Bovie Movie

Director Troy Miller follows up the little-seen Mr. Show movie Run Ronnie Run! with this prequel to Dumb and Dumber, the 1994 box-office smash that starred Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and launched the careers of writer/directors Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. For the follow-up, we’re taken back to 1986 when Lloyd Christmas (Eric Christian Olsen) and Harry Dunne (Derek Richardson) first met while in high school. Dissatisfied with their being stuck in remedial classes, the dense duo sets out to prove that they can attend classes with their peers of normal intelligence. Along the way, they encounter a greedy principal played by Eugene Levy and a friendly janitor played by Luis Guzman who takes Lloyd under his wing. Along with Mimi Rogers as Harry’s mom, Mrs. Dunne, Dumb and Dumberer also features performances by Rachel Nichols and Cheri Oteri.

Bawdy comedy American Pie was an unexpected box-office hit in 1999 and, amazingly for a sequel, the whole cast returned here, including Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari and the wonderful Eugene Levy as Jason Biggs’s embarrassing dad. The humour remains the same — rude, crude and lewd — as the gang gets together for lots of beer and sex at a beach house following their first year in college. Apple pie lover Jim (Biggs) realises he needs to improve his sexual experience when he hears the beautiful Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) is coming back to town, leading him to track down his only sexual partner (Alyson Hannigan) and ask for her advice. This involves the placing of a trumpet in an unusual location, but it might spoil your enjoyment to say where. Sure, the comedy here isn’t sophisticated and it’s often predictable, but if someone supergluing his hand to his, erm, member gets you giggling, you won’t mind a bit. 

If you thought Dumb and Dumber or There’s Something about Mary plumbed the depths of grossness, hold on to your lunch — you ain’t seen nothing yet. This laughter-packed comedy about four teenage boys who pledge to lose their virginity before prom night has enough crass gags to satisfy the most demanding fans of Porky’s-style farces. Yet it also boasts some spot-on performances from a hip young cast that includes Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Tara Reid and Natasha Lyonne. The title refers to one of the more eye-widening sequences, in which Jim (Jason Biggs) gets a bit too friendly with his mom’s apple pie. This is definitely not one to show granny, but must-see fare for those not easily offended. 

Steve Martin is a maddeningly inconsistent talent. While he’s quite capable of delivering pearls of cinematic comedy such as The Man with Two Brains or The Jerk (both of which he also co-wrote), as an actor-for-hire he’s also apt to appear in sentimental mush (Father of the Bride) or straight-out unfunny garbage (Sgt Bilko). Unfortunately Bringing Down the House manages to combine the two latter categories with its tale of a wealthy, uptight white lawyer whose perfectly ordered life is turned upside down by an escaped black female convict (Queen Latifah) who’s determined to have him prove her innocence. Martin and Latifah’s chemistry feels forced, the usually excellent Eugene Levy is wasted in support and many will detect racism and homophobia — no doubt unintentional but still offensive — in the film’s crass manipulation of stereotypes. The only thing that should be brought down on this is the curtain. 

This computer-animated adventure seduces you with cute critters, clever dialogue and fast-paced derring-do before predictably imparting a lesson in family values. It’s still fun, though, with Bruce Willis leading a stellar voice cast as rascally raccoon RJ. He cons a gullible tribe of animals into gathering food to pay off a debt, but nuts and berries are out in favour of the cookies and crisps that can be found on a housing development that encroaches on their woodland home. There’s an underlying point about consumerism vs conservation, but sadly it just isn’t as compelling as watching a turtle (voiced by the wonderfully laconic Garry Shandling) mooning a couple of squeamish schoolgirls. The funniest and most endearing of the bunch is Steve Carell as the obligatory hyperactive sidekick, Hammy the squirrel. This won’t change the world, but at least it’s fertile ground for laughs. 

This limp sequel to the hit 2003 comedy sees Steve Martin reprising his role as the daddy of the 12-strong Baker brood, who revives an old rivalry with ultra-competitive neighbour Eugene Levy — also the father of a sizeable horde of kids — during a summer camping vacation. Though the children get on, that doesn’t stop the two posturing dads from a spot of macho one-upmanship when a “friendly” competition is arranged between the respective families. Cue lots of tired and obvious slapstick scenes. Youngsters may find one or two moments worth a titter, while Bonnie Hunt as Martin’s stoical wife delivers all the best dialogue, what little there is. However, grown-ups may be surprised at the under-use of Martin and the misuse of American Pie stalwart Levy, who’s great at playing quirky characters but not so hot at being downright obnoxious, which he is here. 

Mixing sports action, fantasy and broad comedy with only a small amount of sentimentality, this likeable children’s flick stars pubescent rapper Lil’ Bow Wow as Calvin Cambridge, an orphan who longs to be a basketball star. He look set to achieve his dream when the pair of trainers he is wearing (that he believes once belonged to Michael Jordan) are struck by a handy bolt of lightning, transforming him into an on-court whizz. As Calvin sets off on the road to NBA stardom, the film piles on the clichés, with his evil guardian (a typically offbeat Crispin Glover) seeking to exploit him then palm him off to an unsuitable family. The movie redeems itself, however, with its light, playful tone; a bright, colourful look and a winning central turn from Lil’ Bow Wow.