Andy Labis, Author at Entertainment Ave!

Academy Award Talk, Bambi, A Nice Nap, and The Space Shuttle Discovery Takes Off!

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Stu Gotz finally got the family to Florida to see Space Shuttle Discovery take off, and during this “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, he gives some space shuttle facts for all to enjoy. What I didn’t enjoy, Stu found acceptable, and Mama Gotz found that it was more fun to watch “Minute to Win It” instead, was The Oscars, and as the various Academy Awards were given out, I tell Stu that the Twitterverse was much more exciting and funny than the actual broadcast.

On the movie front, while not my official review of “Bambi” which is out on Blu-ray on March 1st, we discuss “Bambi” and how it reflects how times have changed and how kids are probably growing up faster than us old-farts did. We also discuss, a bit, how movie-making has changed, with Stu bringing up the “True Grit” remake versus the original John Wayne version, and how he was happy “Megamind” was out on video.

I took a nap, my BFF made tuna noodle casserole, I’m sick of the crappy weather, but we don’t talk about Charlie Sheen, which seems oddly weird for us.

Thanks for listening!

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

Rain Gutter Guards at a SCUBA Show, Mattresses, Little Things, and Loving Survivor.

By: The Dude on the Right

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I watched an episode of “Chuck!” Yup, I’m catching up on my TV viewing, and during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, I let Stu Gotz know what I think about the girl with the black hair. I also let Stu know that “Survivor: Redemption Island” is great, and that I’m seeing how they will be working to finish up “Smallville,” at least for me.

Stu, meanwhile, spent the weekend SCUBAing, or at least talking about SCUBA, at a local convention. He found it odd some of the items being peddled at the show, but I put things in perspective for him. He did get out to see some of “Gnomeo and Juliet,” had a great meal at The Capital Grille in Rosemont thanks to it being Chicago Restaurant week (it ends Feb 27th) in, well, Chicago(land), and saw a movie on DVD called “Trailer Park Boys: The Movie” and is curious what I might thing of it.

We’re celebrating President’s Day, a little thing makes my wife happy, Stu sings the “Hail to the Chief” version from the movie “Dave,” and it would be nice if the rain rain would go away away.

Thanks for listening!

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

Eminem was Robbed, Bad Bowling, Movies and TV Shows, and the Drop and Give Me App Explained.

By: The Dude on the Right

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During this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, we find out that Stu Gotz isn’t that good of a bowler, and he doesn’t know how to watch The Grammy Awards, either. As such, I have to give him the scoop on how Eminem was robbed, but I don’t do a great job at explaining Cee Lo Green to him. I do, however, give him a fantastic explanation of my latest iPhone app called “Drop and Give Me,” and he is actually impressed that I already able to do fifteen push-ups.

As far as explaining also goes, Stu does his best to sell “Just Go With It,” a movie both he and Mama Gotz enjoyed, while I do my best to warn Stu to watch “The King’s Speech” in a well-lit room. We find that Mama Gotz didn’t read my review of “When in Rome,” we both enjoyed the latest “30 Rock” and the fact that Jack Donaghy now has a Canadian baby, and neither of us can really figure out what “I Am Number Four” is about from the trailers.

All of that and more, and thanks for listening!

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

You Again

Here’s a bit from The Dude on the Right’s Blu-ray review of “You Again”

… Meanwhile, there’s mom, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), who is trying to instill the “Let bygones be bygones” attitude in her daughter, up until the point that Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) comes into the picture as Joanna’s aunt, because, well, Joanna’s parents are both dead. And, oh yes, there’s Betty White as Grandma Bunny, in a movie that decides a horn-dog grandma is the best way to use her. …

You Again

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

You Again Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Betty White
MPAA Rated:	PG
Released By:	Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date:	February 8, 2011
Kiddie Movie:	Okay for slightly older girls.
Date Movie:	If it’s mom watching with her daughter, sure.
Gratuitous Sex:	Betty White is old and horny.
Gratuitous Violence:	Slapstick.
Action:	Nah.
Laughs:	Slapstick.
Memorable Scene:	Nothing.
Memorable Quote:	None.
Directed By:	Andy Fickman

