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CHICAGO – If you’ve never seen the farcical ensemble theater chestnut “Noises Off,” you will see no better version than on the Steppenwolf Theatre stage, now at their northside Chicago venue through November 3rd. For tickets and details for this riotous theater experience, click NOISES OFF.
JIM reviews film “EXTRACT” -- Comedy Distilled into a Pleasant experience
Submitted by jimchudnow@sbcg... on September 2, 2009 - 12:40am
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“EXTRACT” — Comedy Distilled into a Pleasant experience
Rating: 7 of 10 stars.
Their ad claims (typically) that this is ‘the funniest comedy of the year’, which it ISN’T (& that title should go to ‘I Love You Man’). What this is, is a diverting, MILD (rather than wild) situational comedy with some very effective understated acting, a number of small laughs, and some refreshing ideas (rather than really clever lines). Joel (JASON BATEMAN) is the owner of an extract (flavors)-bottling plant, assisted by Brian (J.K. Simmons).
The plant has numerous employees who are INEPT (such as ‘Step’ played by CLIFTON COLLINS JR.), apathetic & sometimes racist. Jason is upset at the emotional indifference of his wife (KRISTEN WIIG), & follows advice of druggie friend Dean (BEN AFFLECK) on how to help make him feel better (with a little giggilo-ing by moronic ‘Brad’ played by DUSTIN MILLIGAN). Pretty Cindy (MILA KUNIS) is a crook who lies & rips off people to try to get money, & she sets her sights on Jason’s company (including via lawyer ‘Joe’ played by GENE SIMMONS).
It’s pleasant to see a comedy like this that’s NOT based on gross-out or vicious humor & which instead relies on its characters & situations for amusement. I would’ve liked to see more clever writing, tho.
Movie to watch for
Mike Judge is probably a genius, and really good at writing characters. But, unfortunately, many are disappoint with his latest movie entitled “Extract”. The Extract reviews aren’t very good. The Extract reviews not being very good might not matter that much – the film’s director, Mike Judge has never had much of a great following with establishment types. His three films are more of cult classics – the Beavis and Butthead movie, Office Space, and Idiocracy all got lousy reviews upon release and didn’t make huge box office earnings, but rather gained followings through rentals and word of mouth. Extract, starring Jason Bateman, had a limited opening this weekend. Let’s hope Extract reviews bear on the box office earnings.