Mushroom tourism? Is that a thing? And would Americans really journey all the way over to Ireland for that purpose? I haven't done enough drugs to answer those questions. Maaaaybe?
As you'd expect they venture into the Irish woods for their mushroom excursion. And no, their trip is not a good one.
For the record I've ingested a hallucinogenic substance exactly one time, and I have absolutely no desire to repeat the experience. What I felt and saw during that extremely unpleasant evening long ago I have no desire to ever feel or see again.
A former hitman takes on one last job. You might remember star Frank Vincent from Goodfellas, and there are a couple character actors from other mob movies in the cast as well. It doesn't get off to the best start (that scene in the strip club somehow demeans the rest of the movie), but once the main characters are established this film is on firm footing.
Fun Fact: Frank Vincent appeared in three Scorsese movies, these being Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino. Both he and Joe Pesci briefly worked as studio musicians before appearing in movies, and for a time they even performed as a comedy duo known as "Vincent and Pesci."
5. The House Bunny (2008)
I was prepared to hate this gender-flipped update of Revenge of the Nerds, but as it turns out it's very funny. Anna Faris shows both great promise and great comedic timing in the lead role, and her costar Emma Stone was, in 2008, on the cusp of a storied career in film.
Fun Fact: Beverly D'Angelo is in this.
Underground dwellers menace settlers in the Dakota Territories. As Westerns go it's a slow burn, but I liked it a lot. Reminded me of Bone Tomahawk.
7. Hancock (2008)
I hadn't seen this since it first ran in theaters, and I'd have to say that it's improved a bit with age. In 2008 most of us were measuring Hancock against films such as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight or even the first Iron Man, and Hancock definitely suffered by comparison. This said, it's definitely not a bad film and it did try to do something new with the genre.
Fun Fact 1: Before Will Smith took on the lead role, Dave Chappelle was almost cast as Hancock.
Fun Fact 2: The original draft of the script was vastly different from the finished product. It was a dark, harrowing account of a young boy helping an alcoholic (and suicidal) superhero. Some of those who read it likened it to Leaving Las Vegas.
This parody missed it by that much, didn't it? It came out the same year as both Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, but at the time no one knew just how BIG the MCU was going to become.
As it is Superhero Movie mostly riffs on Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Some of the X-men and Fantastic Four characters are in it too, and they're even referenced by name.
It's a mildly funny movie. If they'd only waited a couple years they would have had a lot more material to work from.
Pretty sure I saw this one in the theater. Pretty sure. Not 100%.
Whatever the case, John Cena stars as a New Orleans cop pursued by a vengeful terrorist, and it all pans out as you'd expect. By now we all know that John Cena can carry a movie, but in 2009 this proposition was far from certain, and he turns in a serviceable performance here.
Fun Fact: Renny Harlin directed this. In case you're not familiar, he was the director behind Die Hard 2, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (!) and Cliffhanger.
10. Fool's Gold (2008)
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson trade on their collective sex appeal in this story of sunken treasure off the Florida coast. Critics hated it, and it didn't make a great deal of money, but it passes by pleasantly enough.
I have to say, however, that the subplot involving Donald Sutherland and his (extremely attractive) daughter is far more interesting than the Spanish gold, McConaughey's faltering marriage, or whatever's going on with Kevin Hart and his goons. Sutherland steals every scene he's in, and the actress playing his daughter is so hot she manages to make even Kate Hudson look average.
11. Blood and Bone (2009)
Hats off to guys like Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins. They've burrowed into a very, very specific niche from which they're not likely to emerge. Super buff martial arts guys in love with complicated fight choreography and practical effects are an endangered species, and conservation efforts are underway.
Blood and Bone is like two thirds of a decent 80s action spectacle separated by a mediocre second third which most won't pay any attention to. For the record White is a decent actor, and his nemesis in Blood and Bone, Eamonn Walker, is an even better actor, but yeah, that middle part wasn't doing either of them any favors.
12. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner star in this update of A Christmas Carol. If it wasn't for Michael Douglas and Emma Stone this movie would be a lot worse than it is, but given their presence in the cast it's better than it has any right to be.
13. What Happens in Vegas (2008)
Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher get hitched after a night out on the town in Sin City. It's dumb, it's borderline offensive, but it does muster up a few funny scenes and bits of dialogue. Critics hated this one too, but it went on to make a lot of money regardless.
Fun Fact: Zach Galliafanakis is in this for a few minutes. He'd appear in the first Hangover the following year.
One of the most expensive German films ever made and also one of German cinema's biggest disasters. Audiences in Germany really weren't feeling the positive spin put on Germany's role in the Great War, and The Red Baron wasn't well received internationally either. I will say that the aerial battles are amazing, even though the story's a bit thin and the characters are less than engaging.
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