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07-02-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
SHAQ'S KOBE RAP IS NOW A RINGTONE: FunMo.com is offering free download of infamous freestyle.
*A mobile entertainment company is offering free ringtones of Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal rapping, "Kobe, tell me how my a** tastes?" from his recent freestyle rhyme that has since become a YouTube sensation.
FunMobility says it's providing Shaq's original rap as a free download, as well as a premium ringtone mashup of the original rap and a JibJab-style animation with the mashup soundtrack.
The infamous freestyle took place on June 22 at a nightclub in New York. Shaq, who won a championship with Miami in 2006, was poking fun at his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, who has not gotten a ring since Shaq was traded in 2004.
In the freestyle, Shaq raps, "You know how I be, last week Kobe couldn't do without me." He also attacks Kobe for "ratting" him out and causing his divorce. The NBA star goes on to repeatedly rap, "Kobe, tell me how my a** tastes," even getting the crowd to repeat the lyrics.
The Shaq rap ringtones can be downloaded for free now at http://www.FunMo.com.
KANYE IS 'LOL' AT WINEHOUSE COMMENT: Plus, troubled 'Rehab' singer avoids being charged in Glastonbury fan attack.
*Kanye West uses sarcasm to brush off a remark made about him by Amy Winehouse during her performance at Saturday's Glastonbury Music Festival.
Toward the end of her set, Winehouse dissed Kanye while praising the festival's unpopular decision to book Jay-Z as the headliner. "Let's hear it for Jay-Z," she told the crowd. "Imagine if it was a c**t like Kanye West.
'C**ts Like Kanye' - that should be his next album title."
In a post on his blog Monday, Kanye wrote: “This just in… Amy Winehouse hates me! Now I’ve really made it! LOL!”
Meanwhile, a police spokesman says the beehived singer will not be charged for punching a fan during the Glastonbury gig.
Winehouse jumped down into the crowd of about 75,000 while performing her hit single "Rehab" on the festival's Pyramid Stage. Her sudden "lashing out" at a fan, according to her rep, was in response to the person invading her personal space.
"Someone tried to grab her hair and she reacted," said the rep.
Inspector John Fuller, of Somerset and Avon police, says, "No complaint has yet been made but when one is we will investigate the matter fully."
HUGHES BROS. BRING 2ND PIMP PROJECT TO HBO: Twins follow up 1999 documentary 'American Pimp' with scripted series.
*The Hughes Brothers continue their fascination with pimps in a new scripted project for HBO titled "Gentlemen of Leisure."
The series will explore the shift in attitude within the pimp culture – from old school pimps who live and die by honor codes, to the younger more violent pimps "who are coming with their guns blazing, mixing prostitution with drugs and thievery," Allen Hughes tells the Hollywood Reporter.
"These are some of the same themes from 'The Godfather' but in the world of pimping," he said.
The idea for the series came after friends suggested they remake their 1999 HBO documentary "American Pimp" into a drama series for the same network. Both brothers said they were hesitant at first, but soon realized that pimping had never been dealt with in a scripted TV series.
"This is the last island that has not been reached in television or film," Allen Hughes said.
"Gentlemen of Leisure" will follow a 35-year-old legendary pimp in Oakland, Calif., who is thinking about leaving the business for good.
"It's about a guy who wants to get out but keeps getting sucked back in by the allure of the game and by extraneous circumstances that have to do with his family," said Evan Reilly, a "Rescue Me" producer who will write the script.
The Hughes Bros will direct the potential pilot as well as executive produce with Reilly, music mogul Jimmy Iovine (who had been looking to produce an urban mob drama set in the world of hip-hop) and Polly Anthony, another music biz veteran.
"We haven't done a movie in eight years ("From Hell"), and we're really interested in trying do something new," said Alloen. "You're not going to see a bunch of colorful, goofy '70's pimps. This is a film noir-style drama based in rich characters that will explore the human conditions across the board. It is an urban crime drama."
