Category: Humor

HATCHET GIRLS by Joe R. Lansdale / Z-View

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HATCHET GIRLS: A HAP AND LEONARD NOVEL by Joe R. Lansdale

First sentences…

“Wait a minute, now.  You’re saying you want us to deal with a pig problem?” Leonard said.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Hap and Leonard agree to help a poor single mother raising several children.  She has a pig problem.  When Hap and Leonard say they’ll take care of it, they got much more than imagined.  Turns out the hog was attacking the woman and her kids every chance it got.  When Hap and Leonard arrived, the porker attacked them too.

Never ones to back down from a challenge, Hap and Leonard finally trap the hog.  In doing so they discover the woman’s neighbors are making meth and the piggie knows how to access the stash.  No wonder the oinker was so hyped-up all the time.

The cops are called.  An investigation finds no only the make-shift meth lab, but bodies buried in the back yard.  This brings Hap and Leonard smack dab in the middle of drug dealers, crooked cops, a mysterious crime boss who is called the Benefactor and worse still, a gang of women looking to take over the area’s drug trade.  The women, are smart, tough and ruthless.  Every one of them is a cold-blooded killer, who uses a hatchet to finish the job.

Unfortunately for Hap and Leonard, they’ve become targets for all involved.

+++

HATCHET GIRLS is the fourteenth in the series. If you like crime stories with the perfect mix of humor, action and mystery, then HATCHET GIRLS (and all of the Hap and Leonard tales) are for you!

Rating:

“Support Your Local Gunfighter!” (1971) starring James Garner, Suzanne Pleshette and Jack Elam / Z-View

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Support Your Local Gunfighter! (1971)

Director:  Burt Kennedy

Screenplay: James Edward Grant, Burt Kennedy (uncredited)

Stars: James Garner, Suzanne Pleshette, Jack Elam, Harry Morgan, Joan Blondell, Marie Windsor, John Dehner, Henry Jones, Dub Taylor, Kathleen Freeman, Dick Curtis, Willis Bouchey, Willis Bouchey, Walter Burke, Gene Evans,  Grady Sutton, Virginia Capers and Ellen Corby. 

Tagline: The story of a man who took the law into his own finger!

The Plot…

Latigo Smith, a gambler, con artist, fast gun and ladies man is almost roped into marriage.  While his bride-to-be sleeps, the train they’re traveling on stops at the small mining town of Purgatory.  When the train leaves, Latigo isn’t on it.

Purgatory is in the middle of a war between two mine barons: Taylor Barton and Colonel Ames.  Each man is trying to get to the mother lode of gold.  They’ve both hired roughnecks and rowdies.  Needless to say the town is a wild place.

As the new man in town, Latigo is mistaken for the infamous gunslinger, “Swifty” Morgan.  This gives Latigo an idea.  Realizing it’s not a smart idea to play a killer, Latigo talks his new friend, the none-to-bright Jug May into playing the part.  Soon Latigo and “Swifty” are being treated like kings.

Then the real Swifty Morgan arrives.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I loved Support Your Local Sheriff.  I had high hopes for Support Your Local Gunfighter since the director, James Garner and most of the cast was returning.  Sadly it falls short of the first film.  Also the film is NOT a sequel.

Support Your Local Gunfighter! (1971) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Support Your Local Sheriff!” (1969) starring James Garner, Joan Hackett and Walter Brennan / Z-View

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Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)

Director:  Burt Kennedy

Screenplay: William Bowers

Stars: James Garner, Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan, Jack Elam, Henry Jones, Willis Bouchey, Gene Evans, Walter Burke, Kathleen Freeman, Dick Haynes and Bruce Dern. 

Tagline: Our trouble-shooting sheriff always put his finger on it (or in it). No wonder they call him The Fastest Finger in the West.

The Plot…

When gold is discovered in the small settlement of Calendar, it becomes a lawless boom town overnight.  Every sheriff the city council hires is either killed or leaves in a hurry. The townsfolk find themselves at the mercy of the Danby family who own the property surrounding Calendar.

When Joe Danby kills a man over a card game, only Jason McCullough is willing to testify that it was murder.  McCullough is just passing through, but in need of money.  So when he’s offered the sheriff’s job, he accepts.

McCullough is as quick with his wits as he is with a gun.  He’ll need to use both since he’s sheriff of a town full of drunken miners, a jail with no bars, a cold blooded murder for a prisoner and the Danby family out for revenge.  McCullough’s biggest problem may be the mayor’s daughter Purdy.

Giddy up!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I saw Support Your Local Sheriff when it was first released.  I was ten.  Seeing it again brings back great memories.  Support Your Local Sheriff has the right mix of action and humor.  James Garner was perfect as the gunslinger who’d rather use his wits than his gun.

