Rachel Weisz Out, Drew Barrymore In for Catherine Hardwicke's 'Miss You Already'

That comeback Catherine Hardwicke was supposed to have made after toiling in tween territory with Twilight and Red Riding Hood didn't really pan out. Her last film, the hard-rock erotic thriller Plush, came and went so fast I forgot it had been released to savage reviews.There's a great deal of potential in her next film, titled Miss You Already, but it has just suffered a major change at the top with Rachel Weisz dropping out and replaced by Drew Barrymore.

Variety reports that Barrymore has come on to star with Toni Collette in the female-geared drama, which centers on best friends who hit the skids when one finally gets pregnant and the other is diagnosed with breast cancer. Also coming aboard are Dominic Cooper, Paddy Considine, and Jacqueline Bissett. This sounds like a good way for Barrymore to put Blended out of mind.

Morwenna Banks wrote the script and hopefully it's good enough to put Hardwicke back on the right track.

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Review: 'Blended' Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore

Of all the lazy and insipid comedies Adam Sandler has done over the years, of which there have been many coming on a regular basis, the one oasis in all of the dreck has been Drew Barrymore. For whatever reason, Sandler and Barrymore have had impeccable chemistry in The Wedding Singer and the passable 50 First Dates, and the two seem to genuinely enjoy one another's company. In general there is no more thankless role in Hollywood than the female lead in a Sandler comedy. Just ask poor Salma Hayek who spent Grown Ups 2literally and figuratively getting pissed on. Barrymore can usually make Sandler bearable, but damn if she doesn't face an uphill battle with Blended.

When the film's biggest gag features a pair of rhinos having sex then you know you're in for a tough sit. It's been noted many times before that Sandler has settled into a comfortable groove of making what are essentially paid vacations with his buddies, and Blendedis no different except its set in Africa. Africa, the exotic locale best known for its fu**ing rhinos and dancing natives. Although neither of these things is funny in the least, despite Sandler and director Frank Coraci's insistence, the real problem is they always come right after a moment we're meant to take seriously. Heaven forbid there is one honest emotion, other than the seething anger you'll feel having wasted two excruciating hours on Blended. That's right, Sandler doesn't even have the decency to chop this thing down to 90 minutes.

To further pound home just how low-rent an experience this is going to be, the story kicks off at a Hooters restaurant, where widower Jim (Sandler) is on a horrendous blind date with the divorced Lauren (Barrymore). Jim's the father of three girls (one of whom played by Disney Channel starlet, Bella Thorne) he's raising as boys, while she's got two wildly out of control sons. Right off the bat you sense the easy connection between Sandler and Barrymore, but the script, which calls for her to chug French Onion dip, doesn't give two craps about their chemistry.

Both parents are out of their league raising kids alone, and they both know it. Jim's oldest daughter is blossoming into a woman and you can see the Tampax joke coming from ten miles away; Lauren's eldest boy is crazy possessive and hopes she'll get back together with her douchey ex-husband (Joel McHale). A maddeningly contrived circumstance forces both families into the same African resort where the kids can squabble and the parents can continue their mutual hatred of one another.

The hatred only lasts until they need to fall in love or something. Don't get mad at me for spoiling what you already knew was coming. The problem is in how they get there, with a series of useless toilet gags in the middle of what is clearly trying to be a family comedy. But that's Sandler for you; to him a joke about masturbation and rhinos having sex is right at home in a heartwarming family film. Only when Barrymore and Sandler share the screen are we treated to genuinely sweet moments when the parents let their guards down and have a good time. Sandler can be a charming romantic lead when given the opportunity, and once in a while we see Barrymore drawing that side of him out, only to have it go away in favor of the overgrown moron. Sandler gives his usual buddies a free IMDB credit with mostly pointless cameos. The only one who seems enthusiastic about it is Shaquile O'Neal, acting just as well today as he did in Kazaam all those years ago. What silly fun there is does not include Terry Crews as the annoying leader of a singer troupe that pops up in practically every scene to semi-narrate the story, because Blended is just so complicated y'know. It's funny at first, in an Eddie Murphy "Sexual Chocolate" sort of way, but by the 10th time you just want him to be trampled by stampeding buffalo.

