We know Steve Carell has been wanting to make the transition to full-time movie star for a while now and tonight the departure from TV becomes official as Michael Scott leaves "The Office" in an extended episode starting at 9pm. Thank you Steve for bringing Michael Scott to life. more ›

You know it's a slow week when crap like MacGruber heads the list. Like most Saturday Night Live movies, it's a funny 30-second idea that's ninety minutes too long. If Spread didn't pave the way for Ashton Kutcher's exit from Hollywood, surely Killers will, right? Yeah, nope. Solitary Man isn't a great film, but it's further proof that Michael Douglas somehow morphed from an overrated actor to an underrated one. Not being a huge box-office draw has served his talent well. Sure, The Office has steadily gone downhill since this high point. Still, it's better than every comedy on CBS. Whatever happened to the George Lucas that made THX 1138? more ›

Date Night wasn't a hilarious movie by any stretch (both The Office and 30 Rock are funnier), but it's the sort of mainstream comedy that the whole family can watch. While it was groundbreaking in the 80s, Max Headroom definitely shows some seams on the edges. Still, it's worth a look for curiosity's sake alone. There was no reason to re-make Death at a Funeral, and it rightly failed. Let's not bail out the producers and buy or rent the DVD of this needless film. Once upon a time the National Lampoon brand was worth something. Vacation hearkens back to a more prosperous and funnier time. Shame that it's gone. Who exactly is buying Graphic Sexual Horror and are tabs being kept on them? more ›

For a third consecutive weekend, Inception ruled the box office. The twisty thriller brought in $27.5M ($193.3M) to easily top the unbelievably horrible Dinner with Schmucks ($23.3M). Salt enjoyed a solid second week ($19.2M | $70.8M) while Despicable Me ($15.5M | $190.3M) continued to print money. Newcomer Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Pussy Galore ($12.5M) rounded out the top 5. more ›

The movie that you should see this weekend is Get Low. The movie you probably will see is Dinner for Schmucks. The movie that no one should (or will) see is Charlie St. Cloud. The movie that only kids should see is Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. The movie that makes you feel like you are taking medicine is The Dry Land. The movie that is entirely unnecessary is Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel. Sorry for the short post today. Blame jury duty! But see Get Low! more ›

In a huge surprise, the brilliantly subversive Despicable Me dominated the weekend box office ($60.1M), almost doubling the total of last week's winner The So-Called Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($33.4M | $237M). The surprisingly well-reviewed Predators placed a strong third ($25.3M), just ahead of the sturdy summer champ Toy Story 3 ($22M | $340.2M). The dismal Avatar: The Last Airbender collapsed in its second weekend but still raked in an undeserved $17.1M ($100.2M). more ›

Steve Carell gives an ever-expanding heart and heavily accented voice to the (initially) despicable villain Gru in the new animated film, Despicable Me. When we first meet our hero, er, villain, Gru’s having a bad, bad day. He’s just found out he has lost his title of World’s Best Villain to some newcomer named Vector (Jason Segel) and he’s not one to settle for second place. Vector bested Gru by stealing a giant pyramid from Egypt, so Gru hatches a plan to regain his title by stealing something treasured by every nation. The moon. more ›

Considering the former magnitude of her fame, it was expected that Jennifer Lopez's The Back-up Plan would at least eke out a box office victory this weekend. Nope! The little animated movie that could -- How To Train Your Dragon -- topped the charts for a second consecutive weekend ($15M | $178M), easily beating J-Lo's rancid "romantic comedy" ($12.2M). Date Night continues to chug along nicely despite not being nearly as funny as either The Office or 30 Rock ($10.6M | $63.4M). The Losers lived up to its title ($9.6M) but still managed to best the fantastic Kick-Ass ($9.5M | $34.8M). Note to parents: stop being such prudish losers (click it! click it! click it!) and bring your underage kids to see this superb and violent R-rated film! more ›

While most of the smart money had the godawful Clash of the Titans repeating as box office champ, it was the scrappy Date Night -- the middling movie that could -- which ultimately won the weekend. The marginally funny "comedy" hauled in $27.1M to best the marginally mythologically accurate Clash ($26.8M | $110.4M). The wonderful How to Train Your Dragon enjoyed a strong third weekend ($25.3M | $133.8M) while Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too cratered ($11M | $48.5M). In disquieting news, The Last Song was pretty solid ($10M | $42.4M). This means more Miley movies, America. Shame on you. more ›

As part of the target demographic for Shawn Levy's Date Night we felt that the set up of the movie humorously and effectively communicated what it is about the daily grind of marriage-with-children that can drive couples apart. The compromises one makes and the minor inconveniences can amount to something that isn't so minor. In recognition that their marriage might be in danger, Phil and Claire Foster, the couple in question, played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey (you'd have to be living in a box for the last 6 months to not know this), throw themselves into the evening that results in the hijinks that make up the body of the film. more ›

