Category Archives: Acceptable Trash

2009, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Drugs, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Medical Theme, TV Series

Nurse Jackie (2009)

1 Comment

From NetFlix:

The great Edie Falco (in a Golden Globe-nominated role) stars as feisty emergency room nurse Jackie Peyton, who boldly navigates the storm of patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own demons at a New York hospital — occasionally with the aid of unprescribed prescription drugs. A wicked combination of dark comedy and poignant drama, this Showtime series also stars Eve Best, Haaz Sleiman, Merritt Wever, Paul Schulze and Peter Facinelli.

Following the “acceptable trash” tradition of such important TV series like “Arrested Development”, “Nurse Jackie” fits right in there with its mixture of medical cynicism, sexcapades, etc. Throw in some pathos and family drama (e.g. a daughter with anxiety syndrome). Finally there is a heavy emphisis on drug addiction. Nurse Jackie herself is addicted to pain pills and has daily midday sex with the pharmacologist who supplies her with the pills from the hospital storeroom. All of which should paint a picture of total nonsense which is not for everyone.

I LOVE TRASH!

2006, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, TV Series, Vulgar

30 Rock (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon, the lead writer on a television variety series à la “Saturday Night Live,” in this Emmy-winning workplace sitcom co-starring Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan and the scene-stealing Alec Baldwin. When brash network executive Jack Donaghy (Baldwin) arrives on the scene to pep up the show, he unnerves the cast and crew with his meddlesome ways — among them, hiring a whacked-out movie star (Morgan).

I warn you: this TV series is at best acceptable trash. My son Mike suggested this series. His tastes are juvenile, sophomoric, and crass. Unfortunately, genes being what they are, he and I seem to share those tastes. I learned this during the recent Christmas vacation when I sadly realized that my tastes and those of my daughter Kate seemed to have diverged. Could it be that Kate is maturing ? What have Kathy and I done wrong ?

Every now and then there is a good laugh that was worth waiting for. Surprisingly, after her success imitating Sarah Palin, Tina Fey in this series is the straight man who leaves the laughs to others. Alex Baldwin does indeed steal the show, he just knows how to deliver a line. Jane Krakowski (she was Elaine in “Ally McBeal”) always gets it right.

You were warned, so don’t complain.

2009, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Vulgar

I Love You, Man (2009)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In this bromance, the cinematic equivalent of a rom-com buddy flick, Paul Rudd plays a recently engaged guy who’s got the bride-to-be of his dreams but lacks an all-important significant other when it comes to their pending nuptials: a best man. On a determined hunt for a stranger who will stand up for him, he eventually meets a candidate (Jason Segel) with wedding-party potential. Jaime Pressly, Rashida Jones and Jon Favreau co-star.

According to Wikipedia a bromance or “man-crush” is a close but non-sexual relationship between two men, a form of homosocial intimacy.

Give this film a strong C. I got some good laughs mostly at the embarrassed expense of the characters. Perhaps I am out of touch or just plain old, but I was truly shocked at some of the discussions (e.g. a bachelor’s intimate masturbation den, yikes!).

Despite its rampant vulgarity the film actually makes some valid points: How many close friends do you really have ? How hard is it for a single man to make new friends ? What topics should appropriately be shared between friends or between a couple ?

2006, 2007, 2008, Acceptable Trash, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity, Sci-Fi, TV Series, Violent

Torchwood (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In this series that spun off from “Doctor Who,” policewoman Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) stumbles upon a secret organization known as Torchwood, a clandestine group led by the mysterious Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) that monitors alien activity on Earth. Cooper soon joins Harkness, tech expert Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) and medic Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) in their quest to protect Earth from invasion.

OK all you kids out there, if you liked either “Doctor Who” or “Lost” or “X-Files” and are into a lot of sex (and some violence) this is a TV series for you. You don’t have to know anything about “Doctor Who”, you just need to have that mindset. Certain characters are straight and others are gay and some few seem not to have made up their minds just yet. Start with Season One and work your way through Season Two and Season Three.

Season One

Nothing more than acceptable trash, this TV series can still be fun to watch. To give you a taste of the kind of nonsense involved, consider: An alien has come to Earth in search of orgasmic energy (yes, that is correct). This alien enters the body of a young woman who then serially attracts male sex partners. But as each young man reaches climax he turns into a small pile of dust. In time there is a trail of small piles of dust. Heard enough ?

As I recall, the last disk (7?) of Season One is not episodes, but rather extra commentary. You might not want to waste a rental on this last disc.

Season Two

Every review I read says that Season Two is better and I agree. Some episodes are stupid. But for the most part the plots are clever and varied. More interesting is that mixed in with all the nonsense are valid situations applicable to real life. For example, the fiancee of one couple has to keep her membership in Torchwood secret from her boy friend. He feels neglected, etc. etc. Sound familiar ?

Torchwood actually kills its characters permanently. The joke (ahem, important feature), however, is that Jack Harkness is condemned to live forever young. Many episodes kill him in all sorts of diabolical ways and he just keeps coming back for more. You really don’t believe I am saying this, right ?

Besides, when have you ever been to a wedding in which the bride is unfortunately pregnant with an alien whose mother alien is at the wedding in disguise waiting to nab the baby alien ?

Season Three

Season Three is one long multi-part story “Children of the Earth”. Aliens have come to earth. These aliens truly can destroy the earth at their whim. We are defenseless. The aliens demand that we give them ten percent of all the children of the earth (never mind why – you have to watch the show). What do you suppose the British politicians do in such a desperate situation ? What would you do ?

