I’m going to go along with my counterparts here and also do my Top 10 List based off of films I saw in 2010, not necessarily films that came out in 2010 (although I think the majority of my picks do qualify as 2010 releases). However, unlike John and Susan’s lists I did not think this was the year that movies died ;). I did see quite a few films this year, and there were some good ones, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was a pretty lackluster year for film. Luckily, the few that were good were really good. Ok, here we go:

10. SONS OF CUBA

I saw “Sons of Cuba” at the Palm Springs Film Festival and was really surprised it didn’t get better distribution. When I saw the film they were having problems with the projector and there were these large green lines that ran vertically across the screen, but this little film was so absorbing that within minutes no one in the the theater even remembered they were there. Five years ago this film would’ve been a hit, unfortunately documentaries aren’t as popular as they used to be since the general public has ended its fleeting love affair with Michael Moore.

This is one of those documentaries where the filmmakers turn their cameras on all the right people and capture all the right moments. Very heartwarming and uplifting–you want to stand up and cheer by the final scene.

9. REVANCHE

(trailer NSFW)

Subtle, but not at all boring. This film slowly draws you in and keeps you in with its beautiful cinematography. There’s enough time with every shot to really take in each frame and appreciate it. While the tone and photography are what I loved most about this film, it’s also a great spin on a familiar genre.

8. THE ROAD

Beautifully bleak. Bleak in its setting, but beautiful in its examination of a father-son-relationship. I really tried seeing this film in 2009, but finally ended up seeing it in early 2010. The acting in this film, all across the board, was just outstanding. I really like John Hillcoat’s direction and am excited to see what he does next. The fact that they don’t explain what caused the apocalypse in this film made it so much more real and relatable.

7. CHILDREN OF INVENTION

This is what independent film is all about: it’s a low-budget original story that is so well-told it seems effortless. I was really impressed with the all-around production of this film, Tze Chun did a great job and I can’t wait to see more from him. I also have to acknowledge the fantastic editing by Anna Boden. I think it really took this film to the next level.

6. COLLAPSE

Chris Smith, who directed my favorite documentary of all time, returns to making docs and introduces us to the brilliant mind of Michael Ruppert. I think this should be required viewing, after seeing this I contemplated joining the Amish community. I wouldn’t say it’s so much chilling as it is informative. Smith goes with an Errol Morris approach here (even down to the Phillip Glass-inspired soundtrack), but it works perfectly and was definitely the right choice.

5. AFTERSCHOOL

Antonio Campos has arrived. This film is daring, full realized, and absolutely horrifying. Probably one of the most disturbing film experiences I’ve had next to Fat Girl, Funny Games, and Irreversible. Yet I’m still recommending it. Why? Because I think it exposes us, while also warning us, of the next generation that we have created: a generation that is so desensitized at such a young age that the things they are capable of is unfathomable. Ezra Miller gives a brilliant performance and Campos makes sure every shot is inspired by the story. For instance, the final shot of the film is so haunting because you realize at that point that you are completely vulnerable and that the unexpected could happen at any moment, and that perfect last shot really epitomizes the film.

4. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

I was one of the first to say, “a Facebook movie? Really?”, but like many others I ended up eating those words. Once Fincher and Sorkin were attached and I found out more about the source material I was definitely less skeptical and suddenly this film became one of my most anticipated of the year. 2010 seemed like a year where most films didn’t live up to the hype, but I felt that “The Social Network” was one of the few that actually delivered. This is a definitive film of our generation and a story that is, as they say, stranger than fiction. Prime movie-making material. I also commend Fincher, who is usually really heavy on effects, for sort of taking a backseat and letting the great script by Aaron Sorkin tell the story.

3. HUNGER

I was first introduced to director Steve McQueen’s work (not the actor) at an art museum where I saw a video installation of his. So, going into “Hunger” I knew McQueen would probably take a more avant-garde approach. He did, but in a way that was totally fitting to the true story he was telling. This film just blew me away, from the powerful subject matter to the truly brilliant direction by McQueen to the physically demanding performance by Michael Fassbender and of course to the well known 20-minute-long, extremely impressive, single-shot take. Especially since it’s used in such a pivotal scene. I can not praise this film enough, just writing about it makes me want to watch it again.

2. SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

This was my favorite film at SXSW 2010. Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick made an original and beautiful film and I really hope more people can see it. I saw some of McCormick’s short film work when I lived in Portland and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was always hoping he would do a feature, so I was very excited to see that he had his feature debut playing at SXSW. I had my fingers crossed while watching it, hoping his transition to features would be successful, and it absolutely was. With a cast of mostly musicians (The Shins James Mercer and Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein) McCormick subtly intertwines various stories that deal with human connection, loneliness, abandonment, death, and rebirth. I loved everything about this film, it’s currently still playing festivals but I hope it’s available soon.

1. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

Banksy’s big prank and middle finger to the contemporary art world is both hilarious and significant. What I appreciate most about this film is that it defies genres, it was refreshing to see someone like Banksy come into the film world and give us something we’ve never seen before, just like he did with his artwork.

The first half of the film is a pretty straight forward documentary educating us on the history of the street art scene. The latter half of the film is a sort of mockery of everything that is wrong with the art scene and how it’s all become so overly commercialized. Banksy seemed like he was on a mission and that he had a lot to say, he wanted to shake things up a bit, as he’s been known to do. With “Exit Through The Gift Shop” Banksy did just that, and in a completely unconventional way. I also think this was the best title for a movie this year, with “My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done” being a close second. If you haven’t seen this yet make sure you check it out while it’s still on Netflix Instant. Mr. Brainwash thanks you.

Honorable Mentions: True Grit, The Fighter, and Black Swan. Three films that I saw and really enjoyed, but that I don’t think had enough time to resonate with me to make my list. This year seemed to be a year of expectations. True Grit and Black Swan were about as good as I hoped them to be, with The Fighter being a tad better than expected. Some films like The Social Network exceeded high expectations, while others like Inception were a bit of a letdown.

Yet to see: Toy Story 3, Animal Kingdom, I Am Love, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, Enter The Void.

In this episode: We interview filmmaker, Azazel Jacobs. Azazel is the writer/director of films such as, the critically-acclaimed MOMMA’S MAN, and THE GOODTIMES KID. Both films are highly recommended. Make sure you check out MOMMA’S MAN while it’s still on Netflix Watch Instantly.

Azazel is an extremely talented filmmaker and it was a pleasure to have such a lengthy conversation with him about his work and technique. I am a big fan of his films and can’t wait for his next one! Thank you to Azazel for taking the time to do this interview.

You can also listen to any of our podcasts by clicking on the player at the top right, or by subscribing to our podcast on iTunes.

“Momma’s Man” trailer

“The GoodTimes Kid” trailer

Tom and I often have long-winded conversations about movies via skype. Recently we were trying to think of some movies to debate on future podcasts, so naturally the name of M. Night Shyamalan quickly came up. Shyamalan is definitely one of those filmmakers that people either love or hate. With the release of Shyamalan’s latest film, The Last Airbender, we thought we’d post our conversation here, it seemed relevant enough. So, with no further ado…

Titus: We need a good film to debate.

Tom: A good one would be The Last Airbender. I can always find reasons to defend Shyamalan.

Titus: Really? Even with The Happening?

Tom: lol. I could totally defend that film as a whole. I will concede to some lame parts but I would still
take a positive side on that one

Titus: “Some” lame parts? :)

Tom: Yes, some. It just needed a different twist, not trees killing people.

Titus: And a better cast or possibly some direction.

Tom: lol. That’s pretty harsh. I don’t think the cast was the problem. I don’t think he directed it poorly
either. The whole thing is pretty cool and builds tension well until we find out the plants are angry
with us. After that revelation it is hard to take the rest seriously.

Titus: Oh man! The acting in that was reprehensible and I wasn’t buying the whole “we meant for it to
be bad” shtick.

Tom: Was the acting really the big issue or the lines they were asked to deliver with a straight face?

Titus: Wahlberg’s performance was laughable at best. I was watching it dumbfounded at how bad the
acting was. I kept thinking “is this for real?” Script, acting, directing, it was all bad!

Tom: Wahlberg was Wahlberg. That’s what you get when you cast him. Everyone going to see him act
knows that by now. That’s what we expect when we watch him.

Titus: It had potential too, that was the sad part. The scene where those kids get shot was so funny and I
think we were supposed to feel bad.

Tom: I have to watch it again because I honestly don’t remember that scene. We saw it opening night
and haven’t seen it since. I’m going to have to Netflix it now.

Titus: Everyone is surrounding that barn, and then a double barrel shotgun pops out and blows a kid
away right off the porch. Everyone in the theatre was either confused or laughing.

