Displaying items by tag: Paul Rudd

POWER BALLAD

Ireland/US, 2026, 98 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Beth Fallon, Jack Reynor, Havana Rose Liu.

Directed by John Carney.

Drama about music, songs and lyrics, creativity, performance, the wonderful satisfaction that a composer has in creating something beautiful. But, this is a story with some edge. But it is humane, sometimes funny, sometimes with regrets, but a satisfying ending.

The film is the work of writer-director, John Carney, himself a singer and bass player, composer (from the some of the music in this film). His films have had music very centrally in their dramas, popular successes with such films as Once and Sing Street.

The action takes place mainly in Carney’s Ireland, in Dublin, are some sequences in the United States, especially a concert performance in Los Angeles. However, the central character is American, a very fine performance by Paul Rudd, always adept comedy, but also having the opportunity to play music and sing. His character, Rick Power (which as many of the title) has settled in Dublin, married with a daughter, part of the band who said at weddings. (Paul Rudd’s biography mentions that he sang and played at bar/that Mrs in his young days.)

In the meantime, a young American singer, Nick Jonas, who in real life has had this kind of career with his brothers and then as a soloist, is invited to sing with a group at a wedding. He is genial, Rick is happy to join him in singing, a happy success. In the aftermath means that the two of them spend a night, at the piano, wrecking, Rick sharing some of his compositions, a great learning experience for Danny who gifts Rick with a classic guitar.

Where to from here? Home, Danny’s scrums, please and sings a melody that Rick had shared with him. Encouraged by his girlfriend, manipulated by his manager, Danny records the song – instant hit, millions of followers, rapturous audiences and concerts, everybody singing it.

At a shopping mall, Rick it – and the rest of the film is the drama, the impact on Week, no proof that he ever wrote the song, calls to the manager, legal issues, his family expecting a financial windfall. And quite an effect on Rick and his feeling exploited.

In fact, the aftermath has very serious overtones for Rick, his family, his band, but it is also played with great good humour, a Russian visit to LA, an encounter (understatement) with Danny and pleasing ending journey at a concert, for Rick back home – and a final short sequence with a pleasing moral for the whole story, especially for Rick.

All in all, a pleasing experience and a nice song.

1. The title, songs, sock soft rock ballads, the central character of Rick Power?
2. The work of the director, musician, singer, composer, his films are musical themes?
3. Composition of the song? Rick, his story, American, his band, the initial sequences, the credits, Rick and his playing to the fans, then reality, not successful, the Irish tool, meeting his life, marriage, the birth of his daughter, staying in Ireland, his group, singing at weddings? Satisfied with his life? The encounter with Danny, spending the evening, the piano, songs, the lyrics? The friendship?
4. The Irish setting, Dublin, homes and streets, the weddings, celebrations? The contrast with US, Los Angeles, concerts, the venues, backstage? The LA mansions?
5. The musical score, the background score, the range of songs, the key song and its repetition? The chorus? The range of cities, the fans? The full song at the end?
6. Rick, his friendship with Sandy, manager, covered and, very Irish? The band, the performances, the crowds? Long time with the group, the van, the instruments, performances, the response of the newly married’s, those attending?
7. At the Castle, the accommodation, the double bunks in the small room, the performance, the couple asking for Danny Wilson to singing, his popularity, his presence, the singing, ripped joining in, bonding? The evening, Danny his vast room, the piano, the songs, the lyrics, the happy ending? The gift of the classical guitar?
8. Rick, the mall, hearing the song, his reaction? The popularity, online, the millions of hits? The effect on him? Disbelief, the phone calls to his manager, no response? The group asking for the song, his refusal, the fight? The clash with Sandy? At home, claiming the authorship, the response of his wife and daughter, not supporting him? Becoming paranoid, leaving home, asking Sandy for help?
9. Danny, America, lack of success, the reputation of the boy band, his manager, pressurising him, his girlfriend? Hearing the song, her response? The manager, the discussions about the authorship, the pressure, the performance, the record, the success, the fans?
10. Rick, decision to go to LA, with Sandy, the dream on the plane that he reconciled, Sandy and his behaviour, laughing at the comedy is on the plane?a, the ruse for getting behind the scenes with the pretended phone call, meeting the couple from Dublin, the address the party, getting in, Sandy, playing the guitar, ripped finding Danny following up to the sauna, Danny and his lifestyle?
11. The confrontation, the issue of money, ripped not wanting money, wanting the truth, the fight, admitting the truth, falling over the balcony, Rick jumping, the manager and the pursuit?
12. Back home, the issue of money, wife and daughter wanting it, ripped talking about it but wanting only the truth? His daughter playing the videos, the discovery of playing it for her when she is a little, the story that he had told to Danny, support of his wife and daughter?
13. The reconciliation with the band, Sandy and his role? The performances at the wedding? The request of the song, singing it? His explanation?
14. The moral of the story, truth, reputation, creativity, the episode with the young stealing from the busker in the street and Rick’s reaction, the final moment, giving the busker the role of money, a happy moral ending?

ANACONDA

US, 2025, 99 minutes, Colour.

Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Selton Mello, Ione Skye, John Billingsley, Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez.

Directed by Thomas Gormican.

Once upon a time, well, in fact, 1996, there was a famous snake-adventure-thriller, set in the Amazon, about a company making a film about an Anaconda. And the stars were Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz. It was one of those films which many considered so bad that it is good and enjoyable. And, there were some attempts at sequels and spin-offs.

Almost 30 years later, here is an ambitious rebooting with explicit reference to the original. And, with Jack Black and Paul Rudd as the stars, it has strong comedy intentions. And, audiences have enjoyed it, accepting all the silliness in the ideas and execution, looking for the parallels, and lots of visual and verbal jokes. And, even Ice Cube turns up again – and an unexpected but hoped-for cameo right at the end!

Stole satiric American comedies might remember filmmaking and the comedy, Tropic Thunder.

The presupposition is that two young boys, growing up together, had a love for horror films and made one together, along with another friend who is a photographer. But, life has not turned out quite as expected. Jack Black makes videos for weddings, even to incorporate some touches of horror conventions. He has a nice wife, family, but has not succeeded as he hoped for. Paul Rudd is seen as an actor who has not quite achieved what he hoped for, rehearsing a few lines for an audition, a variety of renderings – and then being fired. Steve Zahn is a local friend, problems with drugs and drink, the photographer, working on the wedding videos but being fired.

The proposition is that the actor says he has the rights to Anaconda and would love to remake it with his friends, raising some money, very limited, joining with a friend from the old days, played by Thandiwe Newton, setting out for the Amazon (with Queensland scenery standing in for the Amazon), and finding a local who has a talent for managing Anacondas (an amusing turn from Selton Mello). But, in the meantime, without the film crew’s knowledge, there are issues between goldminers, smugglers and local police.

Put everything in the mix, stir, complications with the police and the smugglers, many shots of the filming, pratfalls and mess ups, action with the Anaconda, some personal falling out and jealousies…

But, there is much more to come, especially when an actual film company passes them on their way to locations for shots. And, then, an enormous Anaconda who can swallow people whole and regurgitate them (and some close-ups of this!). In the jungle, smugglers and the authorities, and refugees from the film company, fleeing from and then conquering the Anaconda.

So, some desperate situations, rescues and survival, some footage of the film – and a screening at the Buffalo International film Festival where they all come from. Much of this version of Anaconda may not stay in the memory, but it is amusingly silly while we are watching.

FRIENDSHIP

US, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer.

Directed by Andrew DeYoung.

To be fair to this film, which this reviewer did not enjoy, hero to opposite opinions, the former favourable opinion being that of many American audiences.

A New Classic

Friendship is an absolute gem of a movie. The film is laugh out loud funny during its entire runtime. Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd are both hilarious and everyone else in the ensemble is very funny as well. The movie balances physical humor, funny situations, and well written jokes very well. The movie has some great set up and pay off jokes. Andrew DeYoung wrote and directed this movie and he did a great job in both of those aspects. The film is also shot very well, especially for a comedy, the cinematography here is fantastic. The movie is also very well edited and uses typical comedic editing tropes usually found in older movies or cartoons to full effect in this movie. I highly recommend this one if you like comedies.

willphelan, Apr 25, 2025

Cringe Worthy

I left the theater feeling as if I needed a deep cleanse. The scenes supposedly meant to be funny were not. Instead, they created a disturbing sense of voyeurism, as the viewer is forced to watch as an emotionally handicapped person embarrasses and debases himself and over again, in several ridiculous, often violent ways, causing harm to himself and others in his desperation to be included in his neighbor's circle of friends. His behavior was unpleasant and creepy, but, strangely, there was no attempt by anyone, wife or neighbor, to encourage him to seek help. There is no redeeming value in this depiction of male relationships.

burnleybainbridge,  Jun 12, 2025

While many audiences have found the film very funny, this was not this reviewer’s sense of humour. The central character, played by Tim Robinson (many television comic appearances and Saturday Night Live), is not one to identify with. Much of the action seem to be quite absurd, not in the comic absurd mode but very much absurd absurd. And a lot of profanity and swearing. The drama was focusing on male friendship, male needs, male inadequacies, male stupidities – and, even with Paul Rudd’s final wink, the future is still seems very, very uncertain.

DEATH OF A UNICORN

US, 2025, 107 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Jenny Ortega, Will Poulter, Tea Leoni, Richard E.Grant, Anthony Carrigan, Jessica Hynes.

Directed by Alex Scharfmann.

Certainly an arresting title. Unicorns take us into the world of imagination, fantasy, even of symbolism. But with death in the title, it is all rather foreboding.

What follows is a rather sombre drama but the audience being kept alert by unexpected events, memories of stories about unicorns, the screenplay making them more and more symbolic as the action goes on.

A lawyer and his young daughter, grieving the death of her mother, are seen travelling on a highway out in a forest wilderness. He is intent on getting the wealthy owner of a mansion, with terminal cancer, to sign documents for the administration of this estate. He lives with his wife, son and heir, with two servants. He is pharmaceutical tycoon with his own laboratory and doctors and assistance.

The father and daughter are played by Paul Rudd and Jenny Ortega. The family is Richard E. Grant as the dying tycoon, Tea Leoni as his wife, Will Poulter standing out as his spoilt son.

But, in this context, there is an accident on the highway, the car hitting a unicorn, the question of a mercy killing to put it out of its misery, loading it into the car, the plan to bury the unicorn secretly at night.

With the accident on the highway, the film is quite unpredictable, tantalising with the behaviour of the characters, the power of the unicorns, speculation on the symbolism, healing powers, hostility to humans…

A word of caution. If this review has stimulated interest, a warning that there are quite some horror and brutality sequences in a number of deaths throughout the film… and an Eat the Rich theme.

Unpredictable journey which turns into symbolic nightmare.

1. The arresting title? The reality of the accident with the unicorn? The consequences? Symbolic interpretation?
2. The situation, the mansion in the woods, the owner and his illness, business and medications, plan for his administration, the unicorns, healing, exploitation, vengeance and destruction?
3. The opening, Elliot and Ridley, the tension between the two, her not wanting to be there, memories of her mother and her death, Elliot focusing on the success of the business, relying on Ridley’s presence? The drive, the unicorn, hitting it, Ridley and her sense of its presence, Elliot putting it out of its misery, loading it into the car, intending to bury it secretly?
4. The mansion on the family, Odell, dying, demanding? Belinda and her support, her manner, aristocratic? Shepard, his age, the heir, casual, in shorts, his attitude? Shaw, the servant, her severe manner, command? Griff, his appearance, servant, at beck and call, his willingness?
5. Each character, the encounters, likes and dislikes? Ridley creating an atmosphere of awkwardness? Discussion about the plan, the almost signing?
6. The unicorns, attack, the healing powers, the shining horn, Ridley and the connection? The effect on Odelll? And the beginnings of thoughts of exploitation? Shepard and his reaction – and the later snorting the powder from the unicorns?
7. The mythology, the tapestries, the stories, Ridley and her art studies, interpretations?
8. The unicorns arriving, to rescue the young, the invasion, the role of the servants, laboratory, the doctor and assistant, the examination of the unicorns, the tests, the science, the attack and the death of the doctor?
9. The unicorns and their presence, the siege, the attacks, chases throughout the house, Odell and his going hunting, Shepard and his slack attitudes, Belinda trying to be nice?
10. The succession of deaths, the vindictiveness of the unicorns, Odell, attack on Belinda, Shaw?
11. The impact on Elliot, relationship with Ridley, Ridley and her fears, interpretations? The possibility for escape? Griff and unlocking the door, to move to the car? Griff and his escape?
12. Shepard, the doctor’s assistant, involving her, her death?
13. The final attack on Elliot, his going into the cosmic experience as Ridley had, the unicorns and their capacity for revival, Elliot’s revival, reunited with Ridley? The venerating performance by the unicorns?
14. Elliott and Ridley, their leaving, change of mind and heart?
15. The film as horror, as action, as “Eat the Rich”, business exploitation, the environment, mythologies as symbolic for experience?

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE

US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Lancaster, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton, John Rothman.

Directed by Gil Kenan.

It’s 40 years since audiences first enjoyed the first Ghostbusters film, funny, touch of the frightening, ghosts in New York City, and the happy characters of the Ghostbusters themselves.

There was a sequel five years later. Then, in 2016, a female version of the same story, with Chris Hemsworth very funny as the token male secretary, but, at the time, many audiences considered this a desecration! So, five years later, an attempt to revive the franchise with Ghostbusters in the next generation. Moderate success. Now, something of a risk in making this film in the series. Jason Reitman, the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman, worked with Gil Kenan, who wrote the previous film, worked hard on being inventive this time round.

Some delight for the fans of the original film, Dan a Croydon having a central role here, his character in retirement but ready to fight again; then Bill Murray turning up, interviewing a suspect but finally joining in; Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts (although the other Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, died in 2014).

Some delight for those who enjoyed the 2021 film, the same family of Ghostbusters reappears here as well. They are very much the younger generation, Finn Wolfhard ,as Trevor, age 18, Mckenna Grace is the very precocious, Phoebe, age 15, along with their stepfather, Paul Rudd, the mother, Carrie Coon, and several of the young characters who resume their roles.

Something for everyone. And, judging by the initial box office returns and success, mostly everyone has been very pleased.

We join an initial chase through New York City and the pursuit of the ghost. But, something of a change of tone when a man, Nadeem, comes in to sell his grandmother’s goods, in Dan Aykroyd’s store, amongst the goods a mysterious ball covered in ancient hieroglyphics, taken to the antiquities expert, Patton Oswalt, and whole yarn about a power struggle four thousand years ago and the power contained in this strange ball.

Lots of complications from then on. The Indian man, comedian Kumail Nanjiani discovers he has powers to transfer flame by moving his fingers – which will come in handy for the final confrontation! But, is a lonely ghost who betrays Phoebe, her friend, who unleashes the monster – and a new ice age all over New York City.

So, the old Brigade, the new brigade, kinds of sinister folklore from the past, confrontations of power, a lot of family problems in between, but then the final showdown.

Which means that this is popular entertainment at its most popular.

1. The Ghostbusters franchise? 40 years? The 2020s generation?
2. Audiences remembering the original film, cherishing it, the characters, the issues, ghostbusting? Younger audiences and the 2020s, the next generation? The very young Ghostbusters? This film and the reintroduction of the old characters, enhancing the action, the enjoyment?
3. The New York setting, the old fire station, the headquarters of the Ghostbusters? The musical score and the use of the familiar popular song?
4. Gary and the family, the ghost in the sky, the reckless driving through New York, confronting the ghost? Trapping the ghost in the cellar, the machine and the red light, green light? The final crash? The reaction of the mayor and his continual condemnations?
5. The family, Gary, teacher, ghost busting, Ali, the marriage, her children, Trevor and his abilities, age, driving? Phoebe, precocious, 15, science skills, weapons, ghost busting? The mayor forbidding her to work?
6. Tensions within the family, the children’s ages, their expertise, wanting to Ghostbusters, relationship with their mother, tensions with Gary? Working together, final resolutions?
7. The comedy with Dan Ackroyd, memories of the other films, his shop, retirement, Pod cast on his assistance? Nadeem, arrival, settling his grandmother’s goods, shrewd and the bargaining? The global object, Ray fascinated, consulting his antiquities friend, the long explanation of the mythology, the monster, the hieroglyphics?
8. Ray, Podcast, his age, assisting? Lucky, from the previous film? Lars, arm in sling, his expertise?
9. The ghost, companionship with Phoebe, calm, tricking her, Phoebe and her demonstration, going into the cell, the transition, becoming a ghost, the two minutes? The loosening of the sinister ball, the creature coming out, its horns, resurrecting? And the resurrecting of all the ghosts?
10. Mayhem in New York, the ice age, the crystals, the spikes, people frozen, vehicles, the destruction of the city?
11. The team reassembling, Ray, Bill Murray and his character, his interview with Nadeem, Winston, his retirement, coming into action, Janine and her return? Teaming up with the younger generation? The weapons, the attack, the ammunition being frozen?
12. Nadeem, the touch of the conman, his grandmother, the discovery of who he was, his power with his finger, the fire? His ultimate contribution, the fire?
13. Everybody frozen, the ghost, the cigarette lighter, her throwing it to Phoebe, Nadeem and his powers, the conflagration, the destruction of the ghosts?
14. The mayor, the public, his being shamed into praising the Ghostbusters? The old brigade their happy retirement? The new family, the domestic problems throughout, Gary a stepfather, Phoebe and her reactions, calling Gary dead? The happy reunion?
15. In the presence of the marshmallow ghost throughout, mischief, and the final joke during the credits?