"No one wins a giant-ass panda"

Movie Review: "Adventureland"
(Lawrentian, published Apr. 24)


"Adventureland" is akin to every college senior's nightmare: to graduate with a liberal arts education, specializing in medieval Russian literature or obscure languages, and be overly qualified for flipping burgers or running rides at a carnival. As a graduating senior fumbling to envision life after June 14, this plotline seems vaguely familiar.

The premise: After graduation, James is in desperate need of a summer job to garner funds for graduate school. Returning home, he discovers the only job available is working game booths at the local carnival. And, of course, some of the central conflict revolves around a mysterious love interest, Em.

Unlike most comedies, "Adventureland" is attuned to the college demographic. It features college-aged characters actually played by college-aged actors. Perhaps you had not yet realized, but this is a novelty. Usually we have 20-somethings portraying angsty teenagers in bubblegum romances that are aimed at preteens.

In comparison, this movie actually addresses what college kids think about: sex, money, the future, relationships, spirituality, etc. Even the jokes reflect the different demographic. True, there are those apparently quintessential lowbrow jokes, such as guys getting punched in the groin. However, the movie also includes inspired gems that reference Platonic forms. Some humor actually appeals to higher-educated young adults. What a concept.

Jesse Eisenberg leads the cast as James. This casting works well, given that Eisenberg looks like the everyman of college students. Unlike other over-stylized young male stars such as Zac Efron, Eisenberg actually looks like a typical college student. And besides being too-good-to-be-true charming, he acts like a typical college male. This too is something of a novelty in film.

Playing opposite Eisenberg is Kristen Stewart, who is most recognizable for her cheesy portrayal of Bella Swan, swoony love interest of a vampire in "Twilight." In "Adventureland," Stewart again plays the love interest, but the new role is a vast improvement -- it actually shows that she has talent. Her character relies on subtle, nonverbal signals, which she handles deftly, and it also requires periodically appearing rattled and vulnerable -- another trait for which she evidently has great talent. Hopefully Stewart can spend more time on insightful projects such as this and less time on teen melodramas.

Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig join the cast as married co-owners of the amusement park. We have seen Hader in past roles such as slacker cop Officer Slater in "Superbad" and in Saturday Night Live sketches. As Bobby, Hader is more subdued than in past performances, though he and Wiig do provide much of the comic relief. The two have an amusingly quirky relationship and provide several memorable scenes, including one involving stuffed bananas, googlie eyes and eye patches. Need I say more?

Audiences will also recognize Ryan Reynolds, who has performed in his fair share of comedies, including "Van Wilder," "Waiting," and "Just Friends." Initially this role looks to be yet another in which he plays the suave, cool guy -- not much of a stretch from past roles. The sleaziness of this role, however, does put a slightly different spin on an otherwise old character.

I hesitate to label "Adventureland" as a romantic comedy. It does have elements of boy-meets-girl and young adults fumbling through self-discovery. However, it also has subtle intellectual jokes and a completely satisfying ending that manages to avoid clichés. If it is part of the romantic comedy genre, it at least avoids the cloying, stereotypical formulae that leave me rolling my eyes.

Film Adaptations

Some times more than others I become aware of just how many books are used as money-making fodder for the film industry. This year alone the Academy Awards hosted several film adaptations: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Reader," and "Slumdog Millionaire," to name a few. After hearing rumors about upcoming adaptations of a few of my favorite books, I investigated what else was due later this year.

1. My Sister's Keeper (Jun. 26, 2009)

Author: Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors, even if this particular novel is not my favorite of hers. This is not much to the disadvantage of the book, since all of her novels are well-written and encompass a controversial topic in one form or another. In this novel, the younger daughter of a family is engineered to be a genetic match for her older sister, who has leukemia. The parents had engineered their younger daughter as a donor for the elder. Picoult treats such touchy subjects with finesse, which yields complex and captivating reads.

