Hi!
So a liiiitle bit of news. The auction at
rainbow_support is now closed, and I have been bought by the lovely
severina2001 who always knew that she owned a piece of me, but can now say it out loud without getting viciously elbowed in a sensitive region.
She has requested fic for The Walking Dead. It'll be my first in the fandom, for better or for worse, so yeah - stay tuned for THAT. lol.
In other news - I'm currently being internally kicked by a snicklet. ...Magical. :|
Alright enough of that. You know what time it is, kiddies. It's time to subject you to more reviews of Justin's stuff!!
Today we have:
Movies I actually recommend!
I know I know, these aren’t *supposed* to be recs (and before you ask, no, these aren’t the only things I’ve ever liked that Justin’s done - see
Galaxy Quest and
After.Life and some of Justin’s voicework like Planet 51 and Chipmunks - they just ended up in different categories because there’s only room for so much fangirling in one post) but what can I say, these ones are just my faves!
And awaaaay we go.
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Matthew 'Matt' Farrell
Who should watch: John McClane (played as always by Bruce Willis) is having a very bad day - for the fourth time. The latest adventure in the Die Hard series takes place on the Fourth of July weekend and incorporates a modern twist on the old favourites, when a team of computer hackers attacks the entire country’s infrastructure, and even makes the mistake of putting McClane’s daughter Lucy in danger! Live Free or Die Hard (AKA Die Hard 4.0) has come up against more than its share of criticism (as most sequels seem to, TBH) for not being ‘a real part of the franchise’. The most popular argument for this seems to be that in order to keep the rating family-friendly, the adult-language in McClane’s famous ‘yippe ki yay’ catch phrase is censoriously cut short by the firing of a gun (something that can be remedied by buying the DVD and watching the unrated version, btw). But the ones that actually make sense point out that the action, especially toward the end, is a little over the top and that John seems a little different this time around: older, balder, and maybe even a little bit tougher and slightly more...you might say ‘bitter’. To this I say...get ready for it...PHOOEY. If people kept trying to kill me every holiday I’d probably be bald and bitter too. I could talk about how the premise taps cleverly and engagingly into the all-american hero-with-heart motif of the originals (and how they were a little over the top themselves) but I’ll just say this: whether you think it’s like the rest of the franchise or not - I’ve never heard anyone say it’s not a damn fun action packed thrill-ride!
Justin’s Role: This time around John’s sidekick is a young computer genius with a quick, snarky attitude almost as smart as he is. It’s a rare opportunity for Justin to take on an action film and I think he was more than up to the task. He does some of his best ever work (IMHO) as Matt Farrell, getting to mix up some ‘serious’ acting while still putting his comedic chops to work with some seriously fun old school vs. new school banter between Farrell and McClane. When we are first introduced to Matt - coding furiously away in his dingy, isolated-looking apartment complete with cliche comic book -themed decor - he’s actually a suspect, and McClane is there to bring him in. When it turns out Matt does actually have a small and unwitting role in the current national crisis, what he knows makes him a target for the real bad guys and McClane’s job suddenly gets a lot more challenging! It’s fun and heartwarming watching the transformation Matt undergoes, and the bond that forms between the two lone-wolf characters, as Matt’s need for protection changes to a genuine desire to do the right thing; to make up for his wrongs and step up to help McClane kick some ass and save the day!
Accepted (2006)
Bartleby Gaines
Who should watch: When Bartleby Gaines (or B. to his friends) doesn’t get accepted to any of the colleges he applies for, he does what any kid with a computer and a knack for cons like providing the entire high school student body with fake ID’s would do: he mocks up a fakey website and some bogus Letterhead and makes up his own college acceptance to show his parents. He even finds a retired, if somewhat eccentric, professor (Lewis Black) to play the “Dean” and enlists a few friends who had similar application woes to help him clean up an old abandoned mental hospital to show the folks around when they insist on a tour - and South Harmon Institute of Technology (yup, S.H.I.T.) is born! On the ‘first day of school’ the last thing B. is expecting is for eager would-be South Harmon students who have seen the website to show up on the doorstep by the hundreds - with their tuition money in hand. At first the kids resolve to come clean, make sure everyone has their money back and clear up the whole mess as quickly as possible. But when the impetuous Bartleby starts to hear that every student there has their own story of rejection - most much more moving than his own - he can’t bring himself to turn their hopeful faces away. At a loss for where to start, but a master of BS at ‘winging it’, B. starts by asking the students what *they* want to learn, and the fictional college starts to become something much more ‘real’ - and meaningful - than any of the ‘founders’ originally expected. Campy but sweet, this is another one to hilariously star Jonah Hill, and also pairs Justin up romantically with Blake Lively.
