CarolStarr Reviews

Drake and Josh Go Hollywood (2006 TV Movie)

I like Drake and Josh really I do but this movie was horrible

[5/10 · 15 January 2006]

I'm only giving this a five because I like the talents of Drake Bell and Josh Peck. All of the main actors involved were more talented than the lame (thanks Dan Schneider) teleplay.

I liked the beginning scenes in the house and Drake playing at the old folks home (the apple sauce wanting senior citizen was about the funniest part of the whole movie) because it seemed the most realistic. Well, I suppose no retirement home would accept a rock and roll band as the talent. I also liked the scene in the car on the way to the airport. Drake, Josh and Miranda Cosgrove (who plays Megan Parker) really act like they could be siblings.

Some misguides: Walter (Jonathan Goldstein) didn't know the Titanic was a real ship? Gee, no wonder he's just a weatherman. Drake and Josh trying to go past security. What one of the previous posters said about the Presidential Suite that Megan was staying in--even if Mrs. Nichols (the always underused Nancy Sullivan) had a credit card with a sky high limit there's no way Megan could stay at that hotel without parent notification first. The criminals weren't all that tough. Geez, even in The Beatles' "Help!" Victor Spinetti's character pulled a gun out on the lads. Megan being able to take the money from the currency machine after she turned on the fans (and the only people who noticed her were her brothers). There's so many errors, that you get the general idea. It seems that Dan Schneider was just putting out a product and characterization went out the window. I can't tell you how many times us fans of the show sit and analyze things to death that the powers that be could care less about because it's "Only a Nickelodeon show."

It was also nice seeing Drake sing one of the songs from his album "Telegraph" called "Hollywood Girl". Ironic that Drake Parker gets better publicity for Drake Bell songs than the real Drake Bell. Also a minor gripe that a record deal wouldn't come that fast and he never would have been offered the chance to be on "TRL" as an unsigned artist in the first place.

There's some funny/cute interaction between the principal players and Drake's real life music gets some TV exposure, but the movie just falls flat. It could've been a million times better.

During one of the trailers the voice over says "their first movie"...if there should be a second, I hope it is not as terrible as this outing was.

And calling it a movie is misleading because if you take out the commercial breaks it is only like an hour and six minutes long.

It's a shame that some of the better fan fiction writers out there respect the characters better than Dan Schneider the man who created the show.

"you're no Wayne Newton".

7/10

Drake & Josh (2004–2007)

Hug Me, Brotha

[8/10 · 31 July 2005]

Nickelodeon may have created this show for the tweenie and younger crowd, but it is a guilty pleasure of many people over the intended age demographic.

The synopsis of the show is that Drake's Mom marries Josh's Dad and the boys who have known each other since fourth grade become brothers. The show was created by Dan Schneider who played Dennis Blunden on the '80s ABC sitcom, "Head of the Class".

Drake Bell (Drake Parker) and Josh Peck (Josh Nichols) have a great chemistry together and make a great comedic duo.

They don't show the parents often, but Audrey Parker-Nichols (Nancy Sullivan) and Walter Nichols (Jonathan Goldstien) do a great job as the average American parents in the suburbs. I wish the writers would give them more to do since they are capable actors and not just props for the younger stars to interact with on occasion.

Sure some of the plot lines are silly due to the Y7 rating and the sometimes character growth is slow, but this is a great sitcom that the whole family can watch.

Some high points include:

*Any episode where Josh blows his top at Drake. *Any musical episode that showcases not only Drake Parker's talents but the real life Drake Bell who is a musician in real life as well as an actor. *Megan (Miranda Cosgrove) is a hoot and plays her role as the "evil" Megan Parker to the hilt. *Yvette Nicole Brown as Josh's boss Helen is hilarious as well.

This show is for the young and the young-at-heart.

