Moonrise Kingdom

Justin: I liked this movie. Wes Anderson is such a master of color and visual tableaux. He has really mastered the art of storybook framing and visual story telling, using quick camera pans to frame up shots at 90 degree angles that strike me as very innovative. Moonrise Kingdom is a story about romance and adventure, full of flawed, likable characters and excitement. There are echos of some of his previous works here. The scouts, for instance, remind me of the jr. military feel that was exhibited by the students at Rushmore. Everyone has their own job, and it's fun to see the kids put on airs. The main arc of the story, a sort of star crossed lovers theme, is reminiscent of the hideout in the museum from Royal Tenenbaums. There are cartoonish elements that take me back to Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anyway, it's fun and I could see myself, as a teen, really feeling for these two runaway characters. Let's talk about casting. Anderson must have one incredible rolodex. Again he assembles a genius cast. Willis is perfect. Norton is also pretty great. Bill Murray: he's a damn genius as usual. Swinton is great too, if a little short on screen time. The two teenage leads are also charming and headed for great things. Tie it up with some great music and quirky, lovable characters, just the right amount of drama and comedy, put a bow on it and call it a classic. Now, is this to say it's Anderson's best film? Probably not, but it's a welcome addition to the collection.

Chels: Is it weird that I have an overwhelming desire to watch all Wes Anderson movies with my eyes closed and just listen to the soundtrack? Wes Anderson has an uncanny way of imbedding perfectly heartfelt and appropriate music into each of his movies, and I really appreciate that.  He really treats the music like an essential character, he knows that music can be more compelling than any performance by even the most talented of actors. I personally feel that recent Wes Anderson movies have been on a decline. This could mostly be to blame because of my skewed view in regards to Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic, Royal Tenenbaums is without a doubt my favorite Wes Anderson movie. Even Life Aqautic barely comes close to eclipsing my love for Royal Tenenbaums. Since I'm not a huge Jason Schwartzman fan, his latest movies which feature him prominently usually don't register on my radar. Darjeeling Limited and The Fantastic Mr. Fox were not my favorites, although Fantastic Mr Fox's animation is superb. But the child/adolescent driven cast of Moonrise Kingdom did a great job of capturing, what I believe to be, the true Wes Anderson spirit. That spirit of rebelling, of setting out on your own and not sticking to the socially accepted norm, the spirit of free thinking, of being a true individual. Justin is spot on about the cinematography, Wes Anderson has it down to a science.  He knows what we want, and continuously delivers those quintessential 'Wes Anderson' pans and shots that make you leave the theater cursing him for making it all look so easy.   It is safe to say that Moonrise Kingdom will become a staple in the Wes Anderson canon.  But, I'm still longing for something that will make Royal Tenebaums look like childs play.

Prometheus

Chels: Justin and I had been looking forward to Prometheus for months now. Both of us being Ridley Scott fans, there was definitely some inflated expectations. I happen to be a HUGE fan of Scott's original Alien, with Aliens being it's more campy red headed stepchild. So, the news of a prequel to one of my favorite horror movies was expected to be one of the highlights of the summer movie season. Sadly, Prometheus failed to live up to what I wanted/needed it to be. It lacked the big-punch-jump-out-of-your-seat moments that make Alien so great. And the utter stupidity of some of the main characters is both infuriating and insulting (you're exploring a planet in deep space, KEEP YOUR HELMET ON YOU IDIOT). Space stupidity aside, I do think you should go see this movie.  But you have to know your Alien and Aliens respectively in order to fully appreciate it and grasp the movie's entire scope.  Side note: This movie keeps my horrible track record of instantly liking who ever will inevitably be horribly murdered first alive. It's a curse, if I like your character, you're definitely go to die in some terribly gruesome way, and I'll be bummed. Sigh.  (This happens most when watching Top Chef, or any cooking related show.  If I pick you as my main person, boom, you're immediately going home for using puff pastry dough or for doing shitty front of the house.)

