Love crappy movies but are too ashamed to admit it? Are you a big Rob Schneider fan but you're tired of being burned? Not sure if you want to waste your money on the same old movie? That's why you have Joe.
Joe Loves Crappy Movies is by Joseph Dunn. Joe willingly goes to see the very worst that Hollywood has to offer. Whenever a crappy movie comes out Joe will be there to see it, make fun of it, and actually review it. Nothing is safe, and nothing is sacred. From the big budget action disasters to the low brow fart based comedies, to anything starring Martin Lawrence? Joe will tear it apart.
With each entry you'll get not only a comic poking fun at the movie, but also a detailed review. Joe's not educated in film or cinematography or acting, he's just a guy that draws comics and likes movies. So if you're looking for the everyman perspective and a little joke in comic form... you're in the right place.
I’ve only run a few guest comics in the history of Joe Loves Crappy Movies. For no particular reason other than I don’t really like to bother or burden people with it. Even though I love doing the occasional guest strip myself I tend to assume people will hate reciprocating. Blame it on my self-deprecating life style. I’m grateful for every guest strip I’ve ever received and have happily run them all but I’ve seen the gruesome end of guest strips in the past and I’ve heard horror stories from friends about receiving strips that look like crap, don’t make sense and are just plain unfunny.
This is always the risk one takes when putting out a call for guest strips or agreeing to accept one. This is the fear I faced when a few months back Justin Castaneda asked me if I’d be willing to run a guest strip from him. I may be over-selling it, I mean, I wasn’t shaking in my boots expecting the worst. I approached it with a very, “Sure, why not?” kind of attitude. In fact I’m sure if we could find the e-mail of my response it would almost definitely say at some point, “Sure, why not?”
Truthfully I took a look at his art, saw he could sling a brush and figured that, even on his worst day it couldn’t be any worse than the garbage I’m doing on a regular basis. (Sorry I’m obligated to institute that self-deprecation every 10 to 12 sentences.)
Last week Justin sent me the strip and I was floored to find the perfect guest comic submission. It was formatted correctly, everything was spelled wright (relax, that typo is a joke) it looked gorgeous and it was funny. And if that weren’t enough he even took the time to watch a movie and write a review! A JLCM Guest Comic FIRST! I was pleased as punch and honored to be the recipient, even if I didn’t deserve it. (sometimes I push it up to every 4 or 5 sentences…)
Big big thanks to Justin for the comic above and the review below. Please show him that the indie comic community can share the love and support by visiting his site and saying hello. Head on over to Justin’s Art page where he’s got a killer new Thor print that went up this morning. And if you live in the Ohio area and are planning to attend Mid-Ohio Comic Con this weekend you gotta stop by and give him a high-five for me.
Thanks to Justin for the hard work and to you good folks for stopping by.
50/50
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, BDH and Anna Kendrick
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
50/50 is the story of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27. The film goes through the personal struggle he faces and how it affects those around him. Will Reiser, the writer of the film, was diagnosed with a spinal tumor, and this movie was based on his experiences. What I liked about the movie was how well it balanced the comedy and the drama. It never got fatally over dramatic or overboard slap sticky. The film was really low key and down to earth. If anything, the comedy of the film made the audience feel comfortable especially after scenes with Adam fighting his illness. This is also a good movie to watch with an audience. The movie kept you really invested emotionally. You were laughing and tearing up through out the film. You felt part of the cast, this inner circle of friends, in watching this traumatic experience and the effect it has on their relationships. Seth Rogen does a fantastic job of being himself, which isn't a surprise since Reiser and Rogen are friends in real life and this movie is based on their friendship. Anna Kendrick, who plays Adam's therapist, does a fantastic job of being insightful and a little bit quirky. She becomes the glue who keeps Adam from disassembling, especially after Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) can no longer provide the support he wants.
Rating: 8 out of 10
50/50 is a terrific film that tugs on the heart strings and tickles the funny bone. Solid performances all around. Especially Anna Kendrick for being undeniably cute.
