Pads & Panels

Comedy Central Round-Up No. 2
Hannibal Buress, Reggie Watts, Paul F. Tompkins

Reviews by: Bill Jones

When it comes to stand-up comedy on television, Comedy Central more or less has the market cornered. And the network’s DVD and CD departments have been pushing out plenty of the television specials in the uncensored and uncut format (really, the right way to watch a comedian’s set) for home consumption. Pads & Panels decided to help its readers wade through some of Comedy Central’s latest offerings.

The Comedian: Hannibal Buress

The DVD: Animal Furnace (Also on CD)

Rating:

The latest stand-up special from Hannibal Buress, Animal Furnace may be Comedy Central’s best release of the year to date. The Chicago native has been a writer on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, which speaks to his background in comedy. But for once the quotes on the back of the box actually go a long way in letting people know why he’s worth checking out, or at least the list of names that provided those quotes — Chris Rock, Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin and Mike Birbiglia. Toss in dash of Kyle Kinane (not on the box), too, and it’s easy to get an idea of both the quality and style that comes with his performance. With an infectious smile, Buress appears to have a great time on stage as he launches into stories about the TSA, stolen credit cards, Canada, college newspapers and even food. The CD doesn’t deviate from the DVD, but it’s better in my opinion to have the visual in his case. The DVD also includes and awesome bonus feature chronicling the week before recording his special. (more…)

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Comedy Central Round-Up No. 1
Jo Koy, J.B. Smoove, Patton Oswalt

Reviews by: Bill Jones

When it comes to stand-up comedy on television, Comedy Central more or less has the market cornered. And the network’s DVD and CD departments have been pushing out plenty of the television specials in the uncensored and uncut format (really, the right way to watch a comedian’s set) for home consumption. Pads & Panels decided to help its readers wade through some of Comedy Central’s latest offerings.

The Comedian: Jo Koy

The DVD: Lights Out

Rating:

Many may recognize Jo Koy from his roundtable appearances on Chelsea Lately, which may also tell a lot of people whether or not this is a guy they want to check out. But don’t be deterred. Despite that background and some over-animated box shots, Lights Out proves to be an entertaining show. The comedy comes in a decidedly traditional formula, with Koy tackling topics like fatherhood, growing up with Filipino women and sleep apnea. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time watching this one-hour special. The DVD also contains two special features, one of which sees Koy’s mother interviewing him for the radio, which is a fun little twist. (more…)

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Title: South Park: The Complete Fifteenth Season

Format: DVD

Creators: Matt Stone, Trey Parker

Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall, April Stewart

Studio: Comedy Central, Paramount

Season Rating:

DVD Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Season

After 15 years on television, it wouldn’t be unfair to assume most shows would be scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas. Luckily, South Park has evolved into a topical satire (though it often still remains a damn silly show) that hinges on weekly trends and can find humor in the mundane of everyday life. And after conquering Broadway, Matt Stone and Trey Parker don’t seem to be short on any ideas for the South Park universe they created. (more…)

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Title: Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention

Format: Blu-ray

Created by: Nick Park

Starring: Peter Sallis, Ashley Jensen, Jem Stansfield

Studio: Lionsgate, Aardman

Series Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Series

Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention saw a six-episode run in 2010 that brought together Aardman Animations’ flagship characters, Wallace and Gromit, and live video coverage of inventors and their wild inventions from around the world. The result is a show hosted by Nick Park’s fantastic clay characters and their special brand of humor, rolling to clips of fascinating people in the vein of classic educational shows using cartoon characters to draw in the kids.

The episodes come themed, from nature to space, home inventions to the senses, safety to transportation. The jokes are on par with what Wallace & Gromit fans have come to expect, while the clips find some insanely interesting people and stories to put on display. The show is ultimately fascinating, and it’s just a shame that it didn’t last longer. (more…)

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Title: The Hangover Part II

Format: Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy

MPAA Rating: R

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Written by: Craig Mazin, Scot Armstrong, Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Jeffrey Tambor, Justin Bartha, Paul Giamati

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

If The Hangover Part II had to be described in one word, it would be tedious. Luckily, this review isn’t limited to one word, so it can expound upon that idea to explain that watching The Hangover Part II is a chore. It is something to get through, almost entirely devoid of joy, both on the part of the viewer and seemingly on the parts of those involved in creating it. It is a movie that exists for no other reason than that the success of its predecessor all but guaranteed it would make money. And the parties involved simply showed up to cash in.