Justin: Prometheus is a pretty decent sci fi flick. I had super high expectations for the following reasons: Ridley Scott taking the helm of arguably his greatest franchise, explaining the mystery of the alien in the cockpit of the ship in the first film, and finally the origins of one of sci fi's scariest monsters. Visually, this film did not disappoint. Massive in scale, painted in dark grey and steel blue. The technology created is really awe inspiring. Where this film loses me is the story. You've got your typical space gang of serious scientists and foul mouthed crew members. One thing that was missing was Sigorney Weaver's powerful acting chops, leaving much of the drama a little flat. I don't know how much I can say without spoiling everything, but the main thing that bugs me is that the franchise is called Alien, and if this prequel is canon, they should probably rethink that. This movie has been in the works for over a decade, changing hands multiple times and surviving multiple script revisions. The final twist was put together by none other than Damon Lindelof, who is know for writing stories that fascinate, but ultimately leave off with a resounding "huh?" This is a movie I would say is much better in a theater. We saw it in 3D, and it's got such an epic scope that it's really something on the big screen. The drama/horror aspects kind of work too, but will probably seem ho hum on the small screen. You can just feel the rewrites and revisions, the sewn together story elements from different drafts that feel disjointed and awkward. These are quibbles, really, but I was expecting a masterpiece. Some wasted potential, but it's still a pretty entertaining movie.

Pearls Deluxe Burger

Justin: Let me tell you a little story. For my birthday a few years ago, Chels had bought us tickets to see Conan O’Brien at the Masonic Center. The condition was that I pick a place to go to dinner beforehand. I chose Pearl’s Deluxe Burger, only a few blocks down the hill. As we walked up to the place, Chels was convinced that this little hole in the wall burger place would be a let down. I had heard otherwise, but seeing the tiny burgerstand, I also had my doubts. We ate. It was a revelation, at least for me. I remember stepping out and thinking, “what a cool neighborhood?” A few months later, we moved just two blocks away. That’s how good those burgers are. This article is about the Post St. location, not the new one on Market which I’ve yet to try. Here’s the drill: they have fresh gourmet buns delivered daily. They have the absolute best meat, allowing you to upgrade to Buffalo if you’re into that. The menu is simple. Burger’s, toppings, fries, sweet potato fries, a huge variety of milkshakes, soda, your standard burger fare. It’s so damn good though. Sometimes simple is better. The burgers are huge and juicy, and are always hooked up with the quality extras. Unlimited free pickle spears? Check. The shakes are also damn good, but they shorten my lifespan by a few months each time. I most always get the Bomb Burger, an open face chili/cheese burger. I’m also quite down with the “spries” mix of fries and sweet potato fries. Here’s the drill: with more than two or three people, do not plan to eat in. It’s freaking tiny. For bigger groups call in your order ahead and carry out. These burgers are enormous and delicious. They used to be open until 3AM, but those days are sadly over. Pearl’s is cheaper than Denny’s, but clearly superior to a lot of “fancy” restaurant burger’s I’ve experienced in my day. This place has become another one of those “you have to go here” places for people who come to visit us out of town. I might just have to indulge in one of these right now. Conan was awesome, by the way.

Chels: How is it possible that we don't have a review for Pearls yet? Justin and I come here all of the time, and when we're not physically there stuffing our burger loving faces to capacity we're raving about it to anyone who will listen. "Oh you haven't heard of Pearls? Well then let me take you and show you what you've been deprived of your entire life." - and by take you there I completely mean let-you-buy-me-a-burger-because-you're-just-so-grateful-that-I-expanded-your-burger-horizons. Pearl's is located DANGEROUSLY close to my apartment and I find myself coming up with excuses to eat here more and more frequently. "Whats that? It's Thursday?! Well I gotta go to Pearls!" "Whats that now? It's raining?!? Well I should go to Pearls." "WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?? OBAMA APPROVES OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE?? Well now I'm definitely going to Pearls." I have two burgers that I rotate between. The first, The Prized Pearl, comes with blue cheese crumbles, mushrooms, bacon, and lettuce - hold all that other bells and whistles - I like my burgers like I like my whiskey, DRY. My other staple burger is the Pearls Deluxe with bacon and American cheese (stop judging me, it totally 'real cheese'). Their garlic fries can not be beat. Hands down the best fries in the City. I would horrible, horrible things for those fries. HORRIBLE, so don't ask me, okay fine, I'll do it. If you've got a sweet tooth do not miss out on their shakes, specifically my favorite, Mint Oreo. I just want to dunk my face in a giant vat of this milky, creamy, minty goodness. Hmmm, that gives me an idea ... So, now my reviews done, guess I should, go to Pearl's? **I would answer that rhetorical question, but now my mouth is full of cheeseburger.**

