Wild West Comedy Show

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 8, 2008

DVD Release Date: June 3, 2008

Plot 411: Vince Vaughn takes four up-and-coming comics on the road in a bus for 30 days and films their shows.

Review: This documentary follows Vince Vaughn and four hand-picked comics as they tour America and do shows. It covers some of their routines and reactions before and after the shows. It reveals a bit of their personal life as we meet their families. The comics talk about their material, inspiration and dreams. The comics are Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Bret Ernst and Sebastian Maniscalco. Also making appearances are Jon Favreau, Justin Long and Keir O'Donnell. I thought the comedy portions were interesting and sometimes funny, but the rest of the show was a waste of time. Who cares what it's like living on a bus? Who cares about the hardships of bouncing from one hotel room to the next? Just tells us jokes and make us laugh man.

Watch It: If you like stand-up comedy shows. You can go without leaving your living room.

Skip It: If you're expecting some Comedy Central stuff. This is like the extended version.

Couples Retreat

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 9, 2009

DVD Release Date: February 9, 2009

Plot 411: Four couples sign up for a relationship retreat and find it's more than they bargained for.

Review: Don't see this movie. All you need to do is watch the trailer and you're golden. Anything else in this 107-minute movie is filler. Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell) are a Type-A married couple whose marriage is not working out. They decide to take a week to sort out their issues at a vacation club dedicated to this kind of thing. In order to get a cheaper rate, one that they can afford, they hit up their friends and ask them to participate as well. At first everyone is reluctant, especially Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Ackerman) who are busy renovating their home, raising their two sons and launching a new video game. However, in the end, everyone agrees to go for the sake of Jason and Cynthia. What they find on the island is nothing for which they are prepared. Also in this film are Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristen Davis, Kali Hawk, Tasha Smith and Jean Reno. This movie had so many potential laughs that just were not fulfilled. The concept of being stuck on an island doing therapy and yoga are gold mines for comedic humor. However, the plot was too slow to be effective. Jokes were few and far between for me. There's also a cameo by Ken Jeong that is completely humorless. I mean, how is that even possible right? But it is.

Watch It: As a last resort?

Skip It: For a better Vaughn/Favreau flick in Four Christmases.

The Replacements

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 11, 2000

DVD Release Date: November 28, 2000

Plot 411: An ex-football player is given a second chance when he is called in as a replacement during a pro football strike.

Review: My favorite quote from this movie: "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever." I like it. It's a good motto by which to live your life. Keanu Reeves plays Shane, a former college stand out who choked during an important game and didn't do well in his one season of pro ball. When the players of the Washington Sentinels strike over salary disputes, their coach (Gene Hackman) must find replacements for the final four games. Only three wins away from post-season, he puts together a mishmash of players, including a soccer player (Rhys Ifans), an inmate (Michael Jace), a cop (Jon Favreau), a sumo wrestler (Ace Yonamine), a deaf guy (David Denman) and a stockboy (Orlando Jones). While not necessarily deep, I still like the message behind a movie like this - that hard work and sacrifice triumphs in the end; that you've got to want it more than the next guy; that you've got to be thankful for the good things in life; and that you've got to believe in yourself. All of these themes are empowering and can be expounded upon and applied to all kinds of situations in life. As unlikely as the outcome of this movie is, I still found it inspiring. Watching this movie was almost like being there because you felt like you were one of these underdogs just trying to live a dream.

Watch It: For Reeves' amazingly bouncy hair. It's almost a character of its own.

Skip It: Because it really does ask you to suspend your disbelief for the entire time.

Four Christmases

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: November 26, 2008

DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009

Plot 411: When all outgoing flights are canceled, Brad and Kate must spend Christmas visiting each of their divorced parents.

