August 29, 2008 Disaster Movie
Studio: Lionsgate Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content throughout, language, drug references and comic violence
No recent blockbuster remains untouched in the latest parody movie to hit theaters. Unfortunately, "Disaster Movie" lives up to its title.
Continuing their string of pun-filled parody films, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer strike again by co-writing and co-directing this effort to dissect Hollywood's latest offerings with a rapid fire series of visual gags and jokes.
The paper thin plot consists of a group of young friends who have to deal with a series of catastrophes. But the story is really just an excuse to jump from movie to movie, making fun of each one.
Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Kim Kardashian and Carmen Electra star, along with a big group of character actors.
Unfortunately, none of them do a very good job. Friedberg and Seltzer have developed a reputation by cranking out these types of films. However, it's not a very good reputation.
After helping write the very funny "Scary Movie" and its sequels, they struck out on their own with "Date Movie," "Epic Movie," "Meet the Spartans" and now this.
The biggest problem I have with their work is they don't seem to put very much effort into it. You can generate laughs with the lowest common denominator but usually the more the clever something is the more funny it is.
These movies are obvious and in no way clever. Instead of parody you get a highlight reel of much more superior films. There are a few smiles here and there, particularly when "Juno" is the target, but overall this is another dismal effort from its creators.
On my rating scale, "Disaster Movie" earns a Strikeout.
PRIME PICKS HELL'S KITCHEN Tonight at 8:00 PM 8 Chefs Compete
The chefs create ethnic dishes with select ingredients; a team falls behind before dinner service begins
August 29, 2008
