Category: Humor

“Clipped Wings” (1953) starring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and the Bowery Boys / Z-View

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Clipped Wings (1953)

Director: Edward Bernds

Screenplay: Elwood Ullman, Charles R. Marion

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Renie Riano, Todd Karns, June Vincent, Fay Roope, Mary Treen, David Gorcey,
Benny Bartlett, Philip Van Zandt, Lyle Talbot, Ray Walker, Conrad Brooks and Bernard Gorcey.

Tagline: Fasten Your LAFF-Belts! They’re JET JOCKEYS NOW!

The Plot…

Slip (L. Gorcey) and Sach (Hall) learn that their buddy, Dave Moreno (Karns) has been charged with treason by the US Air Force.  So the boys decide to go to the base to find out what is going on.  Leave it to Slip and Satch to think that they are signing in to the air force base when they are actually enlisting!

To further screw things up, Sach is mistakenly assigned to the WAF (Women’s Air Force) barracks!

Even if the boys are able to prove Dave’s innocent, they are in the Air Force now!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clipped Wings is the 31st of 48 Bowery Boys movies.

Clipped Wings (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Outlaw Johnny Black” starring Michael Jai White / Z-View

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Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)

Director: Michael Jai White

Screenplay: Michael Jai White, Byron Keith Minns

Stars: Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Byron Minns, Chris Browning, Barry Bostwick, Randy Couture, Tommy Davidson, Gary Anthony Williams, Eme Ikwuakor, Jalyn Hall, Roger Yuan, Michael Madsen, Josh Barnett, Glynn Turman, Paul Sloan and Donald Cerrone.

Tagline: From the Brothers Who Brought You Black Dynamite

The Plot…

Johnny Black (White) is a wanted man.  Quick with a gun or his fists (or his feet – a martial artist in the old west!), Black is going to find and kill Brett Clayton (Browning).  Clayton killed Johnny Black’s father.  An eye for an eye and all that.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Outlaw Johnny Black wants to be for westerns what Black Dynamite was for blaxploitation films.  Sadly, at least for met the jokes weren’t landing and it felt like a poor tv version of Blazing Saddles (which I loved) crossed with Mario Van Peebles’ Posse (which I liked a lot).

I tapped out at 37 minutes.  Of course your mileage may vary.

Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Annie Hall” starring Woody Allen & Diane Keaton / Z-View

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Annie Hall (1977)

Director: Woody Allen

Screenplay: Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman

Stars: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Shelley Duvall, Janet Margolin, Colleen Dewhurst, Hy Anzell, Russell Horton, Dick Cavett, Mark Lenard, John Glover, Bernie Styles, Jeff Goldblum, Shelley Hack, Beverly D’Angelo, Sigourney Weaver, Walter Bernstein and Christopher Walken.

Tagline: A nervous romance.

The Plot…

Alvy Singer (Allen) looks back on his romance with Annie Hall (Keaton) trying to figure out where it went wrong.  There are many possibilities.  Alvy is a twice divorced, middle-aged, Jewish stand-up comedian from New York who over-intellectualizes.  Annie is younger, never married, insecure, WASP from the Midwest who dreams of being a singer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Annie Hall was nominated for five 1978 Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Woody Allen
  • Winner for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman
  • Winner for Best Director – Woody Allen
  • Winner for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Diane Keaton
  • Winner for Best Picture – Charles H. Joffe

Sigourney Weaver’s feature film debut in a non-speaking role as Alvy’s date near the end of the movie.  Shelley Hack also made her film debut in Annie Hall in as a “street stranger”.

Alvy’s (Woody Allen’s) sneezing into the cocaine was reportedly an unscripted accident.

With Annie Hall Woody Allen became the first person to give an Oscar nominated performance in a film for which he won Best Director.  Interestingly enough, Annie Hall features Woody Allen’s only Oscar nominated performance and the only film directed by him to win a Best Picture Academy Award.

I liked Annie Hall, but it didn’t resonate with me like the majority of folks who love it.  Your mileage, as always, could vary.

Annie Hall (1977) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters” (2022) / Z-View

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Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters (2022)

Director:  Kevin Konrad Hanna, Jim Demonakos

Stars: Mike Mignola, Christine Mignola, Mike Carlin, Art Adams, Stephen Green, Duncan Fegredo, Guillermo del Toro, Patton Oswalt and Ron Perlman.

