Andy Labis, Author at Entertainment Ave!

In Time

Below is an excerpt from The Dude on the Right’s full review of “In Time.” He thinks it’s an okay movie, and even liked “The Minutes” featurette on the Blu-ray, but does understand if you think the movie is crap.

…It’s a futuristic world where you stop aging at age 25. Now that sounds all great and swell except for a few things. First off, what if your “I’m hot!” age is actually 35 and you find yourself stuck at the “I’m ugly” age of 25? Also, what if you’re into older men or women? I mean, that girl you are hitting on may have actually been alive for 110 years, but she doesn’t look a day over, well, 25, so you’re S.O.L. And lastly, once you hit 25, you only have one more year to live unless, well, you can get someone to give you more of their time, you can figure out how to purchase more time, you steal someone else’s time, or, well, who cares because in any event you are constantly reminded of how much time you have left because there is this countdown clock embedded in your arm…

In Time

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:49 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

In Time Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Released On:	January 31, 2012
Kiddie Movie:	Not too young, better send the little ones to bed.
Date Movie:	It’s snuggleable, but she might find it stupid.
Gratuitous Sex:	Justin and Amanda get it on, but she’s only in bra and panties. The PG-13 is in effect.
Gratuitous Violence:	Some killings, but mostly people die when they’re out of time.
Action:	Lots of chasing is going on.
Laughs:	Nope.
Memorable Scene:	Even though it was foreshadowed, it was nice to see Will get the bad guy.
Memorable Quote:	Nothing really.
Directed By:	Andrew Niccol
Cool things about the Blu-ray:	The Blu-ray is pretty lean on extras, but the “The Minutes” featurette is a nice “documentary” of the fictional city and adds some insight into the characters.

It’s a futuristic world where you stop aging at age 25. Now that sounds all great and swell except for a few things. First off, what if your “I’m hot!” age is actually 35 and you find yourself stuck at the “I’m ugly” age of 25? Also, what if you’re into older men or women? I mean, that girl you are hitting on may have actually been alive for 110 years, but she doesn’t look a day over, well, 25, so you’re S.O.L. And lastly, once you hit 25, you only have one more year to live unless, well, you can get someone to give you more of their time, you can figure out how to purchase more time, you steal someone else’s time, or, well, who cares because in any event you are constantly reminded of how much time you have left because there is this countdown clock embedded in your arm.

As we begin our movie-cal journey we enter at a time when Will (Justin Timberlake) has tripped into that stage of life after age 25 when you have to figure out how you can keep getting more time, and thus keep living (this concept isn’t as complicated as it sounds once you see the movie). He’s got his mother whom he keeps giving time to so she can stick around, but unfortunately for Will he lives on the wrong side of the tracks, or time zone as it would be, where things are a little more rough and where inflation takes your time away quicker than you can get more (yes, you have to pay for things with hours of your life, i.e., a bus ride might cost you two hours of your life). As Will’s life would have it there’s a tragedy with his mother that truly teaches him the value of time, and also a meeting with a stranger who is sick of having so much time. When said stranger gives Will the time he has left (and it’s a lot of time), as well as explains to Will the corrupt world that leaves Will’s side of the tracks with less and less time, Will ends up accused of killing said stranger but takes it upon himself to expose the system of time is money, and share the wealth.

Okay, I know, the movie sounds a little preachy, and yes, when Will finds himself on the “right” side of the tracks he finds a rich man’s daughter (Amanda Seyfried) to fall in love with, but in the end, if you can get past some of the goofiness of the story and obvious foreshadowing of its progression, it’s not that bad in the entertainment side of two people on the run, robbing “time” banks, and spreading the wealth to the poor.

