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A Guy Thing

A Guy Thing

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Very Bad "Thing"
Review: "A Guy Thing" is a sometimes funny, often tense comedy about everything going wrong with a soon-to-be wedded groom named Paul (Jason Lee).

The nightmares begin when Paul wakes up the morning after a wild bachelor party, sleeping next to a gorgeous dancer named Becky (Julia Stiles), with absolutely no memory of the night before. Paul warily tries to cover this up from his "big bucks" fiancée Karen (Selma Blair) and her loaded parents (James Brolin and Diana Scarwid). The dilemma becomes even more complicated when Paul discovers that Becky is his fiancée's cousin. Paul's trusted pal Jim (Shawn Hatosy) aids him through the crisis.


The movie was directed by Chris Koch ("Snow Day") and written by Greg Glienna ("Meet the Parents") and it infrequently has jokes that have stolen some of the qualities used in "Meet the Parents". But I can assure you that it isn't even half as exciting as "Meet the Parents".

In Paul's case, his control happens to be quite an act considering the fact that he must: hide Becky's thong in a toilet tank, pretend to have diarrhea while escaping from a second floor bathroom window, recover pornographic surveillance photos from an nosy minister, hide from the jealous fiancée's attack dog and handle a serious case of crab lice during an executive board meeting. But Lee does provide some funny lines, because acting seems to come natural to him. We noticed that when he performed his breakout role in the critically acclaimed film, "Almost Famous", in which Jason Lee played the lead singer of a 1970's rock band called Stillwater.

It is dreadfully hard to believe that it took 4 writers to create such an in elaborate piece of ... film. And I must say that there is a very small amount of humor or creativity shown to us in the audience, and yes I am speaking for everyone. This unexpectedly has gone on my "Worst Films" list. It will be added right under "Battlefield Earth". This really is not a "guy thing". It's more or less a "thing" that should have never become a "thing". "A Guy Thing" is one of the worst films of this year and might you remember that the year has just started.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Could Have Been Better!
Review: "A Guy Thing" is more of a formula than a story. It increases more on the rules of romantic comedy, and it decreases on originality. It stars Jason Lee, Julia Stiles, and Selma Blair. None of the actors I had a problem with, but the storyline could have had alot of work done to it. The movie could have been much better if it ignored the standard features of a romantic comedy. If this movie dared to be original, it would have been so much better. The movie did have some funny moments, and good characters, but I have seen this kind of movie before, and I want to see it done better. The movie could be described by the movie's tagline. "Boy Meets Girl, Boy Meets Girl's Cousin." It's pretty obvious what the movie is about, and how the movie is going to end.

The movie is about Paul. Paul is an ad salesmen who is getting ready to be married in one week to Karen. He works for her father, Ken, and he is ready for his bachlor party which is being thrown by his brother Pete, and his friend Jim. The entertainment for the party are hula girls, and among them is Becky. Paul gives his groom hat to Jim, and the next mourning he finds himself in bed with Becky, because she doesn't know that he is the groom to be. Paul doesn't remember what happened between the two, rushes Becky out, and then finds Karen coming in seconds later. This begins a seris of lies that start by Jim telling him never to tell Karen what happened between him and Becky. The problem really starts at a dinner party with Paul's parents, Karen's parents, her Aunt Budge, and Karen's cousin who happens to be Becky. Paul has to have Becky assure him that she will never tell anybody anything about what may or may not have happened between them, but the situations gets complicated when Becky's crazy cop ex-boyfriend and gets jealous of him. As Paul's wedding day comes closer and closer, he tries to cover up everything that he lied about, so that this whole thing could end.

"A Guy Thing" is a pretty good movie, but has the ability to make it be better. It follows the three rules for a romantic comedy.

1)The main characters best friend needs to be the dumbest person in the cast.
2)There always has to be one character that knows everything that is going on.
3)The main character's othr half is always clueless until the end.

