Showing posts with label Stephen Herek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephen Herek. Show all posts

Friday, December 26, 2025

PICTURE THIS (2008)

 


Directed By: Stephen Herek

Written By: Temple Mathews 

Cinematography: Bernard Couture 

Editor: Robin Russell 


Cast: Ashely Tisdale, Robbie Amell, Lauren Collins, Kevin Pollack, Shenae Grimes, Cindy Busby, Marie-Marguerite Sabonqui, Angela Galuppo


Rich, handsome team captain Drew Patterson, the high school's dream prince, like his elder brothers before, tires of the haughty head cheerleader and shows some interest in nerdy nobody Mandy Gilbert. For her, his invitation to the party of the year of his parental estate bodes instant social promotion, but her overprotective father Tom grounds her for dishonesty. She's as determined to get in anyway with friends' help as her rival's pack to prevent that and dad to guard her. Furthermore, there's a dooming rumor about the Patterson boys.

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Now let me start this review off by saying that,  I am obviously not the normal audience for this film as I am an adult male, so I am aged out when it comes to this film and this is definitely aimed at a more teenage audience, teenage female in particular, even though as the film plays, it even seems a little too soft and innocent for them. This is something I could more imagine, preteens or children, even watching as it would make more sense to them as it just has a innocence about it even the race scenes or subjects aren’t something you would worry about too much.


The film is a starring vehicle for Ashley Tisdale who is one of the stars of Disney’s high school the musical smash hit TV movie and it’s sequel now I’m not sure if they started as a Disney original or not though would place for that kind of audience. 


The film is rather basic paint by numbers you’ve seen this all before just with different Hijinx and little adventures that all seem to take place really within a few days, which is where some of the logical problems of the film come in whereas this the school hunk who dates it seems like the queen be most popular girl is telling this girl who has lead low on the social scale and never seem to really talk. all of a sudden he’s professing that he really likes her and that how special she is and really if this was true why did he wait for the last year of high school towards the end of the year before they graduate and B? Why doesn’t he just break up with his girlfriend first, so that there would be no hijinks but then again then there would be no movie.


To tell you the truth, the only reason I watch this is because two cast members from the grassy the teenage melodramatic soap opera that I am a big fan of were in it. Shanae Grimes and Lauren collins. Who played Tisdale‘s best friends and offer quirky, comedic, and loving support.


Ashley Tisdale does have star quality though this script and doesn’t really help her shine though she is watchable the film is acceptable even though the script or film might be too juvenile for even her core audience at the time. 


what are the major problems of this film? Is that her arrival? The queen bee who was the most popular girl in school? I don’t feel like would put so much attention to taking her down if she was really secure, but of course, since there’s a team movie at heart it shows that she’s insecure and not to mention the rival isn’t even a challenge when it comes to looks, she seems rather bleach, blonde and generic and way too old to be playing high school school student. Then again, so does the male elite who’s the dream guy Robbie Amell. But I digress.


luckily, the film never comes off as offensive, so it can easily play with most audiences and some might find its silliness cute and it is directed by journeyman director Stephen Herek. (BILL AND TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE) So you have to give the film credit as at least it’s competently directed even if the material isn’t the greatest. i’m not really going to write this film only because it would be unfair as normally I might give it a low grade but again to a certain audience this might be the greatest thing ever made and if you’re watching it either you have kids or you’re watching it by accident or you’re really into these sort of films so it doesn’t really matter what I have to say.


Hopefully Ashley Tisdale returns to start them again, cause she definitely has the talent and the energy to truly be an effective actress full of personality

Friday, December 19, 2025

OUR LITTLE SECRET (2024)

 


Directed By: Stephen Herek

Written By: Hailey DeDominicis

Cinematography: Graham Robbins 

Editor: Heath Ryan 


Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Joe Rudnitsky, Kristen Chenowith, Tim Meadows, Judy Reyes, Katie Baker, Dan Bucatinsky, Ash Santos, Henry Czerny, Chris Parnell, Kurt Yue 


Avery and Logan haven't spoken in the 10 years since they broke up. As Christmas approaches, they discover that their new partners are siblings, and both of them have been invited to stay with the family for the holidays. Avery proposes that they keep their past a secret to avoid any awkward confrontations, but hiding the truth turns out to be more difficult than it seems--and spending time together reignites old sparks.

