Snappers from their Polly Wog Stew days) all the way to their most recent work (Hello Nasty and Alive) videos.Each video contains extras in some form. The "Alive" video alone has 9 angles and 7 different audio tracks. The DVD also contains short films they have made (CIAO LA and Octopus VS Robot), live versions of songs (Shadrach and Graditude), commentary from the band and from the directors, and directors notes, storyboards, photos, and album covers. This is a very well put together DVD and you have to check it out even if your not a Beastie Boys fan. One of the top DVD's of the year

The ultimate rap/comedy DVD
I bought "License to Ill" when it came out some 15 years ago and I knew then that this band would change the music world forever. This DVD is so cool I cannot even begin to express my feelings for it. You get two discs each containing 9 Beastie songs and videos. The cool part is that each video has changable camera angles and re-mixed audio that you can change ON THE FLY as you watch. The experience is totally customizable. There are literally 30 different versions of "Intergalactic" with all the re-mixes and video options. Also the origional videos (sans re-mixed audio or video) can be played back to back making this a great party DVD. Oh, did I mention that these guys are funny as hell? One of the extras on "Sabotage" is a halarious interview with the cast of the video.

I have but two complaints. I wish that the re-mixed videos could be played back to back. Also I wish that the videos could be played in a random order. Those are my only gripes.

If you are a fan of the B Boys BUY THIS DVD. If you are not a fan BUY IT ANYWAYS. I feel like throwing a party now just to throw this on the big TV and pump it through the surround sound!

Nice to have the videos available, but extravagent
Their music is great, the videos aren't the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I listen to the b-boys quite a bit, but I don't find a video dvd to have much replay value.

No words, just unintelligible drooling.
Oh my. This is a brilliant DVD. First of all, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the Beasties make some seriously awesome music videos. Case in point: my brothers are not B-boy fans, but they worship at the altar of Sabotage every time it plays. So compiling the videos (minus those during the Def Jam days) by itself is a fantastic idea. Then, there's the countless different camera angles, often several per video. The stills. The commentaries from directors and the Boys themselves. (Even though theirs don't bring much new knowledge to light. Whatever, even as kickback as their commentary is, it works.) The different remixes. Again, often several per song. The extra clips like the interview with the cast of Sabotage (my sides hurt after that one) and the Intergalactic short. This DVD is so jammed with goodies that you won't want to leave your house. Ever. Okay, for at least a very long time. Bonus points for making everything clear and concise, the instruction manual, and the kick ass Sabotage poster that now resides on my ceiling.

a DVD taking full advantage of what DVD's can do !!
This release by the Criterion Collection is one of the most impressive DVD's in terms of special features and versatility that I have seen. This double disc set covers the music videos by the band, The Beastie Boys.

It covers 18 of their songs and the special features make up 95% of the content. Many of the songs contain lyrics not suitable for children and some teens, though some of the songs have the profanity bleeped.

The songs featured are Intergalactic, Shake Your Rump, Gratitude, Something's Got to Give, Sure Shot, Hey Ladies, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, Body Movin', So What'Cha Want, Sabotage, Shadrach, Three MCs and One DJ, Ricky's Theme, Pass the Mic, Holy Snappers, Root Down, Netty's Girl and Alive.

Of these my favorites are Intergalctic, and Shadrach.

For bonus features we have two audio commentaries of each video. One by the band and one by the directors. There are also alternate audio tracks of remixes of many of the songs interchangable with seperate video angles making hundreds of possible combinations. There is also slide shows of album art and pictures of video production and storyboarding.

I watched each individual angle and listened to each individual remix but did not do each possible combination as this would have probably taken a VERY long time.

Hardcore Beastie Boys fans though, will love to do this. Many of the videos contain very impressive footage. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

MC Gusto Rules!
While on a hiatus from his long stint on Saturday Night Live, comedian Chris Rock took time to write and star in this film spoofing the world of gangster rap and hip hop. Directed by Tamra Davis ("Billy Madison"; "Half Baked"), "CB4" stars Chris Rock as Albert Brown, a young African-American guy living in Locash, California who dreams of making it big as a major rap star. With his friends, Euripides (Allen Payne of "Jason's Lyric") and Stabmaster Arson (Deezer D), Albert sets his sights on landing a contract with mega produced Trustus Jones.

However, trouble comes along when Gusto (played by Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie Murphy), the owner of the most popular club is arrested in a drug transaction that Albert witnessed (Gusto believes he was an informer). With Gusto out for revenge on Albert, Albert decides to take advantage of Gusto's name and personality and create the biggest, baddest rap group of all time-- CB4 (short for Cell Block 4).

Throughout the film, the band faces challenges to their freedom of speech, problems in their love lives, band disunity, and a reconnection with their African roots. With a variety of jokes primarily targeted for urban minorities, CB4 will have you rolling on the floor laughing.