The major takeaway from Blended is that Sandler and Barrymore desperately need one another, but they need a decent script far more.

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New Trailer for 'Blended' Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore

And you thought because there were no Grown Ups movies coming out this summer, the plague of Sandler had somehow passed you by? Tough luck, because there's still Blended, a destined-to-be-unfunny romantic comedy with Drew Barrymore riding shotgun for the third time.

A new trailer has been released that gives us many of the same stale jokes from the last one, but does have a little more Terry Crews which is always a good thing.  Sandler and Barrymore play single parents who go their separate ways after a disastrous blind date, only to wind up at the same African safari with their kids.  Okay, I take it back. Even Crews looks pretty lame in this.

Blended opens on May 23rd.

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt 'To Walk the Clouds'; Lily Collins Learns 'How to Be Single'

* Last month we learned Joseph Gordon-Levitt was eying the lead role in Robert Zemeckis' 3D high-wire film, To Reach the Clouds, based on the book by famous tightrope walker, Philippe Petit. Now Deadline reports the deal is closed and Levitt will star as Petit, whose incredible 1974 high-wire walk between the World Trade Center towers was chronicled in James Marsh's documentary, Man on Wire. The new title of the film is To Walk the Clouds, and Zemeckis plans on filming this summer.

* It's been a busy day for Lily Collins. Earlier today she came aboard Warren Beatty's long-developing Howard Hughes biopic, and now she's in talks to star in How to Be Single, an adaptation of Liz Tuccillo's 2008 book. Directed by Christian Ditter (Collins' director on Love, Rosie) and produced by Drew Barrymore, the story centers on a New York publicist whose response to a night out with her girlfriends is to pack up and travel the world looking for other ways women are handling being single. Through seeing the world, she falls in love, suffers heartbreak, all while her friends are back home dealing with other issues. [Variety]

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Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler Go on Safari in 'Blended' Trailer

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler starred in one of my favorite romantic comedies of all-time with The Wedding Singer, a film I could watch all day and never get sick of. They make for a charming pair and their chemistry, as unlikely as it seems, works better than it should, even in the somewhat forgettable 50 First Dates.  Now they're together again for date flick Blended, and they may have gone to the well once too often.

If this painfully unfunny trailer is any indication, Blended will turn out less like the duo's previous films and more like Sandler's recent stinkers like Just Go With It. In fact, it seems to have the same hapless feel of that awful "comedy', beginning with Sandler and Barrymore's single parents on a disastrous blind date that ends with her blowing shrimp chunks everywhere. They never want to see one another again but, lo and behold, a screw up finds them and their kids stuck at the same African resort. The less said about the depiction of Africans (Just can't say no to anything, eh Terry Crews?) the better.

Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kevin Nealon, Jessica Lowe, Bella Thorne, and Joel McHale co-star and maybe they can salvage Blended into something passable when it opens May 23rd.

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Drew Barrymore to teach us How To Be Single

I don't think Drew Barrymore's been single for more than five minutes over the last decade, but she'll be behind the camera for How To Be Single, anyway. THR reports of Barrymore's signing, marking her second directorial effort. The first was 2009's Whip It, starring Ellen Page and Barrymore herself. Love that movie, and Barrymore showed she has a solid directorial hand, especially with the tough to shoot roller derby scenes.

How To Be Single is based on Liz Tuccillo's 2008 novel following the loves and break-ups of a group of friends over the course of 10 years. Marc Silverstein and Abby Kohn penned the script. Barrymore is also serving as co-producer.

This one smells strangely like He's Just Not That Into You. Don't be surprised to see a role written in for Barrymore.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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The Sunday Drive: 12/5/10

3. 127 Hours
Few directors can make a film about a guy stuck in one spot for 90 minutes seem as alive and energetic as Danny Boyle. 127 Hours features a powerful performance by James Franco as Aron Ralston, who was forced to take drastic measures after getting his arm trapped under a boulder and being stuck for 5 days. A true story of heroism and determination.
2. Faster
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is back to kicking ass and taking names again in the season's most violent, action packed film. Keep the kids at home for this one.
1. Black Swan
You'll never look at ballet quite the same way again. Natalie Portman gives an Oscar caliber performance in Darren Aronofsky's haunting tale of obsession, passion, and the eternal battle between good and evil within us all. A must see.

