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TJiggy
Reviews
Family Guy (1999)
Contrived and Proud of it
This is a show that has copped a lot of flak for being unoriginal and unfavourably similar to 'The Simpsons'. Ironically, that criticism itself is now quite unoriginal. True, creator Seth Macfarlane and co. couldn't come up with an original storyline to save themselves. But look back at some of 'The Simpsons'' best episodes and you'll find that they aren't entirely original either, with whole story lines dedicated to parodying films like 'Cape Fear,' 'Animal House,' 'Pulp Fiction,' and 'Rear Window'. Matter of fact, 'Family Guy' is a satire that is at its best when it is, to put it bluntly, directly lifting material and poking fun at it.
My main problem with 'Family Guy' is that Seth MacFarlane can often come off sounding pompous, and because he overrates himself as a singer, he never misses a chance to stroke his ego by injecting an overblown big-band musical number. But then he throws in a well-measured 'giggidy-giggidy' and all is gladly forgiven.
The Air I Breathe (2007)
Fairly Well Botched
Co-writer/director Jieho Lee had four good enough stories to make four different films. He tried to be "daring" and shoved them all into the one movie. It didn't work; he dished out an hour-and-a-half of undeveloped plots and characters instead.
I would have preferred it if Jieho Lee had just picked one of his main characters and made a whole film about them. The fact that he didn't is a pity because the standalone story lines are intriguing enough without being muddled in with such a gratuitous and improbable intertwining plot involving a bag of stolen money.
I know 'The Air I Breathe' is highly concerned with the Chinese proverb about happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. It should have been more concerned with the film making proverb about a beginning, middle and end.
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
Good Looking Guff
Like its predecessor, 'I Still Know...' falls flat when the funny, obnoxious character (played by Mekhi Phifer in this case) isn't on screen. Between the young actors and the tropical setting, it's a good looking picture, but there ain't too much more to rave about. I do like watching the film though, for the nostalgia if nothing else.
I was going to close with a question about the silliness and plot-holes of Julie James' (Jennifer Love Hewitt) visions/disillusions, but then I realised that it didn't matter (at the end of the day, it's a trashy slasher that you either go along with or you don't). Instead, I will query the only thing more troubling in the film: what is up with Jack Black's dreadlocks?
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Phillippe is Funny
Given the sheer amount (and just as importantly, style) of parodies/references to 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' over the last decade or so, one can conclude that: a) the first half is quite memorable, even if you hate the movie; and b) the second half is rather forgettable, even if you love it.
Ryan Phillippe's performance has a lot to do with this, I feel. He drives the crucial scenes and plot elements; the film most definitely runs out of puff whenever he's not on screen. His character's foul-mouthed, confrontational "college quarterback ass" (as Johnny Galecki's character phrases it) is so over the top that it's funny (kind of like a French actor), and at the very least, warrants the movie watchable.