However, the complexity of any Picoult novel has no hope of being adequately portrayed via film. Literary works allow for the audience to comprehend characters' internal moral conflict. This subtlety is lost in film. Furthermore, the story feels cheapened when big name stars portray these characters who are supposed to be thoroughly normal and identifiable. Sure, it can be fun to see Cameron Diaz in romantic comedies and Abigail Breslin is such a sweetheart in "Little Miss Sunshine." Even Alec Baldwin can be funny, though I think his role in "30 Rock" is overrated. But I am highly skeptical that these actors can lend the depth that these characters need. HIGHLY skeptical.

Furthermore, I will probably have to see the movie so I can be rightly indignant that it fails to meet my high expectations. Already I am disappointed by the preview. From the look of it, yes, I am going to be highly disappointed especially with Diaz's performance.

(Trailer)

2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Jul. 17, 2009)
Author: J.K. Rowling

True, everyone already knows that this adaptation is coming soon. It is the most likely of these six adaptations to receive the most hype in the coming months. It is also most likely my favorite chapter in the Harry Potter series (to be highly specific, chapter 2 of this book, "Spinner's End," is my favorite chapter of the series). Translation: I really hope Warner Bros doesn't screw this one up.

It bodes well for the film that it has the same director as the fifth installment. I was rather impressed and satisfied by the darkness of the fifth film, which was highly refressing from the cheesiness of most of the fourth. Hopefully this film continues in the same vein, since the sixth book does have rather dark passages and some disturbing images. The darkness of the story builds even throughout the seventh book; hopefully the movies will continue to follow suit.

I particularly look forward to seeing more of Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), who I think were underrepresented in the fifth movie. It would be rather impressive if they had equally few scenes in this adaptation.

(Trailer)

3. The Time Traveler's Wife (Aug. 14, 2009)

Author: Audrey Neffeneger

If this is not my absolute favorite book, it is at least one of my top 5. Does this mean that I will be unduely critical toward the film adaptation? Perhaps. It feels like such a moral dilemma: to see the movie or not?

I highly recommend reading this book before seeing the film. As with Jodi Piccoult, there is no way that a film can capture the complexity of the characters in this novel. That being said, I do think there are ways that this film could be done very well and there are ways in which it could be done very poorly.

All around I am simply not impressed with casting choices. I do not know enough about Eric Bana to judge whether or not he will do well portraying Henry. That, I think, will be the most important performance of the film. However, Rachel McAdams is not Clare Abshire. She doesn't even have red hair! Furthermore, she is too movie-star pretty whereas I pictured Clare as more unconventionally beautiful.

The rest of the cast is filled in with other actors and actresses that are each too goodlooking for their respective roles. At first blush this is dissapointing and I largely hope that I will be pleasantly surprised by their performances. I'm sure I will at least keep a close eye on the progress of this production and keep you posted.

(Trailor not yet available)

4. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Sept. 18, 2009)

Author: Judi Barrett

Illustrator: Ron Barrett

If done well, this children's book could translate into a really cute, funny family film. I might need to see the film on a full stomach, though - those meatballs and giant olives always did look appetizing.

Like any other animated flick, this adaptation will host several well-known voices: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, and Mr. T, to name just a few. Faris is perhaps best known for exaggerated roles. Example: she plays a ridiculously self-involved pop sensation in "Just Friends." It will be interesting to see how she does in a film aimed at a younger demographic. This is true of Hader, too -- I know him best for college-age comedies such as "Superbad" and "Adventureland." He is a funny guy; hopefully that can translate into animated film.

(Trailer)

5. Where the Wild Things Are (Oct. 16, 2009)
Author: Maurice Sendak

This is another childhood favorite. Perhaps I should re-read this book before screening the film... All I remember of the story is that a young boy goes to bed without supper and dreams of monsters. I also remember being vaguely creeped out by some of the pictures...

Again, one of the benefits of adapting a children's book is that it is extremely easy to include everything in the original story. The downside is that this means the film has less, if any, excuse to exclude things.

(Trailer)

6. The Lovely Bones (Dec. 11, 2009)

Author: Alice Sebold

This is going to be a tough project to finagle. First, the premise deals with uncomfortable issues: the main character is brutally raped and murdered within the first chapter and Sebold spares few details. That alone will have to be dealt with carefully. If this project does not recieve an R rating, it requires at least a PG-13.

