“Dinner for Schmucks” Only Whets the Appetite.
A Film Review by Jason Gregg

“Dinner for Schmucks” has a clever title but it needed to spend more time on the main course. The audience is subjugated to almost one and a half hours of build up time before the dinner bell rings. It’s not time wasted though, the story does make good use of its two hour run time. However, I felt like I was on a plane taxiing down the runway trying to get up enough speed to take off and once in flight the plane kept dipping and then pulling back up; then it finally it made an abrupt landing and the flight was over. We are first introduced to Tim (played by Paul Rudd), an investment analyst, who is presented an opportunity to pounce on a new promotion at work. The story is set up as most business tales are told. The boss has an important client, the main character is presented with a once in a life time opportunity to prove his worth and so on and so forth. While in the process he learns something about himself.

The business men (one of whom is played by Ron Livingston from “Office Space” fame) are the typical jerks who will do anything to keep on top of the dog pile. In this particular dog pile they also like to pick on the smaller, weaker dogs. It just so happens that the big dogs are having their “dinner for winners” in a few days. Tim now has a great chance to prove to his boss he will go to any length to earn the new position. The catch is that he has to find a loser to bring to dinner. They then have a contest, unbeknownst to the losers, to see who the biggest schmuck is.

Tim finds his loser immediately the next day not by chance but because as Tim so wisely says “everything happens for a reason”. Welcome aboard, Barry (played by Steve Carell), here the story starts picking up a little steam. Barry has a unique talent of finding the positive in almost any situation, he mispronounces words that any 5th grader knows, works for the IRS and in his spare time works on his “Mouseterpieces”. A perfect fit for Tim. A “Mouseterpiece” is Barry’s taxidermy side projects where he takes dead mice and mounts them in familiar historical and everyday scenarios (i.e. The Last Supper, mice having a picnic, Whistler’s Mother, etc).

A lot of activity happens in that single night before the big dinner; Tim and Barry break into one of Tim’s girlfriend’s biggest clients’ homes and finds him in a weird sexual perversion act. Next Barry accidentally invites Tim’s ex-fling, Darla, over to the apartment and the first laugh riot is finally given to the audiences through a funny fight scene between Barry and Darla. Then it is on to the IRS to talk to Barry’s boss, Therman (played by Zach Galifianakis), who is also a self proclaimed mind reader. Have you noticed they still haven’t made it to the dinner yet?

The next day Tim has a brunch appointment with a potential multi million dollar client where Barry and Darla show up trying to smooth things over. Again the straight man, Tim, and goofy man, Barry, routine starts up and we are given another good laugh. It was a pretty easy set up; take a high pressure situation and place it in any restaurant that has a Maitre d’ next mix in a socially inept character such as Barry and something funny is bound to happen.

After all of this we are finally taken out to dinner. The peculiar thing was that the dinner only lasts 15 minutes. This was a shame because the story could have spent more time on the losers that came to dinner. There was some great talent there, one being Jeff Dunham, a humorous ventriloquist who has been working stand up clubs for the last two decades. It felt like the director (Jay Roach) should have pumped the brakes, slowed up and gave these losers some more screen time. We did get another laugh riot when Therman and Barry had an invisible shoot out between their mind reading capabilities. Then it was over with a nice epilogue to the story through Barry’s “Mouseterpieces”.

Should you see this movie? Ummm…OK, why not? There were some funny bits to it, the storyline was solid and the comedic actors were funny but didn’t have to try too hard for the jokes. Rudd plays a good straight man in these situations where Carell and Galifianakis can play off of him quite easily.

Opening reception August 6, 6:00-10:00 pm.
Show runs through August 27.
After August 6, viewings are by appointment only.