Review: Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have had a tradition of vacationing somewhere tropical during the holidays ever since they first met. The long-time couple both agree that avoiding their respective families is the best for everyone. By doing so, they do not need to experience the chaotic and sometimes embarrassing scenes that occur during the holidays. However, when a thick fog cancels all flights out of San Francisco, they are forced to visit their families and endure a day of four Christmas celebrations. The continuous family time and holiday cheer affects each of them differently and in the end, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible. This is a cute film to enjoy during the holidays. It makes you realize that your own family isn't quite as nuts as you thought they were. Vaughn and Witherspoon are okay as a couple, but I think the chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Vaughn in The Breakup was a lot more real (probably because it was real). Despite this, I think there were a ton of laughs in this movie that came with all the family drama that Brad and Kate have been trying to avoid. Everyone can relate to the craziness of the holidays, and this film seems to capitalize on this concept. I really loved the San Francisco background and liked that the families didn't live within the city like the couple did. Rarely is the surrounding areas of a large city featured in movies so this is a good chance to advertise the suburbs and towns around the Bay area. Brad and Kate's parents are played by Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. Jon Favreau also makes an appearance as Brad's brother. He is hilarious as always.

Watch It: With a cup of hot chocolate in your hands and thank the lord your family is "normal."

Skip It: Because Vaughn is looking quite chunky in this movie. Is that the price of success?

I Love You, Man

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 20, 2009

DVD Release Date: August 11, 2009

Plot 411: Recently engaged Peter is faced with the fact that he doesn't have many close male friends and embarks on man-dates to fill out the wedding party.

Review: OMG, I didn't think this movie would be as funny as it was, but I laughed my butt off. This entire movie was just painfully awkward. Peter (Paul Rudd) is a successful real estate agent in L.A. who has recently proposed to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones). As they discuss their upcoming nuptials, it becomes apparent that Peter doesn't have any close guy friends. Zooey encourages him to meet new people and Peter enlists the help of his mother (Jane Curtin), brother (Andy Samberg) and the internet. His search for bromance definitely mirrors one's search for a significant other and this just adds to the hilarity of the situation. After a series of bad man-dates, Peter meets Sidney (Jason Segel) at an open house and the two become fast friends. Sidney gives Peter the male perspective and influence he has never had before and Peter finally grows a pair (although he's still a "nice guy"). This soon causes tension in Peter and Zooey's relationship and an interesting love triangle develops. The topic of this movie is awesome and so relatable somehow. Rudd and Segel are good together as are the supporting cast that includes Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, J.K. Simmons, Thomas Lennon and Lou Ferrigno. The special features are also filled with some pretty good moments that are worth a watch.

Watch It: For an awesome cast of comedic geniuses.

Skip It: If you need to keep people in separate boxes, because there are definite moments when the Peter/Sidney relationship seep over and linger in unknown territory.

Swingers

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 18, 1996

DVD Release Date: September 24, 2002

Plot 411: A comedian trying to make it in Hollywood deals with the recent breakup of his six year relationship by hitting the clubs with his boys.

Review: This was an excellent '90s movies. Who knew that 13 years would make this movie almost nostalgic? I had forgotten about the swing music revival, the wallet chains and the Frank Sinatra-cool wannabes. The movie really captures a specific era that didn't last very long but was interesting nonetheless. Mike (Jon Favreau), a comedian from New York, moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of getting his own sitcom. Unfortunately, his now ex-girlfriend is dating someone else and he's miserable. His L.A. friends Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Sue (Patrick Van Horn) and his buddy from N.Y. Rob (Ron Livingston) all try their best to lift his spirits. Trent takes the alpha dog approach and tries to bolster Mike's self-esteem through "babies" (aka women). Rob takes a more subtle route, doing more listening and hand holding than anything else. The boys are so "money" as they club hop around L.A. It's completely funny how they believe they're shot callers, like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, yet they can't even manage to land a gig. Vaughn is ridiculously funny in this role. The movie is hip, for its time, and right on with its comments on people's attitudes during this time period - from the wannabe gangsters to the cool dude swingers.

Watch It: For the bear and bunny scene.

Skip It: If you're living a break up right now. Mike is such a downer that he'll make you feel worse.