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Show WcckcndDiwersions Paee8 'Sugar' & Pre-Emf>tive f Critics - 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' Imagine a movie full of class-A acting, original, sophisticated humor with unpredictable but logical twists and a deep, 1 thought-provoking message, a sure bet to win double-digit Oscars. I would stand in line for a movie like that. Unfortunately, I'm supposed to be talking about "Hannah Montana: The Movie." Despite seemingly every medium being polluted with this pop princess (and having two younger sisters doesn't help, either), I tried to give this an honest chance as I watched everything YouTube had to offer on the film. Many videos later, I have come to the conclusion that this is the perfect movie for not only those obsessed with the newest Disney diva but anyone who likes predictable stories and tired old gags. If you want to see Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana fall off a horse a few times and get attacked by a chicken, this is the flick for you. But if you think a fight over a pair of shoes with Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") is a little insipid, steer clear. Even the beautiful, larger-than-life Lucas Hill, the love interest in the movie, might not be enough to salvage this one. For stoking the burning inferno of subHigh School Musical entertainment, I preemptively hate this movie. • Friday, April 3, 2009 ' " , / ? . - . '•'*'*• -by Lisa Christensen/lisa.m.christensen® aggiemail.usu.edu Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who wrote and directed 2006's acclaimed "Half-Nelson," have again teamed up on "Sugar," a highlyanticipated film about Dominican baseball culture. The film tells the story of Miguel "Sugar" Santos, a Dominican baseball prodigy, who, at 19, gets his big break - a shot at a professional career in the ol' U.S. of A. At first glance, the story has the makings of a classic rags-to-riches sports tale. Miguel is determined to trade his life of poverty for jumbotron accolades and a shining Cadillac in the driveway. His commitment pays off after scouts discover his formidable curveball and he is invited to prove himself at spring training. While a star in his native country, Miguel feels out of his depth on American soil, and is forced to evaluate if he has what it takes to make it in the Bigs. These elements, as aforementioned, seem typical. However, the trailer also illustrates some of the other themes the film will confront. Along with his struggles on the baseball diamond, Miguel will also have to brave the challenges of immigrant life in the states - interracial romance, language barriers and. ethnic ignorance. z ... Y:••'•-.'•'••' > "'.' In one humorous excerpt, Miguel watches in serene bemusement as the his elderly host couple lay out the rules of the house. -, "No cervezas in the casa. No chicas in the bedroom." If Boden and Fleck approach the subject with the same social awareness as their previous work, "Sugar" could be a rare find indeed - simultaneously a coming of age saga, a sports fantasy and an apt and timely analysis of the immigrant experience in our country. • Pre-emptively, I think this one could be out of the park. .....--. : Fast and the Furious 4 \ "Fast & Furious" Hottie: "Are you one of those guys who likes cars more than women?" The Immortal Vin Diesel: 'I admire a fine body regardless of the make." :,' ; Me: "Ugh." If you've seen the trailer for "Fast & Furious" you've heard this exchange. Maybe you laughed, maybe you changed the channel or maybe you (like me) rubbed your head in agony because you felt a Vin Diesel-steed headache comingon. We really need another one of these films? Didn't Lil' Bow Wow do enough damage to this already-tired franchise? Apparently not. Franchises like Bond and Batman can reinvent themselves, because people care. Do people really care about the supposed "reinvention" of the "Fast & Furious" franchise? All the old people are back, seemingly because they can't get work elsewhere. Paul Walker has been in and out of bad movies, Vin Diesel said he'd never do a sequel to "Fast and the Furious" a long time ago (now look at him) and Michelle Rodriguez got killed off of "Lost" and has been looking for work ever since then. , According to the trailer, we'll be able to fulfill all our desires for fast cars, easy women and Vin Diesel driving cars under flaming semi-trailers flipping end over end. After spending time at Sundance watching amazing films that will probably not see a fraction of the box office "Fast & Furious" will, it makes me sad. This is the stuff Hollywood thinks we all want, and after "Fast & Furious" does $100 million Hollywood will be right once again. . I pre-emptively hate this movie. • - ;. - b y Aaron Peck/aaron.peck@aggiemail.usu, :•.'