Tagline: The secret origin of Hellboy

The Plot…

Documents the life of Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy, from his early days trying to break into comics to the success of his Hellboy universe in comics, prose and movies.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mignola’s relationship with Guillermo del Toro is interesting.  Especially when Mignola said, “Hellboy wouldn’t do that” and del Toro responded, “My Hellboy would.”  Mignola seemed to take it well.  He understood that the comic Hellboy and the “movie” Hellboy were not exactly the same.  But this could be what led to there not being a third del Toro Hellboy movie.

Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters (2022) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Freaky Tales” starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Freaky Tales has brought me on board.

Deal me in.

Freaky Tales – in theaters April 4, 2025. Starring Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, and Tom Hanks

Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters — an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector — on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles.

Executive produced by hip-hop pioneer Too $hort, and featuring an all-star ensemble including Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, this pulpy blend of explosive action, edgy humor, gory kills, and sly twists and turns makes for one wild ride.

“Hold That Ghost” (1941) starring Abbott & Costello / Z-View

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Hold That Ghost (1941)

Director:  Arthur Lubin

Screenplay:  Robert Lees, Fred Rinaldo, John Grant

Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Richard Carlson, Joan Davis, Evelyn Ankers, Mischa Auer, Marc Lawrence, Russell Hicks, The Andrews Sisters and Shemp Howard.

Tagline:  A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO! Your blues won’t stand a ghost of a chance…as they top “Buck Privates” and “In the Navy.”!

The Plot…

Chuck (Abbott) and Ferdinand (Costello) dream of someday owning their own nightclub.  Recently they were fired from their jobs as waiters in a high class hot spot.  Now the boys are gas station attendants.

While servicing a car, the police recognize the auto’s owner, gangster Moose Mattson.  Moose takes off with Chuck and Ferdinand in the car.  A high speed shootout takes place.  Moose is mortally wounded.

Chuck and Ferdinand are surprised to learn that Moose’s will leaves them all of Moose’s possessions.  The will specified that whoever was with Moose when he dies gets everything.   Chuck and Ferdinand are now the owners of the Forrester’s Club, a big old spooky rundown tavern.  The place was a hotspot during prohibition.  It is full of secret rooms and hidden passages.

Chuck, Ferdinand and three others find themselves alone at the creepy joint on a dark, stormy night.  Things take a turn for the worse when some of Moose’s gangster friends show up looking for Moose’s hidden loot.  These mugs are more than willing to kill to get what they want.

Let the fun times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hold That Ghost went into production with the working title Oh, Charlie.   Filming was well underway before the release of Abbott and Costello’s Buck Privates.  When Buck Privates became a huge hit, the pressure was on.  The studio decided to rush into production another service comedy, In The Navy featuring Abbott and Costello.  When that film was a hit, the studio decided to rework Oh, Charlie into Hold That Ghost.  A new opening and closing featuring The Andrews Sisters was added since they appeared in both Buck Privates and In The Navy.  Additional scenes were created and some were reshot.  The changes paid off since Hold That Ghost was a hit.

Hold That Ghost (1941) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“To Be Or Not To Be” (1942) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; starring Carole Lombard & Jack Benny / Z-View

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To Be Or Not To Be (1942)

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Screenplay:  Edwin Justus Mayer, Ernst Lubitsch (uncredited); story by Melchior Lengyel

Stars: Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges, Sig Ruman, Charles Halton, George Lynn, Henry Victor, Halliwell Hobbes, Rudolph Anders and Robert Stack.

Tagline:  We announce the presentation of Carole Lombard’s last picture. An exciting romantic comedy keyed to an ever-mounting tempo of suspense. Jack Benny at his best in a surprisingly different comic role.

The Plot…

1942.  World War II rages across Europe.  In Poland, Professor Siletsky, a Nazi spy has a list of fighters in the Polish underground. If Silersky gets the list to Nazis, dozens of fighters will die and the Polish war effort will be crippled.

The only hope is a drama troupe led by Joseph Tura (Benny) and his wife Maria (Lombard).  The troupe plans to impersonate Nazi leadership and take possession of Siletsky’s list.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

To Be Or Not To Be was nominated for one 1943 Academy Award…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Werner R. Heymann

Sadly, this was Carole Lombard’s last film.  Lombard, her mother and all on board died in a plane crash on January 16, 1942.  Carole Lombard was 33.  She was on a war bond tour at the time of the crash.

