What's so funny!?

A message from Felicity Ward, who is fundraising for her stay in Edinburgh...

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I'm having a fundraiser and a possible DVD filming. And here are the details...

FELICITY WARD'S UGLY AS A CHILD VARIETY SHOW IS TO FILMED FOR A DVD IN MELBOURNE THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE HEADS OFF TO THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL. TWO SHOWS. ONE NIGHT. HEAPS OF LAUGHS.

TUESDAY 21ST JULY!

TOFF IN TOWN - 2nd Floor, Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne, Victoria

EARLY SHOW: Doors open 6:30pm, 7pm Show
BOOK HERE: http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=28420

LATE SHOW: Doors open 8:30pm, 9pm Show
BOOK HERE: http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=28421

Please forward this on to as many people that you can, I would muchly appreciate it.

Ta

Felicity

Her events page on Facebook!

Tropic Thunder is the 4th feature film to be directed by Ben Stiller. Starring Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. it satirises some of the lengths that actors are willing to go to for their roles in Hollywood. Beyond the central actors it features lesser roles and cameos by Steve Coogan, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey and an array of stars playing themselves. Just released, it has already drawn criticism from disability advocacy groups for the portrayal of mental retardation in the film. However, Downey Jr. playing an Australian acting as an African American has not drawn widespread criticism. Initial reviews have been promising, so make sure you check it out!

The Plot [From the website]
Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in Tropic Thunder, an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the most expensive war film. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Out August 21

Meet Dave is a new comedy starring Eddie Murphy, which sees a 100 miniature aliens who travel in a spaceship 'Dave' that looks like their captain (also played by Murphy). The aliens are on a mission to save their world, but their plans go awry when Dave falls in love. The film is said to be influenced by the UK Comic 'The Numskulls'.

Meet Dave is directed by Brian Robbins, who directed the critically panned Norbit, but also directed Shaggy Dog (starring Tim Allen) and the somewhat more impressive Varsity Blues. Writers, Rob Greenberg and Bill Corbett have credits for Frasier and How I Met Your Mother.

From the trailer, this looks like your classic fish-out-of-water story meets Star Trek. While I am a big fan of Eddie Murphy, his box office luck hasn't been the greatest of late. Let's up this is a good one!

Out July 17

Hancock has existed in various forms since 1996 and has been attached to a series of directors including Michael Mann (Heat, Miami Vice) and Gabriele Muccino (Pursuit of Happyness). Originally entitled Tonight, He Comes - it sees Smith playing an anti-superhero where the darkness of the film had to be toned down to get its PG rating. Directed by Peter Berg (The Kingdom) it looks like an original, funny and gritty superhero film that may stand up to its DC Comic superhero cousins that have been film fodder for the last few years!

The Plot [from the website]
Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock's well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough - as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think - until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock's greatest challenge yet - and a task that may prove impossible as Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he's a lost cause.

Out July 3

Mike Myers is back in his first non-animated film since The Cat in the Hat in 2003. The Love Guru is a creation, spawned from years of spiritual study after the death of his father in 1991. Through his spiritual study he formed a friendship with spiritual leader Deepak Chopra, whose approval he sought before going ahead with this satire of the self-help industry. Chopra was more than happy with him to procede and even makes a cameo appearance in the film. In a recent essay he has defended the film, which some Hindus believe lampoons their religion, where he points out that he himself is the butt of many jokes in the film. Myers has also written the foreward to Chopra's new book, Why is God Laughing, which is released later in the year.

The film co-stars Jessica Alba (The Fantastic Four) and Justin Timberlake (Shrek 2), with small roles by Ben Kingsley (playing Myer's master, Guru Tugginmypudha) and Verne Troyer (Mini-me from the Austin Powers films).

