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Academy Award-winning Canadian director James Cameron, renowned for being uncompromising in his art, is one of the most innovative filmmakers of the post-New Hollywood era. An idealistic perfectionist, Cameron’s attention to realism and detail, technological ingenuity, and visceral viewing experience has carved out a name for himself in the film industry as an auteur who pushes the boundaries of cinematic capability. A master of technical craft, he truly stands in a class of his own for his unique filmmaking style that includes genre-spanning work, epic, and lofty ambitions, resonating deep human emotions, and the use of novel technologies.

Best known for his groundbreaking visual effects, breathtaking worldbuilding, and engaging storytelling, his larger-than-life creations, typically epic sci-fi films such as The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986), Titanic (1997), and Avatar (2009), explore the conflicts between intelligent machines and humanity or nature, technologically advanced imperial culture, the dangers of corporate greed, and environmental conservation and protection.

Raunchy rom-com There's Something About Mary is climbing the streaming chart, currently sitting at number six on Hulu. Starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, the comedy was directed by the Farrelly Brothers (Peter and Bobby), and became a massive smash hit when it premiered in July 1998. The film went on to earn nearly $370 million at the global box office against a $23 million production budget. It currently sits at a positive 84% critical and, surprisingly, only 61% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Following the success of Dumb and Dumber in 1994, and, to a lesser extent, Kingpin in 1996, the Farrelly Brothers went to work on There's Something About Mary, which starred Stiller as Ted, Diaz as Mary, and Matt Dillon as Healy. Years after a disastrous high school date with his crush Mary (you have to see it to believe it), Ted gets another chance years later when his best friend Dom (Chris Elliott) suggests he find her.

Jackie Chan, a global superstar of martial arts cinema, is famous not only for his fighting ability but also for his unique blend of physical comedy. Beginning his career in some of the best kung fu films, Chan soon realized that blending slapstick and funny dialogue with traditional martial arts would make him stand out from other action heroes. Chan’s signature style changed the game, making him an international superstar by elevating an entirely new genre of action-comedy. Jackie Chan's intense action stunts, mixed with his lightheartedness, made martial arts films more appealing to a wider audience.

His best characters, such as the straight-laced detective Lee in Rush Hour (1998) and the drunken kung fu master Wong Fei-hung in Drunken Master (1978), also showcase Chan’s ability to adapt to any role and perform basically any skill. Evading punches with a wide grin or taking a lashing headfirst while performing a split.

On Saturday 30 November 2024, ITV broadcasts The Jonathan Ross Show!

Special Guests Season 2: Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” titled “Special Guests,” promises to be a delightful trip down memory lane. This episode will air on ITV and will highlight some of the most memorable moments from the recent series. Fans of the show can look forward to a collection of clips featuring a star-studded lineup of guests.

Among the special guests featured in this episode are global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and the beloved Spice Girls. The episode will also showcase the comedic talents of Lee Evans and the musical prowess of Ed Sheeran. Hollywood star Emily Blunt will make an appearance, along with sports legends such as Rio Ferdinand and Thierry Henry. The charming Dame Joanna Lumley will also be part of the mix, adding her unique flair to the show. Lastly, the talented...

On Saturday 16 November 2024, ITV broadcasts The Jonathan Ross Show!

Special Guests Season 2: Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Jonathan Ross Show,” titled “Special Guests,” promises to be a delightful trip down memory lane. This episode will showcase some of the most unforgettable moments from recent series, highlighting the charm and humor that Jonathan Ross brings to the stage.

Viewers can look forward to appearances from a star-studded lineup. The episode features iconic guests such as Madonna, known for her groundbreaking music and captivating performances. Comedian Lee Evans will bring his unique brand of humor, while Jennifer Hudson is set to impress with her powerful voice. The show also includes pop sensation Perrie Edwards, rock legend Liam Gallagher, and Hollywood star Richard Gere, each adding their own flair to the mix.

Additionally, the episode will highlight the wit of Lily Allen and the comedic talents of Frank Skinner. Dance...

The Jonathan Ross Show is back for its second season, titled “Special Guests.” This exciting episode will take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, highlighting some of the most unforgettable moments from recent series. Fans of the show can look forward to a mix of laughter, music, and heartfelt conversations as Jonathan Ross welcomes a star-studded lineup of guests.

Among the special guests featured in this episode are iconic figures like Madonna and Liam Gallagher, who are sure to bring their unique flair to the show. The lineup also includes the talented Jennifer Hudson, the hilarious Lee Evans, and the charming Richard Gere. Each guest promises to share their stories and experiences, making it a night to remember.

In addition to these legends, viewers will also see performances and chats with pop sensation Perrie Edwards, the witty Lily Allen, the ever-entertaining Frank Skinner, and the talented dancer Johannes Radebe. With...