Plenum Space Gallery

504 E. 18th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
August 15, 2010

Contact: Paula Rose
Cell: 816-813-4688
Email: plenumspacekc@gmail.com

"My art is largely a mystery to me. I aim for precision of emotion, vibrance of color, and if I'm lucky a bit of chaos emerges. I rarely set out with an intention to communicate to anyone but myself, but genuinely hope that if I succeed at convincing myself, others will also feel the intensity of the inspiration. I like to work with an edge of fear that what I want to do is beyond my capabilities, and that I can do better with each painting in terms of taking chances. The subject matter and levels of realism are broad, but my voice comes through with the bold colors which define my work." - Jeanette Powers

Jeanette Powers is a graduate physics student at the University of Kansas and a self-taught painter. Her expressionist paintings are imaginative and intense and have been collected for the last ten years throughout North America. She enjoys representing chaotic motion and fluid dynamics in her paint application, without losing the focus of the mind. Portraiture is the mainstay of her work thanks to her belief in the importance of friends and family. Ms. Powers currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her family.

Dear Friends,

I want to invite you to join me in going Passionately Pink for the Cure®! It’s a great way to fight breast cancer.

All you need to do is wear pink and have fun by attending Get Your Pink ON, on Saturday August 7th 6-10PM at Alcott Arts Center and help support the life-saving work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® by making a donation. Together, we can help fund critical breast cancer research, as well as local education, screening and treatment programs that impact people in our community. We will go Passionately Pink by hosting an Art Show Fundraiser.

Come out and see work by many regional artists, listen to a live band, sign up for door prizes, enter a raffle for a massage package, T-Bones and Royals tickets, artwork, CD’s and more. Have a caricature artist draw your picture, or get a photo with Bobba Fett or a Storm Trooper that have also gone Pink! Listen to those tell their story and stop by the Komen booth for educational materials on early detection and risk factors. Remember, we are fighting for a cure!

If you have any questions, please let us know. And don’t forget to wear pink to Get Your Pink On! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Chuck Green - President
Alcott Arts Center

Go Passionately Pink for the Cure!

Wear pink. Have fun. Fight breast cancer.
passionatelypink.org

The Running Ribbon is a registered trademark of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
©2010 Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Blue Gallery August Exhibition:
Robert Striffolino

New Works

Opening reception, First Friday, August 6th, 2010 6-9 pm

Exhibition runs through August 31st, 2010

www.BlueGalleryOnline.com

Robert Striffolino "Waterscape VIII", oil on canvas, 60" x 44"

I was born in New York City in 1950, and raised on Long Island. In 1974 I received a degree in architecture from Ohio University. For many years I practiced architecture as well as painted before I was able to devote all of my energy towards painting.

Years ago I chose to focus on landscapes because I have always felt a tremendous affinity toward them. As a child, growing up in New York I was always trying to escape to a park. There among the trees and grass I could be alone and feel myself relax and breathe more fully. As I grew older, I came to understand this affinity as a spiritual one.

To me color is the highest and most subjective element of painting, but the real subject matter of my work is its emotional content. I try and locate an intense feeling about something, whether it is the physical dynamics of a particular location or the juxtaposition of colors or the light. Then I explore it further on canvas and journey with it, trying to understand more fully what the feeling is about, in a formal context. That is when the painting really starts.

- Robert Striffolino

Salt

A Film Review by Alexander Morales

Who is Salt? That’s supposed to be a very complex and intriguing question. Like, who is Jason Bourne? Or “What is the ‘Matrix?’” Or better yet “Who shot JR?” But unfortunately it’s not. In fact, it’s kind of a silly question.

“Salt,” the new movie directed by Phillip Noyce (“The Bone Collector,” “Clear and Present Danger”) and written by Kurt Wimmer (“Law Abiding Citizen,” the horrible “Ultraviolet,” and the interesting “Equilibrium”) is a wanna-be espionage thriller that attacks movie-goers in our softest and most vulnerable of places – national security. Starring the extremely malnourished and pasty Angelina Jolie,  “Salt,” tries extremely hard to be the next big thing is female action badassedness.

While the story tries to be deep, it’s actually pretty shallow. Girl is a kick-ass American agent that is qualified in everything that includes killing, fighting and whatever else CIA agents do. Girl gets accused of being a spy by a Cold War Soviet. Girl goes on the run. Things explode, people die, girl is unstoppable force. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Yawn.

