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Post by Martine on Mar 22, 2012 17:40:02 GMT 10
No mention of Maura in this rather negative review but thought I'd post it anyway. Nature Calls is an utterly befuddling film in its premise, execution, and attracted talent. The story revolves around a Boy Scout troop leader played by Patton Oswalt who is dead set on reviving his beloved organization. The scouts have apparently lost their youth appeal recently, and Oswalt’s character can’t seem to understand why (the film never mentions child molestation outright, but does poke fun at overprotective parents). His brother, played by Johnny Knoxville, is on the exact opposite side. He spent his childhood being dragged outdoors by his dad, and now can’t understand why ANYONE would want to go camping. Neither is receptive to the other’s point of view, and it gets old pretty fast. As someone who avoids the outdoors like most people avoid ex-spouses, insurance salesmen, or death, I can still see the appeal to those who do enjoy rolling around in the dirt with snakes, mosquitoes, and killer bears. It’s just not for me, but it is absolutely appealing to others. The characters in Nature Calls see the subjective matter as black and white. Why? I guess to make the script work. But it still doesn’t. Heaped on top of the two leads’ character flaws is a tone that doesn’t know what level to hit. The vulgarity and violence say this is a movie for adults, but the simple moral (“Go outside kids!”) and multiple youths in the cast make it seem like it could be a kids movie. It doesn’t work as either, and I blame the lack of focus for ruining both of the film’s ambitions. One highlight—Rob Riggle. The former Marine has popped up in more supporting comedic roles over the past two years than any other actor I can think of. I’ve always found him amusing, and even laugh-out-loud funny on occasion, but most of the time I just felt he wasn’t in the right role. He is here (somehow, considering he’s still a pretty big jackass), and he steals every scene. He also attended the screening with director Todd Rohal and single-handedly saved it from incredible awkwardness. After the moderator stepped aside immediately and a few audience questions bombed, Rohal tried to keep the conversation going by asking his own questions to the cast. Riggle then sent the crowd into hysterics with a well-timed and intentioned, “What the f**k is with these questions?”. It may not have saved the film, but it sent the crowd out with a smile.www.popmatters.com/pm/post/155902-sxsw-day-3-the-streak-continues
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Post by Tara on Aug 12, 2012 8:03:30 GMT 10
The new issue of Entertainment Weekly (their fall movie preview issue with the Twilight stars on the cover) says Nature Calls will be released on November 9th. It was just a one-line blurb, no mention of Maura.
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Post by sissa on Aug 26, 2012 10:30:34 GMT 10
Magnet hears 'Nature Calls': Shingle acquires North American rights to Todd Rohals's comedyAugust 24, 2012|Dave McNary | Variety Magnet Releasing has acquired North American rights to Todd Rohals's comedy "Nature Calls," starring Patton Oswalt, Johnny Knoxville, Rob Riggle, Patrice O'Neal (in his final film role), Maura Tierney and Darrell Hammond. The film was written and directed by Rohal ("The Catechism Cataclysm") and produced by Lisa Muskat. David Gordon Green exec produced with David Bausch, Michael Clark and John Hodges. Oswalt stars as a Scoutmaster whose apathetic troop ditches a scout meeting in favor of a TV-themed slumber party hosted by his brother and nemesis, played by Knoxville. Magnet will release the film on VOD platforms on Oct. 4 with a theatrical release to follow on Nov. 9. The deal was negotiated by Magnet/Magnolia's Dori Begley with Cinetic Media and CAA. articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-24/entertainment/sns-201208241519reedbusivarietynvr1118058268-20120824_1_north-american-rights-oswalt-stars-magnet
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Post by Tara on Aug 27, 2012 2:08:36 GMT 10
I love that they're doing an early VOD release, it'll be nice to not have to wait until November to see it. Thanks, sissa.
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Post by sissa on Aug 28, 2012 0:21:11 GMT 10
Magnet answers Nature Calls for North America24 August, 2012 | By Jeremy Kay Magnet Releasing has picked up North American rights to Nature Calls starring Patton Oswalt, Johnny Knoxville, Rob Riggle, Patrice O’Neal, Maura Tierney and Darrell Hammond. Todd Rohal directed and Lisa Muskat produced the comedy. David Gordon Green served as executive producer alongside David Bausch, Michael Clark and John Hodges. Oswalt stars as a Scoutmaster whose brother lures his young charges to a TV-themed slumber party. Chaos ensues. “Nature Calls holds its own with the best low-brow comedy classics,” Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said. “Well directed with a truly funny cast, this is going to be a late night favorite for years to come.”Magnet will release the film on Oct 4 through its Ultra VOD channels, with a theatrical release to follow on Nov 9. Magnet/Magnolia svp of acquisitions Dori Begley negotiated the deal with Cinetic Media and CAA. www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/magnet-answers-nature-calls-for-north-america/5045699.article?blocktitle=Latest-news&contentID=1846I think this is the first time I read something nice about this movie.
