Reviews (79)

Good film, great extras
The breezy rehab story of Gwen Cummings(Sandra Bullock) and her 28 days towards the road to recovery isn't a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely enjoyable.The key points to the DVD that may warrant you buying it are Betty Thomas's directors commentary, three character testimonials that were cut from the final film, instructions on how to make a gum wrapper chain like the fiesty heroine,theatrical trailers,and talent files. But the best thing, and possibly worth the price of the rest of the disc, is the hilarious 26 minutes of "lost episodes" of the fictional soap "Santa Cruz" that everyone at the rehab center watches.That alone is almost as funny as the movie, with the actors playing their scenes with intense seriousness amid ridiculous plot situations even more far fetched than the average soap.

Here's Looking at You, Sandra Bullock
Director Betty Thomas has achieved something rare: A modern movie that tackles a serious issue and emerges with it's tastefulness intact. "28 Days" has the plot of a drama, the soul of a comedy, the feel of a documentary and a fabulous performance by Sandra Bullock that gives each genre a place in the delicate mix of this wonderful movie.

Bullock is Gwen Cummings, an alcoholic, pill popping journalist who is sentenced to spend 28 days in a rehab center she drunkenly steals a limo and crashes it into a house. Leaving behind her boozy British boyfriend Jasper (superbly played by Domonic West), Gwen soon finds the support and understanding of her eccentric and often hilarious new neighbors. There's Eddie (Viggo Mortensen), the washed up baseball player who'll sleep with anyone; Oliver (Mike O'Malley), the wisecracking Park Avenue pot addict; Andrea (Azura Skye), a young woman addicted to drugs and a preposterous soap opera called "Santa Cruz," which she eventually turns everyone on to; and Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk), the wacky German. "28 Days," unlike an "Erin Brokovich" where one star dominates, is an ensemble film that allows a variety of talents to shine. And with a cast of this caliber, sometimes that shine rivals the stars themselves in brightness.

Despite many humorous moments, it's the dramatic aspects of "28 Days" that make it great. When Gwen becomes so desperate for her pills that she jumps out the window to get some she threw away earlier, the obsessiveness and despair of dependency are captured at their most vivid. Then there's her troubled relationship with her sister Lily (sensitively portrayed by Elizabeth Perkins), who can't decide whether she wants to give up on the woman who has never been there for her, or stand by her in the hope that she will reform, risking having her heart broken yet again.

It's because Bullock and screenwriter Susannah Grant have made Gwen such a likable character that these situations have real bite. Sine we can't decide whether we love her or hate her, we keep watching the movie on the edge of our seats, searching for something that will proove to us once and for all what Gwen Cummings is. The movie wisely avoids giving us a straight answer to that and many other questions, allowing the viewer instead to make their own decisions and create their own relationaships with the characters and the things they encounter.

"28 Days" is a triumph for all involved. There's nothing better for a cynical critic like me then proof on the screen that films moving stories with engaging characters are still being made. Perhaps the best news of all is the resurrection of Sandra Bullock's career after three flops in a row. If she continues to show such wise judgement in choosing her projects, this poor man's Julia Roberts may be topping the A-list once again.

drunks on parade......
While the film was entertaining, I do not find anything in the least entertaining about the subject matter of drug addiction. In Gwen's book it was booze and Vicodin......a killer combo.....Alcoholics are often seen as hilarious, but in reality most of the time they leave a trail of tragedy not only for those who are closest to them, ie families and their friends, but they create pain in the lives of total strangers.....witness Gwen's destruction of a limo and a residence when she left her sister's wedding reception. I suppose we should be happy she did not end up on the freeway with the limo.
I found the characters in this film just too cute.....From what I have seen on COPS, they don't appear to be that cute in reality, or maybe if you have the 50K, which rehabs centers like Gwen was staying at cost, perhaps you see a different bunch of addicts.

Good movie with some strong performances
I liked this one- am finally adding it to my video collection.
Sandra Bullock is a believable drunk who has a very tough time relating to anyone and everyone. Was nice seeing someone who is not overly likeable in movie like this.
Nice performance by a clean cut and hunky Viggo Mortenson livens this up.
For a double downer line up of sobering drama
see Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia in When a Man Loves a Woman.

Santa Cruz & Gum Wrapper Chains
Sandra Bullock's character goes to rehab. She hates it at first then sees she should be sober. Its a funny movie thats not very preachy and it has good characters. The dvd has cool features like how to make that gum wrapper chain thing, and actual scenes from Santa Cruz. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

The movie was good, it's not what people expect from Murphy.
I really liked this movie. It was funny and yet different considering what people usually expect from Eddie Murphy. He was not rude or used a lot of bad language. It shows that he is a very versatile actor. He can do good roles an roles where he hast to be the crudest person on earth. Anyway, I thought that having the animals really talking and their lips were in sinck with thier voices was a job well-done. Some of the actors that you think would never be good as a voice were pretty funny. John Legazamo was good as one of the rats. The drinking monkey was also hilarious. Well, I can say nothing but good for this movie.

vastly superior to the sequel, IMHO
Like a lot of people who believe themselves to be worldly, I put my little barriers up when I encounter a film like "Dr. Dolittle". When you think of yourself as a sophisticate, it's hard to reach the child within. You hope the kid left long ago.

The truth is that few people grow up entirely. Halfway through this movie, I threw in the towel and decided to admit I was enjoying this adolescent gem. It's infectious.