Tom: lol. I have to watch it again. I put it in the same boat with Death Race, Incredible Hulk, Doomsday,
AvP, etc. I enjoy watching all those when I just want to watch something fun and don’t want to
have to think too hard.

Titus: I saw it opening day too. First and last time I will ever see it. The movie tried to be so much more
than those movies though. That’s what made it so much worse. I was hoping The Happening
would be fun, but I didn’t think it was.

Tom: I think if you took out the premise of plants killing people because they are angry with how we
treat the environment and replace it with like a toxic gas or crashed satellite you would have had a
different reaction.

Titus: Lady in the Water?

Tom: Lady in the Water is tough to defend. Kind of like Sharkboy and Lava Girl was for Rodriguez.
However, kids love Sharkboy and Lava Girl for some reason. I have yet to meet a kid that likes Lady
in the Water. Actually I have yet to meet a kid who saw Lady in the Water.

Titus: Lady in the Water was real bad, but I think I may have liked it better than The Happening.

Tom: Lady in the Water was supposed to be for kids but it was way too creepy for kids, among many
other problems.

Titus: I thought water being the aliens’ weakness in Signs was lame, but the rest of the movie was good
so it got a pass. The Happening is a whole other story.

Tom: Why would you have a problem with water being the aliens’ weakness? When was the last time
you were attacked by an invading alien race? I am perfectly willing to give things like that a pass in
films because who really knows. Just because it doesn’t fit into our conventional thinking of what
should kill an alien? I take that stance with many films that people/critics are way too hard on.

Titus: No, it’s more like with aliens being as smart as they are why would they invade a planet that is
70% water?

Tom: lol. Again, over thinking the situation.

Titus: haha, this could be a fun blog post.

Tom: It made perfect sense for the aliens because they got a long way before people figured out water
was there weakness. They figured it out by complete accident.

Titus: Water didn’t ruin Signs for me, but it did seem like he was a little lazy with the writing there.

Tom:  I really liked Signs almost as much as Unbreakable.

Titus: I liked Signs too. I thought it was a lot of fun. The Village was ruined for me though because of all
Shyamalan’s plot holes.

Tom: Yeah, that one frustrated me but it was still fun to watch. I enjoyed Bryce Dallas Howard’s
performance. That was the first thing I had ever seen her in. I thought the whole premise for the
film was a neat idea. And it wasn’t crazy plot twists at the end. You kind of already knew.

Titus: With The Village though, I couldn’t buy that Adrien Brody’s handicap character became all
menacing when he put on the monster suit. Stuff like that throughout The Village just ruined it for
me. I did like the ending though and thought it was fairly entertaining.

Tom: I loved in The Village how the people had these bad accents and were attempting to speak in old
English. It bothered me through the whole movie and then it made sense why they were speaking
like that at the end. I thought that was a nice touch.

Titus: They should have a put a twist like that at the end of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Shyamalan is
just getting gradually worse. He became so lazy in his writing after he struck gold with The Sixth
Sense and then bombed with Unbreakable.

Tom: I guess sometimes I give people a pass because they have such intriguing ideas. I loved the ideas
and concepts behind Unbreakable, The Village and The Happening. Shyamalan is a good director,
just not sold on his writing. He should dictate his ideas to someone else and let them put them all
to paper.

Titus: Unbreakable, yes. The Village, kind of. The Happening, no.

Tom: You didn’t think the effect of the toxin or whatever in The Happening was cool? What it made people
do? That was awesome! It just shouldn’t have been angry plants.

Titus: Yeah, that opening scene was like the only cool part. I think he is a good storyteller, but I don’t
really think he can direct actors.

Tom: So you would compare him to George Lucas? Lucas is horrible with actors but he is a great
storyteller. It will be interesting with Airbender to see him direct someone else’s material. I think
that will help prove my theory that his only real problem is his writing ability.

Titus: He is basically more of a Lucas than a Spielberg. Which sucks for him since Spielberg is like his idol.

Tom: Lucas has still yet to direct a script he did not write. Shyamalan needs this film (Airbender) to
prove he is still worthy of studios giving him money.

Titus: I agree with you though that sometimes critics and people are too harsh and sometimes they
deserve a pass. But Shyamalan is so cocky and studios give him so much money to make his films,
and sometimes it seems like his films fail just because of his laziness or cockiness.

