Jon Favreau in Couples Retreat

“The image of an older married man pleasuring himself to the picture of someone who was closer to the age of a child is disgusting,” said lawyer Thomas Mullaney, who is representing Krupnik in the $10 million suit. “It was a swimsuit ad, not pornography. She was shocked; she was mad as hell,” Mullaney said.

Krupnik was 21 when she donned a bikini for a February 2001 modeling shoot in the Bahamas, then signed a release allowing commercial use of the image through stock photo agencies. The photo is used in one of the funnier scenes in the movie as hyper-sexual character played by Favreau sees the photo and tries to release some tension.

One might be a bit sympathetic that Krupnik’s photo was used in a major motion picture without compensation. However, the comments from her and her “lawyer” are beyond unreasonable (my emphasis below).

“If you’re a good-looking young woman, you don’t want anyone leering at you or fondling you. If someone did in Central Park what they showed in ‘Couples Retreat,’ they would be thrown in jail. These were pictures she took nearly 10 years ago. In no way at all did she even remotely expect them to turn up in some raunchy movie scene. At the very least, common decency means you should ask somebody before you put them into a scene that’s essentially pornography,” Mullaney said.

Krupnik says she had no idea her picture would be used as an X-rated prop for the “purposely unattractive male” played by Favreau in the Vince Vaughn vehicle. “The actor John Favreau, playing a character a least twice the age of Ms. Krupnik in the photo, waits until his wife leaves their hotel room before lifting his sleeveless T-shirt over his prominent belly,” the lawsuit noted. “He then liberally lubricated himself while leering at the image of the youthful Ms. Krupnik on a beach, a scenario apparently intended to be humorous.”

Irina Krupnik (left)

It’s true that Favreau is currently 43 years old, which is more or less twice the age of the model at the time of photography. That said, does this former swimsuit model think Favreau’s character is the first to, you know, enjoy he sexy photos? And anyone who has seen the film knows that there is no way this scene could be considered pornographic; Favreau doesn’t even touch his genitals. Also, you’d think that if you were humiliated by the scene that you wouldn’t get your New York lawyer to play up the story in the press.

Krupnik will get no sympathy from this website.

She's Out of My League

It doesn’t take a genius to take one look at the trailer for She’s Out of My League and think that this is a paint-by-numbers romantic comedy with raunchy tendencies. Since the movie stars Apatow-acolyte Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder) the comparisons to similar films and characters are even more apt. Don’t get me wrong, the plot it about as formulaic as it gets, and some of the characters are thinly veiled chariactures of other well-known actors. Among the guys that Baruchel’s character Kirk deals with is his abnoxious brother Dylan (Kyle Bornheimer, channeling Seth Rogen) and a sensitive married friend played by Nate Torrence (Get Smart, channeling Jonah Hill as Matthew from Forgetting Sarah Marshall). Heck, the couldn’t even get an original nickname for the Sean William Scott (Stiffler, Wheeler) ripoff character “Stainer.”

So, if you’re looking for originality this ain’t the place. But you still might have a good time.

Baruchel’s character works aiport security but has dreams of being a pilot (can you guess what the final scene is yet?). He’s the “awkward nice guy” in his circle of friends and pines for an old girlfriend who is more a part of his own family than he is (the girlfriend conveniently works at the airport, too). Into the plot steps Molly, an event planner played by the very gorgous Alice Eve. She leaves her phone at the security checkstop, and sooner than you can say “meet cute” Molly and Kirk are dating, much to the shock of their friends. Along for the ride are Molly’s loudmouth friend/coworker Patty (Krysten Ritter) who along with Stainer (T.J. Miller) do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to one-liners and dialogue (Stainer plays in a Hall and Oates tribute band, a device that’s worth a laugh or two right there).  Add in Molly’s ex, a handsome pilot (yes, he’s a pilot) played by Geoff Stults (The Break-Up), and you can probably predict how Act Two progresses.

