Delivery Man Review

Caught Dreamworks Pictures' "Delivery Man" last night and I found it surprisingly good despite a so-so trailer. The film stars Vince Vaughn as Dave Wozniak, a man who finds out that he has fathered 500 or so kids thanks to a sperm bank. It also features Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders and is directed by Ken Scott.

And if you think this is an original, a quick Wikipedia check shows us that this is actually a remake of a 2011 French film entitled "Starbuck". Despite that, I think this is nice movie.

WHATS GOOD:

- Vince Vaughn was OK here. He's not the doofus nor the ass that we know him from other films. This one's a more mature Vaughn. Still if you look at him, it'll probably get you a snicker or two but thanks to the material and probably the director, this is a different Vaughn. In his case, different was good.

- Robin Scherbatsky Cobie Smulders. She looks beautiful whatever the scene. Not convincing as a police nor as a mother but her presence is definitely adds a little nice vibe to the movie. She's hot.

Let's go for another one...

And another one...

OK, enough Sherbatsky. 

- CHRIS PRATT! This guy stole the show for me. Each scene is pure genius. He plays Vaughn's best friend and attorney Brett who helps him out with legalities in this case. A lot of great comedic beats here in this movie for the guy who would be playing the Starlord next year.

Parks and Recreations has proven that this guy is definitely a keeper for comedic roles. Also I hear that he actually gained 60 pounds just to get into the role of Brett which is really interesting.  

- The plot might be a little dull but it's all those heartfelt scenes where Vaughn either does an "Act of Random Kindness" or plays Guardian angel that can really get you. The film's not a 'crier' but it'll touch a soft spot especially for would-be fathers, husbands and boyfriends. (I suddenly have this urge to call up my dad and play pool with him)

- There's a moral lesson in the movie. Somewhere here. Regardless, it's a really fun movie. Also don't do drugs, always go to work on time and don't use the delivery truck as your own personal vehicle, people are waiting for fresh cut meat dammit! 

DELIVERY MAN is a nice movie. It's got it's merits and while it's not going to be really, really stellar I can say that you can enjoy this a lot. Again, word of caution, the comedy bits are with Pratt not with Vaughn. That'll save you some grief. 

Verdict: 6.5/ 10

Special thanks to Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures for the photos and all that.  DELIVERY MAN opens Dec. 4

Vince Vaughn Fathers 533 (!) Children in "Delivery Man"

Vince Vaughn has starred in some of the biggest box office comedies of the past decade, winning over audiences with his characteristic deadpan delivery and scathing sense of humor. Having played the lovable Everyman many times before, DreamWorks Pictures' new heartwarming comedy “Delivery Man” serves as a departure for him as an actor. A touching story filled with honesty and hope – in addition to humor – the film gives audiences a glimpse of a more mature Vince Vaughn.

“Delivery Man” tells the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak (Vaughn) whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

Now married and the father to two children of his own, Vaughn was drawn to the role of David Wozniak as he wanted to address the issues of balancing life and family from a fresh perspective.

“It’s a great premise that is a little bit crazy,” says Vaughn, “but underneath it all the movie is about family, about connection and about finding your way, so it has a lot of heart to it. The movie deals with real issues that families go through, what people go through in life trying to find their way and be successful, in a very authentic way. But there’s also an underlying optimism, warmth and love to the film that’s very powerful and funny.”

David is the eldest of three sons in the Wozniak family. He works for the family’s Brooklyn-based meat business with his father and brothers, but is a constant foul-up, albeit a loveable and likeable one. “David is a strange character,” explains producer André Rouleau. “Maybe he is not the best man in the world, but he’s got a big heart, and that’s why people love him.”

David’s past comes back to haunt him when he learns that the anonymous donations he made to a fertility clinic years ago under the pseudonym “Starbuck” have produced 533 Wozniak descendants, resulting in a paternity nightmare.

Adds Vaughn, “David is a guy who hasn’t grown up. He’s still very childlike in a lot of ways. He doesn’t have a lot of adult responsibility and he realizes that his girlfriend is pregnant. He owes money to some mobsters who are getting impatient and are giving him some pretty rough coaxing, and he’s constantly late on his bills.”

Writer/director Ken Scott was thrilled to give Vaughn the chance to tackle the role of David Wozniak. “It's always about how this impacts David's character,” Scott says. “So, for me, it was very important to find a great actor, someone good with comedy, someone who was strong enough to carry the whole movie on his shoulders, and someone who we would want to follow on this journey. Vince was very passionate about this story, he loved the story, he loved the character, obviously, and he has the talent to carry this movie. I felt he was perfect for this role.”

