releasing this week: MacGruber and His & Hers
5 CommentsSix films out this week and I’m gonna be highlighting two very different ones – MacGruber, a big screen spin-off of the popular US comedy sketch show, Saturday Night Live and Irish documentary His & Hers.
I’ve never actually seen Saturday Night Live, I’ve heard a lot about it and I’ve seen the “cowbell” sketch but that’s about the extent of it.
MacGruber comes to use from a recurring sketch on SNL called about a character called… MacGruber. In case you haven’t guessed, he’s a parody of the legendary ‘80s TV secret agent MacGyver. In the skits, MacGruber is apparently always tied up in a room with a bomb and has to try, but usually fails, to get himself and companions to safety.
To be honest that doesn’t sound like the makings of a movie to me but it’s been 10 years since the last SNL film so I guess they felt they had to try and come up with something. Ah… or maybe I’m just being mean… I just don’t want to get too enthusiastic about this film. I find myself disappointed by “comedies” a lot of the time so I’m holding back on expectations for this one, particularly because it hasn’t gone down that well in the US.
I don’t really know what that that poor US performance means for here though. Comedies can play very differently in Ireland, last year’s The Hangover is a great example of that. It made it to #6 in the US box office top 10 but it was the biggest and most talked about film of the year in Ireland. Also I don’t think SNL is watched by loads of people here so whereas the US may have been looking at it as a drawn out sketch, I suspect for most people here MacGruber is just another action comedy.
The one effect I do think that US performance has had though is that I haven’t seen or heard much marketing for this film. I know it’s probably out there but given how popular MacGyver is here, I would have expected more.
Here’s hoping that they manage to pull off the spoof and that it’ll keep Irish audience entertained for 90 minutes anyway!
And now for something completely different…
His & Hers is a queer one to try and peg down. It’s a documentary but I get the impression that it’s not your usual documentary. The film tells the story of male / female relations through the eyes and voices of 70 women from the Irish midlands. I’m not entirely sure how to put it so I’m going to leave it to you to have a look at the trailer and decide for yourself.
I can say this though. I hear it’s very good. I know a few people who’ve seen it and it won the audience award at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival so I’m fairly confident that, if you’re into that type of thing, it won’t disappoint. Personally I am looking forward to seeing it… it’s looks a little different from the kind of film I’d usually watch but I’m always up for a film that looks like it’s packing an emotional punch.
Like I said though, watch the trailer first and decide if you are “into that type of thing” – I always think that people need to have an idea of what they are going into.
Other films out this week…
Our Family Wedding – American romantic comedy starring American Ferrera (of Ugly Betty fame) and Forest Whitaker (famous for lots of stuff). It’s about the wacky weeks leading up to a young couples marriage. It’s been roundly panned on it’s US release but hey, you’d never know right? Ah no, you probably do know…
Please Give – indie comedy drama set in New York and starring Catherine Keener and Amanda Peet. I hear it’s more of a dark comedy though… apparently it has a lot to do with waiting for people to die. Sounds fun. The impression I get is that it’s one of those self aware NY movies that edges on the side of worthy… In general though, reports are good and I do I really like Oliver Platt so could be decent. I probably won’t see it but if I did I might enjoy it.
Wild Target – I had literally heard nothing about this film till today. Then it turns out it’s releasing all over the country.
I’m pretty sure it’s a British film because it stars a whole host of British talent. Obviously this means it has someone from Harry Potter in it. Actually it has two – Rupert Grint and Bill Nighy. I’m not sure if Bill Nighy counts though because his Harry Potter film isn’t out yet.
I can’t say I’m that interested in this one either. It’s about a hitman (Nighy) on the verge of retirement who unexpectedly find himself drawn to one of his intended targets and can’t bring himself to kill her. No way! I hear you exclaim. He also unintentionally finds himself with an apprentice. I don’t know. I just can’t bring myself to get on board with this one at all…
Killers – Killers is actually the biggest release and you’ve probably heard about it. I know I’ve seen Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher peering at me from all over the places lately.
It’s about a man and woman who fall in love on holiday and swiftly get married. Unfortunately for her it turns out he’s some kind of spy or elite agent, or hitman, or something along those lines anyway. Maybe all three, let’s face it, it doesn’t really matter. He wasn’t who he said he was and that’s always gonna cause strain on a marriage. Particularly when it turns out your next door neighbours might be assassins. I’m sure it will be relatively entertaining. I’m just not sure it will be any good.
MacGruber, His & Hers, Our Family Wedding, Please Give, Wild Target, Killers are all in cinemas from Friday 18th Jun 2010.
I think MacGruber might just be dumb enough to be a reasonably entertaining (and highly forgettable) comedy, but when the hell does summer begin? Where are the great… or, hell, even just perfectly okay blockbusters? Iron man 2 is the only summer blockbuster I’ve been happy with so far this year.
C’mon July, with Predators and Inception and Toy Story 3!
You’re right, it’s been pretty light on blockbusters so far this year.
Funny, this year the sun is shining but the movies aren’t here, it’s the summer of opposites! I would put Prince of Persia in as the only other big summer blockbuster this year (aside from Iron Man 2) but the figures haven’t been huge on it – I think it’s opening weekend was scuppered by the first sunny weekend and it hasn’t really been able to pick up since.
Didn’t see Robin Hood but I’m not entirely sure it counts anyway…
Can’t wait for Inception and Toy Story 3, it seems like all the film sites are overrun with Toy Story 3 news… so jealous.
There are a few other upcoming release dates to watch out for though. Not that I think they all look good but I’m sure someone will – Shrek on 2nd July, Twilight on 9th July, Karate Kid and A-Team on 30th July, Knight and Day 6th Aug, Then Aug 20th has Piranha (!) and Salt… Not really any comedies till Dinner for Schmucks on 3rd Sept though…
I’ll definitely be watching His & Hers because, if nothing else, it’s a novel idea for a film! I enjoyed the clips I’ve watched on the internet, but I wonder how it’ll sustain for a feature-length. Definitely worth taking a sneaky look at anyway!
@Róisín Yeah, I’m not sure, I think there’s some kind of story to their stories? I’ve tried not to find out because I want to go into it with no expectations. Then again it’s only 80 minutes so only a bit longer than your average documentary.
His and Hers: From start to finish this is a beautifully shot, beautifully directed piece of film. The women are normal, everyday women talking about their men. Fathers, Boyfriends, Fiances, Husbands and sons all spoken about by 70 women starting from child to adult, the opening scene is a baby in a cot, to the final scene of a old woman, its a rollercoaster of emotions, from the cuteness of a 3 year old talking about her daddy, to a 80 year old talking about the loss of her husband, its a film that lets the women do the talking. But the director and editing is wonderful, little snippits of these ladies lives are funny, sad, enduring, cringworthy and beautiful.
Wardrop gets an honesty from the women from the respect that he shows them. Clips of the women in their own houses are spliced together to give a feeling of, yes its 70 women talking about 70 men, but there is a fluidity in the direction that makes it feel like they are talking about the one man. I saw my mother, my sister, my wife, my children on the screen and I can honestly say that the 75-80 minutes felt like half an hour so was the sheer joy of this movie. Wonderful piece of anthropology, a wonderful use of film and any awards this film gets is well deserved…..