Movie Review: 'Project X' can be fun – but don't try it at home

"Project X" is the movie equivalent of that good- looking, well-off teenage boy your gut tells you to keep away from your teenage daughter.

He may turn on the charm and come from what we assume is a "good family." But something sets off the warning bells – that he has lost his mind to his hormones, that he objectifies women in the worst way, that he's too-casual with the homophobic slurs.

That doesn't really describe Thomas (Thomas Mann), the gawky, upper-middle-class teen in this "Hangover" for high schoolers. But it nails his pal Costa (Oliver Cooper, in the Jonah Hill role). Costa is a blustering, transplanted New Yorker who eggs on Thomas as they plan a parents-out-of-town birthday party, mocks their mutual "fat little 'Rain Man' " pal J.B. (Jonathan Daniel Brown) for being in the school "Gay-V. Club" and is hell-bent on turning this North Pasadena fete into an epic party that will be the "game changer" for their social status, lift them into their high school's elite and give them access to sex with the school hotties.

And no list of warnings – "Do not go into my office. The pool heater? Don't touch it." – from Thomas' colorless dad (Peter Mackenzie) can steer the boys from their course with destiny.

Things only start to go wrong when they rip off Costa's well-armed, disturbed drug dealer. Costahas blasted the invitations all over social media, so the socially anonymous Thomas will be hosting hordes of "randoms," peers who don't know he exists. Not to worry, though. Costa has hired a team of middle schoolers led by Tyler (Nick Nervies, hilarious). They have nunchucks and tasers and jackets with "Security" on them.

What could go wrong? Naturally, Thomas must pursue the hottest girl in school, who is utterly compliant. Naturally, his gorgeous pal Kirby (Kirby Bliss Blanton), the only woman given even a hint of personality, is hurt by this.

This Todd ("Hangover") Phillips production produces its share of explosive laughs, mostly of the "Oh my God" variety. Excess – the tree house turned into a beer dispensary, hoses run to ground level where gravity and volume produces a lung full of suds for every underage imbiber – to the simple size and scope of the blowout, is what passes for humor here.

Yeah, the cops show up. And the TV news helicopters. And an ill-tempered dwarf (Martin Klebba,stealing the movie).

But it's a wearying "romp," from its tired "lose our virginity" formula (worn out even when "Superbad" used it) to the conceit of making this a "birthday" mockumentary, ostensibly filmed by the goth-video nerd Dax (Dax Flame). Director Nima Nourizadeh loses track of that for long stretches of impossible-for-Dax-to-get angles and edits.

Even with all the scores of random shots of pert female bottoms, topless teens and ogled short skirts and shorter shorts, it's hard to say if screenwriters Michael Bacall and Matt Drake or Nourizadeh are unrepentant pigs. Maybe Phillips ("Old School") is their Costa, the bottom feeder egging them on.

"Project X" is more politically incorrect than hateful. Clueless boys in its target audience may mistake it for a date movie. Now. But just you wait, kids. "X" is that beau who sets off warning bells when he's there to date your little girl. You won't want to let her out the door with this creep.

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Florida Strawberry Festival

In eastern Hillsborough County, where strawberry fields go forever, the annual festival paying tribute to the area's sweet cash crop is under way.

This year's Florida Strawberry Festival entertainment lineup that always offers ample servings of country music is, this year, topping it off with concerts that appeal to lovers of other music.

Demi Lovato takes to the stage at 7:30 tonight. The 19-year-old pop singer, who began her career as a Disney sitcom star, will wrap-up today's Wish Farms Soundstage entertainment, which includes 3:30 concerts by headliner country artists The Gatlin Brothers and Crystal Gayle. There are twice-daily concerts through March 11, ranging from oldie acts like Brenda Lee, The Platters and rock duo Air Supply, to Hank Williams Jr.

"We feel like we hit a gold star this year; we really brought in a lot of topnotch entertainment," said festival general manager Paul Davis.

As the festival title makes clear, however, it's about much more than music.

Strawberry shortcake is king, served at three booths operated by local nonprofits, including one where customers build their own.

The sweet berries do double duty at the festival, and can also be consumed in cobbler, cheesecake, cookies, bread, even pizza. "Anything you can imagine with a strawberry, we've got it," Davis said.

Beyond berries, food vendors will be offering a vast variety. New unique treats at this 77th annual festival include coconut-flavored sorbet served in coconut shells, deep-fried mashed potatoes on a stick, a burger smothered in a grilled cheese sandwich, sausages encased in waffles that can be dipped in syrup, and deep-fried pizza topped with candy.

