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TV: “GEORGE CARLIN’S AMERICAN DREAM” on HBO, film examines what made the man a genius and shows us the bits that make him resonate today | REVIEW

George Carlin, Gillian Jacobs, Stephen Colbert and Paul Reiser
Directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio

Along with Richard Pryor, George Carlin was a groundbreaker in the comedy world. As Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio’s documentary “George Carlin’s American Dream” shows, the comedian had a comic vision of Nostradamus-like proportions. The film digs deep and gets to the soul of Carlin’s philosophies. The man could be called a comedic prophet, as his political and social work observations are ... more >

This is 40

A sort-of sequel to "Knocked Up" apparently
Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Jason Segel
Directed by Judd Apatow

“This is 40”, the“sorta” sequel to “Knocked up”, is “sorta”terrible and when I say sorta, I mean a lot. So many movies, TV shows, and even prior Judd Apatow films have tried to sitcomize the pitfalls of marriage to the point where it’s been done to death. Being that this was an Apatow flick, I was hoping he would have a fresh take, but this is without question his worse film and one of the worse ... more >

“The Five-Year Engagement”-REVIEW

Jason Segel and Emily Blunt share a loose, playful chemistry
Jason Segel, Emily Blunt and Chris Pratt
Directed by Nicholas Stoller

When Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel introduced "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" in 2008 it represented the low point for the Apatow factory, during the phase when it produced any old comedy premise that could fit on the back of a bank receipt. The filmmakers probably didn’t go in thinking, “we’re going to make a stalker fantasy laughfest,” but that’s what came out the other side. That’s why it’s ... more >

Bridesmaids

In a Judd Apatow world no detail is spared
Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Rose Byrne
Directed by Paul Feig

Midway through “Bridesmaids,” the bridal party dines on hordes of meat at a Brazilian churascaria, shortly before shopping for gowns. There’s enough tension to cut granite between Annie (Kristen Wiig), the still-single maid of honor and the bride’s lifelong friend, who favors humble, quaint wedding party arrangements, and Helen (Rose Byrne), a decor-obsessed trophy wife with money to burn. In the ... more >

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This movie reminds me of that famous Steve Buscemi line from the opening of Reservoir Dogs. “Dick-dick, dick-dick, dick-dick, dick!” A cavalcade of uninspired penis jokes--going so far as to scorch our retinas with the sight of star Jason Segel’s. Forgetting Sarah Marshall also represents a dubious landmark in the history of the Judd Apatow Comedy Factory. It’s the moment when the ... more >