The movie looks great in that futuristic, “The Matrix,” “Gattaca,” kind of way, which makes sense with Andrew Niccol who also directed “Gattaca” as director, and sure, the chase scenes are a little contrived and simplistic, but for a nice, little “two people on the run but not totally guilty but still trying to do good for people” movie, with a villain who isn’t that villainous, it’s okay for a rental and maybe a snuggle on the couch. Justin Timberlake is his likeable self but doesn’t break any real acting ground in this movie, which is sort of too bad because there are times that I find him a phenomenal actor (“The Social Network” and “Alpha Dog”), but other times it’s like he’s just in a movie that might sound cool (this one). So, in the end, it’s 3 stars out of 5 for “In Time.” Don’t go expecting the world get past some of the goofiness, and just enjoy the ride.

The Blu-ray doesn’t have too many extras, really. There are the obligatory deleted/extended scenes that really don’t add much, but I do have to say that if you do like the movie, even a tad, go ahead and watch “The Minutes” featurette. Rather than a standard “making of” documentary, this feature is told from the perspective of the characters, giving a little more insight into the characters from their own point of view, and kind of helps explain some of the quirks in the movie that might have you scratching your head a little bit.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Annie Hall

Below is an excerpt from The Dude on the Right’s full review of “Annie Hall.” It looks like The Dude will never be a Woody Allen fan.

… Low and behold, Annie get her chance to become a star thanks to Tony (Paul Simon), a record dude in L.A., and Annie, has to decide whether to pursue her dream in L.A., or stay with the neurotic Alvy. She heads to the west coast, Alvy is distraught, he heads to L.A. to try and get her back, and hilarity is supposedly still supposed to be ensuing. …

Annie Hall

MPAA Rated – PG
It’s 1:33 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Annie Hall Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Paul Simon
MPAA Rated:	PG
Released By:	MGM Home Entertainment / Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Released On:	January 24, 2012
Kiddie Movie:	Lots of dry humor. Send them to bed.
Date Movie:	If she likes dated movies with dated dialogue.
Gratuitous Sex:	Lots of talk about it, and people in bed, but nothing gratuitous.
Gratuitous Violence:	Nope.
Action:	Nope.
Laughs:	Ehh.
Memorable Scene:	None.
Memorable Quote:	None.
Directed By:	Woody Allen
Cool things about the Blu-ray:	None.

I guess I’m just never going to be a fan of Woody Allen movies, at least that is all I can come up with after watching “Annie Hall.” It’s now out on Blu-ray, it’s a movie that Woody Allen won four Oscars for making, but when the credits rolled I just thought “Ehh.”

The basic story is that Alvy (Woody Allen) is a comedian in New York City, and supposedly a very good one at that, but when it comes to the ladies, well, he comes across more like, well, Woody Allen. As we are introduced to Alvy we learn a little about his back-story, his family life (dysfunctional as most are), and eventually how he ends up meeting Annie (Diane Keaton). She’s kind of goofy, wants to be a singer, and their relationship seems more like a train-wreck than a love story, especially with Alvy’s being mostly just a dorky comedian, and not seeming to understand how a relationship really works.

Low and behold, Annie get her chance to become a star thanks to Tony (Paul Simon), a record dude in L.A., and Annie, has to decide whether to pursue her dream in L.A., or stay with the neurotic Alvy. She heads to the west coast, Alvy is distraught, he heads to L.A. to try and get her back, and hilarity is supposedly still supposed to be ensuing.

Now, I can understand the creativity in movies, even movies made at a time when I was like ten years old, but as I was watching “Annie Hall,” and yes, I know it’s from 1977, but it really seemed dated and doesn’t seem to hold up well, as some movies seem to be able to do. Yes, the acting is good, and Diane Keaton is adorable, and if you grew up in that era you will probably love to revisit the movie if you enjoyed it in your youth, but for me I found the dialogue very dry and not that witty (although, I can see, how in 1977, it was risqué and edgy, and oddly enough rated PG (and yes, I know they didn’t have PG-13 back then, but other than the lack of nudity, a lot of the topics of conversation veered into Rish territory)).