Italian horror film “Monkey Boy” from director Antonio Monti and starring Giampiero Bartolini, Gianni Fantoni, Giovanna Gardelli is coming to Bayview Entertainment. A freak lived his entire lifetime closed down in a cellar far in the country. But one day the Monkey Boy, after the death of his “keeper”, an old lonely woman, is forced …

The post Official Trailer for Giallo film, “Monkey Boy” Coming Soon from Bayview Entertainment appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Of all the protagonists in the shonen genre, Goku carved his niche as a resilient hero. From his training obsession to his ginormous appetite, the Monkey Boy is truly iconic. This also extends to his character development and growth throughout the series. His determination outweighs his pitfalls and shortcomings in the series. And there’s more to it.

Son Goku in a still from the Dragon Ball series | Credit: Toei Animation

According to a fan theory, the Kakarot might be an allusion to something bigger. While most Saiyan names are vegetable puns, the theory speculates a profound reasoning behind it. It could be linked to the hero’s hidden potential as well as a shadowy self as the theory suggests.

Kakarot is an allusion to the shadowy self according to this theory

It is a known fact that most pure-blooded Saiyans are named after vegetables. Be it Broly, Bardock, or Vegeta,...

R-rated comedies push boundaries with raunchy humor & compelling narratives that stand the test of time. Iconic directors like Mel Brooks & Judd Apatow revolutionized the genre with their unique humor. Movies like American Pie, There's Something About Mary, & Superbad are among the best R-rated comedies ever made.

With the freedom to depict sex and violence and little restriction on using vulgar language, R-rated comedies push the boundaries of audience expectations to produce some of the funniest movies ever made. While this often leads to crude and vulgar humor, thats not to say that all R-rated comedies were shocking for the sake of it, and plenty were also categorized by sincerity and vulnerability as they told compelling narratives that have stood the test of time. From satirical classics of decades past to recent laugh-out-loud misadventures, R-rated comedies have left their mark on the cinematic landscape.

Some of the funniest movies ever made were rated R,...

Jackie Chan is a legend, the actor has forged his career mastering the genre of action comedy making his way into Hollywood. However, the actor also has faced certain roadblocks in some of his movies as they were not so impressive both at the box office and critical perspective.

Jackie Chan’s The Medallion

It is hard to walk past bumpy roads, Chan’s The Medallion faced a similar fate but it was primarily due to the director, Gordon Chan failing to recognize one fatal mistake. So, despite Chan being on board, the movie met with fatal doom.

The Reason Why Jackie Chan’s The Medallion Failed

Jackie Chan in The Medallion

Jackie Chan is certainly one of the greatest action stars currently working in the industry. The actor started his acting journey in the 1960s and appeared in over 150 films in his illustrious career with his celebrated titles including Who Am I?...

Director Peter Farrelly reveals there was an abandoned sequel to the iconic '90s comedy There's Something About Mary starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz, potentially titled There's Something Else About Mary.

One half of the filmmaking duo known as the Farrelly Brothers, Peter Farrelly recently disclosed (via ComicBook.com) that discussions about a potential sequel did arise within the studio following the success of the original film. However, he and his brother ultimately decided against it, feeling that the story had reached its natural conclusion. There was a fleeting consideration for a sequel titled There's Something Else About Mary, which would have delved into a risqué revelation about the character's past. Unfortunately, studio executives weren't keen on the idea, leading the Farrelly Brothers to abandon the concept altogether.

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Farrelly stated, "You know, Dumb & Dumber was the one, like you could do ten Dumb & Dumbers, honestly, and I really enjoyed...

Being announced on the first day of New York Comic Con by executive producer Akio Iyoku along with some of the voice cast from Dragon Ball Super, a teaser trailer was shown to the audience regarding the newest work by Akira Toriyama, which would help to celebrate forty years of the iconic franchise. At first, viewers were met with images of a fiery castle with two ominous figures standing inside. Surrounded by rotating prisms of purple light, these formidable aliens seemed to be concentrating on footage of Babidi and Dabura, two other iconic antagonists from Dragon Ball Z. After a dazzling spectacle from Shenron the Dragon, a puzzling scene took place which saw Goku and Vegeta turn into children. Not only that, but it seems like all the familiar names were also caught in this sudden peril, as Chi-Chi, Bulma, Krillin, Android 18, Piccolo, Master Roshi, and many others were...

Exclusive: Malcolm Gladwell is hosting a podcast series that tells the story of the San Jose State track and field program of the 1960s that launched the careers of several of the fastest sprinters of the day.