Those three things are in every romantic comedy including "A Guy Thing." It is alright for movies to be different. I enjoyed the movie and it was a great way to spead an hour and a half. It was funny, smart, it was well acted, and it had some original material, but other than that it was the same old thing. "A Guy Thing" was in the theatre, and I saw it there, but this movie is better to watch on DVD.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for language, crude humor, some sexual content and drug references.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Comedy of Errors
Review: "A Guy Thing" successfully follows, with a few changes, your standard romantic comedy formula.

THE STORY:

Paul's engaged to be married and as is custom spends the night out with the boys for the Bachelor Party. He wakes up the next morning with the stripper he met at the bar in his bed. Imagine Paul's shock when he learns the stripper is his fiance's cousin. Things get quite awkward for Paul and he tries to cover his tracks only to find himself getting deeper and deeper into trouble.

THE COOL THINGS:

Watching the awkward situations Paul gets himself into reminded me oddly enough of Ben Stiller's "Meet the Parents." Both movies have similar comedy and similar situations. There's a good reason for this as both movies have the same writer and as it turns out, this was written as the sequel to "Meet the Parents." Like in "Meet the Parents" Paul goes from outrageous situation to outrageous situation because he has problems telling the truth. Overall he's a nice guy who has same bad things happen to him.

BEST SCENES:

1. Crab medicine

2. Running from Becky and Karen at the dinner party

3. The Rehearsal Dinner "Hash"

4. Wedding Band screw-up

THE DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

Quite easily this is one of the best collections of DVD extras you'll come across. Here's what you get:

1. Audio commentary track with the director and main actors/actresses. Fun listen.

2. "Inside A Guy Thing" - 18 minute featurette where the cast and crew talk about the movie.

3. "Bachelor Party Confidential" - 8 minute featurette where the guys talk about the social meaning of the bachelor party. Deep stuff.

4. "Groovy Gravy" - 5 minute featurette where the cast and crew talk about the hilarious improvisation done during the rehearsal dinner scene.

5. 7 deleted scenes with director introductory commentary. Some good stuff was left out.

6. 3 alternate endings with director introductory commentary.

7. "Fun Fact" audio commentary track. Interesting stuff.

8. "Gag Reel with commentary" - 12 minute blooper highlights from the film.

9. "Are We Made for Each Other" Interactive Quiz. Fun, but potentially dangerous, game to play with your loved one.

10. Photo Galleries

11. Theatrical trailer

12. Trailers for other films

THE VERDICT:

Overall, the movie's just fun for a watch and this stacked DVD makes it a great purchase if your inclined to do so. Like "Meet the Parents" the comedy is just hilarious. The love story behind the film is somewhat predictable but the joy is in getting to the end. The stacked DVD extras are a blast to get through. Overall, if you're into romantic comedies that feature more comedy than romance you'll love this film. This is perfect for an evening/weekend rental or if you're inclined, a fine addition to your DVD collection.

GRADES:

The Movie: 4 stars
The Extras: 5 stars

Total: 4.5 stars

Highly Recommended

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Only Julia Stiles Shine in This Clithed Romantic Comedy
Review: After his "bachelor party" (but guys, are you still doing this these days?) ... anyway, Jason Lee's character finds that he is not alone in bed in the morning. Beside him somehow Julia Stiles (in dancer's costume) is asleep, and he is going to marry Selma Blair in a week. So, what would he do?

This is so predictable that you might miss the old, trashy, sex comedy "Bachelor Party" back in 1984 (starring very young Tom Hanks). Actually, "A Guy Thing" is not that noisy; it is a romantic comedy, but it forgets to show its romantic side. The good thing is, Jason Lee is quite a likable fellow, amiable and charming, and so is Julia Stiles. At least she is better than that dismally self-indulgent "Hamlet" remake, and clearly the filmmakers know that she is the most precious thing in this film. OK.