8/10

In Good Company (2004)

This is really a story about Carter and Dan

[8/10 · 8 February 2005]

Some people think "In Good Company" is just a love story between Carter Duryea (played by Topher Grace, "p.s.", "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!") and Alex Foreman (played by Scarlett Johansson, "A Love Song for Bobby Long", "Girl with a Pearl Earring") but they'd be mistaken. This is really a story between rising young corporate star Carter and Alex's father, "Dan Foreman" (played by Dennis Quaid, "The Day After Tomorrow", "Great Balls of Fire"). Dan finds out that his company Sports America is being purchased by the Globecom corporation and not only does Carter become his boss, but takes his office! However underneath the bravado and Porsche, Carter is a lonely man, he has no real friends and his wife of under a year (played by Selma Blair) leaves him. He is envious of Dan's seemingly perfect family a life, a loving wife Ann (played by Marg Helgenberger from "CSI"), with two daughters, and another baby on the way. This is where he finds out that Alex is Dan's daughter instead of just the girl he talked to in the elevator. They start a relationship. There really is no reason given on why she's attracted to Carter, since she has a big Globecom (with the added written 'sucks') poster on her dorm room wall, but we know that Carter is lonely and wants something meaningful in his life. Dan doesn't take this well when he finds out and gives Carter a shiner right in the middle of a busy restaurant. I wish they kept the title of this movie as "Synergy" considering all the references to it, were still used in the film. Including an overblown and uncredited cameo by Malcolm McDowell. I do like that he's only known as Teddy K. There's some funny moments such as David Paymer's, Morty and the comments he makes about his wife. And then there are some that deserve their comeuppance off the corporate track such as Clark Gregg's, Steckle. In the end Dan gets his old job back and offers Carter a job as his second in command as he admires his work ethic. Even though Ann Foreman had a girl, Dan gained a son in Carter, who is taking a break from the corporate hamster wheel to find himself, and instead of jogging indoors with projected outside imagery, the film ends with him jogging outdoors. Carter finally got the family he always wanted and the world is his for the taking. There's a cool little in joke from Weitz with the Foreman surname as Topher Grace's character on "That '70s Show" is Eric Forman. A nice understated film, that deserves more attention that it is getting. I'd give it an 8 and a half on the ten scale for the enjoyment of seeing Topher and Dennis act brilliantly off each other and discover that they are truly in "Synergy" with one another.

8(half)/10

P.S. (2004)

Flawed in its brilliance, a must see

[10/10 · 16 October 2004]

