Review – Shaun of the Dead

George Romero once remarked that zombies are the working class of the monster world. Take that thought, move it to England, center it around a handful of semi-likable losers, and here’s what you get. Frequently clever and sometimes even subtle, the production comes across as a comedic tribute to Romero. Every once in awhile the plot starts to drag just a bit, particularly toward the beginning (okay we get it, the protagonist is a slacker with relationship problems). Overall, however, the movie may be savored as one of the rare times horror comedy has ever worked. Worth seeing

Review – They Call Me Bruce?

Johnny Yune’s comedic stylings weren’t the most politically correct takes on race relations even way back in 1982. Now this movie is very, very dated. However, there are still a small handful of sort of funny bits of shtick scattered throughout this production. Overall, however, it comes across as a John Landis movie without John Landis. Arguably that’s a step in the right direction, but this is still strictly for those brain-dead weekends when you’re too tired to have taste. See if desperate

Review – Into the Night

Here we have something that was popular two or three decades ago: a movie in which everyone with a speaking role is played by someone famous or semi-famous. Only this time around it’s being helmed by John Landis (who gives himself what might be described as an “extended cameo”) rather than Robert Altman. Hey, at least Landis appears to be using a script. Sadly, it isn’t a very good one. Jeff Goldblum stars as an office drone suffering from insomnia brought on by his boring life and cheating wife. Enter a young, cute Michelle Pfeifer on the lam from a gaggle of criminals intent on regaining the McGuffin she’s smuggled into the country. Hilarity ensues. Or to be more precise, it might have been hilarity if the caper comedy wasn’t awkwardly stirred in with some genuinely brutal violence (including a pointless dog killing and a massacre finale worthy of Sam Peckinpah). The blend of funny and shocking that would suggest chocolate and peanut butter in American Werewolf here comes across more like chocolate and mashed potatoes. If you’re a big fan of cameo roles, this is probably a must-see. Otherwise it’s barely watchable. See if desperate

Review – Word Wars

Scratch the surface of even something as commonplace – even boring – as Scrabble, and apparently you inevitably find a cast of characters absolutely obsessed with it. And characters they are indeed: all three of the main foci of this production seem, well, a little off. And many of the other competitive Scrabble players also appear to have a tic or two. The guy who made this video is himself a once and future Scrabble athlete, and I suppose his status in the community gave him the chance not only to get inside with the players but also to pick some of the more colorful among them (sort of like Denise Crosby’s function in Trekkies). This is good as a portrait of obsession, but borders on great as a portrait of obsession with the completely mundane. Worth seeing

Review – Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens

This is a fairly textbook documentary about the work of animation genius Chuck Jones. Interviewees include fans, celebrity fans, family members, animators and the man himself. If you’ve got an affection for the artist or an interest in how animation developed during Jones’s tenure at Warner, this is a must-see. Those interested in animation technique should also check out the special features section of the DVD. Worth seeing