Jeff Who Lives at Home

Amidst the barrage of comic book/action-adventure films, high dramas, outrageous comedies and who-done-it thrillers at the box office, it’s healthy to take in a hearty pallet cleanser once in a while to remind yourself that day-to-day life can be worthy enough to print out a few screenplay pages as well.

Much like Will Ferrell accomplished with Everything Must Go, Jason Segal takes his no-holds-barred humor down a notch and focuses in on an “everyman” type of story. Jeff Who Lives at Home is one of the most self-explanatory titles a film has ever donned. Yes it’s about a grown man who still lives at home with his now widowed mother. And yes, he’s the stereotypical pothead with a life compass on the fritz, sitting in the basement and supplementing his TV viewing with bong hits. However, unlike most burnouts, Jeff has very big expectations. Not for himself but for life around him. Jeff believes that everything is somehow connected in the universe and he’s waiting for a sign to explain his destiny. His older brother and mother of course, have the textbook approach of discarding Jeff’s mantra as nonsense and branding him as lazy. But one afternoon when Jeff receives a call from a wrong number asking for someone named Kevin, he immediately thinks it’s a sign from the universe, leading him on a journey to find meaning in the mundane activities of suburban life.

This film is as heartfelt as its main character. In reality Jason Segal comes off as a truly genuine, caring person who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that extends to most of his characters. He has a talent for crowbarring in comedic moments even when dealing with less than optimum circumstances. Directors/writers Jay and Mark Duplass (Cyrus) keep an intentional slow pace for the story, paralleling real life and the decision making process of Jeff. They were however, very prudent to offset the crawling tone with a briefer than usual runtime of 83 minutes.

Supporting characters include Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover) as Pat, Jeff’s brother who pretends he has life figured out like a $100 question on Celebrity Jeopardy, and Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham), yes “the” Susan Sarandon as Jeff’s mother Sharon. This is a great role for Sarandon as she gets to demonstrate to a new generation that she is very much more than a background character in a series of SNL Digital Shorts or a guest star on 30 Rock. Sharon is a well-thawed-out character that’s not just regulated to being the disappointed mother and constantly yelling at Jeff to “get a job.” She, like Jeff, like Pat, and like every other human being on the planet, is looking for some meaning to her life as she begins to come to terms with her own mortality. These characters are essential to the overall story arc and add a real sense of charm to the possibility that the title character, who supposedly a lost soul, might actually have his priorities more aligned than everyone else, even unbeknownst to himself.

Films like Jeff Who Lives at Home are very important to the balance of mainstream filmmaking. And even though it will generate only a dime bag’s worth at the box office, it’s a credit to big stars like Segal that they take the time to produce a story that deals with everyday life and reinforces the notion that people don’t always need to escape into a book or a movie for enlightenment. It might only be a wrong number away.



Story: 7.5
Acting: 8.0
Writing: 7.0
Captivation: 7.0
Replay Value: 6.5

Total = 7.2 out of 10

21 Jump Street

Remakes, revamps, and adaptations . . . we love them, we hate them. We cheer their initial inceptions and then pan the final execution while uttering, “They should’ve left well enough alone.” Perhaps the most scrutinized and difficult transition to accomplish in this genre is the old TV show into a movie trick. Sometimes it works like a big Vegas stage show, à la The A-Team and Mission Impossible. But far too often it plays out like an off-the-strip dinner theater, nods to Miami Vice, The Beverley Hillbillies, Wild Wild West, The Saint, S.W.A.T., Lost in Space, the agony goes on and on.

While performing such a dangerous trick, there is no shame in using somewhat of a safety net. And when dealing with an over 20-year-old intellectual property that in retrospect was pretty dopey to being with, the best way to hedge your bet is to vaporize every last particle of respect or dignity the property had left and warp it into an off-the-wall comedy. That’s the technique used by co-writer/actor Jonah Hill in his movie adaptation of the popular late 80’s, early 90’s teen angst cop drama, 21 Jump Street.