The filmmakers knew after just one meeting with Vaughn that they had found the right man. executive producer Scott Mednick recalls, “As we walked out to my car, the three of us looked at each other and said, ‘My God, he's David!’ Vince brings a depth and a heart to the role that I think audiences are not expecting … he does an amazing job. He takes this film on his back and delivers, for my nickel, the performance of his life.”

“He’s showing us another dimension of his major talent,” adds executive producer Mark Sourian. “Vince has always given great comedic performances. Now, with ‘Delivery Man,’ audiences get to see more of his versatility and depth as an actor. I think Vince was happy to play a part that was different from the roles he's had in the past. He definitely brings something amazing and unique to the character of David. I think, as a new father himself, he brought a personal understanding of the situation that nobody else could have performed as well.”

Opening soon across the Philippines on Dec. 4, “Delivery Man” is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International.

Cobie Smulders, from "Marvel's The Avengers" to "Delivery Man"

She recently starred as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill in “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide. She will reprise her role for “Captain America Winter Soldier” which will be released on April 4, 2014 and also for “The Avengers 2.” But for now, Cobie Smulders stars in DreamWorks Pictures' “Delivery Man,” a heartfelt comedy about the complexities of life, seizing the day and becoming the person you are destined to be.

“Delivery Man” tells the story of affable underachiever David (Vince Vaughn) whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

For the role of David’s girlfriend Emma, the filmmakers were looking to cast an actress who could hold her own opposite Vaughn on both a dramatic as well as comedic level. The part went to Cobie Smulders, who exuded a unique combination of toughness and vulnerability.

In the film, Emma is all too familiar with David’s shortcomings and is desperate for him to grow up. The fact that she is pregnant with his child makes things all the more complicated.

Smulders explains, “David comes to her door very late at night, and he's trying to make up with her. He hasn't been in touch for a while, and Emma has been trying to get in touch with him because she's pregnant. She is a New York City police officer and she's battling with the idea of this man being her child's father. Will he support her? Is he a good father figure? And so it's a journey for both of them in a way that Emma learns to trust David and David grows up.”

As irritated as Emma is with David, part of her wants to give him the chance to step up to the plate. “David is flaky. He's one of those guys, who's so sweet, so charming, and everybody loves him,” observes Smulders. “But, he's not dependable. And for someone like Emma who is so by the book, who is much more organized, having this person in her life can be very frustrating.”

Smulders says, “When Emma reveals that she's pregnant to David, he goes on a quest to prove to her that he could be a good father. It's almost like he doesn't have to prove it to her first, but he has to prove it to himself first. He starts showing up for ultrasound appointments and becomes very supportive. In the end, upon revealing his identity to her and to the world, saying, ‘I'm the father, and I want to be there for these people,’ is a huge testament to him growing up, becoming responsible, becoming present, and it shows her what a good father he would be.”

While wanting to support Emma and be the father she’s hoping he could be, David is still conflicted about doing right by her and his biological offspring, as well as his father and brothers. “He has a lot of love and affection for Emma,” says Vaughn. “He realizes that his life and the way he conducts himself maybe doesn’t come off as the most consistent partner, but he wants to work on that because he does want to be a part of his child’s life, and he wants to be a part of Emma’s life.”

Opening soon the Philippines on Dec. 4, “Delivery Man” is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International.

"Delivery Man" - A Funny, Emotional Tale on Fatherhood

DreamWorks Pictures presents Vince Vaughn (“The Break-Up”), Chris Pratt (“Moneyball”) and Cobie Mulders (“Marvel's The Avengers”) in “Delivery Man,” a heartfelt comedy about the complexities of life, seizing the day and becoming the person you are destined to be.

In the film, David Wozniak (Vaughn) has always led a simple life. A delivery driver for his family’s meat company, he is seemingly content existing in a state of perpetual mediocrity. While David has a good heart, charming everyone he comes in contact with, he is immature, unfocused, in serious debt and in desperate need of some sense of direction in his life.

But when he finds out he is the biological father of 533 children and 142 of them are suing to learn his identity, everything changes, and David decides he wants to do the right thing and for once, be held accountable for his actions.

Written for the screen and directed by Ken Scott, “Delivery Man” is a re-telling of the 2011 French-Canadian comedy “Starbuck,” which was also directed by Scott. With a title derived from a notorious breeding bull with a record-setting number of offspring, the film is about an unremarkable guy who wakes up one day to find he has fathered 533 children. Expanding on the original story with humor and heart, “Delivery Man” revisits this seemingly unlikely, but ultimately very possible tale of fatherhood and family.

