We Can Thank Brad Pitt For Pineapple Express

Over the last few years writer/director/producer Judd Apatow has had the Midas Touch in the film industry, responsible for hits including Superbad, 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

His latest film, Pineapple Express, starring Seth Rogan and James Franco, hits theaters on Wednesday August 6th, is a surefire stoner classic.

Apatow and crew have been banging out successful movies at a rate of two per year. So how did he come up with the idea for Pineapple Express?

“I was watching “True Romance” back in the late 90’s on laserdisk, and I thought, Brad Pitt is so funny as this pothead character but there’s only one scene. I kind of wish there was a whole movie about that guy. And then I started thinking they never have stoner movies with great Jerry Bruckheimer level action–wouldn’t it be funny if you were chasing guys who were so high that it makes it hard for them to get away? So we spent a few months, had a meeting every once in a while, kickin’ around that like and then before you knew it, we have “Pineapple Express.”

Check out the rest of Metromix interview with Judd Apatow

Being Anti-Apatow is Bad for Movie Biz

Walk Hard

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story has stalled at $14.2 million in the box office. While the movie wasn’t the pitch-perfect mock biopic I had hoped for, it was still highly enjoyable - and much better than most of its competition the past two weekends. So why the poor box office gross?

Can somebody explain to me why the dreadful P.S. I Love You (yes, I watched it…against my will) and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep are both on pace to surpass Walk Hard in the following weeks? Is there an anti-Apatow campaign brewing?

Apatow isn’t the greatest working director/producer in movies by any stretch of the imagination, but there are plenty of studio hacks that deserve a legion of haters before him. If he is to be the standard of which comedy should be measured (standard, as in passing grade), we could do much worse.

And we do have much worse. Read More »

The First 12 Minutes of “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”

In theaters today!

Part 1 - 10 minute trailer

Part 2

“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” Trailer

Look, I understand why people are sick of hearing Judd Apatow’s name every second. Nonetheless, check the record: Knocked Up was almost perfect (too long, and the DVD extended it!), Superbad was a riot for the most part and Walk Hard will at least be a great watch with funny cameos. That’s hardly a reason to bitch. Place your statements about overrated director/producers elsewhere.

Give these guys credit. What other comedy stable lets every player star in a lead role?

Jason Segel is next up to bat with Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which deals with Apatow’s favorite subject: well-meaning emotional dudes that still f*** up once a while (or all the time).

Segel plays your average funny schmuck that gets dumped by his celeb girlfriend. He takes a vacation to Hawaii to “get away,” and ends up finding his ex cuddling up with her new boyfriend, a “rock star” along the lines of Dave Navarro mixed with the Pick-Up Artist for comedic measure.

It could be worse: Dane Cook could be writing his latest atrocity as we speak. Be thankful.

Dewey Cox Says, “Let’s Duet”


Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story hits theaters on December 21.

Cox Across America

Dewey Cox liveTo promote his upcoming film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, actor John C. Reilly will hit the road on a seven-date mini rock tour as his character, Dewey Cox.

Dewey Cox (Reilly) and his backing band, the Hard Walkers, will be playing such unknown hits as….well, there’s no way to tell exactly which songs Cox and Co. will play, but one can assume that select picks from the official soundtrack are expected. Cross your fingers for a scintillating rendition of “Let Me Hold You (Little Man).”

Bonus: every concert will show Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story before the jamming starts. What a night of festivities!

If you plan on purchasing tickets to this extraordinary event, they are being sold to members of the Dewey Cox Fan Club (yeah, I didn’t know it existed either) and given away through radio station promotions.

The tour kicks off at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland (obviously) before walking hard towards such cities as New York, L.A., San Francisco, Austin and Nashville.

If you’ve ever doubted the skills of C. Reilly, you’ll be hard pressed to criticize his gusto to rock as hard as he walks. Walk on, brother.

New “Walk Hard: The Story of Dewey Cox” Trailer

Walk, don’t run to theaters when Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is released on December 21.

Click here to watch a Walk Hard exclusive music video!

Video Trifecta: Wet Hot American Summer

Wet Hot American Summer

If you’re one of the enlightened ones who have seen the comedic genius that is Wet Hot American Summer, know that I’ve lined up some of the movie’s funniest clips for your viewing pleasure.

I remember watching Paul Rudd in this cult-flick, thinking “Man, this guy should be in more movies - dude is f***ing hilarious.” Well, thanks to Judd Apatow, Rudd is everywhere these days. And who knew Christopher Meloni was so funny?

If you’ve never seen Wet Hot American Summer, know that I’ve lined up some of the funniest clips from one of the funniest movies ever. That’s all you need to know.

Check out the best clips after the jump. Read More »

CO-ED Movie Trailer: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Walk Hard Dewey Cox

Walk Hard is upcoming Judd Apatow comedy film expected to be released in December of 2007. The movie will star John C. Reilly as famous musician Dewey Cox and Jenna Fischer as his wife Darlene. The movie will be a parody of musician biopics like Ray and Walk the Line.

Cera of “Superbad” to be a “Youth in Revolt”

Michael Cera - SuperbadFirst off, if you haven’t seen Superbad yet, do so now. Call in sick from work, skip your Mom’s birthday, break up with your girlfriend - just f*** it all and go. It’s the best comedy of the summer by a country mile, excepting its cinematic big-brother Knocked Up.

Moving on.

Superbad’s super-talented Michael Cera has stepped up to play the role of Nick Twisp in Youth in Revolt, a movie based on the comic-novel by C.D Payne.

Cera, who honed his brilliantly-awkward chops on The Greatest Comedy in Television History is a dead-ringer for Twisp, an intelligent, sex-obsessed 14-year old willing to go great lengths to get inside the panties of his young love (hump) interest, the wanton Sheeni Saunders. Basically, he’s your average teenager - living in the trashy desert-suburbia of NoCal.
Read More »