The Littlest Winslow

Look out, Neptune: Veronica Mars is coming back to town. Hopefully.

Kristen Bell and Rob Thomas announced today that a Veronica Mars movie is in the works and has been in the works for over a year! But, the project is a Kickstarter one, and it needs our help.

Our favorite blonde sleuth could be on the big screen as early as Spring 2014, but according to Thomas and Bell, they need $2 million in 30 days in order to make it happen. If the money comes through, Mars Investigations is back in business and they shoot this summer. Not only does the $2 million in donations help the cause, but it also shows Warner Bros. (who still owns the rights to VMars) that fans care enough to step up, get involved and demand more Veronica. Warner has agreed to pick up the tab for marketing, promotion and distribution, should the Kickstarter campaign be a success (It’s looking good kids – a mere 2.5 hours later and we’ve raised $519,628!)

Thomas and his team hope to release the movie in the first quarter of 2014 for a limited-time theatrical run, followed by VOD, iTunes and other digital platforms.

Rewards packages on Kickstarter start as low as $10 (updates during production and a copy of the script on the day of release) and go as high as $10,000 (a part in the movie), with all sorts of goodies in between, including physical DVDs, Bluray/DVD combos, voicemail messages from Bell and the rest of the cast, and even a set visit and lunch with the cast. So donate now, dammit!

Follow Bell and Thomas on Twitter and check out the Veronica Mars Facebook page for all the glorious updates. I can also be found on Twitter and Facebook, squealing in delight and skipping like a school boy. Or something like that.

Lets do this.

*Edit* The Kickstarter page is now up to $763,752 as of 2 p.m. EST!

Despite a semi-quiet release and meager 48% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I must admit: last year’s Hit & Run was highly entertaining. Dax Shepard (yeah, yeah…I know) deserves some cred for wearing the hat of writer, co-director and star, and alongside his fellow cast members, baby mama Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold, the movie flows well and has plenty of laughs along the way.

Shepard plays Charlie Bronson, a former getaway driver now in the witness protection program after testifying against some of his partners-in-crime. When his girlfriend Annie gets an interview for an opportunity in L.A., Charlie decides to drive her there despite what his supervising U.S. Marshall (Arnold) has to say. Thanks to the douchebaggery of Annie’s ex-boyfriend Gil, Alexander Dmitri (Cooper), one the guys Charlie put away, is soon hot on their trail. Then the funny happens.

The movie has a great mix of comedy and action with a dash of drama thrown in as well. The chase scenes are surprisingly decent and the set-up and flow make you feel attached enough to the characters by film’s end. The cast is really the shining light here. Cooper, dreadlocked and gangster’ed up, is hilarious as the white wannabe Alex, and Arnold plays a perfect bumbling watchdog. And when is Kristen Bell not absolutely delightful? The answer is never.

The guest stars and cameos are aplenty – Kristin Chenoweth, Ryan Hansen, Joy Bryant (Parenthood shoutout!), David Koechner, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes all pop in and out throughout all the chasing, and it’s enjoyable to see all of the likable, familiar faces. The film didn’t need them, but hey, bonus.

Considering that Shepard got his start out with Ashton Kutcher on Punk’d, liking the former prankster has been a tough pill for me to swallow (not even mentioning the list of stinkers he has on his resume). But hey, props are due. Shepard can definitely handle drama, as evidenced week after week on NBC’s Parenthood. His stint in the incredible familial drama has really transformed him into an actor as opposed to just a here-and-there support guy. Having said that, with Hit & Run under his belt it seems he’s got some life in him after all. If you like any of these actors, are a Parenthood fan, or dig the general premise, Hit & Run will satisfy and be worthy of a Netflix or Red Box rental.

Did I mention Kristen Bell is in it? No brainer, people.

Grade: B 

If it was up to me, Kristen Bell, Elmo and myself would have a Three’s Company- style sitcom where we all lived together, skipping, dancing and holding hands whenever we saw fit. We’d probably throw parties too, but they’d have to be rather PG – we do have a roommate from Sesame Street, after all.

After watching these two videos over the last few days, I have quickly become (even more) obsessed with Señorita Bell. And Elmo? Well, he totally proved he can hang, too.

Watch, listen, love:

On this day, my heart grew three sizes.

Thanks to Anna from Stop & Smell the Roses, and Michelle and Co. for injecting these videos into my life.

This is the bajillionth post about Scream 4 in the last few weeks and I warn you, gentle readers:  It’s only going to get worse as we get closer to April 15th, 2011.

This teaser trailer debuted at the Scream Awards and has leaked on the Interweb. Check it!

ComingSoon.net has a 30-second-longer offering with actual spoken lines and extended footage.

Why isn’t it APRIL now!?

Scream 4 is filming. Horror fans around the world, rejoice!

OK…so maybe I’m overhyping this messiah to the genre film a little too much, but c’mon! The Cox-Arquettes are in, as is Neve Campbell. Wes Craven is back in action, with a screenplay from original writer Kevin Williamson. That’s at least a good start, right?

The fourth Scream film is also boasting a fresh, young cast including Hayden Panetitereirereree (Save the Cheerleader!), Rory Culkin, and Emma Roberts. Plus, the movie will have appearances by Kristen Bell, Anna Paquin (Sook-eh!), and Alison Brie.

EW posted this First Look at Scream 4:

One of my biggest fears about this movie is that they are going to “Laurie Strode” Sidney, Gail, and/or Dewey. I can accept that one of them is bound to die (tear, sadface), but if all three bite it, I’m not so sure how I’ll be able to LIVEEEE.  And in this photo, Gail looks like she’s in trouble!

