By Robert Dixter Sep 4, 2005, 7:01 GMT
A job, a wife, a baby and no free time. I haven’t seen the films but based on what I’ve heard and know, we’ll see if the movie is worth it. It’s the UNSEEN MOVIE REVIEW.
There was an old episode of Happy Days where Richie Cunningham is about to get into a fight and he asks Fonzie for advice. Thank the Lord Dr. Phil came around so kids can look up to a real responsible man to dispense sound advice and not some coiffed hoodlum in a leather jacket. Anyway, The Fonz tells him that if he wants to be feared like he is, you have to get into at least one fight to seal your reputation. Why did I bring up a classic Happy Days episode? Two reasons, the first is someone needs to hire Donny Most, his quick wit and goofy smile made that show a top ten hit. The second is I think this is a great example to describe Samuel L. Jackson’s career. Sam has molded himself into this cooler than cool persona and acting in films like Pulp Fiction and Shaft certainly helped. But you will only hold on to that coolness factor if you continue to be cool Sam. If you call yourself a bodybuilder and then trade it in to become the Governor of a western state, all that muscle will turn to flab. So sometimes I sound like fortune cookies, sue me. The thing about Sam Jackson is that he makes so many movies that even when he is clearly cashing in on something like The Man, you know he will turn around and give a great performance in something else. I just hope that the garbage he makes doesn’t tarnish his cool factor. Also, the more you refer to yourself as a bad mother****** the less of a bad mother****** you are.
The Man also stars Eugene Levy as the dumb white guy who gets caught up in the whole mess and has too act like he’s down. Eugene is so not cool, he makes David Daskal from Average Joe look like Eric Roberts (I mean Eric Roberts circa 1984). When I think back to those old SCTV shows I’m reminded of how funny they were and then I’m reminded that they starred Martin Short, Rick Moranis, John Candy and Dave Thomas. Eugene never made me laugh, but those McKenzie brothers had me peeing in my pants. He’s managed to turn a humorous association into a career by acting dweeby in films like American Pie and Bringing Down The House, which is fine since I’m sure it does more than pay the bills. I should also mention that he turned in a fine performance in Waiting for Guffman, but again paled in comparison to Chris Guest and Parker Posey (Has anyone made working at Dairy Queen look and sound as sexy as Parker did? Is it just me? It is? Oh, never mind).
What I’m trying to say is I have no plans to see The Man. I think I’m on diaper duty next weekend and my kid just learned to eat prunes. This film is offering the worst of both worlds, an uncool Sam Jackson in a bad comedy and a too played geeky Eugene Levy who thinks he’s cooler than everyone in the film, the theater and at the concession stand.
Access media from The Man. A site review later this week.
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