MOVIE 43 Blu-ray Review

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Movie 43' on Blogcritics.org.

Movie 43, a comedy film of small bits packed with big stars, is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Fox Home Video. Couched in a framing story about three boys’ search online for the very illegal and fictional Movie 43, bizarre bits that are supposed to be funny string along with little to no connection between them for about an hour a half.

Depending on whether you watch the theatrical version of the film or the alternate cut, both of which are included on this release, depends on what framing story you get. Either Charlie Wessler (Dennis Quaid) pitches an ever-changing film to Griffin Schraeder (Greg Kinnear), constantly shifting the characters and premise, or three boys (including The Inbetweeners‘ Mark L. Young) are hacking the internet to find a fictional film called Movie 43 that could destroy the world. Both go meta in a weird way; the other bits of the movie appear to be the same in both editions.

Neither scenario makes much sense, so I do wish the film’s producers had just let the scenes stand on their own. A bunch of different sketches performed by some of the most familiar faces in Hollywood is an intriguing enough concept without forcing them to be strung together. The way this is released, it feels like forced cohesion that doesn’t quite come together.

Because each segment is made by different people, they do feel like they fall across the spectrum, from the absurdly hilarious, to the confusingly weird, to the just plain gross. This is a common issue with every comedy made up of individual segments (just ask Saturday Night Live), and humor is highly subjective, so while I did not enjoy the entire hour and a half, there are some things in Movie 43 that I really loved. Others likely will watch the same movie and value different parts.

The best of the bunch are: “iBabe,” in which a woman (Kate Bosworth) just can’t make a boss (Richard Gere) and his underlings (Aasif Mandvi and Jack McBrayer) understand why teenage boys are getting their body parts mangled in a lower-region fan of an mp3 player that looks like a naked woman; a “Machine Kids” commercial showing sad children hiding inside ATMs and soda vendors; “Super Hero Speed Dating,” in which Batman (Jason Sudeikis) ruins Robin’s (Justin Long) chances with women ranging from Wonder Woman (Leslie Bibb) to Supergirl (Kristen Bell); and “Victory’s Glory,” in which a Coach (Terrance Howard) in 1959 faces an uphill battle in convincing a black basketball team they can beat a white one.

I think I like these four because they take something familiar, and turn it on its head in a clever manner. Wonderful performers lose themselves in these roles for a few minutes, doing something most people don’t expect from them, and doing it well. Throughout the segment, the tension and story ramps up, and there are odd twists.

The parts of the film I didn’t like involve sexual pooping, spilled period blood, and incestual make-outs. I can see how this might appeal to others, but it just crosses the line of my taste and goes too far. The point is, though, there is really something for everyone (except those who only like intelligent, witty stuff), with a broad swath of topics and genres.

The cast is amazing, and includes, besides those listed above, Common, Seth MacFarlane, Elizabeth Banks, Halle Berry, Stephen Merchant, John Hodgman, Anna Faris, Gerard Butler, Snooki, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Emma Stone, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sean William Scott, Uma Thurman, Chris Pratt, J.B. Smoove, and others. It really is a remarkably talented group of people, and while I didn’t appreciate all of the styles of humor represented, I don’t think any cast member felt wooden or out of place in the larger picture.

The extras leave a lot to be desired, unfortunately, Besides a trailer and some previews of other titles, the only bonus included is a cut scene featuring Tony Shaloub and Julianne Moore. This deleted segment is no better or worse than anything in the finished film, so I’m not sure why it isn’t integrated in with the rest.

But what I’d really like to see is the story of how Movie 43 came about, why all of these actors chose to participate, and who championed the idea in the first place. Surely, there is a rich story behind this, given the scope of the project, and I’m very curious about the back story, which is not revealed on this disc.

As far as Blu-ray quality, the picture and effects are great, but there isn’t a lot to push boundaries. It’s a very typical film, visually, with character-driven scenes, so aside from liking a crisp, clear image, there isn’t much argument to made on DVD vs. Blu-ray. The format is consistent, and I didn’t notice any static or graininess from either picture or sound. However, neither is there anything super impressive that makes use of an advanced playback system. Nor would I really expect there to be in this type of movie.

Movie 43 is available now as a two-disc Blu-ray, DVD, digital download combo pack.

30 Rock scarfs down its "Last Lunch"

Article first published as 30 Rock scarfs down its "Last Lunch" on TheTVKing.

Last night was the one hour series finale of NBC's 30 Rock. In a double length episode entitled "Hogcock!" and "Last Lunch," the cast that works behind the scenes at a late night sketch comedy show, in which we rarely see what the sketches are about, take their final bow, bringing us a few emotional payoffs along the way.

