Shameless Self Expression

Ed Helms and Owen Wilson play twin brothers (!) of very opposite personalities, the sons of Glenn Close who had lied to them throughout their lives about their father being dead. Now the brothers go on a road trip to meet mum’s list of ex-lovers to figure out which one of them might be their daddy. The rogues’ gallery includes a former NFL player (Terry Bradshaw, natch), a veterinarian (Christopher Walken), and a tattooed repo man (J.K. Simmons). Harry Shearer is wasted as Close’s current beau, whilst June Squibb plays Simmons’ wife.   Did it catch me in a weak moment? Did the critical drubbing give me low expectations going in allowing it to clear a very low bar? Or did I simply just enjoy this 2018 comedy-drama from debut director Lawrence Sher (who was the cinematographer on “The Hangover” , “War Dogs” , and “Joker” ) and screenwriter Justin Malen ( “Office Christmas Party” )? Yeah, I’m gonna go with the latter for now. I laughed, I had a good time, and I think it’s mostly ...

Josh Duhamel and his supposedly adult dude-bro pals (Dan Bakkedahl, Nick Swardson, Kevin Dillon, James Roday Rodriguez, and Dax Shepard) compete in an annual series of frat boy-derived obstacle courses. One year the obnoxious Dan Bakkedahl (a frequent winner of the games) gets particularly painful to endure with his grotesque victory celebrations. It pisses off both Nick Swardson as well as Bakkedahl’s wife enough that the latter takes a paintball gun and shoots the jerk in the testicles while he’s ‘tea-bagging’ a fellow competitor. Swardson takes the blame to protect his repulsive friend’s marriage. Cut to five years later and Duhamel is told by Bakkedahl’s mother that he is suicidally depressed and the only thing that might cure him is to have another Buddy Games. Duhamel reluctantly agrees to get the gang back together, minus Swardson at Bakkedahl’s request. Naturally Swardson finds out and turns up anyway. Let the games begin! Olivia Munn plays Duhamel’s disapproving wife.   ...