BRITISH PAPERS PRAISE JAY-Z'S GLASTONBURY SHOW: Rapper wins over crowd and critics alike.
*The reviews are in regarding Jay-Z's headlining performance at this year's Glastonbury Music Festival, and it appears as if audience members weren't the only folks who were impressed.
After months of bad energy surrounding his selection as headliner – particularly from Oasis member Noel Gallagher, who railed against organizers for booking a rap act – Jay-Z made his stage entrance Saturday preceded by a film of Gallagher's now infamous comments and a montage of clips parodying him. He then launched into an acoustic rendition of one of Oasis's biggest
hits: "Wonderwall."
The crowd of 140,000 responded with cheers; as did the local media.
"His performance will go down in Glastonbury history," wrote the Independent in a Monday review of the festival.
Rather than being booed off stage as some predicted, "both audience and artist rose to the occasion and turned in a moment of real, euphoric, pop-culture history," added the Times.
The Guardian concluded: "It's brilliantly staged, utterly thrilling and it makes Gallagher look a bit of a berk."
The Daily Mirror tabloid, however, described his performance as dull. "I felt seriously short-changed as I walked away from this performance," it said.
PARIS BENNETT IS WITH CHILD: Former "American Idol" dynamo is pregnant at 19.
*Paris Bennett, the pint-sized powerhouse from "American Idol's" fifth season, is apparently weeks away from giving birth to her first child.
First reported by gossip site MediaTakeOut.com, news of the 19-year-old singer's pregnancy was confirmed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, who interviewed Paris' mother, Jamecia Bennett.
The father of Paris' baby "chooses not to be in the public eye," she told the newspaper.
She also said Paris, a native of Rockford, Ill., "has a ring" and will have a baby shower in August.
EDDIE MURPHY MAY GO BACK TO STANDUP: Actor flirts with retirement from films.
*Is Eddie Murphy getting tired of the Hollywood grind? While plugging his upcoming film "Meet Dave," due in theaters July 11, the actor told "Extra's" Tanika Ray that he may leave movies for good and return to his roots on stage.
"I have close to fifty movies and it's like, why am I in the movies?" he said, adding, "I've done that part now. I'll go back to the stage and do standup."
Murphy, 47, is still attached to revive his Axel Foley character in a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" film. He admits to having had initial reservations about the project, because "the movie wasn't ready to be done." Murphy said he agreed to do "Cop 3" because he was offered an obscene amount of money.
"They said this is how much we're going to pay you. I said, 'let's go shoot it! I don't care if the script ain't right," he said.
As for Eddie's love life, the bachelor told "Extra" he is currently looking for a woman with "just honesty and some other things."
MICHAEL STRAHAN FILMS 'CHUCK' CAMEO: Retired defensive end says he's been bitten by the acting bug and wants more projects.
*On the heels of announcing his retirement from football, former New York Giants star Michael Strahan has been busy building up his post-gridiron resume in television.
As previously reported, the Super Bowl-winning defensive end booked an NFL analyst gig with Fox Sports. Two weeks ago, he was jump-starting his acting career in Burbank, Calif. filming a cameo in the NBC comedy "Chuck."
According to NJ.com, Strahan will play Mitt, the manager of the Mighty Jock sporting goods store in the mall where geeky main character Chuck Bartowski works. In the episode, scheduled to air Oct. 20, Mitt and his staff commandeer the home theater section of the Buy More electronics store at lunchtime, playing Madden and leaving behind a mess of wrappers and food. Morgan, Chuck's best friend and co-worker at Buy More, has to confront Mitt, resulting in a showdown scene a la 80s film "Three O'Clock High."
"When the cameras rolled, Michael was really, really funny," said Josh Schwartz, the show's creator and executive producer. "Everyone on the set was completely blown away. Broadcasting or acting, he's got a future."
Schwartz intended for Strahan's appearance to be a one-time cameo, but his performance was so impressive, the show would consider welcoming him back.