To Be Or Not To Be was released on March 6, 1942.  Jack Benny was so upset that he didn’t attend a preview showing of the film just one week after Lombard’s death.  Benny had also cancelled his weekly radio show the week that Carole Lombard died.

Carole Lombard said making To Be Or Not To Be was the happiest experience she ever had making a film.  Jack Benny said this movie was the only great film.  Ernst Lubitsch felt that To Be Or Not To Be was one of his best films.

Ernst Lubitsch, the film’s co-writer and director wrote the lead with Jack Benny in mind.

To Be Or Not To Be is a classic!

To Be Or Not To Be (1942) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Riff Raff” starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson & Bill Murray – The Poster is Here!

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Here we have the poster for Riff Raff starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray.  I’ve also attached the trailer in case you missed it.

Deal me in.

Riff Raff – Watch the trailer now! In theaters February 28.

Starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Miles J. Harvey, Emanuela Postacchini, Michael Angelo Covino, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray.

Oscar nominees Bill Murray and Ed Harris star alongside Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge and Pete Davidson in this darkly comic crime thriller about how far you’ll go to protect the ones you love. Vincent (Harris) and his family plan to share a quiet New Year’s Eve together until his sketchy past catches up with him and the night reveals secrets no one could ever imagine. Gabrielle Union and Emmy nominee Lewis Pullman also star.

“Riff Raff” starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson & Bill Murray – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Riff Raff starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Pete Davidson and Bill Murray has won me over.

Deal me in.

Riff Raff – Watch the trailer now! In theaters February 28.

Starring Jennifer Coolidge, Ed Harris, Gabrielle Union, Lewis Pullman, Miles J. Harvey, Emanuela Postacchini, Michael Angelo Covino, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray.

Oscar nominees Bill Murray and Ed Harris star alongside Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge and Pete Davidson in this darkly comic crime thriller about how far you’ll go to protect the ones you love. Vincent (Harris) and his family plan to share a quiet New Year’s Eve together until his sketchy past catches up with him and the night reveals secrets no one could ever imagine. Gabrielle Union and Emmy nominee Lewis Pullman also star.

“Smuggler’s Cove” (1948) starring Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys / Z-View

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Smuggler’s Cove (1948)

Director:  William Beaudine

Screenplay: Tim Ryan, Edmond Seward; based on Smuggler’s Cove 1933 serial in Blue Book Magazine by Talbert Josselyn

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Martin Kosleck, Paul Harvey, William ‘Billy’ Benedict, David Gorcey, Benny Bartlett, Eddie Gribbon, Gene Roth, Emmett Vogan and John Bleifer.

Tagline: They’re SLY SPIES…In a Harum-Scarem Adventure!!

The Plot…

Slip mistakenly believes he’s inherited a creepy old remote mansion.  He takes the gang to see his new digs.  What none of them know – but will soon find out — is a gang of criminals are using the deserted house as a base of operations!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Smuggler’s Cove is one of the best of all the Bowery Boys movies.  The old house is full of hidden passages, paintings used for spying, false panels — everything you’d expect in a film of this era.

Smuggler’s Cove (1948) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Back in Action” starring Jamie Foxx & Cameron Diaz – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Back in Action starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz looks like it might be a fun ride.  Since it streams on Netflix, watching will be a no-brainer.

Deal me in.

Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.

Release Date: January 17, 2025

Genre: Action, Comedy

CAST: Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx

“The Life of the Party” (1920) starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle / Z-View

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The Life of the Party (1920)

Director:  Joseph Henabery

Screenplay: Walter Woods; based on The Life of the Party by Irvin S. Cobb

Stars:  Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Winifred Greenwood, Roscoe Karns, Julia Faye and William Boyd.

Tagline: A fast and festive fun frolic in five acts and forty antics. Filled with gambols, girls and giggles and all fussed up with joy.

The Plot…

Algernon Leary (Arbuckle) is a lawyer approached by Milly Hollister and ladies from the Better Babies League.  Business men from a milk consortium have worked together to drive up the price of milk. Algernon is attracted to Milly and agrees to take on the case.

Judge Voris, who is hearing the case has been secretly paid off by the consortium.  The Judge has his sights on a higher office and discrediting Algernon is first on his list.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Life of the Party is Arbuckle’s second full length feature.  It lacks to fun and joy of his shorts.

