andPOP » Zach Galifianakis

Zach Galifianakis Teams Up with John Lithgow and Will Farrell in New Movie

Natalia Buia — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:24:18 +0000

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The guy who stole our hearts in movies like The Hangover and Due Date is coming back to the big screen, playing opposite John Lithgow and Will Farrell in “Dog Fight”.

Den of Geeks writes that Galifianakis and Farrell will play “two inept politicians battling for a seat in the North Carolina district election.”

The political dark comedy will also star Dexter’s John Lithgow but no word yet on what his role is all about. All we can assume is that it’ll be hilarious.

If you loved watching all three of those Austin Powers movies way back in the day, you may be pleased to hear the same director, Jay Roach, is behind “Dog Fight”.

Movie Review: The Hangover II

Christian Allaire — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:58:09 +0000

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So I decided to check out “The Hangover II,’ the widely-anticipated sequel to the original box office smash.

As hilarious as the first movie was, I didn’t have high hopes for this film. Sequels are never as good as the originals, and in this case, I predicted that the film would be the exact same format and journey the ‘Wolfpack’ took in the first film. I was correct.

Let’s get the plot out of the way, though. This time around, right after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu’s wedding. Stu’s plan for a subdued bachelor party, however, goes seriously awry when they wake up the next morning. In a hotel. In Bangkok.

Of course, out-of-this-world revelations are discovered throughout the movie, such as face tattoos and missing body parts. Funny things happen. People die. But the film is almost exactly the same as the first; they wake up, someone is missing, they try to find him, then funny things happen. The end.

The film tends to push the envelope even further this time around (I won’t give anything away, but it’s definitely up there in shock-factor.) I will say the movie definitely delivers on that front, providing even more shocking and crazy situations. But aside the shocking moment or two, the film really is the same bag of tricks at the first one.

I know, I know, what did I expect from the flick? An oscar-worthy plot line? But they could have at least come up with some new material. Hey, it if it worked the first time, I guess they’ll keep milking it while they can.

Of course, Zach Galifianakis’ character Alan saves the film with his off-beat humour and very, very stupid comments. He is worth the price of admission alone.

So if you’re looking for a good laugh or to be entertained, by all means see the film. It’s a great movie to see with your friends. But don’t expect to be blown away or to laugh harder than the first film, because you won’t.

In fact, you’ll laugh less, unless you’re the kind of person who can watch something 80,000 times and laugh at it every time. I give the movie 3 out of 5 stars, just because it made me laugh a few times and delivered what I expected it to.

Zach Galifianakis Does ‘Heroin’ On Bill Maher’s ‘Real Time’

Christian Allaire — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:13:02 +0000

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Zach Galifianakis did ‘heroin’ on live television on Friday, taking a hit on Bill Maher’s ‘Real Time.’

Promoting his new film ‘The Hangover: Part II.,’ Maher decided to make Galifiankis live up to his hard-partying character’s ways and experiment a little with heroin.

To up the ante from Galifianakis’ infamous October appearance on the show, during which he lit up a fake joint to advocate for the legalization of marijuana, Maher took out a tray of heroin for the star, who was instantly game.

Of course, the heroin was fake, but it was another memorable TV moment for the wacky duo. And it definitely got an awkwardly-laughing response out of the audience.

Do You Want Zach Galifianakis T-Shirt in ‘Hangover Part II’

andPOP Staff — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:41:54 +0000

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Do you like Zach Galifianakis’ t-shirt in this scene from “Hangover Part II?” Well he wears it throughout the movie, and you can have one of your very own.

PopCandy reports that the wardrobe department for the movie bought the shirt on CafePress. The Yellow Lab tee is just $20, and certainly completes any wardrobe.

And don’t forget the movie open May 26.

The Hangover II Trailer is Released

Christian Allaire — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:00:50 +0000

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The full-length trailer for “The Hangover: Part II” has arrived. The film stars original cast mates Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha, and they are back for another round of crazy mishaps. This time, in Bangkok, Thailand.

If this trailer looks a little like the first one, you’re right on the money. Many of the scenes we’re seeing in this new trailer are very reminiscent of the first film – they get drunk, they wake up in a strange place, they loose someone, they find a monkey instead of a tiger.

