"Hollywood And Wine" Will Be A Pass For Just About Everyone Else

Hollywood And Wine (2011)

Rated R

Starring Chris Kattan, Nicky Whelan, Chazz Palminteri, Norm MacDonald, Horatio Sanz, Leslie Easterbrook, David Spade

Directed by Matt Berman and Kevin P. Farley

The Story:

Jack (Kattan) has a great girlfriend, Diane (Whelan) who is an aspiring actress who just happens to look an awful lot like a famous actress that everyone hates. When Jack becomes jealous due to an old friend returning to her life, he gets talked into getting a loan from Geno Scarpacci (Palminteri) so he can treat her to a better life. When he is unable to repay his debt, he convinces Geno that he can get him a date with the famous actress and all debts will be forgiven. Just how good of an actress can Diane be?

When your movie stars Chris Kattan, most people are going to pass.

As I've always said, I try and give SNL players, especially those that I've watched over the years, the benefit of the doubt with their movies.

And while not horrible...

It's an odd mish-mash of a tale that combines odd characters, MacDonald's porn director for starters, and throws them all into a blender to see what they can mix up.

There are a few laughs to be had, and Palminteri can play a mob guy in his sleep.

But, unlike some movies I've watched this year, I made it all the way through, so that's saying something, right?

Final Grade: C-

"Vampire Dog"... Seriously? Yep..

With a title like this, it's got to be good!

The Story:

Fang (voiced by Norm MacDonald) is a dog who was turned into a vampire.  For the last several hundred years, he has been protected by a family, passed down from generation to generation.  Now he's coming to be taken care of by Ace (Collin MacKechnie), a 12 year old who is the new kid in town, and happens to be the son of the new music teacher.  Yeah, the poor kid is in trouble from the start.  However, maybe Ace and Fang can help each other out and make each of their lives a little better when it's all over.

This is the Citizen Kane of Vampire Dog movies.

Innocuous, harmless fun is what they set out to do, and for the most part, it's a win all the way around.

Slapstick for the kids to be entertained with, and nothing awful, nails-on-the-chalkboard inducing for the parents to endure.

Naturally, the vampire dog himself does not kill people, that would have taken this totally to a different level had they done that. : )

I mean, for anyone who has seen Black Sheep, you know if you can do a film about zombie sheep, there's really nothing you can't film...

The dog has a penchant for jell-o, instead.  Red jello.


The plot mostly centers around a pair of criminals attempting to get their hands on Fang, and the dog and his boy outsmarting them at every turn.


Available to stream now on Netflix.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  If it played in the background, it would be fine, but I'm not going to go out of my way to own it or anything.  If I want Norm voicing a dog in a funny movie, I'll rewatch the first Dr. Dolittle.