Blu-ray Review: Movie 43

Blu-ray Reviews, Reviews

Have you ever wondered what Wolverine would look like with testicles on his neck? The answer to that question is likely no, because that’s just not something that pops into a sane person’s mind out of the blue. However, if you’re now wondering what Wolverine would look like with testicles on neck, then Movie 43 might be the movie for you.

Movie 43 is one of the most critically panned movies of the year – though I’m not exactly sure why. While it’s not a film that will have you holding your ribs because you’re laughing so much, it’s also not absolutely horrible and deserving of such a lambasting. Though when it comes down to it, I guess that also depends on just how easily offended you are, or if you’re okay with watching a raunchy, unrated episode of Saturday Night Live.

Movie 43 is a series of skits all tied together through a story of three teenagers trying to find a banned film online. As they search for “Movie 43″ they stumble across various random scenes and proceed to watch. These scenes include the aforementioned Hugh Jackman going on a blind date with Kate Winslet in a skit that gets a little nuts (see what I did there?), as well as Liev Schreiber and wife Naomi Watts explaining to another couple how they homeschool their son in a way that gives him the real high school experience (complete with his first kiss and being bullied).

Now none of the stars play themselves; however, they totally let lose in these skits that while not always laugh out loud hilarious, are often more enjoyable than they are boring or overly crude. How much you laugh out loud will completely depend on the mood you’re in when watching the film, or just how much you enjoy seeing things like Gerard Butler playing a pair of homicidal leprechauns fighting back against two friends (Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville) who captured them in an attempt to steal their gold, or Josh Duhamel being graphically fantasized about by his cartoon cat Beezel.

Each scene is completely over the top and nothing is held back, which is part of the reason why it’s as enjoyable as it is. When you see these stars completely letting loose and not worrying about their reputations, or how stupid they may look on screen it’s quite refreshing. Not all of the segments are great, and heading into the final 20-25 minutes it started feeling a bit long. STill, a couple of the last segments are top notch so it pays to stick it out until the end.

There are 13 different directors on board here, with each taking a turn with a story (There’s Something About Mary‘s Peter Farrelly actually directs three separate pieces; however, one not only didn’t make the cut into the final film, but was also left off the special features which I find somewhat odd). There’s no dramatic change in visual style from one skit to the next, so the film flows together nicely overall, and the 30 writers (yes, you read that right – though it’s because multiple writers worked on various skits) did a good job keeping things on the same level throughout – I suppose that’s easier to do when the boundaries are thrown out the window.

On the acting front everyone does a good job and has some fun. The list of Hollywood stars to be found in Movie 43 are as follows: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Josh Duhamel, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Johnny Knoxville, Justin Long, Chistopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Live Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Bobby Cannavale and a handful more.

Movie 43 is definitely not deserving of the critical panning it received at the start of the year, as it’s just a bunch of silly nonsense and random crude skits starring some of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. If you’re easily offended, or the thought of Anna Faris wanting nothing more than to be pooped on by the one she loves doesn’t do it for you, then Movie 43 wasn’t made for you. However, if you’re looking for 100 minutes of stars behaving badly, then I recommend you give the film a shot.

The film transfer is solid all around, and the audio sounds great as well. All the visuals and transitions come together seamlessly, and the audio mix, soundtrack, and dialogue all come through nice and sharp for your listening pleasure.

On the special features side there’s a deleted short called “Find Our Daughter,” which is just under five minutes in length and as funny as it is creepy. It stars Julianne Moore and Tony Shalhoub.

Movie 43 is a compilation of crude, silly skits that are usually both entertaining and funny; though if you’re easily offended then you need not apply.

Relativity Media Presents Movie 43. Directed by: Bob Odenkirk, Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill, Steve Carr, Rusty Cundieff, James Duffy, Griffin Dunne, Peter Farrelly, Patrik Forsberg, Will Graham, James Gunn, Brett Ratner, Jonathan van Tulleken. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Gerard Butler, Josh Duhamel, Anna Faris, Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Johnny Knoxville, Justin Long, Chistopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Live Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Bobby Vannavale, Julianne Moore, Tony Shalhoub. Running time: 98 minutes. Rating: 18A. Released: June 18, 2013. Available at Amazon.com.

Brendan Campbell was here when Inside Pulse Movies began, and he’ll be here when it finishes - in 2012, when a cataclysmic event wipes out the servers, as well as everyone else on the planet other than John Cusack and those close to him. Brendan’s the #1 supporter of Keanu Reeves, a huge fan of popcorn flicks and a firm believer that sheer entertainment can take a film a long way. He currently resides in Canada, where, for reasons stated above, he’s attempting to get closer to John Cusack.