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Vol. 1 / No. 3 • Winter 2002 • MOVIES & More…



Here's a Look at What Comedies Are Playing at Movie Theaters In March…

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MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY


Movies

Movie Spotlight On: 40 Days and 40 Nights (Comedy/Romance/Teen)
After a young man (Hartnett) breaks up with his girlfriend (Sossamon) he tests himself by swearing off physical contact with girls for the 40 days of Lent. Meanwhile his ex schemes to seduce him back into her life and get him to break his vow. This is screenwriter Rob Perez's debut.
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon (Erica), Paolo Costanzo (Ryan), Monet Mazur, Vinessa Shaw (Nicole), Chris Gauthier (Mikey), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Samantha), Michelle Harrison (Maureen), Dylan Neal, Keegan Connor Tracy, Adam Trese (John Sullivan), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Susie)
Director: Michael Lehmann / Screenwriters: Rob Perez
Official Web Site: www.miramax.com/40daysand40nights



 

Movies

Movie Spotlight On: All About the Benjamins (Action/African-American/Comedy/Crime)
When a bounty hunter (Ice Cube) in pursuit of a bail jumper (Epps) finds both of them at an abandoned warehouse which is a drop-off point for a major diamond heist the duo decides to team up and foil the diamond thieves. At the same time the two work out their own personal differences. This is director Kevin Bray's and co-screenwriter Ron Lang's movie debut.
Cast: Ice Cube (Bucum), Mike Epps (Reggie Reed), Tommy Flanagan (Williamson), Anthony Michael Hall, Eva Mendes (Gina), Valarie Rae Miller (Pam), Jodi Lyn Wilson, Carmen Chaplin (Ursula), Jeff Chase (Mango)
Director: Kevin Bray / Screenwriters: Ron Lang and Ice Cube
Official Web Site: www.BenjaminsMovie.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Clockstoppers (Comedy/Eye Candy/Sci-Fi/Teen)
A scientist invents a device that speeds up any target it hits to 25 times it's normal speed … making it seem to a person as if time is standing still. When his son (Bradford) and a friend are zapped the race is on to find a way to reverse the effects.
Cast: Jesse Bradford, Miko Hughes, Michael Biehn, French Stewart, Julia Sweeney, Paula Garces, Robin Thomas
Director:
Jonathan Frakes / Screenwriters: David Weiss, J. David Stern and Rob Hedden
Official Web Site: www.Clockstoppers.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Death to Smoochy (Comedy/Crime)
Dark comedy about the cut throat world of children's television programming. The man who plays ‘Smoochy’ (Norton), TV's lovable big purple rhinocerous, finds himself targeted for assassination by ‘Rainbow Randolph’ (Williams), a former kids-show star who got fired for taking a bribe. Randolph's wrath ignites when he finds out ‘Smoochy’, the new popular kid's show sensation, is now dating Randolph's old flame the second-in-command of children's programming, Nora (Keener).
Cast: Edward Norton (Sheldon Mopes - actor in the ‘Smoochy’ costume), Robin Williams (Rainbow Randolph), Hank Azaria, Danny DeVito, Harvey Fierstein, Salma Hayek, Catherine Keener (Nora), Jon Stewart, Glen Cross, Pam Ferris, Michael Rispoli, Elvis Stojko, Danny Woodburn
Director: Danny DeVito / Screenwriters: Adam Resnick
Official Web Site: deathtosmoochymovie.warnerbros.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Ice Age (Animated/Action/Comedy/Kids)
This animated action-comedy, set during the Ice Age, is about a human infant who is found by a group of animals who together try to reunite the baby with his parents. This is director Chris Wedge's feature film debut and cowriter Peter Ackerman's debut.
Cast: Ray Romano (Manfred the Mammoth), John Leguizamo (Sid the Sloth), Diedrich Bader, Jack Black, Cedric the Entertainer, Jane Krakowski (Jennifer the Sloth), Denis Leary (Diego the Sabre-Toothed Tiger), Goran Visnjic (Sabre-Toothed Tiger)
Director: Chris Wedge / Screenwriters: Michael Berg, Peter Ackerman and Michael Wilson
Official Web Site: www.IceAgeMovie.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Showtime (Action/Comedy/Crime)
A major city's police department hopes to boost their publicity, morale, and image when it pairs two police officers as stars of a new reality-based TV show. The two very different detectives who are forced to work together are a straight-laced, no-nonsense type (De Niro) and a showboating, outlandish rookie with attitude (Murphy).
Cast: Robert De Niro (Mitch), Eddie Murphy (Trey), Rene Russo (Chase Renzi), Ellen Pompeo, William Shatner (himself), Alex Borstein (Brenda), Ken Campbell, John Cariani, Maurice Compte, TJ Cross, Pedro Damian, Drena De Niro, Mos Def, Frankie Faison, Judah Friedlander, Kadeem Hardison, Rachael Harris, Peter Jacobson, Mel Rodriguez, Merlin Santana, Nestor Serrano, Aisha Tyler, Julio Dolce Vita
Director: Tom Dey / Screenwriters: Keith Sharon; Miles Millar and Alfred Gough (rewrite)
Official Web Site: www.showtimemovie.warnerbros.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Sorority Boys (Comedy/Teen)
After three rowdy college seniors (Rosenbaum, Watson, Williams) get kicked out of their frat house they decide to dress in drag to get back into frat life. The "DOG Catcher" is the man who sends girls to DOG (Delta Omicron Gamma) the refuge of girls deemed unattractive by other sororities. After becoming DOG sisters, the three boys learn how mean they've been to girls over the years.
Cast: Michael Rosenbaum, Barry Watson, Harland Williams, Heather Matarazzo, Melissa Sagemiller, Brad Beyer, Tony Denman, Kerri Higuchi, Omar Benson Miller (Big Johnson), Yvonne Scio, Kathryn Stockwood, Bree Turner (Tiffany)
Director: Wally Wolodarsky / Screenwriters: Greg Coolidge, Joe Jarvis
Official Web Site: www.SororityBoys.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: The Rookie (Baseball/Biographical/Comedy)
Jim Morris (Quaid), a Texas high school baseball coach makes a deal with his team to try out for a pitcher position with a professional team if they make the playoffs. He makes the team fulfilling his lifelong dream. Based on the true story of high school science teacher and baseball coach Jim Morris, who tried out for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the age of 35, becoming the oldest major league rookie in nearly 30 years. This is John Lee Hancock's feature film debut.
Cast: Dennis Quaid (Jim Morris), Rachel Griffiths, Brian Cox, Beth Grant, Jay Hernandez, Russell Richardson, Mario Sanchez
Director: John Lee Hancock / Screenwriter: Mike Rich
Official Web Site: www.Disney.com/therookie




