Mae Whitman – We Are Movie Geeks

SLIFF 2017 Review- BERNARD AND HUEY

BERNARD AND HUEY screens as part of the 26th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival on Sunday, November 5 at 6 PM at landmark’s Tivoli Theatre. For ticket information click HERE

Here’s a rarity. It’s a live-action feature film based on a comic that doesn’t involve brawny men in armored tights wailing on each other (and taking out entire city blocks). That’s because it’s based on a newspaper/magazine comic panel (like “The Far Side”) rather than those brightly colored page-turners from Marvel and DC. This is the brainchild of celebrated cartoonist Jules Feiffer, and uses recurring characters from the pages of the Village Voice and Playboy, spanning thirty years. When we first meet BERNARD AND HUEY, they’re in their early twenties, always on the make (or in their language “looking to make out”). Bespectacled, nebbishy Bernard is bemoaning his last lady, while brunt, surly Huey offers his “lil’ black book” while commenting on any female prospect within his scope of vision. From those first moments we know we’re in Feiffer territory with dialogue so similar to the exchanges between Jonathan and Sandy in the iconic 1971 classic CARNAL KNOWLEDGE. Jump to the present day and nearly 50 year-old Bernie (Jim Rash) has amassed much of said knowledge as a single book editor whose spartan apartment practically has a revolving bedroom door. Then we catch up with Huey (David Koechner), drunk, overweight, slovenly, as he’s being hauled back to his wife by his graphic novelist daughter Zelda (Mae Whitman). He escapes her clutches and heads right to a very stunned old bud Bernie. As the two re-connect, Huey sets up “shop” in Bernie’s pad, and while Bernie begins an ill-advised affair with Zelda, Huey gets his “mojo” back with several ladies including Bernie’s co-worker Mona (Nancy Travis) and his recent ex Roz (Sasha Alexander), an “age appropriate” therapist. When Zelda proves to be her father’s daughter,it’s Bernard that flounders in the “make out” scene.

Director Dan Mirvish expertly capture the Big Apple vibe as the two main characters wander endless streets and debate at countless dives and diners. Rash and Koechner are an engaging unlikely pair who know just the right “buttons” to push with each other (at times there’s a palpable air of potential violence in these encounters). The women here are more than just mere conquests or obstacles, really delivering a sharp verbal “smack-down” to their crude “come-ons (especially Huey). Whitman, in particular. is quite convincing as an artist that believes she just needs the right break, while not accepting any form of criticism about her gruesome imagery (all concern distorting of a certain organ). For fans of the formidable Feiffer, BERNARD AND HUEY is a must movie date.

Win A Family Four-Pack Of Passes To The Advance Screening Of ROCK DOG in St. Louis

When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide-eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a series of completely unexpected events.That’s the premise of the animated comedy ROCK DOG, opening in theaters February 24th.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win FOUR (4) seats to the advance screening of ROCK DOG on February 18th at 10am in the St. Louis area.

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

ROCK DOG features the voices of Luke Wilson, Eddie Izzard, J. K. Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Mae Whitman, Jorge Garcia, Matt Dillon and Sam Elliott.

THE DUFF – The Review

I’m at a demographic disadvantage regarding THE DUFF, being neither an adolescent girl nor someone who enjoys comedies that aren’t funny. Based on the ads, you might expect this new teen clique comedy to have some bite – a MEAN GIRLS for a new generation. DUFF is an acronym for ‘Designated Ugly Fat Friend’, someone that more attractive girls let hang around with them for contrast – a “gatekeeper to better-looking friends” – which gives it about the most mean-spirited movie title of late. The title role is played by Mae Whitman, who is short, has distracting eyebrows, and is too old for the role, but she’s neither fat nor ugly, not anymore so than Audrey Hepburn was street trash because her face was dirty in MY FAIR LADY or Rachel Leigh Cook couldn’t get noticed because she wore glasses in SHE’S ALL THAT. Just once I’d like to see the Pygmalion principle applied to a woman who was truly unattractive, but that’s unlikely since it’s a rigid rule of this formula that the ugly duckling turns out to be a swan in disguise.