Justin’s Role: Justin has the lead again - and again we see a role that’s a contender for the ‘weirdest character name’ award. Bartleby Gaines is an interesting and engaging character, and the believability of the entire movie really does rest on the foundation of just what an inventive, confident, and (awkwardly) charismatic Con Man he can be. Justin does all of this with flair, and is even quite funny into the bargain. Unsurprising. What does stand out is they have also seemingly tried to push the geeky/misfitty awkwardness of the character into an added quirk for Bartleby that involves - yup - a crap-ton of pratfalls. It’s not clear whether this was scripted as an attempt to take advantage of Justin’s (quite admirable actually) skills in this department, or whether it’s mostly just adlib that was so good it made it past the cutting room, but since klutziness doesn’t seem to jive with the smooth talking confidence the character displays the rest of the time, it unfortunately does come off as a last minute addition that is probably *somehow* due to Justin’s influence. :)
Bonus Fun Fact! This is one of Justin’s brother Christian’s few on-screen appearances. He’s only on screen for a moment and is mostly covered up by a big foam mascot suit and some face paint, but he plays the school mascot - the S.H.I.T Sandwich. (yes really)
Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
Kevin
Who should watch: Yes I *like* this movie okay? And you shouldn’t knock it til you’ve tried it either, because ngl it surprised me. And yeah, it’s technically a car movie, which never hurts to ‘grease the wheels’ so to speak with me, but I think it’s genuinely a pretty good take on the old Disney classics to feature the little Volkswagen with a literal mind of his own, (and no, it doesn’t hurt that Justin and LiLo were both lookin’ their smokin’ hot best in it, either). I like that Herbie is paired up with a female owner this time around, Maggie Peyton (played adorably and competently by Lindsay Lohan back in her curvy red-headed days) and one who has some serious car-savvy to boot. And it’s generally pretty hard not to like Michael Keaton - or Breckin Meyer for that matter - who play Maggie’s father and brother, respectively, and whose characters make up Peyton Racing, the family NASCAR team (also respectively) as Crew Chief and lead Driver. As you might guess, there’s trouble for Team Peyton, who haven’t been winning races against their chief rival Trip Murphy (played by the surprisingly funny Matt Dillon) and are in danger of losing their sponsor. There’s a few willing suspension of disbelief moments when the rules of NASCAR are bent and pretty much broken right off as Maggie sets out to save the team by becoming not only the youngest, AND first female driver in NASCAR (GO DANICA PATRICK, ahem) but also the first - and likely last - to enter a sentient VW Beetle! But just like the classics, Herbie is entertaining and endearing as a character (even if you know nothing about cars...in fact maybe even more so then), the special effects aren’t bad at all, and there are laughs and light hearted romance and good-for-the-whole family fun.
Justin’s Role: Alright, maybe most of you weren’t expecting to see Justin playing a mechanic (even if he IS quite fetching in coveralls). But the important part of this role is it’s the romantic lead - and maybe a little comic relief - and as we all know by now, Justin excels at both. There’s a couple of pratfall moments that admittedly don’t necessarily mesh seamlessly into this character either - but then Disney always seems to be able to throw almost any character into a cartoonish sort of scenario that can make it work. I probably wouldn’t have called it, that he and Linsday would be a likely pairing, but Justin’s quirky, quippy sense of humour and his earnestness as one of the few characters to be in on the secret and ‘embrace the mystery that is Herbie’ serve him well here (and he doesn’t upstage LiLo which was key for this somewhat progressive female role I think, so bravo Justin).
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Justin
Who should watch: If you like Vince Vaughan or Ben Stiller at all, this is a pretty safe bet for you. And maybe even if you don’t. Maybe a little less wacky than some of Stiller’s other films, this is the story of how Average Joe’s, the little small business fitness-gym that could (owned by Vaughan’s character, Pete LaFleur), avoids hostile takeover by Globo-Gym, the multi-million dollar corp owned by Stiller’s villain character White Goodman. And they do it by going after the prize money to pay off the gym’s debts by entering a championship competition in...you guessed it: Dodgeball. The patrons of Average Joes are a pretty rag-tag band of misfits, and that’s why they love their gym so much -it’s a safe haven for the ones who are too shy, mild mannered, or even poor, (or just happen to believe they’re a pirate - and dress and speak like it, to boot!) to work out at a crowded, glamourous place like Globo. The cast is full of funny people and you’ll recognize Stephen Root, Christine Taylor, Missy Pyle, Joel David Moore, and even Jason Bateman and Rip Torn (as well as cameos by the likes of William Shatner, Chuck Norris, Hank Azaria, Lance Armstrong and The Hoff himself).
Justin’s Role: Okay. Classic Justin ‘awkward’/geeky schtick. And yes, I love it. The nervous, twitchy carriage, the nerdy high-pitched voice and yes, this time definitely the pratfalls - it all fits together and is SO well done.
This is still probably one of the funniest things I’ve seen him do. And honestly it doesn’t hurt the comedic value at all, that I swear I see a twinkle of suppressed laughter every time one of the other actors ironically calls this particular character ‘Justin’ on screen. “Here’s your virgin daiquiri...Justin.”
