Weekend Movie Alert: “I Love You, Man” and “Knowing”

By Akela Talamasca on March 20th, 2009

It’s time once again for a look at a couple of this weekend’s opening movies. This time around, we’ve got “I Love You, Man”, the latest Paul Rudd comedy vehicle. If it seems a little cynical to call it a vehicle, keep in mind that I’ve been a Paul Rudd fan for many years. He’s always been kind of a niche actor — “that guy”, you might call him. You knew him when you saw him, but wouldn’t necessarily know his name.

Now he’s getting a lot more recognition and chances to star, with roles in “Knocked Up” and “Role Models”. But these aren’t exactly top-notch scripts; light comedy fare, popcorn-able, hardly offensive but wont make critical lists. In the end, though, I might decry the type of movie, but I’m glad he’s getting work. “I Love You, Man” looks cute, and I’m sure Rudd will do well in it. Go take your girlfriend, wife, or date to see this and all will be well.

The second movie opening this weekend with some interest behind it is “Knowing”, starring Nicolas Cage. Apparently yet another movie based on the work of Philip K. Dick, “Knowing” seems to be about a mathematician professor who unearths a time capsule containing secret code that prophesies the end of the world.

Isn’t it funny that it’s always the one person who can decode the secret that finds it in the first place? If this thing had been found in the middle of Podunk by some illiterate hayseed, he’d have used it to light his stove and then tossed the rest away, and we’d be without a movie. I guess we ought to be grateful.

We can also really enjoy the hilarity that is Nicolas Cage’s hairstyle. Every movie he’s put out in the past, oh, 5 years or so has had its share of cringe-worthy follicular follies. Remember the trainwreck that was NC’s toupe in “Next”? What the hell was going on there? It was like someone flung a marmot pelt at his head one day and the director said “LOVE IT!”

But I suppose that shouldn’t infringe on our enjoyment of “Knowing”, if it turns out to be enjoyable. But I am getting a little tired of these bombastic, hyperbolic end-of-the-world kinds of movies. I just want NC to go back to doing weird roles like in “Adaptation” and “The Vampire’s Kiss” — that’s the Nic Cage we love!