In THE DUFF, Mae Whitman’s Bianca Piper is a cynical and snappy swan. One night while she’s at a party with her two gorgeous best friends Casey and Jess (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos), the school “man-whore” Wesley Rush (Robby Arnell ) informs Bianca that she’s a Duff and that every group has one to make themselves look better. Angry and hurt, Bianca reacts maturely by throwing her drink in his face, but the nickname haunts her and eats away at her self-esteem. Though Casey and Jess are actually far more genuine than the school’s queen bitch Madison (Bella Thorne), Bianca dumps them and turns to Wesley (they’re tight since he lives next door) to guide her through the physical and social makeover she thinks she needs to attract Toby (Nick Eversman), the sensitive long-hair guitar-boy she pines for. In return, Bianca will help Wesley pass science so he can play football, but complications ensue when both Madison and Toby play cruel tricks on her.

High school movies never seem that convincing to me, maybe because none of the students have zits, they speak too slick and knowing for teens, and they all seem to be in their 20s. THE DUFF is unexceptional. Star Mae Whitman is 26 (older than the author of the source novel – written six years ago!) and looks her age which is a big distraction. Were they really unable to find a teenage actress for this role? Speaking mostly in snark and sarcasm, Whitman has the right energy (and I liked that she name-checked cult horror movies to show how different she is) but she’s still miscast and the weak script doesn’t help. Opportunities to allow genuine growth are glossed over in favor of scenes like the ubiquitous mall dressing room montage, where our heroine tries on silly outfits for what seems like an eternity while bouncy pop songs blare on the soundtrack. That sequence leads to a cyberbullying subplot that’s played (unsuccessfully) for laughs, then quickly abandoned. Robby Arnell (also 26) is likeable as a surprisingly shaded Wesley, and Allison Janney steals a couple of scenes as Bianca’s self-obsessed mom. But the shrill, television-trained cast of teen supporting actors and actresses eager to make a big impression can’t liven up the proceedings and the usually-reliable Ken Jeong is given little to do as a flaky journalism teacher. Aside from an absence of laughs, THE DUFF is poorly shot, flatly lit, and the music is mixed too loudly over some of the dialog. The filmmakers get cutesy by literally labeling the characters with animated hashtags and providing nonstop references to social media, but that’s a poor substitute for insight and good writing. Director Ari Sandell, making his feature debut after some TV credits, fails to provide life to the proceedings, merely serving up the catty behavior in TV style. The younger end of the target audience may eat this crap up but this cranky old geek found THE DUFF lame and predictable and doesn’t recommend it.

1 1/2 of 5 Stars

Check Out The Four New Posters For THE DUFF

Embrace your inner DUFF with new character posters & a new :90 trailer from CBS Films’ THE DUFF.

The upcoming comedy stars Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samuels, Nick Eversman, Alison Janney, Romany Malco & Ken Jeong.

Bianca (Mae Whitman) is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as ‘The DUFF’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself.

To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school’s ruthless label maker Madison (Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone’s DUFF.

THE DUFF opens in theaters on February 20

http://theduffmovie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theduffmovie

https://twitter.com/TheDUFF

Catch A Look At The New Trailer For THE DUFF

Coming to theaters on February 20, check out the latest trailer for CBS Films’ THE DUFF.

Follow the film on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDUFF

Like THE DUFF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theduffmovie

Photo credit: Guy D’Alema/CBS Films

Watch Bella Thorne In Trailer For THE DUFF

Starring Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samuels, Nick Eversman, Alison Janney, Romany Malco, and Ken Jeong, here’s your first look at the funny trailer and new poster for CBS Films’ THE DUFF.

Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself.

Earlier this year, Thorne starred alongside Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in the comedy film BLENDED. She’ll lead the cast in AMITYVILLE: THE AWAKENING in January 2015.

Check out THE DUFF film’s official site: http://theduffmovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theduffmovie
https://twitter.com/TheDUFF
http://instagram.com/theduffmovie

Follow #TheDUFF cast:

Mae Whitman: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photos: Guy D’Alema / CBS Films

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER – The Review

Time to hit the young adult section of the bookstore ( yeah, there’s a few left ) for cinematic source material. Now, there’s no sparkly, hunky vamps or arrow-shooting young heroines in this flick. It might be considered a ” coming of age ” tale or a high school set journey. Some reviewers are comparing it to the John Hughes teen opus THE BREAKFAST CLUB, but I think it may be closer in spirit to the lesser known MY BODYGUARD in its pain and sweetness. But what really surprised me were the many laughs in Stephen Chbosky’s THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. Yup, like real life high school there’s a lot of comedy mixed in with the angst. And there’s several memorable characters portrayed by a very gifted acting ensemble.

