Howdy Inter-Webbers, I’m Matt Cohen, and I’m funny.

I’m really funny. Like, soul crushingly so. Even I can admit that there are a few (a very few) funnier then I, and here is a peek at what some of them are up to. So take off your thinking caps, and don your tuxedo tees, cause its time to share in the laughter.

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Big Screen

Semi-Pro: The first solo flick from writer (and UCB alumni) Scott Armstrong puts Will Ferrell into the “lead” role of yet another sports comedy, this time a basketball film, and amazingly another very funny movie is born. Plot-wise, Semi-Pro is nothing groundbreaking and often pretty thin but that doesn’t stop Ferrell and Co. from packing in the laughs. Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, owner, coach and power forward of the struggling ABA club, The Flint Michigan Tropics, a loud, boisterous and yet extremely likable fool of a man. The film, set in the mid seventies, finds Moon and the rest of his squad struggling to secure a place in the NBA, after the impending mergers between the two organizations. Ferrell, in an out of ordinary move, takes backseat in the film, to the supporting cast, particularly Woody Harrelson as a washed up former pro, and Andre Benjamin as a young talented upstart. The marketing of the film is misleading in this regard, because I fully expected to go in a see a Will Ferrell movie. Not to say I was disappointed with the overall outcome, just that Jackie Moon definitely is not the focus of Semi-Pro, and though Ferrell kills in his on-screen time, I really would be hard pressed to consider him the lead of the film. Semi-Pro is filled with an excellent supporting cast; particularly Will Arnett and Andy Daily steal the show, as the two Tropics radio commentators. This movie isn’t quite as funny as Anchorman or Talladega Nights, but those are two brilliant films in my opinion, and living up to that level of excellence is hard to do. Semi-Pro is a very funny movie, not perfect, but definitely worth checking out.

“If I sink this shot, I’m taking the whole team to Carvel for sundaes and fun!”

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Films to Look for:

Stepbrothers: After about three viewings of the trailer, I have come to the conclusion that this looks like one of the funniest movies of the year, if not the last few years. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly re-team, this time as the titular step brothers, two thirty something men who find themselves sharing a bedroom with a complete stranger. The trailer is short, but glorious. The two men quickly find themselves going from bitter enemies to best friends, and the transition looks to be hilarious (John Stamos!!!). This is the first team up between Ferrell, Reilly and director Adam Mckay since Talladega Nights hit theaters, and it appears as if the wait has been worth it. I know people who are already quoting one liners from the film, and thats just after seeing a short preview. In Taladega Nights Ferrell and Reilly proved they are a great comedy twosome, and Stepbrothers looks like its certainly going to solidify that.

Pineapple Express: A 40-something second trailer containing guns, pot, and a song by M.I.A. (Paper Planes), and with that, I was completely and fully hooked. The trailer for Pineapple Express is an odd bird, to say the least and that may be why I’m so intrigued/excited by the film. Seth Rogen and and James Franco (In fully on hippy Jesus look-alike mode) star in a film written by Rogen and partner Evan Goldberg (the same team behind this summers Superbad) and directed by David Gordon Green of all people. If you are unfamiliar, Green is a renowned director of hard hitting, intense low budget films, such as All the real girls and the indie fave George Washington. This is not going to be a typical comedy. Early advances say that the film is “too dark” for most average comedy goers, some even saying disturbingly so. I’m a fan of all the folks involved, and a fan of the content as well, so this film is high (I’m clever) up on my radar of movies to see in 08.

“Alright, just wait for it and that picnic basket is ours!”

Baby Mama: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler star as a single working woman (Tina Fey) and her surrogate mother to be (Poehler) in this upcoming comedy. Written by Fey, it is her first starring vehicle since her newfound fame on TV’S 30 Rock., and the trailer looks like she has hit a line drive first time up at bat. The movie is sweet, but not nauseatingly so, and Poehler’s character looks to be one of the ditziest/funniest female I have seen onscreen in a long time. Fey seems to be staying in her usual “Straight-Woman” territory, but that is where she excels so you’ll hear no complaints from me. This will also be Poehler’s first co-lead and I personally think its about time, because in my opinion Amy is the funniest women alive. With two stellar leads like this film has, I think Baby Mama is one to watch for.

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DVD Review

Human Giant Season 1: Its no secret that I am a huge fan of this series, and the DVD offering of the first season does not disappoint viewers, hard-core or newcomers alike. This two-disc set comes jam packed with uncensored extras, best of clips from the 24 hour Human Giant MTV marathon and loads more. The most important part of a sketch show is the sketches of course, and lucky for us, Human Giant knows how to provide the funny, on a more consistent basis then any sketch show I’ve seen in a long time. With this two disc set, the viewer gets every uncensored episode from season 1, three hours of bonus features and an infinitely larger amount of laughs. So if you’ve seen the show, or you are a noob, pick up this set and I can guarantee you will laugh till your eyes hurt, take a break, and then laugh again.

One of these men is really large. (Hint: It’s not the little one)

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Well, thats it for this week. Check back in a fortnight (I’m very cultured) for a look at next weeks comics, and special guest Jesse gives us his opinion on the much celebrated, Batman: The Animated Series. Be there or be square… And squares are no fun. Four sides…. Pft!

and as always,

“Keep em’ bagged and boarded”

–Matt Cohen is trying to build a mountain out of a mole hill, but the moles are being real jerks about it.

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