Eddie Murphy's Dr. Dolittle is not recognizable as the character in the Hugh Loftis book. He's been totally updated. The only element left from the novel is Dolittle's ability to talk to animals. He understands them. They converse. Thankfully they do not sing, as they did in the dreadful Rex Harrison musical comedy thirty years ago. That film lost a fortune for Fox Studio. At this late date, Mr. Murphy and friends seem to have recovered its money.

It may seem like a gift to be able to communicate with guinea pigs, owls, dogs, pigs, pigeons and other creatures. This gift could be a one-way ticket to the funny farm, which is the problem Dolittle faces.

One of the best things about "Dr. Dolittle" is that it's short. The producers were wise enough to get in and out before the audience realized this was basically a one joke, one special effect story.

Murphy seems to have undergone a personal transformation in the last few years. Now he is completely at ease and in control in gentle comedies like this and "The Nutty Professor", just as he was in the sexy and crime-driven vehicles that made him a movie star in the 1980s.

It was bathroom humor that earned this picture a PG-13 rating. It may have deserved it, but kids seem to learn this stuff younger these days. Maybe they are just more open than my generation was. This touch of crudeness helps "Dr. Dolittle" to work. Full of smart remarks, these animals are survivors. They are also endearing. They assure that the movie never becomes sickeningly sweet. Besides, nobody expects Eddie Murphy to give up his bad boy image completely.

One element I found interesting is that, despite all the advances in digital special effects, when you see a lot of animals talking on screen, it doesn't look any more real than it did in the days of Francis the Talking Mule. It just cost ten times as much to create the effect.

Laugh out loud comedy.
Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) has the so called "perfect life", a beautiful wife, two loving daughters and a career that could not be better. All that changes one night when he nearly hits a dog with his car. As he is leaving, the dog calls him a bonehead then runs off. From that day on his childhood ability to communicate with animals is back. Soon, animals are showing up at his home to get help. His colleagues suspect he's going crazy and many decisions still have to be made regarding the sale of the clinic. Just as everything is about to fall apart, a circus tiger falls seriously ill and it's John's turn to prove to everyone that he's not crazy.

No Repeats
This is a movie I bought first, primarily for the kids because of the reviews. No one ever asked to watch it a second time. I say this because one of my kids was watching the Lion King last night, for the umpteenth time. So yes, I agree that eddie murphy impressed me again with his talent... but it just didn't grab my kids, 3 boys and 2 girls. I had to give it a good rating of 3 rather than a 2 to encourage the making of good movies.

Where's Richard Pryor when we need him?
eddie murphy is a comical guy, but is he really the right guy to play in something as stupid as this? Of course, who is the right guy for it? One of the questions i can't stand to think about in this movie, is how Dolittle hears the animals speak, but their lips move and nobody notices. Can't they connect the dots? Obviously not. And obviously, the filmmakers couldn't either. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Letterman Deserved the Tonight Show
This is a terrific video with Kathy Bates absolutely hateful as Leno's manager. The actors portraying Leno and Letterman are good but try too hard to mimic rather than portray each.

The video is great at showing the behind the scenes maneuvering that allowed Leno to steal The Tonight Show from David Letterman. That may be harsh but I don't think there is any other way to describe what happened. The rightful heir to Carson was Letterman. Leno was (and still is) a poor pretender to the throne.

That being said, the intrigue and lies used to move the transfer of the Tonight Show to Leno is great. CBS's decision to enter the late night market and lure Letterman is played out realistically. It's interesting to note that if Letterman got the Tonight Show, CBS was ready to go after Leno.

The video is a good companion to the book. The book provides much more detail and inside information but the video hits the highlights. If interested, you may want to read the book before viewing the video.

Look forward to seeing this on DVD hopefully with some extras.

Waiting for the DVD!
Please please please release "The Late Shift" on DVD!! Its a great movie, but we need the DVD (with perhaps some extras)!

Long live Johnny
Am I the only one waiting for a sequal?

Wonderful behind-the-scenes account!
This is a fascinating movie. It attempts to accurately depict the battle over the coveted position which was opening up after Johnny Carson announced his retirement from the Tonight Show. The actors all give good performances, but the true standout is Kathy Bates. She is absolutely one of the best actresses fo her generation, and gives a brilliant performance as Jay Leno's wild manager Helen Kushnick. She transforms this movie from a really good one to a great one. HBO has done it again with The Late Shift.

The Late Shift
This video is very good. Kathy Bates performance is terrific! The actors portraying Leno and Letterman are very good as well. The video clearly shows the campaign of politicking and dishonesty that Leno and his manager Helen Kushnik used to win the Tonight Show host job. Dave never had a chance. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Funnier Than You Might Think
I Spy is the sort of movie you enjoy in spite of your better instincts. You know the plot is incoherent and embarrassingly banal. You recognize that the action sequences are unconvincing and poorly paced. You sense that not one original idea ever entered the minds of director Betty Thomas, her four screenwriters or the head honchos at Sony Pictures during the conception and production of this entire enterprise. And yet you laugh, because there is something goofily entertaining about two of America's best comedic actors stumbling and bumbling through a good old fashion spy spoof. The fact that the stars have such wonderful chemistry legitimizes your positive reaction. A little.