Marvel's The Avengers

Chels: Let's just get this out of the way now. I think it's sooo incredibly lame that Chris Evans was re-cast as Captain America. It infuriates me actually. YOU ALREADY USED HIM, HE PICKED HIS MARVEL CHARACTER. Granted, it was the Human Torch (booo) whom only appeared in the Fantastic 4 franchise (suuucks). But still, once you cashed that check there's no do overs. Now, I fully understand he was already on their pay roll, and I'm not saying that he doesn't make a good Captain America (he is bad ass), but I just think it's shows such a lack of effort by the studio, when they just cherry pick an actor that they already used and re-use him for a different character. < end of rant > But The Avengers was a fantastic movie (see what I did there). I would enthusiastically recommend this movie to any and everyone. Justin and I saw it in 3-D, which definitely made some of the epic intergalactic fight scenes immensely better. Everything's better with an extra dimension, right? The main standout for me, and what has me the most excited for Avenger spin off movies, is Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. I looove me some Mark Ruffalo (13 Going on 30, anyone?), glad to see he's getting some work. And his Hulk is awesome. I don't even want to compare him to Eric Bana's Hulk - we all know that was shit-tastic. And Ed Norton's Hulk just makes me sad, or maybe that's because I was forced to look at Liv Tyler's droopy dog face throughout the entirety of the movie. Who knows, either way, Mark Ruffalo is waaaaaaay better. Thinking back on it, all of my favorite parts from The Avengers include The Hulkster (some others include Chris Hemsworth, but that's mostly because he's beautiful). There are some great one liners in this movie, it's wonderfully written. Serious enough to get points across, but it's completely conscious of itself - which I believe allows it to tap into a fresh vein when it comes to attempting to create a successful action/comedy franchise. It goes without saying that this is an action movie, but I also find it to be extremely witty. Combine the brilliant writing with some great actors/performances and you get what is sure to be THE blockbuster movie to beat this summer.  CHELS SMASH!

Justin: Oh man, what a movie. Not surprised this movie broke some records. It’s the first real summer blockbuster of the year in my opinion, and people were ready for something big. Hunger Games was good, this is freaking epic. Say what you will about Joss Whedon. I’m pretty down with some his stuff, but I’m not super into Buffy or Firefly. Firefly is good stuff but I never watched them back to back. This project is a perfect fit for him, and the screenwriting is goddamn amazing. Funny, action packed, thrilling, vertigo inducing and produced on a massive scale from beginning to end. I really think he did the franchise justice. It’s too good. There’s so much character to learn, so many balls in the air, so many different threads in the action. How he managed to weave this altogether is almost miraculous to me, as a writer. Where do I start? Ruffalo, dude. Thor? Iron Man? There’s too much I could say about this, but I’m not spoiling anything here. If you’re a fan of Marvel's (or should I say Disney’s) recent fare, you’ll be right at home with the characters. It’s so fun to see the heroes match up and clash as they find each other faced with a terrifying situation. As they grow to trust each other, they work together and save each other in what ends up being such an inspiring tale of teamwork and beating the odds it almost makes me misty. Yeah. I loved it. I might see it again. Sorry to gush, I guess I forgot to criticize anything. This movie has not one, but two, post credit scenes. The reveal in the first of these scenes made my inner comic book nerd cream so hard I’m embarrassed to confess it. Chels was like “who’s that?” The second post credit scene? Stick around and check it out.

Sushi Zen

Chels: There is no possible way for me to convey the awesomeness of Sushi Zen. Both words and pictures will always fail to do it justice. So many countless good times have been had in Sushi Zen. Many a date night has ended with Justin and I rolling ourselves down Taraval to our old apartment (it should be noted that Sushi Zen is the #1 thing I miss from my old neighborhood).  I have a yearly tradition of consuming sushi and imbibing sake on my birthday, three of the last 5 have been at Sushi Zen. While Sushi Zen is amazing both day and night, the lunch specials are what really push this place from awesome-hole-in-the-wall-sushi to BLOW-YOUR-MIND-BEYOND-DELICIOUS-BARGAIN-SUSHI (obviously you can infer from that I am cheap, and enjoy not spending money - or is that Justin?). The lunch specials offered are out of this world, both in flavor and cheapness. Being located across from a high school does have its perks for Sushi Zen, they have a virtually endless line of little groms waiting for food around lunch time (AVOID PEAK LUNCH HOURS 12 PM - 1 PM), it can get a little crowded during this time, but nothing you haven't seen before (remember, you live in San Francisco). But it's thanks to these little brats that the lunch special prices are so insanely affordable. I almost don't want to tell you about the specials, but with all this development that would just be bad form, but I don't want this little secret getting out. I trust you, but only you, so don't go blabbing about this to your interweb friends. HUGE BENTO BOXES - $7 (Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Ca. Roll, Miso Soup, Salad)  DOUBLE SUSHI ROLLS - $7 (Super Dynamite + Shrimp Tempura)  TEMPURA UDON BOWLS -$7 (they give you soup BEFORE your soup)  The list goes on and on really, something for everyone at a price for every budget.But if/when you make it out to Sushi Zen (I will admit that it's officially in the boons) be sure to do yourself a favor and order the Winter Wonderland roll. This roll is incredibly delicious and original to Sushi Zen. No other roll has ever tasted as good, or been as filing as the Winter Wonderland. PS - THEY GIVE YOU FREE ICECREAM. FREE ICE CREAM.