As I was thinking more and more about the movie “You Again,” which is really more thought than I should be giving it in my mind, other than the initial viewing and writing my review, I kept trying to figure out who the target audience would be. I mean, it had girls bickering, which is sometimes fun, although the movie is only rated PG, and in afterthought it’s mostly harmless slapstick. But, the bickering is between twenty-something women, and sure, also older ,mom-something women, which makes me wonder if the pre-teen and younger teen crowd would enjoy it, which I think is sort of the target market because older teen girls and, well, everyone else might just be bored. Then I thought maybe the market is a woman like my sister, where, well, she’s a market all to herself. Then I wondered if there was a way to make the movie more enjoyable. Then I wondered how Betty White got involved. Then I stopped wondering and told myself to just give the synopsis for the movie, my final rating, and be done with it.

So here goes.

“You Again” gives you Kristen Bell. She plays Marnie, a twenty-something girl who was the pimple-faced, braces-wearing girl that would get picked on in high school. Low and behold she has turned into a lovely girl, working her way up the public relations corporate ladder. Of course, in high school, there was her nemesis, Joanna (Odette Yustman), and she also had the good-looking jock, older brother, who happens to be marrying Joanna, and Marnie is horrified. So, as Marnie is re-living her high school horrors, she isn’t buying the “New” Joanna, the sweet, caring, and humanitarian one that her brother is marrying, so she is hell-bent on exposing Joanna for the high school bully she was.

Meanwhile, there’s mom, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), who is trying to instill the “Let bygones be bygones” attitude in her daughter, up until the point that Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) comes into the picture as Joanna’s aunt, because, well, Joanna’s parents are both dead. And, oh yes, there’s Betty White as Grandma Bunny, in a movie that decides a horn-dog grandma is the best way to use her.

And so, hilarity is supposed to ensue as Marnie plots her ways to split up her brother and Joanna, as Marnie still has the hots for her brother’s friend, and Gail and Ramona ramp up their rivalry to the obligatory “pool fight” scene, where, of course, they make up.

Look, the movie is pretty harmless, and although not a movie that would be my cup of tea, I still try to enjoy a movie for whom they are aimed at, and this movie just can’t seem to figure it out. There’s the goofiness that might appeal to the younger girls, but there a subtle mean-ness that if done in a little more adult manner could get some older teen girls liking it. So, I suppose, if my niece were about 12, and my sister wanted something to watch with her, I’d say it was fine, but it’s still not stretching any movie boundaries, the gags are generic, and in the end I’m going to give “You Again” 2 stars out of 5.

Now, as far as the Blu-ray and extras, they are pretty much throw-away extras that don’t help the movie and don’t give extra laughs. The “Blooper Dance Party” doesn’t really have any funny bloopers, the deleted scenes were better left that way, and about the only thing that did make me grin was the “Funny or Die” spoof interview.

I guess I just wanted more from the likes of the experience of the cast, but it just didn’t make it.

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

Brassed Off

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:47 Long
A Review by:
– Stu Gotz

Brassed Off Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor, Stephen Tompkinson
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Miramax
Release Date:	1996
Kiddie Movie:	See “Date movie.”
Date Movie:	Why waste more good money by bringing someone else along.
Gratuitous Sex:	Would have made this movie more bearable.
Gratuitous Violence:	No.
Action:	No.
Laughs:	No.
Memorable Scene:	A financially troubled miner, whose wife has left him, is forced to make extra money by being a clown (with really big shoes). His depression grows too great so he hangs himself. In the hospital you see him being rolled in on a gurney with his big clown shoes sticking up. I almost pissed myself with laughter.
Memorable Quote:	“Would you like to come up for some coffee?” Reply “I don’t drink coffee.” Response “I didn’t have any coffee anyway.”
Directed By:	Mark Herman

“Easily the first great film of 1997!” Huh?!? What??? What movie did the critic from NBC-TV go see? It certainly could not have been the snooze fest of a movie that I saw. All I can think is that the “Brassed Off” promotions people put “Two Thumbs Up!” the bum holes of some critics to get such high praise.