The leading players are, of course, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, who provide the film with a sense of energy and fun that it probably doesn't deserve. Murphy, who appears as obnoxious boxer turned secret agent Kelly Robinson, has lost none of his impeccable timing and inimitable style to age or a recent string of unsuccessful films. Given only assorted rants and dictionary full of curse words to work with, the man uses his vocal mannerisms and body language to wring laugh after laugh out of stale dialogue (and turns in one of the best renditions of "Sexual Healing" you're likely to hear). Wilson is equally engaging as bumbling special agent Alexander Scott, winning pathos and belly laughs as he attempts to win the girl and properly activate his spy gizmos. As these two pros traipse through Hungry, attempting to foil the diabolical scheme of the insidious and thoroughly wasted Malcolm McDowal, one can almost forget that they are watching something formulaic and get lost in the effective repartee and humorous battles of one-upmanship among the leads.

The television series on which this movie is based broke new ground in the 1960's by presenting an African-American (a young Bill Cosby) as a dignified and dramatic leading man. The goals of this film are considerably lower, but it is consistently hilarious and only worth two hours of your life. In today's film environment, you could do far worse.

Eddie Murphy is Backl!
This is one of those movies where many other reviewers got it wrong. I think they were looking for a reason to bash Eddie Murphy. Shame on them.

When watching a comedy, I've noticed, it helps if you are in the mood to watch a comedy. I figure that I was and many of the other reviewers that gave I Spy only tepid ratings were not. How else could they give this movie only three stars.

I Spy was the funniest movie I've seen since Road Trip in 2000,(which also had tepid reviews) and one of the five most hilarious movies I've ever had the pleasure to view in my Forty-seventeen years.

Plot

It seems the latest Air Force fighter, a plane that has a cloaking device, has been stolen by the test pilot and sold to an International Arms dealer, Arnold Gundars,(Malcolm McDowell) who in turn, will most likely sell it, to bidding terrorist organizations for mega bucks. The fictitious Bureau of National Security has assigned the case to second tier, super-agent Alex Scott,(Owen Wilson) who heads a team sent to Budapest, Hungary to find the missing plane

Obnoxious, loudmouth but undefeated middleweight boxing champion, Kelly Robinson,(Eddie Murphy) who happens to have a title defense scheduled in Budapest is also recruited for the mission not as a spy but to provide cover for Scott. Unfortunately Robinson, who at first doesn't get along with Scott and whose ego knows no limits, doesn't get his role and decides he's also a secret agent and then the fun begins.

Just to make things more interesting there are a couple sub-plots with the first string super agent, Carlos,(Gary Cole) who gets all the top of the line gadgets and miniature gizmos while Alex gets stuck with cumbersome hand me downs and Alex's not so secret crush on associate agent, Rachael,(Famke Janssen) which was the basis for one of the funniest scenes in the movie.

Actors

Kelly Robinson, Eddie Murphy
Alex Scott, Owen Wilson
Arnold Gundars, Malcolm McDowell
Rachael, Famke Janssen

Carlos, Gary Cole

Director

Betty Thomas

Conclusion

Whenever I read a negative review of what I consider a good Movie / Book, I wonder what the motivations were. This movie had two or three negative reviews for every positive one. Here are the things I read most in the negative reviews, with my comments; No resemblance to the TV series(who cares? It was funny as hell), a buddy movie like ........(so what?), a weak script(yeah, but it wasn't really an action movie!), Black, Eddie Murphy played Stepin Fetchit to White, Owen Wilson(coulda fooled me, I thought Wilson was Murphy's straight man) and Murphy was flat and continued his stretch of losers(I'd like to know what movie they saw, cause I was rolling in the aisle).

In summation, I thought the actors did an excellent job, the directing was good, the stunts were very good and the humor was excellent! Now, I'm not really a comedy movie person so I haven't viewed every comedic movie ever made to compare this to, but I thought it was a riot and that's what counts!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&gt
i spy was a relly fun movie too see. and owen wilson is better on this movie than shanghai noon and shanghai knights.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&gt
this movie was very very marvelous. and the beggining was funny.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&gt
i spy is a really cool movie. which stars eddie murphy who is a very funny guy. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A funny movie that ends on a great note
I really enjoyed this movie. Looks are not everything and love can be found anywhere. This is a movie that you will enjoy just as much the second time.

A light hearted romantic comedy
Only You is one of those movies that you will love or just like. Personally, I love it. Although not among Helen Hunts best work, it's still pretty good. Light and humorous is probably the best way to describe it. It's the kind of movie that you can just sit down and enjoy without having to think about it, and believe me you will enjoy it.

Uh, well...
Really mediocre romantic comedy featuring a brown-haired Helen Hunt before Mad About You and As Good As It Gets, Kelly Preston before her career surge, and Andrew McCarthy on the downside of his Brat Pack run. Shows up occasionally on cable, and best left there.

Contrary to Popular Belief
There is of course one other movie entitled Only You which starred the present Jail Bird Robert Downey Jr. And contrary to popular belief, mainly Leonard Maltin's, this is the one and only "only You" for me. ... Read more

Reviews (82)

The movie was good, it's not what people expect from Murphy.
I really liked this movie. It was funny and yet different considering what people usually expect from Eddie Murphy. He was not rude or used a lot of bad language. It shows that he is a very versatile actor. He can do good roles an roles where he hast to be the crudest person on earth. Anyway, I thought that having the animals really talking and their lips were in sinck with thier voices was a job well-done. Some of the actors that you think would never be good as a voice were pretty funny. John Legazamo was good as one of the rats. The drinking monkey was also hilarious. Well, I can say nothing but good for this movie.

vastly superior to the sequel, IMHO
Like a lot of people who believe themselves to be worldly, I put my little barriers up when I encounter a film like "Dr. Dolittle". When you think of yourself as a sophisticate, it's hard to reach the child within. You hope the kid left long ago.

