2009 Movies : Comedy

With Amy Adams • Stanley Tucci • Meryl Streep • Chris Messina • Scott Rudin • Dana Stevens • Mary Lynn Rajskub • Nora Ephron • Donald J. Lee • Laurence Mark • Amy Robinson • Eric Steel • Linda Emond

A woman verging on thirty and frustrated in a temp secretary job takes on a yearlong culinary quest: cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." She chronicles her trials and tribulations in a blog that catches on with the food crowd.

With Michael Cera • Jake Johnson • Charlyne Yi • Nicholas Jasenovec • Sandra Murillo • Elise Salomon

Even though performer Charlyne Yi doesn't believe in love, she bravely embarks on a quest to discover its true nature - a journey that takes on surprising urgency when she meets unlikely fellow traveler, actor Michael Cera.

With Paul Giamatti • David Strathairn • Katheryn Winnick • Lauren Ambrose • Jeremy Kipp Walker • Sophie Barthes • Andrij Parekh • Emily Watson • Dina Korzun • Paul S. Mezey • Daniel Carey • Elizabeth Giamatti

Is your soul weighing you down? Paul Giamatti has found a solution! In the surreal comedy "Cold Soul", Paul Giamatti plays an actor named… Paul Giamatti. Stumbling upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people’s souls, Paul very well might have found the key to happiness for which he’s been searching. But, complications arise when he is the unfortunate victim of "soul-trafficking." Giamatti’s journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress. Balancing a tightrope between deadpan humor & pathos, and reality and fantasy, "Cold Soul" is a true soul searching comedy. Also starring David Strathairn, Dina Korzun and Emily Watson.

With Ron Perlman • Dominic Monaghan • Larry Fessenden • Glenn McQuaid

Body snatchers Arthur Blake and Willie Grimes have pillaged their last grave. With just five hours before Arthur follows Willie to the chopping block, he recounts his life story to Father Francis Duffy. It soon becomes clear that Blake and Grimes are no ordinary grave robbers. And through Arthur's story the priest learns that not all corpses are equal.

With Vanessa Hudgens • Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas • Gaelan Connell • Todd Graff • Lisa Kudrow • Tim Jo • Ryan Donowho • Charlie Saxton • Scott Porter • Elvy Yost • Ron Schmidt • Marisa Yeres • Josh Cagan • Aly Michalka

Disney Channel superstars Vanessa Anne Hudgens ("High School Musical 1 & 2," "High School Musical 3") and Alyson Michalka ("Phil of the Future," pop duo Aly and AJ) join Gaelan Connell ("Chocolat"), Scott Porter ("Speed Racer") and Lisa Kudrow ("Friends") in the music-driven comedy "Bandslam." When gifted singer-songwriter Charlotte Banks (Michalka) asks new kid in town Will Burton (Connell) to manage her fledgling rock band, she appears to have just one goal in mind: go head-to-head against her egotistical musician ex-boyfriend, Ben (Porter), at the biggest event of the year, a battle of the bands.

Against all odds, their band develops a sound all its own with a real shot at success in the contest. Meanwhile, romance brews between Will and Sam (Hudgens), who plays a mean guitar and has a voice to die for. When disaster strikes, it's time for the band to make a choice: Do they admit defeat, or face the music and stand up for what they believe in?

With Will Ferrell • Kathryn Hahn • Adam McKay • James Brolin • Ving Rhames • David Koechner • Jeremy Piven • Kevin Messick • Chris Henchy • Neal Brennan • Rick Stempson • Andy Stock

Who is Don Ready? Salesman? Lover? Song Stylist? Semi-professional dolphin trainer? Ready is all of the above, except for a dolphin trainer. When he's asked to help save an ailing local car dealership from bankruptcy, Ready and his ragtag crew descend on the town of Temecula like a pack of coyotes on a basket full of burgers. Selling, drinking, selling and going to strip clubs is their stock and trade. And they do it well. What Don doesn't expect is to fall in love and find his soul (cue heartfelt piano). "The Goods: The Don Ready Story" stars Emmy award-winning actor Jeremy Piven ("The Kingdom," "Entourage") and Ving Rhames ("I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," "Mission: Impossible III"). The film is the first production from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions, directed by Neal Brennan, creator of the hugely successful Comedy Central hit, "Chappelle's Show."

