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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 11 August 2003

Back in 1999, I marked American Pie with a B.  Two years later, I graded American Pie 2 a B+.  Now, I’m awarding an A- to the final instalment of the beloved series, American Pie: The Wedding.  This isn’t to say the films have gotten progressively better.  What I do say is that over time, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for these characters and writer Adam Herz’s distinctive comedy.

The title speaks for itself – this story revolves around a wedding.  Well actually, the film revolves around Stifler.  Since the original film (his screen debut), Sean William Scott has become an icon for his generation and his role in this last film is bigger than any other cast member.  I couldn’t quite understand why he was so despised by his “friends” at the start of American Pie: The Wedding (he was left off the wedding invitation list) but you know that it’ll all work out in the end.

Jason Biggs is another actor who deserves praise for his work both on and off the screen.  The label - “the guy who fucked the pie” - could easily have left a stigma that would impede his career.  Many casting agents saw him as a one-hit wonder.  Those doubters will soon be silenced with acclaimed directors Woody Allen and Kevin Smith (Clerks) selecting him to appear in their upcoming releases.  If anyone has seen Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (in which he plays himself) or seen a TV interview, you’ll know he doesn’t care what people think about his entrance into Hollywood and is the first person to laugh at himself.

Not everyone returned for the third film.  Chris Klein (as Oz), Tara Reid (as Vicky), Mena Suvari (as Heather), Natasha Lyone (as Jessica) and Shannon Elizabeth (as Nadia) are not seen here.  All were rumoured to have been asked but turned down the opportunity.  In all honesty, the film loses very little from their lack of appearance.  It’s also the third different director of the series but the key, in my opinion, is keeping original writer Adam Herz who knows the heart of the story better than anyone.

With Jim (Biggs) and Michelle (Hannigan) getting ready to tie the knot, the fun begins.  All Stifler (Thomas) can think about is a bachelor party and hot bridesmaids.  Paul (Thomas) and Kevin (Nicholas) stand by Jim and help plan proceedings as the joint “best man”.  The parents from both sides of the wedding party find themselves part of crazy misadventures to keep the event running smoothly.

No other film this year has generated such a physical response from the audience.  People were roaring with laughing, cringing with horror and generally wriggling all over the place at some of the jokes.  These jokes are never overplayed – it may be toilet humour but director Jesse Dylan as the impeccable sense of timing and knows exactly when to move on to the next scene.

For sure, this will be the last in the American Pie series.  It’s been a fun ride and these films will have a permanent place in DVD collections across the world.  As I’ve said before – they have both humour and heart.  When you think about it, few films have this valuable combination.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 27 July 2003

Chuck Barris has lived an interesting life.  He wrote a song called “Palisades Park” which climbed as high as third on the American charts.  He wrote three novels including “You and Me, Babe” which peaked in the top 10 on the New York Times best-seller list.  He created several televisions shows including “The Dating Game” (which was known as Perfect Match in Australia) and “The Gong Show”.  He was an award winning photographer.  On top of all of this, Barris also killed 33 people.

Such an unlikely tale is perfect big screen material and a powerful combination has taken on that responsibility.  In his directorial debut, George Clooney shows he has learned a great deal about what goes on behind the scenes whilst working in front of it.  His suave cinematography and obvious mixture of brightness and darkness are the perfect metaphors for the story.

Clooney is fortunate to have talented writer Charlie Kaufman adapt the screenplay from Barris’s autobiographical novel.  Kaufman is currently the most talented writer in film circles with two of his recent screenplays, Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, receiving world-wide acclaim and Academy Award nominations.  The screenplay does drag towards the end and is not as inventive as his previous works but it’s still enjoyable.

The underestimated Sam Rockwell was a surprising choice for the lead role when you consider that bigger Hollywood stars - Clooney, Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts – have the supporting roles.  Rockwell is a talented actor whom I first saw in 1997’s brilliant Lawn Dogs.  Subsequent parts have come in films such as The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest but this is his highest-profile role to date.  More will be coming soon I’m sure.