After such gastronomic delights, step over to the huge midway where Belle City Amusements will be operating 85 rides day and night, including "some for thrill seekers and some for the kids," Davis said.

Unique additions this year include a sea lion splash show and a female lumberjack show. Also free with admission, starting Thursday, there will be multiple daily appearances and autograph sessions by the cast of truTV's reality show, "Lizard Lick Towing."

Said Davis, "We tried to go out and get new things that people haven't seen before."

And at 1 p.m. Monday, the annual Grand Parade begins in downtown Plant City and makes its way to the festival grounds.

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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck welcome son

LOS ANGELES  – Star couple Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have welcomed their third child, a baby boy, People magazine said on Tuesday, without giving further details.

Garner, who made her name in the television drama “Alias,” wed actor and producer Affleck in June 2005 at a private ceremony in Turks and Caicos, in the Caribbean. They welcomed their first daughter, Violet, in December 2005, and second daughter Seraphina in 2009.
The couple, both 39, announced they were expecting their third child in August last year and while they did not reveal the baby’s sex, Garner told chat show host Jay Leno in January this year that they knew.
“It would be so weird to have a boy,” Garner was quoted as having told Ellen DeGeneres. She also said it would be “cool and different.”
Garner will next appear in the comedy “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” later this year. Affleck, who won a Best Screenplay Oscar for “Good Will Hunting,” which he co-wrote with Matt Damon, next stars in and directs the thriller “Argo.” He will also appear in an untitled Terrence Malick project with Jessica Chastain, Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz.

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Sarah Palin to Attend Labor Day Tea Party Rally in New Hampshire

The Tea Party Express announced Tuesday night that Sarah Palin will be speaking at their Labor Day rally in Manchester, N.H. on Monday.

“We are always thrilled to have Sarah Palin join one of our rallies,” Tea Party Express chairwoman Amy Kremer said in a statement. “She is an electrifying figure in conservative politics and a hero to the tea party movement.”

SarahPAC confirmed the Tea Party Express announcement of Palin’s New Hampshire appearance.

Palin is heading to New Hampshire after a weekend trip to Iowa to address another Tea Party event on Sept. 3. The former Alaska governor will headline the inaugural event of the Tea Party of America in Indianola.

Palin’s two-state swing along with a campaign-style video she released earlier this month highlighting her recent trip to the Iowa State Fair could be a sign she is preparing to jump into the presidential race. But, it could just as easily be a tease.

News of Palin’s New Hampshire trip was first reported by Craig Robinson of the Iowa Republican.

Palin’s presidential intentions have been the subject of heightened speculation, especially after former George W. Bush adviser, Karl Rove, who does not have a particularly close relationship with Palin, recently said that Palin has a schedule “that looks like that of a candidate, not a celebrity.”

While speaking to reporters at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12, Palin indicated that she was likely to make an announcement about whether or not she would jump into the race by the end of September, but not necessarily by Labor Day.

“I don’t know if within the next couple of weeks I will be ready for an announcement or not,” she said, adding that the end of the month “is still a possibility for a timetable.”

Palin’s speech to the Tea Party Express event in New Hampshire is part of the group’s “Reclaiming America” bus tour that will culminate on Sept. 12 with a CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa, Florida. Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is speaking at a similar rally in Iowa on Wednesday and Mitt Romney will attend one of the group’s events in New Hampshire on Sept. 4.

Palin, who has a history of upstaging other candidates, was invited, but has not said she will attend, a presidential forum in South Carolina on Labor Day.

The event is being organized by the American Principles Project and will feature a panel led by Tea Party leader Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. and Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. Romney, Bachmann, Rick Perry and several other candidates plan to participate.

Palin will not be the only Tea Party superstar in Iowa this weekend. Failed Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell will be there too.

O’Donnell’s on-again, off-again appearance at the Indianola rally — the same one where Palin will also be speaking — appears to be on again as of Tuesday night.

O’Donnell had initially confirmed her attendance at the Tea Party of America event on Saturday but the organizers later rescinded the invitation. On Tuesday night, O’Donnell tweeted that even after getting bounced from the event, the invitation had been re-extended and she decided to go.

“In Troublemaker I talk about ‘rising above it’, and have humbly re-accepted the re-invitation to speak in Iowa on Saturday,” O’Donnell tweeted, referring to her new memoir.

