"The 40-Year Old Virgin" + "The Brothers Grimm"

"Virgin" AKA "Judd Apatow Gets To Make A Movie":

I wanted to see this as soon as I heard Judd "Co-Creator of 'Freaks&Geeks'" Apatow was writing/directing this movie. It was supposed to be about a nice guy--who has a collection of toys and lives a mediocre, non-exciting life--who just simply never really got to have sex. It's something that just never happened for him, but it's not really something that he thinks about. He just lives his life by himself, and works at an electronics store, and wathces 'Survivor' with his elderly neighbors. And, he has a framed poster of "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie" on his wall.

I just knew I had to see it.

The film was great: Every bit of casting was perfect....especially Seth Rogen. I've always liked him. Now, I've stated before that I really hate the "American Pie"/"Let's Get Laid" teenager movies that are only about sex and cheap humor and picture good-looking teens trying to have sex way before they are old enough. But, the subject of an average-looking guy in his 40s having his co-workers try to get him laid is different. (Somehow, it's different. There's still cheap humor jokes, though.) The movie covers a wide range, though....it goes from the "I've done that before!" opening scene, to the wild and wacky song and dance number at the end---that was halfway choreographed, but looked great b/c Seth Rogen didn't have a shirt on, and Paul Rudd is a horrible dancer.

"Grimm" AKA "Terry Gilliam Is Out There, Man":

The second of the double feature was "The Brothers Grim." I would say 'We all know the fairy tales,' but I should probably say 'I hope you guys know the fairy tales.' I know bits and pieces, but I never actually read the for-real Grimm fairy tales. Only the ones in which Bert and Ernie were the main characters. However, this movie is NOT just all the tales rolled together somehow. It's actually about how the Grimm brothers use folklore to create fake monsters to scare the townspeople, and then get hired to sort of 'exorcise' the town and get paid lots of money. Then.....turns out there is a real demon out there and they must use their resources to stop it. Sounds simple and Hollywood, huh? HERE's the kicker: It actually takes place in French-occupied Germany, and the French general is pissed off that the Germans are pissed off that they are being occupied, and he wants the Brothers Grimm to find out who is 'supposedly' perpetrating the 'fake' haunting, so that the townspeople will like him. See.....right here it's a different motive for saving the town..not a 'let's save the day' routine but a 'let's save the day or we lose our heads' routine. There's a bit of history in there somewhere.

The effects are more pretty than realistic, but the style is fast paced and looks very off-kilter like the production was rushed and they didn't even have time to set up the shot correctly. However, that's Terry Gilliam's style. Terry "The American Python [The animator]" Gilliam is a little out there. He's like Tim Burton, only menacing instead of magical. Much like "War Of The Worlds," I believe this movie deserves a "Very Strong PG-13" title, not just plain jane PG-13. It's a little scary, and graphic in parts......and actually I don't know how they even got away with some of the stuff here in 2005 (the age of PETA). The name "Grimm" immediately makes you think its fairy tale stuff for the family, but it should be marketed as scary stuff for the older crowd.

Nonetheless I thouroughly enjoyed both movies......you should too.