DVD Pick of the Week: Going the Distance
I was surprised as anybody to walk out of the theater thinking that Going the Distance might be the best romantic comedy of 2010. Drew Barrymore, always a staple of the genre, pairs up with her on/off again boytoy Justin Long as a lovestruck couple trying to make a living in two very different, very far apart cities. I'm no fan of Long, but he and Barrymore together are clearly loving every moment they're spending together, and it makes you feel closer to them both. This isn't the first time we've seen a comedy on this subject, but rarely is it treated with this level of maturity while maintaining a humorous, adult edge.

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Going the Distance

Everybody walks into a long distance relationship with the best of intentions, but few are prepared for just how difficult it really is. What starts out as a means of keeping someone you love close and in your heart often turns into a sad chase to steal a few moments of phone time in hopes that it will suffice. Few romantic comedies have ever truly tackled the subject with any real authenticity. What usually happens in movies romances is that a couple will part ways then reunite months or years later and pick up where they started. Why bother with the sticky stuff in-between? Going the Distance approaches the subject with maturity and just a hint of raunch, deftly avoiding cliche and giving us what is the hippest, most honest rom-com since 500 Days of Summer stole our hearts last year.

I'm as surprised as anybody. Surprised not at how enjoyable Going the Distance is, but at just how fresh and relatable it turns out be. It helps to have everybody's favorite sweetheart, Drew Barrymore starring as Erin. Justin Long shows some real leading man potential as Garrett. Both are in their early 30s, and struggling to break into two slowly dying professions: the newspaper biz and the record industry. They'd have better luck buying a goose and praying it lays a golden egg, but that doesn't stop them from pushing for their dreams, and it's that determination that becomes an unintended obstacle.

The two meet ion the same day Garrett is unceremoniously dumped, hooking up after a wild night of New York bar hopping and silly introductory banter. She's the sortof girl every guy(at least in movies) would fall in love with: she's a bit flighty, but she can belch in public, loves movies and can fit in with the guys. Oh, and she's hot. He's stuck in a repeating cycle of break-ups and denials of any responsibility. After their hook up, the two should go their separate ways, but mutual attraction keeps them together. There's just one big problem: Erin's only in town for six more weeks before flying home to California to continue her studies at Stanford. The weeks fly by, and at the end nobody wants to say good-bye.

After what can be considered a standard romantic comedy opening, things take a turn for the real when Erin and Garrett decided to give the long distance thing a try. At first, it all goes off without a hitch. Conversations are brisk and it's like they were never apart. It always starts that way. When Garrett first flies out to see Erin at her sister's(played by Christina Applegate) home, their hormones rage out of control and they hook up on the dining room. But it doesn't last. The phone calls become fewer; the high price of flying takes it's toll; and fears of infidelity begin to creep in.

You can see it coming, and one of the reasons why the film works so well is that it doesn't shy away from the crappy stuff. It confronts them head on. The insightful script by Geoff Latulippe, was on the 2009 Black List, the best un-produced screenplays in Hollywood. It hits the right note of happiness with a tinge of uneasiness. Some of the scenes where Garrett and Erin begin to sense their relationship coming apart bit by bit are tough to take, and feel ripped from someone's own personal experience. In almost any film about couples, an effort is made to provide a bad guy. Somebody does something awful, or the love diminishes in a way that makes the characters unlikable. That never happens here. Both characters love eachother the same at the end as they do at the beginning, but is that always enough?

A superb cast helps keep the tone light even as the going gets tough. Without the occasional sophmoric crack by Garrett's two best buddies, Box(Jason Sudeikis) and Dan(Charlie Day), this could be a hard film for some to endure because the emotions are so raw. Applegate is also good as Erin's neurotic, obsessive compulsive sister. Whether or not Barrymore and Long, a real life couple, channeled any of their own issues into their characters isn't clear, but they come off as a natural fit.