The author and host of Revisionist History will lead Legacy of Speed, which tells the stories of Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, and John Carlos, who are remembered as much for their protests at the 1968 Summer Olympics as they are for their breathtaking speed.

Gladwell, a competitive runner himself, explores the ways in which this pivotal moment in sports history has paved the way for the modern-day activism of contemporary sports stars.

The podcast begins with Bud Winter, coach of the second-tier state college track and field program at San Jose State, who built what came to be known as Speed City. Taking what he learned from working with fighter pilots in World War II,...

New Delhi, May 20 (Ians) American quarter-miler Lee Evans, the 1968 Olympic Games champion and first to break 44-second barrier, died on Wednesday. He was 74.

"World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that 1968 Olympic 400m champion Lee Evans -- a leading human rights activist and world record-breaker -- died on Wednesday at the age of 74," World Athletics said in a statement on Thursday.

Evans was the first athlete to clock sub-44 seconds for the 400m race. He clocked 43.86 seconds to win Olympic gold in high altitude of Mexico City in 1968.

Off the field, Evans was also remembered as a leading member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

"At the 1968 Mexico Games, where his teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists on the 200m podium, Evans and his compatriots Larry Smith and Ron Freeman all wore black berets to show solidarity with Smith and Carlos and other civil rights organisations,...

Actor/Producer David Arquette joins Joe & Josh to discuss the movies that made him.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Scream (1996)

Never Been Kissed (1999)

3,000 Miles To Graceland (2001)

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Spree (2020)

Gremlins (1984)

Muppets From Space (1999)

It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

Unforgiven (1992)

The World According To Garp (1982)

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

Slap Shot (1977)

The World of Henry Orient (1964)

Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

Insomnia (2002)

One Hour Photo (2002)

The Long Goodbye (1973)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Last House On the Left (1972)

The Tripper (2006)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)

The Wizard of Oz (1925)

Funny Bones (1995)

There’s Something About Mary (1998)

The Gold Rush (1925)

The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)

Wild Style (1982)

The Shining (1980)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

Dreamscape (1984)

Brainstorm (1983)

The Dead Zone (1983)

The Warriors (1979)

Commando (1985)

Somewhere In Time (1980)

Escape From New York (1981)

Being There (1979)

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)

Targets (1968)

Pleasantville (1998)

Hidden Agenda...

As a comedian whose routines not only lampoon Italian stereotypes but demand larger-than-life performances of those cultural peccadilloes, Sebastian Maniscalco has carefully — if inadvertently — created a niche for himself as an actor. In 2018, in between selling out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, he took his first steps into film work with a small role in Peter Farrelly’s Oscar-winning “Green Book,” playing Johnny Venere, the fast-talking brother-in-law of Viggo Mortensen’s Nick Vallelonga.

Next up is a part in Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” playing “Crazy” Joe Gallo opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. But never having supplemented his standup career with acting or other industry side projects, Maniscalco seems eager to take his time exploring this new career path.

“The acting and the film stuff is something really fun and cool to do while I’m doing standup comedy,” he tells Variety. “I...

One of the most memorable scenes in the Farrelly Brothers’ classic romantic comedy “There’s Something About Mary” finds hapless high school student Ted (Ben Stiller) accidentally getting his penis stuck in his fly in the bathroom of the house of his beautiful prom date Mary (Cameron Diaz).

According to Bobby Farrelly, the sidesplitting “frank and beans” sequence in the box office hit, celebrating its 20th anniversary on July 15, is based on a real incident.

“Homer said it best,” Farrelly said. “He said, ‘It’s funny because it’s true.’ And so, the things that actually do happen are funnier to us. Pete and I said, ‘What could happen that could embarrass this kid?’’’

They remembered the time when their younger sister had a group of fellow eighth graders over to the house to listen to records in the basement. “My parents were upstairs,” Farrelly said. “One of the kids...

Robin Bell Mar 27, 2017

Mousehunt, starring Lee Evans and Nathan Lane, is a gleefully dark family movie, that's well worth revisiting...

If you're a horror fan you may have been intrigued by the recent film A Cure For Wellness. A mainstream oddity: a big budget, art-house horror, built on atmospherics instead of jump scares, which seems to be a state of society analysis about the wrongs of humanity, but actually unveils itself to be a Hammer Horror-esque slice of gothic fun.

This from the director most famously known for the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, or more recently Rango and The Lone Ranger. Okay, that's discounting his Us remake of Ringu, but in fact I'd argue this off kilter darkness mixed with a fun aesthetic can be traced back to his feature length directorial debut, Mousehunt.

On the surface it looks like a knockabout comedy aimed at kids, and/or families,...