The truth is that few people grow up entirely. Halfway through this movie, I threw in the towel and decided to admit I was enjoying this adolescent gem. It's infectious.

Eddie Murphy's Dr. Dolittle is not recognizable as the character in the Hugh Loftis book. He's been totally updated. The only element left from the novel is Dolittle's ability to talk to animals. He understands them. They converse. Thankfully they do not sing, as they did in the dreadful Rex Harrison musical comedy thirty years ago. That film lost a fortune for Fox Studio. At this late date, Mr. Murphy and friends seem to have recovered its money.

It may seem like a gift to be able to communicate with guinea pigs, owls, dogs, pigs, pigeons and other creatures. This gift could be a one-way ticket to the funny farm, which is the problem Dolittle faces.

One of the best things about "Dr. Dolittle" is that it's short. The producers were wise enough to get in and out before the audience realized this was basically a one joke, one special effect story.

Murphy seems to have undergone a personal transformation in the last few years. Now he is completely at ease and in control in gentle comedies like this and "The Nutty Professor", just as he was in the sexy and crime-driven vehicles that made him a movie star in the 1980s.

It was bathroom humor that earned this picture a PG-13 rating. It may have deserved it, but kids seem to learn this stuff younger these days. Maybe they are just more open than my generation was. This touch of crudeness helps "Dr. Dolittle" to work. Full of smart remarks, these animals are survivors. They are also endearing. They assure that the movie never becomes sickeningly sweet. Besides, nobody expects Eddie Murphy to give up his bad boy image completely.

One element I found interesting is that, despite all the advances in digital special effects, when you see a lot of animals talking on screen, it doesn't look any more real than it did in the days of Francis the Talking Mule. It just cost ten times as much to create the effect.

Laugh out loud comedy.
Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) has the so called "perfect life", a beautiful wife, two loving daughters and a career that could not be better. All that changes one night when he nearly hits a dog with his car. As he is leaving, the dog calls him a bonehead then runs off. From that day on his childhood ability to communicate with animals is back. Soon, animals are showing up at his home to get help. His colleagues suspect he's going crazy and many decisions still have to be made regarding the sale of the clinic. Just as everything is about to fall apart, a circus tiger falls seriously ill and it's John's turn to prove to everyone that he's not crazy.

No Repeats
This is a movie I bought first, primarily for the kids because of the reviews. No one ever asked to watch it a second time. I say this because one of my kids was watching the Lion King last night, for the umpteenth time. So yes, I agree that eddie murphy impressed me again with his talent... but it just didn't grab my kids, 3 boys and 2 girls. I had to give it a good rating of 3 rather than a 2 to encourage the making of good movies.

Where's Richard Pryor when we need him?
eddie murphy is a comical guy, but is he really the right guy to play in something as stupid as this? Of course, who is the right guy for it? One of the questions i can't stand to think about in this movie, is how Dolittle hears the animals speak, but their lips move and nobody notices. Can't they connect the dots? Obviously not. And obviously, the filmmakers couldn't either. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The big-screen version of the hugely popular 1970s television sitcom takes an original angle: instead of simply re-creating the old series, the film spoofs it by presenting the merged family as blithely unaware that fashions and customs have changed in the '90s. Shelley Long and Gary Cole are hilarious as the ultra-square yet libidinous Mr. and Mrs. Brady, Christopher Daniel Barnes is an ideal Greg, and Christine Taylor seems practically cloned from the original Marcia. But director Betty Thomas (Private Parts) shifts the emphasis away from comparisons between old and new Bradys and concentrates on quasi-surreal parodies and set pieces featuring the Brady kids doing their spirited, singing thing for a disbelieving public. Smart, sharp, and happy to share its conspiratorial mood with an appreciative audience, The Brady Bunch Movie is a kick. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Come on Home with the Bradys.
When I first watched this movie, I really wasn't looking forward to seeing it. I enjoyed watching the television show when I was a kid, but it wasn't one of my favorite shows. However, this film really surprised me and turned out to be the funniest movie I've seen in years.

The movie is hilarious. It parodies everything that made the Brady the Bradys (Cindy's lisp, Mike's family talks, potato sack races, etc) . All the actors have a dead-on impersonations of the original characters and make the spoof totally believable.

The major plot of the film is fairly simple. The Brady's owe $20,000 in back taxes and their beloved home is going to be sold if they can't raise the funds. Their next door neighbor is a greedy developer who wants to build a shopping mall in the Bradys neighborhood. All the other homeowners have sold, but the Bradys won't bite. The desperate developer seems to have lost, until he finds out about the Bradys' back taxes. Then things get messy. There is also a subplot revolving around Jan's struggle with being a middle child and always being overlooked by Marcia. Jan's "struggle" is one of the most hilarious things I have seen on film in a long time. You'll never think of hearing voices the same again (or Jan Brady for that matter).

Overall a hilarious film that parodies the original television series. The movie has the blessing of the Bradys creator (he wrote the screenplay). It is a delight for anyone who remembers the original series and even if you don't, you're sure to have a few laughs with this 70's family living in a modern world.