The presence of Tina Fey and Steve Carell gives me hope for Date Night, but the directorial hand of Shawn Levy really, REALLY worries me. I saw When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors at Sundance back in 2009 and, as a Doors fan, really dug all the previously unseen footage. Johnny Depp's newly recorded narration should improve an already solid film. The Australian The Square has been sitting on the shelf for awhile, but if comparisons to the Coen are valid, it should be fantastic. more ›

A photographer can get jaded pretty fast on the red carpet. Hour after hour, a steady stream of beautiful people smile and pose while you elbow big hairy guys under the hot sun. Soon, any time you travel and meet people who ask, "You live in Los Angeles? Do you see a lot of movie stars?" you kind of want to punch them in the face. But just kind of. more ›

Ever since seeing Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, I've thought that Jason Statham had a great screen presence. It's a damn shame that he doesn't make more movies like The Bank Job and less movies like Crank 2: High Voltage (although The Expendables looks like good fun). If you don't own Requiem for a Dream there is no excuse now as it is being offered for dirt-cheap on Blu-Ray. Ass to ass! Want to see a movie that you've probably never heard of and is remarkably beautiful? Try Silent Light. Homicide is a superb example of what a great writer David Mamet used to be before he descended into a parody of himself (State and Main, too!) more ›

It ain't Pixar, but . more ›

Given the choice of two-profile comedies, audiences chose had a dismal debut ($14M) and will struggle to be profitable. The Alba curse continues. more ›

For some reason one of the entries for this evening didn't make it into yesterday's Weekend Edition post and that is the Pick O' The Night: more ›

The most distressing thing about the ten worst movies of the year wasn't even the movies themselves. True, they were all extremely depressing--especially the "comedies"--but nothing was more deflating than the immense amount of money that so many of them made. Their runaway success ensures that 2008 will have no shortage of Grade-A shit. Having said that, here are my ten worst. I can't believe I couldn't find room for . more ›

Watching Nip/Tuck has always been a dirty and guilty pleasure. Season five of the show returns tonight on FX and McNamara/Troy are moving the business to our own Los Angeles (as if you haven't been pummeled incessantly by the promos for the last month, and particularly during the World Series). The overpromotion irritates me a bit because it can set up what has been a pretty good show for a fall. Since Nip/Tuck has always... more ›

To no one's surprise, . more ›

After the disaster that was . Carell stars as a widower who inadvertently falls in love with his brother's girlfriend--hey, who fucking hasn't?! Celebrated French hellcat, er, actress Juliette Binoche stars as said girlfriend (which is good). Dane Cook is the brother, though, which is bad. Which is awful. Which sucks so hard there's no way I'm seeing this movie. more ›

In an era of comedic atrocities like "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" it is important to go to the source of film comedy for a refresher on the fundamentals of on-screen hilarity. Hands down, the best place to get a taste of where comedy came from is the Silent Movie Theater. With screenings featuring film greats like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton it is a wellspring for classic cinema. more ›

Get this, there's another sequel coming out today. You're surprised, I know, I was too. Alas, in a summer of recycled story lines, the comedy genre takes center stage today with "Evan Almighty. With "The Office" on hiatus, I'm itching for some Steve Carell. He arrives, riding an ark, in time for your weekend. more ›

A Word or 56+/-: I guess Tuesday's are Ida Lupinow filmfests on TCM - why, god why? How about a Terry Thomas filmfest for effssake? If you want to watch new stuff tonight you'll have to head over to PBS. And hey, Colbert has a "surprise guest that rhymes with Steagle" tonight. Bugsy Siegel? Tonight - Tuesday - June 12th, 2007 Dodgers @ Jays (KCAL, 4:00 p.m.) Astros @ Angels (Fox Sports, 7:30 p.m.)... more ›

A Word or 68: At long last, The Sopranos takes its long walk off a short pier, "leave the gun, bring the cannoli" a famous gangster once said. The somewhat heavily promoted (color double spread NY Times) John From Cincinatti follows. Nicole Richie continues to make her last ditch appeals for favorable public opinion before she appears before a judge in the next month or so - watch the rich girl squirm. Tonight -... more ›

Any movie where Steve Carell plays a gay, suicidal professor who has proclaimed himself the world's #1 Proust scholar is okay by me. Actually, it's better than okay. Throw in Alan Arkin as a heroin-snorting grandfather (isn't it cool when old people do hard drugs?), Greg Kinnear as a would-be motivational speaker and Abigail Breslin as a little girl with dreams of child beauty pageant stardom, stuff them into a dilapidated Volkswagen bus along... more ›

LAist loves to point out great upcoming tv shows and shows that may not be so great, but worth a look anyway. We are just putting this out there, you call it. more ›