I’m told that the movie’s title, “Brassed Off”, is British slang for “Pissed Off.” Well, quite honestly, I’m pissed off that I had to sit awake through this whole movie. Let me tell you, it was a tough battle to fight off the “head nods,” but I managed to make it through the whole “slow, not making a clear point, cliché” of a movie. This movie did have a lot of potential because it did touch upon so many emotional subjects, and there- in lies the problem I had with “Brassed Off.” – It just “touches” upon the character issues. Just as you, the audience, gets interested in a story line, the movie takes off in another direction, and that really brassed me off. This could have been a movie that made a dramatic point about how the closing of a coal mine can emotionally and financially affect the community surrounding it, and furthermore it could have showed how politics, both nationally and locally, enter into such situations. And you know, “Brassed Off” could have even followed one of two love lines: That of love growing or that of love dying. It does show all of that, but not with as great of detail or success that I would have liked. Instead the movie focuses far too much time on how a simple town band loosely holds together the community during it’s time of strife. Let’s be realistic, who is really gonna go off and toot a horn when their marriage and job are on the line, yet the movie chooses this fruitless story line and again does it with poor detail.

“Brassed Off” was an ambitious movie that tried to drive too may points home in too short of a time and therefore failed on all fronts. I really can’t recommend you spending your money to see this movie and seriously doubt that you would be able to even if you wanted to. “Brassed Off” was scheduled for a very limited release in LA and New York on May 23rd, and from there I fear it won’t get too far because I’m sure most people and “blue-collar” critics like myself would agree that this was a movie that tried and failed. I can only give “Brassed Off” 1 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I kinda feel real bad that I had to basically trash this movie, but I really thought it sucked! – Maybe I’m just an unsophisticated dolt. I’m sure that a lot of people may like this movie, but if you’re not sure if you want to go see it, ask yourself the following question:

Question: If I were to walk into a lounge (not a bar, pub, or crack house) would I order:

(a) A pint of Bass Ale
(b) A glass of ’77 Merlot
(c) A MGD Light in a bottle
(d) I wouldn’t be caught dead in a lounge!

If you choose the Bass Ale, this might be a movie you’d understand, but not necessarily like. If you’d go for the vintage wine, then this is definitely a movie you would see and probably tell your friends you loved, but deep down you really couldn’t understand it (you pretentious asshole). If you’re like me you would have gone for the Macro Brewed Beer, then I’d hazard a guess and say you’re not really gonna like this movie. Lastly, if you wouldn’t be caught dead in a place as classy as a lounge, then by all means save your money and don’t be caught dead in a theater showing Miramax’s newest release “Brassed Off.” ’nuff said.

A Super Bowl Breakdown, AOL On the Comeback, Movies to Watch – Not, and Here Comes Spring?

By: The Dude on the Right

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The Chicago Blizzard is over, the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, and 2011 isn’t looking any better for Christina Aguilera than 2010 was, so during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, Stu Gotz and I break it all down.

We’ve got talk about the commercials shown during the big game, both the good and the bad, and oddly enough this conversations turns into a little bit of talk about the resurgence of AOL, what with them buying the Huffington Post and all. We also discuss the Black Eyed Peas and whether they are bad, or was it just the sound people, and a Super Bowl weekend discussion wouldn’t be complete without a breakdown of the game. Well, we don’t really talk about it.

Stu saw an obscure movie called “1900,” I watched “Eat. Pray. Love” with my BFF, Stu wonders why “Yogi Bear” is still in theaters, I might see “Just Got With It” this weekend, and Stu is looking for someone elses opinion about “Supernatural.”

