Movie Review: A Summer "Comedy" to Skip

Grown Ups

Last summer at this time, we were treated to one of the smartest comedies to come along in a while -- The Hangover. This summer, we have the complete polar opposite. Despite a cast full of some funny people, Grown Ups is a dumb movie -- and not very funny.

Five best friends (Kevin James and Saturday Night Live alumni Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider) from junior high reunite years later in the wake of the death of their old basketball coach and decide to spend the July 4th weekend together with their families at the lake house where they celebrated their championship. Rounding out the cast are their wives -- including another SNL alum, Maya Rudolph (Away We Go), Maria Bello and Salma Hayak -- and some former basketball competitors -- yep, more SNL alum in the form of Colin Quinn and Tim Meadows.

Co-written by Sandler, the film is directed by one of his frequent collaborators, Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, The Benchwarmers, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry). Sadly, this film is one of the weakest of the bunch. It's being marketed as a family comedy -- but it's rarely funny and not appropriate for kids. The only good thing I can say about this movie is that it tries to relay a couple of good messages: 1) kids should put aside their cell phones and game system remotes and head outside for fun and 2) grown ups should put aside the work stress and concentrate on each other more. There you have it, I just saved you $10. [Rated PG-13; opens tomorrow]


Grade: C


Note:

• Click on the Film Reviews icon at left to read other recent reviews -- including one for the highly-recommended Toy Story 3.
  

MusicMonday: Free Summer Downloads

Happy Summer!

Here are this week's free downloads:

• The Vans Warped Tour, one of the hottest summer festivals, kicks off this week! Click on the image at right to download ten free tracks from participating bands! Offer expires August 31.
  
• Sign up for the mailing list of G. Love and Special Sauce here -- and download all "Track of the Week" mp3s for free.
  
• Mashable offers up ten free tracks each Monday! Here are all the recent offerings.

And don't forget to continually check the following sources for more free downloads -- new songs covering all genres are added frequently. Just click on the links below and enjoy some new tunes.

• AbsolutePunk
• Amazon singles
  
• Amazon albums
• The BoomBox
  
• Fuse.tv
• KickKickSnare
  
• MTV
  
• Spinner
• Stereogum
• VolumeVote
  
• Walmart

"Spring Into Summer" Contest Winner Revealed!

Congrats go out to Michelle H. of Cleveland, Ohio! Michelle had the winning tweet entry in the EntertainmentBlogger "Spring Into Summer" contest -- and will receive a $25 iTunes gift card. Click here for more details on this past contest.

Thanks to the hundreds who entered. Remember to follow EntertainmentBlogger on Twitter (@Entertainment2u) and check back here for more contests. In fact, a little birdie tells me a NEW contest is being announced later today!

Top 10 at the Weekend Box Office

Notes:

• Click on the chart to enlarge.
• With a chart-topping $109 million, Toy Story 3 became the third animated film to top $100 million in its first weekend, joining Shrek the Third at $121.6 million in 2007 and Shrek 2 at $108 million in 2004.
  
• It was by far the best debut for a film from Disney Pixar Animation, topping The Incredibles at $70.5 million in 2004. Toy Story 3 also maintains the perfect track record of Pixar, whose 11 films all have opened at #1, starting with the original Toy Story in 1995.
• Reviews of Toy Story 3 and other movies not in the top ten (including Sex and the City 2) can be found by clicking on the Film Reviews archive icon at left.
• All figures are industry estimates. Final weekend figures are released on Monday.
• Sources: Nielsen EDI, ew.com, AP
  

Movie Review: Another Gem from Disney/Pixar

Toy Story 3

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 11 years since Toy Story 2 was released. Since then, Disney and Pixar Animation have cranked out seven other hugely-successful films in the genre -- including my personal favorite movie of last year, Up. And to think this genius partnership all began with the original Toy Story back in 1995. So after all this time, was yet another sequel to the ground-breaking film worth the wait? You bet!