Last week's episode, "A Goon's Deed in a Weary World," felt like a series finale. The Girlie Show is facing cancellation, and the cast and crew band together to make sure the show shuts down so that Liz (Tina Fey) could get to the airport to meet her kids. It was heartwarming, funny, and it would have been pretty darn good if 30 Rock chose to end there.

Instead, the final hour feels forced and off for much of the episode. The entire gambit to make one last episode of TGS cheapens the way the series ends, and comes across as contrived to pull all the characters back together, instead of letting them go their separate ways. Most of the staff, save the bosses, haven't even left the premises yet, taking their sweet time packing up! It doesn't make sense, and is wholly unsatisfying.

The entire premise hinges on Tracy's (Tracy Morgan) contract stipulating that he will be paid thirty million dollars if TGS doesn't film 150 episodes (30 Rock only made 139, by the way), one episode short of where they stopped. It's fine that Tracy is the one mucking things up for everyone; that makes sense, given his character. It's just a shame that this is the way the series decides to have him cause trouble.

Tracy resists doing the show because he doesn't want to say goodbye to everyone. This leads to one of the best moments in the finale, where Liz and Tracy have a heart to heart in a strip club, and Liz admits that she will miss him. This scene is fantastic, a real pay-off between the two characters, and a prime opportunity for Tracy to really open up, as he is at his best when he shows some vulnerability.

I just wish Liz's story played out a little better. Last week, she gets the escape she needs, finally getting away from the job that drives her crazy. This week, she realizes she misses the craziness and is drawn back in, even ending up directing a sitcom you just know she doesn't believe in in the "One Year Later" sequence. Where is Liz's happy ending? Why does her path to peace not stick? Are we supposed to believe she will always be so miserable? Fans don't want that for someone they've come to care about so much!

The dilemma surrounding Liz's plot is twice as bad for Jack (Alec Baldwin). We see Jack not satisfied with his achievement of his dreams, finally in charge of Kabletown. To compensate, he rounds out his life, which only makes him feel like he isn't devoting himself fully to work, keeping him from the goals he desires. His reaction is to go crazy and quit his job, heading off on a boat. This takes things a little too far, even for Jack, and makes one think that when he ends up back in the corporate world, he will still never feel good about where he is in his life and what he does.

Don't get me wrong; I love the scene at the water where Liz and Jack express their non-romantic love for one another. I also love the catalyst for that moment, when Liz and Jack bitingly rip into one another, declaring that they are nothing more than two people who worked together for a time, and don't mean anything. Dramatic, meaty stuff for a relationship that has been the driving force of the series. This story is what we need from the two leads in the final episode, and reinforces just how much they mean to one another. But why is the filler in between these two amazing bits so bad?

Other great stuff: Tracy tells Jenna (Jane Krakowski) he is going out for cigarettes, Tracy's dad finally comes home from buying cigarettes, Jenna realizes what she will miss most is her mirror, Jenna sings the "Rural Juror" song, Jenna is greeted in L.A. by beautiful young women including one that looks just like Cerie (Katrina Bowden), Jenna admitting she has never met Mickey Rourke, Jonathan (Maulik Pancholy) celebrating the dissolution of Liz and Jack's friendship, Tracy releasing Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) from his promise to always be there for Tracy, finding out that Pete's (Scott Adsit) attempt to fake his death didn't work.

Other things that didn't work: everything with Lutz (John Lutz), Jack cheapening his feelings for both Elisa (Salma Hayek) and Nancy (Julianne Moore), Kenneth running the network in such a strict way and still seemingly succeeding, Liz and Criss (James Marsden) in the chat room and park meetup, the lack of so many recurring characters who still mean something to the leads, like Paul and Angie.

I think the main problem with the 30 Rock finale is that it should have stuck to a half hour format. Seeing how the characters end up, especially in the flash forward in the tag, is wonderful, and there are several terrific connections between characters, with goodbyes that mean something. But tossing in the extra episode of TGS and the subplots for minor characters, such as the writers' story, where they battle Lutz for lunch, slows down the episode, and ruins it.

Overall, I ended up being underwhelmed and disappointed. For a series I love so much, and coming at the end of a fantastic season, I expected more depth, or at least more good jokes, and less filler.

Ah, well. It's over now. Unless somehow Tracy Morgan has a similar contract clause, and NBC is forced to make 11 more episodes?

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter! 

Game Change on Blu-ray

Game Change won five Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries/Movie, Outstanding Casting, Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Writing, and Outstanding Lead Actress. It was also nominated for seven other awards. Now it awaits its fate with multiple nominations for the Golden Globes, Writers Guild, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

If you haven't already gotten the chance to watch Game Change, you're in luck. On January 8th, the HBO movie will be released on Blu-ray and DVD.