Great Movie - Disappointing DVD
I remember watching this movie in the theatres. The audience was packed and I LOVED every minute of it. Shelly Long made an outstanding Carol Brady, loving wife and doting mother to six (count 'em six) children. The movie captured the classic camp of the television show perfectly down to trademark episode storylines inter-woven into a bigger story. The real stand out actors though has to be Christine Taylor as Marcia and Jennifer Elise Cox as Jan. The dynamic duo really set the stage with not only their remarkable resemblance to the characters but the way they captured even the inflections of the blonde Brady girls. It was almost like being taken back to the series. And speaking of which, several original series cast members make cameo appearances in the film, such as Florence Henderson as Grandma Brady, Barry Williams as a music producer, Ann B. Davis as Shultzy (named as an homage to her character on the Bob Cummings Show), and Christopher Knight as the school coach. And you can't miss the ever talented Jean Smart or RuPaul as the drunk next door neighbor and school guidence counselor. The drawbacks of the DVD release though is that Paramount skimped on any bonus material. We are benefited with seeing the movie in crystal clear widescreen and in Dolby sound, but there are no behind-the-scenes clips added though such material was shown on television when the movie was just released. There are no character/actor bios. There are no photo stills. There are no Brady song montages. There isn't even a movie trailer of the movie itself. There is just simply nothing added to make this DVD as special as it could have been than just the movie standing alone. In my mind, the purpose of releasing a movie on DVD at all is to provide the audience with a higher level of product than you would recieve on a standard videotape. Because the movie wasn't released with any of these I have to grudgingly give the DVD a three out of five stars. Not because the movie isn't good, because it is. It's one of my favorites. No, I gave it three stars because companies such as Paramount and others like them really should know better. The word 'cheated' comes to mind.

Classic Bradys
This is a show I grew up on. And I watched all 6 Brady kids grow up on TV as well, so to see them (well not all the original kids) on the big screen had to be a must see. Two decades later the Brady's still have a following, judging by the commercial success of this film and a whole new generation is introduced (though probably don't understand) the wholesome white bread image the Brady's portrayed. Stuck in their 70's world while everyone around them has progressed? to the cynical 1990's, Mike, Carol, Alice & the Brady kids face the problem of a disgusted neighbor (Michael McKean, Lenny from another 70's favorite sitcom, Lavern & Shirley)trying to get rid of the bell bottom wearing Bradys as neighbors. Fans of this show, will recognize many familiar themes from the Brady Bunch's successul sitcom run such as Greg as Johnny Bravo, Cindy's tattle tale, and my favorite Jan's envy of Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. By the way Marcia really looks like a twin Maureen McCormack (the original Marcia). Florence Henderson (the original Carol Brady makes a guest appearance as the grandmother and so does the original Greg (Barry Williams). But the new cast, who look nothing like the originals except for Marcia, do a great job of mocking the Brady sitcom I grew up watching.

Why oh, why does Hollywood want to ruin icons?
Why do they insist on making a mockery of television shows we all loved? Brady Bunch, Scooby Do... there have been others. They make a movie that serves SOLELY to make the characters and premise look dumb. It's irritating and stupid.

This is the best comedy!!!
If you are looking for a hilarious comedy that will have you rolling on the floor for hours and hours that isn't too bad for the little children? Well if the answer is yes, then this movie is the perfect movie for you. Then after this movie won 6 Emmy's they came out with another sequal that earned 4 Emmy's, and then, the final and the best sequal(The Third) is the most funny, it is where Greg Brady becomes President. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Give credit to director Betty Thomas for making the notorious Howard Stern, self-proclaimed "king of all media," into a nerdish but appealing media rebel who loves his wife and family. Even if you hate Stern's rude radio show, you may discover that the underdog charm of this warm, whimsical film (based on Stern's autobiography) turns you into a fan--for the length of the film at least. Stern delivers a winning performance as the clumsy college kid and aspiring disc-jockey-turned-demon-shock-jock, who becomes an unlikely hero as he battles station managers, network executives, and conservative "arbiters of decency" in the name of unfettered bad taste. Mary McCormack is fine as his understanding wife, Alison, and longtime Stern sidekicks Robin Quivers and Fred Norris acquit themselves nicely appearing as themselves. By the end of this smart, funny little film, don't be surprised if you find yourself cheering for the slob. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (76)

Comedic reaction to Howard's action; Fred steals the show
In Private Parts, you get to see Howard Stern's meteoric rise from his humble beginnings to his reign as the King of All Media. You also get to see him meet and recruit his allies in broadcasting- Robin Quivers, Jackie Martling, and...

...Fred Norris, the King of Mars. The "King of Mars" moniker was given to him by Howard for his rather strange & unusual behavior and demeanor. Fred reprises his earlier self & behavior beautifully in Private Parts, which at times would come very close to upstaging Howard's own on-air antics. Fred's performance in some ways reminded me of Christopher LLoyd's portrayal of "Reverend Jim" from the Taxi TV sitcom, a character I found both scary and funny at the same time. Fred has been known to be both as well... even to this day.

Other great moments in the movie were peoples' reactions to what Howard would say on the air. Be it someone listening to the show in his car, the radio management suits at the station, or even Howard's wife Alison, whenever Howard says or plays something that's sure to cause a reaction, it does... with riotous results. It makes those funny moments even funnier.

Enjoy!

The often hilarious autobiography of the King of All Media!
I have been a Howard Stern fan for years now, watching his show as often as I can. I have also wanted to know the story behind him and his colleagues' rise to power. This movie showed plenty of it, but not all of it. It basically summarizes his childhood and early years and shows us some of his influences to become a radio personality. Most of the movie is a flashback panning his lifetime as he moves from small town disc-jockey to well-known local personality to huge radio star. He meets many of his sidekicks and good friends throughout the movie, such as Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling. Unfortunately, the flashback cuts off in the mid-80's and doesn't touch at the next ten years of his career. Either way, the movie was able to make us feel sorry and compassionate for who much of society calls the Antichrist. It has its funny moments and some sad moments, but in the end it's a decent comedy. Private Parts has some gross-out humor and a fair-share of nudity. I would definitely not like this movie as much if I weren't a Stern fan, but I am, so I love it.