Also starring in the film is the late Phil Hartman who plays a California conservative politician bent on destroying CB4. Khandi Alexander (television's "Talk Radio," which also had Hartman as a cast member) is hysterical as the hip hop groupie Sissy who is a "businesswoman" due to her get rich scheme of capturing rap stars in embarrassing Polaroid shots and blackmailing them.

Chris Rock has sure come a long way from his days on Saturday Night Live. "CB4" was his first starring role, and after watching this film you'll see why he is one of the funniest comics alive today. "CB4" is to rap music as "This is Spinal Tap" was to rock. It's funny to the last minute.

M.C. Gusto Rules!
While on a hiatus from his long stint on Saturday Night Live, comedian Chris Rock took time to write and star in this film spoofing the world of gangster rap and hip hop. Directed by Tamra Davis ("Billy Madison"; "Half Baked"), "CB4" stars Chris Rock as Albert Brown, a young African-American guy living in Locash, California who dreams of making it big as a major rap star. With his friends, Euripides (Allen Payne of "Jason's Lyric") and Stabmaster Arson (Deezer D), Albert sets his sights on landing a contract with mega produced Trustus Jones.

However, trouble comes along when Gusto (played by Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie Murphy), the owner of the most popular club is arrested in a drug transaction that Albert witnessed (Gusto believes he was an informer). With Gusto out for revenge on Albert, Albert decides to take advantage of Gusto's name and personality and create the biggest, baddest rap group of all time-- CB4 (short for Cell Block 4).

Throughout the film, the band faces challenges to their freedom of speech, problems in their love lives, band disunity, and a reconnection with their African roots. With a variety of jokes primarily targeted for urban minorities, CB4 will have you rolling on the floor laughing.

Also starring in the film is the late Phil Hartman who plays a California conservative politician bent on destroying CB4. Khandi Alexander (television's "Talk Radio," which also had Hartman as a cast member) is hysterical as the hip hop groupie Sissy who is a "businesswoman" due to her get rich scheme of capturing rap stars in embarrassing Polaroid shots and blackmailing them.

Chris Rock has sure come a long way from his days on Saturday Night Live. "CB4" was his first starring role, and after watching this film you'll see why he is one of the funniest comics alive today. "CB4" is to rap music as "This is Spinal Tap" was to rock. It's funny to the last minute.

Funny......
I'm usually not a big fan of most SNL comedians movies, this one kept me laughing. A few middle-class black young men who dreams of making it big. Pulls off becoming famous as portraying thugs turned rappers. Good movie!

one of the funniest spoofs
OMG this movie is soooooo dammmmmm funny, If you wanna see something that will make you roll on the floor, then this is a must. One of Chris Rocks best performances, plus the sound track is funny. Another movie to check out is FEAR OF A BLACK HAT.

Fine Spoof of a deserving target
The crudity and ignorance of so-called "gangsta rap" is such a self-caricature that it would almost seem redundant to spoof the genre, but Chris Rock and co. effectvely manage to do this with success. The "LoCash Crew's" foolishness and stupidity could easily be mistaken for a real rap documentary. However, I really liked the scene here Chris Rock's father lays down the law about this mockery of ghetto life, which really is not funny at all. I wish some real rappers (some who appeared in this film) would have gotten the point!! The late Eazy (Eric Wright) E, who deserves the blame for inventing this garbage-filled genre and whom this film is largely based on, appears in a cameo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Awesome Flicks! Buy Them!
These are quite possibly the two greatest Adam Sandler movies ever released. His new movies of of no comparison to the great comical humor of both Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. Now, I haven't seen the deleted scenes supposed to be placed only in this set for these two movies, but they should be great. If Billy Madison has the "kickball scene" found only on the TV edit of Billy Madison you are already getting your money's worth. My advice - buy them (you WILL NOT regret it). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cannabis comedy doesn't get more juvenile than this pro-pot goof about three stoners who come to the rescue of a fourth buddy when he's arrested for feeding a lethal dose of junk food to a diabetic police horse. Kenny (Harland Williams) is sent to jail, and to rescue him from the almost inevitable trauma of homosexual rape (giving you some idea of this movie's level of humor), his buddies set out to raise his $100,000 bail by selling high-grade weed ripped off from a pharmaceutical research lab. That's about it for the plot; the rest of the movie's a parade of marijuana jokes and amusing pot-friendly cameos by the likes of Snoop Dog, Willie Nelson, and Janeane Garofalo. As two of the bong-hitting buddies, Jim Breuer (from Saturday Night Live) and comedian Dave Chappelle do their best to disguise the movie's lack of inspiration. But no matter how hard they try to milk laughs from the one-joke premise, they can't stop the movie's title from being an apt description of the movie itself. -- Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (157)

Best stoner movie. Period.
My friends and I have been quoting lines from this movie for years. This is a true classic for any stoner. Best part of the movie is when Thurgood is smoking with Sir Smokealot and he says "I live for this s*it!!!, Get Away From Me Biatch!!!!" And of course who can forget "I'm gonna take your little mexican friend here and I'm gonna Kill him" "Yo, I'm cuban b" "Ah yes, cuban b". One of my favorite movies of all time. To those who say this movie sucks and think it gives stoners a bad name, STONERS ALREADY HAVE A BAD NAME YOU IDIOTS!!!! And yes I'm talking to you sunsparklesunshine. Who the hell listens to Aqua???? Anyways, this movie never stops getting funny, I've watched it a million times and will watch it a million more. Plus it has my favorite comedian, Dave Chappelle. Every time I get a 20 dollar bill I think of this movie. Better than How High and all the Fridays but those are still good. Not enough can be said about this movie in 1,000 words. 3rd best comedy just under Blazing Saddles and the Monty Python movies. Great movie.