The Life of the Party (1920) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” (2024) / Z-View

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Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… (2024)

Director:  Hamish Hamilton

Screenplay:  Jamie Foxx

Stars: Jamie Foxx.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

About a year ago Jamie Foxx was hospitalized.  His family clamped down on news about the cause of Foxx’s illness.  No photos.  No interviews.  So… of course speculation and rumors ran rampant.  Jamie Foxx had died.  Jamie Foxx was replaced by a clone.  Jamie Foxx had been poisoned.  Etc. Etc. Etc.

Thankfully Jamie Foxx fully recovered.  It took a lot of time and intensive rehab, but he did it.  And now Jamie Foxx wants to set the record straight.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jamie Foxx: What Happened Was is billed as a comedy special.  Which is unfortunate.  If you tune in to see Foxx’s comedy, you’ll get glimpses.  The laughs are mixed with a lot of Foxx talking about getting sick and his recovery.  Much of that is NOT funny.  And that’s fine… if you’re not expecting an all-out comedy special.

Jamie Foxx is talented.  He’s a comedian.  An actor.  A singer.  His impressions rock.  This special gives us glimpses of those talents and reminders of Foxx’s past success.  They’re found as Foxx talks about his stroke and recovery.  If you tune in thinking you’ll get a brief summary of what happened to Jamie followed by a comedy special, you’ll be disappointed.  I blame that on how the special was advertised.

Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) / Z-View

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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Director:  Jeremiah S. Chechik

Screenplay:  John Hughes based on characters created by John Hughes

Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Cody Burger, Ellen Latzen, William Hickey, Mae Questel, Nicholas Guest, Nicolette Scorsese, Brian Doyle-Murray and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Tagline: There’s No Place Like Home For A Holiday!

The Plot…

Clark (Chase) and Ellen (D’Angelo) Griswald have invited their parents to spend Christmas (and the 10 days leading up to it) and their house.  Preparing for the holidays (when you’re hosting) can be stressful. Having both sets of in-laws at the same time even more so.  Add to that Clark has over-extended to surprise his family with a new swimming pool.  The check will bounce if his Christmas bonus doesn’t arrive soon.

Plus his yuppie neighbors are always creating issues.  The Christmas lights aren’t working, the tree is too big…  Oh, and don’t forget that Uncle Lewis (Hickey) and his senile wife Aunt Bethany (Questel) are coming Christmas Day.  With his kids complaining, the in-laws making comments, finishing up at work for the Christmas (still no bonus check?)… how could things get any worse.

That’s when Ellen’s cousin’s family – Catherine (Flynn), her dumb as bricks husband (Quaid), their two kids Rocky (Burger) and Ruby Sue (Latzen), and their aptly named Rottweiler, Snots, show up unannounced.

Let the good times roll!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Mae Questel was the voice of Betty Boop in the 1930s.  Christmas Vacation was her last film appearance.

Brian Doyle-Murray, who plays Clark’s boss in this film, appeared in National Lampoon’s Vacation as another character (the clerk at Kamp Komfort).

Snots was Beverly D’Angelo’s real life dog.  Aunt Bethany’s cat was Beverly D’Angelo’s real life cat.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a stone cold classic.  Every scene is a winner.  It’s well written, well cast and well directed.  This film is required viewing each year at Christmas time.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024) directed by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe & Monica Bellucci / Z-View

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Director:  Tim Burton

Screenplay: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar; story by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Seth Grahame-Smith based on characters by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson

Stars: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Santiago Cabrera, Burn Gorman  and Danny DeVito.

Tagline: The ghost with the most is back.

The Plot…

Thirtysix years ago Betelgeuse, a vulgar, prankster ghost attempted to marry a teenager named Lydia Deetz.  Although unsuccessful, Betelgeuse hasn’t given up.  Confined to the underworld, he still has hopes to escape.

Lydia and her mother struggle to have a healthy relationship.  Lydia and her daughter, Astrid, don’t get along much better.  Astrid doesn’t believe her mom can see ghosts.

When Lydia, her mother and Astrid return to Winter River for a funeral things take a turn.  Astrid accidentally frees Betelgeuse.  Now he can finally force marriage to Lydia.  Meanwhile Betelgeuse’s first wife has “pulled herself together” and has plans for Betelgeuse (and anyone who gets in her way).  And don’t get me started on Astrid’s problems.

The juice is loose indeed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

While not as fun as the original, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is still a fun ride.  The film is best when Keaton is on screen cutting up.  Jenna Ortega is an excellent choice to play Winona Ryder’s daughter.

My favorite scene was the MacArthur Park wedding scene.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.