DVD Collectors Online

Meet Dave, a review by Rich

25/11

Meet dave



Meet Dave is a family space farce with enough Eddie Murphy slapstick to make the whole family chuckle. With elements of InnerSpace, Starman, Men in Black, and even a bit of Woody Allen's Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex, the film may not break new ground, but Murphy's giddy performance lifts the material to an engaging level. Murphy plays a space ship in human form, carrying wee aliens on an excursion to earth. As "Dave Ming Chang," he interacts with his surroundings and fellow humans by following the orders given by the ship's commanders inside his "head." It's an endearing fish-out-of-water yarn that riffs of pop culture as well as potty humor for its laughs. ("Lieutenant Bottoms, what is your status?" "Captain, we had a small gas leak. It was silent, but not deadly.")
In the course of his mission, Dave is hit by a car, becomes a substitute teacher in a New York City public school, and starts to develop feelings for earth kids--and ladies. All the while his homage to the Bee Gees, from the white suit to his high-pitch-perfect rendition of "Stayin' Alive," provides an oddly perfect backdrop and symbol for Dave's being ever so slightly behind the times. Murphy is engaging as always, firing off deadpan one-liners and happily being the straight man to the film's jokes. A potential love interest, Gina (Elizabeth Banks), mentions that her late husband was a captain in the Navy. Dave says, "I am a captain." Gina: "Oh really? A captain of what?" Inside Dave's head, the crewmembers frantically search their earth database to give him the answer: "I am a captain of crunch." --A.T. Hurley

Approached this with trepedation, but have to admit there are more than several laugh out loud moments. Some great gags, childish humour of course along the lines of fart jokes, but often the funniest, and his mimicking of other people is superb. This is not ground-breaking in any shape or form, and is shaped specifically for Eddie Murphys strengths (if you hate him don't buy it), I am embarrassed to admit I enjoyed the film. The concept is sound, and watching the development of the characters within the spaceship (Dave) is amusing.
It is not taxing, thought provoking, deep or meaningful, but nonetheless it is a really easy watch on a rainy morning such as today, so I have to give it a  



(From November Alphabet Marathon - Discussion/Review Thread on November 25th, 2008)

The Apple Dumpling Gang, a review by Dragonfire

---

The Apple Dumpling Gang

---

I remember seeing this one several times when I was growing up.  It had been years since the last time I saw it and I had forgotten a few things about the movie.  I still really enjoyed it.  It is a little silly in some scenes, but the silliness works really well with what is happening.  Amos and Theodore are extremely funny and they add the most humor to what is going on.  I really like them.  The plot isn't that complicated, but enough is going on to keep things interesting. 

Some things look a little dated in the movie now, but it is still very entertaining and fun.  It is definitely worth watching.



I did get a review posted on Epinions a few months ago after watching the movie.  I've been intending for this one to start my Movies Within My Lifetime marathon...I've just been forgetting to post about it.

The Apple Dumpling Gang

(From Marie's Random Movie Viewing on August 13th, 2011)

Wonder Woman, a review by addicted2dvd

Wonder Woman (2011/United States) Wonder Woman is an action drama about the dc comics icon, a vigilante crime fighter in L.A. who is also a successful corporate executive and a modern woman trying to balance all of the elements of her extraordinary life.

---

Stars:
Adrianne Palicki as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
Cary Elwes as Henry Johns
Elizabeth Hurley as Veronica Cale
Edward Herrmann as Senator Warren
Tracie Thoms as Etta Candy
Justin Bruening as Steve Trevor
Nancy Grace as Herself

Extras:

• Scene Access

I am so thrilled I got the chance to see this. After looking forward to a new series and then the studios canceling the series before it even started was a real disappointment for me. After watching it I remain disappointed. I could have seen myself really getting into this series. Though it definitely needed some tweaking. First of all I found that they made Wonder Woman too dark. She did what she had to do to get what she believed to be justice. This included not only putting people in the hospital... but as far as murder. Though she only killed those that was trying to kill her... it still don't seem right for the character. Then there is the way she uses her magic lasso... she used it on several occasions in this pilot... and every time she snagged the person around the neck with it. It is definitely gone a step too far in that matter.

Next we have her identity. While she still only has 2 identities literally... it feel like three. We have Wonder Woman... who is also known to the public world as Diana Themyscira who runs a big business that supports her going out to fight crime. Then finally there is Diana Prince... which is no more then a persona she uses to let her get away from things. Going to a small home elsewhere to be by herself (other then her cat Sylvester)... and that is all Diana Prince is in this series.

Now I want to talk a little about the costume. We have debated what version of the costume we liked better... and that debate was all for nothing. Why? Because all the versions exist in this series! Yes she has more then one costume... which she wears depending nothing more then on her mood. So it is not like in the classic Lynda Carter Wonder Woman where there was one for everyday use, One for motorcycle riding and one for swimming. She just grabs whatever costume she is in the mood to wear. And yes... this includes the classic look with the short shorts!

Jet... Yes!... Invisible... No! We do see Wonder Woman flying around in her little jet. But this jet is not invisible. I don't know... possibly their plan was to give the jet a cloaking ability so that it could appear invisible in future episodes... but this is something we will never know. Also the jet is really very small. Almost pod-like only big enough for her alone to fly in.

What did I think of Adrianne Palicki in the title role? I liked her much better then I did in the promo photos we saw of her. While I would have still liked to seen someone else... someone like Eliza Dushku in the role... I could have enjoyed watching her Adrianne Palicki in the role with no problem at all. I really liked who they chose to play Steve Trevor. The got Justin Bruening to play him. He is the guy that played Michael Knight in the reboot of the Knight Rider series.

The story itself was interesting... definitely kept my attention. Wonder Woman is going after Veronica Cale, a Lex Luthor like character, who is putting out a dangerous steroids type drug to some ghetto sports kids which is killing the kids. She is trying to create a formula to make super-soldiers. I found to be entertaining but definitely in the need of some polishing. Over-all a good attempt at a new series... but watching this I can see why they refused the pilot. I just wish they would have polished it up... change a few things... then maybe they would have something they could have aired.



(From Addicted2dvd's Random TV Series Watched on July 28th, 2011)