Here's a Look at What Comedies Are Playing at Movie Theaters In February…

MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY


Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Big Fat Liar (Comedy/Teen)
When the school essay of a junior high student (Muniz) ends up in the hands of a greedy Hollywood producer a hit movie is born. Seeking rightful credit for the story idea the writer and a friend (Muniz and Bynes) head out to California to cut one Hollywood big shot down to size. Based on a story idea by
Dan Schneider and Brian Robbins (both costarred in the TV series, Head of the Class).

Cast: Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes, Amanda Detmer, Paul Giamatti, Isaiah Washington
Director: Shawn Levy / Screenwriters: Dan Schneider, Karey Kirkpatrick
Official Web Site: BigFatLiarMovie.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Birthday Girl (Comedy/Romance)
A thirtysomething bank manager (Chaplin) has his small-town life turned topsy-turvy by the arrival of his Russian mail-order bride. The arrival of two of her Russian cousins (Cassel, Kassovitz) only makes matters worse.

Cast: Nicole Kidman (Nadia), Ben Chaplin (John Buckingham), Vincent Cassel (Yuri), Mathieu Kassovitz (Alexei), Alexander Armstrong, Mark Gatiss, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miller, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith
Director: Jez Butterworth / Screenwriters: Jez and Tom Butterworth
Official Web Site: Miramax.com/birthdaygirl/



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Slackers (Comedy/Romance/Teen)
When the college ‘geek’ discovers three fellow college students are scamming the system, he blackmails one of them (Sawa) to get his help winning over the school's most popular girl. But when this ‘slacker’ falls for the girl also he has to choose between being able to scam his way through college or be with his dream girl. This is director Nicks' and screenwriter Steinberg's feature film debut.
Cast: Jason Schwartzman (Ethan), James King, Michael Maronna, Laura Prepon, Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz (cameo)
Director: Dewey Nicks / Screenwriters: David H. Steinberg
Official Web Site: spe.sony.com/movies/slackers



