7th grade, but he still suffers with feelings of inadequacy, and he longs to reach the form of popularity he thinks his teenage brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) enjoys. Rodrick has his own garage band, the infamously named (and spelled) Loded Diper, and drives a van that looks like it overstayed its welcome at Woodstock. He`s also a really devious sort whose fave pasttime is terrorizing Greg and his best friend Rowley (Robert Capron).
Episodic in nature, the film begins with flustered mom Susan (Rachael Harris) devising a “buddy system” plan wherein Rodrick and Greg will be constrained to do a lot of activities together, and in return receive “mom dollars” just for trading in afterwards for real cash. Rodrick immediately figures out how to back the system, but Mom and Dad (Steve Zahn) are fooled in complacency. That is, until (for readers of the series) the infamous melted chocolate bar/chinos/church scene. Admittedly sophomoric, it`s also very funny, the precise form of horror any kid would fear. (Any adult would also remember an equivalent embarrassment in his or her own life. Enraged, Mom and Dad ground the boys, which, of course, leads to Risky Business-type scenarios and a very amusing bit about a replaced bathroom door.
While lacking some of the influence of the Kinney books, which can actually work you laugh out loud, Rodrick Rules captures the life of sibling rivalry and hostility to a T. This I know-I grew up with dozens of siblings, and I make four sons. Some years you question how siblings get through without heads being shaved, or, in the cause of Greg, being blackmailed with a videotape of him run through an assisted-living facility in his tighty whiteys. Greg is a believable 7th grader, one who`s yearning for something like maturity and, again, popularity, which sometimes leads him to make vantage of the good-natured Rowley. Once again, Capron brings enormous energy and sweet to this character; despite a small extra weight and a truly guileless personality, Rowley usually ends up more successful and well-liked than the hapless Greg. The film ends on the distinctive line of fraternal love and friendship, but just because it`s expected, doesn`t get it any less enjoyable.
‘American Idol’ fans, Taio Cruz needs your help! The British R&B crooner has been tapped to do an original song at the May 25 finale and ‘God’ wants fans to pen the lyrics!
Beginning tonight, fans can listen to the possibility of Taio’s new line on the official ‘Idol’ site and take their own original lyrics. The competition will have four submission phases yielding three finalists, which fans will choose among.
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Gary Walts / The Post-StandardArt Palermo and Allison Palermo-Record recently recreated the Shuffles Special, a pizza originally made by Art’s brother and Allison’s father – Albert ‘Shuffles’ Palermo. From 1995: A protection to ‘Shuffles’ Palermo
New York-style pizza, with its thin center crust and puffy edges, perfect for folding up and feeding on the run, is classic. So is Chicago’s deep-dish.
It’s been six seasons since ‘American Idol’ featured the medicine of Elton John, but with what’s being touted as the best work of gift the evidence has always seen, the issue of the “Rocket Man,” seems to be in order.
Choosing from Elton’s vast catalog of hits is an intimidating assignment. While the ‘Idols’ may be on their own as they comb through Elton’s classics, I’ve left choosing the kids’ songs this week to those better versed in his wonderful accumulation of big hits and deep cuts.
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Comedian Russell Brand stars in the upcoming remake of Arthur, in the office of the title character made illustrious by Dudley Moore back in 1981.
Brand – a recovering drug and sex addict himself – took to sniffing drinks to make for the use of the drunken, immature playboy who potentially gives up a billion-dollar inheritance to avoid an arranged marriage in favour of a lowly waitress.
When it comes to reach a vast amount of mass and getting exposed to possible new fans, American Idolis about as big of a point as there is these days.
So when Idol invited NASCAR drivers Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne to attend Thursday night’s results show, both drivers were beyond thrilled to go.
“Man, that was awesome,” Bayne said.
There was a sentence when Casey Abrams was naught but a charming creature with bushy hair and atrusty melodica. Blessed with serious skills, he was the form of brilliant goof everyone automatically had a space for in their hearts. But by Wednesday of this week, he’d been reborn.
Steven to formulate the collection of the medicine our eleven would be singing over the following two hours. It was Motown night, baby. “It only made me wishing to make out with girls,” Steven said, his haggard face split into a grin.
Motown, it was repeated, is all about feeling it. As the singers got down to look it, the judges obediently piled on the superlatives. It’s become clear that superlative-piling is their chosen method for judging the season. Only Randy will function to kick that a song wasn’t well “at first,” but eventually, he’ll take it did go into the better performance of the night, by the best vocalist in the competition.
Last night, there were exactly 11 best singers. Casey Abrams heard there isn’t anybody like him right now (in the world, was the implication); Thia has something in her no one could have expected; Jacob Lusk gave his best performance of the season; Lauren Alaina “ripped that song another beauty mark”; Stefano is both “the best” and had “no real emotional connection with the audience,” which is a tricky combo to rip off; Haley can get her voice “do more than anyone’s in the competition;” Scotty’s low notes “tweak everybody”; Pia is “the nearest star in this American Idol universe” (close is good); Paul McDonald’s “got a charge in his voice” (a rupture is too good); Naima is “the solid package”; and James Durbin left J. Lo speechless, “which is a difficult matter to do,” she said. It certainly is! Look at all that praise she and her friends heaped!
Unfortunately for the contestants, the judges’ glowing opinions don’t really matter anymore. Last night may not even matter, since, despite themselves, the judges were right. Everyone seemed to be feeling it. Big picture-wise, this leaves Haley and Naima in the trickiest spot. Haley sang a strong “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me” (heavy on the growls), but she’s been in the bottom three twice now, a book no one else holds. Naima has one of the weakest voices, and is a wild-card entrant/ bottom-dweller herself. But her perseverance in putting together fully-formed shows for the multitude could pay off as a distraction. Last night she busted into an African dance in the centre of “Dance in the Streets.” (Can just anyone request African drummers or is Naima pulling some strings?) It gave J. Lo her first rash of goosebumps, and was fun, if not totally polished. But is it adequate to balance Naima against 10 others who all turned out what the judges swear were the best performances _ ever? Is anyone’s, for that matter? Read the rest of this entry »
Paul McDonald did his thing this week as he off the Motown hit “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles into a folksy rock version.
While I prize the unique qualities of McDonald`s voice and see his smile and personality infectious – I have yet to know him as a performer.
This saddens me because I actually need to know him.