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) rates 5 of 5 stars

“The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” (1991) starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and George Kennedy / Z-View

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

Director:  David Zucker

Screenplay: David Zucker, Pat Proft; based on Police Squad! by David Zucker,  Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker

Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson, Robert Goulet, Richard Griffiths, Jacqueline Brookes, Anthony James, Tim O’Connor, Peter Mark Richman, Peter Van Norden, Gail Neely, Mel Tormé, Zsa Zsa Gabor, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic and Lloyd Bochner. 

Tagline: If you see only one movie this year…you ought to get out more often.

The Plot…

Dr. Albert Meinheimer is an advisor to the President.  Meinheimer supports renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc.) and plans to get the President to move the country in that direction.  Quentin Hapsburg, of Hexagon Oil has other ideas.  Hapsburg kidnaps Meinheimer and replaces him with a lookalike.

And that’s where Frank Drebin and the police squad come in.

Annnnnnnd action!

 

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you enjoyed Airplane and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, then you should get a kick out of The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

Lloyd Bochner has a brief cameo.  He is seen in a crowd carrying a large book titled TO SERVE MAN, as he yells, “It’s a cookbook!  It’s a cookbook!”.  This of course refers to the classic Twilight Zone episode, To Serve Man which he starred in.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Freaky Tales” (2024) starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis / Z-View

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Freaky Tales (2024)

Director:  Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Screenplay: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Stars: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Too $hort, Jack Champion and Tom Hanks. 

Tagline: In 1987, Oakland was hella freaky.

The Plot…

Freaky Tales features four fictionalized interconnected stories about real events that took place in Oakland, California in 1987.

  • “Strength in Numbers: The Gilman Strikes Back” – A group of skinheads attacks kids attending a punk rock nightclub.  It’s not the first time.  It won’t be the last.  But the kids have had enough.  Next time they’ll be prepared to strike back.  Hard.

 

  • “Don’t Fight the Feeling” – Two young women, Barbie and Entice leave the punk rock nightclub just before the skinheads attack.  Barbie and Entice are rappers who preform under the stage name Danger Zone.  They want to be stars.  And they will get an opportunity… if they can rise to the occasion.

 

  • “Born to Mack” – Clint wants to end his life of crime.  His wife is pregnant and will deliver his first child soon.  Unfortunately Clints bosses want him to perform one last job — something to do with a pro basketball player.

 

  • “The Legend of Sleepy Floyd” – While Sleepy Floyd, a pro basketball player, is having a record setting game, his house is being robbed by a group of skinheads.  During the robbery his girlfriend is murdered.  Little do the skinheads know, they picked on the wrong guy.  Sleepy not only has super martial arts skills, he has supernatural powers.  And he will have his revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Freaky Tales has it’s moments, but it was just a little too, freaky for me.

Freaky Tales (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Long Distance” (2024) starring Naomi Scott & Anthony Ramos / Z-View

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Long Distance (2024)

Director:  Josh Gordon, Will Speck

Screenplay:  Spenser Cohen

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott, Kristofer Hivju and Zachary Quinto. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A spaceship carrying off-world miners is hit by asteroid.  As the ship begins to explode, escape pods are jettisoned.  One carrying Andy lands on a nearby planet.  Andy has a small air supply and his AI-equipped spacesuit.  When radioing for other survivors, Andy hears back from only one.  Her name is Naomi and she’s trapped in her escape pod.

Andy sets out to free her unaware of the creatures and dangerous terrain ahead.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Long Distance starts with a literal bang.

Although Naomi Scott gets top billing, she doesn’t appear on screen until about halfway through the movie.

Zachary Quinto voices Andy’s spacesuit AI.

Long Distance (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars

“The Pickup” (2025) starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer / Z-View

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The Pickup (2025)

Director:  Tim Story

Screenplay:  Matt Mider, Kevin Burrows

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, Jack Kesy, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Eva Longoria, Jef Holbrook, Enoch King, Nelson Bonilla, Joe Anoa’i (aka Roman Reigns), Ray Murphy Jr., Keith Adams,  Regina Ting Chen, Marshawn Lynch and Andrew Dice Clay. 

Tagline: They’re armed but she’s dangerous.

The Plot…

Russell Pierce, an armored car driver nearing retirement, cannot wait to finish his day.  He’s got dinner plans with his wife for a celebration.  When Russell learns his driving partner for the day is the crazy rookie, Travis Stolly, Russell hopes for an easy route.

But that’s not to be.

Instead their given a long drive through a radio dead zone.  And they’ll be carrying millions.

Of course as soon as they hit the dead zone, a trio of well armed thieves make their move.

Russell is going to be a little late.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was hoping for better.  But I have to say Keke Palmer is easy on the eyes.