"Have you ever seen the back of a 20-dollar bill, ON WEED??"
This movie is horrendously funny. Three friends, a black, white and a Cuban, start dealing drugs to get bail money for their friend Kenny. Along the way, their business does great, until larger powers get into the way. David Chapelle (who also appeared in Blue Streak, among other films) does a great job as Thurgood. Rachel True does a good job as his weed-hating girl too, she's hot. There are also a lot of stars who show up as guests in the film too. Among them are Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Jon Stewart and a lot of others. Jim Breuer is hilarious in this movie too. "I got Jerry Garcia in a [pouch] man!", he makes himself up as a classic 1970's pothead hippie. If you're looking for the best weed comedy this side of Cheech and Chong, check this one out. The ending is hilarious too, I won't give it away. But this is classic.

very funny
this is one of the funniest movies i've ever seen. i hope a special edition comes out soon. there is a good chance because it has become very popular.

"I Wanna Talk To Sampson!"
Half Baked has to be one of the funniest movies around. Even if you are not a weed smoker, you can enjoy this movie. I think the big misconception here is that one must be a pot smoker to enjoy this movie and it is not true. The movie is about 3 friends trying to raise bail money for their friend who was arrested for feeding a diabetic police horse junk food which resulted in the horse dying. That right there is reason enough to see this movie. The characters are great and there are so many funny scenes in this movie. It's a must see...and if you still have doubts, watch the movie just to see the scene where Bob Saget (The dorky dad from Full House) says "I used to suck d*ck for coke."

Nick Hinton's Stop being a Hater
Hey Nick Hinton if you don't like stoners or the movie why are you wasting your time writing a review about it... what type of movies you like Monsters Inc & Lilo and Stitch... my opinion is if you like stupid comedies like the scary movies and not another teen movie this movie you gotta watch you won't stop laughing Dave Chapelle one of the best comedians out there right now is hilarious this is a must watch.. you'll laugh at how burnt and stoned these guys are... and the guy who sleeps on the couch... another great add on.. who ever hasn't seen this movie i recommend it gather a few of your friends and watch it while drinking some beers you'll love it .... this your boy .. JT LiL Money... ... Read more

Amazon.com

A gentle, oddly idealistic script and assured performances by a strong ensemble cast make this coming-of-age tale a standout. Skipped Parts is the story of Sam, a young would-be writer, and his free-spirited mother. Shipped off to the wilds of Wyoming by his embarrassed politician-grandfather, Sam (Bug Hall) and his mother Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh, clearly enjoying herself) get down to the business of getting to know and shocking the locals. Sam meets kindred spirit Maurey (Mischa Barton), and the two, though only 14, begin to experiment with sex--the "skipped parts" of the novels they've been reading. Hall and Barton give astonishingly good performances for such young actors--Barton in particular shows a poise that bodes well for her continued career. The script isn't perfect, but it is earnest and affectionate toward its characters, and that goes a long way. Watch for Drew Barrymore, who joins in the fun for a few quietly silly moments as Sam's dream girl. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (19)

"SKIP" the movie - opt for the novel
I was so excited when I saw this movie available at my local [video store]. Tim Sandlin's coming-of-age novel is one of my favorite books. It's sweet, self-deprecating, and tactile. Unfortunately, the movie adaptation is dry, humorless and poorly acted. I wasn't sure how Hollywood would take such a shocking and sexual book and relate the important scenes (which quite often were sexual) to reality. You cannot translate this book while playing it safe. I don't think anyone should have tried.

The series of novels, called the "GroVont Trilogy" are worth every penny. You'll laugh despite yourself and be thoroughly entertained. STAY AWAY from the film. Jennifer Jason Leigh overacts as usual, and Brad Renfro isn't smart enough to play the lead. I don't buy it for one second (no pun intended).

I hope this helps - and again Tim Sandlin is a fantastic author - don't use this sorry film to judge his work. Take the time to read the book - you'll thank me...