Charlie Gruschow, co-founder of the Tea Party of America, confirmed that O’Donnell is indeed back on the agenda and will be speaking on Saturday.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Announce Andre Santos

Arsenal have announced the signing of left back Andre Santos from Fenerbache on their official site with a lovely little picture gallery of the man himself looking rather cranky indeed. It's difficult to understand why he'd be upset at joining such a wonderfully storied franchise whose malaise appears to be more temporary than anything else, but it's his face, and he's making it crankly.

Anyway, Santos played 54 games for Fenerbache between 2009 and 2011, scoring ten goals in the process. He's a two-ways fullback, although just how good he is at attacking and defending largely depends on who you happen to be asking. Arsene Wenger praised (of course he did) his new man's quality, highlighting Santos' versatility, while the club revealed that the 28-year-old was be signed to a long-term contract and wear the number eleven jersey.

So, Arsenal get their left back. They've needed one with Gael Clichy sold to Manchester City and Kieran Gibbs having the fragility of a papier mache bath, but Santos may not prove to be a particularly good one, and one would guess that he cost a fair bit of money to bring in if he's just going to be a makeshift.

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Kate Middleton wedding dress stills a secret

Kate Middleton is finally pleased with concluding selection for her wedding dress with just less than 4 days to go before she ties the knot with her future Royal husband Prince William. According to the reports, Ms Middleton is finished with her fittings.

It’s been reported that she will have 3 wedding gowns, that she’s designing the gown herself and that she may go with a moderately fresh designer. From Vera Wang to Monique Lhuiller, wedding dress experts have emerge and given their belief as to what the princess-to-be should wear on the big day, although it’s still secret as to what she’ll show up in.

According to the reports, five designers have been supposed to be designing a dress for the future “People’s Princess.” Up-and-comer Sophie Cranston, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, one of Princess Diana‘s fave Bruce Oldfield and Alice Temperley have all been thought to be designing the top secret ensemble.

Kate has certainly shack a fair amount of weight in expectation of her big day and it’s positive that the fluently chic looking brunette is sure to look suitably stunning come Friday.

source: http://www.freakygossip.com/2011/04/kate-middleton-wedding-dress-stills-secret/

Bieber Fever

Hundreds of Justin Bieber fans braved Saturday’s scorching heat and afternoon downpour to gain access to the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC) in Sentul, south of Jakarta, where the teen pop sensation held a one-night performance under heavy security.

As hundreds of Beliebers, as fans of Justin Bieber are referred to, tried to make their way toward the venue, a massive snarl formed from the exit gate of the Sentul toll road to the parking lot of the SICC.

At 3 p.m., concert promoter Berlian Entertainment decided to close the SICC parking lot as it was overwhelmed with cars, prompting concertgoers to park on a nearby vacant lot.

After being ferried by shuttle service provided by the concert promoters, Beliebers, mostly teens clad in purple and accompanied by their parents or guardians, soon lined up under the scorching heat to enter the venue, where the concert was due to start hours later.

Veny Lia, 16, and Vera Ayu Ningrum, 17, were two of hundreds of Beliebers standing under the sun. They wore matching purple T-shirts and purple shoes.

“We are wearing purple because that’s Justin Bieber’s favorite color,” said Veny and Vera in unison. The high school students said they left home in Grogol, West Jakarta, at 10:30 a.m. and were driven to the concert venue.

They could not hide their love for the Canadian heartthrob. “We have loved Justin since his first appearance three years ago. We love Justin because he is so unique and talented,” Veny said enthusiastically.

One of the fans put up a sign that read “JB kiss me, I won’t tell Selena”, in big bold letters, referring to Bieber’s rumored girlfriend, Selena Gomez of Wizards of Waverly Place fame.

Some Beliebers, however, went home disappointed without seeing their idol perform.

Fifteen-year-old Jessica and Bernadeth Putri came all the way from Serpong, Tangerang, hoping that someone would give them free tickets to the show. 

“We don’t have any tickets. It’s too expensive,” said Putri with teary eyes.

Riska Nadira, 18, and Diva Rahman, 16, left their home in Bandung, West Java, Saturday morning without tickets to the show. 

“We just want to experience the atmosphere. We hope we are allowed to watch Justin Bieber without a ticket, or maybe we can get tickets at affordable prices,” Riska said, adding that her only hope would be getting tickets from a scalper.

Some scalpers offered tickets to Beliebers for Rp 1.7 million (US$197) for the cheapest seats in the house while the concert tickets were officially sold at between Rp 500,000 and Rp 1 million.

Over 1,000 police officers were deployed at the concert while the promoter readied 10 ambulances and 100 paramedics to anticipate injuries.


source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/24/bieber-fever.html