The film opens with Andy all grown-up and headed to college. His favorite toys have long sat unused, while his mother (Laurie Metcalf) is pressuring him to either trash, donate or store his belongings in the attic. Without giving much away, most of the toys -- including Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) -- end up at what appears to be a picture-perfect day care center. At first, the toys are thrilled to have the chance to be played again -- but things sure take a turn for the worse when they realize that the center's toys are ruled by the grossly misnamed Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (Ned Beatty). Now it's up to Woody (Tom Hanks) to rescue his friends.

Besides being a fulfilling adventure story, Toy Story 3 succeeds as a great sequel because it finds the perfect mix of returning favorites and interesting newcomers. Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Barbie (Jodi Benson) and the Aliens (Jeff Pidgeon) are among the returning toys. In addition to the evil Lots-O'-Huggin, newbies include Ken (in a hilarious turn by Michael Keaton) and Stretch (Whoopi Goldberg). But it's Disney/Pixar's decision to stick with John Morris as the voice of Andy that resonates the most with me (yes, the same actor voiced the role as a kid in the first two films). Watching Andy deal with his transition to adulthood is very bittersweet -- so don't be surprised if you're moved to tears. But rest-assured, you'll be completely emotionally satisfied with the results.

So here we are half-way through the calendar year and we finally have a movie that I highly recommend you see -- no matter what your age is. It's directed with great skill by Lee Unkrich (who also helmed the last in the series) and sharply written by Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine). And Randy Newman returns with another winning score. [Rated G; opens tomorrow]


Grade: A


Notes:

• The film will be shown in regular format, 3D and 3D IMAX. My screening was in 3D -- but honestly, don't stress out about seeing it only in 2D. It's a winner in any format.
• Click here for PopEater's article and video interview with John Morris (Andy).
  
• Sadly, not all the voice actors from the previous films lived to participate this time around. Jim Varney (Slinky Dog) and Joe Ranft (Lenny and Wheezy) both passed away since the second film was released.
• On a more cheerful note -- here's hoping your screening also includes the short film Day & Night. It focuses on what happens when an animated personification of daytime (Day) meets his polar opposite, nighttime (Night). Simple -- and yet so perfect both visually and in its message.
• And don't forget to stick around for the feature's closing credits -- there are plenty of laughs to leave you smiling as you exit the theater.
  

Twitter Contest: Spring Into Summer iTunes Gift Card Giveaway!

Aaaaaah. The weather is warming up -- and summer is right around the corner. I, for one, cannot wait to laze around the park -- or on the beach -- soaking up the sun while listening to my iPod full of new music. Which gives me the perfect Twitter contest idea to wrap up spring and welcome summer -- a free music giveaway!

Each remaining day of spring is an entry day for the EntertainmentBlogger iTunes Gift Card Giveaway! And on the first day of summer -- June 21 -- one lucky winner will walk away with a $25 iTunes gift card!


Sorry, this contest has ended. Check back for more contests coming soon!


Keep in mind, you must remain a follower through the duration of the contest to be eligible to win! Good luck!

Notes:

• Only one tweet entry per Twitter account per contest day.
• Entries are only valid if you are following @Entertainment2u on Twitter from point of entry through duration of contest.
  
• Contest ends on Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM ET.
  
• One winner will be randomly chosen from all qualified entries. He or she will be sent a direct message via Twitter -- and have 48 hours to respond with mailing address.
• Read full detailed rules here or by clicking on the image above.
• Please note that you do NOT need to comment below about your tweet entries. All tweets are tracked on Twitter -- and each tweet has an equal chance of being the random winner!
• Original contest post date: Monday, May 17, 2010.
  
• Click here to return to the EntertainmentBlogger home page.

