Devo ammettere che non ho visto il film, Il Fuggitivo, con Harrison Ford fino a ieri sera. Dopo vederlo, devo ammettere ero stupido per non lo vedendo fino ad ora. Ero preoccupato che il film non sarebbe vissuto fino alla sua hype, ma ora so che ero sbagliato. Il film è una corsa di eccitazione e di terrore. Harrison ford gioca Dott. Richard Kimbell, ha condannato a morte per l’omicidio della sua moglie… ma questo è Harrison Ford! Quindi, lui è probabilmente innocente.

Guardi il film per scoprire che lui fa per fuggire il suo sentenza di morte (e scusi il mio italiano povero)!

Welcome to the very first edition of Gary’s Every-Once-in-a-While-ey Movies That are Better Than Their Crappy Covers Make Them Look Column or Whatever the Blog Equivalent to a Column is Thing. This is going to be a feature where I review movies that are better than their crappy covers make them look, which I will do every once in a while in the format of a column or whatever the blog equivalent to a column is.

The first flick I will review is available in our New DVDs section, and frankly, I can’t understand why it hasn’t been snatched already. Actually, I guess it’s because the cover is crappy.

I mean, look at that piece of crap. Truly awful. But what is, is that… is who is… is that a beautiful… who’s that stud front and center? What? Paul Rudd, you say? Paul Rudd? Automatic qualification for watching a movie (unless it’s Over Her Dead Body, which I refuse to ever see).

However, much like Over Her Dead Body, this film covers the always-intriguing topic of death. Paul Rudd plays Paul Miller (big stretch, Rudd), an actor (once again, Rudd) who has struggled in Hollywood for years (resorting to making crappy movies like Over Her Dead Body, perhaps?) and is tired of living. Therefore, he decides to kill himself, but not without documenting his last 2 days of existence.  So he hires some friends to film him as he goes about saying goodbye to his loved ones, who, understandably, think he’s a bit crazy.

So does Paul give in? Does he die? Does the camera crew stop filming? Does he meet a strapping young woman and fall in love? Does he shoot himself in the mouth to destroy his alter-ego who has been setting up chaos organizations throughout the country? Watch this movie and you’ll soon see!

In all honesty, this movie, despite it’s crappy cover, works because of Rudd’s charisma and ability to hold an audience’s interest throughout. I would even argue that Rudd does some of his best work in a few parts, with a certain monologue scene in particular that might force you to develop a man-crush (which you should already have if you’ve ever seen Wet Hot American Summer). So yeah, buy this movie. It’s well worth the watch and we have a shiny new copy all ready to go for you!

“Mother Nature just pissed her pantsuit!” – Danny McBride in Tropic Thunder

Okay, so maybe it’s not exactly the perfect transition into my mother’s day weekend post I was hoping for, but what better actor to ring in the holiday with than Danny McBride? After Dazzling audiences with his stunning performance of Rico in Hot Rod, McBride stepped away from his independent roots (All the Real Girls; The Foot Fist Way) into more serious roles, working with such Hollywood royalty such as George Clooney and Julie Andrews. Now at the top of his game, you can expect to see McBride in future classics Despicable Me, Your Highness, and more. Looking to fill in the gaps in your McBridefest 2010? Well, grab your mother and get on down to Moviecycle to find one of these fine cinematic McBride rides! And hey, if it’s sold out, ask us about special ordering or getting on the reserve list!

1. Hot Rod. Truly a cinematic masterpiece. By far the best comedy of 2007. McBride shines in this break-out role of Rico, the mechanic to stunt-superstar-wannabe Rod (Andy Samberg). Will Rico help Rod achieve his dreams? “I’m freakin pumped! I’ve been drinking green tea all goddamn day!”, Rico shouts excitedly.

2. Pineapple Express. Another stunning performance, this time with McBride tackling the diverse role of Red. Will Red be a saving grace to on-the-run innocents Dale and Saul (Seth Rogen and James Franco)? Or is Red pumping some dangerous iron up his sleeves (not a drug reference)? “I’m like the nerd at the sleepover who fell asleep at nine,” Red blushes.

3. Tropic Thunder. Cast along comedy heavyweights Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and even Robert DJ, McBride shames his A-list counterparts with his portrayal of Cody, the special effects specialist for the fictional film the characters are shooting on location in Vietnam. “Damian, what’s the dealie dude? Are we gonna blow up this tree line or what?”, Cody inquires.

4. The Foot Fist Way. Back from McBride’s independent days, The Foot Fist Way is both a gripping and harrowing look into the industry of childrens’ karate instruction. McBride is explosive in his role as Fred Simmons, whose goal is to be the best karate teacher this side of America. “Dentistry? I can’t even believe that’s something that’s real,” Simmons defends.

5. Eastbound & Down. McBride collaborates again with frequent collaborator Jody Hill (The Foot Fist Way, Observe and Report) in this gripping look into fictional baseball star (and ex-Seattle Mariner) Kenny Powers, whose efforts to raise his career from the dead are both fascinating and lovely. Airing on HBO, the show’s first season can be found on DVD for the rest of us. “I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren’t as good. That used to be called patriotism,” Kenny swoons.