Justin: Another mainstay during our Parkside days, Sushi Zen is one of my favorite sushi restaurants of all time. It’s a hole in the wall, nothing to write home about from the décor standpoint. Yellow walls and hundreds of photos of satisfied sushi fanatics plaster most every open surface in the place. They have a small sushi bar and a very friendly chef who will happy take a shot of sake with whomever. This place is right around the corner from a high school, so every day it over run by a thousand punk high school kids. This means one thing: awesome, cheap lunch special menu. Also don’t go there at noon on a weekday. The lunch menu is awesome. They a have a shrimp tempura/dynamite roll combo for less than 8 bucks that’s an incredible value.They also have cheap bento boxes which are a common choice of mine. If you go in the evening, the selection is a little more expensive, but still cheap compared to a lot of the “theme” sushi restaurants in the city. Here’s what makes it stand out: the sushi. This place knows how to make a fat, tasty, perfect roll. Try the WinterWonderland roll. Shrimp tempura inside, crab and some kind of teriyaki sweet sauce and tobiko on top. Incredibly decadent and delicious. For the longest time it was 9.99, now I think it’s a few bucks more. Worth it. This was a go to place when we lived on Taraval, and we make a point to stop in whenever we head back that way. Hell, it’s the main excuse we have for going to Parkside, period. Free Ice Cream is not a myth. Just wait. It always appears magically, right when everyone is ready to hit the door and heavily laden with some of the finest, most affordable sushi in the whole of San Francisco. Almost cruel! If given a choice, I recommend the mango.

Hunger Games: The Movie

Chels: Let's get his out of the way now, I have been obsessed with this book series for months now. And much to Justin's annoyance I have relentlessly been trying to get Justin to read it. But blah blah blah, he hasn't, and will pay dearly for it - but that's another story. So obviously I was one of those people that advance ordered tickets to opening night and for weeks have anxiously been crossing days off my calendar. The Hunger Games depicts a semi-post-apocalyptic dis-utopian society wherein the rich and privileged relish their most sacred yearly televised event of the same name. But in this game you don't win by being the biggest skank, or eating the most cockroaches, or even having the best (worst) voice in all the land. No, in this game you compete for you life, and only your wits or brute strength will save you. All of the 12 Districts of Panem must offer up 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 12 and 18 in Tribute to fight to the death inside The Hunger Games. If you have been living under a rock the past few months there is a chance you might not have already absorbed this information, but for the rest of you, I'm going to spare you my in-depth description of the structure and plot line of Hunger Games the novel (that's a whole other review, right Squid?). So, you're either a girl, in which case you more than likely have read Hunger Games (didn't you just love it?), or you're a dude and think it's a chick book and can't get past the first few pages were Katniss describes her cat, Buttered Stuff, uh, Butternuts, wait, wait, I mean BUTTER CUP!! Either way, you should be happy to know that the movie does in fact do a good job of staying true to the book - well, as much as any multi million dollar blockbuster book-to-screen-adaptation can. Jennifer Lawrence does a wonderful job portraying Katniss Everdeen. I've loved her since Winter's Bone and playing young Mystique in the latest X-Men movie didn't hurt either. She is amazing and I can really see her successfully stepping into this characters shoes and carrying her story through all 3 books of the series. Josh Hutcherson gets the job done as Peeta Mellark, but he wouldn't have been my first choice casting wise. I think he has the chops to carry this character where he eventually needs to go, but he's a little too baby-faced and , cough, short , to really make me believe he was born to be Peeta. Gale, ohhh Gale on the other hand, yeeooowzaaa. I could look at Liam Hemsworth alllll daaay, but then I start to hear "IT'S MILEY" and I have to instantly cringe when I realize I'm oogling Miley Cyrus's man candy. Uuugh. Like I said, I love these books. So it was really annoying/obvious when an element completely diverted from what was described in the original. Example: if something is described as GOLD, it obviously should NOT be gun metal grey. If someone is described as being unique with BLUE EYES, don't make them brown - it makes you look stupid. All in all I definitely left satisfied. My hunger had be abated (see what I did there), at least until the next movie. AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!

