Phil Villarreal's Blog, page 156
April 3, 2012
Review: American Reunion
For all American Pie alumni not named Alyson Hannigan, the decision to make yet another unasked-for movie in the series was a no-brainer. It was either that or Celebrity Rehab. So everyone you remember from the original movie and its decreasingly funny sequels is back, including the sad, animatronic approximation of Tara Reid concocted by plastic surgeons and Botox.
It's been nine years since the last American Pie; it only feels like 50. American Reunion seemed practically destined for failure, with its band of burned-out, typecast-and-discarded actors huddling together for the sake of teaming up once again rather than comedic design.
So it's all the more pleasant a surprise that American Reunion is funnier than all other movies in the series combined. Remember that Twilight Zone episode where the old people come out and play kick the can, rediscovering their youth for a little bit as they transform back into little kids? That's sort of what happens here, courtesy of the writing/directing team of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, the team behind Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
All the funnier jokes are disgusting and wrong, which is just as it should be for an American Pie movie. If poop in a beer coolers, sex organs trapped in laptops and obliviously creepy 30-somethings socializing, flirting with and fighting kids half their age aren't funny to you, you'd best steer clear. But if you've defiantly not allowed yourself to mature a bit since 1999, American Reunion will be your happy place.
Everything that has to click into place does just that. Jason Biggs carries the film with his hapless klutz schtick and Seann William Scott is more outrageous than ever as a gleefully idiotic manchild who doubles as someone who would be a terrifying sexual predator if he weren't so obviously a screenwriting construct. Everyone else is a bit player who stays out of the way for the most part, stepping in when necessary to claim stray punchlines while filling out a convincing rapport with the band of long-lost buddies.
So many comedies start off with an insanely funny first 15 minutes or half hour, only to die out, setting up a contrived crisis, solving it humorlessly and calling it a day. But not this one. I was sure American Reunion wouldn't maintain its momentum after its start, but it never fell off. Like a blackjack player who inexplicably keeps hitting winning hands despite all odds, the movie pushes farther and farther, letting the ridiculousness of its characters crowd out the insignificant plotlines.
Somehow, there's even something resembling a heart to the riotous proceedings. Each character is dealing with some sort of midlife crisis and relationship problem -- sexless marriages, rehashed high school flings, dead-end careers -- and the filmmakers spin their insecurities and failures into comic gold. The movie heedlessly telegraphs its payoffs, builds up to them in a comedic avalanche, then makes you feel as though you're a part of it when it hits.
During the end credits, pangs of nostalgia follow the laughs in a bittersweet chaser. We see current shots of each actor juxtaposed with their bright-eyed 1999 versions. They were all impossibly young. So were we.
Starring Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Eugene Levy. Written by and Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, with characters by Adam Herz. Directed by Hurwitz and Schlossberg. Rated R. 113 minutes.
My novel, Stormin' Mormon, is available as a Kindle book for $1.
It's been nine years since the last American Pie; it only feels like 50. American Reunion seemed practically destined for failure, with its band of burned-out, typecast-and-discarded actors huddling together for the sake of teaming up once again rather than comedic design.
So it's all the more pleasant a surprise that American Reunion is funnier than all other movies in the series combined. Remember that Twilight Zone episode where the old people come out and play kick the can, rediscovering their youth for a little bit as they transform back into little kids? That's sort of what happens here, courtesy of the writing/directing team of Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, the team behind Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
All the funnier jokes are disgusting and wrong, which is just as it should be for an American Pie movie. If poop in a beer coolers, sex organs trapped in laptops and obliviously creepy 30-somethings socializing, flirting with and fighting kids half their age aren't funny to you, you'd best steer clear. But if you've defiantly not allowed yourself to mature a bit since 1999, American Reunion will be your happy place.
Everything that has to click into place does just that. Jason Biggs carries the film with his hapless klutz schtick and Seann William Scott is more outrageous than ever as a gleefully idiotic manchild who doubles as someone who would be a terrifying sexual predator if he weren't so obviously a screenwriting construct. Everyone else is a bit player who stays out of the way for the most part, stepping in when necessary to claim stray punchlines while filling out a convincing rapport with the band of long-lost buddies.