Tom: You can put a few directors in that same boat. I think Airbender will prove if writing is his only
problem or if he can’t direct actors either. He is getting a young and relatively inexperienced cast to
work with.

Titus: I’ve never really been a Shyamalan naysayer until Lady in the Water and The Happening. Both of
which I saw in theatres right when they came out. I’m still rooting for him in a way.

Tom: I’m always rooting for films and directors in general. I wish they could all be good and come out
the way directors see it in their heads. Then this wouldn’t be a love/hate blog and we would have
nothing to debate.

Titus: That’s impossible as long as Uwe Boll is out there :)

Stay tuned, this debate may continue once we both see M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender.

Thanks to Tom for editing our Skype conversation so that it was actually grammatically correct and legible.

I like recommending films to people, especially now that people have so many films that they can Watch Instantly on Netflix. It makes it so much easier. So, with that said, I’m starting this little section that is devoted to film recommendations based off of what is currently available on Netflix Instant. These won’t archive very well as the Netflix films rotate in and out of Instant Watch, but I’ll still keep old posts up in case you decide to add the film to your regular queue.

I am not going to do big write-ups on the films I recommend, just maybe a sentence or two. Preceded by a link and brief synopsis from Netflix. I will list them by categories (and with icons), which you can find below. You can find a brief explanation of each category if you’re a little confused as to why I’m recommending certain films. I’ll probably only recommend a handful of the following categories with each post. I won’t be able to do every category like I am demonstrating here.

Lastly, I will be posting these randomly, I won’t be posting once a week or anything. I’ll try to get a couple up each month. I will number the posts too so that’s easy to keep up with how many there have been. If you watch any of the recommendations please leave a comment letting us know if you liked or disliked the film. Happy movie watching!

CLASSIC (Oldy, but goody. Most likely B&W, and undeniably good.)

RASHOMON Considered one of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s masterpieces, this Oscar-winning crime drama unfolds as four witnesses to a rape and murder report their versions of the attack, leaving the viewer to decide what really happened.

Kurosawa, Mifune, and samurai swords. What more do you need?

DRAAAMA (Heavy-hitting Drama that will drain you emotionally, but a great film nonetheless.)

PARIS, TEXAS Director Wim Wenders is at his offbeat best in this “road movie” about weary drifter Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton). In a quest to rebuild his life and reconnect with his son, Travis — who’s been gone four years — tries to untangle his thorny past with his wife (Nastassja Kinski).

I adore this film. Beautiful cinematography and a wonderful performance from the incomparable Harry Dean Stanton. One of the best films I’ve ever seen on the subject of divorce, and lost love.

WHAT’S ON TV? (TV Shows worth investing in.)

BRICK CITY Mayor Cory Booker, Police Director Garry McCarthy and Central High School Principal Ras Baraka join the citizens of Newark to fight an uphill battle against crime, poverty and corruption in the New Jersey metropolis.

This is a 5 part mini-documentary-series that originally aired on The Sundance Channel. The access that the filmmakers have here is phenomenal. This show is so engaging, it’s some of the best TV programming I’ve seen in a loooong time. You can’t write stuff this good, unless of course you’re a writer for The Wire. Which by the way, if you are a fan of The Wire, this show is an absolute MUST.

JUST MISSED IT (New movies to Netflix Instant that were recently in theaters.)

MOON As he nears the end of a lonely three-year stint on the moon base Sarang, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) begins to hear and see strange things.

Ok, so it was probably over a year ago that this was in theaters, but that’s ok because I think most people missed it. A great psychological thriller with some sci-fi elements and an amazing performance by the great Sam Rockwell. Worth watching for the Clint Mansell score alone.

WORD OF MOUTH (Smaller Indy films that you might not have heard of, but are definitely worth seeing.)

SHOTGUN STORIES Set in southeast Arkansas, this cautionary indie tale from director Jeff Nichols tracks a blood feud that erupts when two sets of half-brothers come to blows at their father’s funeral.

A powerful, but subtle, revenge film. Doesn’t focus on the violence of revenge but rather the consequences. I loved the fresh take on this genre. I also loved the fact that the feud is between two sets of brothers all with the same father, such great writing.

YOU COULD DO BETTER (You probably could have done a better job making this movie. So bad it’s good.)