Score: 7.5/10

Propaganda movie
This is Howard's propaganda movie. Much like Michael Moore, he'd have the world believe he is just an ordinary, average guy who has been wrongfully shamed by the majority of Americans. The most accurate part of this film is the beginning when it shows what a lame pencil-neck geek Howard really is. Here we are, 7 years later and , just like Mike Moore, the truth has come out and Howard is a farce. He is no longer married. He has a model for a girlfriend, and is no longer the "everyman" that this film proclaims him to be. Also, nowadays he accuses the President to be trying to get him off the radio. Funny coming from him. Here's a guy who, as soon as Opie and Anthony started making fun of him when his wife left him, went to his company and put a stop to it by taking them off the air. He says himself on the radio that he runs the company. O and A worked for Infinity- his company. Maybe Howard is right, maybe people are out to get him. After all, it would take one to know one.

Where's the Special Edition???
I think that this film is a comedy classic, with a solid cast (Mary MacCormick, Paul Giamatti, Alison Janney, and a "blink and you'll miss her" Edie Falco), a funny storyline, and is a comedy classic, although it borders on "chick flick" at times, believe it or not. But I think that a lot of people can identify with the social misfit who does well for himself, and overcomes a lot of odds to do what he wants to do and manages to succeed on many levels. The film really showcases Giamatti as Howard's program director (dictator) and it's worth watching him and Howard go back and forth.

But I do hope that they do a special edition on this film, there's a lot of behind the scenes stories that should be told (like doing the radio show and THEN doing the film later that day), as well as hearing MacCormick, Linney and Giamatti talk about their time working on the film, and Howard's own comments about the making of the film. As well as including some of the clips filmed for TV. It's long overdue, Paramount!!!

Something tells me I should have avoided this movie
I actually saw this movie at the theatres when it came out with my best friend Dennis and another friend Dan. All I can say was that this movie did absolutely nothing for me but put me to sleep. This man is pathetic and his radio shows are becoming more and more old and boring. Fast forward to 2004, he is not relevant anymore, in other words, is a has been and is complaining that his brand of raunch radio is being blacklisted by our President which is not true, the real truth is Howard gets old real fast! If you want good laughs that are timeless, I suggest you watch the classic 1979 Chuck Jones animated film The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie instead for laughs. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A barrel of laughs!
I was never a fan of the 70's Brady Bunch sitcom perhaps because I didn't grow up then or, more suitably, because the idea of a happy family in today's modern world seems just to good to be true.
However, when creator Sherwood Schwarz made a movie, I was very impressed. Rather than rehashing the mawkish sitcom in where one member of the family encounters some minute mishap of which inevitably is solved at the end of the episode, Scharz decided to turn his classic sitcom into a spoof and what better than to transport the zany family into the nineties.

Most of the hilarity in the film eminates from the fact that the Bradys' innocence, naivity and perfection against the harsh world of the 90's is no match. All characters are practically cloned which makes the film even more impressive.

The plot is wafer thin but who cares? Mike Brady's house is up for repossession and it is up to the family to save it. The question is how? A very funny solution ensues. The sister rivalry between Jan and Marsha works very well and again contributes to most of the laughs within the movie.

To say anything else would ruin the movie so sit back and enjoy. You won't be disapointed!

The Brady's Meet Rocky Horror
The movie is funny! It is risque, but not crude, which is nice. Above all it has great writing. The actors are fine (but it is painfully clear when an original cast member takes a cameo that they do not have the talent of the orignal cast, which is surprising. Who knew the cast of the Brady Bunch was talented? That is no doubt one of the reason's behind the tv show's success.)
Lots of comedy about sexuality, but no where near the gutter level of post "Something About Mary" comedy.
Even though I said it is a good comedy and well worth seeing, I have to warn you that it also left me feeling sad and empty. The premise was funny - the Brady's are stuck in the sunny 70's the rest of the world is in the cruel 90's - but the postmodern cynicism is bleak.

THE MOST EXCELLENT MOVIE EVER
Sha na na ! Those are the three words I have to utter. I think that A Very Brady Sequel is one of the most hilarious movies ever to hit the cinemas. KEEP IT! Im telling you, youll never want to throw it away once you own it, its like a plate of amazing spaghetti, and nothing says lovin like a tummy full of alices spaghetti! But seriously guys, Marcia, Jan and Greg are the main characters in the sequel and they are so incredibly hilarious, there is no other word to describe it. Jan Brady is completely insane and psychopathic, worst than the original movie and this time around she doesnt have multiple personalities like Sybil. Marcia knows exactly what to say to everything Jan does, lines such as "Ill go first cause' im the prettiest" and "oh honestly jan" will have you and your families busting a gut (or two) (or three) at this cinematic classic. DO NOT GO ON WITH OUT THIS FOLKS it is once in a lifetime movie! Forget about watching your figure for your new boyfriend, forget out dillydallying, now is the time to get this treasure before it dissapears like bobby and cindy with a magic kit! IT IS EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT!

Great
The Brady Bunch movies were extremly funny! I couldn't stand the TV Show but the movies are great! There not TO "bad" for minors. I highly recommend this movie who loves a great laugh once in awhile.

