Thursday, May 2, 2024

Entertainment

FEATURES

'Super ex-girlfriend' misleading

Justin Kroll
July 25, 2006

It's always a good idea when making a movie that the longer you stick with your original concept the more entertaining your film will be. If audiences are deceived into thinking they are seeing a film about one thing, and then that concept barely appears in the film, audiences will not be able to enjoy the film to its fullest capacity. Ivan Reitman's new comedy, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," suffers from this problem because there is very limited time when the "ex" concept is in effect. The film begins with the introduction of the film's lovable loser, Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson), an ordinary guy who has been out of the dating game for quite awhile and feels it's time to get back in the game. He suddenly sees his chance when Saunders runs after a thief who has just stolen a woman's purse and thinks what better way to pick up a girl than to become her hero. Impressed by his courageous act, Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) asks Saunders out on a date. As they get to know each other, Saunders begins to notice aspects about this girl that are both familiar and different from other women he's dated — from their extremely rough sex together to her very needy and jealous moods.

FEATURES

Story line, suspense make film

Justin Kroll
July 25, 2006

After seeing the film, "Lady in the Water," I can now say, M. Night Shyamalan can be considered one of the best storytellers in Hollywood today. Not only does he display the ability of picking a normal subject we see in everyday society as his theme while mixing it with a supernatural background, but also he has the patience to develop a story to its fullest extent, as well. In his past films, Shyamalan has dealt with everything from superheroes to aliens, but then developed the film around issues like divorce or losing one's faith.

FEATURES

Adult Swim needs Pee-wee Herman

I have always been a person possessed by irrational fear. Even in these trying times of "constant" terrorist threat and international conflict, nothing sends shivers down my spine like thoughts of an alien abduction or an overwhelming army of zombies. But as a child, my fears manifested themselves in three fairly harmless entertainment icons: gap-toothed Mad Magazine cover boy Alfred E.

FEATURES

Last minute Casionauts fan enjoyed final performance

Note to self: Don't wait to see a band until its last show. It's like showing up at a party at 2:30 a.m., the beer drained, the happy guests and relieved hosts still wound up from the ride that you, unfortunately missed. Such was the case for me Saturday night, at Mac's Bar, 2700 E.

FEATURES

The bartender

Erik Adams
July 21, 2006

Bryan Allen, manager at The Landshark, 101 E. Grand River Ave., was leafing through a drink magazine at the bar recently when he came upon the recipe for Blue Street, a sky blue concoction that can be served as either a cocktail or a shot.

FEATURES

Happenings

Friday "Cobb" a tale of tortured greatness. Riverwalk Theatre. 228 Museum Drive, Lansing.

FEATURES

Irish music group to give free performance

Alessa Thomas
July 20, 2006

Rare Combination, an Irish/Celtic group, will be giving a free performance at 7 p.m. Friday at Lake Lansing Park-South, located at the corner of Pike Street and Marsh Road in Haslett. The band, which formed in spring 2004, garnered its name from the unlikely members in the group.

FEATURES

Farm fresh snacks

Tuesday morning, Holly Markham arrived at the MSU Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Road, to begin harvesting produce to take with her to the MSU Agricultural Equipment Exposition, or Ag Expo. For the first year since its inception, people attending the Ag Expo could buy a snack that was not prepared by MSU Concessions.

FEATURES

'Dupree' disappoints

Justin Kroll
July 19, 2006

Why is it people always seem to want to ruin a good thing when it is going well? In the movie "You, Me and Dupree," Owen Wilson decides to separate himself from his fellow frat packers and try to see if his luck is as good as it used to be. In the past couple of years, actors like Wilson, his brother Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell all seemed to be in the same films together, including "Wedding Crashers" and "Old School." This past year, each actor has decided to take on a solo project. So far Vaughn, who released "The Break-Up" earlier this summer, succeeded at the box office — the film broke the $100 million mark — but failed to please critics. In "Dupree," Wilson seems to suffer from the same problem, which is unlike his films of the past.

FEATURES

'Little Man' is big disappointment

Stephen Patterson
July 18, 2006

(Sigh) … ahhh, "Little Man." If you were to put together a list of the worst ideas for a movie in the past two decades, green-lighting a project with Marlon Wayans' face transposed on baby-like bodies might rank pretty high.

FEATURES

Happenings

Friday Book signing: Artis White, "Who Killed my Wife?" The Unsolved Murder of Bernita White.

FEATURES

The bartender

Ryan Mccormick
July 14, 2006

In Lansing, the Oatmeal Cookie shot at Stober's Bar, 812 E. Michigan Ave., goes down like a special treat for a child — except it's made for adults. Owner and bartender Linda Stober masterfully poured the intricate shot — equal parts Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps, Arrow Mackdale's butterscotch schnapps and a cap of Carolans Irish Cream Liquer — in front of a stained-glass Merlin mural and three griffins carved from mahogany. Stober has worked as a bartender at the Lansing bar since she was 18 years old, and now, 33-1/2 years later, she's still pouring drinks with a smile. She proudly boasted about the history of Stober's, which was the first establishment to serve alcohol on Michigan Avenue after the end of Prohibition in 1933.

FEATURES

Spectators enjoy free music

Ryan Mccormick
July 14, 2006

Wednesday evening, residents of Lansing's Riverfront towers, 601 North Cedar St., and nonresidents alike watched and listened to hard-rock band Cinderella at Common Ground Music Festival — without shelling out the $29 for a single-day ticket. Through some trees and a metal fence littered with advertisement banners, spectators were able to peek over the Grand River to spy the West Main Stage.