In Case You Missed It: Accepted 4/5 by Corey

Welcome to the Critic Crew's newest feauture. I'll call it "In Case You Missed It". My associates may call it something else. Whatever. This section is devoted to movies you might have missed (and I definitely did) in the theatres and instead caught on DVD. Some might be brand new on DVD. Some might be a movie I picked up the other night from Movie Gallery (Arkadelphia's Blockbuster).

Accepted is stunningly funny. In the vein of Animal House or Old School, though considerably cleaner on the sexual side of things, Accepted (which is fairly new to DVD) never looked like a winner to me. In fact, the only reason I decided to see it was because there was nothing better to do in Arka-do-nothing and Hot Springs was a half-hour down the road.


Justin Long (Dodgeball, Jeepers Creepers) plays Bartleby Gaines, a reject college student with a plan. Bartleby didn't get into any of the colleges he applied to. In order to please his parents, he comes up with a scheme to buy him some time: he creates a fake college and a fake acceptance letter. Things become much more complicated when he receives his tuition check and his father reports how excited he is to drop him off.

The plot is ridiculous and requires a little head-stretch. The movie is made in the delivery, though: the supporting cast, Justin Long, and a few cameo appearances crack some of the funniest jokes I've heard in a while. The fairly young cast is full of people you are soon likely to see in many more movies: Jonah Hill (Grandma's Boy, Click) plays "Witty Fat Kid" Sherman, Blake Lively (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) plays "Really Hot Girl" Monica. She's really hot. And Lewis Black himself delivers what may well be the best use of the one F-enheimer allowed in a PG-13 movie to date.

The real treasure here, though, is rookie Adam Herschman playing Glen. His random spurts of "Battle Royale!" and "Holy balls!" are what kept me laughing from start to finish. The guy is absolutely hysterical and may even overshadow Justin Long, though he provides some great lines as well.

This movie does not look good, I know. I was skeptical too. If you've trusted me before, trust me on this one: it will not disappoint. It is a blast and WELL worth at least a five dollar rental. It will join my slim comedy library soon. Just go in with an open mind.

Stranger Than Fiction 3/5 review by Chris

I'd love to hear Stephen King's opinion of this movie. He LOVES this topic. Honestly, I do too, it is intriguing to explore the relationship between creator and creation in ANY realm.

Stranger Than Fiction

-Now in theaters-

IMDB synopsis:
An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.

Chris's review:
I'll keep this one short because I am at work, AND I am a bit late in posting it. I actually saw this a few weeks ago but haven't gotten around to reviewing until now. Also, there isn't a TON to say about this one. It is a good solid movie. Not great, but good, entertaining, put together fairly well, etc.

One point I will make...this may be Will Ferrell's Truman Show. He breaks free of his comedic shell and actually plays a very likeable, REAL character. The only difference is this movie is not as good as Truman Show and the characters weren't as interesting. Still, I feel Will really proved he can be used in more ways than just the over-the-top comic relief.

Marc Forster does a nice job directing and adds a few elements that visually add to the story, not unlike what he did with Finding Neverland, his last major film. My complaint here though is that the elements used a lot in the beginning of the film, almost like visual representations of the main characters thought proccesses, are not used as much later in the film.

If you were an Arrested Development fan, as you ALL SHOULD BE, you will get a kick out of seeing Tony Hale basically play Buster on the big screen. The 3 females in the film happen to be 3 of only a very few GOOD female actors in Hollywood, and they do not disappoint (those being Maggie Gyllenhall, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah).

Ok, that is all on this one. I am too long-winded on other reviews so I'll let you off easy this time. This is a good little movie, pick it up as a rental or catch it at the dollar movie, bring a date, go out for some steak afterward and you'll have yourself a good evening.

In the words of the Thing: "'nuff said."

Chris's recommendations:
See this movie if...
-It is a rainy day and you feel like a movie and you've either seen everything else, or nothing else GREAT is out.
-You'd like to see Will Ferrell stretch out a little and play a more rounded (but still funny) character.
-You have a crush on Maggie Gyllenhall.

Don't see this movie if...
-The only Will Ferrell for you is the Will Ferrell of Old School or Anchorman (both genius).
-You haven't seen Prestige, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, or anything else the Crew has said rocks. If those are there, spend your money on those first. This is not a MUST see.
-You love america. Take that Mike. Just kidding, america rocks!