"After everyone saw him, they were like, 'Well, maybe we should get Mitt back here,'" Schwartz said.
ERNESTINE ANDERSON'S SEATTLE HOME SAVED: But for how long? Monthly mortgage payments are still ridiculous.
*After reports surfaced last week regarding the impending foreclosure of Ernestine Anderson's home in Seattle, donations ranging from
$5 to $5,000 poured in from folks around the country.
Thanks to more than $43,000 in contributions, including checks from music legend Quincy Jones and contemporary jazz artist Diane Schuur, her Central District home has been saved.
"We're incredibly grateful for all the people who went to the bank or mailed a check," said Carmen Gayton, a friend of Anderson's family.
But Gayton said Anderson, 79, will need more funds in order to lower the monthly payments on her principal loan balance of nearly $460,000. Gayton added that a financial advisor is working pro-bono to figure out ways to restructure Anderson's loan, which has monthly payments of more than $4,400. Her monthly income is $1,000 from Social Security.
Gayton also said Anderson, who once sang with the likes of Jones and Ray Charles, will try to sell a second house next door to the home she's trying to save.
Last week, the Grammy-nominated singer was more than $30,000 in arrears in payments and penalties. The money to stop the foreclosure was delivered Monday. Gayton would not disclose how much Jones and Schuur had donated.
SOLANGE SAYS SHE HAS 'OBAMA FEVER': Plus, youngest Knowles sister talks about 3-year-old son; Hollywood life and early marriage.
*Solange Knowles recently spoke to E! about some of the socially conscious content present in tracks from her upcoming album "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams," due Aug. 26.
The current single, "I Decided," features a video that includes archival footage and photographs from important moments in American history, such as the Civil Rights movement. She sings of Hurricane Katrina and poverty in the Mark Ronson-produced song "6 O'Clock Blues."
"I wouldn't say that I'm political, but I'm definitely aware," said Knowles, but then added, "I do have Obama fever."
Solange said she encountered the presidential candidate at a recent dinner. "It was crazy because I had all these questions I wanted to ask him," Knowles recalled. "But once I got in the midst of his presence, I totally felt like I was meeting a rock star."
The artist also spoke to E! about her three-year-old son Daniel, who she hopes will steer clear of the family business.
"I'd love for him to be talented in other things," said the 22-year-old. "I hope that he wants to be a...computer engineer."
While Solange was pregnant with Daniel, she married the boy's father, football player Daniel Smith, only to divorce him several years later. That experience, however, has not soured her on the prospect of finding love again.
"I got married at 17, so I won't judge from that one experience," she said with a laugh. As for more kids down the line, she said: "Yeah. Maybe I'll have two or three...or four!"
In the meantime, Solange says her work schedule in Los Angeles leaves little time for anything else.
"I don't have a life in Hollywood," Knowles said. "I don't do sh**. Just work. I come home and take my son to the movies. I don't go out. It's only like the BET Awards or something like that, that I actually do something."
LABELLE REUNION ALBUM DUE IN SEPTEMBER: Trio to perform July 5 at Essence Festival in New Orleans.
*To whet appetites for the reunion album of R&B trio Labelle, due Sept. 23 via Verve, group members Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash will perform July 5 in New Orleans as part of the Essence Festival at the Louisiana Superdome.
The gig, billed by organizers as Labelle's first public concert since January 1977, will include a performance of their classic hit "Lady Marmalade," which was recorded in New Orleans more than 30 years ago, and produced by legendary New Orleans musician, Allen Toussaint.
The as-yet-untitled album, the group's first since 1976's "Chameleon," will be produced by legendary soul hitmakers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff as well as Lenny Kravitz.
SOULJA BOY SNEAKERS ON THE HORIZON: Rapper inks multi-year shoe and apparel contract with Yums.