A great coming of age novel. Unforgettable!
This is a great coming of age story that I have watched twice in one week since I decided to buy it on a whim. The story of Lydia and Sam and their exile to Wyoming, their unconventional relationship as mother and son is unforgettable. Lydia isn't a woman who is very good at being a mother considering she drinks quite heavily and goes home with men at the bar. When Sam meets a girl named Maurey, they both decide to start trying to figure out what sex is like. Lydia tells them how to have sex and from that point on, this movie is a strange, oddball journey. This film shows what can happen to kids who grow up too fast, but it does this in a way that is heart-warming and different than most films.

I especially liked Michael Greyeyes' character, Hank Elkrunner. He plays a good guy who falls for Lydia only to have to deal with her wild ways. All of the actors in this film did a great job. And surprisingly, this film has a happy ending.

All in all, a great, funny film that is sure to stay with you long after its over. Hilarious

"Here's rule number one - you better not squirt."
"Skipped Parts" takes place in 1963. It is narrated by Sam (Bug Hall), a seventh-grader, and aspiring writer. He doesn't know who his father is because his mother, Lydia (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a promiscuous lush. Sam's Grandfather sends then away, with his financial support, so he won't be embarrassed by her when he runs for Governor of South Carolina.

They end up in Wyoming, where Sam meets Maurey (Mischa Barton) during a school baseball game. They argue about Mark Twain in class. Shortly after, Maurey and her mom (Peggy Lipton) do a neighborly visit - the Welcome Wagon. Lydia is embarrassingly rude to them. Later, Sam tells his mom he thinks he's in love with Maurey cuz he can't stand her. Sam gets teased and hassled by girls in school, and also by Maurey's boyfriend, Dothan (Brad Renfro). On November 22, 1963, Kennedy is shot. Maurey is very upset and cries, and Sam consoles her. Dothan makes some racist remarks, and Maurey and Sam go to her house. In another fantasy, Sam kisses Maurey's mom. He has a resulting nocturnal emission and shows his mom. Later, Sam tells Maurey about it at the soda shop, and she talks to a waitress about sex. Maurey later shows up to "make sex" with Sam as a learning experience. They try but fail in a funny scene. Later, Lydia gives them a sex talk and advice. (...).

The movie is well-acted by all. There is quite a bit of humor, too. The movie is R-Rated for language, which includes frank sexual talk, and sexual content. However, the sex scenes involving Sam and Maurey are tame and mostly set up by the dialog, which is quite funny. This is probably Mischa's best movie after "Lawn Dogs". Drew Barrymore has a small part in Sam's fantasies.

The DVD has a good commentary by director Tamra Davis, and a trailer.

Unusual, Dark Comedy
Picked this DVD up at the library, believe it or not. Sounded interesting. Had NOT read the book, so we were able to take it at face value.

My husband and I found ourselves laughing and getting into the lives of these quirky characters, even though they had very little for us to identify with. Jennifer Jason Leigh was very good, as were Mischa Barton and Bug Hall.

The best part of this movie was the scenic views of Wyoming countryside. Okay, I read that it was actually filmed in Canada. But they did do a good job of presenting the natural side of their area.

Overall, this was a good movie, although not in my Top 20 favorites. Worth watching, especially if you can check it out for free from the library.

By the way, I know nothing about this, but apparently there is another movie (a prequel, at that) with the same characters from the trilogy by Tim Sandlin: it is called Floating Away. Not sure if I would see that one or not...

Amazing Film, if you haven't read the book
Notice while you skim the other reviews, the only people who say this is a bad movie are the ones who've read the book. Those people are way too sensitive and end up slandering the actors, all because society couldn't handle the X-rated version of this movie starring 14 year olds that the book's literal translation would've been. OF COURSE IT WAS DUMBED DOWN AND LOST MOST OF IT'S SEXUALITY. It's America. We don't like to talk about true tragic events, like teen pregnancy or drunken parents.

So, ignoring the book, here's the movie: Decent actors play out, most convincingly, the story of a family who is moved from their rich lifestyle to live all alone in a hickville. The mother, who is politically incorrect for the time period, is unnaturally liberal and, thought not portrayed as a tragedy, distant from her son. Scenes in which she inadvertandly tastes his semen, in which the son's girlfriend brings him to accidental climax, in which the two announce that they'll be leaving the room to have sex IN FRONT OF THE MOTHER WHO DOES NOTHING TO STOP THEM... it's all satyrical, but you have it constantly in your head that while it IS funny in this film's context, it happens and isn't funny elsewhere. Cameo by Drew Barrymore as the fantasy girl. Starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as the nutbag mom, Bug Hall (The Little Rascals) as the son, and an onslaught of talented others to fill out the rest of the cast, the film has some very disturbing dramatic and (obviously disturbing) comedic scenes. Quite an odd little film.