With Ashton Kutcher • David MacKenzie • Sarah Buxton • Hart Bochner • Anne Heche • Myles Nestel • Peter Morgan • Sonia Rockwell • Paul Kolsby • John Limotte • Maria Conchita Alonso • Jason Goldberg • Aaron Kaufman • Anthony Callie • Stephen Poster

"Spread" is a fresh, funny, and racy look at the trials and tribulations of sleeping your way to a life of privilege in Los Angeles. Comic and karmic, the film is an “immorality tale” about a gorgeous guy who gives women what they want in order to live exactly as he likes.

In "Spread", Nikki (Ashton Kutcher) isn’t a gigolo. He’s a sexual grifter, a fun-loving, freeloading hipster who understands his greatest assets are his looks and sexual prowess, which he uses to charm his way into the hearts of the city’s richest women and enjoy their lifestyle. Nikki gets a free place to live, fantastic gifts, A-list access, and plenty of sex. The women get to feel young, beautiful… and utterly fulfilled in the bedroom. It’s a mutually beneficial set-up.

Nikki’s latest conquest is Samantha (Anne Heche), a stunning middle-aged lawyer who gives him more than he’s ever had before. But then he meets a gorgeous waitress his own age named Heather (Margarita Levieva). She comes to visit Nikki at Samantha’s house while Samantha is out of town, sees what an incredible place it is… and comes to the mistaken conclusion it’s his. Unbeknownst to Nikki, Heather lives by playing the same game.

When Samantha comes home, she discovers Nikki’s infidelity and he’s put out on the street. With nowhere else to turn, Nikki pulls out all the stops to win Heather over and they begin to form their own kind of bond. Sexually charged by a game of one-upsmanship, each shows the other their best grifts, and they unexpectedly begin falling in love – the one thing they can’t do in the life they lead. Soon, the truth of their unfolding relationship forces a choice between love and money, and Nikki has to decide whether he can live on his own once and for all in the hopes of finding something real.

With Michael Cera • Jake Johnson • Charlyne Yi • Nicholas Jasenovec • Sandra Murillo • Elise Salomon

Even though performer Charlyne Yi doesn't believe in love, she bravely embarks on a quest to discover its true nature - a journey that takes on surprising urgency when she meets unlikely fellow traveler, actor Michael Cera.

With Leslie Mann • Kat Dennings • William H. Macy • James Spader • Leo Howard • Robert Rodriguez • Dan Lin • Rebel Rodriguez • Hunt Lowry • Jon Cryer • Jimmy Bennett • Trevor Gagnon • Devon Gearhart • Jolie Vanier • Elizabeth Avellan • Stacy Cohen

From filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, creator of the "Spy Kids" trilogy and "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D," comes the family action-adventure "Shorts."

Eleven-year-old Toe Thompson is the designated punching bag for the bullies of the suburban community of Black Falls, where his and everyone else's parents work for Black Box Industries, makers of the do-it-all gadget that's sweeping the nation. But during a freak storm, a mysterious Rainbow Rock, which grants wishes to anyone who finds it, falls from the sky. Suddenly, the neighborhood that Toe already thinks is weird is about to get a lot weirder. As the Rainbow Rock ricochets around the town--from kid to kid and parent to parent--wishes-come-true quickly turn the neighborhood upside down in a wild rampage of everything from tiny aliens to giant boogers.

The magical fantasy adventure "Shorts" is told through a series of interwoven not-so-tall tales that each brings to life the sometimes wonderful, often terrible, and totally out-of-control wishes that become far more than Toe and his neighbors ever imagined.

With Michael Keaton • Rodrigo Santoro • Angel Oquendo • Carol Burnett • Zach Gilford • Alexis Bledel • Vicky Jenson • Kelley Fremon

Ryden Malby (Bledel) had a plan. Do well in high school, thereby receiving a great college scholarship. Now that she’s finally graduated, it’s time for her to find a gorgeous loft apartment and land her dream job at the city’s best publishing house. But when Jessica Bard (Reitman), Ryden’s college nemesis steals her perfect job, Ryden is forced to move back to her childhood home. Stuck with her eccentric family – a stubborn do-it-yourself dad (Keaton), an overly thrifty mom (Lynch), a politically incorrect grandma (Burnett), a very odd little brother (Coleman) – and a growing stack of rejected job applications, Ryden starts to feel like she’s going nowhere. The only upside is spending time with her best friend, Adam (Zach Gilford) – and running into her hot next-door neighbor, David (Santoro). But if Ryden’s going to survive life as a post grad, it may be time to come up with a new plan…

With Ben Stiller • Anna Kendrick • Jason Schwartzman • Michael London • Bruna Papandrea • Todd Louiso • Jacob Koskoff • David Rubin

The comedy stars Jason Schwartzman as Marc Pease, a man 10 years out of high school and still living in the past, when he was the star in his high school's musicals. Ben Stiller will play his former teacher/mentor, Mr. Gribble while Anna Kendrick will play a high school senior romantically involved with both of their characters.

