Comedy tonight...and well most of the weekend
1. So, I've been watching comedies all weekend long. With the possible exceptions of The 100 (really not a comedy and if you haven't seen it and consider yourself a sci-fi fan, you really should check it out), Vampire Dairies (which at times feels like a comedy), and Scandal (which also feels like a comedy at times, this week's was a mixed bag).
Saw an old episode of Keeping Up Appearances at a friend's place last night. It was hilarious. This is a British situation comedy. Mostly Farce. And no one does Farce better than the Brits, and possibly the French who invented it. Too difficult to explain. But one scene had me roaring with laughter, haven't laughed so hard in a while.
Followed it up with three episodes of The Big Bang Theory, Life in Pieces, and the third episode of The New X-Files. By the way, the third episode of The X-Files is a hoot. Highly recommended. And the best part is that you don't have to have watched the series at all in order to follow it. The critics were right, it's well written. Unfortunately, the actors are phoning it in and I think have been doing botox, they both look like they are wearing masks or someone went nuts with photo-shop.
Big Bang Theory was funny in spots, annoying in others...which is well typical of Big Bang Theory. Best episode was the one before Valentine's Day. Worst episode was The Valentine's Day episode, except for the bits with Sheldon and Amy which almost saved it.
Life in Pieces was a mixed bag. It's basically four short stories. Only one of the four sort of made me laugh, two made me cringe. Again typical of that series, and American Situational Comedies in general -- I don't do embarrassment humor well.
Finished this marathon of comedies up with the flick, Trainwreck (which I borrowed from my friend, it's another for your consideration flick). It's the romantic comedy directed by Judd Apatow and written by Amy Schumer, also stars Amy Schumer, which was a stroke of genius. Usually Judd Apatow films offend me. This one didn't. It surprised me, funniest romantic comedy that I've seen in ages.
I think it was Amy Schumer and the casting that saved this film. Because of Amy, neither model beautiful women nor men were cast. Usually Apatow will cast beautiful model types in the female roles, and ordinary looking guys in the male roles. Here, we finally got both -- and it reminded me a little of When Harry Met Sally. The last Apatow film that I saw had Katherine Heigle in the main role, which was a bad idea. I didn't buy the movie and cringed through it.
Trainwreck reminds me a little of Bridesmaids in its brand of absurdist sex comedy hijinks. And it is actually funny. The sex comedy is evened out by other absurd moments. Emphasizing how socially awkward we all are, and how we are often our own worst enemy. I identified a bit with Amy, who almost destroys her life but is able to pull it back together again. Uplifting and hilarious, with just the right touch of drama.
I liked it better than Joy, which for some absurd reason was nominated for awards. I don't know anyone who liked that movie. Weird.
2. Went to the Flatbush Coop today to get lemon/lime juice, veggies, and baking soda. Specifically "Arm and Hammer" baking soda in the box - mainly because it's cheaper and easier to use than the baking soda that comes in a bag. You can't open that and put it in your fridge or cabinet. It will go all over the place.
So I wander around the store and can't find it. Go down the baking aisle...they have every brand of sugar and/or sweetener imaginable. Rows of it. (Seriously is it just me or is our society insanely addicted to sugar?) They also have every brand of chocolate available. But baking soda?? No.
I locate a store employee.
ME: Do you have baking soda?
Employee: Yes down aisle four, the baking aisle.
(I follow her down the aisle)
Me: Yeah, I looked down this aisle and couldn't find it, of course it might have been under my nose.
(Employee looks for a bit then pulls out a tiny bag that costs about $3.99, entitled Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda, hidden next to the Bob's Red Mill Brownie Mix, Brown Rice Flour, etc.)
Employee: Here it is.
Me: Uh, do you have any Arm & Hammer?
Employee: This is a health food store. We don't carry that!
So, ahem, I guess that's why you carry all the sugar and chocolate and brownies mixes, not to mention ice cream, chocolate bars, candies, beer, and hard cider ...oh right, because they are healthy. (But I restrained myself.)
It's insanely hard to find baking soda in my area. I mean seriously, we're talking about baking soda.
Curry? Not a problem. They have about twenty brands. Chocolate and coffee and alcohol also not a problem. (I think our society is also addicted to chocolate and caffeine and justifies it by saying its good for you. It's not. Do not believe those dumb ads.) But baking soda? Ugh.
