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kristof-vajda
Reviews
Grown Ups (2010)
If you have to choose between watching a glass of milk go sour and watching this movie, go for the milk
Okay I wasn't expecting a masterpiece seeing it's an Adam Sandler movie, but come on this was as if they went the extra mile and recruited people to make it unenjoyable. There is not a single character I would deem worthwhile. It's one cliché after another: the 4 year old who still suckles his mommies breast (HA HA HA so original, and yet so hilarious...NOT); the old farting grandma; the housewife man (Chris Rock, I am more disappointed in you than in Eddie Murphy after he did Doolitle); the peeing in the pool...you know what I'm not even going to waste any more characters on this. If you still want to watch this, you're either under 14 in which case it's okay or in need of urgent medical assistance.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Black Humour at its very blackest
The Big Lebowski is probably one of the best films in the category of dark comedy. The Coen brothers did a really magnificent job in all respects. Practically every aspect of the movie is flawless. The characters, the dialogues, the casting, the storyline, the settings and the plot itself.
Where the main roles are concerned Jeff Bridges and John Goodman gave their best performance ever. The roles suite them so well, I doubt they will ever do better than they did here. Steve Buscemi is the only exception (he already gave his best in Fargo)
Unfortunately, the Coen brothers never really recovered after the shock of making such an exquisite film and their later works are nowhere near as good. In fact I'd go as far as to say their film Intolerable Cruelty (2003) was a complete waste of effort, for maker and viewer alike.
There is however one emphatic point about the Big Lebowski: it is not universal humour. To really appreciate it, one has to be familiar with the American way of life or at least have a basic understanding of US history, contemporary culture, slang and so on. For example the ambiance of the "bowling culture", words like "undude", "bummer", "jay", "ringer" "His Dudeness"; Walter's (Goodman) constant struggle for people to respect his constitutional rights and the RULES etc.
Overall I still have to say it is an evergreen classic, and a must see for everyone who believes they have a decent sense of humour and are not put off by a little cursing from time to time and let's face it: all the time.
Guest House Paradiso (1999)
Appallingly pathetic
Possibly the worst film within the genre in existence. It was announced as a comedy, but is simply tragically pathetic. I don't think anyone could have achieved anything more terrible and irritating if they were specifically requested to. It is toilet humour at its very poorest, I would avoid even watching the trailer. I only went to see it because it was announced that if you like Monty Python, you are bound to love this. Whoever wrote that was either biased or seriously deranged. I am still bewildered how one can honestly believe such a statement. Rarely do I leave the cinema, really it takes a lot of effort for a film to have that effect on me: this one did it in just 30 minutes.
Half Baked (1998)
now I know why the fast forward button was invented
I wasn't expecting the movie of my life but my expectations were somewhat above what half baked had to "offer" in the end. This movie is probably the most infantile film ever made on any topic. Seriously, it's a "weed" movie for 6 year olds which is a bit of paradox.
The only (and I mean ONLY) worthy character is Dave Chapelle. Everyone else is constrained and simply awful. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the theme itself, but the lack of a decent dialogue, a punch line and a script is reason enough to dub this movie: a waste of time money and space.
Some people compared Half Baked to F. Gary Gray's: Friday (which is a brilliant film). I wouldn't put them in the same video store. I'm really amazed how they got funding for it in the first place.