“Love Lies Bleeding”

Brian Geraghty
Jenna Dewan
Christian Slater
Jacob Vargas
Tara Summers
Craig Sheffer
James Madio

R           94min           2007

Money changes everything, at least that’s what Duke and Amber would like to believe – especially after Duke, a hapless Iraq War vet (Brian Geraghty – I Know Who Killed Me), stumbles onto a drug deal turned deadly and finds a duffel bag stuffed with dirty money. After stopping for a quickie wedding, Duke and Amber (Jenna Dewan – Take the Lead) hit the road to start the life they’ve always dreamed about. Thee dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Pollen (Christian Slater – Bobby), a corrupt DEA agent, comes to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. The chase begins with non-stop, hair-raising action as Duke and Amber are forced to outwit the increasingly crazed Pollen – and fight for their very lives.

“Love Lies Bleeding” is an ok film. Jenna Dewan and Brian Geraghty embody that mid-western young couple. The story works except the ending.

Jenna Dewan and Brian Geraghty are the mid-western young couple. They are believable as a couple struggling to make the American dream come true. Finding the money, running off, and trying to make them true you root for them the entire way through. You hope they beat the odds and make it out alive.

It is true because of their performances, that is counterpoint to Christian Slater’s. They are the all-American young couple struggling and Slater’s the corrupt DEA agent that just can let go until he kills everyone involved. A good performance by Slater that is overshadowed by another film that also came out this same week “He was a Quiet Man”. If you are a fan of Christian Slater, it is a good companion film to this one.

This DVD is lean on special feature but full of movie previews. The only special feature is deleted scenes and an alternate ending, which I prefer to the one in the film. The movie preview is “Zombie Stripper”, “Dragon Wars: D-War”, “Boogeyman 2”, “The Nines”, “Gabriel”, “Black Water”, “Revolver”, “Already Dead”, “September Dawn”, “Southland Tales”, “I Know Who Killed Me”, “Donnie Brasco: Extended Cut”, “Taxi Driver: Limited Edition”, and “Slipstream”.

I give it 3/5.

“Mr. Woodcock”

Billy Bob Thornton
Seann William Scott
Susan Sarandon
Amy Poehler
Ethan Suplee
Melissa Sagemiller
Kurt Fuller
Melissa Leo
Bill Macy
Brent Briscoe
M.C. Gainey

PG13           80min           2007

As a chubby 7th grader, John Farley (Seann William Scott) and his friends were helpless against the most evil man on the planet – their P.E. teacher, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton).

Flash forward year’s later – John, now successful, thin and able to do a pull-up, returns to his hometown only to discover that Woodcock is still in his life… and dating his mom (Susan Sarandon)! John vows to do whatever it takes to stop their relationship, but Woodcock has plans of his own – and they don’t include losing. – from the back cover.

“Mr. Woodcock” is nowhere as funny as it thought itself to be. Actually, it is more ridiculous and pathetic than anything. Scott’s niche market is running a little thin. This was a waste of talent on the screen.

This is a story about an only child who can let go of his single mother. After leaving her to become successful he can get over the fact that his mother has found love after decades of being alone, with the man that tormented and motivated him to become the man he became. Everyone has a ‘Mr. Woodcock’ but that does mean we can not let bygone be bygone. It’s this simple fact at the heart of this film;Where the filmmakers are trying to make this funny instead of telling the story and finding the humor along the way.

This film becomes absurd and over the top very quickly. These two men do acts that even a child would reframe from doing. It makes this film so not funny. It does make you question why these actors even agreed to do “Mr. Woodcock”.

This is a DVD a little light on special features. There are the standard deleted and alternate scenes. There is making of featurette and a theatrical trailer. There is also a featurette on P.E. Trauma Tales. The movie previews are for: “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show”, “Be Kind Rewind”, “Harold and Kumar 2”, “Rush Hour 3”, “Full of It”, “Gracie”, “King Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters”.

I give it 2/5.

“Good Luck Chuck”

Dane Cook
Jessica Alba
Dan Fogler
Ellia English
Sasha Pieterse
Lonny Ross
Chelan Simmons
Annie Wood
Michelle Harrison

Unrated           101min           2007

Dane Cook stars in this hilarious comedy about the luckiest guy on earth. Meet Charlie Logan (Cook), he’s a good luck charm and women are guaranteed to find true love after they sleep with him. But what seems like a blessing feels like a curse when he meets Cam (Jessica Alba), the girl of his dream. Chuck will do anything – and anyone – to break the curse and get the girl in this raunchy, outrageous story.

“Good Luck Chuck” is a funny movie. Jessica Alba and Dane Cook an good comedic pair. It has all the crass humor you expect to find in this type of film. This is a film where Dan Folger finds his niche.

Alba and Cook are a good comedic part. She is funnier that one would expect from her. Cook shows that he can handle leading a successful film. They do not mind making funny of themselves which works for the film.

The humor is crass and expectant to the film of this subject matter. This is the niche film tailored for Dan Folger. He shines in “Good Luck Chuck” becoming reminiscent of Sam Kinnison. He plays Harding to Cook’s Laurel. Folger gives a better performance that his last outing “Balls of Fury”.

There is an audio commentary with Dane Cook, the director Mark Helfrich, producer Mark Karz, and writer, Josh Stolberg. There are four featurettes called, Polymastia, Kama Sutra, Frank the Penguin, and All About the Penguins. A “Sex Matrix” highlighting all the different positions featured in the film. There are the standard gag reel, deleted and alternative scenes, and ad libs. The movie previews are for “Employee of the Month”, “Waiting…”, “Danny Reane: First Time Director”, “Delta Farce”, and “Fido”.

I give it 3/5.