The Hangover Part II is, at the core of its plot, the same movie as the original, except it now takes place in Thailand, which makes it wackier and, you know…more foreign, I suppose. Essentially, it serves as a reason to up the ante, to make all the hijinks at that much higher of stakes, the consequences infinitely more disastrous and so on and so forth. The only thing that doesn’t get ramped up in the sequel is the laughter, as it is entirely possible to sit through the 102 minutes of this feature without letting loose so much as a subconscious chuckle. (more…)

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Title: Horrible Bosses

Format: Totally Inappropriate Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Directed by: Seth Gordon

Written by: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Jamie Foxx

Studio: Warner Bros.

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

Horrible Bosses is a comedy that took me by surprise when it hit theaters earlier this year. While I loved the cast and the idea (and held out hope that it would be good), the trailers did little to capture my attention and reassure me leading up to its release. Luckily, my fears were all for naught, as Horrible Bosses still rates as one of my favorite comedies this year. (more…)

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Title: 50/50

Directed by: Jonathan Levine

Written by: Will Reiser

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard

Studio: Summit Entertainment

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

When I first read about 50/50, I was hesitant to embrace the project, as I’m sure many film fans have been. Tackling the cancer issue with a comedic flair is a dangerous proposition. There is an extremely fine line between success and failure when trying to meld something as serious as a battle against cancer — something I, as I’m sure most filmgoers will find hits close to home, with almost everyone knowing someone who has won, lost or is currently fighting that battle — and buddy comedy.

I was further hesitant knowing that Seth Rogen — who has had a few flubs as of late with Paul and The Green Hornet — was largely responsible for the project, not only as a star but as a driving force behind real-life friend Will Reiser, who battled cancer and then penned the script based largely on their relationship. (more…)

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Title: Hall Pass

Format: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy Enlarged Edition

MPAA Rating: R

Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly

Written by: Pete Jones, Peter Farrelly, Kevin Barnett, Bobby Farrelly

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Richard Jenkins, Christina Applegate

Studio: Warner Bros.

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

It was hard not to go into Hall Pass with extremely low expectations. The trailers looked absolutely terrible and the Farrelly Brothers arguably haven’t had a real high-profile critical hit since 1998’s There’s Something About Mary. So it was easy for the film to overwhelm, and it’s true that Hall Pass actually isn’t an overtly terrible movie; it’s just not that funny.

Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) have been friends for years. They’ve also been married for years — it should be noted to characters played by the absolutely gorgeous Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate. But they both get caught looking, and what implausibly happens is their wives give them a “hall pass” from marriage for a week to do what they please, in hopes that in the aftermath they will have stronger marriages. (more…)

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Title: Louie: The Complete First Season

Format: Blu-ray/DVD 2-Disc Set

Created by: Louis C.K.

Starring: Louis C.K., Hadley Delany, Nick DiPaolo

Studio: FX Network, 20th Century Fox

Season Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Season

As FX Network has risen in notoriety with a host of ballsy original programming for cable television, it both got lucky in scoring and helped to make Louis C.K. one of the biggest stars in comedy today. And though his debut season of Louie gets off to a slightly slow start, it quickly becomes a fascinating piece of not only comedy, but a serious expression of controversial ideas on television. And it’s hard not to see it as a sort of perfect blend of what Louis C.K. has to offer in the television format.

Throughout The Complete First Season, Louis C.K. splices together stage spots and sketches, though this reviewer would hesitate to call it all stand-up and sketch comedy. For much of the first season of Louie, the show can be hilariously funny, but it’s not all jokes. Louis C.K. tells some jokes and creates some comedic moments for sure, but he also takes time to develop his thoughts about issues such as the use of homosexual terminology in comedy, being middle aged and a divorced father, religion, dealing with opposing political beliefs, dating, and what it’s like to be a performer and actor. (more…)

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Title: Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic, Making the Movie

Publisher: Titan Books

Writer: Commentary by Mark Millar, Contributions from Cast and Crew

Review by: Thomas Braaksma

Spoiler Alert! If the reader has not seen the movie or read the comic and does not want to know everything about it, hold off on Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic, Making the Movie. This book will give away a lot of the plot and the differences between the comic and the movie. With that being said, the question at hand is whether after the movie has been viewed is this companion book to the Kick-Ass franchise worth picking up? The answer to that could be yes or no depending on the reader’s commitment to the franchise and their concern for intricate details, down to costumes, the story’s origin, writers’ thoughts and actors’ takes on the material. Creating the Comic, Making the Movie is really for the most die-hard of fans. (more…)

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