*Soulja Boy will have his own brand of sneakers to go along with the release of his upcoming album for Interscope. The rapper just signed a multi-year sneaker and apparel contract with Dallas-based clothing company Yums Shoes.
According to Billboard.com, the teen rapper will join forces with graffiti artist and designer Tex to design his own signature Yums "Block Star" sneakers and clothing line. The sole of each Yums sneaker will be decorated with graffiti art.
"The Soulja boy exclusive shoe will be released in the fall along with my album," the rapper said in a statement. "The Soulja Boy cartoon will also be released in the fall, so there's three things to look out for."
The "Crank That" rapper will introduce his line at the Magic trade show this fall. He'll also appear in both television and print advertising for his Yums line and create five webisodes that will run across the Yums and Soulja Boy Web sites.
Soulja Boy's sophomore album "iSouljaBoy" is expected to feature contributions from Polow Da Don, Bow Wow and Sean Kingston.
ADS PULLED FROM BET PROGRAMMING: Proctor and Gamble, Pepsi and GM reportedly upset with music video content.
*HipHopDX.com is reporting that several advertisers have pulled spots from programs on BET due to violent and suggestive content.
According to the Web site, advertising from Proctor and Gamble, Pepsi and General Motors were pulled from "Rap City" and "106 & Park" after the companies watched “The Rap on Rap,” a content analysis of BET and MTV. The study found that children were exposed to violence, profanity or obscenity once every 38 seconds.
CNN reported that BET Chairman and CEO, Debra Lee, has dismissed the study, arguing the network monitors its content and regularly edits videos.
“It’s geared for kids but the content is for adults,” Paul Porter of media watchdog group Industry Ears and CNN told HipHopDX. “That’s what the study shows.”
“We’re the only ones presented like this in the world," he added. "It affects you globally, on your job, with the police.”
NEW EDITION/NEW KIDS COLLABO RECORDED: Bands hit the studio together for new song.
*After receiving the prestigious Golden Note Award at last week's ASCAP Rhythm & Soul awards in Beverly Hills, New Edition hit the studio with their 1980s rival New Kids on the Block to record a song.
According to People magazine, Bobby Brown was the lone NE member that didn't make the trip to record "Full Service," which will appear on NKOTB's as-yet-untitled upcoming album.
"Donnie Wahlberg had this idea for a few months, since New Kids had the idea of getting back together really," says producer RedOne, who worked on the song. "Donnie's been looking for that one track for all of them and I think we found it."
"Full Service" was written by Wahlberg, RedOne, and New York disco diva Lady GaGa.
"It sounds very universal and melodic and has both sides in it: The R&B, which is New Edition and the pop side for New Kids," says RedOne. "It's very uplifting. Right away you start feeling good and every part feels natural to each one of the guys."
NE frontman Ralph Tresvant addressed rumors that the two bands have had a longstanding beef.
"The thing people were going back and forth with was we'd been doing what we were doing for the longest [but] we couldn't get cartoons and things that the white guys were getting. It was like, 'wow,'" he said. "But the guys themselves, we have mad love."
DARKCHILD PLANS EXTREME BRITNEY MAKEOVER: Producer says he's working with pop star on material for next album.
*Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins says he's in the studio with tabloid queen Britney Spears working on some "very dancey, really up-tempo, aggressive, catchy, and hook friendly" songs for her next album.
"I'm trying some new things [with Spears] … I've always worked with Britney and I love working with her," Jerkins told Rap-Up TV, according to People.com. "I'm [going to] try to reinvent her and reinvent myself with her project."
Jerkins will produce two tracks on the untitled project, which follows up his previous work with Britney on the remix for "Overprotected" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" from her self-titled "Britney" album in 2001.
Despite the singer's volatile personal life– including an ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline and two hospitalizations – Darkchild says Britney keeps all of her personal drama outside of the studio.
"She's always professional," he said, adding that while some artists take a long time to record a song, during a recent studio session, "[Britney] walked in at 8:30 and was out by 10:30."