Justin: Who’s hungry! I read the first 11% of this book on my phone. I read about three pages and then got dismayed about the interaction with the cat. This scene actually made it into the movie. The scene where Catnip refuses to eat with utensils at the fancy banquet, did not. That’s where I stopped. By then, I knew that this headstrong young huntress was the biggest Mary Sue in the history of early 21st literature. Sorry KStew. Chels booked tickets far, far in advance of the release. I knew I was to witness the spectacle that is The Hunger Games: The Movie the Prequel to the Next Two Movies. Apparently this trilogy is so addictive that people usually get through the first three books by the time they finish sitting down. Our movie going experience, at the wonderful Kabuki Theater, was excellent. Assigned seats in the drinking section, although we didn’t drink for some reason. All the girls had read the books. None of the dudes, straight or gay, had read any of them. We were all in the same boat. My friend Pat and I walked through Japantown and sipped a tall can so all the kids who already knew how this movie ended could speak freely without ruining anything. Gosh, maybe I should talk about this movie. I had a feeling all through this movie that our neo-Appalachian heroine was never in any real danger. “She’s gonna live,” I whispered. “No! You can’t know that, you never read it.” said Chels. Mary Sues don’t die, Chels. Unless it’s The Lovely Bones, and even then they get to dance around with their grandpas in Lisa Frank heaven and peep on their little sisters. Right: Hunger Games. This is a good movie! 2012 has mostly sucked for movies, and this is a bright spot. I thought it was pretty well made, and well paced. It’s a great story, really. Solid B. Love that girl from Winter’s Bone. I thought it was funny how her hunky hunter dudefriend was hiding an Australian accent while she tried to hide her Southern accent. The baker kid is decent. This movie sucks so hard at first. It takes place in a futuristic world where Tim Gunn and Ronald McDonald conquered the fashion industry. Woody is so drunk. SPOILER ALERT: No, Woody does not vomit off of the stage like he does in the book. Of the 11% I read, that was my favorite part and I was looking forward to it. How could they take that part out? Actually, I surmise they took all the good stuff out, as many school marms mumbled, shoving past each other towards the exit when the credits rolled. Chels assures me it makes some smart compromises and represents the book well enough. This film. Like Ben Hur in its multi-colored grandure. Tucci, a masterful highlight for me. Oh my, the blushing embarrassment! Creepy Donald Sutherland President, who has weird smiling eyes when he talks about teens killing each other. I want to get away, I want to get away. Yeah, Lenny Kravitz. That firey dress. And then, she meets a handsome prince and lives in a castle with her million pet pony’s and eats ice cream without getting fat. No, actually she hides in the woods and acts like a little sneak for the whole movie when the rich kids get all Lord of the Flies. Gentlemen, Ladies, there is a lot of really excellent science fiction out there. This film, this trilogy, I hope, will entice a young generation of women away from the tawdry world of vampire fiction and instead into the geeky yet welcoming arms of Heinlein, Asimov and Niven. The universe would be a better place. Anyway, I, for one, would really like to see how Prim faired out there. With a name like Primrose Everdeen she’s got to be a stone cold murderer. Thanks a lot Catnip, now we’ll never know.

John Carter

Justin: John Carter has been around for 100 years, but you probably didn’t know that. You might recognize his slightly more primitive cousin, fellow Burroughs creation Tarzan – Man of the Apes. To say John Carter is the proto-type science fiction hero is a huge understatement. There is no doubt in my mind that Lucas was a fan of this work, as the commonalties are unavoidable. Let’s face it, everything ERB came up with in those books (of which there are many, and the movie borrows from several of them) has become a part of modern science fiction. From light sabers to teleporting to saving the princess to Ancient Aliens, it’s all there. Or should I say, it’s been there for 100 years collecting dust in the Adolescent section of the library. Disney made a smart move modernizing this franchise. I wish they had called it “John Carter of Mars” because the title John Carter makes it sound like it could be about real estate fraud or struggles with impotence. You better believe this movie takes place on Mars. (Editor’s note – Despite being from Earth, “John Carter of Mars” is his official title.) It starts out kind of steam punk western, and then gets extremely space opera. It’s pretty grand to watch, but we skipped the 3D this time. Mistake? Probably. Mars’s low gravity lets John basically own everyone and anything he comes across in almost cartoonish action sequences that are really something to behold. Now, can I give this movie a perfect review? No. Like Watchmen, there is no way to stick with the early 20th century conventions found in the text or deviate from them without angering someone. It’s a catch 22. Keeping Burroughs’s character as the “inheritor of his dead uncle’s manuscripts” as a story vehicle is SO 1912, but I found it charming. It’s sexist as heck, too. Also, who is this guy and why isn’t it James Franco? Chels hated this movie, but she liked his “weird worm dog” sidekick.