Scott recalls, “The idea came from my co-screenwriter, Martin Petit, who had this idea about a man who had many children. We wanted to write a comedy about fatherhood so we went for what we considered something extreme — a fertility donor who has 150 children. One month into the project, it was all over the media that a donor had discovered he had fathered 400 children! We were speechless and realized that our mere 150 was nothing compared to reality. So we actually had to bring up the numbers. We focused on creating a story that explores fatherhood in a playful and credible way.”

“Starbuck” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, where it was selected as runner-up for the People’s Choice Award. The film went on to be named Most Popular Canadian Film at the 2011 Vancouver Film Festival and upon its theatrical release, became the most successful Quebec-made film that year.

The international popularity of “Starbuck” attracted the attention of many Hollywood producers who wanted to re-make the film for American audiences. Scott says, “I wanted to be there as a director and as a writer to make sure that this delicate balance between drama, emotion and comedy wasn’t compromised. Not many filmmakers have the opportunity to redo the same movie a second time. But I love the story.”

Although “Delivery Man” is a remake, it was important to the filmmakers that the American version not be an identical regurgitation of the original. Scott says, “The goal of the remake is to basically take the story and to integrate it with American culture. For me, it was very important to make sure that we were not simply copying something. It had to come from a real place.”

On its surface, “Delivery Man” is a comical look at a man facing an unimaginable quandary. But it is really a humanistic portrait of a man learning to accept his flaws and focus on turning his life around.

Executive Producer Mark Sourian says, “The thing that's so satisfying about the movie is we've found an extraordinary set of circumstances to put a character in the middle of. And yet those circumstances are very believable. There's a craziness to those circumstances that is comedic. You can't help but laugh.”

He concludes, “But there’s also a seriousness to it, and I think that blend creates a very unique tone for the movie that allows it to be funny but emotional and heartwarming.”

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Delivery Man” is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International.

First-Look: DreamWorks' New Comedy "Delivery Man"

DreamWorks Pictures’ new comedy “Delivery Man” stars Vince Vaughn as affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

A DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment presentation, the film is written for the screen and directed by Ken Scott, based on “Starbuck,” the original screenplay written by Ken Scott and Martin Petit, and also stars Chris Pratt and Cobie Smulders. “Delivery Man” is produced by André Rouleau and executive produced by Ray Angelic, Scott Mednick and Mark Sourian.

Opening soon across the Philippines, “Delivery Man” is a DreamWorks Picture distributed by Walt Disney Studios International. 

Looking For Googliness in THE INTERNSHIP

Starring comedic duo Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, “The Internship” is a hilarious tale about two guys at the peak of their powers of salesmanship, who dare to dream against all odds. They turn sales into an art form, and must now work that magic in a high-tech universe.

In this new world order, Billy and Nick learn that if you want a place at the table, then you have to work harder, reinvent yourself, and develop new skills at the speed of fiber optics transmissions. Ignoring the naysayers and following their gut, Billy and Nick turn Google on its head by bringing their game to this center of the digital universe.

“I think the comedy in this movie comes out of relatable situations,” Vaughn adds. “There's authenticity to Billy and Nick’s journey, in that they initially go through some tough things, which is happening to a lot of people.” Director and producer Shawn Levy echoes Vaughn’s observations on the relatability of the film’s premise. “I think this movie is astonishingly relevant,” states Levy. “There is a generation that feels it must reinvent itself. So how do you do that in order to write a next chapter?”

One way of reinventing yourself is to pursue non-traditional career paths. Job seekers and employers are increasingly embracing “returnships” – return-to-work programs and internships for older professionals. So, in some ways, Billy and Nick are part of a “Returnship.” They are refreshing – and reapplying—their skill sets and learning new technologies, to rocket themselves back into the workplace in a big, big way.

The movie is an uplifting story with humor and idealism. “The optimism that comes from the film’s message is that maybe there's something each generation can learn from the other. It's a huge part of why the film is not just funny, but also timely, aspirational and hopeful,” says Vaughn.



Vaughn’s Billy McMahon is high-energy, razor-sharp, and verbally-dexterous. When he loses the only vocation he has ever known, Billy searches the online job listings and inadvertently discovers the solution to his career conundrum –Google. “Billy gets an idea, that Google's a place where there are a lot of possibilities; it feels like a phenomenal place to work, where there are nap pods, Ping-Pong, volleyball courts and lots of places to eat – for free,” states Vaughn.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Billy “takes a swing for something that's far reaching or far out, but also seems like an exciting place to work,” says Vaughn. “Billy and Nick wonder, why not take a chance at the best place to work that is filled with the most opportunities?” Billy and Nick choose wisely. In January 2013, Fortune magazine declared Google the best place to work, for the third time since 2007. Google has maintained a longstanding reputation as a cool, fun and magical place to work. Its employees love the company’s culture, mission statement and perks. “For Billy and Nick, going to Google is like entering into the chocolate factory or traveling to Oz,” Vaughn says.