WILL SMITH GRABS THE MIC FOR 'HANCOCK' PREMIERE: Actor joins Jazzy Jeff for impromptu gig in Hollywood.
*Fans at the Hollywood premiere of "Hancock" Monday night got an impromptu concert from the film's star, Will Smith and his rap partner DJ Jazzy Jeff, reports People.com.
"I'm out of shape – I'm playing an out of shape superhero here," Smith, 39, said on a stage outside of Hollywood High School. The movie-themed stage area included carefully wrecked cars, "prison-cage"
private lounges and a moon bounce for the kids.
The rap duo performed most of their 80s hits, including the theme from his former TV show, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." They were joined on stage by Tyrese Gibson for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," while Hancock costars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman nodded along from the audience.
OBAMA BITS: Meth wants him in Compton; Michelle joins him for romantic dinner; Jeezy and McCain; Canadians prefer Obama over own leaders.
*Method Man says Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama needs to spend time in the hood – specifically, Compton, Calif – before he takes office should he win the presidency. The rapper, a Staten Island, NY native, believes it should be mandatory for any U.S. president to visit the country's toughest areas. "My people never feel the affects of who changes the world or who's in office because it never trickles down that low on the scale," said Meth. "We don't feel the President's power down there (in Compton), we just feel the poverty. Blessings to Obama and the whole Obama click. Hopefully he'll bring his a** to Compton and walk through the war zone to see what it is. Somebody told me, 'Why would he go there; that's dangerous.' That's why he should go!"
*Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were spotted enjoying a 2-1/2-hour dinner over the weekend at Spiaggia in Chicago, where the couple also have their annual Valentine's Day meal, reports the NewYork Daily News' Rush & Malloy column. Spies say the couple enjoyed an eight-course tasting menu without wine, but a martini glass or two were spotted on the table.
*In the latest issue of Vibe magazine, Jeezy goes into more detail about his conversation with Republican presidential hopeful John McCain when both appeared recently on "Saturday Night Live." "No disrespect to my man Barack, but I [bleeped] with John McCain. He greeted me like a god," said the rapper, who has endorsed Obama. "The fact that he acknowledged me was crazy. I said, 'I'm Young Jeezy, and it's rough out here.' He blew me off at first. I was like, 'Nah, for real. It's rough out here, so what you gonna do to change it?' . . . And he gave me a look back, like, 'I know.'"
*A new poll shows that Canadians would vote for Barack Obama over their own political leaders if they had the choice. The bi-national survey (1,000 Canadians and 1,000 Americans were polled), conducted by the Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail, showed that in Canada, Obama was more admired than Prime Minister Stephen Harper -- or any other national leader. View results below:
Barack Obama: 26 percent Stephen Harper (Canada's Prime Minister): 21 percent Hillary Clinton: 16 percent Jack Layton (leader of Canada's New Democratic Party): 9 percent Gilles Duceppe (politician/union organizer): 6 percent Stephane Dion (leader of Canada's Liberal Party): 5 percent John McCain: 3 percent
ITTY BITTY BITS: DMB's Moore injured; Ribeiro's 'Catch'; Wayne and Keyshia at Sumfest; Smiley's 'America'; 'Vote For It '08'; DC Curry on Starz.
*LeRoi Moore, the saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band, was seriously injured in an ATV accident at his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia. The 46-year-old musician was rushed to UVA Medical Center, where he's listed in fair condition. A statement on the band's website said "Please join us all in wishing LeRoi a speedy and complete recovery." Jeff Coffin, saxophonist of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, will replace Moore while he recovers.
*Alfonso Ribeiro has found employment as the host of GSN's "Catch 21," a new series blending pop trivia with the card game, 21. Dealing out larger-than-life playing cards, Ribeiro quizzes contestants with general-knowledge questions as they attempt to build the closest hand to 21. Every correct answer is a chance to add a card and build a better hand or pass the card and “bust” the competition. After three elimination rounds, the final player takes on the house for a shot at up to $25,000 cash in the final prize round.