The Pickup (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Madea’s Destination Wedding” (2025) written, directed by and starring Tyler Perry / Z-View

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Madea’s Destination Wedding (2025)

Director:  Tyler Perry

Screenplay: Tyler Perry

Stars: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, David Mann, Tamela J. Mann, Diamond White, Xavier Smalls, Bree Shannon and Rocky Myers.

Tagline: Hellur from Bahamas.

The Plot…

Madea, the immediate family and a couple of friends are invited to a quicky wedding for Madea’s grandniece, Tiffany.  All expenses paid.

Tiffany’s dad, Brian, is concerned since he just met the groom-to-be, Xavier.  Xavier is arrogant and immature.  Worse still, Brian has been put in a position where he feels he needs to foot the entire wedding bill.  As if that weren’t enough, Tiffany wants a destination wedding at an expensive resort in the Bahamas.

Brian suggests that Tiffany not rush into things.  Tiffany’s mom appears to want the wedding even more than Tiffany.

There are a number of mishaps getting ready for the trip.  But when Madea and the family arrive at the resort they start living it up.  Then Madea discovers something that could change everything.

If anyone has a reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.  Madea isn’t one to hold her peace.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tyler Perry writes, directs and stars (playing three characters) in Madea’s Destination Wedding.  This is the first Madea film where Perry doesn’t use make-up.  Instead he used digital technology to erase his beard and change his face.

Madea’s Destination Wedding is the 13th in the series!

Madea’s Destination Wedding (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Stuber” (2019) starring Dave Bautista & Kumail Namjiani / Z-View

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Stuber (2019)

Director:  Michael Dowse

Screenplay: Tripper Clancy

Stars: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko Uwais, Betty Gilpin, Karen Gillan, Steve Howey, Rene Moran, Amin Joseph and Christine Horn.

Tagline: Saving the day takes a pair

The Plot…

Six months ago L.A. Detective Vic Manning’s partner was killed by Oka Tedjo, a notorious drug kingpin.  Vic blames himself.  He lost his glasses in pursuit and was seconds late to his partner being gunned down.

Vic decides to get eye surgery so he won’t need glasses.  The operation was a success, but it will be a few days before Vic’s vision returns to normal.  The time off will do him good.  But when one of his informants gives Vic info on the location of Oka Tedjo, Vic knows he can’t wait.

Vic’s nearly blind,  so he calls an Uber to take him to killer’s location.  Stu, a timid man, shows up.  One thing leads to another a Stu finds himself partner to a nearly blind cop on a mission to catch a killer.

The meter is running!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani had fun chemistry.  It was nice seeing Mira Sorvino.  Bautista gives a funny performance as a nearly blind cop.  Stuber is a much better film than expected.

Stuber (2019) rates 3 of 5 stars

“National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978) directed by John Landis, starring John Belushi / Z-View

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National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)

Director:  John Landis

Screenplay: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller

Stars: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst, Mark Metcalf, Mary Louise Weller, Martha Smith, James Daughton, Douglas Kenney, James Widdoes, Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Bruce McGill, Donald Sutherland, John Vernon, Cesare Danova, Verna Bloom, Stephen Bishop, Otis Day and Kevin Bacon.

Tagline: It was the Deltas against the rules… the rules lost!

The Plot…

1962.  Dean Vernon Wormer has had enough from the antics of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity. Wormer wants Faber College to be respectable… even if he has to play underhanded.  So Wormer enlists Greg Marmalard, President of the elite Omega Theta Pi fraternity to join him.  Wormer places the Delta house on “Double Secret Probation” and the plan is set in place to rid the campus of the Delta‘s once and for all.

What Wormer didn’t take into consideration is that although the Delta ringleaders, John “Bluto” Blutarsky, Robert “Hoov” Hoover, Eric “Otter” Stratton, Daniel Simpson “D-Day” Day, Donald “Boon” Schoenstein as well as new pledges Larry “Pinto” Kroger and Kent “Flounder” Dorfman are flunking out of college, they won’t be expelled without a fight!

Toga Party!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Belushi improvised his cafeteria scenes of loading his tray and “I’m a zit!” Belushi also improvised the scene where he suddenly grabs Stephen Bishop’s guitar and smashes it into the wall.

After the success of Animal House, DeWayne Jessie legally changed his name to Otis Day and he began touring with a band he named Otis Day and the Knights.

For three days work, Donald Sutherland was offered a percentage of Animal House’s gross or $75,000.00.  Sutherland opted for the cash.  Had he taken the percentage he would have made three or four million dollars more.  Interesting to note, that even though Sutherland only appeared in a few scenes he made more than John Belushi, the movie’s star.  Belushi made $40,000.00.

