Anyone who has seen the trailer for Friends With Kids knows that the March 9 comedy could easily be a bizarro-world spiritual sequel to Bridesmaids, what with a cast that includes Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm, Maya Rudolph, and Chris O’Dowd. But the film boasts even more lovable cast members: Friends With Kids focuses on two friends, played by Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt, who decide to have a child together, platonically.
What in the blue fuck?
A few things:
- Why is this the first I’m hearing of this movie?
- I don’t mean to bag on a film for which I haven’t even seen a trailer (and I know they’re just going for the easy joke), but I disagree with the “pick two” thing. Like wholeheartedly.
- Okay. I just watched the trailer and it’s not about a group of friends all of whom have kids. It’s about two friends who agree to have a kid together. And the trailer would have me believe it’s actually about relationships, not raising a child.
- I’ll leave it up to you to decide if this poster features the worst Photoshop ever or the absolute worst Photoshop ever.
- Seriously, Kristen Wiig looks like she’s really enjoying a dump.
- After a whiskey bender.
- In a Detroit alley.
Sometimes, we’re very diligent about what the boys watch. And sometimes, we just put stuff in the DVD player without even looking at the MPAA rating. We’re horribly inconsistent that way. Still, it never really backfired except for that one screening of Midnight Cowboy.
Anyway, over the weekend we showed them The Land Before Time without pre-screening it. While it was pretty tame, it had a parent’s death and a scary villain — the exact elements that caused us to hold off on The Lion King. The boys made it through just fine, though there were questions about what happened to mom. So, we’re going to re-address The Lion King debate. And maybe try Midnight Cowboy again, too.
TITSOUTFORAIMEE!
Great, Kid… Don’t Get Cocky
The original Star Wars trilogy holds a very special place in my heart. It’s not hyperbole when I say the films shaped who I am and how I see the world. Watching those movies gives me a warm fuzzy feeling deep inside, much like an exam from an Ewok proctologist.
And despite my abhorrence of the recent prequel trilogy, I must admit George Lucas knows marketing. I’m not talking about the full-tilt merchandising blitz that started in 1977 and has never let up… or maybe I am… hmmm. Here’s what I’m trying to say.
We recently took the boys to see the third and, dare I say, most daring Chipmunks movie Chipwrecked. (Daring because there’s a double rainbow joke and a honey badger joke.) Throughout their time in the theater, Wyatt and Boone sat still and quiet, probably overwhelmed at seeing 13-foot chipmunks on the screen singing Lady Gaga. The only time they showed or voiced a reaction was during a trailer for the 3D re-release of Episode I. They actually said, “Ooooooh…” and “SPACESHIPS!” which is exactly what I said when I saw the first film a long time ago in a state far, far away.
I tip my hat to you, Mr. Lucas. You’ve successfully hooked another generation.
I’m still starting with Episode IV, though.
This post by punkdad inspired me to create my own photo spread of father figures from my youth. (Of course, these are just the fictional ones. My actual dad was more influential… I’m still trying to use the Force to choke people, though.)
We watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes the other night. In it, primitive creatures quickly grow intelligent and fight their oppressors… Make it toddlers instead of apes and it could have taken place at my house.
When the boys were just born, a crying jag at 2 a.m. often spurred a quick debate between me and my wife about who had the rougher day ahead. When it was determined my wife had the rougher day, I would take whichever child was awake to the living room, prop my legs up and lay them in my lap so they were looking at me with their back to the TV, then put on some grotesquely violent horror film (with the volume down, of course).
I lurve horror films, as I’ve said before, but my wife doesn’t. So, those late nights with Wyatt and/or Boone were my only chance to get my fix. Plus, when you’re stressed to the gills, it’s nice to see some degenerate camp counselors get a fatal lesson in virtue.
But, the boys are sleeping through the night — have been for a while — so I no longer have opportunities to watch terrible horror films… and even if the boys weren’t sleeping though the night, I wouldn’t dare watch one with them at 2 a.m. The shrink bills alone would put us on the street.
Anyway, I stumbled across this list of Xmas-themed horror films and I felt a little nostalgic. If this is your bag, peruse the titles. It’s not complete, but it’s got some good ones on it.