Robin Bell Feb 2, 2017

Blackpool, Lee Evans, Jerry Lewis and Oliver Platt converge in Funny Bones. Here's why it's a film worth seeking out.

"Why do all the best things in life belong to the past?"

It seems a strange thing to be obsessed about, it wasn't a franchise, and didn't come with much buzz, but when Peter Chelsom's Funny Bones was released in 1995 I instantly latched on to it. It didn't even receive a general release in the cinemas around my area. It was released during that period when you had to check the local newspaper adverts to discover the cinema times. Disappointingly it didn't appear, not until a few weeks later when it had just one showing, on a Thursday night. I'd been talking about the film for ages to my brother, who was now at university, and once I found that it was screening I practically begged...

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From Flushed Away and Hunchback to Titan A.E. and Sky High - the family movies that don't get the love they deserve...

When I sit through a film such as Zootropolis, Rango, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph, Eddie The Eagle or Coraline, I can’t help but be thankful somebody has bothered. As a parent as well as a movie lover, I’ve grown to really dislike family movies that just turn up to act as a surrogate babysitter for 90 minutes, with no intention of becoming anybody’s favourite film. The films I'm going to talk about are the family movies therefore that I think both try and do something a bit more, yet continue to fly under many people's radar.

A bonus mention before we get going, and number 26 in the list, much to my surprise: Alvin & The Chipmunks 4. I was expecting next to zero from it, courtesy...

Matt Sayles/AP

The world’s largest arts festival is nearly upon us and a selection of the finest comedic talent around is set to have us rolling in the aisles and wiping the tears from our eyes.

Over the years the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has seen the likes of Steve Coogan, Lee Evans, Frank Skinner, Al Murray and more recently Russell Kane, Doc Brown, Bridget Christie, and David O’Doherty walk away with the the main prize; annually attacking a hotbed of comedic talent.

It is also a great place for rookie and lesser-known comedians from all over the globe to launch their careers and get themselves noticed on the big stage. Past winners of the Best Newcomer award include Harry Hill, Tim Vine, The Mighty Boosh, Tim Minchin, and Sarah Millican, with 2013 Best Newcomer, John Kearns, going on to be crowned best in show just one year later.

Directed By: Renny Harlin

Produced By; Jackie Chan

Story By: Jackie Chan

One of the greatest action stars of all time Jackie Chan is back in his latest Action/Comedy “Skiptrace“. Jackie has teamed up with international comedians in the past such as Chris Tucker, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and Lee Evans, now his latest partner in crime is Johnny Knoxville.

Plot

Hong Kong detective Bennie Black (Jackie Chan) has been tracking notorious crime boss Victor Wong for over a decade. When Bennie’s young niece Samantha/bái shū (Fan Bingbing) gets into trouble with Wong’s crime syndicate, Bennie must track down the only man who can help him: fast-talking American gambler Connor Watts (Johnny Knoxville). Bennie races against the clock to bring Connor back to Hong Kong and the unlikely pair embark on an entertaining and perilous adventure from the snowy mountains of Mongolia to the windswept dunes of the Gobi desert.

It's here! We can't believe it's come around so quickly, but it's time for the Britain's Got Talent final - and tonight, someone (or some people) will walk away a wee bit richer (and a wee bit nervous about performing for the royal family).

It's promising to be a pretty spectacular talent extravaganza (oh yes), so join us from 7.30pm when the show begins on ITV as we bring you all the action...

22:01Right, though, that's your lot for this series! Do keep leaving your comments in the box below - let us know if you're happy with the result, if you're disappointed, if you're sad that you have no more Bgt this year... we want to know it all. Thanks for joining us!

21:59Jules thanks everyone who voted for Matisse and all the rest of her dogs. Next stop: the Royal Variety. "I'm going to have to buy a corgi,...

It's here! We can't believe it's come around so quickly, but it's time for the Britain's Got Talent final - and tonight, someone (or some people) will walk away a wee bit richer (and a wee bit nervous about performing for the royal family).

It's promising to be a pretty spectacular talent extravaganza (oh yes), so join us from 7.30pm when the show begins on ITV as we bring you all the action...

21:30We're filling some time while the voting takes place, so here's another look back at the series. Have you enjoyed it?

21:28Well, we don't really know what to say about Michael Flatley. It was all very energetic and we do kind of want one of his dancers' sparkly tops, mind. He promises that it really was his last TV performance: "I'm a bit long in the tooth now."

21:25(This is all we can think...

Russell Howard returns to screens this evening (April 29) for a new stand-up show on Comedy Central.

The 35-year-old will perform new material while also answering questions from Twitter with the help of two hand-picked comedians every week.

"It's me and a bunch of brilliant stand-ups from the circuit telling jokes in a tiny club," the comedian said frankly.