Still, the book goes WAY PAST the movie, so if for some reason, this movie fills out your sick desires... grab the book, you'll really enjoy. If you like the movie due to style and humor and plot, grab the book - it's so much better. STILL, I give the film a 4. Great stuff. Sticks with you for a while. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pop idol Britney Spears stars in this sweet coming-of-age movie aboutthree childhood friends who've grown apart, but find out they may stillhave a lot in common. After graduating from high school, Lucy (Spears),Kit (Zoe Saldana), and Mimi (Taryn Manning) decide to take a road trip toL.A. to audition for a record label. Along the way, there's a lot ofheartbreak and female bonding (not to mention a lot of midriff-baring--inher first scene, Spears jumps on her bed in her underwear, singing alongto a Madonna song), as each of the three girls learns more about herselfand life. Crossroads could have been trite schmaltz, but the scripthas some grit and the direction is fresh and relaxed--and, mostsignificantly, Spears is far more sympathetic and engaging than you mightexpect. Also featuring Dan Aykroyd and Kim Cattrall. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (330)

Britney Makes a Splash in Her Film Debut
Since not very many people have been able to write a decent review of this movie, I felt compelled to do so. A movie as refreshing as this is worth it, in my humble opinion.

"Crossroads" is the story of three girls (Britney Spears as Lucy; Taryn Manning as Mimi; and Zoe Saldana as Kit) who decide to take a road trip to pursue their individual dreams. Lucy wants to travel to Arizona to see the mother (acted by Kim Cattrall) that skipped out on her and her father (played admirably by Dan Akroyd) when she was three; Mimi has aspirations of a singing career and wants to head to California for an open audition; and Kit just wants to tag along to California to visit the man that never has any time for her, her husband-to-be. Close friends when they were tiny tots, they grew apart as they reached maturity, each taking the individual path that life has led them.

Lucy is the all-around brain and good girl who never disobeys her father. And - surprise, surprise - she can sing and dance, too! Mimi is five months pregnant, garnering a reputation that precedes her wherever she goes. And Kit is just a stuck-up, always-clamoring-for-a-mirror type of girl who takes wicked delight in her popularity and good looks. Little do these three girls know that life will bring their lives full circle. And that at the end of the road, they will be as close as they've ever been.

Now when I first heard that Britney Spears was going to be in a movie, I had my own conclusions. I had seen her act on an episode of "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch" a few years back; you could definitely tell that she was new to the acting thing. But then she went and did "Saturday Night Live" the next year and really showed the world that she was capable of something more. Her performance as Dawn Paslowski, the bad-to-the-bone Mousketeer, was particularly memorable. And after having seen her strut her stuff in her feature film debut, I can officially declare it - Britney Spears can act, whether people like to admit it or not.

Britney has a very natural acting ability, which comes across so smoothly on-screen. It seems as though she's barely making an effort; that's how real it looks. And she does more than dance, sing and smile in this movie - I was genuinely moved by some of the things the script called on her to do. She has two - yes, two - crying scenes, the second one being an absolute standout. There is something in that very poignant scene alone that deserves praise. It was almost a little too real. This is something you've never seen out of Britney. Anyone who slams her performance obviously doesn't know good acting.

And the rest of the cast is outstanding as well. Taryn Manning is a delight as the preconceived Mimi, giving her a strength and endearing quality that the character needed to have in order to make her believable. And Zoe Saldana as Kit is just fabulous - she touches all the right chords with the character. She can be fussy, she can be funny, and she can be moving. I especially loved the casting of Dan Akroyd (as Lucy's father) and Kim Cattrall (as Lucy's mother). Their mere presence in the movie lends a credibility to the film that otherwise might not have been there. Not that the film wouldn't have been able to stand on its own without them; it's just that with two high-caliber stars like Akroyd and Cattrall, it lends it that certain "star-quality" style. And just to note: Cattrall and Britney look so much alike in the movie, you really do believe that they are mother and daughter. And, of course, we can't forget about the hunk behind the wheel, Ben (played by Anson Mount). Mount lends a ruggedness - yet a very real feel - to the movie that definitely needed balancing out due to all the female goings-on. His and Britney's chemistry in their scenes together is definitely something to watch for.

As far as the DVD goes, you can't go wrong with it. It has a host of features, highlighted by behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentaries by the director and writers. I have never before listened to a commentary while watching a film, but I did for this film, and it was very interesting. There are several bonus features in this package, and they just add to an already stellar DVD. The transfer is absolutely brilliant - I have never seen a picture look so sharp.

I really enjoyed this movie. I had my apprehensions, but Britney - supported by an excellent ensemble cast - allayed those apprehensions. Just because it has Britney Spears on the cover, don't assume that you're getting a particular type of movie. This one was everything I didn't think it would be - funny, charming, endearing, scary, heartfelt, and most of all - real.

Kudos to the cast and crew for making a movie that people everywhere can relate to. I, for one, was genuinely touched by it.

a quite-good film debut for Britney
Britney Spears' film debut CROSSROADS isn't a classic, but its no turkey either. Unlike fellow pop princesses Mariah Carey (GLITTER) and Mandy Moore (A WALK TO REMEMBER), Britney's film foray seems to have been a natural progression.

