I LOVE MOVIES: Comedian Doug Benson Guest Critiques This Week's Flicks

Nabbing the VH1 Best Week Ever regular on the eve of his stoner documentary, Super High Me.

by Doug Benson | Wednesday, Apr. 16 2008

It's tax week, and RT knows that means most people are pinching pennies and spending hours in line at the post office. So to help you save money and time, we've enlisted funnyman Doug Benson (VH1's Best Week Ever) to give you the inside scoop on upcoming new releases in theaters and on DVD. -- Rachel Sandor

IN THEATERS APRIL 18

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis

Directed by: Nick Stoller

Synopsis: Depressed schmuck vacations in Hawaii to get over broken heart, only to find his hot ex is staying in the same hotel with her new nymphomaniac rock star boyfriend.

The Forbidden Kingdom

Starring: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano

Directed by: Rob Minkoff (The Lion King)

Synopsis: Bullied American teen is transported to ancient China to learn kung fu from two masters (Jet Li, Jackie Chan) to restore the entombed Monkey King.

88 Minutes

Starring: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman

Directed by: Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes, The War, Red Corner)

Synopsis: College professor/forensic psychologist gets a phone call counting down his life.

ON DVD APRIL 22

Cloverfield

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas

Directed by: Matt Reeves (The Pallbearer, Felicity)

Synopsis: Giant monster wreaks havoc in Manhattan.

The Orphanage

Starring: Belen Rueda, Geraldine Chaplin

Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona

Synopsis: Ghosts and imaginary children haunt a woman and her family in the orphanage where she grew up.

Charlie Wilson's War

Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed by: Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Primary Colors, Closer)

Synopsis: The true story of how a playboy Senator, a socialite, and a CIA agent helped end the Cold War.

The Savages

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney

Directed by: Tamara Jenkins (Slums of Beverly Hills)

Synopsis: Two bitter middle-aged siblings deal with the deterioration of their elderly father.

Starting Out in the Evening

Starring: Frank Langella, Lili Taylor, Lauren Ambrose

Directed by: Andrew Wagner (The Talent Given Us)

Synopsis: An aging writer strikes up a friendship with a young grad student who thinks she can resuscitate his career.

Doug Benson is featured in the documentary Super High Me, which chronicles his life Morgan Spurlock-style as the regular pot smoker goes 30 days stone cold sober -- and follows it with 30 days of unadulterated daily marijuana use. See what happens to Doug (and his stand-up routine) in the the controversial documentary, which of course opens in select cities on April 20 (4/20). Click here for the official Super High Me website.

Doug can be seen reviewing movies at SuperDeluxe.com, where you can watch his previous video installments of I LOVE MOVIES.

And Doug will be at the Hollywood Improv on 4/20.

And Doug is always creeping around on Myspace.

Watch the Super High Me teaser trailer here:

Mike M

Doug Benson is funny, but he needs to stop doing that stupid VH1 "Best of" crap!

Seriously, Doug. I know you have to work, but mowing lawns would be more dignified than that garbage...

Apr 16 - 07:15 PM

Stephen Wang

Umm... Thanks for writing some editorial Doug, but I'm sorry, this article really has little value for Rotten Tomatoes fans. It's not funny, he bags on every movie without leaving any useful or insightful comments... if I want snarky commentary, I think FlickFilosopher or other existing critics on RT are funnier and more interesting to read.

Is this really the kind of editorial that RT wants to put up in replacement to Scott, Jen, and Tim who I thought wrote plenty well?

Apr 16 - 11:19 PM

Jeff Earnhart

Jesus dude, relax a little. Go read Mobey Dick if you want that ultra insightful scribe. I do disagree with his take on Funniest Videos however. Montages of people getting hit in the crotch is some of the best medicine out there.

Apr 17 - 05:12 AM

Jimmy Heisner

I would also go see a movie called The Jerks seeing as The Jerk is one of the greatest pieces of comedic cinema ever.

Apr 17 - 08:23 AM

lara pisani

Doug is a comedian first and foremost so of course he%u2019s not going to give an insightful review, that%u2019s why it%u2019s funny, and it is most assuredly funny! Thanks Doug

Apr 17 - 09:07 AM

lara pisani

Doug is a comedian first and foremost so of course he%u2019s not going to give an insightful review, that%u2019s why it%u2019s funny, and it is most assuredly funny! Thanks Doug

Apr 17 - 09:07 AM

joe shmo

god, this is what we get instead of RT-approved news stories now?

lemme see if i can figure this out... someone at RT sent doug benson and email listing this week's releases and he wrote a 1-2 sentence response to each of them, bascially just saying the first negative thing that came to his head, whether or not it was actually humorous?

there is not point to this stupid "article" or "feature" or whatever new category this trash falls under. Spare us RT, this is pure filler and it's nowhere near funny enough to be justified. the only amusing thing about this is that tweaked-out picture of benson's face in the header graphic. that's really not saying much guys...

however, the poster for 'super high me' is great, the trailer's alright, and i would see the movie if it was released nearby, especially on 4.20.

Apr 17 - 09:15 AM

Jen Yamato

Doug Benson is a comedian, he has his I Love Movies weekly video on SuperDeluxe, so this was a fun extension of that for the RT audience. SmellyCat, thanks for the editorial love - it's nice to hear. But anyways, I'm glad Doug did this because he's funny as hell, his take on Charlie Wilson's War is hilarious, and his movie looks funny.

Apr 17 - 10:17 AM

Shaun R

Doug is one of my favorite comedians, but it is a little offputting how so much of comedy is negative. Most comedians are angry people, and ever since South Park came out, there seems to be a trend to attack anything that even a small group of people like and enjoy, but I am happy Doug loves pot, because I can't wait to see Super High Me!

Apr 17 - 07:21 PM