The story is based on a book of the same name by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, which tells the tale of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Actually, the book covers much, much more territory than the movie, especially the Democratic primary. but to adapt it all would have been too massive an undertaking. Instead, the HBO adaptation focuses on the last part of the book, which covers the selection Sarah Palin (Julianne Moore, 30 Rock, Crazy, Stupid, Love) as John McCain's running mate and the race to the finish line with a vice presidential candidate not ready to handle a national campaign.

Before you dismiss Game Change as partisan nonsense, as some on the right have accused it of being, you should first watch it. As a character study, it stays pretty fair, thanks to writer Danny Strong (Recount)'s reliance on real events, without pushing a specific agenda, letting viewers make their own judgments. It is also like watching a disaster movie in a way, as we observe the inept and unprepared Palin come very close to the heights of power, admittedly a view made based solely on my own judgment.

Game Change goes beyond Palin's missteps and slip ups and allows viewers behind the scenes of a hotly contested presidential election. John McCain's (Ed Harris, Appaloosa, The Hours) staff, and in particular advisor Steve Schmidt (Woody Harrelson, Cheers, Zombieland), tries to manage Palin, and keep her from costing them the victory. The trouble is, Palin isn't willing to just follow their orders, though why she resists is up for debate.

As the Emmys acknowledged, the casting is fantastic. Moore gives a sincere performance as Palin, far from Tina Fey's Saturday Night Live caricature, while Harrelson delivers something far beyond an impersonation. The supporting players include Peter MacNicol (Numb3rs), Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story), Jamey Sheridan (Homeland), and Ron Livingston (Office Space), each of whom really add to the complete picture.

What emerges is a strong movie, with wonderful acting, and an authentic feel. It may come a little too soon for some who don't wish to relive those days only four years later, but it will definitely serve as a nice historical film, maybe even used in history classes to keep events a bit more alive than dry text.

Blu-ray is a nice way to purchase Game Change because of the clarity of image. Viewers will get to see every nuance of Moore's performance in HD, as well as appreciate the detail that went into the sets, costumes, and makeup. Obviously, Game Change isn't full of special effects, but visually, it's near perfect, and will definitely allow one to easily get sucked into the story. Even the color variations don't feel like mistakes, because of the documentary-style filming, and the blacks are deep and gradational, rather than flat.

There isn't a lot to say about sound, since not much is going on, other than speaking, though the score by Theodore Shapiro is nice for what it is, delivered with nary a pop or hiss, flowing smoothly below the action. More importantly, the dialogue is clear, and what sound effects are present come across just as they should.

Sadly, there are only two special features with this release. One ponders the qualities needed to make a viable candidate for the highest office in the land. The other, more relevant, is about the film, how it was adapted from the book, and the real-life drama that inspired it. This second featurette was interesting, but I wish there would have been a bit more in depth.

Game Change will be available on Blu-ray January 8th.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Game Change on Blogcritics.

30 Rock and roll

     NBC brought the latest season of 30 Rock to a close with a shocking development.  No, I'm not talking about the title, "I Do Do".  Nor any weddings, breakups, romantic overtures, or pregnancies.  Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer), the best page ever, was fired.  He was actually bad at his job on purpose to avoid a promotion that would have forced him to move to L.A.  Surely, this will quickly be remedied when the show returns next fall, as the show could not possibly be the same without him.  Plus, the series has made him a star.  McBrayer wouldn't leave for real, would he?  Its doubtful.

     Liz (Tina Fey) did finally have some luck in the romance department, though.  Despite Fey stating in an interview that Liz would most likely end up with Wesley (Michael Sheen) in the end, she met the man of her dreams, played by none other than Matt Damon.  What are the chances a big movie star like Matt Damon would settle into a recurring character on a sitcom though?

     Interesting that I you should ask that.  Sheen has appeared several times already, and Jack (Alec Baldwin) has been juggling dating two women, Avery (Elizabeth Banks) and Nancy (Julianne Moore), both played by movie stars.  Though, it seems Nancy will soon be moving on, what with the surprise pregnancy of Avery.  How does 30 Rock get such big name recurring characters?  Because it's a hell of a witty show, with plenty of connections behind the scenes.  Fey and Baldwin have headlines a few films themselves in recent years.  It's led to something I never though I'd worry about on the show, or really, any sitcom for that matter.  Some of the central characters are in danger of being overshadowed by the guests.  It hasn't happened yet, but it's been close.

      However, that doesn't mean I want them to stop bringing in the big talent.  It adds some gravitas to the show, and they've all been, without exception, exceptionally funny.  And it's not just the A-listers that succeed.  Plenty of Saturday Night Live alumni have killed, most recently Will Forte (who is currently starring in the film MacGruber) as Jenna's (Jane Krakowski) boyfriend slash impersonator.

     30 Rock has already been picked up for another season and will return to NBC in the fall.