Animal House features Kevin Bacon and Karen Allen’s feature film debuts.

1962 as selected for Animal House because the writers thought it was America’s last innocent year.  The climatic homecoming parade occurs on November 21, 1963, the day before President Kennedy’s assassination.

The actor who played the bass player in Otis Day’s band was legendary blues artist Robert Cray!  Cray was unknown at the time.

Animal House has an amazing supporting cast!

When Animal House was released I was the perfect age for it.  I had just graduated high school the year before and was enjoying my freshman year in college.

National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) rates 5 of 5 stars

“MIB: NEURALIZE THIS!” | A Men in Black Comedy Short written & directed by Martin Sofiedal is Here!

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Men in Black: Neuralize This written and directed by Martin Sofiedal is one of the best fan films I’ve seen in a very long time. Heck, even the poster is better than many that major studio releases get.

Sofiedal needs to be given a major feature film assignment.  Check out Men in Black: Neuralize This and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Source: FirstShowing.net.

When the alien explodes, the neuralizer fails, and a little girl sees everything…

“NEURALIZE THIS!” is a fan-made Men in Black short film — a gooey, action-comedy tribute where nothing goes according to MIB protocol.

Two agents try to contain an alien incident, but end up dealing with a malfunctioning neuralizer, a Nerf gun, a confused child, and a very angry Polish muscle man.

🎬 Directed & Written by: Martin Sofiedal
🎭 Starring:
• Torgny Gerhard Aanderaa
• Cecilie Svendsen
• Eirik Hallert
• Lijana Brahimi

📍 Shot in Oslo, Norway
⏱ Runtime: 7 minutes
🎥 Practical effects, VFX, real stunts, and lots of slime
🎞 View on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21618634

💬 Not affiliated with Sony or the official Men in Black franchise. This is a not-for-profit fan film made with love, humor, and one completely dead neuralizer.

📸 Follow me for more shorts and behind-the-scenes fun: [‪@MartinSofiedal‬ ]
📥 Contact: [post@martinsofiedal.com]

Don’t forget your sunglasses.

“Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964) directed by Stanley Kubrick; starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott / Z-View

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Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Director:  Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick, Terry Southern, Peter George; based on RED ALERT by Peter Bryant (pseudonym of Peter George)

Stars: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Tracy Reed, Jack Creley, Robert O’Neil, Glenn Beck, Shane Rimmer, Hal Galili and Keenan Wynn.

Tagline: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”

The Plot…

Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper is mentally unstable.  Nobody realizes this until Ripper has put his plan into motion.  Ripper believes the Soviets are poisoning Americans through the use of fluoride in the water supply.  Ripper’s solution is to put his base on a condition red alert (so no one can get in or out).  Armed guards with shoot to kill orders will ensure this.  Ripper also confiscated all personal radios and shut down outside communication.  Ripper then ordered two Bombers carrying nuclear weapons to drop them on cities in Russia.  Since they can only communicate with him, the pilots believe the US is under attack.  They fly towards Russia intent on dropping their payload.

Once Merkin Muffley, the US President, gets word of what is happening, there is little time before the bombs drop.  President Muffley knows Russia will respond in kind.  That would trigger an all-out war.  Mutually assured destruction.

President Muffley brings General Buck Turgidson, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other officials into the War Room to formulate a plan.  Included in the group is a former Nazi, now a US scientist named Dr. Strangelove and Soviet Ambassador Alexi de Sadesky.  They get  Soviet Premier Dimitri Kisov on the hotline.  Kisov promises if a single bomb is detonated on Russian soil, they will unleash their doomsday device!

The clock is ticking.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Dr. Strangelove was nominated for four 1965 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium – Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, Terry Southern
  • Nominee for Best Director – Stanley Kubrick
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Peter Sellers
  • Nominee for Best Picture – Stanley Kubrick

George C. Scott as General Turgidson trips in the War Room and then quickly gets up and continues talking.  Scott really tripped but didn’t break character.  Kubrick thought he was just acting.  The accident stayed in the film.

Peter Sellers was paid $1 million or 55% of the film’s budget.  In the film Sellers plays three characters so maybe the producers got a bargain.

Peter Sellers improvised most of his lines including the classic he yelled as Dr. Strangelove, “Mein Führer! I can walk!”  Peter Bull as the Soviet Ambassador can be seen breaking character when Sellers says it.

James Earl Jones thought that Slim Pickens stayed in character even off camera.  It wasn’t until later that Jones leaned that Pickens always talked like that.  Speaking of James Earl  Jones, Dr. Strangelove was his feature film debut.

Dr.  Strangelove is a classic.  Everyone should see it at least once.  (And it gets better with each repeated viewing.)

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) rates 5 of 5 stars