The Plot
Guru Pitka is an American who was left at the gates of an ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus. He moves back to the US to seek fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality. His unorthodox methods are put to the test when he must settle rift between Toronto Maple Leafs star hockey player Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) and his estranged wife. After the split, Roanoke's wife starts dating LA Kings star Jacques Grande (Timberlake) out of revenge, sending her husband into a major professional skid to the horror of the teams' owner Jane Bullard (Alba) and Coach Cherkov (Troyer). Pitka must return the couple of marital nirvana and get Roanoke back on his game so the team can break the 40-year-old "Bullard Curse" and win the Stanley Cup.

Out July 10

A year ago, my mouth dropped open when I found out there was going to be a Get Smart movie.

The classic series that Mel Brooks co-created back in 1969 featuring Don Adams as the bumbling Agent 86 and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, was central to my young tv life. With classic characters such as The Claw (always mispronounced as The Craw), Larrabee, Hymie, Siegfried and Shtarker. Even better were the array of gadgets such as the shoe-phone, the invisible wall and the classic 'cone-of-silence'.

A film script for a new Get Smart movie has been in production, one way or another since 1999. The version that has been filmed last year and features Steve Carell (40 Year Old Virgin) as Maxwell Smart, Anne Hathaway (Devil Wears Prada) as Agent 86, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Agent 23, Alan Arkin (grandpa from Little Miss Sunshine) and Australia's own Terence Stamp as Siegfried.

The Plot
In the battle with KAOS, CONTROL headquarters has been attacked leaving Maxwell Smart, an analyst (and rejected field agent) as one of the few survivors. Max is promoted to Agent 86, and together with Agent 99, Agent 23 and the Chief have to prevent KAOS from smuggling nuclear weapons into the US and detonating them.

I've got some reservations as this film could be REALLY good, or REALLY miss the mark. Checking around the internet, the fan site www.WouldYouBelieve.com were none too thrilled about the new film - their website has a complete breakdown of the plot. Beware of the spoilers!

So here's crossing our fingers that they do justice to a classic of American Comedy!

Out June 26

Adam Sandler has a new comedy out this June. Never one to shy away from improbable plots, such as Billy Madison (where the lead had to do go back to school from 1st grade) or Happy Gilmore (an aggressive hockey player becoming a great golf player), so You Don't Mess with the Zohan isn't different in that respect. However, Sandler isn't known for tackling
political issues within his work.

The Plot
Zohan Dvir (Sandler) is an Israeli anti-terrorist commando, who, sick of the bloodshed and constant fighting involved with his job, fakes his own death to follow his dream to become a hair-stylist in New York City. He romances his clients, giving them 'special services', but
is eventually recognised, risking his newfound life and career.

The film satirises the continuing tensions between Jewish and Arab neighbours. The film was written in 2000, but shelved due to the events of September 11. Some have complained about the content of the film, but others have argued that the film makes fun of both Arabs and Jews (Sandler himself is Jewish) - humour which is sorely needed in this day and age.

Out June 19 in Oz

A new animated comedy is hitting our shores soon. You may have recently seen Jack Black in Melbourne promoting his new film, Kung Fu Panda, made by the producers of Shrek and Shark Tale. The main character, Po (a panda) was written especially with Black in mind, although he was initially reluctant to take the part. The film boasts and impressive cast (which doesn't always mean a great film), including Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen & Lucy Liu. The film took $60 million in it's first weekend in the US, knocking out Sex and the City from the No.1 position!

Originally conceived as a spoof of martial arts films, the makers have decided to make an honest-to-buddha martial arts film with a comic lead. The film makers were inspired by Kung Fu Hustle and the team spent several years studying many aspects of Chinese art to give the film an authentic feel.

The Plot
Po (Black) is a Panda who works in a noodle shop, dreams of becoming a kung fu master. The venerable Master Oogway has a premonition that the evil Snow Leopard Warrior will escape from prison and terrorise the Valley of Peace. Master Oogway is expected to select one of the Furious Five warriors (Jolie, Rogen, Liu, Chan, Cross), a group of highly skilled martial artists. However, by accident, he chooses Po as the Dragon Warrior prophesised to vanquish the Snow Leopard Warrior. It is up to Shifu (Hoffman) to train the lazy food obsessed Po into a mighty warrior to save the day. Can he do it!?