Another challenge for the filmmakers will be to portray Sebold's vision of Heaven. I really hope that filmmakers avoid being campy, using clouds and shimmery auras around the dead. There is quite a bit of interplay between the heroine in Heaven and those individuals she left behind. I will avoid explicit details, in case you want to read the book for yourself (as you should), but there is a sex scene that might be a little tricky to work out the details. I suppose a possible solution would be to eliminate this scene altogether in the film, though I hope this is not the route they take, since the scene is rather pivotal for the resolution.

One final thought: yay Peter Jackson for agreeing to direct this project. Though I have not seen any of "The Lord of the Rings" (please contain your shocked gasps), I hear that he is a talented artist. This should bode well for the vision of the film.

(Trailer not yet available)

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In way of a conclusion, I do want to note that obviously any of these adaptations will fail to meet at least some expectations garnered from reading the books. However, you probably will see me in the theaters of each production, whether grumbling about poor performances or smiling in pleasant surprise.

Spoilers Save Time

(Lawrentian, published Apr. 6, 2009)


As a fellow Lawrentian, I know the importance of good time management. Since spring is finally approaching, I also understand that the sunny Main Hall green will become increasingly appealing. This leaves very little time to hunker down in front of a television for two hours. Allow me to provide you with a brief overview of some blockbusters that you undoubtedly will miss while sunning yourself.

I know that there are a number of you who still receive shocked gasps from friends when they hear that you have never seen “Fight Club.” You probably put the film on your to-see list, but every time you think about watching it, you hesitate and cringe at the thought of so much graphic violence. I understand; I used to be one of you.

Any movie-goer knows that the film hosts gay undertones. The sexual tension between Edward Norton and Brad Pitt is all too palpable even within the first 20 minutes. But it is a truly unexpected twist when we learn that Norton and Pitt are really fraternal twins, separated at birth. Now you have the satisfaction of knowing the big twist without sitting through all the bloody fights.

Perhaps another movie that has long sat on your to-see list is “The Sixth Sense,” which has arguably the most shocking ending of any film. No doubt you have been waiting for just the right opportunity to watch something with such high intensity. Wait in suspense no longer: the twist is that Haley Joel Osment is really an ulterior personality of Bruce Willis, created to offset his overwhelming loneliness. Yes, it is truly shocking to realize that these two characters were the same person all along.

I bet several friends were simply appalled to discover that you still have not seen the critically acclaimed “High School Musical 3.” True, the previews bill the film as complete fluff. However, it actually provides touching insight into the lives of American teens. I think we all shed a tear when Ashley Tisdale’s character is disowned by family and friends due to a teen pregnancy. And who is not shocked to learn that Zac Efron is gay?

I strongly encourage you to set aside time to view this piece of cinema history. However, if you decide that the film is not worth the time, at least you know the gist of the film and will understand some of the inside jokes popularly circulating among your friends.

In the coming months, I also expect there to be a lot of buzz about “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Instead of waiting until July 17, allow me to alleviate the tension. Due to budget cuts and the desire to finish the series while all of the actors are still of appropriate age, Warner Bros has decided to kill Harry Potter in this film, ending the series without producing the seventh. Audiences will further learn that Dumbledore is the scorned lover of Lord Voldemort.

Now that you know the end of these films, there is no need to waste your time viewing them. Thus your only worry will be what to do with all your newfound free time. Now you can indulge that craving to screen “The Land Before Time 37.” Or you can return, guilt-free, to viewing old episodes of Spongebob Squarepants in German on You Tube. No need to thank me for providing you with the fundamental knowledge you need to stay hip on the staples of our pop culture.



Note: This entry was printed as part of the April Fool's edition of the Lawrentian. These are not actual spoilers.

Gossip and Rumors

This morning I put some feelers out on the internet to see if there was any recent, interesting movie buzz. And though I was disappointed by what looks to be a lull in worthwhile theatrical releases in the coming months, I did come up with a few interesting tidbits worth sharing.


1. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (May 1, 2009)

Hugh Jackman will be soon reprising his role as Logan, aka Wolverine. Joining him in the cast are Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson (aka Deadpool) and Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed (aka Sabertooth). This looks like a very testosterone-filled movie -- only one woman is listed in the main cast on IMDB. However, the three forementioned men are all very talented and have previously starred in much-enjoyed roles.

This film does host a new director, Gavin Hood. Hopefully this bodes well for the film. The last chapter of the original trilogy also hosted a new director (Brett Ratner), but the film lacked the oomph of the first two (director Bryan Singer). I know next to nothing about any of these directors, but I did want to indicate that I hope this movie manages to ressurrect the original vein of the series.

To view the trailer, click here.

On a related note, IMDB indicates that there is a script circulating for "X-Men Origins: Magneto." Plans for production have not yet been made. However, I would definitely be interested in seeing this film. Magneto is one of the more interestingly morally ambiguous mutants in the series.


2. Batman 3 Rumors

After reviewing "The Dark Knight," I wondered if there was any buzz for a third installment. Why yes, there are plenty of rumors about a third film, but nothing I have found has yielded anything definite. However, looking at the rumors is quite entertaining. I found one post on Scandalist which lists "The Top 5 Batman 3 Rumors." My favorite rumor involves Cher -- interested enough to click the link?



There is one rumor I would love to see come to fruition: a lot of buzz has rumored Johnny Depp cast as the Riddler. This would be a particularly amazing casting choice.


3. Arrested Development

And then I got to wondering about when the Arrested Development movie will make its debut. That is correct, a film is in the works and it was originally scheduled to come out sometime later this year. IMDB even lists all of the original cast, including Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, and yes, Michael Cera. Even Liza Minnelli is supposedly slated to reprise her role as the Lucile who suffers from periodic veridgo. Thanks, IMDB, now I have the sudden urge to watch a lot of Arrested Development, see Tobias "blue" himself, and giggle as Gob gallivants about on his Segway. Unfortunately, the movie has now been moved back to a release date of sometime in 2010. Wah wah...


If you would like to catch up with some of the cast, here are a few movies currently in producation and coming out soon:

"Monsters VS Aliens" (March 27) - When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. Cast includes: Will Arnett, Jeffrey Tambor, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogan, Rainn Wilson, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert, and others -- in short, this cast is filled with big names. (Trailer)

"Year One" (June 19) - When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers (Jack Black and Michael Cera) are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world. (Trailer)

"Couples Retreat" (October 9) - A comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional. Cast includes: Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, and Kristen Davis (to name just a few).


-- All plot summaries provided by IMDB --

"Act 4: Hope is a Demon Bitch"

Movie Review: "Hamlet 2"
(Lawrentian, published Mar. 6, 2009)


Now that we are over the Oscar hump, there appears to be a lull in theatrical releases. I took this opportunity to peruse the new release section at Blockbuster. And how could I not catch my eye on the intriguing title of "Hamlet 2?"

Failed actor and drama teacher Dana Marschz, played by Steve Coogan, decides to save his school's theater department by writing, directing and starring in this epic sequel. How, you might ask, does one write a sequel about a cast of characters who almost all die in the first play? Obviously you introduce a time machine in which Hamlet can go back and save all of his relations, as well as meet Jesus in the process. Easy solution -- the play basically writes itself.

The DVD case boasts that the movie is "Dementedly Hilarious." Translation: this movie is purposefully politically incorrect and distasteful. Be prepared with low expectations, but some of the comedy works well. The film is a mocking parody of high school musicals, teen conflicts over different racial backgrounds, exploring sexualities, and that ever-present fight for support for the arts.

Though the dialogue is not terribly original or entertaining, you know it is all an elaborate setup for this huge stage production. The longer I waited through the banal dialogue, the more I thought to myself: the payoff better be good. The problem is, with such a tedious buildup, the payoff has no hope of satisfying the audience. The eventual climax cannot compensate for the film's diluted focus or predictable jokes that deserve only half a laugh.