*Lil Wayne and Keyshia Cole were selected to headline the Reggae Sumfest 2008 during its International Night 1, on Friday July 18. Chris Brown and Akon are also in talks to join the lineup, organizers say. The event, celebrating its 16th year, runs from July 13-19 in Jamaica. Other acts performing include John Holt, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer.
*Tavis Smiley's project "America I AM Across America," a mobile experience leading to the America I AM: The African American Imprint museum exhibition, will make its debut July 4 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, bringing the exhibition's inspirational message to the heart of more than 40 communities across the country. The museum exhibition will open in November celebrating 400 years of African American contributions to the nation through artifacts, documents, multimedia, photos and music. A full schedule will be available soon at http://www.AmericaIAM.org.
*The Hip Hop Summit Action Network and CPX Interactive will launch their Vote For It '08 campaign on July 9th with the online release of a PSA featuring Russell Simmons, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Ciara, T.I., Doug E. Fresh, Jim Jones and a others. The clip will initially be available via YouTube and the campaign’s official Web site www.voteforit08.org. In August, the PSA will become a nationally-televised campaign.
*Chicago-born comic Don "D.C." Curry will perform in the premiere episode of the Starz original stand-up comedy series "Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-up" on Wednesday, July 9 at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Now in its third season, the weekly series features 35 comedians who perform before a live audience in Washington, D.C. at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
DYING WOMAN IGNORED AT BROOKLYN HOSPTIAL: Officials promise reforms after surveillance footage captures tragedy.
*New York City hospital officials say reforms are in store at a Brooklyn psychiatric ward where a woman collapsed from her chair, fell to the floor and lay dying as workers watched for an hour without helping.
Esmin Green, 49, was involuntarily committed on June 18 to be treated for agitation and psychosis. Surveillance footage showed she had been waiting in the ER nearly 24 hours for a bed when she fell from her seat at 5:32 a.m. on June 19 and landed face down on the floor.
Green stopped moving about a half hour after she collapsed. She was dead by 6:35, when someone on the medical staff, alerted by a person in the waiting room, finally approached, nudged Green with her foot and gently prodded her shoulder, as if to wake her. The staffer left and returned with someone wearing a white lab coat who examined her and called for assistance.
Between her initial collapse and the staffer's reaction more than an hour later, Green's distress was repeatedly ignored – by other patients waiting a few feet away, by security guards and by several hospital staff members who appeared to notice her prone body at least three times but made no visible attempt to see whether she needed help.
One guard couldn't even be bothered to leave his seat, rolling it around a corner to look at Green's body, then rolling away a few moments later.
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, which runs the hospital, said six people have been fired as a result of the incident, including security personnel and members of the medical staff, reports the Associated Press.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Sex and Death 101
Romantic Comedy Starring Simon Baker as Reluctant Womanizer Arrives on DVD
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Roderick Blank (Simon Baker) never expected to settle down. The confirmed bachelor had been content to parlay his good looks into a neverending string of sexual conquests.
But that was before he fell in love with Fiona (Julie Bowen), a beauty for whom he's willing to end his career as a player.
Then, just when they're on the verge of marital bliss and set to tie the knot in a week, Rod receives a mysterious email containing a chronological list of the 101 names of every female he has ever or will sleep with.
Curious, he decides to postpone the wedding, sensing that otherwise he might be cheat on his bride with 72 different strangers. And sure enough, he suddenly finds himself embarking on a dizzying string of one-night stands.
Warning, this isn't just one of those predictable romantic comedies where the guy ride off into the sunset with the girl who was meant for him all along. For writer/director Daniel Waters (Happy Campers) has a trick up his sleeve in the form of a fetching femme fatale who goes by the alias Death Nell (Winona Ryder).