But there are enough new differences to make the movie feel fresh: For example, Stu’s tattoo instead of a missing tooth. Yikes.

I’m sure everyone is very excited for this movie – it was a huge success the first time around. But I have to ask, will it be as funny the second time? Does waking up hung over really stay funny when done over and over again? My guess is yes, but it really shouldn’t be. Oh well, check out the trailer below. The film is set for a Memorial Day release, on May 30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ab0Y9odZ8

Zach Galifianakis Ignores Jennifer Aniston

andPOP Staff — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:40:41 +0000

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We are huge fans of Zach Galifianakis. He recently filmed a new episode of ‘Between Two Ferns’ on Funny Or Die, with Tila Tequila and Jennifer Aniston as his guests.

More or less Galifianakis ignores Aniston and calls her “Jennifer Anderson.” Awesome!

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Tila Tequila from Between Two Ferns

Bill Clinton Gets a Hangover

Megan MacKay — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:45:06 +0000

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Radar Online is reporting that former president Bill Clinton has shot a cameo for The Hangover 2. Clinton joined the film’s stars Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper in Thailand this weekend to shoot a few short scenes for the upcoming flick.

Clinton delivered a speech on clean energy in Bangkok before joining the boys on set.

Bill Clinton was a way better choice for a cameo than Mel Gibson. Plus, with all due respect, Clinton seems like the kind of guy that knows how to party.

We can’t wait to see the movie now!

Zach Galifianakis Smokes Pot on Bill Maher’s Show

andPOP Staff — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:41:31 +0000

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We love Zach Galifianakis and we love Bill Maher. So when the two come together, its only inevitable something hilarious and outrageous was going to happen.

And it did! During the episode, Maher was discussing the legislation of marijuana with Galifianakis along with a bunch of other conservative types opposing the decriminalization of the drug.

“It’s a tricky thing politically to jump on that bandwagon [and vote for the legalization of pot] because I think that maybe people still see it as taboo,” said the ‘Hangover’ star.

Then Galifianakis pulled out a joint, lit up and puffed away. Hilarious!

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Movie Review: ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’

Megan MacKay — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:14:28 +0000

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The art of producing a comedy-drama is a delicate one. Tell too many jokes and you run the risk of your message getting lost. Go too serious and the audience may feel bogged down in the story or worse, ripped off by your lack of gag material. There’s a fine line filmmakers have to walk in order to achieve success in this hybrid genre, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make a winner. “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” opening October 8th in Toronto and October 15th nationwide, walks the razor thin tightrope with the unshakable balance of past genre stars. It may be a little early to call it a sealed deal, but the film based on Ned Vizzini’s popular novel of the same name is most definitely in the running to become this year’s Little Miss Sunshine or Juno equivalent.

The film tells the story of sixteen-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist), an imaginative overachiever who’s struggling under the pressures from his family and academic career. After experiencing a particularly vivid suicidal fantasy, Craig decides to check himself into a mental health clinic. Shortly after he’s admitted, Craig finds out that due to ongoing hospital renovations the youth ward has been temporarily closed – meaning that he’ll be spending his 5-day stay intermingling with both teen and adult patients. The situation is daunting for Craig until he meets Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), a 36-year-old fellow patient who decides to mentor Craig through his stay. Craig also bonds with Noelle (Emma Roberts), a suicidal teen with an affinity for Radiohead and line drawings. With the help of Noelle, Bobby, and the rest of the ward, Craig reprioritizes his life and discovers that beauty and happiness can be found in the most unexpected of places as long as you’re brave enough to go looking for it.

The terms “suicidal” and “mental health” tend to send up red flags for people. The topics are touchy at best, and if not approached in precisely the right way they can make a film come across as downright offensive. Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck tackle the subject matter flawlessly, creating a film that allows the setting and circumstances step aside to make room for the stunning characters their actors and writers have created. It’s explained why each patient has checked into the hospital but their illnesses don’t take centre stage, a technique that allows almost everyone on screen to portray wonderfully multi-dimensional individuals that refuse to be defined by “what’s wrong with them.” Zach Galifianakis in particular delivers an absolutely incredible performance that totally blew me away.

