All About Steve (2009)

"Crossword puzzle constructor Mary Horowitz is smart, pretty - and a natural disaster that shakes news cameraman Steve to the core..."

TV director Phil Trail brings up this major release romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock as the word wielding, eccentric beauty Marry Horowitz who after years of being single and living at home, and with the help of some very rude but enlightening children, has decided it's time to get a man. That's where Steve (Bradley Cooper, The Hangover, He's Just Not That Into You) comes strolling in after being set up blindly by their parents. Immediately Marry is infatuated and overcome by her bottled up sexual frustrations. Steve catches on quick and realizes he needs to leave, and leave now. Rolling camera alongside disaster news reporter Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church, Spider-Man 3, Sideways), Steve is constantly on the move and feels it'll be a clean break. To his dismay, Marry is not jobless, and has nothing better to do in life but pursue his love, wherever it may go. But when a sinkhole appears from nowhere and Marry is trapped, cligning to life, Steve begins to re-evaluate his priorities and think about what he's doing to Marry. Disaster turns into love as Ken Jeong and DJ Qualls aid in handing out laughs in this delightful date movie that you might just take something away from.

If for no other reason than the message behind the movie... you know, basically that whole don't judge a book by it's cover deal... see this movie. It's cute, vibrant, and just fun to watch. All others need not apply. Sandra Bullock was super cute and well Bradley Cooper... I can't remember a thing he said in this movie. It could have been All About Hartman and just left Steve at home.

5.2/10

Rated: PG-13
99 mins

The Hangover (2009)

The Hangover is an amazing story of friendship that pulls out all the stops, but tends to drop the ball a bit in my court. I say that, but don't think for a minute this is not a must-see comedy, and by chance the comedy movie of 2009.

Todd Phillips (Old School) directs a trio of drunken goofballs led by Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper, He's Just Not That In To You, The Rocker), who take their soon to be married friend Doug (Justin Bartha, National Treasure) out for a night of debauchery in none other than Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Fast forward one mindless night that no one can remember, with a side of tiger in the closet, and you have the making of comedy genius. The guys wake the next morning with no teeth, no pants, and... no Doug! Zack Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Heather Graham round off the supporting cast (which might throw a surprise or two your way) as laughs ensue while the guys try to piece back together their night and find Doug in time for the wedding.

The story may not be original, but it takes plenty of liberties that really make it its own laughable entity. The movie really works. There are so many high points that even the low ones don't seem to blemish this laugh out loud comedy. Granted, the ending may not live up to the rest of the movie, and the music a bit dated (and at the same time fitting seamlessly into the scenes) but the acting was top notch and the comedy not too low brow for classic connoisseurs to detest. It really does go to show that, "some guys just can't handle Vegas."

I’d like to end by stating that I saw this movie five months after its release and had been filled with all the hype from my peers. Maybe I just didn't want to let myself hear this was a "two thumbs up" or "5 star" comedy... but I didn't have to because it really proved itself. Go see it, because if you don't, you'll just be the guy who hasn't yet.

8.1/10

Rated: R
99 mins. / 108 mins. (Unrated)