Truth be told, nobody cares if the plot is original or not — as long as the film brings the funny. And She’s Out of My League ain’t half bad in that department. There are a couple funny set-pieces involving a not-so-dry-hump and group-shaving of genitals that are pretty effective. And Kirk’s disfunctional family works well in a couple of scenes as well. Along with some occasionally snappy dialogue and this film is far better than anyone could, or should, have expected.

She's Out of My League

Alice Eve and Jay Baruchel

I’m not sold on Baruchel as a leading man. He does good work in the dry-hump scene but doesn’t transcend his awkward character. Alice Eve on the other hand has plenty of spunk to go along with her perfect body (except for one part, according to the movie…). This is a role that would have been played by Elisha Cuthbert five years ago and Eve has the potential to be a star if she picks her projects well (unlike the aforementioned Girl Next Door…). So, perhaps, you’ll be happy you saw Alice Eve in that little movie she made before she became a big star. We’ll see.

Directed by first-time helmer Jim Field Smith, She’s Out of My League is not a hall of fame raunchy comedy. But if you’re a fan of Baruchel or looking for a few laughs this spring this could be a good time at the movieplex.

Alice Eve and Krysten Ritter

Geoff Stults

Ed Helms

Jason Segel and Ed Helms will be costarring in a stoner comedy from the Duplass brothers (Cyrus), set to shoot next month according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jeff Who Lives at Home is written by Mark and Jay Duplass, who will also direct. The film chronicles a day in the life of two brothers; one is a loser (Segel) who lives at home and the other (Helms) is more mature but is “overbearing.”  The role of their mother is being cast while Judy Greer is in talks to play Helms’ wife.

Meanwhile, Variety is reporting that Richard Jenkins (Step Brothers) is joining the cast of Hall Pass along with Bruce Thomas. Jenkins will play against type as a man who never settled down and Thomas plays a baseball player. The Farrelly Brothers film starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudekis, Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate is currently filming.

Ken Jeong

Role Models scene-stealer Ken Jeong was recently interviewed by MTV. During the interview Jeong mentioned that he loved Role Models and had been recently lobbying the David Wain, the film’s writer-director, and writer Ken Marino about doing a sequel. Role Models was a surprise hit in the fall of 2008, garnering over $90 million worldwide in theatre receipts.

Jeong did not say exactly what he wanted in a sequel, except of course that he’d like to further explore the character of King Argotron. ”I would looooooove to do a sequel to ‘Role Models.’ There’s a lot of ground  with the King Argotron and I’ve had some ideas,” Jeong said.

It seems to me that the Sturdy Wings organization could create the template for a number of by-the-numbers sequels with any number of actors. More interesting would be to really explore the characters from the first film, such as Jeong’s, and do a different kind of movie (for example: Get Him to the Greek).

Ben Stiller presented Best Make-Up and joked that he should have worn his original Spock ears signed by Leonard Nimoy rather than the Avatar get-up presented here (Stiller is an avid Trek fan, remember). The bit was classic Stiller, somewhat funny though ultimately perhaps a bit too high concept for the proceedings (similar to his presentation of Best Visual Effects in a green suit a few years ago). Stiller did get to present the award to the deserving team for Star Trek however.

Ben Stiller Presents Best Make-Up

Ben Stiller Communicates with Jim Cameron

Steve Carell and Cameron Diaz presented the award for Best Animated Feature to Up. Diaz dropped a bit of Green Hornet news on the red carpet, indicating that she shared no scenes with Christoph Waltz. Tonight’s Oscar winner for Inglourious Basterds plays the villain in the Seth Rogen superhero movie.

Steve Carell Congratulates Pete Docter

Steve Carell with wife Nancy Walls

Woody Harrelson lost the Best Supporting Actor to Waltz, but did pick up an Independent Spirit Award for The Messenger in the same category on Friday. Ben Stiller also appeared at that event, joking he hasn’t made an independent film since Reality Bites in 1993.

