Here's a whole gaggle of good buzz on EDtv. Sounds like a winner and I can't wait to see it this Thursday. Up first is Javert...
I just got in from a showing of EdTv and I thought I'd weigh in with my two cents. Before that though, they did show the Episode I trailer and I was just wondering if its just me, or did Natalie Portman's voice kind of annoy anyone else? I'm not sure what it is but something just bothered me about it when I heard her lines. Oh well just a thought back to EdTV.
I went into this movie not knowing much about it other than some little stuff I had caught on your site, I basically expected something similar to the Truman Show but not as good. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Now I'm sure you know the plot by now so I won't bore you with too many details. In a nutshell its about this guy ED(Matthew McCaunaghy, I know I misspelled that) who is chosen to be the subject of a 24 hour TV show produced by a character played by Ellen DeGeneres on a channel called True TV. ED has cameras following him everywhere and the only privacy he gets is in the bathroom. Needless to say the show becomes a hit and Ed, along with his dysfunctional family members, becomes a star. However the longer he's on the less he likes it and eventually he wants off the show, but the head of the network (Rob Reiner) won't let him. I won't spoil it anymore.
This movie was well-written, acted, and directed. McCaunaghy was very believable as Ed, and did a real good job of keeping him a likeable character, something that was important for the movie to work. Jenna Elfman, and Woody Harlson were also effective as Ed's girlfriend and brother respectively, and even Ellen DeGeneres was funny (in fact one of the lines in the movie that I found the funniest was when she tells Ed, "Ed let me give you some advice about women.." Think about it.) However the guy I thought was the funniest in the movie was Martin Landau who played Ed's stepfather Al. He stole every scene he was in and actually pulled off one of the more 'emotional' scenes in the movie.
The other thing I really enjoyed was the effective use of real television shows and personalities throughout the movie. Whether it be George Plimpton and Michael Moore talking about how EdTv is the downfall of television, Bill Maher making fun of Ed's brother, or USA Today polls about events in Ed's life, this movie utilized popular media icons potently, something that other movies have failed at doing.
Now this movie wasn't perfect, some of the jokes fell flat, and the ending bothered me alittle bit as the movie moved away slightly from being a satire and became more moralistic in its tone. Also I felt a few elements of the ending were a little bit of a cop out. Still none of these things take away from EdTv being a clever enjoyable movie that would be worth your seeing.
call me Javert
And now for another point of view...
I've been a long time reader of the site but have had nothing to add until now. Tonight I saw a sneak preview of EdTV at a local theatre (Williamsport PA) and was very very pleased (though it unfortunately did not have the prequel trailer attached, argg). I thought Edtv was much better then Truman show but it also seemed different. You could really feel for the characters in this and got mad at them and felt sad for them (nothing like some good old emotional manipulation), much more than Truman. Both me and my girlfriend enjoyed it tremendously and she said "it was the best movie ever" (note: she is slightly exagerating I would guess). I wouldnt go that far, but it was probably the best movie I've seen so far this year and better than most from recent years past. I wish there were more movies like this that could make me feel so strongly about the characters but they are so hard to come by these days. Edtv made it worth the wait though.
call me "agent 613"
And then Finally THE BIG T chimes in with his opinion on the film... Looks like the film should rock... Let's hope...
Hey there Harry this is a new and "hopefully" promising film geek codename The Big T (Hey forgive me all the real cool names are already taken). Anyway I just saw EDTV Saturday night and I have gotta say that this is most definitely Ron Howard's funniest film ever I totally laughed my ass off Harry. Now while it is his funniest film In my opinion his best film is Splash. I mean the plot was great in that one and the jokes were just so well done. Well i think i am getting off the path here so I will begin my review Harry style (hope this doesnt get me deleted from Harry's mailbox).
It all began at my suck job with a suck shift I had. Hell I had to wake up at 9am just to get to work I thought I was going to see the sun rise for pete sakes. The customers keep on complaining about crap at me and you know I pretty much just keep the whole thing of Star Wars trailer B in my mind. It got me through the day just fine. Well finally work fricking ends and I am off to the theatres slipping in the ever so megacool From Dusk til Dawn soundtrack playing Cheech Marins pussy pussy speech over and over. Well the only thing bad that happened to me all night was that EDTV was put in what I call a "Closet Theater". Mainly what that means is that the room is just big enough for 2 high school classes and is of course located conviently behind the refreshment stand.
Well finally I get into the theater front row right in the middle. Their are probably only 4 or 5 people in the world beside me who actually like that. Anyway only 1 preview and NO it wasnt "THE TRAILER" it was for the film LIFE with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence which looks really good for Universal I think they are gonna have a good year as long as they dont get Brad Pitt for anything they should do okay. All right enough crap you wanna know what I think about the film well here you go.
This film totally KICKEDASS straight up. It has now dethroned Analyze This as funniest film of the year and while it wont get any Oscars (which really REALLY sucks a few of the supporting actors were so good they should get a nom) it will make lots and lots of money which believe me Universal really needs. First off let me get straight to the performances. Matthew McConaughey(Ed Pekurny) was at his absolute best in this film. He plays his character as kind of a lovable loser although how high on the ladder could he get he was a video store clerk in the film. Matt constantly made joke after joke and still made it look natural. A tough thing to do. Another thing Matt does great in the film is that he will go to the extreme. When you see him grab his "manhood" in the film you will see what I mean. Matt plays for laughs and to be loved by the audience. He succeeds in doing both.
Jenna Elfman is Shari and plays Ed's on and off girlfriend during the film (that is after ed steals her from her brother but for more on that you'll have to wait to see the film). She gets a couple laughs in but mainly she is the one you feel for and is the heroine in distress. Next up Woody Harrelson or as I like to call him Mr Munson plays Ed's brother Ray. Woody is the funniest of the bunch. It only gets better during the film when Ray begins to take revenge on Ed for stealing his girlfriend. I will finish this up a bit now. Martin Landau is hysterical as Al, Ed's non biological father. He doesnt go on big rants like Ray but he is sets up one liners that are just perfect. Ed's mom (Sally Kirkland) plays a perfect Mom nervous about all the hype Ed is getting she works well in the flick.
Jill (Elizabeth Hurley) plays an actress who gets in deep with Ed and well lets just say that after the night the ratings were higher then then the Super Bowl. Elizabeth plays her part perfectly as Ed's well sexual fantasy sort of. And now the only cast member who will not be known after this film Dennis Hopper. Man this is bad for Dennis first he gives up the Truman Show and now he is gonna be overlooked by the amount of celebs in the flick. Dennis plays Ed's biological father and well Dennis isnt in the film much longer then he is in the trailer. Its not that he does a bad job its just that he was underused here. I really hope he hits something big soon real big.
Now the writing. I dont know if they could have made a better script. This one has jokes everywhere. Usually when their is 3 writers on a script thats a bad sign but for once this time it worked. Ron did an excellent job directing and it was awful nice of him to give his bro Clint a bigger role in this flick then he has had in past films. Right now Ron is pretty much at the top if he were to do good on the grinch who stole christmas flick he would be the king of the mountain. Well this is it from me tomorrow after work I gotta see Carrie 2 and then if I dont see the trailer I gotta see The Corruptor and if not then (YUCK) Wing Commander. If I were you I would make Wing Commander the last flick to see when searching for Star Wars Trailer B. This is "The Big T" saying adios see ya and I hope you dont mess with me too much in talkback
"The Big T"
