The Longest Yard: Adam Sandler as Tough Guy
Sunday, July 22, 2007

Starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, Tracie Morgan, Goldberg, James Cromwell, Michael Irvin, plus Nelly, and the usual wacky appearance of Rob Schnieder.

A funny film - okay, a mildy funny film. There were the usual gay prison jokes. Actually there were quite a lot of them. Hollywood writers are hard-up for really funny material these days. I wonder if there's a gay quota for their films. It's a top topic for these people.

The plot: washed up football player spends times in a rough prison. He's recruited to train fellow prisoners to play football. Of course, the prisoners are underdogs and they were to be game fodder for the big, bad, steroid enhanced prison guards.

James Cromwell (tall lean guy with very angular face) plays bad guy warden. He gradually turns bad, he starts out acting the "good guy". Michael Irvin, with his beautiful blue eyes, turns from the really bad guy to one with manly honor: he respects the game and the men who play it. Or something like that.

Chris Rock is in this film really big until half way through. When he goes, it's weird, because you don't even miss him.

I couldn't tell if Sandler actually liked him or not. The two of them have no chemistry. Then again Sandler doesn't act, he just does that monotone slow-wit drawl, whether he playing a tough guy, smart ass or idiot.

Burt Reynolds makes an appearance. I like Burt, but every time I see him I think of a burn ward victim.

Overall, it's okay. I have to go back and see the original. My guess is that the first film probably looks like a classic compared to this one.

Labels: Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds, Chris Rock, football, Goldberg, James Cromwell, Michael Irvin, Rob Schnieder, The Longest Yard, Tracie Morgan

posted by GoldenAh
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Madagascar and Chris Rock's Voice
Thursday, May 31, 2007




This little computer animation film, by Dreamworks, was a big hit when it was released in 2005. It made $195 million domestically (not that I care, this fact doesn't put money in my pocket).

I usually love watching computer animation films, especially anime (don't get me started on that topic).

I enjoyed it, but not as much as I should have.

And then I realized what it was: Chris Rock's voice gets on my nerves. Now, this is a guy I watched in "CB4." Yes, that film. Like him, I'm from Brooklyn, so I feel him on a number of subjects.

Movie actor he is not: the screech is not the kind of voice for conveying a range of emotions. Chris Rock lacks the comedic delivery and inflection of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. Even hot and sexy Antonio Banderas is funny (a la "Shrek").



It's an odd thing about Rock, because most comedians, when they want to be serious, are some of the best actors around. Eddie Murphy showed superb acting chops in "Dreamgirls." I hope he chooses more dramatic work in the future.

The person who did have the loveliest voice, which surprised me, was Jada Pinkett Smith. She should definitely lend her voice to a lot more efforts. It was really nice to hear her.

Labels: anime, Ben Stiller, cartoons, Chris Rock, comedies, comedy, computer animation films, Jada Pinkett Smith

posted by GoldenAh
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