Forewarned

Any new film starring Matthew "king of the empties" McConaughey exudes toxicity, but his latest -- Ghost of Girlfriends Past (New Line, 5.1) -- looks especially grotesque. The thought that some will certainly pay to see it makes the mind go into a fetal tuck. Here's a brilliant critique of the trailer by Burbanked.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 1, 2009 at 11:48 AM

comment #1

JapAdapters Author Profile Page says ...

I'd rather punch myself in the face.

Posted by JapAdapters Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 11:59 AM

comment #2

Ryansi51 Author Profile Page says ...

oh my god girls are gonna eat this shit up with no need for utensils.

it validates every thought they've ever had about an ex; that he'd come crawling back if he could only see what he was missing.

At least it has an original concept.


Posted by Ryansi51 Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 12:12 PM

comment #3

cinefan Author Profile Page says ...

The trailer definitely screams "enormous piece of turd". It's very disappointing to see Jennifer Garner take a step backwards in her career after her very winning and affecting performance in Juno.

Posted by cinefan Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 12:23 PM

comment #4

Sabina E Author Profile Page says ...

He's still hot and fine-looking.

Posted by Sabina E Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 12:36 PM

comment #5

Sabina E Author Profile Page says ...

and i second that, Cinefan. Jennifer Garner seems like a genuinely nice person and I liked some of her performances.

She deserves better than that.

Posted by Sabina E Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 12:36 PM

comment #6

George Prager Author Profile Page says ...

Movie Bob says...

So I'm assuming nobody SAW the movie, right? Cuz, the fact that it's actually pretty good for it's genre and budget might have something to do with it. MIGHT. It's no classic, but the main character is genuinely sympathetic - you WANT to see him get the girl in the end. which gets surprisingly brutal - and it stays admirably far away from pop-culture referencing and smug "whatever"-ism for it's humor in favor of oldschool slapstick.

The fact that what amounts to a one-joke sketch expanded into a PG-13 feature works at all is further testament to Matthew McConaughey's very real comic chops, though since he already stole two whole movies out from under Ben Stiller and Al Pacino one wonders if that really needed further proving. He has the makings of a Tom Hanks (or Clooney - LOVE to see him work under the Coen boys come to think of it...) save that he hasn't yet hit on an Volunteers/Turner & Hootch level script yet.

Posted by George Prager Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 1:01 PM

comment #7

Jonah Author Profile Page says ...

"He's still hot and fine-looking. "

God, I hate it when people just look at men as sexual objects. It's sexist you bunch of fucking cunts.

Posted by Jonah Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 1:14 PM

comment #8

vjp81955 Author Profile Page says ...

At last, the feminist equivalent of "My Super Ex-Girlfriend." What treacle!

Posted by vjp81955 Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 2:44 PM

comment #9

Chicago48 Author Profile Page says ...

It looks like a lot of fun; I'm in.

Posted by Chicago48 Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 3:24 PM

comment #10

The Winchester Author Profile Page says ...

It opens against Wolverine. It's the movie guys will have to get dragged to if the girls don't wanna see sweaty Hugh Jackman with metal claws.

Sounds like a dark, dark weekend.

Posted by The Winchester Author Profile Page at February 1, 2009 5:45 PM

comment #11

Calraigh Bracken Author Profile Page says ...

I didn't think it was possible but McConaughey actually has a worse career trajectory than Kate Hudson.

Posted by Calraigh Bracken Author Profile Page at February 2, 2009 1:59 AM

comment #12

bfm Author Profile Page says ...

The film looks awful (and the critique of the trailer is brilliant), but two things make me wonder if it can really be that bad. One is Jennifer Garner who admittedly has pretty erratic taste in terms of the projects that she takes, but who gives appealing performances. But more than that, Michael Douglas. Maybe he's getting soft now, but usually he picks his scripts carefully and well. The producer side of him seems to have a good eye for what works.

Posted by bfm Author Profile Page at February 2, 2009 7:50 AM

comment #13

Burbanked Author Profile Page says ...

@George Prager: If there's a good movie, cleverly played out in a way we don't expect, this trailer is keeping it a big big secret. This clip simply portrays GHOSTS as - like you say - a one-joke sketch (and, BTW, not really that great of a joke) that goes exactly where you think it will. There's nothing in the trailer to suggest otherwise, so how exactly is it to be judged by the vast majority of not-Movie Bobs who haven't SEEN the movie?

Thanks for the link, Jeff.

Posted by Burbanked Author Profile Page at February 2, 2009 8:41 AM

comment #14

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

I used to not be into McConaughey, either, but after Tropic Thunder, I think I can stand him more than Richard Gere at least.

cinefan: You seem to forget that her work consists of Daredevil, Elektra, 13 Going on 30, and Catch and Release; so why are you surprised?

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at February 2, 2009 1:51 PM

comment #15

htownjohn Author Profile Page says ...


This one plus "500 Days of Summer" appear to be destined to pair up as the Double Feature of the Week on a continous loop in Hell.

Posted by htownjohn Author Profile Page at February 2, 2009 4:11 PM

comment #16

Doug Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff,
I think it's pretty clear to your readers you just hate romantic comedies, so there's really no point in your bashing each one that comes along.

Posted by Doug Author Profile Page at February 3, 2009 3:29 AM

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