Oscar Nominee Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson at Independent Spirit Awards

Jason Bateman introduced Best Picture nominee, Up in the Air, joking he enjoyed his time on the film because it was one of the few times anyone could boss around George Clooney.

Jason Bateman and wife Amanda Anka

Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr. presented the award for Best Original Screenplay with an okay bit about writers and actors. Interesting that Fey and Carell were not paired together, as expected. There was plenty of Date Night talk on the red carpet, however.

Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr.

Elizabeth Banks briefly appeared to recap her appearance at the Science and Technical Oscars a few weeks ago. And certainly looked great…

Elizabeth Banks

In addition to this summer’s Dinner for Schmucks, Rudd and Galifianakis have another comedy, Will, in the works as well. We haven’t heard much about that film lately, but could the two proposed costars being together in New York on Oscar weekend be just a simple coincidence?  Also, notable was Galiafinakis shaving his beard mid-show to appear in the last sketch without his trademark beard! Perhaps the movie is filming soon and we’ll see a clean-shaven Galiafinakis for this role?

Paul Rudd

Rachel McAdams

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard have joined the cast of Woody Allen’s next film, set to film this summer. Previously announced as part of the cast were Owen Wilson and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

It’s hard to remember but for a brief time in 2005 McAdams was Hollywood’s “It” girl. After amazing chemistry opposite Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers, McAdams toplined the sleeper hit Red Eye and had a warm turn in The Family Stone with Luke Wilson. But after some time off and some bad choices, she’s kind of fallen off the map.

I would say that 2009 was a comeback year for her.  State of Play wasn’t a hit for McAdams or costar Russell Crowe but she did a good job in what could have been a one-note role (that film also features a great cameo by Jason Bateman).  I personally didn’t love McAdams in Sherlock Holmes but the film was certainly a massive hit. So, maybe things have turned around.

Why is this man smiling? Oh, I know...

These are the winners of the 5th Annual Frat Pack Earmuff Awards in the so-called Glamour Categories.  The complete list of winners are available at EarmuffAwards.com.

Take a look below. See a trend?

Yep, The Hangover’s banner year held up with Earmuff Award voters who gave Todd Phillip’s comeback vehicle 11 total awards including Best Picture. The record for Earmuff wins in a single year is 12, held by both Wedding Crashers and Tropic Thunder.

Voters recognized The Hangover for what in Fratville is actually kind of a glamour category, Best Catch-Phrase. I happen to think “Slappin da Bass” will be the catch-phase that will be remembered years from now, but clearly Zach Galifianakis’ many lines of wisdom were beloved by this year’s voters.

What do you think of the winners? Do you feel that any nominee was “snubbed” by not winning?

Best Picture

• I Love You, Man
• Observe and Report
• The Hangover
• Funny People
• Zombieland

Best Director

• Jon Hamburg – I Love You, Man
• Jody Hill – Observe and Report
• Todd Phillips – The Hangover
• Judd Apatow – Funny People
• Ruben Fleischer – Zombieland

Best Character

• Kenny Powers – Eastbound & Down
• Peter Klaven – I Love You, Man
• Ronnie – Observe and Report
• Alan – The Hangover
• Mr. Chow – The Hangover
• Tallahassee – Zombieland

Best Scene-Play (Best scene in a movie)

• Catching the Pervert – Observe and Report
• Meeting Mike Tyson – The Hangover
• End-credits / photos – The Hangover
• Lunch with Eminem – Funny People
• Meeting “BM” at his Mansion – Zombieland

Best Catch Phrase (funny even out of context / potential t-shirt slogan)

• “I’m slappin’ da bass” – I Love You, Man
• “Totally. Totes McGotes.” – I Love You, Man
• “Matt Lauer Can Suck It” – Land of the Lost
• “It’s not a purse, it’s a satchel. Indiana Jones has one” – The Hangover
• “Paging Doctor Faggot. Doctor Faggot” – The Hangover

Best Sound Bite (audio component is critical for humor or context – not feasible on a t-shirt)

• “In your face. In your face arghhhhhh” – I Love You, Man
• “Give it back. Return the favor. I don’t think she sucks his dick.” – I Love You, Man
• Fuck You Battle – Observe and Report
• “I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack… And now I know for sure, I just added two more guys to my wolf pack.” – The Hangover
• “Don’t you get sick of talking about your dick?” – Funny People

Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd

These are the winners of the 5th Annual Frat Pack Earmuff Awards in the Performance Categories. The complete list of winners are available at EarmuffAwards.com.