"They're people on the circuit who I think are great. John Robins, Andrew Maxwell, Sara Pascoe, Nish Kumar."

When asked whether TV adds some pressure to his performance, he added: "I guess so 'cos you go through the myriad of what you can and can't say but to be honest, once you get going it's just a laugh, isn't it?"

Howard - who got into comedy at the age of 15 after watching VHS tapes of Lee Evans - also revealed that his greatest comedy TV show is Gavin & Stacey.

"The writing is so deft,...

Hollywood went hunting for lots of British comedy talent in the 1990s - and lured the likes of Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson...

For some reason, Hollywood fell in love with British actors again in the 1990s. Sparked by Alan Rickman's turn as Hans Gruber in Die Hard at the back end of the 1980s, many movie villains were either Brits, or in the case of Cliffhanger, John Lithgow taking on the mannerisms of a British antagonist.

Yet in particular, Hollywood went recruiting British comedy talent, with faces then mainly - but not exclusively - known for their small screen work getting roles of various sizes in Hollywood productions. Here are some who racked up the air miles - starting with the man who arguably became one of the most successful...

Hugh Laurie - 101 Dalmatians

Laurie is a man of many talents, who ultimately cracked America with...

To end a week celebrating New Who's 10th birthday, here's a bumper list of Doctor Who titbits from Russell T Davies' The Writer's Tale...

We’ve touched on why The Writer’s Tale, the 2008 (expanded in 2010) compendium of correspondence between Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook, deserves a space on your bookshelf here.

In short, The Writer’s Tale is both a screenwriting masterclass and an unparalleled look behind the scenes of new Doctor Who. As well as following the production triumphs and emergencies as the show lurches “from one crisis to another”, it lets you witness story ideas being created in the wild. See pivotal Doctor Who moments tottering unsurely out of Davies’ mind like new-born giraffes and watch them transform into sleek, galloping beasts of majesty! Think of it like a classy David Attenborough doc on storytelling, with bonus David Tennant photos and chat about Tony from Skins.

Many of the episodes in each series have been phenomenal, resulting in the best Doctor Who episodes of the revived era… and everyone remembers which ones! However, there has been at least one episode in every series that the Doctor Who audience have utterly despise – most even skip the episode when they get to it on the DVD and never dare speak its name again.

Few of the recent episodes of Doctor Who have lacked many aspects and creativity and given the show a drop in ratings, which doesn’t give the programme its well deserved title of ‘the greatest TV show of all time’.

In this article, each worst episode of NuWho will be revealed from within the Doctor Who catalogue and explained why it is the worst episode imaginable. Get ready for the worst episodes of Doctor Who imaginable…

10. Planet Of The Dead (2009 Easter Special)

After the announcement of David Tennant’s departure,...

Lee Evans has revealed that he has no plans to return to Hollywood, describing his experience of working in movies in the '90s as "terrible" and "lonely".

In an interview with Phill Jupitus on the behalf of Digital Spy, Evans spoke candidly about his time in the Us, when he starred in movies such as The Fifth Element, MouseHunt and There's Something About Mary.

"It was terrible," said Evans. "It was really lonely. I lived there for two years.

"I learnt a lot - I would never trade that for anything - but on a personal level, I really missed my wife and daughter.

"If I ever went back. I'd have to go in and get straight out."

Evans was coy when asked whether it was true that he turned down a movie offer from Martin Scorsese, revealing that he did speak with the iconic director at a three-hour meeting in a London hotel.

Universal Pictures

It’s the most wonderful time of the year (again), and as usual it’s getting to those last few weeks before the big day when creative ideas and planning make way for frantic grabs at whatever is left on the shelves after the Black Friday zombie hordes have cleared everything out.

But fear not: because the best of Christmas is watching movies, re-watching old TV specials and trying hard to forget that George Lucas ever decided that anyone wanted a Star Wars Christmas show, there’ll always be a helping hand round these parts for those who want it.

So if you’re buying for a difficult brother, a picky sister or just for the film, gaming or TV fan in your life, what follows is a compendium of the finest gift ideas for this year’s festivities, as usual there are massive opportunities to win most of what has been included…...

Universal

The original superstar of comedy, record breaking comedian Lee Evans is back with Monsters, the biggest stand up tour to hit arenas this year. Recorded live in Birmingham, Lee is at his majestic best in front of a packed house during his five sold-out nights at the National Indoor Arena. With his amazing energy and killer routines, Lee has the audience in stitches from start to finish. ‘Monsters’ is the latest DVD unleashed by the undisputed King of Comedy. It’s so good it’s frightening!