Newbie officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill, Moneyball) and Jenko (Channing Tatum, The Vow) are overzealous bicycle cops looking to make a big wave in their department. When their antics land them in the captains office one too many times, they are exiled to a special police division that’s trying to dust the cobwebs off an old undercover program. Known as "Jump Street," youthful looking officers are planted in surrounding high schools as students, trying to infiltrate and take down a new designer drug ring.

Much like The Brady Bunch films, the decision to completely mock the old television program and make this a pure comedy was really the only viable choice. Even the simple notion of 21 Jump Street transitioning into a feature film is laughable. However with comedy you can’t just throw out a concept and hope it sticks to the wall. Comedy remains the most difficult genre in which to succeed, and requires very skillful writers and actors who understand the symphony of good timing. 21 Jump Street excels in both of those facets and cleverly shines a light on just how far the pendulum has swung in the high school hierarchy over the last decade.

Hill brings his patented nervous-energy deadpan humor, which continues to work brilliantly for his demeanor. But the surprise is the comic stylings of one Channing Tatum. Yes, the guy from Fighting and G.I. Joe whose main talent is deride as an expressionless heap of muscles, has considerable comedy chops. Tatum actually flexed his funny bone in the much-maligned Ron Howard comedy The Dilemma, but being able to play off and even hold his own with Jonah Hill should silence many of his critics. Tatum brings an honest sense of humanity to Jenko, the stereotypical popular jock now removed from his high school glory days, just trying to find his niche in life like everyone else.

The supporting cast and some featured cameos do much more than simply splash a famous face on the screen for the shock value. They all have memorable, laugh-out-loud moments and are not just there to set up the jokes for the main characters.

21 Jump Street is a masterpiece of mock, using a television series premise that took itself way too seriously, to achieve a hilarious film that does not hesitate for a second to pull any punches.

And who knows, if it’s a success at the box office, here’s to green lighting 90210: The Motionless-Hair Picture.



Story: 7.5
Acting: 8.0
Writing: 8.5
Captivation: 7.5
Replay Value: 8.5


Total = 8.0 out of 10

A Thousand Words

Modern-day America is not known for championing people who rest on their laurels. We live in a “what have you done for me lately” type of society. However, there are some entertainers whose pioneer works are so vintage, so defining in their genre, that those laurels have molded into the most comfortable Craftmatic Adjustable memory foam Tempur-Pedic Sealy Simmons Beautyrest mattress in the world.

Sorry Mr. Murphy, it’s time for your wake-up call.

Eddie Murphy is easily one of the greatest comic actors of all time. He has performed in and even helped write a handful of iconic comedies. And even though Murphy has stayed relevant in Hollywood for over 30 years, and at age 50 looks like he’s 35, he has not churned out a memorable comedic picture since 1992’s The Distinguished Gentlemen or a great one since 1988’s Coming to America. Disappointingly, I will not need A Thousand Words to tell you this streak remains intact.

Jack McCall (Murphy) is a fast-talking, wheeling and dealing literary agent who only reads the first and last five pages of the books he gets published. His off-hands approach to being a new father is placing stress on his family as his first priority continues to be his career. When his overconfidence steers him into trying his patented deal-closing techniques on a new age religious guru to obtain the rights to represent his first book, he accidentally cuts his hand on a spiritual tree on the guru’s property. McCall then inexplicably finds the tree to literally pop up in his backyard. It becomes obvious that McCall and the tree are now connected as every word he speaks results in a single leaf falling from the branches. The guru explains to McCall that when there are no leaves left on the tree, that he will probably die. McCall’s is now consumed with figuring out exactly what he needs to change in his life to stop the leaves from falling while simultaneously tending to his daily obligations without his preeminent talent, speaking.

Instead of A Thousand Words, this film should have been titled “A Thousand Clichés,” because there might actually be that many in there. Murphy’s character of McCall as the fast-talking, slick agent, who can talk anyone into anything, is a prime example. Although if anyone is awarded a pass on driving that kind of character into the ground, it’s definitely Eddie Murphy as he is the architect of that brand of comedy. In fact, that’s exactly what Murphy’s fans have been clamoring for ever since the end of the 1980’s. Unfortunately though, like many of Murphy’s recent films, only teeny tiny morsels of his inner Axel Foley seem to shine through.