While I have no big problems with the sweep of The Hangover this year, I’m not enthused about some of the performances that were pulled up by the sweep. I didn’t vote for Ken Jeong but have no issues with his win for Best Supporting Actor as he was funny in several films in 2009, including Couples Retreat and The Goods, and has been doing great work for several years now. But, I can’t say that Heather Graham brought anything special to The Hangover. And while Zach Galifianakis was a crowd-pleaser, I think the other nominees were stronger.

Funny People did well with two dramatic performances. Leslie Mann was tapped as an early Oscar contender and won here. And I’m not at all displeased by Adam Sandler’s excellent performance being the inaugural winner of a new Earmuff category for Best Dramatic Performance. I thought Sandler’s performance at the Thanksgiving scene in Funny People was particularly well-done.

Of course, we should recognize Paul Rudd for being the lone winner for I Love You, Man. This was one of the few categories that The Hangover did not win, and it’s certainly deserved for Rudd who appeared in nearly every scene and did so with aplomb.

What do you think of the winners? Do you feel that any nominee was “snubbed” by not winning?

Best Actor

• Paul Rudd – I Love You, Man
• Jason Segel – I Love You, Man
• Seth Rogen – Observe and Report
• Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover
• Woody Harrelson – Zombieland

Best Actress

• Rashida Jones – I Love You, Man
• Anna Faris – Observe and Report
• Amy Adams – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
• Leslie Mann – Funny People
• Emma Stone – Zombieland

Best Supporting Actor

• Jon Favreau – I Love You, Man
• Ken Jeong – The Hangover
• Owen Wilson – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
• Danny McBride – Land of the Lost
• Jonah Hill – Funny People

Best Supporting Actress

• Kristen Bell – Fanboys
• Jamie Pressly – I Love You, Man
• Kristen Wiig – Adventureland
• Heather Graham – The Hangover
• Aubrey Plaza – Funny People
• Abigail Breslin – Zombieland

Best Performance by a Frat Pack Friend (a performer with longtime association with the Frat Pack, any project eligible)

• Danny McBride – Eastbound & Down
• Paul Rudd – I Love You, Man
• Jason Segel – I Love You, Man
• Seth Rogen – Observe and Report
• Ed Helms – The Hangover

The Henry Poole Award for Best Dramatic Performance

• Seth Rogen – Observe and Report
• Adam Sandler – Funny People
• Leslie Mann – Funny People
• Danny McBride – Up in the Air
• Patton Oswald – Big Fan

Best Non-Movie Appearance (non-musical)

• Danny McBride – Eastbound & Down
• Will Ferrell – Eastbound & Down
• Joaquin Phoenix Oscar Riff – Ben Stiller
• Vanity Fair Cover – Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel
• Will Ferrell Hosts SNL – Will Ferrell

The Heat Vision Voiceover Award

• Seth Rogen – Monsters vs. Aliens
• Bill Hader – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
• Jesse Eisenberg – Zombieland
• Owen Wilson – The Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Jason Schwartzman – The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Luke Zoolander Award for Best Frat Pack Cameo (eligibility: Frat Pack members and friends)

• Danny McBride – Observe and Report
• Jonah Hill – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
• Todd Phillips – The Hangover
• Rob Riggle – The Hangover
• Will Ferrell – The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Lance Armstrong Award for Best Celebrity Cameo (eligibility: a celebrity not associated with the Pack, or those appearing as themselves)

• Lou Ferrigno – I Love You, Man
• Steve Carell – Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill Crash the NBC Gate / FunnyOrDie.com
• Mike Tyson – The Hangover
• Eminem – Funny People
• Bill Murray – Zombieland

Earmuff Award voters got a lot right in these categories. The technical categories are always a good place to recognize films that aren’t quite popular enough to win the “glamour” categories, but have strong merits. Such in the case for Observe and Report and I’m so pleased to report it won the award for Best Sex Scene. That “date rape” scene was notorious in some circles but I’m glad to see Earmuff Award voters for seeing it for what it was. Likewise, a highlight of Zombieland was the incredible rules/title sequence that won the award for Best Special Effects.

