"Bull Durham" is a 1988 sports romantic comedy film directed by Ron Shelton. The story revolves around the world of minor league baseball and follows the lives of three main characters: Crash Davis, a veteran catcher; "Nuke" LaLoosh, a talented but inexperienced pitcher; and Annie Savoy, a passionate baseball groupie who chooses one player each season to mentor.
As the baseball season progresses, Crash takes Nuke under his wing, teaching him not just about the game but also about life and love. Meanwhile, Annie finds herself caught in a love triangle between Crash and Nuke, leading to amusing and heartfelt moments of romance and rivalry.
The film explores themes of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of dreams. It has been praised for its witty dialogue, authentic portrayal of the baseball world, and the chemistry between the lead actors. "Bull Durham" is often considered one of the best sports films ever made and has become a cult classic. It stars Kevin Costner as Crash Davis, Tim Robbins as "Nuke" LaLoosh, and Susan Sarandon as Annie Savoy.
Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written, directed, and co-produced by Judd Apatow. The plot follows the story of Alison Scott, played by Katherine Heigl, who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with Ben Stone, played by Seth Rogen, and must confront the challenges of unexpected parenthood. The film also stars Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Martin Starr.
Knocked Up was released in the United States on June 1, 2007, and received positive reviews for its humor, performances, and emotional depth. It was a box office success, grossing over $219 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million. The film also earned Heigl a nomination for Best Female Performance at the MTV Movie Awards and was named one of the Top Ten Films of the Year by the American Film Institute.
The film deals with themes of responsibility, adulthood, and the complexities of relationships. It portrays the struggles and joys of becoming a parent unexpectedly, as well as the difficulties of navigating a romantic relationship under such circumstances. The film has been praised for its realistic depiction of these issues and for its humor and heart, making it a beloved classic in the romantic comedy genre.
Superbad is a 2007 American teen comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and produced by Judd Apatow. The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as Seth and Evan, two high school seniors who want to lose their virginity before graduation. The film also features Christopher Mintz-Plasse in his debut role as Fogell, aka McLovin, a socially awkward teenager who befriends Seth and Evan.
Superbad was released in the United States on August 17, 2007, and grossed over $170 million worldwide against its $20 million budget. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its humor, writing, and performances, particularly from Hill and Cera. It has since become a cult classic and has been credited with influencing a new wave of raunchy teen comedies.
The film's screenplay was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who based the characters on themselves as teenagers. The film's title is a reference to the 1970s television series, "Police Woman," in which the main character was named Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson. The title was also meant to reflect the film's focus on male adolescent behavior and immaturity. Superbad has been praised for its portrayal of male friendships and the awkwardness of teenage sexuality.
Blended is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Coraci and written by Ivan Menchell and Clare Sera. It stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, with supporting roles by Bella Thorne, Emma Fuhrmann, Terry Crews, Joel McHale, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kevin Nealon, and Shaquille O'Neal. The plot revolves around two single parents, Jim and Lauren, who end up going on a safari vacation in South Africa with their children after a disastrous blind date.
The film received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing $128 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. Sandler and Barrymore's performances were praised, but the film was criticized for its recycled plot, lack of originality, and reliance on offensive humor. It received three Razzie nominations, including Worst Picture, Worst Director, and Worst Actress for Barrymore.
Despite the negative critical reception, Blended has since gained a cult following among fans of Sandler and Barrymore's collaborations, and is considered a guilty pleasure by some viewers. The film's depiction of family and blended families has also been praised for its positive portrayal of co-parenting and step-parenting.
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Mike Myers, based on his Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name. The film stars Myers in his feature film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, a pair of rock fans who broadcast a public-access television show. The film also features Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere, Lara Flynn Boyle, Brian Doyle-Murray, Chris Farley, Ed O'Neill, Ione Skye, Meat Loaf, and Alice Cooper. The film was released in the United States on February 14, 1992, by Paramount Pictures.
Wayne's World was a critical and commercial success, grossing $183.1 million worldwide against a budget of only $20 million. It received positive reviews for its humor, performances, and soundtrack, which featured songs from various rock bands. The film's success led to a sequel, Wayne's World 2, in 1993.
The film's popularity also sparked a brief fashion trend of ripped jeans and black Converse sneakers, known as "Wayne's World fashion". The film has since become a cult classic and is often cited as one of the greatest comedy films of all time. The film's theme song, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, also experienced a resurgence in popularity and became a cultural touchstone.
"Neighbors" is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver. The movie stars Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne in the lead roles. The plot follows a couple with a newborn baby who move next door to a fraternity house and struggle to get along with the rowdy and party-loving neighbors.