•.- - e d u -by Ben Roden/be.ro@aggiemail.usu.edu The pre-emptive critics write knee-jerk analyses of upcoming films based solely on hearsay, advance publicity and — most importantly — movie trailers? They have not seen the movies. Movie throws new twist in old genre "I Love You, Man" is a light-hearted, fun comedy that has given birth to a new genre some are calling "bromance." Paul Rudd ("Anchorman") plays Peter Klaven, a down-to-earth guy who has a perfect fiancee (Rashida Jones, "The Office"), a nice house and an all around good life. The only thing he doesn't have is a friend. No male friends at all. Grade AInstead Peter spends his time mak"I Love You, ing root beer floats for ••••••••••••• his wife's friends when they come over. When Peter realizes he needs a best man for his wedding, he sets out on a series of "man-dates" to find that special someone he can call his friend. Peter instead finds a plethora of unsavory people like the male chauvinist played by Jon Favreau (Ironman) and a guy that is looking for something more than just friends. Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) enters the picture when Peter is showing an expensive house in the hills of Hollywood. Sydney comes to open houses for the finger foods and divorced women. They immediately hit it off. The film plays out like a romance between two buddies. Instead of the tired story of guy meets girl, they fall in love, they fight, they get back together, it's now both guys doing those exact same things, It throws a new twist into an old genre, We know what's going to happen next because we are all familiar with the Peck romantic comedy for- f- . . Cr/t/C mula, but here that formula is played to perfection. It's interesting to watch Peter and Sydney try and guide their way through their plutonic male relationship. Sydney embodies the freedom that Peter needs. Peter has lived his life too uptight until Reel Reviews Man" Food: Showing support to USU [I continued[from page 7 Pepper Mark Tofu is now a featured menu item. Samantha Creer, freshman and psychology major, said she has enjoyed dinners at Formosa with her roommates. "It is really fun to share the dishes," she said. There are a lot of services Formosa offers that many are unaware of. A USU lunchbox can be ordered by phone for $5. The box contains two entrees, steamed rice and soup that is still hot from the kitchen when it is delivered to the USU campus. The pick-up location is on the north side of the Merrill-Cazier Library. During testing weeks, students can order a full week of lunches for $30. The lunchbox must be ordered before 10 a.m. and picked up between noon and 1 p.m. Lin said if USU students show their student I.D. they can get 10 percent off dinner. "I know college is difficult and I want to support the students," she said. -Catherine. meidell@aggiemailMsu.edu now. It's comforting that Sydney is a good guy throughout the entire movie. Nothing he does is out of malice, but for the sheer pleasure of pleasing a friend. Where "I Love You, Man" really excels, though, is it really is just a good old funny movie. It has its standard gags, yes, but even then there's little twists that make them funnier than the joke you've heard before. Sydney's observations about a man in the open house who wants to fart but can't do it around the girl he just met are priceless. This film will give you a lot of genuine laughter, and you wouldn't expect anything less from this ensemble cast. ~aardn.peck@aggiemail.usu.edu "Mintage ASSER N a m CONCERT SERIES - *•**%?• lucation Stephen Beus, pianist Tuesday, April 7,2009$** 7:30 p-m. . , fid in ffee awand-winning"' Caire Rusrt Kathryn Cai Farforrorc* M l or it** Utah State-Uniwwy Coropvi o Seer ing Tickets; Adu»s S15, SludenH S7.50 UtahStateUniversity Tinkflls: 1435) 797-3C-22 or h l f p : ^ : ^ c-rmalicn, mchdinci canc&ii programs, information gathered by Karlie Brand photo by Kristy Jordan |