Tag Archives: comedy

Stephen Colbert Photobombs Jon Stewart at the Emmys

Colbert-Photobomb

“Why,” Stephen Colbert must be thinking, “am I always in Jon Stewart’s shadow?

“Anyone can see that my hair is as better than Stewart’s grandfatherly silver mane. (And it’s WAY better than Bryce Zabel’s, the Movie Smackdown guy who seems to be sprucing up his ‘do with a lovely red tiara in this picture.) ”

Colbert has a long way to go before he catches up with his stable mate’s record-setting ten consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Variety Series, but in terms of subversive attitude, he’s lurking right there over Stewart’s shoulder. Photo by Lauren Zabel. (Cont.) Continue reading

Posted in Awards, Awards 2012, Bryce Zabel, Comedy, Smackdown News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Christian Bale as Batman -vs- Little David as Spider-Man

Spidey-Bat for Masks Off @ Movie Smackdown

Remember the angry f***-word rant that Christian Bale went on a few years ago? How about little David, the kid coming home from the dentist, stoned out of his mind? We’ve never forgotten them. We’ve just dressed them up in … Continue reading

Posted in Animated, Blockbuster, Book Adaptation, Bryce Zabel, Comic Book, Coming of Age, Drama, Major Star Vehicle, Re-Make, Sci-Fi, Smackdown News, SmashUp!, Smashups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Next Weekend’s Warriors

NextWeekend

It’s a young guy’s world at the box office starting the March 16th weekend, as two sets of new Hollywood talent collide. First, there’s 21 Jump Street with Jonah Hill — fresh off an Oscar nomination — and Channing Tatum … Continue reading

Posted in Comedy, Coming of Age, Smackdown News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Artist is Already a Lock for the Academy Award

Artist - Smackdown Mike

That’s right. Everyone in Hollywood already knows The Artist is going to win Best Picture. It has already won top honors at the awards ceremonies for the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice and Producers Guild. Sure there will be Academy Award nominations … Continue reading

Posted in Awards, Awards 2012, Commentary, Smackdown News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

In Praise of… 50/50

50:50 Oscar Love

50/50 deserves every bit as much Oscar love as The Descendants which is going to get its share. Both films are about dealing with terrible news and living through those stages of grief and 50/50 more than holds its own in that comparison.

Instead Academy members will probably see 50/50 as a diversion for people in their 20s, as light and comedic, and as another Seth Rogen getting stoned kind of movie. Well, it is actually those things within its frames, but it is so much more. Continue reading

Posted in Awards, Biopic, Bryce Zabel, Comedy, Coming of Age, Smackdown News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jack and Jill (2011) -vs- The Nutty Professor (1996)

Jack & Jill (2011) -vs- Nutty Professor (1996)

We’re ditching our usual one-on-one combat for this Smackdown to bring you a tag-team match… actually, it’s more like a Battle Royale — both our contenders feature stars playing more than one part. Continue reading

Posted in Comedy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) -vs- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) -vs- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

It’s November which means, for Hollywood and department stores, it’s officially the start of the Christmas season. While most of us are still finishing off our Halloween candy, the studios have already started churning out their holiday films in the hopes that one of them will join the ranks of the classic Christmas movie. Continue reading

Posted in Comedy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

THE BIG YEAR: Another Movie That’s for the Birds

Big Year Again

The Big Year takes place in the world of competitive bird watching. Most of us, of course, have no clue whatsoever that there even is a world of competitive bird watching. You should know this film is a comedy, starring Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson.

It’s loosely built around Mark Obmascik’s award-winning 2004 nonfiction book about 1988’s The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession. Again, we’re not kidding, this is a yearly competition where “birders” or bird enthusiasts travel North America and the prize goes to the person who spots the most rare birds. You should also know that Owen Wilson plays the record-holding champion. Continue reading

Posted in Book Adaptation, Comedy, Major Star Vehicle, Nature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If You Put a Smack and a Mashup in an Atom Collider…

movie-smashup2

The SmashUps! are a collaboration between Smackdown guru and iMovie addict Bryce Zabel, who writes and produces them, and myself. I voice them and add what Bryce calls “the cool, weird stuff.” (I think that’s a compliment, but you never know with Bryce.)

So, please, take a look at our latest, the one that came from sticking the upcoming Real Steel in that particle acceler-o-meter or atomic whatsis with the classic Rocky film that won the Academy Award back in 1976. Given that our site has a couple of awards statues boxing each other in its banner, this one hits pretty close to home. This is its world premiere but, because it’s virtual, we don’t have to provide the hor d’oevres which, in this economy, means a lot. Continue reading

Posted in SmashUp! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SmackPoll: Back-to-School Comedies

SmackPoll: Back-to-School Comedies

For some kids, the end of summer means the loss of freedom and an end to sleeping late. For others, it means a chance to go shopping for school supplies! Pens, notebooks, folders, and (if you’re old enough to remember the ’80s) a Trapper Keeper. Sure, school sucks hard at times, but it’s also a great opportunity for comedy. At least, Hollywood thinks so. Continue reading

Posted in Polls | Tagged , | Leave a comment