CON AIR When the government puts all its rotten criminal eggs in one airborne basket, it’s asking for trouble. Before you can say, “Pass the barf bag,” the crooks control the plane, led by creepy Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (John Malkovich).

This first 5 minutes of this movie get me every time! So, so, soooo funny! Some of the worst acting you’ll ever see from some of the best actors working today, Cage especially.

FOR THE FAM (Bust out the popcorn, a movie the whole family can enjoy!)

3 NINJAS A neat twist on The Karate Kid finds three youngsters — Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael — aiding their grandfather (Victor Wong III) in his fight against an old “friend” named Snyder, who turns out to be a corrupt FBI officer.

“We should run, we should hide, we should kick their butts!” With the new Karate Kid coming out, this is a good warm up. If you’re afraid this is just a movie for the boys, and the girls in the family won’t enjoy it, boy are you ever wrong! There’s a girl in it… somewhere. Anyway, also make sure to take note of the basketball scene, not since White Men Can’t Jump have I seen such moves put on screen.

PAY TO SEE (May not be the best thing you’ve ever seen, but entertaining and worth the price of admission.)

SINGLES Generation X neighbors share their bittersweet, intertwined stories of the single life in director Cameron Crowe’s quirky relationship comedy set against the backdrop of Seattle’s grunge music scene in the 1990s.

For the ladies, this is basically the original Sex and the City. Definitely dated, and not that great, but fun to look back on. Grunge is actually back in style, so the ripped jeans and flannel shirts won’t look too unfamiliar. Full of Cameron Crowe’s (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) sappy dialogue.

I LIKE AVATAR (If you like Avatar, and Jason Statham is your favorite actor, this is for you.  Light on story and heavy on blowing crap up!)

THE ROCK When a disgruntled ex-Marine (Ed Harris) seizes Alcatraz prison, taking hostages and threatening to blanket San Francisco with nerve gas, the feds send in a strike force led by a chemical-weapons expert (Nicolas Cage) and an ex-con (Sean Connery) who broke out of “the Rock” years earlier.

Pure action awesomeness.

REEL LIFE (Documentary recommendation.)

THE YES MEN This humorous documentary monitors the exploits of a group of jokester liberals who make names for themselves as they mimic members of the World Trade Organization at various venues across the globe.

Funny, entertaining, informative, and educational. The perfect ingredients for a great documentary. Watch it for 10 minutes and I bet you won’t be able to turn it off.

FILM BUFF (For the elite. The smug, film nerds that are willing to sit through a 3 1/2 hour B&W foreign film.)

FUNNY GAMES An affluent German family is settling into their lakeside vacation home when a young man named Peter (Frank Giering) comes to the door asking to borrow eggs. Anna (Susanne Lothar) is alone in the house while her husband (Ulrich Muhe) and son (Stefan Clapczynski) are off swimming.

This is the original one, I haven’t seen the remake yet. When I first saw this film it haunted me long after and I immediately wanted to track down everything by Michael Haneke. I was hooked from the moment that classical music turned to death metal in the opening title sequence. This film meets the insatiable appetite we Americans seem to have for violence in cinema. It pries our mouths open and forces it down our throats with a shovel.

OLD SCHOOL (Old enough to be on VHS, but not quite old enough to be a classic. Or good enough.)

THE PISTOL: THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND “Pistol” Pete Maravich (Adam Guier) pushes himself to the limit in this stirring biopic recounting the National Basketball Association all-star’s adolescence and first year on his high school’s varsity squad.

I used to watch this film religiously as a kid. It’s the story of Pete Maravich and how he learned the game of basketball. If you’re not into basketball then you could still watch the film and make a drinking game out of it. Take a shot every time there is a montage and you’ll probably blackout in the first 45 minutes.

Which brings me to our last category…

HAVE A DRINK (These ones will probably be best after you’ve had a few drinks)

THE OCTAGON A group of terrorist ninjas have been wreaking havoc on the life of a wealthy woman named Justine (Karen Carlson), so she hires former karate champion Scott James (Chuck Norris) to be her bodyguard.

Ok, I know the whole Chuck Norris thing is way played out, but this film is golden. This is the type of film that made Chuck Norris what he is today. You have to watch at least 15 minutes of it just to hear the hilarious, whispering voice-over that Norris does throughout the film.

be sure to check back on our Instant Pix section for more recommendations

I had the chance to see Macgruber while I was at SXSW and it was the longest line I had seen for any of the films there. Macgruber is definitely one of those guilty pleasures where the more stupid it looks, the more you want to see it. If for any reason you need any more confirmation that the 80′s are officially back, the release of a film inspired by the 80′s television show Macgyver should be all you the proof you need. However, Macgruber is not a parody of Macgyver, but rather a mockery.

