A Role Model for comedy in 2009?

Watching the trailer for Role Models you could be forgiven for dismissing this as a clone of many other American comedies over the past few years. It stars Sean William Scott (best known as Steve Stifler in the American Pie movies), Paul Rudd (Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin from Superbad) and Elizabeth Banks (40 Year Old Virgin, Zack and Miri Make A Porno). So even the cast begin to make this look like many of the films from the Judd Apatow stable, but without Mr Apatow attached.

The opening act also begins to set the scene for another standard by the numbers comedy. Paul Rudd's character hates his life and therefore become self destructive, and Sean William Scott once more plays the dumb loser who lives for his next one night stand. So far, so normal.

But after receiving community service for a driving misdemeanor, something unexpected happens. The two lead characters are sent to the Sturdy Wings charity to become "Bigs" (adults who spend time making friends with the children sent there). From this point on, an average comedy is tranformed into a funny, witty and touching film.

Its Chrisopther Mintz-Plasse that steals the show, adding another string to the geek bow he started with Superbad. This time, instead of being the lovable loser who muddles by in life, he is a cape wearing, live action role player. Some of the funniest scenes come when Mintz-Plasse and Rudd are taking part in the role play battles.

So, I would advise that people go and see this film, take a deep breath and bear with it through the first 15 minutes or so, as this is already the comedy gem of 2009, and the film that all other mainstream comedies should be aiming to beat.

Will anyone be watching the Watchmen?

One of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2009 hit the skids before we had time to exit 2008!

Watchmen has become caught up in a legal battle over distribution rights between Warner Brothers and Twentieth Century Fox.

The issue has arisen because in the 1980s Paramount Pictures bought the rights to the Watchmen, plowed vast amounts of cash into developing it, before giving up and putting the film into turnaround. Warner Brothers have gone on to make the movie (with Warners to distribute the film in the US and Paramount to distribute everywhere else). Twentieth Century Fox are now arguing that they contractually had the right to first refusal of the film before Warners started working on it. A judge has now ruled that this issue should go to trial on 20th January 2009.

Negotiation has started between all of the studios involved but the knock on affect of this situation is that the film could be postponed until the court process has finished. Or worse, canned all together if an agreement cannot be reached.