3. I think the people above me may be having sex, either that or the ceiling is farting. One or the other. Although it seems like a really odd time to having sex. Also it only farts every fifteen seconds...so really bad sex? Also in the living room? I blame Trainwreck for putting this idea into my head.
Saw an old episode of Keeping Up Appearances at a friend's place last night. It was hilarious. This is a British situation comedy. Mostly Farce. And no one does Farce better than the Brits, and possibly the French who invented it. Too difficult to explain. But one scene had me roaring with laughter, haven't laughed so hard in a while.
Followed it up with three episodes of The Big Bang Theory, Life in Pieces, and the third episode of The New X-Files. By the way, the third episode of The X-Files is a hoot. Highly recommended. And the best part is that you don't have to have watched the series at all in order to follow it. The critics were right, it's well written. Unfortunately, the actors are phoning it in and I think have been doing botox, they both look like they are wearing masks or someone went nuts with photo-shop.
Big Bang Theory was funny in spots, annoying in others...which is well typical of Big Bang Theory. Best episode was the one before Valentine's Day. Worst episode was The Valentine's Day episode, except for the bits with Sheldon and Amy which almost saved it.
Life in Pieces was a mixed bag. It's basically four short stories. Only one of the four sort of made me laugh, two made me cringe. Again typical of that series, and American Situational Comedies in general -- I don't do embarrassment humor well.
Finished this marathon of comedies up with the flick, Trainwreck (which I borrowed from my friend, it's another for your consideration flick). It's the romantic comedy directed by Judd Apatow and written by Amy Schumer, also stars Amy Schumer, which was a stroke of genius. Usually Judd Apatow films offend me. This one didn't. It surprised me, funniest romantic comedy that I've seen in ages.
I think it was Amy Schumer and the casting that saved this film. Because of Amy, neither model beautiful women nor men were cast. Usually Apatow will cast beautiful model types in the female roles, and ordinary looking guys in the male roles. Here, we finally got both -- and it reminded me a little of When Harry Met Sally. The last Apatow film that I saw had Katherine Heigle in the main role, which was a bad idea. I didn't buy the movie and cringed through it.
Trainwreck reminds me a little of Bridesmaids in its brand of absurdist sex comedy hijinks. And it is actually funny. The sex comedy is evened out by other absurd moments. Emphasizing how socially awkward we all are, and how we are often our own worst enemy. I identified a bit with Amy, who almost destroys her life but is able to pull it back together again. Uplifting and hilarious, with just the right touch of drama.
I liked it better than Joy, which for some absurd reason was nominated for awards. I don't know anyone who liked that movie. Weird.
2. Went to the Flatbush Coop today to get lemon/lime juice, veggies, and baking soda. Specifically "Arm and Hammer" baking soda in the box - mainly because it's cheaper and easier to use than the baking soda that comes in a bag. You can't open that and put it in your fridge or cabinet. It will go all over the place.
So I wander around the store and can't find it. Go down the baking aisle...they have every brand of sugar and/or sweetener imaginable. Rows of it. (Seriously is it just me or is our society insanely addicted to sugar?) They also have every brand of chocolate available. But baking soda?? No.
I locate a store employee.
ME: Do you have baking soda?
Employee: Yes down aisle four, the baking aisle.
(I follow her down the aisle)
Me: Yeah, I looked down this aisle and couldn't find it, of course it might have been under my nose.
(Employee looks for a bit then pulls out a tiny bag that costs about $3.99, entitled Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda, hidden next to the Bob's Red Mill Brownie Mix, Brown Rice Flour, etc.)
Employee: Here it is.
Me: Uh, do you have any Arm & Hammer?
Employee: This is a health food store. We don't carry that!
So, ahem, I guess that's why you carry all the sugar and chocolate and brownies mixes, not to mention ice cream, chocolate bars, candies, beer, and hard cider ...oh right, because they are healthy. (But I restrained myself.)
It's insanely hard to find baking soda in my area. I mean seriously, we're talking about baking soda.
Curry? Not a problem. They have about twenty brands. Chocolate and coffee and alcohol also not a problem. (I think our society is also addicted to chocolate and caffeine and justifies it by saying its good for you. It's not. Do not believe those dumb ads.) But baking soda? Ugh.
3. I think the people above me may be having sex, either that or the ceiling is farting. One or the other. Although it seems like a really odd time to having sex. Also it only farts every fifteen seconds...so really bad sex? Also in the living room? I blame Trainwreck for putting this idea into my head.