‘Monsters’ sees Lee a little bit older, but definitely no wiser, as he takes audiences on his personal journey of modern day life and its’ daily irritations. From his hilarious take on the ‘selfie’ phenomenon to imitating the characteristics of a rescue dog. Witness exactly what bugs him about getting older (he won’t be playing golf anytime soon) and the numerous ways...

Director Peter Chelsom on Hector, Pegg, Miley Cyrus, Syd Field, live action PG movies and Being There...

Peter Chelsom started life as an actor, before moving behind the camera when he hit 30. His films have included Hear My Song, Funny Bones, The Hannah Montana Movie, Serendipity and The Mighty. His latest? The big screen take on Hector And The Search For Happiness. And over a bowl of soup, he spared us some time for a chat...

Let's start at the beginning! I’m a great fan of your first film, Hear My Song, which was always a bit of a tricky one to track down.

Thank you! There was a DVD re-release, that was really did well. They did a great job on it.

Well, let’s start there. How much control do you have over your films once they’ve left a cinema, and headed to home formats?

It varies.

Anglophile alert! One of my favorite unsung movies is Peter Chelsom's "Funny Bones," a portrait of comic performers at the British seaside resort Blackpool. It's a very specific, happy/sad movie with terrific performances from Oliver Platt, Jerry Lewis and especially Lee Evans, who channels Buster Keaton. It didn't make much of a splash back in 1995, but it's one of Chelsom's own favorites, and he makes a welcome return to that kind of witty British moviemaking with "Hector and the Search for Happiness," starring two of my other faves, Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike.  Based on a bestselling memoir by a real-life French psychiatrist, the anglicized movie follows stick-in-the-mud shrink Hector (Pegg) on a quest around the world for happiness. He leaves behind his fiance (Pike) to connect with strangers, from a wealthy businessman (Stellan Skarsgard) who shows him around Shanghai and a monk in Tibet to a dangerous...

This winter will see the final installment of The Hobbit film series released in theaters with The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. But with Comic-Con hitting this week, Peter Jackson is eager to start sharing some images from the highly-anticipated completion to his latest trilogy. That includes the poster above, which shows Smaug spitting fire and bearing down on the village of Lee Evans' Bard the Bowman. Bard stands in the foreground with his back to us. (Classic). And let's get real, if we were him, we'd bolt. That's one big, scary dragon. Posted on Peter Jackson's personal Facebook, the above poster teases The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies's presence at San Diego Comic-Con. Warner Bros. has secured the hallowed Hall H for whatever it is Peter Jackson and company have in store. Yet, he's warned fans on his Facebook page that they shouldn't expect a full trailer,...

From There to Here: BBC One, 9pm

The last episode in the three-part drama sees Daniel's lies about his double life unfold while in the hospital. His family seem to be falling apart as well, with Louise's government seat under threat and Charlie struggling with his business.

Meanwhile, Samuel is trying to protect a 50-year-old secret that threatens to destroy his son's life again.

Life of Ryan: Caretaker Manager: ITV, 9pm

A documentary that follows English football's most decorated player, Ryan Giggs, who took charge of Manchester United after David Moyes departed.

The camera goes behind the scenes into the preparation that went into the remaining four fixtures of the season, while the programme also takes a look back at the retired midfielder's playing career.

Channel 4's Comedy Gala: Channel 4, 9pm

The annual event of laugh-out-louds returns for its fifth year, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity,...

At 45 years of age, Hal Cruttenden is unlikely to be called 'fresh blood'. Like many before him he's put in the time, died his fair share and dealt with the ambiguity of the comic circuit; a circuit that is unforgiving by nature. And yet, as I come to write this (overdue) review of Hal's current national tour, 'Tough Luvvie', I can't help but feel that Mr Cruttenden is exactly what the industry needs right now.

Entering Wolverhampton's 'Slade Rooms' - the calmer, cosier option to its big brother The Civic - an immediate lack of knowledge was apparent. While I'd followed Hal's movements sporadically over the years, enjoying enough of his 'Mock the Week' and 'Live At The Apollo' appearances so as to keep me informed, I knew little of his style or relevance. Thankfully, this was an unfounded worry, as Hal graced the stage with such boisterous charm and...

At some point, probably around 2009, Michael McIntyre became Britain's biggest stand-up. The jolly and infectious comic filled a Peter Kay/Lee Evans-shaped hole, selling out arenas and popping up on your TV more often than an Emeli Sandé track.

After a short stint on Britain's Got Talent alongside The Hoff and Amanda Holden, McIntyre appeared to be aware of his own ubiquity and took a break from stage and screen. So after a lengthy break how is the comedian making his comeback? With his own chat show, of course.

McIntyre joins the long list of TV funnymen who commissioners haven't known what to do with, so they hand them a chat show. In theory, his jovial style seems like it might fit in the chat format. In practice, things got off to a start even more wobbly than his head.

