BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW
Yes this really isn’t a real “movie”. He’s not “acting” so shouldn’t count. Whatever. Yeah I could have gone with a lot of movies I’m not huge on. Fred Claus is okay, The Break Up wasn’t my cup of tea, and there are more. I also could have gone with one of his many appearances in great movies. His roles in “Thumbsucker”, “Into the Wild” and others are impressive but he’s not the lead. I go with his documentary about standup comedy because it shows another side and respect to Vaughn. He’s great in movies, but he’s into other things, one being standup comedy. So he and some young comics get in a tour bus and go out on the road and host these shows. His movie friends show up and a good time is had by all. I wish he’d do more things like this.
(THREE) WEDDING CRASHERS
I watched this movie and “40 Year Old Virgin” on the same day. I watched this first and would quickly forget about it. It’s not that it wasn’t good, but it just wasn’t “as good”. I had a chance to rewatch it recently on its own and it’s a pretty damn entertaining movie. It’s about two dudes who… crash weddings. You see, sometimes a title says it all.
(TWO) OLD SCHOOL
Vince Vaughn becomes pretty much the third star of this movie. Will Ferrell goes balls out hilarious while Luke Wilson plays the lead. Vaughn still rocks it. He isn’t over exposed in this movie and has great chemistry with his other co-stars. He’s a man of action. He talks them into starting up the Frat. He gets Snoop to come to the party. He rallys the recruits. He puts Piven in his place. He smokes while doing gymnastics. He delivers the “ear muffs” line. His character pretty much gets in the one liners and moves the plot along. Sometimes that’s all you need for a great performance. Vaughn did that in this one.
(ONE) SWINGERS
Was there any doubt? Swingers is just one of those movies that will always be considered a classic. You’ll have the comedy fans eating up the one liners Vaughn drops throughout. Favreau’s story is the heart of the movie and brings in the more drama based folks. Then there’s the Vegas atmosphere, the swagger of a sleazier Sinatra, and all the shine to it. But to me the movie stands out because of the style, the direction, the script, and the historic value. This may have been one of the last indies in the 90’s of the real “Sundance” era to hit and make it into cult classic status. I have seen just about all of Vince Vaughn’s work, but no matter what I’m always going to be looking at him waiting for his Trent character to come out and tell me I’m a big winner.
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