Galifianakis obviously brought a dash of humour to his role (if you’re a fan of his comedy work, keep an ear open for his almost-mandatory Werther’s reference), but he also brought an incredibly grounded sense of humanity that made him a total show-stealer. Comedy fans will also love Jim Gaffigan’s brief-but-crucial appearance as Craig’s workaholic father, a role that proves Gaffigan’s got some versatility too.

Be warned, though: there’s an indulgent lipdub number to the tune of Queen/Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” If you’re not prepared for all the glitter in Vegas to be represented on one screen at one time, you may want to head out to the snack bar for that particular five minutes of the flick. But despite being over-the-top, the number isn’t jarring in the slightest. The scene feels fitting and fun within the confines of the movie – no “WTF why” moments here, just straight thumbs-up.

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story” is exactly that – kind of a funny story that ends up becoming kind of the perfect movie. As a huge fan of both the book and anything Zach Galifianakis has ever touched, I left the theatre feeling exponentially happier and totally fulfilled. Don’t miss this one – you’re going to want the “I saw it first” bragging rights when the time comes.

Movie Review: Youth In Revolt

Ilan Mester — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:20:38 +0000

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Finally: a movie where Michael Cera doesn’t play Michael Cera. Well, sort of. In “Youth in Revolt,” he still plays his signature awkward-to-the-max character — only this time, a bad-ass is added to the mix. And that bad-ass just so happens to be played by Cera.

Based on the cult-classic novel by C.D. Payne, the film directed by Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl,” “Chuck and Buck”) tells the story of Nick Twisp (a.k.a. Cera), a self-lamenting high schooler who sees everyone around him getting some action but fails to lose his virginity.

Nick isn’t your stereotypical teen. His playlist includes songs by Frank Sinatra and he enjoys classic prose. Nick meets the girl of his wet dreams, the beautiful Sheeni Saunders (played by Portia Doubleday), during a “family vacation” (it’s less glamorous than it sounds — you’ll understand once you see the movie).

However, Sheeni has a stuck-up poetry-writing prick of a boyfriend and in order to win her over, Nick has to get in touch with his dark side. You see, Sheeni likes her men bad and we’re not talking high school bully bad, we’re talking brash French playboy bad, and that’s exactly what Cera becomes. He adopts a mustache-baring, Euro-pant wearing, smoker alter-ego who goes by the name of François Dillinger.

Troublemaker would be an understatement when describing François. He convinces Nick to do the most unrealistic things involving cars (I won’t ruin the surprise). But more importantly, Cera himself is relatively convincing as François. He’s mastered the nebbish teen character in movies like “Juno,” “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playist,” and “Superbad,” but François may very well be his ticket to varying roles. The scenes involving Nick and François are by far the funniest ones. Still, the movie counts with a talented supporting cast who help keep the ball rolling.

Three-time Emmy-winner Jean Smart plays Nick’s promiscuous mother, “The Hangover’s” Zach Galifianakis plays her boyfriend, Justin Long plays a druggy, Steve Buscemi is Nick’s father, Ari Graynor appears in “Youth in Revolt” as well (she previously co-starred with Cera in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” as Norah’s very funny drunk friend) — and the list goes on. Newcomer Portia Doubleday is charming as Sheeni and holds her own with Cera.

While entertaining, “Youth in Revolt” isn’t a movie that will renovate its genre. However, Cera fans will have plenty of awkward moments to rejoice and for those of you who aren’t Cera fans, well he may just win you over with François. One thing is for sure: we can definitely forgive him for starring in “Year One.”

Bradley Cooper’s ‘Hangover’ Well Earned

Jeremy Singer — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:00:38 +0000

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Bradley Cooper gained two important things from shooting his upcoming hyped summer comedy flick The Hangover.

The first being his now refined Yoda-like knowledge of throwing the perfect bachelor party- which he says should include condoms, a muppet, and lots of ice.

But the second, and by far gaining the most buzz, is Cooper’s promotion of a lifetime from a working actor, to well, a movie star.

Only, if you ask the humble 34-year-old North Philly about the hype, you’ll suddenly be hauled back down to earth.

“I don’t feel any of that and maybe I should,” Cooper tells andPOP modestly, trying to keep the excitement at bay. A failed attempt, considering Warner Bros. Entertainment already gave the green light to a sequel in 2011 even before the current film hits theaters on June 5.

