'Lorax,' 'Project X,' And More: Double Feature Friday!
If one movie is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. Every week we break down the new releases and pair them with older movies that you should catch before heading out to the theater. Or just skip the new movie and check out the classic we recommend.
The connection between these two is a simple cause and effect. "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" preaches an environmentalist message, and "The Day After Tomorrow" teaches us that if we pollute, wolves will hunt us down in the frozen tundra of Manhattan and eat us. Strangely enough, "The Lorax" functions as a spot-on prequel to "The Day After Tomorrow," only less cartoonish. And if you're a parent and your child asks what happens next as you walk out of "The Lorax," you can turn to him and say, "Son, let me show you. Let me show you."
One of the several factors that doomed Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" was the amazing hype built up by the movie blogs and film journalists who heralded the film as a masterpiece and a sure-fire hit. When it opened and subsequently bombed, many quickly dismissed it and moved on with their lives. Michael Bacall, who co-wrote the "Scott Pilgrim" screenplay with Wright, now has a new movie coming out this week and gives you the perfect excuse to give "Scott Pilgrim" a second look. Separated from all the hype and inflated expectations, the movie stands up pretty well.
The Robert De Niro of the 70s and 80s, the actor of a generation, may be gone forever. His big budget efforts earn unintentional laughs, while his lower-budget films, like "Being Flynn," only receive middling reviews. It's bad enough to mourn an actor while he's still working, but then he has to go and stir up old memories by playing a cab driver in "Being Flynn." So instead of torturing yourself with visions of what we've lost, remember the good times with the Scorsese classic and one of the best movies of the 70s. Plus, it recently received a great restoration for a Blu-ray release.
As completely out there in their own world as Tim & Eric seem, their inspiration comes from one of the most famous comedy troupes of all time. The absurdist humor that Tim & Eric have carved out a niche with really came into fashion in the 1970s with "Monty Python's Flying Circus." The strangeness of Tim & Eric owes so much to Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Micahel Palin, even if it seems tame by today's standards.
What do you plan on watching this weekend? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!