Instead of using their masterful salesmanship for personal gain, Billy and Nick use it as a way to unify the team, and more importantly, as a means to thrive at Google. “What our characters bring is that ability, as salesmen, to connect with people,” says Wilson. “And, do it in a genuine way.” As underdogs in the competition, the team faces an uphill climb, but nothing that a little guts, grit and Googliness can’t handle. “Googliness is a willingness to take chances, roll the dice, think outside the box, and be open to inspiration,” says Wilson. “It’s a quality that everyone aspires to.”



“The Internship” lifts the curtain on Google’s innovative wizardry, offering a rare glimpse into its dynamic, trailblazing and high-tech culture. “When I visited Google, that's when the project got exciting,” recalls Levy. “It’s a tech company but every day they commit themselves to trying to make the world a better place. There is a genuine altruism to its culture that is inspiring, and I wanted to depict that.”

“The Internship” opens August 14 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

THE INTERNSHIP Review

Reviewing THE INTERNSHIP starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson from 20th Century Fox. 

Funny how under-appreciated this comedy flick starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson is considering the gag bits and real-world application it has. The plot is really simple. Two unemployed salesmen try to pull off the biggest prank by getting in on an internship program for Google. Both discover their strengths, revisit their weaknesses and wins the day for their team of outcasts. End of story. 

While the plot is a bit dated and not to mention overly used, the film has a certain charm to it that can only be delivered by the same guys who brought us "Wedding Crashers" years ago. People in the US might not have enjoyed the flick but Pinoy sensibilities will definitely enjoy this one. From real life Quidditch matches to references to Game of Thrones and X-Men there's definitely something for every geek in the house. 

The other cast members were pretty great as well. Much props however to Tobit Raphael who plays the role of Yo-Yo Santos, a very Pinoy 'Noogler' on Vaughn and Wilson's team. His was probably the meatier role with lots of funny moments. Pinoy pridist would even be waving the RP flag when they hear 'Ay Nako' get uttered somewhere in the movie. 

There's also some great cameos here in the film one in the first half with Will Ferrell and the other one at the end of the film with Rob Riggle appearing at the tail end. However, its really Ferrell that gets going with some funny lines and an even funnier appearance in the film. 

THE INTERNSHIP is far from perfect though. There are plotholes the size of Jupiter that either gets swept under the rug or is completely forgotten. Talk about major let down. 

As a friend of mine stated while walking out of the cinema, the film is also one major advertorial for Google; showcasing the search engine company's existing (and non-existing) products and services. That for me is a double edged sword because it can also serve as a way of letting geeks like me strive to be one day get headhunted for Google. So that bit really depends on how you see things. Also I got a kick seeing Google's office in the big screen as opposed to the millions of photos appearing on the line.

In terms of eye candy, the film boasts of Rose Byrne (Moira McTaggert from X-Men First Class) as well as Jessica Szorh (the love interest in Pirahna 3D, yeah the girl that made out with the pornstars). Both are lovely but sadly they were just placed in to fill out certain niches. Nothing noteworthy. 

Finally THE INTERNSHIP hit a heavy mark for this writer mainly because it's my dayjob to convince people to go digital; to embrace technology and the last few lines that Vaughn utters when sealing the winning deal is totally going to be quoted whenever I make sales pitches. 

VERDICT: C+

Special thanks to 20th Century Fox. THE INTERNSHIP opens August 14.

A Massive X-Men Reference Hidden in The Internship's New Trailer

20th Century Fox has released a new trailer for the comedy film "The Internship" starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. It looks funny and it's even got a good X-Men reference that hardcore X-fans would recognize.

Here's the official press release from 20th Century Fox Philippines:

Looks like comedy duo and friends Owen and Vince have found a new thinking playground at the Google campus as featured in the upcoming hilarious movie “The Internship.”

In an interview with EW on his upcoming true-to-the-times relatable comedy “The Internship,” Vince Vaughn admits that there wouldn’t be any film had Google said no to the concept in the first place.