The story concerns Lucy (Britney Spears), a 16-year-old brainiac who goes on a road-trip with her two closest friends; the vivacious Kit (Zoe Saldana) and aspiring singer Mimi (Taryn Manning). Their appointed chauffer is a handsome musician with a "past" (Anson Mount) who, naturally, takes a shying to Lucy and the feeling is mutual.

All the road-trip cliches are present in this utterly predictable but oh-so-enjoyable film. Britney's acting isn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, and the material is well-suited to her talents. Britney uses her chart-topping single "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" to great affect as an anthem of sorts for her character, who seems to share the same view.

Also starring Dan Aykroyd and Kim Cattrall.

The DVD includes the trailer, Making-of featurette, pop-up Britney function and a Director's Chair feature where you can make your own Britney music video.

Pretty good for Britney
Britney Spears boomed onto the charts with her No. 1 Grammy-nominated smash "...Baby One More Time" in 1998. Since then she's been a household name and probably the most well-known entertainers in the world, and definitely one of the biggest in history. Miss Spears is not only beautiful but a talented individual no matter how much people say she can't sing; Britney actually can sing...she just doesn't do it LIVE (no wonder with her hyped-up dance moves). Nobody talked about her vocals when she debuted. Britney is a pretty good actress in this coming-of-age teen flick. Though not as touching as Mandy Moore's "A Walk to Remember," she needs to just be in the right film! She rocks in my opinion. Crossroads is ok. 3 out of 5 stars overall but 4 out of 5 because Britney's in it!

Crossroads
Crossroads DVD ~ Britney Spears is a funny, life affirming movie with Britney doing what Madonna was never able to do. That is, act. She shows that she has quite some tallent and could be a great actress one day...if she so chooses...

Yuck!!
My friend told me she rented "Crossroads" for out slumber party. I said "Yay! I love that movie!" which I DO, the thing is I thought that she meant the movie called Crossroads with Ralph Macchio in it. I was in for quite a surprise when Britney's eerie grinning face popped up on the screen. At any rate, I did watch the movie and to put it bluntly, it sucked like a vacuum cleaner. It was bad, it made my IQ drop five points, you shouldn't run away screaming if someone tries to make you watch it. ... Read more

Reviews (157)

Hilarious stoner comedy
Half Baked is a hilarious movie that some complain has no plot, but that does not detract from an otherwise very funny movie. Four stoner friends in New York live for one thing and one thing only. Pot. On a munchies field trip, one of the friends, Kenny, feeds all the food to a diabetic horse, killing it, and is then sent to jail for the murder. The remaining three must raise the money for Kenny's bail so they decide to start selling marijuana. At the same time, a fellow drug dealer takes notice that they are stealing his business and goes after the trio. This is a hilarious movie with too many great moments to even mention. Each member of the cast has their own personal shining moment at some point in the movie. This is a great movie with low-brow humor that never ceases to be funny at any age.

The cast of Half Baked is truly hilarious, working well together throughout. Dave Chappelle plays janitor Thorogood, Jim Breur plays Grateful Dead fan Brian, Guillermo Diaz as foul-mouthed Scarface, and Harland William plays Kenny. All four are great. The film also has cameos from Snoop Dogg, Tommy Chong, Janeane Garofalo, Jon Stewart, and Willie Nelson. What the movie may lack in plot, this very funny cast makes up for. The DVD offers production notes, the widescreen presentation, and theatrical trailers. This is a very funny movie that will have you laughing throughout. Don't miss Half Baked!

Bob Saget's greatest role
An uneven attempt to revive the stoner comedy genre made famous in the '70s by Cheech and Chong, Half-Baked deals with three potheads who become drug dealers in order to raise money to get their friend out of jail. The plot is an excuse to give us a comedic tour of the wide, wonderful world of marijauna. For every funny joke, there's about ten that fall flat but, under the, shall we say, right circumstances, I've found this film to be truly hilarious. (And if you can't pick up the hidden meaning of that statement then this film probably ain't for you.) None of the four leading actors are all that funny (I've never been a big fan of Dave Chapelle who has always seemed to be a third-rate Wayans Brother) but the film features some truly hilarious cameos with everyone from Willie Nelson to Janeane Garofalo to Snoop Doggy Dogg showing up as examples of common stoner types. (My favorite was Jon Stewart with his whole, "But have you ever tried watching TV ... on weed!?" routine.) Probably my favorite cameo (and the one scene that always has me on the floor laughing no matter what circumstances might have led to me watching the film) comes from Bob Saget of all people who, with one simply question, manages to make you wonder what really was going down on the Full House set! I can't quote the line on this service, sadly, but anyone who hears it will never be able to get it out of their head. Hopefully, someday, Saget and Stewart and all the other cameo actors in this film will get together to remake Reefer Madness.

very funny
this is one of the funniest movies i've ever seen. i hope a special edition comes out soon. there is a good chance because it has become very popular.

