The MacGuffin

If screenings of clips from Star Trek Into Darkness and Fast & Furious 6 weren’t cool enough, we still had two days worth of studio presentations (Disney, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate) at CinemaCon 2013. Generally the presentations went two ways: either the presenters would briefly mention a bunch of projects but not show anything from them and then show more extensive clips from a few select projects, OR they would show brief clips (or trailers) for many different projects.

The new raunchy comedy from writer/director Leslye Headlund, Bachelorette, can be a frustratingly manic-depressive experience for the viewer. On the one hand, this is a comedy with some strong on-screen talent, such as Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson, Adam Scott, James Marsden, and Kyle Bornheimer. It also features some genuine heart and funny moments. On the other hand, you can definitely picture the pitch meeting where this film got green-lit: “Look, Bridesmaids was a big hit. The market is ready for more outrageous comedies where we prove the gals can be just as dirty as the guys are. We’ve got this fun script that’s been stuck in development hell for years, so let’s go out and get some of that sweet, sweet The Hangover Part 2 money and get this thing made!” Quite simply, so much of this movie is almost note-for-note derivative of other recent comedy hits that it drives you nuts.

In honor of the release of The Watch, Spencer and Greg discuss Jonah Hill.

Another Top 5 segment from The MacGuffin. This time Brandi and Ben share their top 5 party scenes.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and from here. After you’ve watched the video please vote in our poll and share which one you think is the best.

Spencer and Brandi look at Jesse Eisenberg’s career in advance of 30 Minutes or Less, tackle Emma Stone for The Help and give their DVD picks of the week.

You would think I had produced the film, with how desperately I wanted Bridesmaids to make a ton of money this past weekend. I’m not a person who makes a point to read box office predictions, and in this case I actively avoided it—any prediction, high or low, could only add to my anxiety. Now we know that it landed at number two in its opening weekend, with just under $25 million, around $10 million less than the second weekend numbers for Thor. I hear that this is good, about $10 million above where predictions were tracking last week. And yet, my exact words on hearing that number were: “And when The Hangover 2 makes three times that, I’ll weep.”

Allen Almachar: Bridesmaids (2011) stars the comedian Kristen Wiig, who, for the last couple of years, has been one of the funniest people around, and perhaps one of the last reasons to still watch Saturday Night Live. I for one, am glad to see her finally take the lead role in this film. Here, she plays the lovelorn ex-baker/current jewelry saleswoman Annie. Annie has had bad luck in love and life, with a failed bakery on her resume and brother/sister roommates who seem to be a little closer than is appropriate.

I have been an avid fan of Judd Apatow’s ever since he produced one of the best TV shows of all time, Freaks and Geeks. I’ve loved nearly everything he’s directed or produced in the years since. Superbad is one of my favorite films of all time. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Pineapple Express are some of the best comedies of the last ten years. Audiences seemed to agree with me on Apatow up until around 2009. None of his films since then have made as much money as those early hits, and aren’t as well regarded. Many people have seen them as more of the same, similar premises featuring all of the same actors. Apatow’s new film as producer, Bridesmaids, comes out today and seems to be made to answer the criticism of his past work. Gone are Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill, and in their places is a group of very funny women. The film also sees Apatow re-team with Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig, now a director, and the end result is the best film he’s been involved with since Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Another MacGuffin Film Podcast Top 5′s segment. This time Ben and John share their top 5 teen comedies.

Spencer and John discuss Greg Mottola following the release of his film Paul, debate the action star potential of the women of Sucker Punch, and close out with their DVD picks of the week.