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The film Has the screwball comedy concept down. 

In veteran director Stephen Herek’s hands makes what could have easily been insufferable into something more memorable. Very formulaic 


It get’s a bit racy but never over the edge and stays quite clean. Though goes a few places you wouldn’t expect, but keeps its subjects and targets soft. After all it is a movie aimed at the holidays for families for the most part. 


I will admit I watched this movie mainly to se actress Lindsay Lohan. I was a fan when I was younger and was alway rooting for her through her turmoil with fame, but always thought she was talented and had the skills. 


So I looked forward to her many comebacks. Luckily they have recently seemed to stick, but mostly here does what is required. She comes across a bit stiff and too poised. Especially when she needs to throw herself into it more. 


The film Is filled  with reliable recognizable and reliable actors who the audience  will instantly recognize. 


It’s a Sweet romantic comedy that is a bornvoer the top yet relatable. As most of the characters throughout are holding secrets. None that small they are all quite devastating in the end. 


Which at least leaves the movie with some gravity. As most of the other gags seem forgettable and never quite Go for  the full damage or gambit of consequences, but still Manages to leave a smile on your face. 


Grade: C+

Thursday, July 7, 2022

ROCK STAR (2001)

 


Directed By: Stephen Herek  Written By: John Stockwell Cinematography: Ueli Steiger  Editor: Trudy Sharp 


Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Dominic West, Timothy Spall, Dagmara Domincyzk, Jason Flemyng, Timothy Olyphant, Matthew Glave, Michael Shamus Wiles, Beth Grant, Stephen Jenkins, Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson, Zakk Wylde, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick, Amy Miller, Rachel Hunter, Heidi Mark, Carrie Stevens, Carey Lassard, Kristin Willits 

The lead singer of a tribute band becomes the lead singer of the real band he idolizes.

Friday, November 17, 2017

DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD (1991)



Directed By: Stephen Herek 
Written By: Neil Landau & Tara Ison 
Cinematography By: Tim Sushrstedt 
Editor: Larry Bock 


Cast: Christina Applegate, Keith Coogan, Joanna Cassidy, Jayne Brook, John Getz, Josh Charles, Kimmy Robertson, Danielle Harris, David Duchovny, Concetta Tomei, Christopher Pettiet, Sarah Buxton, Michael Kopelow 


Single mother goes away for the summer. The kids are first delighted but then find that Mom has hired the sitter from hell to stay with them. When the sitter dies of a sudden coronary they deposit the body at a mortuary only to discover all their summer expense money was in her purse. The kids must find a way to survive the summer without mom or her money. This means actual work!

Friday, March 31, 2017

THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS (2015)



Directed By: Stephen Herek 
Written By: David Paterson 
Based on the Book By: Katherine Paterson 
Cinematography By: David M. Dunlap 
Editor: David Leonard 


Cast: Sophie Nelisse, Kathy Bates, Octavia Spencer, Bill Cobbs, Julia Stiles, Glenn Close, Billy Magnussen, Zachary Hernandez 


A feisty foster kid's outrageous scheme to be reunited with her birth mother has unintended consequences in The Great Gilly Hopkins, an entertaining film for the entire family. Gilly Hopkins has seen more than her share of foster homes and has outwitted every family she has lived with. In an effort to escape her new foster mother Maime Trotter's endless loving care, Gilly concocts a plan that she believes will bring her mother running to her rescue. But when the ploy blows up in Gilly's face it threatens to ruin the only chance she's ever had to be part of a real family.