It was a big weekend, both of us survived the Blizzard of 2011, neither of us are looking forward to the zero degree weather on the Chicago horizon, but both of us are excited about pitchers and catchers getting ready to report, although sadly it does mean that both the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians will be mathematically eliminated from The World Series in about two months.

Thanks for listening!

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

Blood Work

MPAA Rated – R
It’s 1:50 Long
A Preview by:
– The Dude on the Right

Blood Work Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Clint Eastwood, Wanda De Jesus, Jeff Daniels, Anjelica Huston
MPAA Rated:	R
Released By:	Warner Bros.
Release Date:	2002
Directed By:	Clint Eastwood

Many a time it sucks to be a detective. You get shot at a lot, you take many risks, and a lot of times those you love don’t know just how dangerous your job is, or they just try to shut it out. Then you retire and no one knows your name. So take this case, at least what I’ve read so far and from what I’ve seen in the trailer… Clint Eastwood is Detective Terry McCaleb. He’s got a bad ticker, even has a heart transplant, and is ready to live the rest of his years in retirement. But what do you do when you figure out that the heart whose is now yours once belonged to a dudette who might have been killed by a serial killer you never caught? Well, you come out of retirement. Can a detective dude with a new ticker track down, keep up with, and catch the serial killer who, in a backward sort of way, saved his life?
Clint Eastwood doesn’t do too bad as an actor nor as a Director, and the story looks to have some decent twists and turns. It probably won’t be a blockbuster, but does have potential. I hope Clint still has the things that make him great. Not high on my list, but I’ll try to catch this one.

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

Chicago Blizzard Watch 2011, New TV Shows, New DVDs, New Movies, and Upcoming New iPads.

By: The Dude on the Right

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With the mother-of-all snowstorms bearing down, Stu Gotz and I are on "Chicago Blizzard Watch 2011" for this episode of the "Weekend Wrap-Up!" podcast, not that it might help you much, but at least Stu lets you know that if you have kids, "Open Season 3" might help them survive.

During this episode we talk a lot about the weather because, well, we live in the Chicago area, that and Mama Gotz might be trapped out of town, but we also do talk movies, congratulating Natalie Portman on her SAG award and wondering if it will mean an OSCAR for her, my previewing the release of "You Again" on DVD and Blu-ray on February 8th, Stu’s recommendation of "Open Season 3" as I mentioned earlier, and neither of us are too excited about "Sanctum" nor "The Roommate" opening this weekend. We also talk a bit about TV, with both of complaining about our non-TiVo DVR’s, Stu giving "Fairly Legal" one more episode, my really like "American Idol" and almost looking forward to "Mr. Sunshine," and both of us wondering who actually watched the Pro Bowl over the weekend.

I’m looking for the iPad 2, Stu is amazed at how thing the new iPod touches are, I’m wishing my BFF a speedy recovery from her cold, and for the utter enjoyment of it all, both of us sort of wish Carol Mosley Braun could somehow win the mayor’s race in Chicago, granted it would probably drive the city into a disaster zone but the soundbite vault could grow exponentially.

Thanks for listening!

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

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit starring Wallace & Gromit

MPAA Rated – G
It’s 1:34 Long
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Curse of the Were-Rabbit starring Wallace & Gromit Movie Stats & Links
Starring:	Voices of: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter
MPAA Rated:	G
Released By:	Dreamworks SKG
Release Date:	2005
Directed By:	Steve Box, Nick Park

Things are amuck in the neighborhood, and it’s up to Wallace and Gromit to figure it out. From the one storyline I read, Wallace and his dog, Gromit, are running a pest control business. It’s time for a big vegetable festival, but there is some giant rabbit, or giant something, taking out the vegetable gardens. Our heroes get hired to find the culprit, but their task is not an easy one as there are other forces trying to get in their way.
Look, it’s a cartoon movie, rated “G”, and it looks cute for the kids, but right now doesn’t look to have many laughs for the adults. I might be wrong about that, but as I am kid-less, unless I have nothing better to do I probably won’t be catching this one. For those of you with kids, however, have a good time.

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