If you are a Woody Allen fan this is probably a 5 star masterpiece, but for me it was 1 ½ stars of hour-and-a-half “Ehh.” I’ll average them together and give “Annie Hall” 3 stars out of 5.

As far as the Blu-ray, you’re getting it because you have a Blu-ray player, and pretty much nothing else as it doesn’t have squat as extras.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

No Orff, Yummy XOCO, Goodbye Chuck, Happy Birthday, and Bad Movies

By: The Dude on the Right

Download and Listen

(Dude note: Computer woes can’t stop a podcast, but they can delay it getting posted for a day or so. All seems well again on the Entertainment Ave! front, but a belated Happy Birthday to Mama Gotz is in order!)

Orff’s “Carmina Burana” came through Chicago again, and again I missed it, but that doesn’t dampen the mood of this “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast episode. Nope, it’s a podcast of a Happy Birthday for Mama Gotz complete with good food and good friends; It’s a podcast of Mexican street fare compliments, well not really compliments of because we had to pay for it, but damn, XOCO was a good little restaurant place; And it’s a podcast of liking how the TV show “Chuck” wrapped up.

Google is changing their privacy policy, Stu watched some of “Little Fockers,” I watched some of “2012,” Stu doesn’t know who is playing in the Super Bowl, and I don’t think either of us will be seeing a movie about whales.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

No One is Sleeping With the Fishes, Neil Diamond is A Good Time, Blockbuster is Moving, Moneyball is Great, and a Pine Wood Derby Wind Tunnel!

By: The Dude on the Right

Download and Listen

What better way to start a podcast after surviving a winter storm than with some old Neil Diamond, and at the start of this week’s episode of the “Weekend Wrap-Up!”, there is confusion as to whether or not I hit the post. Whether I did or not, that’s okay, because in addition to our confusion and recollection of some Neil concert memories, of a more confusing nature, it turns out, is what date is the actual anniversary of Stu and Mama Gotz, and on this we don’t come to a resolution.

We did, though, as I mentioned, survive a winter storm, and Stu luckily didn’t have to worry about sleeping with the fishes, instead there was a problem with Frosty in this video shot by Little Gotz. We also discovered that Blockbuster is moving, and that I still suck at the new words in church.

Stu saw “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” and liked it, I let you know if “Moneyball” is any good, Stu can’t recommend “The Darkest Hour” even though I thought he meant “The Devil Inside,” and yes, it’s true, a 2mm screw will not fit inside a 1mm nut.

Lastly, it’s Pine Wood Derby time and Stu has his method for his kids achieving greatness, though I feel a wind tunnel might be more appropriate.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

A Debate Translator App, Sherlock Holmes, No Tattoos ,Chicken Pot Pie, Oprah Winfrey, and Howard Stern.

By: The Dude on the Right

Download and Listen

With the weather so fabulous in Chicago right now you would think Stu Gotz or I would have gone crazy and gotten stuff done, but, instead, as you’ll find out during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, it was really a weekend to relax, rest, and finally get ready for 2012.

Stu, at least, did get out with Mama Gotz, and rather than see “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” they opted for “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”he lets us know if we should go and see it as well. Me, I was going to see “War Horse,” but it was decided a nap was more important and upon further review, even if “War Horse” ends up winning an Academy Award, the nap was the right choice.

Stu didn’t go SCUBA diving, we both liked Charles Barkley on “Saturday Night Live,” I think there should be a Charles Barkley translator app to explain what the Republican candidates are really saying during the debates, Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop was arrested, Stu thinks he might want to see “Beauty and The Beast” in 3-D, while I might be seeing “The Iron Lady” if it opens anywhere near me, and I think Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern should interview each other. Hopefully we will be more exciting next weekend!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:25 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Eric Christian Olsen, Derek Richardson, Eugene Levy, Cheri Oteri, Rachel Nichols
MPAA Rated:	PG-13
Released By:	New Line Cinema
Release Date:	2003
Kiddie Movie:	Nope.
Date Movie:	Nope.
Gratuitous Sex:	Two dudettes kissing and it appeared a little cold on the set sometimes.
Gratuitous Violence:	Slapstick.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	Not really.
Memorable Scene:	I don’t remember it.
Memorable Quote:	None.
Directed By:	Troy Miller

