This is stupid funny,
you'll be laughing throughout the entire thing, but the downfall of
most Ben Stiller films is the ever-present corporate sponsors popping
up in refrigerators and counter-tops, MTV, and the fact that this is a
pure fairy tale. People don't exist like this in real life.
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This is the next film in
a long line of movies based in the '70s that show the bleak and sick
realities in a lighter atmosphere. The main character, Vivian, a
teenager faced with breasts, bigger than anyone her own age, and the
object of fixation by many men around her. The family leads a nomadic
existence, dependent on the fortune of others to survive. The whole
adventure is charming, touching, with a breast theme - enjoyable scenes
include vibrators, sticky situations, and the drugged out cousin,
played by Marisa Tomei. Bonus points if you can recognize the main
character from her role on Pee-Wee's playhouse, or the rich widow from
that Three's Company spinoff, "Three's a Crowd".
8793 Hits
This weekend at the
Brattle Theater in Cambridge, they were showing the two French
surrealist films by the same people, Delicatessen and City of Lost
Children. Delicatessen, while I've seen it before, was definately
something different to see on the large screen. A dark, bleak and
surreal view of a French urban wasteland, Delicatessen is one of those
stories where the distinction between good and evil is a grey area.
Cannibalism, an underground society, a circus performer, mischievous
kids, the butcher, the mailman and many others make this an enjoyable
spectacle. City of Lost Children, also by Caro & Jeunet, also takes
place in a surreal, dark and bleak world. This one, however is more of
a fantasy adventure and takes our main characters through the dark
underground worlds of criminals and evil scientists (who kidnap
children to steal their dreams) to rescue their orphan friends. Quite a
wonderful film with a fairy-tale theme. Highly recommendable on a
larger screen, however.
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