——————————————————————————-

No one over the mental age of, say, 16 need apply. So why on earth am I watching this garbage ? That’s easy …

I LOVE TRASH !

2009, Acceptable Trash, Chick Flick, Drama, Love Story

He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)

1 Comment

From NetFlix:

Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson lead an all-star ensemble cast of characters dealing with the pitfalls of love and human interaction in this big-screen adaptation of Greg Behrendt’s best-selling book. Set in Baltimore, director Ken Kwapis’s film moves swiftly between a host of storylines brought to life by a stellar lineup of actors that also includes Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin and Justin Long.

Wife Kathy asked me to get this film from NetFlix. I’d call it a Chick-Flick despite the fact that we both enjoyed it. Part of the attraction was wanting to know how the various relationships worked out. As you would expect some ended happily and some ended very sadly.

For me Ginnifer Goodwin was a new face. Bradley Cooper is someone I have seen alot but whose name I did not know. Some of those well-known actors are starting to look older.

In summary I found the film a tad scary because it shows the perils of dating and relationships in the culture of the early 21st centry.

1998, Acceptable Trash, Car Chase, Suspense, Violent

Desperate Measures (1998)

Leave a comment

From Net

San Francisco police officer Frank Connor (Andy Garcia) desperately searches for a compatible bone-marrow donor for his cancer-stricken son. The only potential donor is convicted homicidal sociopath Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton), who seizes the opportunity of a hospital transfer to donate marrow and escapes custody. Connor must capture McCabe alive, so the hospital becomes the setting for a cat-and-mouse game between the two men.

Do not expect to philosophize, meditate, or even think during this film. Just sit back, relax, and watch the fun: super-smart villain, car chases, violence, and a really clever last few seconds. Still, it is a B film. The action sequences probably are downright impossible. In the real germ-filled world, the boy would have died at many places in the film. Never mind, just suspend disbelief and enjoy what should be termed acceptable trash.

2005, Acceptable Trash, Chick Flick, Comedy, Detective

Miss Congeniality II (2005)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

After her triumph at the Miss United States pageant, FBI agent Gracie Hart
(Sandra Bullock) becomes an overnight sensation — and the new ‘face of the
FBI.’ But when the pageant’s winner, Cheryl (Heather Burns), and emcee Stan
(William Shatner) are abducted, Gracie springs into action with the help of
skeptical, businesslike agent Sam Fuller (Regina King). John Pasquin directs
this girl-powered buddy flick.

Every now and then it is important to watch “acceptable trash”. At the very least I got a few good laughs from the movie. Enough said.

But I get a kick out of seeing TV actors appear in movies, to wit:

  • Regina King was ‘Sandra Palmer’ in 9 episodes of ’24’
  • Enrique Murciano is ‘Danny Taylor’ in ‘Without a Trace’
  • Ernie Hudson was in ‘Bones’
  • Diedrich Bader was in ‘CSI’
  • Elisabeth Rohm is ‘Serena Southerlyn’ on ‘Law and Order’
2008, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Explicit sex, Vulgar

Choke (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

With his mother (Anjelica Huston) suffering from Alzheimer’s, medical school
dropout Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) devises a plan to pay her hospital bills.
At high-class restaurants, he pretends to choke, waits to be rescued and then
later asks his saviors for money. In addition to being a con man, Victor is a
sex addict who works at a colonial theme park. This film is based on the novel
by cult literary phenom Chuck Palahniuk ( Fight Club).

Sex is the subject, pure and simple. The film is so vulgar that after awhile you don’t even notice all the sex talk and acts. In fact that is the point: a sex addict learning to really love someone. Nonetheless, you could easily be offended by this film (especially if you are Christian). Just as some contemporary films use violence to a comic end, the sex is so outrageous that it comes across as comedy.

A challenge to anyone who takes a chance and watches this crazy film: at the sexaholics anonymous meetings there is an old man. Without taking a peek at IMDB, do you recognize this actor ? I nearly dropped dead, he has changed so much!

2007, Acceptable Trash

Run Fat Boy Run (2007)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Five years ago, Dennis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant fiancée,
Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar. Now, he realizes it was
the worst mistake of his life. Run down and out of shape,
Dennis begins training for a marathon, hoping to win Libby away
from her sleazy new boyfriend (Hank Azaria). Will losing the
pounds and catching his breath be enough to get her back? Dylan
Moran co-stars in David Schwimmer’s feature directorial debut.

After the mostly downer of “Days and Clouds”, Schwimmer’s “Run Fat Boy Run” is a
welcome relief. It’s just an easy-to-watch movie about
an indecisive slacker trying to change his ways. Some great sight gags. Why do we
laugh at pratfalls ? I suppose the sex gags make it out of bounds for children.

2007, Acceptable Trash

You Don’t Mess With The Zohan (2007)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Adam Sandler also stars as the titular Zohan, an Israeli
counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to
become a Manhattan hairstylist, in this comedy he co-wrote with
Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and Robert Smigel. Zohan’s desire runs so
deep that he’ll do anything — including faking his own death and
going head to head with an Arab cab driver (Rob Schneider) — to
make his dreams come true

This movie is:

juvenile,
crude,
maudlin,
offensive,
mostly constant sexual references.

I enjoyed it in what must have been roughly 90 minutes of weakness.

The movie has a mission: convince the audience that Israelis and Palestinians should stop
fighting and live in peace. I found myself wondering how audiences in either Israel or
Palestine would receive this movie. I assume Adam Sandler is Jewish. I only wish that
John Tarturro (his Palestinian nemesis) was Palestinian instead of being Italian.

I LOVE TRASH!