When he was mucking around with the audience, clambering...

Channel 4's Comedy Gala will return to The O2 in London on Friday, May 16.

Chatty Man host Alan Carr will be joined by stars including Jonathan Ross, John Bishop, Adam Hills and Jack Dee at this year's charity event - the fifth fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Splash! judge Jo Brand, Michael McIntyre, Jason Byrne, Seann Walsh, Jon Richardson and Jason Manford have also been confirmed.

Lee Evans, Josh Widdicombe, Kevin Bridges, Sean Lock and Paul Chowdhry complete the first lineup announcement, with many more acts to follow.

Funds raised from this year's Comedy Gala will be devoted to a brand new operating theatre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Around one in three inpatients at Great Ormond Street Hospital will have surgery at some point during their stay, so it's vital for us to have modern, world class surgical facilities," said Tim Johnson, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Earlier this year, in an attempt to help deal with the usual ongoing cash-flow crisis, I pitched a stall at the local car boot sale. Among this motley collection of goods were a few unwanted Doctor Who goodies such as magazines, books and copious amounts of video cassettes which are, by definition, impossible to give away – never mind sell.

My stall attracted quite a few visitors. One of them was a young chap who was evidently a Doctor Who fan – or at least used to be a fan. Attempting some lame form of small talk, I asked the boy who his favourite Doctor was – turns out, it was David Tennant's incarnation. So I asked him if he was looking forward to the anniversary special – he surprised me with a forlorn shake of the head. When I asked him why, he explained that he and his mates at school had...

Viewed as the extended second act of the larger three-act epic that will be The Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is terrific, a dazzling, endlessly inventive adventure serial that is filled to burst with cinematic treats both large and small. Never anything less than intensely entertaining, and absent nearly every pacing issue that left its predecessor, An Unexpected Journey, a solid but uneven disappointment, Smaug is a treat, and will be a welcome breath of fresh air for fans of Peter Jackson’s cinematic Middle Earth.

Taken as a film, however – as the standalone, 161-minute entity that audiences will be watching this weekend – I find The Desolation of Smaug highly problematic, if not downright infuriating. With a cliffhanger ending that cuts things off mid-climax, the film is incomplete, a series of extremely tantalizing set-ups that has only the slightest of internal pay-offs, if even that. No matter...

This week sees the DVD and Blu-ray release of Grown-Ups 2. Directed by Dennis Dugan, it is the follow up to 2010′s ensemble comedy Grown Ups.

Featuring a ‘dream team’ cast including Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade, it continues the story of the childhood buddies, along their families, and their hilarious mishaps.

Whilst the film series does boast an ensemble of some of Hollywood’s biggest comedians, it perhaps hasn’t best utilised their talents.

Cinema does have a long tradition of truly great ensemble comedy movies, and here are a few of the best.

10. There’s Something About Mary

On paper, at the time at least, There’s Something About Mary didn’t boast a cast of comedy giants. Despite his TV work, Ben Stiller hadn’t broken out yet in Hollywood, as this was the film that did that. Cameron Diaz was thought of as...

With his latest live tour, Purple Van Man, currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray, comedian Sean Lock discussed his new show with us, while also declaring his desire to return to the sitcom – a decade since he created, and then starred in, 15 Storeys High.

Lock – who remains on tour, playing the very final dates of the sold-out, critically acclaimed show that is now available to purchase, spoke to us about drunk horses, dead frogs, and why he believes he’s always getting better with age. He also confirms his desire to return to sitcoms, why he avoids broadsheet reviews – and argues why The Producers is the greatest comedy film ever made.

I’ll start by asking about the title… Why Purple Van Man?

You always try to think of some title which doesn’t bind you too heavily to a subject or sound too deliberately kooky. I just thought the...

It’s not often you get to describe an event as being fifty years in the making. even less so do you get to mean it. Three Doctors in three timelines converge to give them all a chance to change a terrible moment in their collective past.

The Day of the Doctor

by Steven Moffat

Directed by Nick Hurran

The Doctor is in the present, in his most recent incarnation, picking up Clara, when he gets picked up himself, by Unit, to investigate a mystery at the National Museum. Meanwhile (well, I say meanwhile…) in his previous incarnation, he’s investigating a mystery in Elizabethan Britain, an attack by the Zygons that could lead all the way to the Queen herself. And in another part of the Universe entirely, The War Doctor is making a decision that will put the lives of countless innocents in his hands, a choice that...

Alan Carr has said that his plans to write and star in a sitcom are on hold.

The Chatty Man host told Digital Spy that someone else had already used his idea of centring a comedy around a dog walker.

