mousekwest Reviews

Dunston Checks In (1996)

More 'Tang Please.

[3 July 2005]

Ding Ding Ding! Is that the sound of another guest checking into a luxury hotel run by a larcenous ape? Fraid not friends. But it IS the sounds you heart will make when a lovable orangatang named Dunston first shoots you his unique yet hideous monkey smile. "Dunston Checks In" is not your run of the mill boy- meets-ape- ape-causes-mayhem -mayhem-ruins-everything -for-boys-father- until -boy-father-and -ape-realize-the -meaning-of-life -love-and-friendship flick of the week. Rather, "Dunston" is part "Dirty Harry", part "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Numar"--a sultry blend of playing with fire mixed in with some serious wigs (as worn by the rarely moving, but always trying really hard Jason Alexander). "Ed," "Air Bud," "K9-Cop", "Turner" AND "Hootch"--bow your heads to the master. Dunston may check in, but he'll never check out. Of your heart.

Two lost luggage pieces way up!

Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)

When we've lost all hope for modern filmmaking, a saviour finally comes. ANd it likes to be refferred to as "Dude."

[10 September 2003]

Dude, where is the love?--for this masterpiece of film? In the next fifty years I believe you'll be hearing the names Clark Gabel, Sean Connery, Carry Grant, Robert DeNiro, and Ashton Kutcher all in the same grouping. The film is about two boys, who, when high misplace their automobile, and upon waking up, have to retrace their swirving steps back to the land of pink elephants and talking ostriches. But it is so much more than just that. It is both a symbol of Adam retracing his steps back to Eden, as well as the two boys' journey in search of their own souls. What they find is more than thier girlfriends' breasts expanding. What they find, is the foundation on finding find itself!! For the past two years, Ive sat yawning in theatres at bore-fests such as A Beautiful Mind, The Pianist, About Schmidt, and Road to Perdition. Upon finding Dude, I once more regained my faith in the film industry. This will join soon the giants of cinema: Jurrassic Park 3, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Ishtar, and Waterworld. Dude, where's a spectacular film? Right here mama, right here.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Those Damn Crazy Greeks

[22 April 2002]

I walked into My Big Fat Greek Wedding about five minutes late

expecting, nonetheless, to find any seat I desired due to the

absence of interested people. What I got was just the opposite:

Hundreds of black-haired, unibrowed-faced Greeks, laughing,

crying, and feeling every emotion of the film's multiple characters

just as they were occurring. It was truly a sight to see, finally family

unification in a society where togetherness is as rare as the

possibility of the A-Team coming back for a reunion. The film,

although containing so many Greeks, was extremely easy to follow

as each character shined with their own unique personality. Being

Italian, "Wedding" made me realize just how close our mediterranean neighbors are to us, excluding the excessive

dancing. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one film that should be

seen by all, Greek or non-Greek. Bring your family, and walk out

feeling like the big fat happy one you just saw.

The Ladies Man (2000)

Ladies Man = Pure genius

[23 January 2002]

I find it extremely disheartening that this soon to be classic recieved only 4.7 stars out of 10 on its recent rating. Not only is The Ladies Man romantically universal in its meaning, but it also proves extremely heartwarming. Watching the characterization Tim Meadows brings to the hard-luck Leone Phelps is purely breathtaking. I will be truly shocked if this movie does not outesell and outperform the classic Blues Brothers film, also spun off by a SNL skit. This one is an all around better film. AFI, I think we have a new film to add to both the Greatest Comedies and Greatest Films of all time. As, the Ladies Man would say... This movie is "Spanking good."

Snow Dogs (2002)

Snow Dogs is snow good!

[22 January 2002]

I saw Disney's newest hit on the same day I saw Black Hawk Down. And let me tell you, Black Hawk Down doesn't compare! In this children's version of "The Shipping News", Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Ted, a famous Miami dentist (don't ask me why dentists are famous) who finds that he's been adopted and travels back to his biological parents' homeland of Alaska to find himself. While there he stumbles upon his deceased mother's pack of mush dogs and his true father, the grizzly James Colburn as Thunder Jack. In a stir fry-type mix of good-for-the-body physical comedy and spicy sex appeal, Gooding gives a performance that I believe is Oscar-worthy. And Colburn's character development is one of the most believable I've seen all year! Not to mention, Michael Bolton's cameo was purely moving! While some may say this movie failed in every way to live up to Pulsen's Winterdance, I say just the opposite: Gary, Snow Dogs put your good-for-nothing book to pure shame. Now go cry in the corner of your damn igloo! Let me just say this: I smell Oscar buzz, big time! Snow Dogs is a great movie that will mush your heart with delight! Two paws way up!

Pootie Tang (2001)

Possibly the start of a new era of truly great film

[21 January 2002]

I enterd the theater of Pootie Tang expecting nothing more than raunchy sex comedy and crude race-related jokes. What I took in was so much more. As James Lipton would say, "What more can we say than, Tang, Pootie Tang." As you can see,great movies such as this are often too complicated to put into compelling-enough words. Lance Crouther can be classified as a new breed of actor who takes the conventionalism of the method acting to new levels of pure ecstasy. And Chris Rock will soon rank among such respected directors as Spielburg, Howard, Hitchcock, and to a lesser extent, the director of "Dude Where's My Car." I, for one, cannot wait to see what new and innovative ideas will be portrayed in Rocks upcoming epic with the somewhat inferior Sir Anthony Hopkins in "Bad Company." From now on, I'll take my movies on the Rocks.

American Outlaws (2001)

American Epic of Epic Proportions

[21 January 2002]

Sergio Leone who? Thats right. The recently updated verion of this long-forgotten western genre is back in a big way. American Outlaws, an updated version of the story of Jesse James and his gang beautifies what we already thought was a perfect genre. In this American epic, many stars from struggling WB shows since moved to the UPN come together in a Woody Allen type cast which gels beautifully. Thier scrupulous study of the characters and time period truly help bring out an already excellent performance by such actors as Collin Farrel and Scott Caan. Although many may disagree, I will state what too many are afraid to say: films like "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", "Tombstone", and "A Fistfull of Dollars" cannot hold a candle to the masterpiece that is American Outlaws. This reviewer would be perfectly happy to make these "Outlaws," my inlaws.