Furthermore, the eventual payoff does not even receive enough emphasis. The stage production of "Hamlet 2" promises to be pleasantly ridiculous. Upon opening night, we see the curtain opening and hear the music cued. Then the film promptly cuts to a shot outside the theater with protestors and other mutinous onlookers. So much has built up to this play, yet we do not get to witness its long-coming introduction. Yes, reaction shots are good for enhancing the comedy of the situation. But I wanted to see the actual comedic, train-wreck production!

Whether or not it is worth the wait, the musical number "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" is a marvel that must be seen without much introduction. This scene is the reason one watches "Hamlet 2." All of the tedious buildup is for this moment, the all-too-brief climax. If you know your high school musicals, you will be able to spot marked similarities. You will also enjoy an entertaining lesson about why Jesus rocks.

True, this movie is not the "Comedy Heaven" that the case jacket advertises. And what does it supposedly mean that it is from the producers of "Little Miss Sunshine"? If anything, this sets up a comparison in which "Hamlet 2" cannot hope to compete. It lacks both the originality and the purposeful storyline that makes "Little Miss Sunshine" endearing and memorable.

However, there are periodic comedic gems scattered throughout the film. Coogan is master of the melodramatic and has appropriately hilarious facial expressions to match. Amy Poehler makes an appearance in a characteristically spunky role. And yes, "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" is one musical number worth repeated viewing.

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In case you want the bang without spending your buck, here's a taste of "Rock Me Sexy Jesus." This is the best video I could find. It does skip a couple of hilarious beginning lines: "He's totally the man, the man with a plan. He traveled through time in an awesome custom van. Moralistically, he taught us to be good, how to set our souls free and do all the shit we should..."

Rock Me Sexy Jesus

Or, if you would like to sing along to the full version, click here:

Rock Me Sexy Jesus Sing-Along

"Did you show him your bracelet, Cora?"

Movie Review: "Madea Goes to Jail"
(Lawrentian, published Feb. 27, 2009)

Perhaps I was wildly misinformed about this movie. I was prepared for a light, fun, perhaps over-the-top comedy. The previews did a very good job of making me want to see it. I figured, even if the rest of the movie is composed entirely of stupid humor, seeing Madea converse with Dr. Phil was bound to be worth it.

Good gracious, was I wrong. I spent the first hour of "Madea Goes to Jail" simply attempting to figure out whether it was a comedy or a drama. The previews bill the movie as a comedy; they allude to nothing profound. Previews suggest a plot centered on a sassy grandmotherly type and her escapades through the jail system. Tyler Perry plays Madea, a frank woman with a distinctive vernacular. These elements spell comedy.

Unfortunately, those scenes that actually involve Madea are few and far between. If one was to cut everything except her humorous scenes, the result would be a - significantly better - movie of approximately 25-30 minutes. And yes, most, if not all, of the laugh-out-loud bits are showcased in the previews.

So with what, you might ask, do they fill the rest of the time? Besides these 30 minutes of humor, you have to sit through another 80 minutes of painfully uninteresting dialogue and drama. The juxtaposition of two barely related storylines creates an uncomfortable clash that leaves the audience reeling from trying to jump back and forth between levity and attempted profundity.

The primary plot is never even mentioned in the previews: a young lawyer reunites with a friend from his past who has landed herself in trouble via prostitution. This storyline occupies most of the screenplay, even though none of its clips are shown in previews or alluded to in the title or even plot summaries.

Shockingly enough, I thought I was seeing a movie about Madea. Instead, I am stuck watching an overemotional, discordant drama that I would not pay to see had I known. Furthermore, I felt compelled to see it through because I did not want my $6.50 to go to waste. Plus, a scathing review is more credible if the reviewer has seen the film in its sub-par entirety.

Madea does deliver several hilarious, quotable lines. The problem is that Tyler Perry does not emphasize these moments enough. The film would be better with a cohesive focus. It would be far better were it to actually showcase Madea as promised by previews. In short, "Madea Goes to Jail" would benefit from deciding whether it was a comedy or a drama instead of providing a shoddy performance of each.