In the same ilk of films like Liar Liar, What Women Want, and any of the “body switch” movies, the protagonist has lost his focus on what’s really important in life, instead spending too much time at work and other selfish endeavors. Then, usually by accident, something supernatural happens to force the main character to change their perspective on the world. Once the character has learned the all-important lesson, things go back to normal.

This has become a very overplayed theme in movies but that’s not to say it’s inherently defective. There’s nothing wrong with following a steadfast formula, as long as the execution is exceptional. Regrettably, A Thousand Words just goes through the motions of this blueprint, without presenting any original wrinkles. The only saving grace of the film for unwavering Murphy fans is the “flash paper” moments when the “real” Eddie emerges.


Story: 5.5
Acting: 5.5
Writing: 6.0
Captivation: 6.0
Replay Value: 6.0

Total = 5.8 out of 10

Reger Rants - 3/2/2012

Ok, so I only have 1 topic this time, but its content and my anger associated with it exceeds any other Reger Rant. I have probably seen about 50 TV reports and articles involving Mr. Ryan Braun's overturned suspension in the last 2 weeks. Every single one of them (without exception) took the stance (if an opinion was given) that Braun did in fact take steroids and got off on a technicality. Not once have I heard even the slightest incling of what is probably the truth. We will get to that in a minute. But first let's cover what we do know.

- On October 1st, Braun submitted a urine sample to Dino Laurenzi and his son.

- From the time that Braun submitted this test there was a 44 hour gap before the sample was sent to the Lab in Montreal.

- Ryan Braun has been tested 27 other times for performance enhancing drugs including 3 previous times during the 2011 season.

- All 27 test produced a negative result.

- Braun's failed sample pruduced a testosterone level more than 4 x the legal limit by MLB standards.

- Braun's failed sample represented, by far, the highest amount of testosterone ever recorded by MLB since they started their testing procedure.

- During the 44 hour gap, Dino claimed that the sample was in his basement.

- Ryan Braun is currently 28 years old

- Ryan Braun has been in the Major Leagues since 2007.

- Ryan Braun's HR and RBI totals by year - 2007- 34 and 97; 2008- 37 and 106; 2009- 32 and 114; 2010- 25 and 103; and 2011- 33 and 111.

- Dino Laurenzi is a life long Chicago Cubs fan (according to his facebook page) living in Wisconsin.

- The Chicago Cubs have one of the most loyal and rabid fan bases.

- The Chicago Cubs are the Brewers' main rival and play in the same division.

- Most Cubs fans dispise the Brewers.

- The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908.

- Ryan Braun, according to his contract, must be weighed weekly. His weight did not fluctuate significantly at all during the season.

- It is a known fact that one of the by products of taking steroids is weight gain.

- After being informed (before the 44 hour window was known) of the positive test, Braun immediately submitted another sample that was clean.

So, what happened? Basically it comes down to one of two things. Either Braun took steroids and got away with it on a technicality or a life long Cubs fan with a background in sports science and lab testing or a person associated with him tampered with or tainted the sample. To me the second theory makes a million times more sense. Look at the facts!!! Not one thing points to the theory that Braun was on steroids. Not one!!! He did not get bigger. His power numbers did not go up. Every single time he was ever tested in the past, he passed. The test results came up ridiculously high comparitively speaking (1 doctor interviewed said that there had only been a few times in his life that he had seen a testosterone inbalance so extreme and in each case it was a hard core roid head weight lifter).

My theory is that we had a hard core Cubs fan who hated the Brewers (anybody who has ever met a Cubs fan knows how passionately they hate the Brewers). It would be the equivalent of a die hard Red Sox fan collecting a sample from Alex Rodriguez right after he won a playoff game. He just watched as the Brew Crew beat the D-backs and was pissed. Braun had 3 hits that day. He went home with this sample and started thinking about it. Because of his lab experience and experience as a collector. He knew, not only how to tamper with the sample, but also how to reseal the package so nobody would notice. On Saturday he called a connection to synthetic testosterone or knew how to produce it based on his lab experience and injected it into Braun's sample. His intention was probably to put enough in as to trigger a positive result, but ended up puting too much in triggering the extreme positive result. Why is this so hard to believe?

I hate the media