My 4 year old daughter loves it
My 4 year old daughter loves this movie. She asks to watch it every day. I of course sit and watch it with her but it is so funny and entertaining that I enjoy it as well. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Funnier Than You Might Think
I Spy is the sort of movie you enjoy in spite of your better instincts. You know the plot is incoherent and embarrassingly banal. You recognize that the action sequences are unconvincing and poorly paced. You sense that not one original idea ever entered the minds of director Betty Thomas, her four screenwriters or the head honchos at Sony Pictures during the conception and production of this entire enterprise. And yet you laugh, because there is something goofily entertaining about two of America's best comedic actors stumbling and bumbling through a good old fashion spy spoof. The fact that the stars have such wonderful chemistry legitimizes your positive reaction. A little.

The leading players are, of course, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson, who provide the film with a sense of energy and fun that it probably doesn't deserve. Murphy, who appears as obnoxious boxer turned secret agent Kelly Robinson, has lost none of his impeccable timing and inimitable style to age or a recent string of unsuccessful films. Given only assorted rants and dictionary full of curse words to work with, the man uses his vocal mannerisms and body language to wring laugh after laugh out of stale dialogue (and turns in one of the best renditions of "Sexual Healing" you're likely to hear). Wilson is equally engaging as bumbling special agent Alexander Scott, winning pathos and belly laughs as he attempts to win the girl and properly activate his spy gizmos. As these two pros traipse through Hungry, attempting to foil the diabolical scheme of the insidious and thoroughly wasted Malcolm McDowal, one can almost forget that they are watching something formulaic and get lost in the effective repartee and humorous battles of one-upmanship among the leads.

The television series on which this movie is based broke new ground in the 1960's by presenting an African-American (a young Bill Cosby) as a dignified and dramatic leading man. The goals of this film are considerably lower, but it is consistently hilarious and only worth two hours of your life. In today's film environment, you could do far worse.

Eddie Murphy is Backl!
This is one of those movies where many other reviewers got it wrong. I think they were looking for a reason to bash Eddie Murphy. Shame on them.

When watching a comedy, I've noticed, it helps if you are in the mood to watch a comedy. I figure that I was and many of the other reviewers that gave I Spy only tepid ratings were not. How else could they give this movie only three stars.

I Spy was the funniest movie I've seen since Road Trip in 2000,(which also had tepid reviews) and one of the five most hilarious movies I've ever had the pleasure to view in my Forty-seventeen years.

Plot

It seems the latest Air Force fighter, a plane that has a cloaking device, has been stolen by the test pilot and sold to an International Arms dealer, Arnold Gundars,(Malcolm McDowell) who in turn, will most likely sell it, to bidding terrorist organizations for mega bucks. The fictitious Bureau of National Security has assigned the case to second tier, super-agent Alex Scott,(Owen Wilson) who heads a team sent to Budapest, Hungary to find the missing plane

Obnoxious, loudmouth but undefeated middleweight boxing champion, Kelly Robinson,(Eddie Murphy) who happens to have a title defense scheduled in Budapest is also recruited for the mission not as a spy but to provide cover for Scott. Unfortunately Robinson, who at first doesn't get along with Scott and whose ego knows no limits, doesn't get his role and decides he's also a secret agent and then the fun begins.

Just to make things more interesting there are a couple sub-plots with the first string super agent, Carlos,(Gary Cole) who gets all the top of the line gadgets and miniature gizmos while Alex gets stuck with cumbersome hand me downs and Alex's not so secret crush on associate agent, Rachael,(Famke Janssen) which was the basis for one of the funniest scenes in the movie.

Actors

Kelly Robinson, Eddie Murphy
Alex Scott, Owen Wilson
Arnold Gundars, Malcolm McDowell
Rachael, Famke Janssen

Carlos, Gary Cole

Director

Betty Thomas

Conclusion

Whenever I read a negative review of what I consider a good Movie / Book, I wonder what the motivations were. This movie had two or three negative reviews for every positive one. Here are the things I read most in the negative reviews, with my comments; No resemblance to the TV series(who cares? It was funny as hell), a buddy movie like ........(so what?), a weak script(yeah, but it wasn't really an action movie!), Black, Eddie Murphy played Stepin Fetchit to White, Owen Wilson(coulda fooled me, I thought Wilson was Murphy's straight man) and Murphy was flat and continued his stretch of losers(I'd like to know what movie they saw, cause I was rolling in the aisle).

In summation, I thought the actors did an excellent job, the directing was good, the stunts were very good and the humor was excellent! Now, I'm not really a comedy movie person so I haven't viewed every comedic movie ever made to compare this to, but I thought it was a riot and that's what counts!

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i spy was a relly fun movie too see. and owen wilson is better on this movie than shanghai noon and shanghai knights.

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this movie was very very marvelous. and the beggining was funny.

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i spy is a really cool movie. which stars eddie murphy who is a very funny guy. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Good film, great extras
The breezy rehab story of Gwen Cummings(Sandra Bullock) and her 28 days towards the road to recovery isn't a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely enjoyable.The key points to the DVD that may warrant you buying it are Betty Thomas's directors commentary, three character testimonials that were cut from the final film, instructions on how to make a gum wrapper chain like the fiesty heroine,theatrical trailers,and talent files. But the best thing, and possibly worth the price of the rest of the disc, is the hilarious 26 minutes of "lost episodes" of the fictional soap "Santa Cruz" that everyone at the rehab center watches.That alone is almost as funny as the movie, with the actors playing their scenes with intense seriousness amid ridiculous plot situations even more far fetched than the average soap.