Spoiler Alert

When I read on the internet that the Dylan Kidd directed fable "p.s." wasn't entirely true to the Helen Schulman novel of the same name I wasn't pleased. Not just because we didn't get "our" F. Scott wrapped in a towel. (or aka page 76). Please, I'm not that shallow. "p.s." to me is a coming of age film not just for the thirty something Louise Harrington ("Love Actually", "Kinsey") but also the young and hip F. Scott Feinstadt (played winningly by Topher Grace). Dylan Kidd should be commended here. Even when scenes from the book were changed. Such as: Louise and F. Scott's conversation towards the end of the film. In the novel, he cut his foot and if I'm not mistaken it was daytime. In the movie there is no cut and it's night. And the Chinatown date was omitted for an ordinary local sports bar setting. Marcia Gay Harden ("Mystic River", "Mona Lisa Smile") is absolutely delicious as Missy. I like how in the beginning you only hear Missy's voice during mostly self-serving telephone conversations to her supposed best friend since high school Louise. It is clear that Louise is half oblivious and jealous of Missy-who has good hair days and despite being married with kids wants to screw anything with a dick. Topher Grace is fabulous as F. Scott Feinstadt,the man with the eerily similar name, the face, and the artist persona. He shows all the sides of F. Scott (despite having several of pages of the novels dialog deleted!) from his humorous phone call with Louise-who sets up the mock interview because she wants to see this F. Scott face to face. From the stained and holed artists "uniform". To his amazement of his first time with Louise. Which has to be the most graphic non-graphic sex scene ever put on film. It was almost uncomfortable watching on the second theater viewing. (and I'm certainly no prude.) His hurt and confusion over the first Scott and Louise's ex- husband Peter (the former who died in a tragic car accident). He broke up with Louise in high school and dated Missy before he died. So, Louise settles for a ten-year marriage with her older college professor. To his lashing out of the ex when he thinks F. Scott is someone to call the cops over. If "Traffic" proved that Topher is more than Eric Forman on FOX' "That '70s Show", then "p.s." proves he can handle a movie on his own. And although in interviews an admission about preferring ensemble pieces can be found. Make no mistake, if Topher Grace gets to headline a movie you will be in for a treat. What was blah in Schulman's novel, but is great in the film and might go overlooked outside of his regular fan base is Paul Rudd who is great as Louise's out of rehab brother and keeper of Peter's secrets, Sammy. Louise shouldn't have been less jealous of the pies and things their mom (Lois Smith) bakes for him. Her mother loves them both. And I agree with Sammy's quote: The universe doesn't care. Louise like in the novel shines when she gets to be assertive and is at her worst when she's an insecure, jealous mess. There's a little of that Louise insecurity in all of us. Which is what makes you want to slap her and say, "snap out of it!" Even Missy showed that she had a somewhat of a heart and told her to go and make it right. Even if I don't see their friendship as real and true. I'd call them obligatory Christmas card list, party attendees, rather than friends. Peter(Gabriel Byrne) while admitting his addictions that he wanted Louise to "catch him". To see that he had problems. He said she always saw him as a Knight in Shining Armor and that might be true to a point, but she was all hung up in could/would/should with Scott #1. So, she shouldn't get off Scott-free (pun intended) like F. Scott wisely said, "It takes two." Then there's "The Mother and Child" painting. Which is almost like a character itself. It was a gift from Scott #1, but it takes F. Scott (or Francis Scott Key Feinstadt) to tell her that basically that it's a piece of 'crap' and an insult to real artists. I think the ending would have been better served with a shot of this painting or a replacement of one of F. Scott's to come full circle. There were some rumblings in internet land regarding the lack of an original ending. As a reader of Schulman's novel, while some things are abandoned and/or redone for the sake of the film, it plays out well. We are left to believe that Louise who herself pulled a "step nine" and made peace with everyone is having a happy relationship not with F. Scott Feinstadt, but Francis (Fran-in the book, Scotty) Scott Key Feinstadt. And there lies the difference. What the audience has known all along. He's different. (DUH) He's not the dead guy (and one of Louise's meanest scenes was the 'necktie dialogue') He's his own person. F. Scott had absolutely nothing to do with Scott #1. He loves Louise more. Listen to the comment from Missy that he refused her advances (now those would have been excellent scenes between Grace and Harden!) and she gave him not one, but two shots. While it would've been nice to see the breakfast scene and the Chinatown date, and some of the other odds and ends, "p.s." plays like one of those old-fashioned morality tales. "p.s." is a wonderfully crafted tale of what happens when you can't let the past go and how it affects your future relationships. You have to look for the pattern and fix it. Take a leaf from F.Scott's book and "move on." Only then will your life be "Okay".

A job well done by cast and crew. A must see. 10/10

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?

[8/10 · 19 December 2003]

This movie had so much potential. "Mona Lisa Smile" directed by Mike Newell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Donnie Brasco", et al.) tells the story of Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) a graduate of UC Berkeley who accepts a teaching position at Wellesley College in 1953. Despite the stellar young cast that play her torn between the world they have always known and the new doors awaiting them students that include Julia Stiles (Joan Brandwyn), Kirsten Dunst (Betty Warren), Gennifer Goodwin (Constance Baker), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Giselle Levy), and Juliet Stevenson (Amanda Armstrong)this period piece just falls short of the message it is trying to convey. The script seems something made for a mediocre TV movie of the week then it does for a major studio production. The formal costumes are beautiful but the score too modern. (I'd rather have heard Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa" than Seal and Tori Amos' cameo? Nothing short of plugging.) Stand outs include Topher Grace (Tommy Donegal) (of "That '70s Show," "Traffic", "Oceans 11") as Julia (Stiles) 'divine Harvard sweetheart' who can take a seemingly one note character and play it with a well rounded dimension. Watch for his dance scene with the top billed Julia (Roberts). Donna Mitchell (Mrs. Warren) who plays the repressed 1950's Ice Queen to perfection (you can see where Betty gets her nasty streak from), and Marcia Gay Harden (Nancy Abbey)who doesn't have the drive that Katherine Watson has. (You can just picture her dying a bitter old maid on campus.) And an honorable mention for Marian Seldes (President Jocelyn Carr) who despite her status as President of Wellesley is still an (emotionally) repressed woman.

