An all-out assault on academic hooey, Russell takes I Love Huckabee's and makes a true, theoretical screwball comedy.
I Heart Huckabees (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:180
Fresh:111
Rotten:69
Average Rating:6.3/10
Theatrical Release:Oct 1, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $12,711,889
Synopsis: Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman), head of the Open Spaces Coalition, has been experiencing an alarming series of coincidences the meaning of which escapes him. With the help of two Existential... Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman), head of the Open Spaces Coalition, has been experiencing an alarming series of coincidences the meaning of which escapes him. With the help of two Existential Detectives, Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin), Albert examines his life, his relationships, and his conflict with Brad Stand (Jude Law), an executive climbing the corporate ladder at Huckabees, a popular chain of retail superstores. When Brad also hires the detectives, they dig deep into his seemingly perfect life and his relationship with his spokesmodel girlfriend, the voice of Huckabees, Dawn Campbell (Naomi Watts). Albert pairs up with rebel firefighter Tommy Corn (Mark Wahlberg) to take matters into their own hands under the guidance of the Jaffes’ nemesis, the French radical Caterine Vauban (Isabelle Huppert). This existential comedy is directed and co-written by David O. Russell, whose first film, SPANKING THE MONKEY, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Sundance Audience Award in 1994. It also was named Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards. His second film was the acclaimed comedy, FLIRTING WITH DIASTER. Russell’s THREE KINGS came out in 1999 and appeared in over 100 critic’s top ten lists and won the Boston Film Critic’s Association’s Best Film of the Year. The film marks co-writer Jeff Baena’s first feature film screenplay put into production. I ♥ HUCKABEES features an ensemble cast that includes two-time Academy Award®-winner Dustin Hoffman (RAIN MAN, KRAMER VS. KRAMER), Isabelle Huppert (LA DENTELLIÈRE, 8 FEMMES), Oscar® nominee Jude Law (THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, ROAD TO PERDITION), Jason Schwartzman (RUSHMORE, SPUN), Oscar nominee Lily Tomlin (NASHVILLE, SHORT CUTS), Mark Wahlberg (THE ITALIAN JOB, THREE KINGS) and Naomi Watts (THE RING, MULHOLLAND DRIVE). Producers on the film are Oscar-nominated Scott Rudin (THE HOURS, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), Gregory Goodman (8 MILE, THREE KINGS) and David O. Russell, with Michael Kuhn (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, WILD AT HEART) as executive producer. The director of photography is Peter Deming (MULHOLLAND DR., FROM HELL) and the production designer is KK Barrett (LOST IN THE TRANSLATION, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH). -- © Fox Searchlight [More]
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Isabelle Huppert, Mark Wahlberg
Director: David O. Russell
Director: David O. Russell
Screenwriter: David O. Russell, Jeff Baena
Composer: Jon Brion
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
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Reviews for I Heart Huckabees
I liked Huckabees, but I can’t say that I loved Huckabees. For every screwball scene that kicks, Russell lets another weakly bounce away.
Watching I Heart Huckabees is like sleeping with an adult film star...You appreciate the effort, but it comes off as an over-the-top, sometimes disingenous production.
Life as a blanket: He's you and you're me and we're both Bob Newhart in this brilliant comic romp.
If... you [get] the impression that this is all too precious and contrived for a Hollywood film, you’re not far from the mark.
The film gets crazy and seems unconnected. It has some funny moments but mostly left me cold. Go see it and judge for yourself.
The clever, light-hearted manner that the flurry of philosophical inquiries are tossed our way kept a smile on my face and gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside
Somehow, within its messy, sprawling, good-natured excess, it manages a semblance of order within the chaos.
The movie’s irreverence and ability to surprise are precisely what helps it avoid being a big, pretentious mess.
So what's an existentialist comedy? Basically, it's a silly, irreverent, chaotic metaphysical farce about what it means to be alive.
It's nearly impossible to sustain such flaky weirdness for 105 minutes.
A rewarding- frustrating smart-silly comedy of pretentious- modest ambitions.
At first, anyway, it's mildly amusing. But before too long, all this whimsical, metaphysical meandering and smarty-pants wordplay grows wearisome.
The deadpan nature of the film's humor is refreshing, and the cast seems to be having a blast.
I came out of the film sure of only two things: It will divide audiences more than any comedy this year, and it will reward a second viewing.
I (Heart) Huckabees is an original, interesting, sometimes frustrating feature; a movie that at times you have no idea what you are watching . . .
Latest News for I Heart Huckabees
December 15, 2006:
The Weekly Ketchup: "Bourne's" Identity, "Pirates 3" Pics, Awesome "300" Trailer, And More!
In this week's Ketchup, Jason Bourne will discover his true identity in 2007 in "The Bourne Ultimatum," we've finally got some non-pirated pictures of the third... More...
August 24, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "Invincible," "Worms" Score; "Idlewild," "Beerfest" Mixed
This week at the movies, we've got four underdog stories. An average Joe tries to play pro football ("Invincible," starring Mark Wahlberg), the new kid in school tries... More...
April 01, 2005:
Vince Vaughn to Star in David O. Russell's Next Comedy
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November 22, 2004:
Hoffman and Shepard in Car Wars
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
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