The idea for "Neighbors" originated from writers Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O'Brien, who drew inspiration from their personal experiences of living near college fraternities. Rogen and Goldberg soon became attached to the project, and Stoller was brought on to direct. Principal photography took place over two months in Los Angeles, California, in mid-2013.
"Neighbors" premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2014, and was theatrically released in the United States on May 9, 2014. The film was a commercial success, grossing $270 million worldwide against a budget of $18 million. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the performances of Rogen, Efron, and Byrne. The success of the film spawned a sequel, "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," which was released in 2016.
Tammy is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and co-written by Falcone and Melissa McCarthy. The film stars McCarthy as Tammy, a recently fired woman who hits rock bottom and decides to take a road trip with her grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon. The film also features Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Dan Aykroyd, and Kathy Bates in supporting roles.
After being fired from her job and finding her husband cheating, Tammy decides to leave her small town and go on a road trip with her grandmother. Along the way, the two women get into all kinds of trouble, from robbing a fast food joint to getting drunk at a Fourth of July party. Throughout the trip, Tammy and her grandmother begin to repair their strained relationship and discover new things about each other.
Tammy was released in the United States on July 2, 2014, and received mixed reviews from critics. While McCarthy's performance was praised, the film was criticized for its uneven tone and lack of focus. Despite this, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $100 million worldwide against a budget of $20 million.
Let's Be Cops is a 2014 American buddy cop comedy film directed by Luke Greenfield and written by Greenfield, Nicholas Thomas, and Damon Wayans Jr. The film stars Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson as two friends who dress up as police officers for a costume party, but decide to continue their masquerade as real cops after being mistaken for actual law enforcement. However, their fun and games take a dangerous turn as they find themselves embroiled in a real criminal underworld.
Let's Be Cops was released by 20th Century Fox on August 13, 2014, and received mixed reviews from critics. Despite this, it was a commercial success, grossing over $138 million worldwide against a $17 million budget. The film was praised for its comedic performances and its handling of darker themes, but criticized for its plot and characterization.
The film's success led to talks of a potential sequel, but nothing has been officially announced as of 2021. However, the film's stars have expressed interest in returning for a follow-up, and Greenfield has stated that he has ideas for where a sequel could go. In the meantime, Let's Be Cops has gained a cult following among fans of the buddy cop genre, and has been noted as an example of the trend of R-rated comedies featuring unconventional heroes.
Father of the Bride is a 2022 American comedy film directed by Gary Winick from a screenplay by Matt Lopez, which serves as a remake of the 1991 film of the same name. The film stars Andy García, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, Diego Boneta, and Isabela Merced, and follows a Cuban-American family as they plan a wedding in Miami. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, it was released on October 7, 2022, through HBO Max.
In the film, Andy García plays George Banks, the father of the bride, and Gloria Estefan portrays his wife, Nina. The couple's daughter, played by Isabela Merced, announces her engagement to a man from a wealthy family, and the family prepares for the wedding. George has trouble accepting that his daughter is growing up and faces challenges as he tries to navigate the wedding planning process.
The film was first announced in September 2020, and the cast was announced in May 2021. Filming took place in Miami and New York City from May to July 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast but criticized the film for being too similar to the original.
Ride Along is a 2014 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Tim Story and written by Greg Coolidge, Jason Mantzoukas, Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi. The film stars Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Bryan Callen, Tika Sumpter, and Laurence Fishburne. It follows Ben Barber, a high school security guard, who goes on a ride-along with his fiancée's brother, James, a hot-tempered Atlanta Police Department detective, in order to prove himself worthy of marrying James's sister. However, the two men find themselves in the middle of a major case when they stumble upon a dangerous criminal activity.
Ride Along had been in development for several years before being greenlit in 2012, with Tim Story signing on as director and Ice Cube attached to star. The film was primarily shot in Atlanta, Georgia, with some scenes also being filmed in Miami, Florida. It was released on January 17, 2014, and grossed over $154 million worldwide, becoming a box office success despite receiving negative reviews from critics.
A sequel, Ride Along 2, was released in 2016, with most of the original cast returning. A potential third film was discussed by Ice Cube in 2019, but as of 2021, no further updates on the project have been announced. The film's success led to the development of a television series spin-off, which was announced in 2017, but ultimately did not move forward.
Free Guy is a 2021 American science-fiction action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. The movie follows Guy, a non-player character (NPC) in a popular open-world video game called Free City, who becomes self-aware and decides to take control of his life. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi.
The film was first announced in 2019 and was originally scheduled for release in July 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie was released in the United States on August 13, 2021, by 20th Century Studios. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Reynolds' performance and the film's humor and action sequences.
Free Guy was a box office success, grossing over $300 million worldwide. A sequel to the film is currently in development, with Reynolds and Levy set to return as star and director, respectively.