Here's Looking at You, Sandra Bullock
Director Betty Thomas has achieved something rare: A modern movie that tackles a serious issue and emerges with it's tastefulness intact. "28 Days" has the plot of a drama, the soul of a comedy, the feel of a documentary and a fabulous performance by Sandra Bullock that gives each genre a place in the delicate mix of this wonderful movie.

Bullock is Gwen Cummings, an alcoholic, pill popping journalist who is sentenced to spend 28 days in a rehab center she drunkenly steals a limo and crashes it into a house. Leaving behind her boozy British boyfriend Jasper (superbly played by Domonic West), Gwen soon finds the support and understanding of her eccentric and often hilarious new neighbors. There's Eddie (Viggo Mortensen), the washed up baseball player who'll sleep with anyone; Oliver (Mike O'Malley), the wisecracking Park Avenue pot addict; Andrea (Azura Skye), a young woman addicted to drugs and a preposterous soap opera called "Santa Cruz," which she eventually turns everyone on to; and Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk), the wacky German. "28 Days," unlike an "Erin Brokovich" where one star dominates, is an ensemble film that allows a variety of talents to shine. And with a cast of this caliber, sometimes that shine rivals the stars themselves in brightness.

Despite many humorous moments, it's the dramatic aspects of "28 Days" that make it great. When Gwen becomes so desperate for her pills that she jumps out the window to get some she threw away earlier, the obsessiveness and despair of dependency are captured at their most vivid. Then there's her troubled relationship with her sister Lily (sensitively portrayed by Elizabeth Perkins), who can't decide whether she wants to give up on the woman who has never been there for her, or stand by her in the hope that she will reform, risking having her heart broken yet again.

It's because Bullock and screenwriter Susannah Grant have made Gwen such a likable character that these situations have real bite. Sine we can't decide whether we love her or hate her, we keep watching the movie on the edge of our seats, searching for something that will proove to us once and for all what Gwen Cummings is. The movie wisely avoids giving us a straight answer to that and many other questions, allowing the viewer instead to make their own decisions and create their own relationaships with the characters and the things they encounter.

"28 Days" is a triumph for all involved. There's nothing better for a cynical critic like me then proof on the screen that films moving stories with engaging characters are still being made. Perhaps the best news of all is the resurrection of Sandra Bullock's career after three flops in a row. If she continues to show such wise judgement in choosing her projects, this poor man's Julia Roberts may be topping the A-list once again.

drunks on parade......
While the film was entertaining, I do not find anything in the least entertaining about the subject matter of drug addiction. In Gwen's book it was booze and Vicodin......a killer combo.....Alcoholics are often seen as hilarious, but in reality most of the time they leave a trail of tragedy not only for those who are closest to them, ie families and their friends, but they create pain in the lives of total strangers.....witness Gwen's destruction of a limo and a residence when she left her sister's wedding reception. I suppose we should be happy she did not end up on the freeway with the limo.
I found the characters in this film just too cute.....From what I have seen on COPS, they don't appear to be that cute in reality, or maybe if you have the 50K, which rehabs centers like Gwen was staying at cost, perhaps you see a different bunch of addicts.

Good movie with some strong performances
I liked this one- am finally adding it to my video collection.
Sandra Bullock is a believable drunk who has a very tough time relating to anyone and everyone. Was nice seeing someone who is not overly likeable in movie like this.
Nice performance by a clean cut and hunky Viggo Mortenson livens this up.
For a double downer line up of sobering drama
see Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia in When a Man Loves a Woman.

Santa Cruz & Gum Wrapper Chains
Sandra Bullock's character goes to rehab. She hates it at first then sees she should be sober. Its a funny movie thats not very preachy and it has good characters. The dvd has cool features like how to make that gum wrapper chain thing, and actual scenes from Santa Cruz. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Letterman Deserved the Tonight Show
This is a terrific video with Kathy Bates absolutely hateful as Leno's manager. The actors portraying Leno and Letterman are good but try too hard to mimic rather than portray each.

The video is great at showing the behind the scenes maneuvering that allowed Leno to steal The Tonight Show from David Letterman. That may be harsh but I don't think there is any other way to describe what happened. The rightful heir to Carson was Letterman. Leno was (and still is) a poor pretender to the throne.

That being said, the intrigue and lies used to move the transfer of the Tonight Show to Leno is great. CBS's decision to enter the late night market and lure Letterman is played out realistically. It's interesting to note that if Letterman got the Tonight Show, CBS was ready to go after Leno.

The video is a good companion to the book. The book provides much more detail and inside information but the video hits the highlights. If interested, you may want to read the book before viewing the video.

Look forward to seeing this on DVD hopefully with some extras.

Waiting for the DVD!
Please please please release "The Late Shift" on DVD!! Its a great movie, but we need the DVD (with perhaps some extras)!

Long live Johnny
Am I the only one waiting for a sequal?

Wonderful behind-the-scenes account!
This is a fascinating movie. It attempts to accurately depict the battle over the coveted position which was opening up after Johnny Carson announced his retirement from the Tonight Show. The actors all give good performances, but the true standout is Kathy Bates. She is absolutely one of the best actresses fo her generation, and gives a brilliant performance as Jay Leno's wild manager Helen Kushnick. She transforms this movie from a really good one to a great one. HBO has done it again with The Late Shift.

The Late Shift
This video is very good. Kathy Bates performance is terrific! The actors portraying Leno and Letterman are very good as well. The video clearly shows the campaign of politicking and dishonesty that Leno and his manager Helen Kushnik used to win the Tonight Show host job. Dave never had a chance. ... Read more