The film follows his life through the 1960s and 1970s.  Searching for success, he formed his own television production company and made a host of game shows that appealed to American audiences because of their “improvisational responses and reactions”.  On one such show, The Dating Game, a holiday was offered as the prize for the winning couple.  Barris would sometimes even accompany the couple as a chaperone.

His reasons for doing so were kept hidden from everyone - including his long-time girlfriend (Barrymore).  Barris had been contracted by a secret government agency to kill targets who posed a threat to security and stability in the United States.  Fitting “the profile”, he was selected and his regular job provided the perfect cover.  Many criticised Barris in the press because his tv’s shows were trashy and demeaning.  I can’t even imagine what their thoughts would have been if they known the other side to his life!

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 August 2003

Paris (Peet) is looking to escape the lights of Vegas and as the sun sets, she drives along the same highway in her convertible.  Fumbling in the backseat for something from her luggage, a few items of clothing spill onto the road.

Fresh from walking off the set of her last movie, B-grade actress Caroline Suzanne (Rebecca De Mornay) is on the road with her driver Ed (Cusack).  When her mobile phone battery goes dead, she demands Ed grab a fresh battery from her handbag.  He takes his eyes off the slippery road for just a split and strikes a woman at high speed.  Things are coming together…

Still in shock and full of remorse, Ed can find no immediate way to help the badly injured Alice.  No mobile phones are working so they all drive in search of help.  They find a run-down motel run by Larry (Hawkes) but the phone lines there are down also.

Leaving George at the motel to care for Alice, Ed gets directions to the nearest hospital and sets off to find medical assistance.  On the way, he comes across Paris, whose car has crashed into, and knocked down, a telephone pole.  After rescuing her from the driving rain, Paris tells Ed the road has flooded up ahead and there’s no way through.  Ed continues on regardless and his car becomes bogged.

Picking them up are a young married couple, Lou (William Lee Scott) and Ginny (DuVall), who inform them that the road behind has also been washed over by the flash storm.  The only option is to retreat back to the hotel and wait out the night.

As the guests check into their room, a police officer (Liotta) pulls up with a man in chains (Busey).  He’s transferring the inmate between prisons but has also been left stranded.  He handcuffs the prisoner to some steel pipes in his motel bedroom before offering assistance to the injured Alice.

There’s no coincidence in these characters coming together.  One by one they are slain (most in brutal fashion) and fingers are being pointed.  Suspicions fill each of their minds but the disturbing atmosphere has clouded their thoughts and judgements.  Who is this killer and why is this happening?

The answer to these questions are surprisingly complex.  You wouldn’t think so judging from the standard trailer but there’s more to this film than you’d expect.  An hour after leaving the cinema, I’m none the wiser as to whether the pieces do fit together but thanks to the power of the internet I can soon check the thoughts of other equally confused viewers.

There’s a funny anecdote doing the rounds at the moment that in almost every movie in which he appears, John Cusack is rained upon.  The rain machines were in full force here as it buckets down non-stop for the entire movie – it provides a good setting.  Cusack is the star performer of the large cast but credit also to Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards) in a role that continues her rise through Hollywood.

The conclusion is rushed but I’m willing to forgive writer Michael Cooney because there are so many positive aspects to his screenplay.  There are sudden twists (as you’d expect) but in a pleasant change, they are supported by a plausible story (as you wouldn’t expect).  How easy it can be to mistake one’s true “identity”.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 25 July 2003

Having seen Mick Molloy’s sly wit on display in Crackerjack, one of last year’s best comedies, I knew I’d be in for a treat with Bad Eggs.  Molloy has bulked up for his role as Ben Kinnear, a high-ranking detective in Melbourne’s new special police force known as the Zero Tolerance Unit (ZTU).  The ZTU was established nine years ago as an initiative of the Victorian premier, Lionel Cray (Micallef).