The plot thickens when this self-appointed vigilante starts roaming around town seducing and slaying known womanizers. What Rod doesn't know is that she is somewhere on his list of upcoming conquests, but not under her nickname. So the question becomes, will he cross paths with this sadistic serial killer while working his way towards number 101, or will he abandon his hedonistic indulgence and return to Fiona before disaster strikes?
That is the burning question threaded through Sex and Death 101, a kinky dramedy that is every bit as eerily chilling as it is irreverently funny.
A female empowerment fantasy where a latter-day Casanova meets his match in the reincarnation of Lorena Bobbitt.
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated R for profanity and graphic sexuality.
Running time: 117 minutes
Studi Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Extras: Audio commentary with writer/director Daniel Waters, "Behind-the scenes" featurette, and a theatrical trailer.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Kabluey
Lisa Kudrow Shines as Soldier's Frazzled Wife in Stop-Loss Comedy
Film Review by Kam Williams
*About once a month nowadays, another political drama is released examining the toll being exacted by the war on military veterans and their families.
But virtually each of these well-meaning morality plays, from Lions for Lambs to In The Valley of Elah to Stop-Loss has been a heavy-handed, pacifist polemic which hits you over the head with a way too obvious message.
That's why the relatively-lighthearted Kabluey arrives like a breath of fresh air. For this screwball comedy generates plenty of laughter while simultaneously ever so subtly addressing several sobering themes.
The charming low-budget ensemble piece is funny enough to be a
surprise sleeper with enduring appeal, ala My Big Fat Greek Wedding and
Little Miss Sunshine of year's past.
The movie is a semi-autobiographical labor of love written and
directed by Scott Prendergrast whose own brother was backdoor drafted into a tour of duty in the Middle East conflict. While his sibling was serving overseas, Scott moved in with his sister-in-law to help her care for her two young sons, a challenging experience which provided both fodder and inspiration for Kabluey.
Here, he co-stars opposite Friends' Lisa Kudrow in her best outing on the big screen since Analyze This. She exhibits her trademark charm and perfect comic timing along with an endearing emotional range in a role intermittently calling for a certain gravitas. The talented cast also includes Terri Garr, Christine Taylor (wife of Ben Stiller) and character actress Conchata Ferrell.
The story revolves around emotionally and financially challenged Leslie (Kudrow) who has stoically been trying to hold down the fort since her husband Noah's (Phil Thoden) National Guard unit shipped out to Iraq. Between working full-time and raising their two boys (Cameron Wofford and Landon Henninger) alone, the frazzled mom barely has any downtime to relax, let alone worry about Noah's safety.
The sort of help she doesn't exactly need arrives when her unemployed brother-in-law, Salman (Prendergrast), shows up in Austin needing a place to crash, having recently been fired from an entry-level position as a clerk at a copy store several states away in Nevada. He proves to be so pathetic as a babysitter, that Leslie orders him out of the house only to relent when he says he's broke and that his credit cards are maxed out.
Instead, she finds him a job at her real estate company as its
corporate mascot, Kabluey. And much of the ensuing slapstick emanates from his interacting with strangers while standing on the street passing out flyers at the height of summer in a heat-seeking baby blue outfit covering him from head to toe. Meanwhile, there is a disarming darkness and depth to Leslie's character, whose evolution hints at the plausible plight of countless similarly-situated Army wives in real life.
A worthwhile "melan-comedy" (a term coined by Prendergast) which
delivers a feminist statement merely by questioning the conventional
patriotic wisdom that all wars are fought for God, mom and apple pie.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, a crude reference and brief profanity.
Running time: 87 minutes
Studi Whitewater Films
Distributor: Regent Releasing
To see a trailer of Kabluey, visit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=o24NNR8o9a0
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
July 2: Troy Brown, NFL wide receiver, is 37.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Read the "real story" beyond Motown's legend and founder of the Supremes, Florence Ballard, in her sister's book "The True Story of Florence Ballard." Visit www.maxineballard.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
July 2, 1777: Vermont became the first American colony to abolish slavery. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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