switcheroo, which despite their best efforts, can’t be undone. This means Mitch (now Dave) has to bluff his way through a multi-million dollar Japanese merger and Dave (as Mitch) is forced to put his thumb up a chick’s butt on film. Yes, that really happens in the film. Luckily for director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), Reynolds and Bateman’s comedic skills stop this from being worse than Hall Pass – just. Bateman’s early portrayal of the workaholic family man has too many similarities to his character in Horrible Bosses but once the switch takes place, we get to see him loosen his double Windsor and have some fun with this substandard script. His talk with his “daughter” about how to handle school violence is so inappropriate – but also really hilarious (although if you’re a parent, I doubt you’d think so). Luckily for Reynolds, he only had to play a chauvinist tool for 20 minutes; he’s much better suited playing the caring softie, particularly in his interactions with Wilde. It’s obvious what The Change-Up has tried to do – make a body swap movie that doesn’t rely on “aww” moments and warm fuzzies. But gags relying on a foetus visibly kicking from inside the womb or a bad case of the runs don’t make me fold over with laughter, they just make me want to… gag.
The Guard
Directed by John Michael McDonagh Film Review by James Wheeler
Red Hot Chilli Peppers (B+)
It’s not often I get the privilege to enjoy a film set in Ireland but that’s exactly what we have here with The Guard. It’s a small-time film and boasts one notable star (Don Cheadle). The theatre I was in was only six people full and here I am sitting, wondering “why?”. The film stars Brendan Gleeson as Gerry Boyle, a member of the Irish police force. They are known as the Gardaí, short for Guardians. Boyle stumbles upon a murder which, for the area, is unheard of. This one murder triggers a cat and mouse game between the Irish police and drug traffickers. Drugs – specifically cocaine – get involved and Cheadle, playing a FBI drug specialist named Wendell Everett arrives from the States. Once Cheadle is in the film really begins to shine. The back and forth banter with Gleeson
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as they form this unlikely pair created some funny sequences, with one in particular seeing Cheadle door-knocking an area known as Connemara. He gets nowhere because the area is primarily a Gaelic speaking part of Ireland. He feels like a complete ‘fish out of water’ and that’s one of the neat things about the film. Seeing a lone American actor in the movie is quite refreshing, especially because director John Michael McDonagh took advantage of it in almost every scene he was in. Cheadle has the American accent and plays the cop-character we’ve all seen before but alongside Gleeson’s carefree Irish attitude and a difference in culture they quickly realise how different they are. At one point they almost come to blows, but as police they find some common ground which helps them survive each other in the end. It was billed as a comedy/thriller on the way in and it certainly checked both of those boxes. It had some typical police movie aspects – a shootout, two cops partnering up, drug smuggling – yet among these thin clichés the film plays out like something I’ve never seen before. Plus, the marvellous Irish accent means some of the lines in the movie come out so much funnier. It may lack a big budget, but it doesn’t lack charm, laughter and an Irish police officer who isn’t your average straight-laced cop.
With You
Album Review by Ben Matthews
(C)
It’s been a while since the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have released anything new; a common practice lately by many rock bands, especially when it comes after their so called magnum opus (Green Day took five years to follow up from their album American Idiot). Between a long period you’d expect a band to change. As for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, although they have changed their guitarist, they have not changed musically; they still play the same old alternative funk music as if it is still the 90s. Of course there are a few good tracks on this album, but they are sparse. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie has an Arabic feel in the melody with cryptic lyrics. Flea’s bass playing is pretty strong without sounding like a distraction and new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer pulls off some solos similar to the ones John Lennon
pulled off in his solo career. Brendan’s Death Song has more of an acoustic ballad feel, with Anthony Kiedis singing passionately without having to having to resort to rapping. The song might be a tad bit too long and could have been edited a bit. Monarchy of Roses features distorted vocals in the verses before bursting into a disco inspired chorus. Flea’s bass playing resorts to his trademark funk style, in the same vein as Mike Watt. The big question then: does the good outweigh the bad? The answer: No. The only song worth buying is The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie; the rest could be seen as unnecessary padding. It seems as if the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have become their own cliché, with most of their songs sounding the same. All in all, I’m With You is a disappointing and uninspired mess.
Various Artists
The Muppets: The Green Album Album Review by Melissa Low
(A-)
When people think of a Muppets album, no one expects the album’s target market to be for anyone over the age of seven. However, The Muppets: The Green Album is not like this. Full of classic songs that have been remade by modern day bands, it should prevent anyone born before this millennium from feeling ashamed by listening to these tracks. Each artist has applied their own style and mix to this album of favourites, turning this children’s album into a suitable album for the big kids too. The album fittingly opens up with the Muppet Show Theme Song, covered by the creative treadmill walkers, Ok Go. Though Ok Go are better known for their outdone music videos, their cover of this iconic song is equally admirable and creative. Layers of trippy synths, heavy bass and echoy vocals from lead singer Damian Kulash mature the song for the older generation, far from the original’s playful showbiz style. But if you’re not familiar with Ok Go’s own music, you may not appreciate their treatment on this track. A fantastic pairing was with Alkaline Trio covering the song Movin’ Right Along, originally done by Kermit and Fozzie Bear. From the original plucky banjo version to the pop-punk twist, Alkaline Trio makes this song fun, upbeat and playable on any mainstream radio station. It also keeps the banter that happens between
issue 21 2011