The main wallflower of the title is Charlie ( Logan Lerman ). He’s missed a year of school due to a mysterious hospital stay, and now he’s ready to begin his freshman year of high school. He’s quiet, shy and immediately a target for the bullying upperclassmen. Things look incredibly bleak ( he counts off the days, like a convict awaiting parole ) until he encounters the funny, flamboyant senior Patrick ( Ezra Miller ) in his shop class ( Patrick has had to re-take the course in order to graduate ). At the Friday night football game Charlie encounters Patrick again. The sympathetic senior introduces him to his same-age stepsister Sam ( Emma Watson ). The sibs invite Charlie to join their circle of friends ( Sam refers to them as the ” misfit toys ” ) that includes Buddhist / punk-rocker Mary Elizabeth ( Mae Whitman ). Over the next nine months the friends party, share secrets ( and mix cassettes ), perform at weekend midnight THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW screenings, and try to move past painful memories. As graduation day looms closer, Charlie’s attraction to Sam causes him to confront a dark secret that his mind has blocked off.

Sounds pretty heavy, doesn’t it? Well, yeah some of the script is really dark. But this talented cast is so engaging that you’ll be drawn into their troubles and triumphs. Lerman has the less showy role of the film’s anchor, but he commands the screen with a quiet intensity. You hope that his new friends will bring him out of his shell. When this finally happens, Lerman deliver’s some of the film’s best lines. Now the showy role belongs to Miller as the out, proud, and very loud Patrick. This is a big switch from his evil, repellant title character in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN. The world around is his stage ( until he can don those fishnets at the local art cine’ every weekend ). But when Patrick can be himself with his closest pals he shares his heartbreak. Seems he can only be with his love in the shadows, hidden away from the world. Miller makes this motor-mouthed class cut-up a tragic, romantic hero. And then there’s his sis Sam. A lot of media attention has focused on what Ms.Watson will do now that she’s left the familiar grounds of Hogwarts. We got to see her last year in a small supporting role in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, but this is a big starring role and she’s ( dare I say it? ) magical. When Charlie sees Sam for the first time, she’s almost an ethereal goddess ( particularly as she lets the wind caress her as they drive through a tunnel at night ). Getting to know her, Charlie discovers her troubled past as she continues to make poor romantic choices ( currently it’s condescending college dudes ). The damaged duo’s halting steps toward romance are the film’s beating heart. And she nails the Yank accent. Watson’s going to have a great post-Potter career. There’s a great supporting cast led by Whitman as the boisterous, strong-willed Mary Elizabeth. And there are non-high school actors involved. Three current TV stars play Charlie’s Mom, Dad, and big sister, and there’s a some familiar screen faces as a favorite Aunt, a sympathetic doctor, and an encouraging English teacher. I won’t reveal their names so that you might be as pleasantly surprised as I was ( oh, and a true behind-the-scenes film artist appears as a gruff instructor-very cool! ). They’re all great, but Chbosky ( directing his screenplay based on his novel ) wisely puts the focus on this terrific trio. He captures the exhiliration of the weekend away from class and the alternating thrill and trepidation over the future out in the big world. The setting may be early 1990’s Pittsburgh ( took me a bit to realize the era, what with those audio cassettes and cordless phones ), but its themes really are universal and timeless.You’ll find that watching THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is truly one of the perks of being a filmgoer.

4.5 Out of 5

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER Trailer Stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson And Ezra Miller

A funny and touching coming-of-age story based on the beloved best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is a moving tale of love, loss, fear and hope—and the unforgettable friends that help us through life.

In case you missed the trailer’s premiere on Sunday night during The MTV Movie Awards, here’s your first look.

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER opens September 14 in limited release.

“Like” it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wallflowermovie

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