“I will admit this though,” he says, “I do have a bigger role in the movie than usual which I really liked.”

A lot bigger. Try the de facto lead role or “the cool alpha-male character,” as co-star Ed Helms puts it.

Cooper stars as Phil, the front-man of four buddies who head off for a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas. But how wild? Well imagine waking up the following morning only to find your groom missing, your memory from the night before erased, and your $4,000 Vegas hotel suite trashed, to say the least.

Though “trashed” is generally an understatement when a chicken is waddling around the living room, Mike Tyson’s pet tiger is in the bathroom, and an abandoned six-month-old infant is crying in the closet.

“That set design was literally crazy” recalls Cooper. “We had a bowling alley, an amazing castle made out of cards that would have taken months to do, and there was also a whole other castle made out of beer bottles. So much detail.”

Adds the actor, “And the fact that they nixed the whole bachelor party sequence, makes the story so appealing. With the group trying to find clues as to what happened the night before- it’s almost like a detective or mystery story.”

Moving up on Hollywood’s totem pole, Cooper’s role required two crucial assets: superb comic timing and leadership, both which the actor had in spades.

His well-known ability in the comedy genre is evident. With supporting roles in Wedding Crashers, Yes Man, and He’s Just Not That Into You, Cooper knows how to make people laugh- but was long overdue to be given the reigns.

Sure enough, Director Todd Phillips -known for his work in Old School, Starsky and Hutch, and Road Trip- knew Cooper’s potential, and was 100% sure that the actor was a born leader and ready to prove it.

“I was really impressed with him (Todd),” says Cooper. “He has this ability to know what he likes and wants, and then get the most of of people.

“It definitely took some convincing from him to help me embrace the role, I just wasn’t feeling it right in the beginning. Phil’s just that guy who reeks of leadership, the guy who everyone turns to to solve everything.”

It’s a funny predicament considering Cooper is one of those actors who you would call a total contrast to their characters on-screen. Sure, his resume of roles in films tend to be the cocky, rowdy ringleaders, but here at the Windsor Arms hotel in Toronto, the guy couldn’t be more gentle and sincere if he tried. Beats him why he’s usually cast as the “jerk,” but Cooper explains how the character in The Hangover is different.

“You eventually realize,” says the actor, “that Phil doesn’t really go there to sleep with hookers and stuff, but that he’s an elementary school teacher and also a caring father.”

“He used to be a party guy- with the girls, booze and Vegas- but now he’s going along with the ride and trying to make his friend’s bachelor night the greatest. His buddies mean everything to him.”

Cooper found he was able relate to that kind of character, as those were the kinds of figures he had in his life as a kid growing up in an Italian/Irish family in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

“I knew fathers like that,” says Cooper, who would later on graduate with a B.A. in English from Georgetown University in 1997, and then a Masters in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio at New School University.

“You know they talk the big game, but they’re at every little league game, they have complete love and care for their children.”

With an initiation into the business in a 1998 episode on Sex and the City, Cooper has since then managed to swiftly maneuver through times as a supporting guy in someone else ’s hit movie- whether it be Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn’s Wedding Crashers, Matthew McConaughey’s Failure to Launch or Jim Carrey’s Yes Man.

This time though, with the scales tipped in his favor, Cooper was the one fortunate to have a thriving supporting cast: fresh up-and-coming faces like Helms (NBC’s The Office), Zach Galifianakis (The Comedy Network) and Justin Bartha (National Treasure).

“Such funny guys,” says Cooper. “I tell you, we had such great chemistry, we played off each other perfectly.”

Stuck in Vegas for a month-and-a-half in the Fall, it was a combo destined to get lucky. But despite the endless entertaining opportunities in Sin City, Cooper reveals that with exhausting 16 hour work days, the crew rarely indulged and went out on the town.

“We never had anytime to go out after shooting,” he explains. “It was a lot of work, we would just get some sleep.”

Well almost. “We did crash Nick Cannon’s birthday party though,” Cooper says with a smirk, referring to the party hosted by Cannon’s wife Mariah Carey at PURE nightclub.

However, on cue, the actor refrains from elaborating on any further details, and only gives the age-old mantra “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”