Out June 26 in Oz

Wow. It's a great year for comedies to come out. I've already just listed a whole bunch of new films that have come out and some more in the pipeline that I'd like to talk about and even see (when will I fit them all in?).

But no doubt the most anticipated romantic comedy this year is the Sex and the City movie. There's no way you couldn't have heard about the film coming out this year, unless you've been living with monks with a vow of silence, perhaps living with Luddites or been caught down a mine shaft.

Sex and the City ran for 6 series on HBO, between 1998 and 2004. Based on the Candace Bushnell book of the same name, it focused on the lives of four mid-thirties women living in New York City. The series was highly successful, for its clever writing, engaging plotlines, sex and above all - fashion. Nominated for over 50 Emmy Awards (winning 7), it was celebrated by men and women around the world for examining and celebrating singledom and friendship.

"The show is a valentine to being single. ... Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you; now it means you're pretty sexy and you're taking your time deciding how you want your life to be...and who you want to spend it with." - Kim Cattrall

The film takes place 4 years after the series ended. It focuses on the upcoming marriage of Carrie Bradshow (Parker) to her love interest for much of the series - Mr Big. Meanwhile the four characters are dealing with life, marriage, motherhood and as always, men. The film is written and directed by Michael Patrick King, who wrote, directed and produced many of the HBO episodes.

Are you going to see it? Have you seen it? - give us a review!!

Out in Oz on June 5th

Did my mouth drop open when I found a link to the Get Smart movie?!

The classic series that Mel Brooks co-created back in 1969 featuring Don Adams as the bumbling Agent 86 and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, was central to my young tv life. With classic characters such as The Claw (always mispronounced as The Craw), Larrabee, Hymie, Siegfried and Shtarker. Even better were the array of gadgets such as the shoe-phone, the invisible wall and the classic 'cone-of-silence'.

A film script for a new Get Smart movie has been in production, one way or another since 1999. The version that has been filmed this year and to be released in 2008 featuring Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart, Anne Hathaway as Agent 86, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Agent 23, Alan Arkin (grandpa from Little Miss Sunshine) and Australia's own Terence Stamp as Siegfried.

The Plot In the battle with KAOS, CONTROL headquarters has been attacked leaving Maxwell Smart, an analyst (and rejected field agent) as one of the few survivors. Max is promoted to Agent 86, and together with Agent 99, Agent 23 and the Chief have to prevent KAOS from smuggling nuclear weapons into the US and detonating them.

I've attached a YouTube of the trailer so you can see for yourselves. I've got some reservations as this film could be REALLY good, or REALLY miss the mark. Checking around the internet, the fan site www.WouldYouBelieve.com were none too thrilled about the new film - their website has a complete breakdown of the plot. Beware of the spoilers!

So here's crossing our fingers that they do justice to a classic of American Comedy! I've also added the classic opening to the sitcom TV series!

The Director of Big Daddy reunites with Adam Sandler to make I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry.

The Plot:
Two straight, single Brooklyn firefighters (Adam Sandler, Kevin James (from King of Queens and Hitch) pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits. Added to the difficulty is their attractive lawyer (Jessica Biel) and their firefighter brothers who suspect the two ARE gay. Will they convince the government they are gay?

Due out August 9th

License to Wed starring Robin Williams, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski is due out in Australia on the 2nd of August. The Director is Ken Kwapis who directed 9 episodes from the US version of The Office.

The Plot:
Robin Williams plays the unusual, eccentric Reverend Frank who puts an engaged couple (Moore and Krasinski) through a grueling marriage preparation course to see if they are meant to be married in his church. Will Reverend Frank get the pair to the church on time? Or will things fall apart?

Due out August 2nd