Movies Movie Spotlight On: Super Troopers (Comedy/Crime)
The tale of slacking, fun-loving Vermont State Troopers stationed out in the ‘boondocks’ near the Canadian border. When their low-volume area may face budget cuts unless they try to improve things. They discover a possible drug smuggling operation and things really start to happen. This is the second feature film from the five-man comedy
troupe Broken Lizard. In Jan. and Feb. the troupe will be touring college campuses across the country to promote the film.
Cast: Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway (Mia), Hector Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Caroline Goodall, Robert Schwartzman, Terry Wayne, Erik von Detten
Director: Jay Chandrasekhar Screenwriters: Jay Chandrasekhar / Broken Lizard
Official Web Site: Super Troopers


Movies Movie Spotlight On: Wakin' Up In Reno (Comedy/Romance)
Two redneck couples from Arkansas team up for a road trip to Reno to see the monster truck show… on the way comes infidelity among other things. This is actor/writer Brent Briscoe's debut into feature film screenwriting.
Cast: Billy Bob Thorton, Charlize Theron, Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson
Director: Jordan Brady / Screenwriter: Brent Briscoe, Mark Fauser
Official Web Site:
Miramax.com/wakingupinreno




Here's a Look at What Comedies Are Playing at Movie Theaters In January…

MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY MOVIES • COMEDY


Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Kung Pow!: Enter the Fist (Action/Comedy/Martial Arts)
This parody, about a man stuck in a kung fu movie, spoofs dubbed martial arts movies using footage from old kung fu movies … specifially Savage Killers (1977). The film's 'Chosen One' (Oedekerk) seeks to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of the evil
kung fu legend Master Pain. Steve Oedekerk also wrote and directed Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Cast: Steve Oedekerk (The Chosen One), Tad Horino, Philip Tan, Jennifer Tung
Director: Steve Oedekerk / Screenwriters: Steve Oedekerk
Official Web Site: KungPowMovie.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Orange County (Comedy/Teen)
High School guidance counselor (Tomlin) accidentally sends the wrong transcript to Stanford University mixing up a complete loser's transcript with gifted senior Shaun Brumder's (Hanks) own sterling A-packed record. (O'Hara and Lithgow play Shaun's parents; Black plays his stoner brother; Ramis plays the Dean of Stanford).
Cast: Colin Hanks (Shaun Brumder), Jack Black (Lance Brumder), Jane Adams, Lizzy Caplan, Chevy Chase, Schuyler Fisk (Ashley), Bret Harrison, Kevin Kline, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow (Bud Brumder), Catherine O'Hara (Cindy Beugler), Harold Ramis (Don Durkett), Olivia Rosewood, Lily Tomlin, Mike White
Director: Jake Kasdan / Screenwriters: Mike White
Official Web Site: OrangeCountyMovie.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: The Royal Tenenbaums (Comedy)
After many years of separation Royal Tenenbaum (Hackman) returns to his wife Etheline (Huston), author of a book about their experiences, Family of Geniuses. Their three grown geniuse children (Stiller, Paltrow and Wilson) are brought back together to live with their parents in New York.
Cast: Gene Hackman (Royal Tenenbaum), Danny Glover (Henry Sherman), Anjelica Huston (Etheline), Bill Murray (Raleigh St.Claire), Gwyneth Paltrow (Margot), Ben Stiller (Chas), Luke Wilson (Richie), Owen Wilson (Eli Cash), Alec Baldwin (narrator), Seymour Cassel (Dusty), Jonah Meyerson (Uzi), Kumar Pallana (Pagoda), Grant Rosenmeyer (Ari), Stephen Lea Sheppard (Dudley Heinsberg), Al Thompson (Walter Sherman)
Director:
Wes Anderson / Screenwriters: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson
Official Web Site: RoyalTenenbaums.com



Movies

Movie Spotlight On: Snow Dogs (Action/Comedy/Dog Sledding)
A
big city writer son (Gooding, Jr.) of a famous dog sledder (Coburn) decides to follow in his father's footsteps. He and his dogs persevere through blinding wind and snow even dealing with a "moose attack." This is the true story of one man's 17-day experience racing in the Iditarod, the famous Alaskan dogsled race. Based upon the book Winterdance.
Cast: Cuba Gooding, Jr., James Coburn, Joanna Bacalso, Graham Greene, Brian
Doyle Murray, Sisqo, M. Emmet Walsh (George), Nichelle Nichols
Director: Brian Levant / Screenwriter: Michael Goldberg, Tommy Swerdlow, Mark Gibson, Philip Halprin, Kell Cahoon and TomSaunders
Official Web Site: disney.com/disneypictures/snowdogs



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We'll Be TALKING Upcoming COMEDY Movies Again In Our…Spring 2002 Issue

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