By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Joshua Seftel
Starring: Dan Ackroyd | Hilary Duff | Joan Cusack | John Cusack | Marisa Tomei
Country: united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 107
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0884224/
Jason says: “Not really close to the thematic sequel to GROSSE POINTE BLANK that some are trying to paint it as, despite sharing John Cusack as a hitman and Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd in supporting roles. It’s an angrier film, but also more cartoonish, and Cusack’s co-writers this time around don’t seem to be nearly as talented as D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink (who really seem to have disappeared since re-teaming with Cusack on HIGH FIDELITY, especially DeVincentis).
It’s still kind of fun, especially if you like that kind of very broad comedy, but very uneven. It lurches between slapstick and stuff we’re supposed to take seriously, not always finding an edge to its black comedy. It also feels a little cheap in places – a joke is used twice because, it seems, like the set was too expensive to build for just one use; the would-be Turaqistani hip-hoppers don’t feel so much like middle easterners appropriating American pop culture so much as Americans weakly parodying it. 2 1/2 cats
“Seen 2 January 2009 in Jay’s Living Room (Blu-ray)”