The film had a great cast and a wonderful director. But the one thing it didn't have was the excellent writing that could have made this "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" for the generation of young college bound women this film was intended for.

Despite all this it is still a good film to see in theaters and in my opinion you won't be wasting your money on a ticket. It sure beats over hyped dreck like the Lord of the Rings saga or truly bad movies such as Honey.

I give it a B+ for effort. But I am disappointed as I feel this film could have been so much more.

Have we come a long way baby?

8/10

Carrie (2002 TV Movie)

They're all going to laugh at this film

[3/10 · 5 November 2002]

**Spoilers inside**

At first I was angry that I missed the beginning of the film, I had no idea it was on TV until I caught it in the middle. It is utterly horrible. While they kept the original name of the high school (Ewen), the town (Chamberlain), even remembered to use the original name of the gym teacher (Desjarden), they even remembered the Black Forrest clock. But that is where the similarities end. I don't get why most everyone says this film is so faithful to King's original novel. While it got some details right, it got some others very wrong. It is one thing to have your own version, but if you making a true remake, then make it so.

I finally saw the the beginning when this was aired on the Sci-Fi channel. The girls don't throw feminine products at her in the gym, they just pound on the glass window and make comments, but not the famous "plug it up." That shows up on the unbeknownst to Carrie tampon filled locker. This scene was misguided because it implied that the guys were in on it. If you read the novel, while the boys picked on Carrie they did so in different ways than the girls did. (Only Nolan and his pack of idiots, who didn't know what the pigs blood was for, were in on it.)

Angela Bettis who played "Carrie" looked like she was having an epileptic fit half the time.

I love the original film from 1976, although Brian DePalma failed with making changes to Stephen King's original novel, at least that film was 100 times better than this dreck.

Carrie never suffered from amnesia. While she did move furniture waiting for Tommy Ross to take her to the prom she did not crash the ceiling, Margaret White did not go out to hide in the bushes, The Norma character was on the scheme to "get Carrie" at the prom, not the overly nice character you see in this remake.

Billy was also a fifties throwback and abusive towards to Christine.

I don't understand why they made the character of Sue Snell black. That's all fine and good, but they kept Tommy Ross white. Chamberlain as described in Stephen King's novel was a repressed town as far as mixed dating was concerned, their families would never have allowed it. Also this Sue Snell had a sarcastic modern side to her that the goody-goody version in the original film (and in King's novel) did not.

Mrs. White was NEVER understated. She was a scream in your face Jesus freak.

And quite possibly the worst scene was the "feel-good/possiblity for a sequel ending"....Carrie DOES NOT die. Stephen King was angry when he saw what Stanley Kubrick did to The Shining. I cannot imagine what he thinks of this mess. Sue Snell drives her to Florida. The whole point of Carrie, was here is this a girl a victim of her religious fanatic of a mother, taunted by her classmates, esp. the girls. When she gets her monthly cycle for the first time they ridicule her in the girls gym dressing room. One girl feels bad for the taunting (Sue Snell) one girl does not (Christine Hargensen)....When Sue decides to let Carrie have her date for the prom. Tommy grows to actually like Carrie (as stated in the book.)--THEY NEVER GET TO DANCE after they are crowned King and Queen of the prom.

But for Sue to find Carrie in the bathtub was utterly silly. Margaret White tried to kill Carrie by stabbing her in the shoulder, she falls down the steps, She kills her mother (at least they had her picturing her heart slowing down) and goes to Caviliar bar where Margaret and Carrie's father conceived her. That's where she kills Billy and Chris.

The whole point of Carrie was here was this girl that all her of life felt pain, no one heard her scream, and just when she felt that she could LIVE,she died. Her dreams never materialized.

Stay away from this film! Watch the 1976 original with the brilliant Sissy Spacek, and please READ the book.

1/10