But "A Guy Thing" often looks like a casuality of the trend these days -- I mean, 'gags' first, then actors' chemisty last -- the film staggers from one set-piece to another, with extremely low score. These pieces are not funny (to me, of course), but more irritating thing about the film is it does not convince us that Lee and Stiles (or Blair for that matter) could be in love with each other. They do not talk like real man and woman.

Most annoying is the desperate attempt to use "ex-love-turns-up-unexpectedly" device. And if that ex-love turns out a mean-spirited cop, what can I say? It only spoils the feel-good nature of the film (and I simply refuse to believe that sweet Julia Stiles was, even for a moment, in love with such a bully). And to make matters worse, the film throws in another familiar device of 'radio' to frame a guy ... hey, but, is this supposed to be a romantic comedy?

It is a kind of miracle that Julia Stiles remains lovely and sweet all through the film. No one would blame her not doing her job ... whatever it may be. If you're a fan of her, see it. Certainly she is cute (in dancer's dress, particularly), but as a film, it's a total failure.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: UGHH!! WASTED TIME!!!
Review: Although the promos were good this was a HORRIBLE movie! There were a few funny parts, but pretty much it felt like they were gearing it to a lower intellectual audience say maybe 5 year olds!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: You get what you pay for.
Review: Contrary to the overly critical reviews posted on this site, this film is enjoyable. It is predictable, yes. But so are all the rest of the films in this genre. If you want the next Citizen Kane, then I'd question why you're looking for it in a contemporary Romantic Comedy.

That said the film is decidedly average. Jason Lee sets a different tone as the leading man. He's a joy to watch but seems slightly out of place throughout. He manages to pull it off in this film, but just barely. Julia Stiles was a good counter-point to Lee's charm. Her understated performance seemed to match Lee every step of the way. Together they almost make you believe some of the more unbelieveable aspects of the film. The soundtrack is quite nice as well. Filled with songs by some of the better rock groups around, such as Wilco and Spoon. As previously stated, the plot is rather predictable. However it is standard in the tradition of romantic comedies and shouldn't count against the film. It's an average film with that considered.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Aren't you tired of this yet?
Review: He's getting married to the brunette, but OH! He's falling in love with the Blonde he cheated on his fiancee with. Who can guess what might happen? And, as if that weren't enough, there's MORE outrageousness! One set of in laws is rich and cultured, and the other is white trash! Oh boy, can you IMAGINE what might happen when those two get together? WHOA! These writers are totally "off the hook!" There's even a wacky best friend who gives the NUTTIEST advice to the protagonist you've ever heard. Oh my GOODNESS! If you rent this movie, strap yourself in for the WACKIEST, CRAZIEST ride of your movie life!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Looks cute, but its really dull
Review: I admit that I did not watch this to the end, but before you give me a bad rating....let me say I watch most of the begining and found it to be very dull. A Guy Thing is not funny at all.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Didn't laugh once, though Julia Stiles is pretty.
Review: I hate Jason Lee.

I don't think he works as an Everyman Schlub, though someone in Hollywood must think people behave like this. I don't think he works as an effective Best Friend character, which he's frequently cast as in Hollywood. He's not a romantic leading man.

The situations in A GUY THING are implausible from the outset. The crabs scene is tacky, implausible and incredibly dumb. Who thinks a guy scratching his crotch is funny? Who finds underwear jokes original?

Selma Blair deserves much better. (Why is she never cast as a romantic lead? Why is she always The Pill or Sidekick Girl in these kinds of movies? She's pretty and conveys intelligence. Why is she doing this sort of movie?)

Julia Stiles has done much better. Only her scenes have the slightest bit of charm.

Awful. Predictable. Irritating. Avoid it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: my views vs the critics
Review: I liked It Allot. I Just Got Back 50 Minutes Ago And I Thought It
Was A Funnier Version Of Meet The Parents. I Laughed Out Loud 2/3rds Of The Movie. Just Go See It.


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