Okay, other than the movie being pretty much, well, for no better way to put it, dumb, there’s another significant problem with “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd,” at least for me – the jokes seem to be aimed at 10 year old boys, but the story is something better comprehended by 16 year olds. I know that may not make sense, but pretty much it’s more of a high school comedy with jokes 10 year olds aren’t really old enough to experience yet.

“D & Derer” has Erick Christian Olsen as Lloyd, the character Jim Carrey made famous. It’s also got Derek Richardson as Harry, the loveable character originally portrayed by Jeff Daniels. In the film we are exposed to how the two characters we fell in love with in “Dumb & Dumber” first met, their high school year, and a bizarre sub-plot of the principal (the usually better Eugene Levy) and the lunchlady (Cheri Oteri) trying to embezzle money for a condo in Hawaii. Sort of like the first movie, our boys innocently get wrapped up in the lives of the bad people and there’s a high school hottie, Jessica (Rachel Nichols), who both boys fall in love with, trying to expose the principal, but unlike the first movie, it just isn’t funny.

There are the obligatory fart jokes, you get a creepy Lloyd thinking Harry’s mom is in love with him, even fantasizing her (Mimi Rogers) and Jessica having a make-out session in a pool, and what are supposedly super-funny things like drinking a slushy to fast and getting brain freeze, as well as making fun of an Asian student. Well, alright, the Asian student thing was kinda funny, especially when, all of the sudden, she starts speaking perfect English, but one Asian joke doesn’t fill an hour and a half.

I think one of the main problems “D & Derer” has is the fact the boys are in high school. It’s easier to laugh at grown men acting like innocent teenagers than to find seniors in high school with the wits of, well, most ten year olds have more wit than these guys. There is that, and there’s also the fact there is no way this movie could have come close to living up to the standard set by the original.

Even for those easily amused, of which I am proud to one of them, I wasn’t. Not that there wasn’t a funny line or two, or a scene where I did bust out laughing, but I can’t remember what that scene was nor what that lines were because, for the most part, you get lines like: Harry – “Who’s Principal Collins?” Lloyd – “He’s the Principal.”; and Lloyd – “Chicks are for fags.”; and scenes where the boys are drooling or have food all over their faces. Even the smeared melted chocolate bar in the bathroom wasn’t that funny. However, if you think those lines and those scenes might be hilarious, you might really like “Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.” Me, I didn’t, and it’s ½ star out of 5 for this movie. Wait for it on local TV and then watch something else.

That’s it for this review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

MPAA Rated – PG
It’s 1:45 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Shue
MPAA Rated:	PG
Released By:	Dreamworks SKG
Release Date:	2005
Kiddie Movie:	More for the girls, but good for all.
Date Movie:	If she likes a feel-good movie.
Gratuitous Sex:	Nope.
Gratuitous Violence:	Some angry talk, but no one’s punching each other out.
Action:	Just some horse-racing.
Laughs:	Some pretty good moments.
Memorable Scene:	Cale in front of the Breeders’ Cup horse-choosing people.
Memorable Quote:	Ben: “You work for her now.”
Directed By:	John Gatins

As much as Dakota Fanning has been impressing me in movie after movie she is in, I am becoming a big fan of Snake Plissken, I mean Kurt Russell, especially with his role as Herb Brooks in “Miracle,” and now as Ben Crane in “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.” Let’s get to it…

“Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story” gives us an adaptation of a story where a son and dad nurse a horse back from a broken leg and get it to race in the Breeders’ Cup. From what I’ve read, and what the movie showed, that’s pretty much the only part of the story that was inspired, but that’s okay, because instead of just a movie about getting a horse back to racing shape, we get a movie about a family in disarray and how the horse gets the family to be a family again.