DVD Worthy:
If you like indie comedies and feel good movies. This definitely belongs in the collection. Did I mention Anna Kendrick being really cute?
Joe – The creator of the strip who has embraced giving crappy movies the chance they deserve. Like the majority of the cast he’s obsessed with boobs.
First Appearance - The Introduction
Yeo – Yeo is Joe’s wife and often the voice of reason in the strip. Having her act rational allows the rest of the cast to embrace being in a comic strip which primarily involves randomly punching people, interacting with fictional characters and talking about boobs. Yeo is smart, beautiful and way too good for Joe. Don’t tip her off.
First Appearance - Fever Pitch
Irv – Joe’s movie-going sidekick who’s always down for watching Jason Statham crescent moon kick some thug through a plate glass window and getting some drinks before after and during a Vin Diesel movie. Like the majority of the cast he’s obsessed with boobs.
First Appearance - Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
Agent 337 George Jones – A government Agent that took over for Joe after he was bad-mouthing President Bush in the V for Vendetta strip. George ran the show for over a month bring a much needed sense of patriotism and justice to both the strips and reviews. He eventually got too attached to his work, empathizing with Joe’s plight to give crappy movies a fair shake. In a way he came to love crappy movies as well and was pushed out of the position. He spiraled out of control and ended up in prison. His adventures will be told in the limited series JLCM Presents: 337 Locked Up which is set to début Christmas of 09.
First Appearance - V for Vendetta
Other Notable Appearances: Stay Alive, Ice age 2, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Slither, Here Comes Guest week, Let’s Go To Prison
Leonidas – The former king of Sparta who has traveled into the future and is having trouble coping with the modern times. Yelling loudly and kicking people into giant holes doesn’t really work the same way it did in the olden days. As time as gone by he’s adjusted but it’s a safe bet that he’s always one bad message away from throwing a spear through someone.
First Appearance - 300
Other Notable Appearances: Four Brothers, Strip# 300, The Golden Compass, Rambo, Untraceable, The Ladies of Max Paybe
Palpatine – Former Senator, Emperor of the Galactic Empire, Sith Lord... He shows up in the Joe Loves Crappy movies galaxy on occasion to let people know that they’re being stupid. No one’s really sure how he shows up in this universe but chances are it breaks all kinds of copywrite laws.
First Appearance - Episode III: The Dark Side
Other Notable Appearances: Four Brothers, Night Watch, Saw 3, Are We Done Yet
Slow Billy – Billy is a sweet kid but he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you’re watching him for the day be prepared to explain to him the plot of the movie or how popcorn works or, not so much where babies come from, but what babies are. He’s a complete moron.
First Appearance - Four Brothers
Other Notable Appearances: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Da Vinci Code, Vantage Point, Journey to the Center of the Earth
Kyle the Movie Snob – Be careful what fun facts about movies you tell your friends at a friendly gathering or in line for the latest blockbuster, because if you’re even slightly wrong, Kyle will be more than happy to let you know. He usually gets what’s coming to him though. Poor guy has cracked three ribs since joining the JLCM cast.
First Appearance - Ultraviolet
Other Notable Appearances: 16 Blocks, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Transformers, Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jean-Luc Picard – Another lawsuit waiting to happen is Jean Luc Picard who, towards the end of the strip’s first year, became the go-to background character. If there was ever a seat to fill or a random person to place wandering around in the background, nine times out of ten it was Picard. While Picard has crossed paths with Irv he and Joe have never met. Perhaps they will some day but for now just can an eye on the background.
First Appearance - The Producers
Other Notable Appearances: I’m not telling you, that’s no fun. It’ like Where’s Waldo – go find him!
Ice Cream Sandwich – Delicious and… deadly? Usually when you see someone eating an Ice Cream sandwich, someone else is experiencing a substantial amount of pain. Still, how nice is an ice cream sandwich on a hot summer day?
First Appearance - Saw IV
Other Notable Appearances: Bee Movie, Run Fatboy Run, Saw V