> 'Alan Carr: Chatty Man': Alan's top guests and memorable moments

"I'm the worst at writing and getting stuff down," Carr said.

"There's one been commissioned for BBC Four which is identical to mine! That's how slow I am, and I could slap myself for not being more proactive. I'm so lazy."

Asked what the idea was, he added: "It's about dogs, it was about me as a dog walker. I really like the idea and I was sitting and writing, and then I went, 'Oh no, s**t!'"

BBC Four commissioned sitcom Puppy Love in July, described as "a story of love, dogs and the love of...

Odd List Simon Brew 20 Sep 2013 - 07:14

They don't make funny movies any more, right? Wrong. If you're looking for a laugh, then here are some you may have missed...

For this list, blame The Hangover Part III. It was whilst walking out of that film that I got into a chat with someone, who was bemoaning the lack of genuinely funny movie comedies. Certainly, big budget Hollywood comedies have no end of problems right now - with the occasional exception - but I couldn't help thinking of the many neglected gems that had gone through my DVD player over the past decade or so.

As such, I started to put this list together. It's inevitably subjective, as one person's comedy is another person's snore fest. But I've tried to dig out a mix of comedies from the past three decades that have either flown under the radar completely, or...

Lee Evans has revealed that he has no plans to return to Hollywood acting.

The British stand-up comedian appeared in a number of high-grossing movies in the 1990s, including The Fifth Element, There's Something About Mary and MouseHunt.

However, he explained that he found the experience a "nightmare" as he missed his family too much.

He told the London Evening Standard: "I will never go back to Hollywood. It was like a nightmare. I enjoyed it at the time, but I wanted to be back with my family - I love them!

"They keep asking me to do a film, but you just spend six months in a remote place living in a caravan."

Evans, who began previews for his new West End comedy Barking in Essex this week alongside Keeley Hawes and Sheila Hancock, added that he has never considered himself to be an actor.

"I'm an idiot. I'm not an actor.

Ricky Gervais's Office character will strut his stuff on stage with the big boys, Lee Evans just wants to sit and paint, and we enjoy some scientific one-liners from our readers

This week's comedy news

Some detail has been added to recent reports that Ricky Gervais is to take David Brent and his guitar on the road, with the news – as reported in the Sun – that Brent is to support Coldplay on their next tour. According to the tabloid: "Ricky has already got a date booked in to support Coldplay at Hammersmith Apollo when they start to test new material on fans." Gervais has previous with the band, of course. In series 2 of Extras, his character from faux-sitcom When the Whistle Blows duets with Coldplay crooner Chris Martin on the band's ballad Fix You – a song that Gervais also uses on the soundtrack to his C4 series Derek. Now...

Alan Carr returns to Channel 4 later this month with an 11th series of his award-winning Chatty Man.

The 18-episode run launches on Friday, August 30.

Comedian and actor Lee Evans and actress Keeley Hawes, who are currently promoting their West End comedy Barking In Essex, will be the special guests in episode one.

Meanwhile, Rizzle Kicks are performing their new single 'Lost Generation' in the studio.

Chatty Man will celebrate its 100th episode with some extra special guests at the end of September.

Earlier this year, Carr signed a new exclusive two-year deal with Channel 4.

Lee Evans is heading on a new 51-date stand-up tour called 'Monsters' in 2014, it has announced.

It will be Evans's biggest ever tour, even surpassing his hugely successful 'Wired and Wonderful', 'Big' and 'Roadrunner' shows.

From 2002 to 2011, Evans performed for over 1,605,000 people on his four live arena tours.

Later this year, Lee will return to treading the boards of the West End, starring alongside Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes in Clive Exton's new play Barking In Essex at the Wyndham's Theatre in London.

The 'Monsters' tour starts on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Bournemouth International Centre, before visiting Brighton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Aberdeen, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dublin, Belfast, Wembley Arena and Cardiff.

Evans will also play four nights at London's O2 Arena, where he will film his tour DVD.

Tickets for the shows go on sale on Monday, May 20 at 9am.

Watch a clip of Lee Evans's 'Roadrunner'...

Miranda Hart, Diversity, Warwick Davis and Nina Conti have been added to the Channel 4 Comedy Gala lineup.

The foursome join a bill which already includes Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr and Rhod Gilbert.

Jack Dee, Adam Hills, Jason Byrne, Jo Brand, Jonathan Ross, Noel Fielding, Rich Hall and Paddy McGuinness are also performing at the event.

Hosted at London's O2 on May 18, the show will air in a two-hour Channel 4 special later in the year.

The event is a fundraiser for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Tickets are currently on sale priced £40-£100.

Watch Nina Conti performing stand-up below:...