*gigglesnort* ...*sigh*
Justin’s Filmography
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin (voice)
Status: apparently still in theatres, go see for yourself!
Ten Year (2011)
Marty
Status: viewed, review pending
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Humphrey (voice)
Status: viewed, review pending
The Conspirator (2010)
Nicholas BakerStatus: viewed, review pending
Going the Distance (2010)
GarrettStatus: I own this, review pending
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Alvin (voice)
Status: viewed, review pending
Taking Chances (2009)
Chase Revere
Status: Reviewed
here Old Dogs (2009)
Troop Leader Adam (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed
here Planet 51 (2009)
Lem (voice)
Status: viewed, review pending
After.Life (2009)
Paul ColemanStatus: I own this, Reviewed
here Youth in Revolt (2009)
Paul SaundersStatus: Reviewed
here Funny People (2009)
Re-Do Guy (cameo)
Status: Reviewed
here Serious Moonlight (2009)
Todd
Status: Reviewed
here Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Clay DaltonStatus: viewed, review pending
Still Waiting... (2009)
Dean (uncredited)
Status: Not sure about this one, the description says ‘video’ but I was sure it was a full length sequel. Maybe direct to DVD? All I know is Justin regrets doing it because he feels it was ‘offensive’, and the role can’t be that big because he’s uncredited. Still, in the name of complete fangirlfrienddom I’ll watch if I can find it…so holla if you can hook me up
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
AlexStatus: viewed, review pending
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Brandon (cameo)
Status: Reviewed
here Just Add Water (2008)
SpoonieStatus: Reviewed
here Strange Wilderness (2008)
JuniorStatus: Reviewed
here Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
George Harrison (cameo, uncredited)
Status: Reviewed
here Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Alvin (voice)
Status: viewed, review pending
Battle for Terra (2007)
Senn (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Matthew 'Matt' FarrellStatus: seriously? I own this, Reviewed above if you really want to hear it
Idiocracy (2006)
Doctor Lexus (cameo)
Status: Reviewed
here Accepted (2006)
Bartleby GainesStatus: plan to purchase, Reviewed above
The Break-Up (2006)
Christopher
Status: Reviewed
here Dreamland (2006)
MookieStatus: viewed, review pending
The Sasquatch (Dumpling) Gang (2006)
Zerk
Status: Reviewed
here Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
KevinStatus:plan to purchase, Reviewed above
Waiting... (2005)
DeanStatus: viewed, review pending
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
JustinStatus: plan to purchase, Reviewed above
Hair High (2004)
Dwayne (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Raising Genius (2004)
Hal Nestor
Status: viewed, review pending (YAY thanks Severina)
Jeepers Creepers II (2003)
Darry Jenner (cameo, silent)
Status: viewed, review pending
Crossroads (2002)
HenryStatus: viewed, review pending
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Darry JennerStatus: viewed, review pending
Happy Campers (2001)
DonaldStatus: viewed, review pending
Galaxy Quest (1999)
BrandonStatus: Reviewed
here TV
New Girl (2011)
Paul Gunslinger
Status: I watched all three of Justin’s eps, but he's scheduled to return 'later in the season' and I don't know the dates. If you know them holla if you can hook me up.
Martha Stewart's
Haunted House (2011)
Teenage Werewolf
Status: Not sure about this one. The description is ‘TV movie’, but from the article I found it looked like just a Halloween ep of Martha’s show. Still, holla if you can hook me up
Saturday Night Live (2009)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
King of the Hill (2006-2007)
Adam / Cashier / Kid #1 / …
-
Grand Theft Arlen (2007) … Student teacher (voice)
-
The Texas Panhandler (2006) … Adam/Kid #1 (voice)
-
24 Hour Propane People (2006) … Cashier (voice) /
Troy (voice)
Status: no luck finding these, although they sound very minor. Still, holla if you can hook me up
That '70s Show (2006)
Andrew Davis
-
Love of My Life (2006) …
Andrew DavisStatus: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Campus Ladies (2006)
Connor
-
Fraternity Row (2006) … Connor
Status: no luck finding this one (or ever hearing of it before), holla if you can hook me up
Ed (2000-2004)
Status: in the viewing queue
Shorts/Videos
Free Hugs (short) (2011)
Status: this may not be released yet, but holla if you can hook me up
That Is All (2011) (short with John Hodgman)
Himself
See for yourself! Beyond All Boundaries (short) (2009)
Corp. James R. Garrett (voice) /
Sgt. John H. Morris (voice)
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Fraternity School Shopping (video short) (2008)
Herbert
Status: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up
Robin's Big Date (short) (2005)
Robin
See for yourself! Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (video) (2004)
Chris HarkenStatus: no luck finding this one, holla if you can hook me up