Chels: Don't call Bryan Cranston a "weird worm dog" Justin, he'll go all Walter White on your ass. But he wasn't a "weird worm dog" dude, he was a "super space worm dog", c'mon. I had zero knowledge of who John Carter was before seeing this movie. All I knew was that Justin was pumped about, which means it could go either way, and that it was a Disney movie, which since it wasn't animation, meant it would definitely suck. Willem Dafoe lends his voice to this crazy-horned-wanna-be-Na'vi-Mars-alien-tribal-chief, which is cool. But his people have some weird rules, not cool. Oh and they lay eggs, weird. But they are on Mars, so I guess that makes it cool. While there were some pretty cool things, I won't lie - it's mostly just the super cool space worm dog, in my opinion John Carter had some serious flaws that I just couldn't get past. Poor Justin, this always happens to him. He'll drag me to some movie that I know will be horrible, I try to explain to him why this movie will suck. He's an educated man, capable of rationalized decisions right? Wrong. Poor Justin. inevitably there is a moment in each of these movies he forces me to see, where I can turn to him and just stare, not saying a word. The stare says it all. "Are you serious?" "This shit right here?" "This is all your fault." This movies moment can be summed up in just one state, err, word. "VIRGINIA"

Wanderlust

Justin: I grew up watching the State. I love Wet Hot American Summer. So when I heard Relativity Media was producing a spiritual follow-up to WHAS, but set on free-love commune starring Paul Rudd, well, I wanted to dip my balls in it. I think that once you’ve done comedy for as long as David Wain and the other State alumni, you have to keep upping the ante. Maybe comedy is like a drug, and a dose that would kill a first time user is your Tuesday night. This movie is an acid-test. I’m not sure if I passed. This is strong stuff. Wanderlust has an amazing cast. They just keep coming, star after star, from Alan Alda to Jordan Peele. Anyone who has seen Reno 911 or Children’s Hospital will recognize most all of the players. It suffers from a common problem with large ensemble casts: lots of characters, little depth. So much raunch. So much. I enjoyed the hippie commune satire that was going on (grew up in Santa Cruz, remember, so this was familiar territory for me.) It’s peppered with absolutely hilarious scenes from comic actors at the top of their game, like a few local news parodies with the cast of Stella. Wain is the weather guy. I think the idea of tuning in and dropping out is just as cogent today as it was in the Summer of ’69. Free love doesn’t always crack up the way it’s supposed to, however, and our characters find this out the hard way. It’s hard to tell just who this movie is ribbing most: boring suburbanite stiffs, urban corporate wanks or new age hippie baby boomers and their weird friends. It basically says that they all pretty much suck, which leaves the film devoid of any philosophical message. Usually this kind of catharsis stands out in Apatow’s other productions. For me, the most memorable part is probably Rudd’s mirror pep talk to himself. That, and Joe Lo Troglio’s junk.

Chels: Let's just get right to it. This movie sucks. I only slightly feel bad saying that. I'm usually the girl who pulls for that new Jennifer Aniston movie that's coming out, even though I know it's going to suck so freaking bad. For all the movies she makes I keep waiting for another Good Girl or Office Space, but it's just not happening. Oh, and she needs to fire her make up artist - post haste. I ended up really loathing her character at the end of this movie, she's no where near good enough for my Paul. Justin is right about one thing. All the best moments of Wanderlust happen during Paul Rudd's mirror pep talk. Genius, disturbing, but genius. Wait, actually Ken Marino has some pretty great moments too. Marino plays Rudd's uber yuppie douchebag older brother, who's mother clearly did things to him that she did not do to Rudd. There's also a pretty great scene with Marino's tweeny asshole son. My advice would be to skip it, just like most Jennifer Aniston movies.