So many comedies start off with an insanely funny first 15 minutes or half hour, only to die out, setting up a contrived crisis, solving it humorlessly and calling it a day. But not this one. I was sure American Reunion wouldn't maintain its momentum after its start, but it never fell off. Like a blackjack player who inexplicably keeps hitting winning hands despite all odds, the movie pushes farther and farther, letting the ridiculousness of its characters crowd out the insignificant plotlines.
Somehow, there's even something resembling a heart to the riotous proceedings. Each character is dealing with some sort of midlife crisis and relationship problem -- sexless marriages, rehashed high school flings, dead-end careers -- and the filmmakers spin their insecurities and failures into comic gold. The movie heedlessly telegraphs its payoffs, builds up to them in a comedic avalanche, then makes you feel as though you're a part of it when it hits.
During the end credits, pangs of nostalgia follow the laughs in a bittersweet chaser. We see current shots of each actor juxtaposed with their bright-eyed 1999 versions. They were all impossibly young. So were we.
Starring Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Eugene Levy. Written by and Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, with characters by Adam Herz. Directed by Hurwitz and Schlossberg. Rated R. 113 minutes.
My novel, Stormin' Mormon, is available as a Kindle book for $1.
March 29, 2012
How To Install A New Thermostat
Electrical things attached to your wall tend to be intimidating to neophyte do-it-yourselfers, especially if the apparatus controls the temperature of your home. But before you call in a pro to install a new thermostat, it's worth taking a crack at the operation yourself.
The Penny Frugalista explains how she tackled the project. Here are some key steps:
* Do a lot of unscrewing. Every model is different, but be prepared to detach it piece by piece. Says the writer, "there were a lot of screws."
* Remember which wires go where. Your thermostat won't do you much good if it's not connected. Note which wires are attached and where, and find the corresponding parts on your new thermostat.
* Fill in the holes. A new thermostat installation kit may require new screws in different places, so use some putty to fill in the old holes before you mount the new unit.
Fix-It Friday: Installing a Digital Thermostat [The Penny Frugalista]
Use Hemorrhoid Cream To Battle Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
If you've got an interview or presentation to give, it can be daunting to stare into the mirror and notice that your eyes are puffy or accompanied by dark circles. A popular, if scientifically unproven, home remedy for the condition is to apply hemorrhoid cream to the area around your peepers.
While noting there's no evidence that the treatment works for everyone, as well as the fact that hemorrhoid cream is not meant for the face, a 2010 Livestrong post walks you through the process of using the cream to make yourself look perkier.
You start by washing your face, then blot it dry and apply the cream to the area. The idea is that the cream will shrink the swollen tissue causing the eye issues. A doctor quoted in the piece recommends trying it only once or twice a week.
How To Use Preparation H For Dark Circles [Livestrong]
March 28, 2012
Cut Down On Your Toilet's Water Usage With This Trick
There's a simple, less disgusting way to cut down on your toilet's water usage than urinating in your backyard or employing the "if it's pee, let it be; if it's brown, flush it down" maxim. If you place something heavy and non-obstructive in your tank, the object will take up volume and require your toilet to send less water to raise the level to its setting.
Water bottles filled with sand or something else that won't float will do the trick. When you're just starting out, monitor the flush from beginning to end to make sure your object isn't blocking your flushing mechanism, otherwise you may be doing more harm than good.
If you drop something into your toilet tank, be sure not to use something that will disintegrate and harm your pipes.
March 27, 2012
5 Inventive Meals To Make Out Of Beans And Rice
As far as stock foods go, it's tough to find cheaper, relatively healthier staples than beans and rice. While the thought of eating either as side dishes isn't very exciting, creative cooks can combine the two into interesting meals.
WiseBread offers these dishes you can craft from beans and rice:
* Korean pancakes. These gluten-free munchies work well as a snack or main dish.
* Soup. Pintos and brown rice meld together nicely in slurpable form.
* Burrito bowls. Cut those carb-toting tortillas out of the equation to enjoy the innards of your burrito without a wrap.
* Salad. Here's a recipe for a salsa, black beans and rice salad. Salsa can make boring things taste spectacular.
* Sticky rice balls. Beans go well with this Thai recipe for sticky rice balls, which just begs for a Saturday Night Live NPR parody featuring Alec Baldwin.
25 Tasty Ways to Enjoy Beans and Rice [WiseBread]