To say that this film is based on over-reactions is an understatement.

You’ve actually seen this before, but usually it’s with a dude. See any of the “Bourne” movies, the television show “24” or even “Spies Like Us.”

Jolie as the accused and headlining Evelyn Salt does a good job carrying the film and handling herself within the usual action-dominated world of men. While looking a little frail, Jolie is able to outrun, outgun and out maneuver everything that the United States government is able to throw at her including a nuclear missile crisis. I love seeing tough women in films like this and Jolie is a great fit for this kind of role.

In comparison, her male counterparts look and sometimes act like the clowns that warm up the crowd at a Cirque du Soleil event. Liev Schreiber (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) as her commanding supervisor and Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Serenity”) as Peabody bumble and trip over themselves at every turn as they try to apprehend the ever-allusive Salt. At the same time, a small army of soldiers, security guards, CIA agents and so on, are made to feel the wrath of the women scorned which makes me ask one very important question – If Evelyn Salt is so good, why don’t they just train everyone the same way? Sure would cut down the cost of getting owned by a person who seems to only weigh 70 pounds when wet.

I’m just saying.

Action-wise, the film actually does pretty well. Of course it almost literally steals its action from a host of other movies, but still, Noyce has a knack for understanding the action-spy kind of film. It’s never boring, fun and best of all, it’s shot the way action should be shot – open and wide enough for the audience to see what’s going on.

Now, let’s talk about that question again. You know, the question that this film seems to have built it’s entire marketing campaign around. Who is Salt? Whoever decided on the marketing for this film seems to never have been given the details of the script or had a discussion with the writer or director because that has to be one of the silliest questions ever asked. In comparison “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” is gold. My issue with the question is that it’s not even close to being a mystery. Within the first 20 minutes of the film, you already know who she is, what she’s doing and why she’s doing it. In fact, I bathed my daughter in water deeper than this question. This movie tries so hard to be more and run with the big dogs of spy filmdom, but it doesn’t even come close.

At the same time, and please note, I will be revealing a spoiler – something the filmmakers thought was a big secret but make painfully obvious right away – you just don’t care what happens to Salt. She’s a traitor and Soviet spy. Her motivations aren’t in the best interest of our country; it’s out of revenge. This is a film about the holes in our national security and you want me to root for the bad guy (or girl in this case?) Come on. I love films where the line is blurred between good and evil, but here we have a good, old-fashioned spy-caper, kind of film that you lose complete interest in once the truth is revealed.

Overall, “Salt” is a decent action film that suffers from unoriginality and a complete lack of tension. Maybe I would feel a little bit better about it if I hadn’t read Chuck Palahniuk’s book “Pygmy” within the last year or so - which, on a side note, is a challenge to read but a hell of a lot more fun than this film. I think most moviegoers will enjoy it for it’s tough-as-nails female lead and mindless fun, but for me, it was just another bargain-bin romp at the movies.

2.5 out of 5 Chemical Fire Extinguisher Bombs

“POP”.
A group exhibition.

Opening July 23 - August 20
Reception: July 23, 7-9pm

Taking inspiration from popular culture, artists use a variety of mediums to express their personal visions. This exhibit explores a range of approaches to art making, especially ideas of popular culture and its influences. The use of found objects or recycled imagery which in their original context fit into the everyday are often used by artists to create a new conversation about current and past influences on culture. The participating artists in this exhibition represent several generations, and, therefore, varying perspectives on popular culture interact in the gallery.

Artists:

• Ann Dean
• Kendra Marable
• Archie Gobber
• Dan Anderson
• Kristin Moreland
• Jamie Warren
• Alison Filley
• Jeff Eaton
• Jeremy Rockwell
• Joelle Ford

“Art Clips”

Works by Joelle Ford

Opening July 23 through August 7
Reception: July 23, 7-9pm

This show will include 50 collages comprised of vintage clippings and original drawings by Joelle Ford.