That's not to say there aren't a few miscues. Director Nanette Burstein, a mostly documentary filmmaker who produced American Teen and The Kid Stays in the Picture a few years ago, makes some awkward style shifts along the way. At one point she literally switches cameras during a streetside dinner date, giving the grainy, realistic feel of some of her past works. The problem I have isn't that she did it. I actually liked it a lot. I wish she had done it more often. The script is written in such a way that a biographical take might've worked like a charm. Lastly, Going the Distance falls victim to the pitfalls of American cinema by tacking on ten extra minutes when it's not needed. The story reaches a perfect point to wrap up, with a conclusion that might've been more ambiguous than some would've preferred. Sometimes I want to imagine what happens next rather than having it spelled out for me all of the time.

Some will compare the raw honesty of Going the Distance to 2006's The Break-Up. There are some thematic similarities to be sure. The Break-Up was essentially about two people who never learned enough about the other to know how to fix what was broken. Going the Distance is an intelligently made film about two people who've found love and are willing to go to any lengths to make sure it lasts forever. How can you not want to see a movie about that?

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Double Trailer Time: Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, and Going the Distance starring Drew Barrymore & Justin Long

Partly because it's late and I got stuff to do, and partly because I really want to highlight  both of these flicks. We're getting the first teaser trailer for Danny Boyle's next film, 127 Hours, starring James Franco as Aron Ralston. If the name sounds familiar, Ralston was the mountain climber who spent 127 hours trapped on a mountain after a boulder crushed his arm and trapped him in a canyon. I'm loving the look of the trailer, and it shows us quite a bit more than I was expecting. In particular I like the way they used Boyle's diverse filmography to show that this film is just as much a spectacular adventure as the rest. Plus it's always cool to see his amazing fairy tale, Millions, get a mention. If you haven't yet seen it, you should rent it right now. Anyway, 127 Hours is set to release on November 5th, 2010. Thanks to Slashfilm for the screen grab.

And second, the trailer for Going the Distance, which releases next week. Drew Barrymore and Justin Long star as a couple who find eachother at the worst possible time, as both have lives to lead on totally different coasts. Their attempts to forge a lasting long distance relationship prove harder than either of them anticipated. The reason I want to  mention this seemingly formulaic rom-com is that it's not at all what you expect. Without giving too much away, let's just say that it treats the material with more respect than the trailer might indicate. I'm in love with Drew Barrymore all over again. Just thought I'd throw that in there. Havent liked her this much since Fever Pitch. That's right. I'm the guy who liked Fever Pitch.  Our review of Going the Distance will be up next week, but mark it down as a flick to see with your significant other.

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4th & Short: 1/31/10

So last week I completely forgot to write this post. No excuses. It just completely slipped my mind. Not that it would've mattered, since nothing came out that would've altered my opinion of the three best films anyway. This week isn't much different. January and February can be a real drag.

3. Edge of Darkness

So I've bashed this movie pretty hard, particularly it's molasses pacing and inability to muster up any suspense. But with that said, Mel Gibson's performance as a grizzled Boston cop investigating the murder of his activist daughter is compelling stuff, and the chief reason to check this film out. It's good to see Gibson back at the top of his game. This is his first starring role since 2002, when he starred in both We Were Soldiers and M. Night Shymalan's Signs.

2. A Single Man

A Single Man has expanded to more theatres this week thanks to the Oscar buzz generated by it's star, the brilliant Colin Firth. This is his most daring performance yet, starring as a homosexual man going through the motions of life after dealing with the death of his partner. A dreamy and glamorous directorial debut from fashion designer, Tom Ford.

1. The Book of Eli

Even if you're sick of the barren post-apocalyptic scenarios like I am, Denzel Washington manages to raise this film's status through sheer charisma alone. He stars as a travelling road warrior, a book toting badass on a mysterious mission. If after all this time you still haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and keep your eyes off any reviews...yes, even mine, that might spoil the film's twisty conclusion.

DVD Pick of the Week: Whip It
I think I like Drew Barrymore better behind the camera at this point. Her directorial debut is a perky and upbeat coming of age flick for the tweeny-bopper set. Ellen Page stars as an insightful, quirky girl in a small town(not unlike her Juno character) who's life is full of gowns, make-up, and beauty pageants. That is until she discovers the world of women's roller derby, and finds her niche as a jamming, elbow throwing badass.  Expecting little, Whip It is a ton of fun, and full of strong performances by Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, and Jimmy Fallon.

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