‘Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!’ celebrates a hilarious career
TV review: This nearly four-hour documentary somberly yet happily chronicles a resume defined as much by friends and kindness as by laughs.
It’s freaky how great ‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999-2000) still is
One-season wonders (TV review): It’s time to geek out over the brilliance of this breakthrough teen TV series from Paul Feig and Judd Apatow.
Lightning strikes twice for Apatow with ‘Undeclared’ (2001-02)
One-season wonders (TV review): Judd Apatow’s second acclaimed show was canceled as quickly as “Freaks and Geeks,” and it was just as great, in its own way.
Davidson breaks out in ‘The King of Staten Island’
Movie review: Judd Apatow returns to films and comedian Pete Davidson displays Everyman star quality in this coming-of-age dramedy.
‘Undeclared’ reviews
John’s “Undeclared” flashback review, Jan. 19, 2023 “Undeclared” (2001-02, Fox), episodes 1-6 — Living up to the hype hasn’t been a problem so far for “Undeclared.” But living to see a second season might be. Fox scheduled the college comedy on Tuesday, the most quality-packed night of the week by far. If you’re a fan, enjoy
‘Knocked Up’ review
My “Knocked Up” review, Brainerd Dispatch, June 7, 2007
‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ review
My “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” review, Brainerd Dispatch, Aug. 25, 2005
‘Trainwreck’ derailed by unlikable main character, boring 2nd half (Movie review)
“Trainwreck” (now available from Redbox) is a surprisingly boring theatrical debut from screenwriter and lead actor Amy Schumer, who has shown signs of genius in her half-hour sketch show “Inside Amy Schumer.” It has some nice comedic moments, particularly in the early going, but it becomes almost unwatchably boring about halfway through before recovering slightly with
Writer-director Judd Apatow bounces back nicely with ‘This Is 40’ (Movie review)
I have to admit that I’m kind of stunned to look at Judd Apatow’s resume and see he has only been a writer-director on four movies: The excellent “40 Year Old Virgin” (2005) and “Knocked Up” (2007), the disappointing “Funny People” (2009) and now “This Is 40,” which follows a side couple from “Knocked Up,” Paul Rudd’s
John’s favorite entertainers of the Aughts (Commentary)
First, my top 10 entertainers. These are the people (and one fictional robot) who put a smile on my face in every project they tackled.