My mind is already reeling! Maybe Sid has gone crazy and is the killer! Maybe a copycat wants to “reboot the series”! Maybe Deputy Dewey is trying to salvage Gail’s slightly weathered (HA! Get it?) career?

The possibilities are endless. April 15th, 2011 can’t come quickly enough.

FACT: Kristen Bell makes everything better.

Check her out in the new Yeasayer video, as she loves and mourns her….little pet…alien? Interesting. Even among the madness and silly antics, Bell still acts her face off, and mine.

…she’s amazing.

After the video, leave a comment about how you think Kristen Bell got so amazingly awesome.

“Madder Red” is from the album “Odd Blood”.  I highly recommend it.

Rob Thomas, creator and show runner for “Veronica Mars,” originally stated that plans for a VMars movie were simply thoughts in his own head. Kristen Bell didn’t oppose to it; neither did Enrico Colantoni.

Looks like that’s all changed.

With ABC reducing its order of “Cupid” from 13 episodes to 8, Thomas has some time on his hands. Thomas told If Magazine: “That means I have time to write the “Veronica Mars” movie. But my writing the movie is half the battle. Someone else has to pay for it. Joel Silver does have a certain pile of money. He called on me saying, ‘Can we do this now?’ Kristen wants to do it, Joel wants to do it, and I want to do it. For me, that’s the next project.”

Initially, Thomas proposed a 4th season that would flash-forward, putting Veronica as a newbie in the FBI. Thomas stated that the FBI storyline will most likely be scrapped and that the movie might take place a few days before Veronica’s graduation from Hearst College instead.

Who else is ready to have Veronica and Keith back in action? And maybe even on the big screen!

Score.

I’m halfway through Episode 4 of Heroes aka this week’s episode. So far, this has been the best episode for Season 3 yet (…except for the disappearance of ELLEEEE). Anyways, I beg to ask one further question.

Where we left off: treading water (show not going anywhere) and no one ever dying. Two problems. My third? Pretty soon, every Hero will be able to do everything. Sylar stole powers. Peter absorbs them. Mohinder injects them. In the end: THEY ALL CAN DO EVERYTHING. Clearly this can’t and shouldn’t happen, but it looks like its heading in this direction.

Enough with the Heroes circle jerk, guys. Something needs to happen that has serious, believeable, and realistic consequences or else…it all seems moot.

Ok, I’ve been hatin’. But I will say/reiterate that this season is DEFINITELY world’s better than Season 2. I’m still in it to win it.

Your thoughts?

Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy Heroes. But, I suppose that sounds like more of a disclaimer than a statement coming from a true fan. Season 1 was SO STRONG and Season 2 was so, um…not. Although the Season 3 premiere was pretty good, it’s still unclear for me if this show can recapture some of the Season 1 magic and suspense.

Tim Kring, the creator, practically BEGGED fans at Comic-Con to tune in and tell their friends. It almost seemed desperate. Is he feeling the heat, or is he truly confident that the show will come back up to speed? Hmm…it makes me wonder.

The premiere: Not shabby! But I do get the feeling like the show is just treading water. THREE SEASONS later and Sylar is still doing the exact. same. thing. he was doing before? Claire is still pathetic and helpless and filming herself get hurt? We’ve also already established that the older generation / founders of the company are evil. WE GET IT. What happens next, Kring? I just feel like we haven’t gotten very far in the mythology yet, when there is so much potential to be had.

And why can’t anyone die and stay dead? With blood transfusions, transmutations, regenerations, and whatever else is happening that prevents characters from dying…there doesn’t seem to be any consequences. With so many ways for characters to stay alive, there is really zero suspense in the show. “Hey, there’s a big brawl, but it’s ok! My favorite character is in no danger whatsoever!” Kinda boring.

At least the show is back to the action-packed battles instead of boring feudal ancient Japan, right? You’ve got me Heroes…for now.

Blog? What blog? Ooooh, that Winslow thing. AHHH! ihaven’twritteninWEEKS. Oops. I’ll try not to suck anymore. So let’s begin.

The latest Apatow-produced film, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” definitely isn’t a flick to forget. I rather enjoyed it! Yes, it’s not as immature and aloof as “Knocked Up.” And it isn’t high school fare, ala “Superbad.” However, Apatow and his crew are on to something. A movie can be a chick flick, yet still be funny enough to attract the guys. And they won’t even feel like they were dragged into that theater seat either!

If you are Judd Apatow, or one of his regulars, this surely = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It’s a fine line to walk, but “Sarah Marshall” is yet another example of the edgy-chick-flick genre that “Knocked Up” seemed to begin. And that crew, man. They’re on to something! (That trailer for “Pineapple Express” looked pretty damn spiffy too!)

Personally, I think I laughed more than the “older crowd” in the audience that rainy Sunday afternoon, but who can resist a grown (naked) man crying pathetically. Especially if it’s Jason Segal, who wrote the movie too! (sidebar: Just saw a commercial for “The 40 Year Old Virgin,” which could arguably be the forefather of the Apatow movies. I’d accept that debate, I suppose).

Mila Kunis. I wasn’t thinking of Jackie (That 70′s Show) while watching her “Rachel” on screen. Good for her.

Kristen Bell. We all already know how I feel about her. (What a smoking body, though)

Go see “Sarah Marshall”. It’s a good date movie. It’s a good comedy. It’s an all-around winner.

Next up: Harold and Kumar. If I’m sober enough post-viewing (read: If I remember seeing it), I’ll keep ya posted.  (Maybe my next entry can be titled “Remembering Harold and Kumar,” except next time, it won’t be a play on the original title.)