Jones, Huston join 'Big Year' comedy

The cast of David Frankel's upcoming comedy "The Big Year" is growing as the film heads into principal photography. Rashida Jones, Anjelica Huston, Rosamund Pike, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Anderson and Tim Blake Nelson are all jumping on board, joining Steve Martin, OWen Wilson and Jack Black.

Also part of the project are Jim Parsons, JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy and possibly even Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale. "Big Year" follows three dudes launching into a bird-watching competition. The film is based on Mark Obmascik's book "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession." (Variety)

Steve Martin to watch birds in 'Year'

Steve Martin will join Owen Wilson and Jack Black in David Frankel's comedy "The Big Year," which follows three dudes launching into a bird-watching competition. The film is based on Mark Obmascik's book "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession."

Howard Franklin wrote the script. Frankel, who also helmed "The Devil Wears Prada," recently directed "Marley & Me." Martin, who co-hosted the Oscars last weekend, last starred in "It's Complicated." (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)

Movie Review: “It’s Complicated”

Seen on: December 25, 2009

The players: Director: Nancy Meyers, Writer: Nancy Meyers, Cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell

Facts of interest: Meyers previously directed "The Holiday."

The plot: Jane and Jake have been divorced for 10 years. Chaos erupts when the two start having an affair.

Our thoughts: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin offer a trio of wonderful performances in Nancy Meyers’ new comedy “It’s Complicated,” a simplistic, yet quite charming and overall mildly entertaining film about what happens to a divorcee when she engages in a passionate affair with her ex-husband. 

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This week's new movie releases - Dec. 25, 2009

Opening this week are "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr., and Nancy Meyers' "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin.

SHERLOCK HOLMES (with Robert Downey Jr.)

Synopsis: In a dynamic new portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

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Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin to host Oscars!

Last week we learned Hugh Jackman would not host the 82nd annual Academy Awards, and while I didn't care too much about that, I admit I'm pretty excited about the new hosts for the upcoming show.

Ladies, and gentlemen, give it up for Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, who will co-host the Oscars March 7, 2010. Telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman made the announcement earlier today.

"Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event," they said.

“I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin,” Martin said. He and Baldwin will soon be seen onscreen together in Nancy Meyers' upcoming comedy "It's Complicated."

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Trailer for Nancy Meyers' 'It's Complicated'

Here's a rather interesting trailer for Nancy Meyers' latest comedy "It's Complicated," starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Blanchard Ryan, Lake Bell and Rita Wilson. Here's the synopsis:

Jane (Streep) is the mother of three grown kids, owns a thriving Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant and has—after a decade of divorce—an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, attorney Jake (Baldwin).

But when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, things start to get complicated. An innocent meal together turns into the unimaginable—an affair. With Jake remarried to the much younger Agness (Lake Bell), Jane is now, of all things, the other woman.

Yeah, sounds pretty intriguing right? To be honest, it looks quite refreshing as well. Meyers' more recent credits include "The Holiday" and "Something's Gotta Give," and I enjoyed both of these flicks. "Complicated" opens Dec. 25, 2009.

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'He's Just Not That Into You' takes box office lead

Ken Kwapis' latest comedy "He's Just Not That Into You" topped the North American box office Friday with an estimated $10.5 million in ticket sales.

Featuring a cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin and Scarlett Johansson, the film follows a bunch of individuals discovering new truths about dating and married life.

At No. 2, Pierre Morel's thriller "Taken" scored another $6.3 million, lifting its total haul to $39.3 million after one week in theaters. Following in third place with $4.5 million was Henry Selick's 3D stop-motion adventure "Coraline," based on the book by Neil Gaiman.

Meanwhile, new entry "Push" debuted at No. 4 with $3.5 million, beating "The Pink Panther 2," which only made it to fifth place with $3.3 million. The latter stars Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau, who's on a mission to find a thief and retrieve the stolen Pink Panther diamond.

Other results from Friday's box office: "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" takes No. 6 with $2.7 million, while "The Uninvited" pulled $2.1 million in seventh place. Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" finished at No. 8 with $1.9 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Movie Review: "The Pink Panther 2"

Seen on: February 7, 2009

The players: Director: Harald Zwart, Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Steve Martin, Cast: Steve Martin, Aishwarya Rai, Andy Garcia, John Cleese, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno

Facts of interest: Zwart also directed "Agent Cody Banks."

The plot: Inspector Clouseau is assigned to lead a team of detectives trying to track down a thief who stole precious treasures, including the Pink Panther diamond.

Our thoughts: “The Pink Panther 2” is just as worse as its disastrous predecessor. Nope, Steve Martin is still not funny as Jacques Clouseau, and yes, the script is still incredibly amateurish and utterly boring. Indeed, if you cherish your money, don’t waste it on this sequel.

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Trailer radar: ‘Pink Panther 2’

Yahoo! today premiered the new trailer for Harald Zwart’s upcoming sequel “Pink Panther 2,” a film I am not at all looking forward to.

Steve Martin and his horrible French accent return as Insp. Jacques Clouseau, who embarks on another mission to retrieve the missing Pink Panther diamond. Jean Reno, Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina and Aishwarya Rai co-star.

At least that’s what I think he’ll do in the movie. The first “Pink Panther” remake was pretty much the worst film of the decade, and judging by this trailer, the follow-up won’t exactly be funny either.

In other words, the whole thing just looks like crap. Maybe you’ll get a laugh or two out of this, but I almost didn’t make it through the two minutes.

See for yourself after the jump. “Pink Panther 2” opens Feb. 6, 2009.

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Steve Martin boards Nancy Meyers project

Steve Martin is set to join Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in an untitled film written and directed by Nancy Meyers, according to Variety.

Not much about the plot is known at this stage, but Streep is expected to play a woman caught in a romantic triangle with the two men. Production on the Universal comedy is scheduled to kick off early next year.

Martin’s most recent credits include “The Pink Panther” and “Baby Mama.” He will reprise his role as Jacques Clouseau in Harald Zwart’s “Pink Panther 2,” due in theaters Feb. 6, 2009.

Meyers' directing credits include "What Women Want" and "Something's Gotta Give." She most recently directed Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law and Kate Winslet in the 2006 popular romance "The Holiday."

Martin has done some funny work over the years, but “The Pink Panther” was a career destroyer. Something tells me the sequel will suck big time as well.