Tag Archives: Mike Birbiglia

JUDD APATOW – THE RETURN (2017): Fun…

Judd Apatow - The Return (2018)
Judd Apatow – The Return (2018)

I really enjoy great comedy. I particularly love it when it’s obvious that the comic is undoubtedly smart because of their unique perspective and the way they construct and effectively deliver their stories and observations to the audience.

My favourites of the bunch are so good that they make it hard for me to find comics that I consider, ‘just OK’ watchable.

Judd Apatow – The Return; a standup special featuring Apatow, a funny man better known for being a great producer, writer and director of several hit comedy films is not a bad comedy special. There were a few moments where I laughed heartily. Overall though, since standup isn’t the craft Apatow has focused most on for the last 25 plus years, the whole experience felt more like a fun catch up with a funny friend I hadn’t seen for ages rather than the really clever standup specials I often get very excited about.

I smiled at Apatow’s stories in the beginning, eventually a few funnier stories and observations were shared. The most memorable for me being the story about pitching at the baseball game. When the whole thing was over, I found myself especially happy for Apatow because he got to fulfil his childhood dream.

I’m quite sure that Apatow will always be one of my favourite comedy film makers. Where standup is concerned, the place he occupies in my heart is one of the funny ‘friend’ I don’t get to catch up with very often.

Watch it if you’re so curious.

Happy Film Loving

G

JUDD APATOW – THE RETURN (2017): New Trailer For Judd Apatow Standup Comedy Special…

Judd Apatow - The Return (2017). Judd Apatow, Mike Birbiglia.png
Judd Apatow – The Return (2017). Judd Apatow, Mike Birbiglia.png

In the Netflix Special  Judd Apatow – The Return, Apatow, the writer, director and producer of some of my favourite comedies is returning to standup after 25 long years.

I myself didn’t even know that Apatow was a standup comic long before several of his best hit movies. There’s The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Knocked Up (2007) and This Is 40 (2012), to name just a few…

I like how this trailer is all about the other people echoing any doubts that Apatow himself likely had about returning to standup. It seems as though, this way if his show turns out to not be so great, that in itself will kind of be part of the comedy… maybe. I of course would prefer for the show to be fantastic. Even if it has been 25 long years since he stepped on a stage to make people laugh.

Judd Apatow – The return Release Dates: December 12th, 2017 (US) – Netflix.

Happy Film Loving

G

DON’T THINK TWICE (2016): New Trailer From Mike Birbiglia, Keegan-Michael Key & Gillian Jacobs

Don't Think Twice (2016), Chris Gethard, Mike Birbiglia, Tami Sagher
Don’t Think Twice (2016), Chris Gethard, Mike Birbiglia, Tami Sagher

Written, directed by and starring Mike Birbiglia, todays trailer is for Don’t Think Twice, a new comedy/ drama about a New York City improv group and how they deal with the  success of one of their member while the rest of them struggle…

I recall having watched another Birbiglia written a few years ago and really loving it. It may have been Sleepwalk With Me (2012), though I can’t be sure. May the humour be as good and the dram as real as this trailer suggests.

Keegan Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci and Tami Sagher also star

Don’t Think Twice Release Dates: July 22nd, 2016 (US)…

Happy Film Loving 🙂

G

ADULT BEGINNERS (2014): I watched For The Comedy & Adult Sibling Relationship Dynamic

Adult Beginners (2014), Caleb/ Matthew Paddock, Nick Kroll, Rose Byrne
Adult Beginners (2014), Caleb/ Matthew Paddock, Nick Kroll, Rose Byrne

The Ross Katz directed and rather aptly named comedy/ drama, Adult Beginners stars funny man Nick Kroll, Australian actress Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale.

If you’re open to a story about adult sibling relationships, starting again after losing everything, and getting your priorities in order, then Adult Beginners is interesting, though never too demanding.

The writing, chemistry between the three leads and the way the camera captures the lives of the characters makes for very believable and real situations. As for how engaging it all is, the phrase ‘incredibly engrossing’ definitely doesn’t fit.

As for the comedy, most of it will make you smile and 2 or three times you may laugh out loud. My interest in seeing Kroll in a somewhat serious role is why I watched. It also  helped that the always reliable Byrne and Cannavale were involved.

Joel McHale, Jane Krakowski, Caitlin Fitzgerald and Jason Mantzoukas also star.

Happy Adult Beginners 🙂

G