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Post by sissa on Sept 20, 2012 22:39:51 GMT 10
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Post by Tara on Sept 20, 2012 23:07:26 GMT 10
Love, love, love her in glasses! She looks fantastic. Thanks, sissa!
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Post by sissa on Oct 19, 2012 23:44:25 GMT 10
Review: ‘Nature Calls’ Can’t See the Laughs for the Treesby William Goss October 18, 2012 Todd Rohal’s “The Catechism Cataclysm” was a bit of an odd duck, ostensibly a tale of a canoeing trip gone awry while doubling as a shaggy dog story about shaggy dog stories themselves. His follow-up, “Nature Calls,” is odd in its own way — namely, for how comparatively conventional it is. Randy (Patton Oswalt) is the proud leader of Boy Scout Troop 5516, even if there isn’t much of a troop left to lead. The boys are sick of camping out in parking lots (their moms won’t entrust them to actually venture into the wilderness), and Randy’s brother, Kirk (Johnny Knoxville), already offers all the TVs they can watch and all the sweets they can stand by way of celebrating the one-year anniversary of adopting Dwande (Thiecoura Cissoko). With dear old Dad dying, Randy decides that one last proper outing is in order, and he sways nearly all the scouts to join him on a real camping trip. The problem is, Kirk and all the kids’ parents see that as something akin to kidnapping and take off after him. Writer-director Rohal basically commits to a “Meatballs”-like vibe, with grown-ups cursing at kids and kids eager to curse right back. He’s certainly enlisted a proven comedic cast — Rob Riggle, Darrell Hammond, Maura Tierney and the late Patrice O’Neal round out the ranks — and he has plenty of subjects to skewer: parental panic, spoiled youth, all-around modern indulgence. The line of identical minivans outside a McMansion is about as damning a sight gag as there can be, and I got a kick out of the notion that today’s kids might be reluctant to put out a man on fire because they just assume it must have been done digitally. Yet, as capably as the plot comes together, the big laughs hardly come. Things never get as outright surreal as they did in “Cataclysm,” and nor should they for the story at hand, but a like-minded stab at playful sacrilege feels a bit too easy and a subplot involving Tierney fending off a far younger suitor echoes a similar gag executed more amusingly in 2001’s “Wet Hot American Summer.” Oswalt gets to do his dorky-earnest thing, Riggle reprises his hotheaded routine, and as a misogynistic, nature-hating lout, Knoxville suffers the brunt of abuse like a champ. All the pieces are there: funny people doing wacky things in a film that serves as an improbable bridge between this year’s super-sweet “Moonrise Kingdom” and the much raunchier “Wanderlust.” At just under eighty minutes, “Nature Calls” doesn’t really waste any time; still, I’m not entirely sure that it’s worth your own. “Nature Calls” is currently available On Demand and will open in select cities starting November 9th. Grade: C www.film.com/movies/nature-calls-review
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Post by Tara on Oct 22, 2012 22:13:41 GMT 10
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Post by sissa on Nov 13, 2012 0:12:56 GMT 10
Out This Week: From '28 Hotel Rooms' to 'Starlet,' 10 Reviews of New ReleasesBY INDIEWIRE - NOVEMBRO 8, 2012 ... "Nature Calls" A crude ode to Boy Scouts and camping, Nature Calls is (thankfully) an antidote to this year’s other missing scout film, the twee Moonrise Kingdom. Cult filmmaker Todd Rohal mines obvious humor from the adults—Randy (Patton Oswalt), his brother Kirk (Johnny Knoxville), and Kirk’s buddy Gentry (Rob Riggle)—behaving inappropriately (e.g., cursing) in front of their pre-teen charges. The plot involves Randy taking Dwande (Theicoura Cissoko), Kirk’s adopted African son, on an unauthorized camp out in the woods with a group of inexperienced 10 year-olds. Nature Calls is most amusing when it is offensive, mocking racial and sexual tensions as well as boorish masculinity and helicopter moms. Knoxville’s uptight Kirk gets to act like a jackass, and a scene of his ass catching fire, or flying through a windshield allow the stuntman in him to shine. Oswalt plays things rather straight, but it is hard not to detect a sly satire to his performance. In support, Maura Tierney, as Kirk’s exasperated wife, steals the film, responding with Marge Simpson-like class, rolling her eyes at both the macho bullshit and the odd advances of a young boy. Nature Calls may be more mild than wild, but that doesn’t detract from its guilty pleasures. Criticwire grade: C+ [Gary M. Kramer] Opens Friday in Los Angeles. Released by Magnet. Watch the trailer below: ... www.indiewire.com/article/out-this-week-from-28-hotel-rooms-to-starlet-10-reviews-of-new-releases#nature calls
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Post by Tara on Nov 13, 2012 23:15:36 GMT 10
I watched it last night and Maura looking great in it was pretty much the only highlight. Otherwise, it was terrible.
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Post by Martine on Nov 14, 2012 5:05:54 GMT 10
I watched it last night and Maura looking great in it was pretty much the only highlight. Otherwise, it was terrible. Exactly what I expected
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Post by sissa on Nov 14, 2012 23:50:10 GMT 10
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