Zombies got domesticated in 2007 with Fido.
When a cloud of space dust causes the dead to rise as ravenous zombies, the ZomCon Corp. emerges to conquer the creatures and domesticate them to become menial workers and pets for humans. Now, in an idyllic town, a skeptical boy (K’Sun Ray) finds a best friend in his family’s new fiend, which he promptly names Fido (Billy Connolly). But Fido’s control collar malfunctions, and the neighbors wind up on the menu.
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine, Timothy Dalton, Billie Whitelaw
Edgar Wright gave us one of the funniest (and smartest) comedies of 2007 with Hot Fuzz.
As a former London constable, Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) finds it difficult to adapt to his new assignment in the sleepy British village of Sandford. Not only does he miss the excitement of the big city, but he also has a well-meaning oaf (Nick Frost) for a partner. However, when a series of grisly accidents rocks Sandford, Nick smells something rotten in the idyllic village.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Amara Karan, Wallace Wolodarsky, Waris Ahluwalia
Estranged brothers Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) reunite for a train trip across India. The siblings have not spoken in over a year, ever since their father passed away. Francis is recovering from a motorcycle accident, Peter cannot cope with his wife’s pregnancy, and Jack cannot get over his ex-lover. The brothers fall into old patterns of behavior as Francis reveals the real reason for the reunion: to visit their mother in a Himalayan convent.
Before the film, we’ll be screening Wes Anderson’s short Hotel Chevalier, which takes place two weeks before The Darjeeling Limited and ran ahead of the film in its original theatrical run.
Teen pregnancy got real (funny) in 2007 with the Diablo Cody written, Jason Reitman directed comedy Juno.
When precocious teen Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) becomes pregnant, she chooses a failed rock star and his wife (Jennifer Garner) to adopt her unborn child. Complications occur when Mark, the prospective father, begins viewing Juno as more than just the mother of his future child, putting both his marriage and the adoption in jeopardy.
One of the Judd Apatow’s aughts comedies, Knocked Up came out in 2007 and made one-night stand pregnancies…funny.
Rising journalist Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) hits a serious bump in the road after a one-night stand with irresponsible slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) results in pregnancy. Rather than raise the baby on her own, she decides to give Ben a chance to prove he is father material. However, he is unsure if he is ready to be a parent, and both wonder if they would be compatible lifetime partners.
Beaches aren’t ready for this one!
Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and a brash new recruit (Zac Efron) uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay. Cue running in slow motion…
Based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, THE BIG SICK tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Kazan) after one of his standup sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) who he’s never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart.
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Chris O’Dowd
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a single woman whose own life is a mess, but when she learns that her lifelong best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), is engaged, she has no choice but to serve as the maid of honor. Though lovelorn and almost penniless, Annie, nevertheless, winds her way through the strange and expensive rituals associated with her job as the bride’s go-to gal. Determined to make things perfect, she gamely leads Lillian and the other bridesmaids down the wild road to the wedding.
Fresh out of prison for car theft, Dick Kanipsia goes to visit a fellow ex-con, Harry Moss, and arrives just in time to see him gunned down by faceless assassins. Dick tracks down Harry’s friend Barry (Peter Boyle), who reveals that he and Harry had a small fortune they entrusted to a shady investment expert years ago. Dick and Barry form an uneasy partnership and, with the help of a sexy drifter named Kitty, try to trace the money.
Money, egos, and the heroic attempt to create something out of nothing. Living in Oblivion follows the difficulties no-budget independent film director Nick Reve (played by Steve Buscemi) experiences in one day trying to get his dream film made. This is real life director Tom DiCillo’s second film that apparently gleans from the process of making his first film, Johnny Suede, starring Brad Pitt in 1991. Director of photography, lead actors and actresses, and even the catering company present annoying problems in this three-part filmmaking comedy.