With A.J. Cook • David Moscow • Ron Satlof • Ira Pearlstein

The project stars A.J. Cook (CBS' "Criminal Minds") as a religious conservative who receives a message from God telling her to act as a surrogate mother for two gay men desiring to raise a child.

With Issa Lopez

Four ambitious and beautiful young women. From four very different corners of Mexico. Just like hundreds of others, they are caught up in the frenzy that sweeps the nation when Alejandro Mateos (Julio Bracho), one of the country's most powerful producers, dreams up a nationwide talent search to cast the lead in his next big movie.

With Kevin Bacon • Logan Lerman • Renée Zellweger • Nick Stahl • Vicki Dee Rock • Richard Loncraine • Aaron Ryder • Chris Noth • Steven Weber • Mark Rendall • Robin Weigert • Troy Garrity • Molly Quinn • Phoebe Strole • Norton Herrick • Charlie Peters • Ron Ward • Rob Pritchard

Based on the true story of actor George Hamilton's early years, during which he accompanied his glamorous mother, Anne Hamilton Spalding, on an extended road trip across the country to track down her former boyfriends.

With Richard Kelly • Tim Perell • Sean McKittrick • Ted Hamm • Bob Goldthwait

Lance Clayton is a man who has learned to settle. He dreamed of being a rich and famous writer, but has only managed to make it as a high school poetry teacher. His only son Kyle is an insufferable jackass who won't give his father the time of day. He is dating Claire, the school's adorable art teacher, but she doesn't want to get serious -- or even acknowledge publicly that they are dating. Then, in the wake of a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy and greatest opportunity of his life. He is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of, if he can only live with the knowledge of how he got there.

With Eugene Levy • Imelda Staunton • Emile Hirsch • Liev Schreiber • Ang Lee • James Schamus • Jonathan Groff • Demetri Martin • Henry Goodman

The new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee. A 1969-set true story about a man, Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin), who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Working as an interior designer in Greenwich Village during culturally and politically exciting times, Mr. Tiber felt empowered by the gay rights movement. But he was also still staked to the family business – a Catskills motel. Upon hearing that a planned concert had lost its permit from the neighboring town of Wallkill, NY, Mr. Tiber called producer Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) at Woodstock Ventures to offer his motel. Soon the Woodstock staff was moving into the El Monaco; half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber’s neighbor’s Max Yasgur’s (Eugene Levy) farm in White Lake, NY; and Mr. Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

With Eugene Levy • Imelda Staunton • Emile Hirsch • Liev Schreiber • Ang Lee • James Schamus • Jonathan Groff • Demetri Martin • Henry Goodman

The new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee. A 1969-set true story about a man, Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin), who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Working as an interior designer in Greenwich Village during culturally and politically exciting times, Mr. Tiber felt empowered by the gay rights movement. But he was also still staked to the family business – a Catskills motel. Upon hearing that a planned concert had lost its permit from the neighboring town of Wallkill, NY, Mr. Tiber called producer Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) at Woodstock Ventures to offer his motel. Soon the Woodstock staff was moving into the El Monaco; half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber’s neighbor’s Max Yasgur’s (Eugene Levy) farm in White Lake, NY; and Mr. Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

With Dan Eckman

A group of kid detectives called The Mystery Team struggle to solve a double murder to prove they can be real detectives before they graduate from high school.

With Justin Timberlake • Kate Mara • Jeff Bridges • Mary Steenburgen • Harry Dean Stanton • Michael Meredith • Lyle Lovett

In this heartwarming comedy, minor leaguer Carlton Garrett (Justin Timberlake) takes an unexpected road trip to track down his estranged father, legendary baseball player Kyle Garrett (Jeff Bridges) when Carlton’s mother (Mary Steenburgen) becomes sick. Knowing his charming yet painfully immature dad’s likelihood to disappoint, Carlton enlists his on-again-off-again girlfriend Lucy (Kate Mara) for emotional support. Once reunited, Carlton struggles to deal with the series of misadventures caused by his father’s antics, including missed flights, car trouble and bathroom brawls. Years of miscommunication, frustration and comically awkward attempts at bonding come to a head as the mismatched trio make their way from Ohio back home to Houston to reunite the family.