Beginning his career as a background extra on Australia’s Most Wanted is Ben’s partner, Bob Franklin (Paddock).  They’ve been trying to solve a high-profile case for almost a year but their  reputations are ruined in three hilariously coincidental incidents.  After innocently pumping 12 bullets through an already dead magistrate in a crowded shopping centre, accidentally setting fire to the house of his widow, and inadvertently dropping his casket down a flight of stairs at the funeral, they’re relegated to “night desk” duty.

Not helping them is media journalist Julie Bale (Lucy) who is splashing the woeful tales of Ben and Mike all over the front page of the leading newspaper.  Julie has a vendetta against Ben – for years they worked together at the ZTU but Ben left Julie out to dry after a blunder and she was booted off the force.  Her media blitz of Ben’s own follies is giving her the satisfaction of revenge.

When their boss is shot dead in his ZTU office, Ben and Mike suspect that corruption is rife within the force.  Finding an unlikely ally in Julie, the three begin a private investigation to expose those responsible but it soon appears that everyone is involved and no one can be trusted.  Thus begins an elaborate plan to clear their own names and discredit those that deserve it.

This story isn’t meant to be serious.  It’s a crafty tale filled with many subtle one-liners.  If you’re familiar with Molloy’s brand of humour, you’ll know what to expect.  The director and writer of the film is Molloy’s long time friend and workmate Tony Martin (who makes an uproarious cameo as an Eddie McGuire-like character).  As a team, they’ve produced a film which spoofs traditional crime thrillers without become overly silly.  It is a unique style of comedy.

Judith Lucy uttered an all-time classic line in Crackerjack when she said to John Clarke, with gleaming contempt, “your fucked”.  Her background in comedy has her ideally suited to these roles and she once again gave me the biggest laugh in Bad Eggs with a sarcastic wave in one of the final scenes.  Other cast members you’ll enjoy are Bill Hunter (in his 100^th Australian film in the last two years) and Shaun Micallef, who sets the platform for some great Victorian political jokes.

Crackerjack was the highest grossing Australian film in 2002 and I’m tipping Bad Eggs to receive that same honour in 2003.  Molloy’s movies are creative and it’s a quality that Australian audiences are evidently searching for.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 August 2003

View From The Top is the first film I can recall based on the life of a flight attendant.  Donna Jensen (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) is looking for direction in life and reads a book on the industry written by high-flier Sally Weston (Bergen).  It provides inspiration but the only job she can find is for a cheap airline which serves a very low class of clientle.  Despite the lack of glamour, she grows to love her work and makes two best friends.  She also meets Tim (Ruffalo), a man looking for his own direction, and the two become increasingly close.

Looking for a step up, Donna heads to a job convention and gets a chance to train for the more lucrative Royalty Express.  This scenario provides the entrance for Mike Myers who provides all of the film’s humour as John Whitney, the head instructor.  There’s even a few more snippets of Myers’ wit during the closing credits so don’t sneak off early.

Once the premise has been set up, it’s all largely predictable from there.  Donna succeeds in her quest at Royalty Express but has to sacrifice her relationship with Tim.  Will she learn that love is more important than work?  Need I answer?

Adding spice to the film is Candice Bergen in a role that befits her.  It’s certainly better than recent parts in Sweet Home Alabama and Miss Congeniality.  Sally Weston is an interesting character who helps Donna throughout and I enjoyed that fact her successes haven’t inflated her ego.  Mark Ruffalo (You Can Count On Me) is an actor I’m expecting big things from and he gives delivers another fine performance in a role that wouldn’t otherwise offer much.

I’m not sure what writer Eric Wald was aiming for with the screenplay.  There aren’t enough jokes for it to be a comedy and yet it’s too fluffy to be classed as a drama.  Flight attendants must have so many stories to tell about annoying passengers and strange incidents.  This angle needed to be explored further to give us more humour and a sense of purpose.  Plenty of flight attendants will be off to see View From The Top and they may be even more disappointed than the general public.