"I Wanna Talk To Sampson!"
Half Baked has to be one of the funniest movies around. Even if you are not a weed smoker, you can enjoy this movie. I think the big misconception here is that one must be a pot smoker to enjoy this movie and it is not true. The movie is about 3 friends trying to raise bail money for their friend who was arrested for feeding a diabetic police horse junk food which resulted in the horse dying. That right there is reason enough to see this movie. The characters are great and there are so many funny scenes in this movie. It's a must see...and if you still have doubts, watch the movie just to see the scene where Bob Saget (The dorky dad from Full House) says "I used to suck d*ck for coke."

Nick Hinton's Stop being a Hater
Hey Nick Hinton if you don't like stoners or the movie why are you wasting your time writing a review about it... what type of movies you like Monsters Inc & Lilo and Stitch... my opinion is if you like stupid comedies like the scary movies and not another teen movie this movie you gotta watch you won't stop laughing Dave Chapelle one of the best comedians out there right now is hilarious this is a must watch.. you'll laugh at how burnt and stoned these guys are... and the guy who sleeps on the couch... another great add on.. who ever hasn't seen this movie i recommend it gather a few of your friends and watch it while drinking some beers you'll love it .... this your boy .. JT LiL Money... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Never Rob A Bank On You're Wedding Day!!!
Hi, I'm 13 years old!
The reason I've said that I'm 12 is it doesn't go to my age!
Anyway.......................
Best Men is one of my favourite all time movies!!!
I love the way it sought of tells the story of these young guys and a girl who is gonna marry one of them!
Even though the rest of the characters were good, I absolutely fell in love with the character of Lt. John "Gonzo" Coleman! He's a character who's. .well, he's funny without meaning to be, if you know what I mean!
If you like a film with boys, comedy, disgruntled soldiers, good soundtracks and a good script, this is the one for you!!!

Drew's in this movie, but barely...
I received this DVD as a gift. The person who bought this knows that I am absolutely NUTS over Drew Barrymore. Even thought Drew is on the cover her actual role in the movie is minor. Her role here is comparable to her role in "Donnie Darko." The movie does start off a bit tepid and ends with a punch. Watch and listen carefully for there are some shocking surprises. I will say that the movie is well made and engrossing. However, if you must buy this movie, buy it for the fun of watching it and not for solely for seeing Drew.

a Drew fan
I bought this movie because Drew Barrymore is in it and I'm collecting all her movies. I watched it for the first time today and to tell you the truth the end was a little to sad for what I thought it was gonna be.
To quote the back of the movie:
"Hope's (Barrymore) big mistake on her wedding day was sending the groomsmen to collect her jailbird fiance Jesse (Wilson) from Prison. For on the way from the penitentiary, the best man, Billy (Flanery), decides he needs a little cash infusion from the town bank...so he holds it up! But's it's not long before all of the groomsmen are held up - when the cops surround the place! And since neither hell nor high water will stop Hope from having her day...she rushes in to join her fugitive wedding party, at the risk of spending her honeymoon - not to mention the rest of her life- behind bars."
It was a wonderful cast of Drew, Luke Wilson, Dean Cain, Andy Dick, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Mitchell Whitfield. A good description of this movie is a different kind of shotgun wedding. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's not hard to find extreme sports documentaries on DVD, but Keep Your Eyes Open is a cut above the norm. Hollywood director Tamra Davis (Billy Madison, Half Baked) brings to the genre a new polish, intellectual curiosity, and singularly interesting eye for unexplored camera angles and fresh visual settings. The subject is a little different, too: Keep Your Eyes Open concerns uniquely gifted athletes with a penchant for superior focus. They don't keep an eye on competitors, and they contemplate possible injury as something not to avoid but to predict. The talent roster includes skateboarders Eric Koston and Steve Berra, extraordinary skier Seth Morrison, 17-year-old motorcycle champion Travis Pastrana (who seems to dance with his bike while suspended in space), and hot-tempered surfer Sunny Garcia (whose fight for survival, learned on the tough side of Oahu, informs his sharp skills riding waves). Davis's husband, Mike D, makes an amusing cameo appearance as a security guard. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Amazing! Entertaining! I didn't want to miss a second!
I enjoyed every minute of this captivating, lively, and fun extreme sport documentary. I promise that you will be so engaged whether you plan to watch it alone or with a bunch of friends. To be honest, I am not a real sport-fan, but "Keep Your Eyes Open" entertained me immensely. Awesome film!

Amazing! Entertaining! I didn't want to miss a thing!
I enjoyed every minute of this captivating, lively, and fun extreme sport documentary. I promise that you will be so engaged whether you plan to watch it alone or with a bunch of friends. To be honest, I am not a real sport-fan, but "Keep Your Eyes Open" entertained me immensely. Awesome film!

Not a movie; it's an advertisement
Summary:
Well, it's kind of hard to summarize this DVD because it isn't predominantly a movie, even though there is a ridiculously stupid movie within the action clips. So, I'll summarize the majority of the footage then I'll summarize the movie.

