MADE

2001

This film reunites Jon Favreau and his buddy Vince Vaughn, in the second film written and directed by Favreau. The first film, "Swingers," gave an entire generation of acne-ed adolescent boys, enough "what-to-say-while-hitting-on-girls" jargon to get them through the first stages of their never-to-be-consummated dates. This one will give them "the right things to say" if they're planning to join the Mob! Vaughn and Favreau once again play losers (boxers this time) from L.A., who are sent to New York, by the local mob boss (played brilliantly by Peter Falk) to settle a "deal." Sean "Puff Daddy"(or whatever the hell he's calling himself this week) Combs, plays himself, a high-living criminal contact in New York. All that's missing is Mike Tyson as Father O' Shaunnessey! What Favreau has written (and directed) is the funniest movie of the year. He and Vaughn play the dumbest, most incompetent and idiotic wannabe thugs seen on screen since "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight." Favreau writes dialogue that is so realistic that it seems to be improvised, and nobody plays this kind of idiot better than Vaughn; he's absolutely brilliant. As my friend and I left the theater, we were thinking maybe 3-1/2 or 4 stars, but damn, I'm still laughing (and thinking) about so many of the scenes, that I'm raising it to 5 stars.

5 Stars

NJB

Take the two guys from Swingers, make them five years older, make them desperate with no jobs and then send them to Manhattan to do a "job" and this is the movie you'll get. Jon Favreau once again wrote the screenplay and directs himself and Vince Vaughn as two friends whose stupidity get them into trouble but in the end find their way to grow, even if just a little. The strong performances by Favreau and Vaughn combined with terrific dialogue Jon has written really make for a funny, enjoyable film. Vaughn is so good at playing a complete idiot that he really gets under you skin, though, so if you get annoyed with characters like that, this probably isn't the movie for you.

3.5 Stars

CDF

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