So, Dakota Fanning is Cale. She’s a fan of her dad, Ben, but Ben doesn’t spend any time with her, and she’s sort of tormented because they live on a horse farm without any horses. Finally going to work with Dad, she gets to see a horse, Sonya, run, and Cale likes her. She also gets to see that Dad’s boss, Palmer (David Morse), is a jerk. Sadly, during Sonya’s race, Sonya breaks a leg, and they are ready to put the horse down. Palmer again treats Ben like crap, Ben gets fired/quits, and in lieu of some of his back pay, Ben take Sonya instead.

Now taking Sonya may seem like a stupid idea to the rest of us, who normally assume a racehorse with a broken leg might as well just be put to sleep, but Ben does have a plan, and it’s a good plan, but with a bad ending.

Later in the movie, after Ben has an argument with Mom (Elisabeth Shue), overheard by Cale, Cale decides to take Sonya (whose actual name is Soñador, which means dreamer in Spanish) and run away from home, Sonya gets spooked, and everyone involved realizes Sonya might actually be able to race again, which is a good thing since she can’t get pregnant.

And so, Ben eventually gives Cale total say in how Sonya is worked, and she has some help from a couple of other horse-folk, Balon (Luis Guzman), and Manolin (Freddy Rodriquez). Sonya now only has one dream left, and that’s to get Sonya into the Breeders’ Cup, and mom makes dad let their daughter follow her dream, and it’s a good thing mom is around.

There really aren’t any surprises in this movie, but you know what, I didn’t care because it was just an enjoyable film. You feel for Cale when dad makes a mistake at Sonya’s come-back race, you understand the frustration for Ben when his original plan for Sonya falls apart, you’re happy that Palmer gets payback for being a jerk, and you feel the tension between Ben and his father, Pop (Kris Kristofferson), knowing they have a past that they just can’t get over. For all of this to work, you needed a cast of folks who could pull this off, and everyone involved in this movie was perfectly cast.

I don’t know if younger boys (most definitely not teen boys) would like the movie, especially with so much of it being centered around Cale, but most of the families that were in the theater really seemed to enjoy it. If you’ve got a young daughter, this movie is probably perfect for her, just realize that she might come out of the film wanting you to buy her a horse instead of a puppy. 4 ½ stars out of 5, you know what, screw that, it’s 5 stars out of 5, even without nudity, gratuitous violence, or swearing. And yes, I admit, it made me a little weepy at times.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Bachelor Women are Back, There’s a Tardis-Shaped Mug, Rubber Tires Attack, and Abraham Lincoln is a Vampire Hunter

By: The Dude on the Right

Download and Listen

It’s a New Year, Stu Gotz is back, and the crazy women on The Bachelor have returned – So far 2012 is proving to be a fabulous year, and during this podcast episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast we wrap up our 2011’s and look forward to the 12’s.

Yup, as 2011 wrapped up, Stu and I saw a bunch of movies, so Stu summarizes “Hugo” and “The Adventures of Tintin,” both in 3-D, while I let Stu know if he should see “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” or “The Descendants.” Stu doesn’t really tell me if I should seek out a movie called “Rubber,” explains he didn’t like “The Adjustment Bureau” nor “The Green Lantern,” and I couldn’t tell if he was really looking forward to “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” but it really is a movie supposedly coming out in 2012. As for me, I give Stu the skinny on “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” try to egg him on to watch “The Bachelor,” but tell him that in a worst case, if it’s back on next New Year’s Eve at the end of 2012, some of the best television watching is the ABC 7 Chicago, New Year’s Eve Countdown with Janet Davies and Mark Giangreco for reasons I still can’t totally put into words.

We both got things we wanted for Christmas (Who knew they make a Dr. Who Tardis Mug that’s square?), neither of us seem to have any resolutions for the new year, and it will be nice to get back to normal after the Holiday season. We start with a podcast.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!