Comedic actors have long been criticized for milking their signature shtick for all it’s worth. How many times, for instance, can Adam Sandler play variations on the man-child persona he popularized way back in 1995 comedy Billy Madison (if the grosses for Blended are any indication, we may yet find out – but that’s another article entirely)? In the case of Seth Rogen, the funnyman has largely found his niche as the loveable stoner with a heart of gold. From Knocked Up to Pineapple Express, Rogen has established himself as a bonafide comedic brand, a branch that has fallen off the Judd Apatow tree.
In Neighbors, Rogen does indeed hew fairly close to the type of character he’s best known for, but rather than holding the film back, his wry chuckle and panicky, frenetic energy are employed for good, not evil. In fact, Neighbors probably works largely because of the way Rogen is able to play off of his co-stars and the over-the-top situation they’re all placed in. Continue reading Review: ‘Neighbors’→
The fact that Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane is co-writer, director and star of A Million Ways to Die in the West should serve as a flashing warning sign that moviegoers who find his crass, in-your-face style of comedy more off-putting than knee-slappingly hilarious are better off looking elsewhere for their night’s entertainment. Continue reading Review: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’→
To some, they’re an evil empire worthy of the Dark Lord of the Sith. To others, they’re guardians of “the happiest place on Earth.” However, whatever your persuasion on The Walt Disney Company, chances are strong that the media conglomerate that started simply with a mouse has touched your life in some pretty profound.
Indeed, this week’s announcement that Disney plans to develop a stage musical based on last year’s box office smash Frozen only serves to remind us just how much the House of Mouse has expanded in the past couple of decades, when it was known almost exclusively for animated features like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid and its numerous theme parks. In fact, today’s incarnation of the beloved juggernaut that shaped many a childhood includes a number of divisions that might surprise you. Continue reading The House of Mouse: 5 Pieces of Your Childhood Disney Owns→