To gain the most enjoyment out of the film, I suggest watching only those scenes in which Madea appears. This will both canvas the entire worthwhile plot and yield all of the funny lines. Skip the rest - I promise you will not miss much. Those scenes that actually are true to the title and previews are worth several laughs. However, the bottom line is this: The 30 minutes of Madea are neither worth $6.50 nor 80 minutes of the other stuff.

The Prospects of March

I am more than glad that February is behind us, even if it is the shortest month. And now we have just about one month left of sun deprivation and negative temperatures. Unfortunately, March boasts few promising movie releases. Perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised -- I'll keep you updated.

Theatrical Releases:

1. Watchmen (Mar. 6) - This is not one that I am bound to see anytime soon, but it is receiving quite a lot of buzz. Comic book adaptations tend to do well on the big screen and always promise impressive special effects. Since this genre is so popular, "Watchmen" will need to try harder for ingenuity. I am personally uninterested by the intensity and darkness previewed in trailers, though I do wonder if the filmmakers chose this tact due to the success of "Dark Knight."

Related buzz: There is another X-Men movie in the works: "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." More news to come shortly in this blog.

2. Sunshine Cleaning (Mar. 13) - The plot for this one caught my eye (imdb summary): Industrious single mother Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams -- Enchanted, Doubt) starts an unusual business in order to send her son to a private school; alongside her unreliable sister (Emily Blunt -- The Devil Wears Prada), the two women enter the world of biohazard removal and crime scene clean-ups. Also starring Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine). Since the casting also looks promising, this might be one I should see. However, it is a limited release - hopefully it comes to a theater near you.

3. The Great Buck Howard (Mar. 20) - This is another film that promises a good cast and an intriguing plot. A law school dropout (Colin Hanks), much to the chagrin of his father (Tom Hanks), becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline (John Malkovich). Can the fledgling partnership lead to the comeback of a lifetime? (imdb) Both Hanks men, as well as Malkovich have chosen and flourished in original roles. I'll add this one to my list of movies to review.

4. Monsters vs. Aliens (Mar. 27) - It looks and sounds like a Pixar film -- and yet it's the new Dreamworks production. It looks like a fun flick, good, clean, family viewing for Spring Break. Judging solely on the cast list, this looks like a film well-worth seeing: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogan, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson (!!), Will Arnett, and Stephen Colbert. Hopefully it doesn't try too hard to be a Pixar knock-off.

Coming to DVD:


1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Mar. 3) - I knew you would want the exact date upon which you could rush out and purchase this DVD. It looks like a cute flick for the young'ens, but reviews have indicated that much of the humor is aimed solely at kids. Perhaps this reviewer will give it a screening when she needs a little fluff. The previews do promise a hilarious chihuahua dance number. Plus George Lopez has been known to be funny. Also featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, who is a particularly good actress.

2. Milk (Mar. 10) - This one was nominated for quite a few Oscars, including Best Picture. Sean Penn took home the Oscar for Best Actor and Dustin Lance Black took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. And both men had terribly heartfelt acceptance speeches. The film follows the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician to be elected to office. It's probably not a light film, but it does sound like it would be worth watching.

3. Rachel Getting Married (Mar. 10) - Oscar-nominee Anne Hathaway stars as a recovering addict returning to a dysfunctional family for a wedding. I have heard mixed reviews for the film. However, Hathaway is a talented actress, even if she has had the occasional flop. The two that come to mind are "The Princess Diaries 2" (very cheesey, probably due to a bad script) and "Get Smart" (an overly-stereotypical female role). Nonetheless, she is talented and she has an air of class about her. I am intrigued enough to watch this.

4. Bolt (Mar. 24) - I'm sure there is no need for me to innumerate yet again the praises for this film. It's fun, original, and I personally enjoyed it more than "Wall-E," even if award committees do, on principle, prefer Pixar flicks.

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And of course "Twilight" fans will be happy to note that it comes to DVD on March 21. If I were to see the film again, I would probably yet again laugh inappropriately through the entire thing, save for that one hot scene where they play baseball and the background music is Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole." Perhaps at a later date I will give a full critique of this over-buzzed film.