I was a big fan of Amy Adams’s performance in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. And not just for her award-winning jodhpurs. But, you know, that didn’t hurt.

Also, let’s have a big hand for two-time Earmuff Award winner Mike Simmons who won the Community Content category award again this year.

What do you think of the winners? Do you feel that any nominee was “snubbed” by not winning?

Best Musical Moment

• Bat Fight – Will Ferrell
• Tom Sawyer – I Love You, Man
• Stu’s Song – The Hangover
• In the Air Tonight – The Hangover
• Dracula’s Lament with Jason Segel – Late Late Show with Craig Furguson 1000th episode

Best Non-Movie Appearance (non-musical)

• Danny McBride – Eastbound & Down
• Will Ferrell – Eastbound & Down
• Joaquin Phoenix Oscar Riff – Ben Stiller
• Vanity Fair Cover – Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel
• Will Ferrell Hosts SNL – Will Ferrell

Best Multimedia Feature (trailer, web, or DVD)

• Kenny Powers – Message from a Legend (Eastbound and Down / HBO)
• Bat Fight – Will Ferrell and Craig Robinson (Funny or Die)
• Flatulence Explained – Jason Segel and Paul Rudd (YouTube interview)
• Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill Crash the NBC Gate – FunnyOrDie.com
• Red Hour moves to Fox – Ben Stiller

Best Visual Effects

• Projectile Vomit – I Love You, Man
• Stu’s Tooth – The Hangover
• The Land of the Lost – Land of the Lost
• Zombies – Zombieland
• The Rules / Opening Credits – Zombieland

Award Winning Costume

Mugatu Award for Best Costume Design

• Zoe in Slave Outfit – Fanboys
• Adventureland crew tshirts – Adventureland
• Caucasian Crackhead – Observe and Report
• Amelia Earhart’s jodhpurs – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
• Gold Statue Paint – Year One

Ron Burgundy Award for Best Hair

• Ashley Schaeffer – Eastbound & Down
• Kenny Powers – Eastbound & Down
• Bobby’s moustache – Adventureland
• General Custer – Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
• Cha-Ka – Land of the Lost

Best Use of Drugs/Alcohol

• Boat Race – I Love You, Man
• Partners in Crime Montage – Observe and Report
• Alan Gets Roofies instead of Ecstasy – The Hangover
• Marshall, Will, and Cha-Ka Drink the Juice – Land of the Lost
• Smoking Pot with Bill Murray – Zombieland

Best Sex Scene

• “You Want to Take Your Shirt Off” – Fanboys
• Brandi and Ronnie’s Date – Observe and Report
• Oh Loses His Virginity – Year One
• Laura and George go to the store – Funny People
• Brad Seduces Suzie – Extract

Best Community-Generated Content

• Frat Pack Origins: Zoolander – Mike Simmers
• Dueling Observe and Report Reviews – Drew Hunt and Rick Duran
• Frat Trek (trailer mashup) – Mike Simmers
• Star Trek: Old School – Sputnik Animation
• The Frat Pack graphic design project – Greg Barone

The Andy Dick Award for Dubious Achievement

• Wal-Mart Removes “Make a Porno” from Zack and Miri DVD Cover
• Date Rape Controversy – Observe and Report
• Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson Wrestle on Raft in Italy; Woody Gets Black Eye
• Entourage Slams Seth Rogen and Knocked Up two years too late – Entourage
• Continued Public Bickering – Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow