Failure to Launch (2006)

Failure. 'Nuff Said!

in·sip·id
adj.
1) Lacking flavor or zest; not tasty.
2) Lacking qualities that excite, stimulate, or interest; dull.
3) Failure to Launch

I just sorta want to slap a few people silly for their participation in this shallow, stupid film! Sue (Kathy Bates) and Al (Terry Bradshaw) haven't the spines to tell their 37-year-old son Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) to take responsibility for himself and move out of their home. Instead, they do everything to enable him to stay on despite their complaints and commiserating with their middle-aged peers who also are whining wimps.

Seems old Tripp wants to be a child all his life. He can't establish a meaningful relationship with a woman -- heck, he can't establish a meaningful relationship with himself!

His parents hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), a professional who specializes in building men's confidence and getting them to move out into the world on their own. She creates a whole romantic milieu for him -- and you can about imagine what happens in the end. Shallow begets shallow!

In all fairness, I must say that I fast fowarded through the last quarter of this film just 'cause I couldn't stand it any longer but wanted to see if there was some -- any -- redeeming quality about it. There wasn't.

Of course, if your ambition in life is to see about 30 seconds of Terry Bradshaw's bare behind bouncing around a room, then by all means, fritter away your time and money on this one.

Directed by Tom Dey.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, partial nudity and language.

Smoke Signals (2005)

Poignant

I love little films. And Smoke Signals is a tender little film that was easy for me to love.

Despite his bitter resentment, 20-year-old Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) feels obligated to take his first trip away from northern Idaho's Coeur d'Alene Restervation to retrieve the ashes of his long absent father, Arnold, who died in Arizona.

Though Victor and his mother Arlene (Tantoo Cardinal) have no money, his nerdy childhood friend and budding tribal storyteller Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams) offers his savings to Victor for the bus trip to Arizona if Thomas can tag along. After all, Victor's father (Gary Farmer) had rescued baby Thomas from the home where Thomas' parents perished and Thomas felt Victor needed a companion for this emotionally difficult journey.

In the process, Victor learns much about himself and also about the complexities of his father and what drove Arnold to abandon his family long ago.

This little film, directed by Chris Eyre, was developed under the auspices of Robert Redford's Sundance Institute and was written, directed and co-produced by Native Americans.

I enjoyed seeing the traditions of the culture, the patterns and rhythm of speech, and the frequent drumming and vocalizations of Native America. The film is also imbuded with rich humor.

Rated PG-13 for some intense images.

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viewed Jun-06

My May 2006 Viewings

Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.

Moonlighting 3:2 05/30/06 (B-)
Transamerica 05/26/06 (A-)
The Producers (1968) 05/23/06 (B)
Seducing Doctor Lewis 05/22/06 (A-)
Last Holiday 05/16/06 (B)
Capote 05/12/06 (A)
The Producers (2005) 05/10/06 (C-)
Moonlighting 3:1 05/08/06 (B-)
The Ice Harvest 05/01/06 (B)