“Futilitarian”

A fibers installation
by Danielle Yakle

Opening July 23 – through August 20
Reception: July 23, 7-9pm

Danielle is a recent graduate from the University of Kansas, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in Textiles/Fibers

12^TH STREET JUMP—

PUBLIC RADIO’S JAZZ, BLUES & COMEDY JAM TURNS UP THE HEAT IN AUGUST

Live broadcasts on FM 89.3 KCUR

July 16, 2010—12^th STREET JUMP, public radio’s weekly jazz, blues and comedy jam heats up the end of summer every Saturday night through August 28 at midnight live from the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. This show is also broadcast live on KCUR FM 89.3 with live streaming at www.kcur.org.

12^th STREET JUMP continues through July 31^st celebrating the music of Blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson, jazz vocalist Annie Ross, jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby and the great Tony Bennett. The show moves into August featuring the music of jazz greats, Benny Carter, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Wayne Shorter. On August 28^th, 12^th STREET JUMP closes out the summer with a special celebration of jazz great Charlie Parker. Each weekend will spotlight the talents of Kim Park, Michael Pagan, Doug Talley and Bobby Watson.

12^th STREET JUMP is hosted by Pete Weber and Pearl McDonald. Vocalists David Basse and Nedra Dixon join musical director Joe Cartwright on piano, Tyrone Clark on bass and Mike Warren on drums.

The 12^th STREET JUMP line up of featured artists and special guests on the show weekly this August includes the following:

FEATURED ARTIST           SPECIAL GUEST(s)            

July 17     Summer Blues Show Sonny Boy Williamson  Trashmouth Baker & Sheila Bey

July 24       Annie Ross,Rich Hill, Kathleen Holeman & Brian Hicks

July 31     Tony Bennett &                        Michael O’Shiver

                              Jazz Harpist Dorothy Ashby     

August 7     Benny Carter                            Kim Park

August 14      Bill Evans & Oscar Peterson     Michael Pagan

August 21     Wayne Shorter                           Doug Talley

August 28      Charlie Parker Birthday            Bobby Watson

Located along the12^th Street Jazz Walk of Fame, Kansas City’s jazz, blues and honky-tonk heart, 12^th STREET JUMP continues that tradition on the same street where Count Basie tickled the ivories at the Reno Club and Big Joe Turner shouted the blues.”

12^th STREET JUMP is produced and presented by Theater League, celebrating thirty-three years enhancing the quality of life in Kansas City with the thrill of live music and theater.  NO COVER-ONE DRINK MINIMUM; doors at the KC Marriott Downtown, 200 West 12^th Street, open Saturday nights at 11:30PM.  Validated parking at the Marriott garage is subject to space availability.

For more information, visit www.theaterleague.org or call Theater League at 816-421-7500.

Barn Junior Theatre Presents

“A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - KIDS”

Three performances featuring 30 very talented youngsters!

BARN JUNIOR, the children’s theatre section of Kansas City’s Barn Players, will present “A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - KIDS”, the stage adaption of the children’s books and stories by Arnold Lobel, with three special performances July 27^th through July 29^th at the Barn Players Theatre, 6219 Martway in Mission, Kansas.  BARN JUNIOR presents several children’s theatre productions each season; this production features thirty area youngsters age 8 to 12. 

“A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - KIDS” follows the adventures of two best friends, the charming Frog and the worry-wart Toad, as they wake from hibernation and embark on adventures through each season of the year finding the rewards of friendship.

WHAT:   A BARN JUNIOR THEATRE Production (Children’s theatre section of The Barn Players)

SHOW:   “A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - KIDS”

WHEN:    Tuesday, July 27^th at 7:30 p.m.

                     Wednesday, July 28^th at 7:30 p.m.

                     Thursday, July 29^th at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:  The Barn Players Theatre, 6219 Martway, Mission, Kansas

TICKETS & RESERVATIONS:  Call 913-432-9100 or go to the theatre’s website www.thebarnplayers.org (place ticket orders 24/7 on the website) – credit cards accepted.  Seating will be limited.

COST:   Adults $10.00, children $7.00, senior and group discounts not available for this show; children under 4 free.