Displaying items by tag: Steve Zahn

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.

YOUR PLACE OR MINE

US, 2023, 109 minutes, Colour.

Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Chao, Jesse Williams, Tig Notaro, Wesley Kimmel, Steve Zahn, Griffin Matthews, Shiri Appleby.

Directed by Aline Brosh McKenna.

A romantic comedy which did not do as well at the box office as was expected, especially with Reese Witherspoon as the star and producer. But, it resembles many of the romantic comedies that she starred in.

And, this time, the romantic lead is Ashton Kutcher who also has had a strong reputation in romantic comedies.

This is the first film directed by Aileen Bross McKenna, wrote the screenplay and has written the two Devil Wore Prada films, 27 Dresses, Morning Glory, Cruella…

And, this is a romantic comedy for those in their 40s or older, the age of the central couple here. There is a prologue, an encounter 20 years earlier, but no further marital plans, rather a long two decades friendship, phone calls and emails… She has a young son in Los Angeles, he and his wealth in New York.

This is a change of places comedy, she, Debbie, going for an interview for her studies and exams in New York, he, Peter, coming to Los Angeles to babysit her son. She is an overprotective mother, forbidding her boy all kinds of activities, diets, television watchings… A checklist for Peter for the whole week.

So, the New York story, her studies, her encountering a publisher, her writing, the possibility of a romantic entanglement which does not happen, and the possibilities for her to get a position as a publishing editor. And, of all people, she is aided by Peter’s current girlfriend.

Meantime in Los Angeles, the prepared meals are thrown out, Peter takes the boy who is bullied at school out to a sports event with the bully boys, lets him what watch Alien on television, the young boy blossoming, of course.

Some angers on her part, some goodwill on his part, a finale sequence at the airport on her return and declarations of love – and, of course, happy ever after.

Just the kind of romantic escapism for a quiet night.

1. The title, romantic comedy, tone and expectations?
2. The early 2000s, the introduction, the commentary on looks, clothing, styles? The transition to 2023 and the changes?
3. The initial meeting of Debbie and Peter, the interaction, the night together, the aftermath?
4. 20 years later, Debbie, her marriage to the mountain climber, his absences, the divorce, her devotion to her son, overprotective of Jack, mothering/smothering? Her work, precision, love of reading, at the school with Jack, her friendship with Alicia? The continued phone calls and zooming with Peter, best friends over 20 years? Living in LA?
5. Peter, 20 years later, not married, his business success, wealth, the New York apartment, nothing personal? The relationship with Minka, her reaction, breaking with him? Seeing him with his business partners and clients? The continued contact with Debbie, best friends, talking about everything, his friendship with Jack?
6. The situation, Debbie to go to New York, her course, the qualifications? Relying on her babysitter, the babysitter and her audition, getting the part? Peter and his offering to come to LA to babysit? His arrival, meeting Jack, hopeless with the nicknames? Debbie and all the instructions, the notes, the prepared casseroles, the cautions about diet, medication, sport?
7. Debbie in New York, her reaction to the apartment, going to the course, earnest, taking notes? The encounter with Minka, their discussions, insights into Peter, the news about the novel, the temptation to open it and read it, her succumbing, engrossed, even during the lecture? Looking in at the literature lecture and seeing the lecturer at the bar? With Theo, the publisher? Minka and her pushing Debbie to Theo? The meeting, the night together, Debbie and the novel, persuading him to read it, his response, organising the literary editor job for her? Minka and the finding of the trinkets, the memento from 20 years earlier?
8. Peter in LA, throwing out the casseroles, the different foods, watching Alien on the television, encouraging the hockey playing? The discussions with Alicia and her advice? Enjoying the week, the bonding of the two? Jack being bullied, the device of the tickets to the hockey game, the boys talk amongst themselves, Jack disappointed? The hockey player, the injury, hospital? Confessing to Debbie?
9. Debbie, leaving Theo, leaving Minka, back at LA, the sequence at the airport, each of them on the Treadway, Debbie and her memories of the past, Peter and the admission about the novel, his always thinking that he was not good enough for Debbie? And the happy reconciliation?
10. The aftermath, Peter in LA, foster father, love, bonding, happy ever after?