Top 10 at the Weekend Box Office

Notes:

• Click on the chart to enlarge.
• Sony's remake of The Karate Kid kicked some life into a previously listless domestic box office with a surprisingly powerful opening weekend estimated at $56 million -- earning the coveted #1 spot.
• Meanwhile, the other 1980s remake -- Fox's big screen adaptation of TV's The A-Team -- debuted in second place with $26 million.
• After three weekends at the top spot, DreamWorks Animation's Shrek Forever After slipped to #3 with $15.8 million. The animated hit raised its domestic haul to $210.1 million, becoming the fourth movie released this year to top $200 million.
• According to box office tracker Hollywood.com, overall revenues came in at $153 million, up 11 percent from the same weekend last year -- thanks in large part to The Karate Kid coming in at double the expectations.
• With his first lead role in The Karate Kid, 11-year-old Jaden Smith had an opening weekend that stacked up well against the track record of his superstar father, Will Smith, who has had only two bigger debuts (I Am Legend at $77.2 million and Hancock at $62.6 million).
• Reviews of Sex and the City 2 and other movies not in the top ten can be found by clicking on the Film Reviews archive icon at left.
• All figures are industry estimates. Final weekend figures are released on Monday.
• Sources: Nielsen EDI, ew.com, The Hollywood Reporter, AP, Hollywood.com
  

MusicMonday: Free Downloads Galore

Free Downloads

Here are this week's free offerings:

• Join Outback's rewards program, and not only will you receive a free appetizer at the restaurant -- but you'll also be immediately given 250 reward points -- enough to download a live version of Tim McGraw's "Real Good Man." Click here for details.
• Select one of 18 tracks from Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown album free of charge. Click here or the image at right for details and entry code.
• Compliments of Amazon, click here for a free download of Sarah McLachlan's "Forgiveness."
  
• Download 10 free songs -- including one from Macy Gray -- in the Frappuccino^® Beverage Music Mix here.
• Bonnaroo, the annual celebration of music in the Tennessee countryside, starts in a few days! Compliments of Ben & Jerry's and SPIN, Campfire Jams features tracks from Bonnaroo performers like Kings of Leon, the National, Phoenix, the Gaslight Anthem, Mumford & Sons, Tinariwen and many more. Download your free copy of the 10-track album here.

And don't forget to continually check the following sources for more free downloads -- new songs covering all genres are added frequently. Just click on the links below and enjoy some new tunes.

• AbsolutePunk
• Amazon singles
  
• Amazon albums
• The BoomBox
  
• Fuse.tv
• KickKickSnare
  
• MTV
  
• Spinner
• Stereogum
• VolumeVote
  
• Walmart

Contest Reminder

EntertainmentBlogger's "Spring Into Summer iTunes Gift Card Giveaway" contest is underway! You can enter once a day through the remainder of spring -- which officially ends June 20. Click here for more details on how to enter to win a $25 iTunes gift card to help load up your iPod for summer!

Top 10 at the Weekend Box Office

Notes:

• Click on the chart to enlarge.
• DreamWorks Animation's Shrek Forever After held onto the #1 spot for the third straight week -- earning an estimated $25.3 million during the weekend. The animated sequel now has reached $183 million gross to date.
• None of the four big new openers could topple the ogre -- Universal's Get Him to the Greek, an R-rated comedy about a drug-addled rocker, came the closest with 17.4 million --good for second place. Lionsgate's action comedy Killers, starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, registered $16.1 million for third place. Fox's live-action family comedy Marmaduke bowed limply with $11.3 million in sixth, while Warner Bros.-distributed sci-fi thriller Splice pieced together just $7.5 million to open in eighth.
• Meanwhile, last week's big openers slid further down. Disney's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time fell 54% in its second weekend to $13.9 million -- good for fourth place and a $59.5 cume. One rung lower, Warners' Sex and the City 2 fell 59% with $12.7 million and a cume of $73.4 million.
• The weekend top 10 rung up $120 million, or 24% less than top performers in a comparable frame last year, with industry experts at a loss to explain yet another weak session in a soft start to the summer box office.
  
• Reviews of Sex and the City 2 and other movies not in the top ten can be found by clicking on the Film Reviews archive icon at left.
• All figures are industry estimates. Final weekend figures are released on Monday.
• Sources: Nielsen EDI, ew.com, The Hollywood Reporter