Macgruber is based on the SNL sketch about an “Ex-special operative” that spends more time whining and moaning than he does diffusing the bomb that is seconds away from going off. This usually always ends with a mid-sentence cut to a huge explosion. How he was awarded “16 purple hearts, 3 Congressional Medals of Honor and 7 presidential medals of bravery” I will never know. It’s definitely funny, especially if you grew up watching Macgyver. Although, like I said above, the film as well as the sketch, don’t really have anything to do with Macgyver outside of the silly wardrobe, bad mullet, and similar sounding name. And unlike Macgruber, I don’t remember Macgyver having awesome lyrics to its theme song… or an excessive amount of “throat-ripping”.

I’m not going to get too much into the specifics of the plot here because um, it’s Macgruber. If you’re going to see this film for the plot, you probably shouldn’t go. In fact, if you are in an irritable mood or just irritable in general, do not see Macgruber.  However, If you’re ready to watch something that’s pretty mindless and you want to have a good time and laugh, Macgruber does the trick. A couple pre-show beers wouldn’t hurt either.

The last SNL movie made based off of a sketch was Ladies Man, that was over 10 years ago. SNL movies have a bad reputation of being well, horrible. Sometimes a sketch should just remain a sketch. Macgruber seems like it should be one of those SNL sketches that should remain just that, but surprisingly, it’s not. Macgruber succeeds as a feature length film, and a lot of that credit goes to co-writer/director Jorma Taccone. Taccone (of the comedy trio The Lonely Island) does a good job of never pressing on the breaks, he never even slightly reaches for some underlying “message”, but really just continues to push the absurdity of this film and keeps delivering on big laughs throughout. He also does a good job with directing some fairly big action sequences.

Obviously Will Forte does a good job of carrying the film, otherwise it wouldn’t work, but you really don’t want to give much credit to Macgruber himself, because frankly, he’s an asshole. The tagline for this film couldn’t be more fitting “the ultimate tool”. Macgruber is definitely that, and if you see the film and still need further proof, check out his twitter @Grubes69. Kristen Wiig also does a great job here in probably her biggest role to date. Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillipe, and Powers Boothe basically play the straight men, sort of parodying a lot of the same roles they’ve played before, but this time for intentional laughs.

With the humor in this film being as lowbrow and crass as it is, I’m sure you can imagine it’s a hard R. A lot of the jokes are drawn-out almost to an exhausting extent, but luckily the jokes are funny enough that you continue laughing before they wear thin. Also, don’t go into the film thinking Macgruber is someone you’re going to root for, he has to be one of the worst protagonists ever put on screen. He’s a complete moron, a lowlife, and there is no real redeeming value about him whatsoever.  The only thing Macgruber would probably take a bullet for is his car stereo that he never leaves without. You can probably relate more to the villains in this film than you can Macgruber. The main villain is named Dieter Von Cunth by the way. That should give you a good idea of the type of humor in this film.

This is probably the dirtiest film SNL has ever released, it is from the guys that made “jizz in my pants” a household song though, so it’s no real surprise. If you like The Lonely Island humor and are a fan of the SNL digital shorts (the only thing good about SNL these days), this is in that vein. The Lonely Island crew also had a big part in the hilarious, and also lowbrow comedy, Hot Rod. That film was directed by Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer who serves as an executive producer on Macgruber. But due to the fact that Jorma was a a co-writer on Macgruber I would say it has more of their stamp on it than Hot Rod, even though the third member of the trio, Andy Samberg, had nothing to do with it. Most devoted Lonely Island fans (people that know what “Awesometown” is) will more than likely enjoy this film.

Macgruber, the man and the film, is obnoxious, crude, annoying, inconsiderate, psychotic, ignorant, irritating, and pretty funny too. There are many memorable scenes in this film, many of which you’d probably wish you couldn’t remember, but you’ll laugh nonetheless. Without spoiling anything I will leave you with this warning: Do not bring celery as a snack when you go to see this film and expect to not have an appetite for celery for a while after viewing it. You’ll thank me later.

Macgruber will be released in theaters on May 21st, 2010. You can view the trailer here

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