The footage is made up almost entirely of what appear to be stock shots of extreme sports, including: snowboarding, skiing, BMX, surfing, and motorcross. One athlete from each sport is highlighted (sometimes there are more, but they are pretty inconsistent on this) who then gives a spread out interview intermixed with scenes of them doing what they do.

The movie is a silly short about two skaters who pay a security guard to look the other way while they skate on a college campus. Then when his boss returns the guard and his boss chase the skaters until they end up running them over in their car, killing them, then burying them.

My Comments:
I'm going to reverse the order for my comments about the DVD.

The movie... The short is about the dumbest thing I've ever watched. There are a total of four characters - two skaters and two guards. The skaters say a total of roughly 10 words, all while they are pooling their money to bribe the guard. The rest of the movie they don't say anything, they just skate, and skate, and skate. The guards, on the other hand, can't seem to keep their mouths shut - which works against the movie, sadly, because they sound like two potheads. It's rather obvious that in real life they are probably best friends with skaters and despise security guards. The plot, of course, makes no sense because security guards don't sit at checkpoints on campuses and the majority of the skating is actually just around the city where the movie is filmed instead of on the campus. The plot was just set up for them to have an excuse to film the two skaters. Then, when the skaters are 'killed', it's blatantly obvious that they are mixing footage of dummies with footage of the real skaters - way low budget stuff here. Of course, maybe that was their intent, but it was still just plain silly. In short, the movie portion of this DVD is an absolute waste of film and DVD space. But despite it's problems, it really wasn't that much worse than the rest of the DVD because it was at least coherent and trying to tell a story, despite the horrible acting and plot.

The footage and interviews... This is really where I started to have a major problem with this DVD. Even though there is a director for the DVD, Tamra Davis, I got the impression that most of the footage was likely shot by someone else and she just got her hands on it after the fact then edited it together. So, despite some of the footage being pretty good, I don't think the producers of this DVD deserve any of that credit because I'm pretty sure they didn't do most of the filming.

As for the content, as I noted above, this is not a movie - there is no story here. This is really just an advertising gimmick for extreme sports. There are a bunch of shots of people doing cool things with the occasional wreck. The extent of the story is the brief interludes of some of the athletes telling about their lives, but the snippets are short and lost in the jumble of cuts from the other athletes and their footage.

This leads me to perhaps my biggest problem with this DVD - was there supposed to be an order to it? The interviews and footage don't follow any particular pattern. They start with one person, jump to two or three others, return to the first, then leave that person for 20 or 30 minutes before returning to them. It's almost as if the director and editor just said, "Well, we have this many video clips, let's put them into a randomizer and see what comes out." Et voila, you have Keep Your Eyes Open. This is why I think I ended up concluding that the DVD was really just an advertisement because there was no other way to interpret what took place. Also, keep in mind that interspersed with the footage and interviews are scenes from the actual movie.

Overall, this DVD was more frustrating and annoying than interesting. I never really got anything from it other than watching some cool tricks and feeling like I was watching a 75 minute advertisement for supporting or participating in extreme sports. I guess I should admit that I found two things interesting - Mat Hoffman nearly killed himself when he was attempting to break his own record for height reached on a BMX bike but eventually succeeded, and Travis Pastrana won the first freestyle motorcycle trick contest at 14. Other than those two randomly interspaced interesting tidbits, I was completely bored by this DVD. If you're interested in paying for someone to advertise to you, go ahead and buy it. If you're looking for a movie or just a series of cool extreme sports clips, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Amazon.com

CB4
Comedian Chris Rock is the leader of a middle-class rap act that wins fame and fortune after donning a prison persona. The title stands for Cell Block 4. Naturally, they are mistaken for the real thing by everyone but the incarcerated gangstas, who are none too happy at the theft of their identities. One of the better efforts from Saturday Night Live alumni, this "rapumentary" is a hip-hop hit. However, it is not up to the cutting humor of that granddaddy of all spoofs, This Is Spinal Tap?, as misogyny and meanness get in the way. It has an anything-goes mentality, so expect outrageously filthy lyrics and plenty of tasteless humor. Of note: Director Tamra Davis was also behind that wild 1992 road movie, Guncrazy. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Life
Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy play it surprisingly straight in this film by director Ted Demme. Though there are laughs to be had, this is a story about perseverance in the face of a life of disappointment (yet the film was sold as a prison comedy). But Stir Crazy this isn't. Rather, Lawrence and Murphy play a couple of New Yorkers making a moonshine run from New York to Mississippi during the Prohibition who find themselves framed for murder and sentenced for life to a prison chain gang. As they age, the two become close friends, although the strait-laced Lawrence always resents the free-wheeling Murphy for getting him into the situation in the first place. Ultimately, these two men learn to find meaning where they can, taking value from friendship and their limited ability to affect the lives of others. At times preachy, it ends on an upbeat note; the film's biggest laughs are reserved for the final section, in which Lawrence and Murphy don age makeup and play octogenarians. --Marshall Fine ... Read more