Vaughn, who serves as co-writer, producer and star of “The Internship” reunite with Owen Wilson about friends in their 40s who get laid off from their jobs. Convinced they’ve gone about managing their careers entirely wrong, they resolve to become interns at a tech company and start anew. Hijinks ensue when Vaughn and Wilson compete against
wily, fresh-faced 22-year-olds to advance in the company.

“The Internship” sees Nick (Owen Wilson) and Billy (Vince Vaughn), two old-school salesmen who use old fashioned charm and brilliant sales techniques to sell watches. On the night that they try to close a big sale with a client, to their shock, they find out that their company has been shut down because kids don’t wear watches anymore. Suddenly, they find themselves unemployed as two dinosaurs in the digital world.

To make the situation worse, Billy goes home to find a foreclosure sign on his front lawn and his girlfriend packing her bags to leave him. In the meantime, Nick’s sister offers him a job at a mattress store and he takes it out of despair. After an exhaustive job search online, Billy has Googled everything he can Google. He finally gives up by typing just “Google” into the search box, and finds an opportunity for them to reinvent themselves – with an internship program at Google.

The guys arrive at the Google Campus in Mountain View, California – a world away from anything they have seen before – and are in awe. All the food and drink is free so they load up on coffee and donuts at the “free” coffee cart as if it’s their last meal on earth. On the first day of their internship, they find themselves in a sea of tech-savvy 20-
year-olds who they need to compete against to win a full-time position at Google. They team up with Neha, a sexually curious nerd, Stuart, who is obsessed with his cell phone and won’t get off of it, Yoyo, a genius Asian kid that lacks social and common life skills, and Lyle, who is an underdog who wants to fit in. They also meet their nemesis – Graham – an arrogant and aggressive college student who will stops at nothing to win the competition and get the job at Google.

Vaughn wrote the original draft of the story when the US economy was in shambles and most of the people he knew had lost their jobs. It was that generational sentiment that the skills they have are not significant as it used to be. And when he saw a portion of what goes inside the Google ‘campus,’ “I thought of taking the characters to this place
and give them the chance to work at Google – that felt relatable and rootable,” shares Vaughn.

Google cofounder Sergey Bin checked on the film’s set every now and then which Vaughn is very grateful for – “Everyone at (Google) was very nice and gracious. But that’s what Google does: You search for something and you find it,” Vaughn concludes.

“The Internship” opens August 14 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.



At the last bit, as the man they bluntly refer to as Professor Xavier wheels away from them, Vince Vaughn shouts "Professor Xavier is a total" before it gets cut off. This is of course a throwback to that classic splash page featuring a then-rebellious Kitty Pryde...

The Internship Trailer Features Filipino Actor Tobit Raphael

Latest trailer shows 40-year old Google interns at "The Internship" with Hollywood-Based Filipino Actor Tobit Raphael Included in Cast With Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.

Nick (Owen Wilson) and Billy (Vince Vaughn) battle it out with the techies in “The Internship” as two old-school salesmen in their 40s who use old fashioned charm and brilliant sales technique to sell watches. On the night that they try to close a big sale with a client, to their shock, they find that their company has been shut down because kids don’t wear watches anymore. Suddenly, they find themselves unemployed as two dinosaurs in the digital world.

After an exhaustive job search online, Billy chanced upon an opportunity for them to reinvent themselves – an internship program with Google.

Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn Ward Off Aliens in "The Watch"

Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn reunite in “The Watch” along with Jonah Hill and British comedian Richard Ayoade who band together in the film to uncover the mysterious events happening in their neighborhood.

Ben Stiller’s Evan is a senior manager at the superstore Costco, having made a not-so-lightning-fast ascent to that position from assistant manager. Evan is a dedicated employee, but his heart is with the Glenview Neighborhood Watch, of which he is the founder and CEO. “Evan is very community-oriented,” says Stiller, “because he has so few friends, and these clubs give him the opportunity to meet new people.”

Jumpstreet's Jonah Hill in Another Outrageous Comedy - The Watch

After debuting in the comedy “I Heart Huckabees,” Jonah Hill has steadily posited himself as a solid hilarious support in the string of his movies that followed. Appearing afterwards in acclaimed hits like “The 40-Year Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up,” “Superbad,” “Forgettting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to the Greek,” “Moneyball” and the most recent “21 Jump Street” with Channing Tatum which is Hill’s highest grossing film after “Superbad.”

Ben Stiller's "The Watch" To Open September 5 in the Philippines

Meet the neighborhood watch: civic-minded Evan (Ben Stiller), fun-loving family guy Bob (Vince Vaughn), tough-talking “wild card” Franklin (Jonah Hill) and the looking-for-love divorcé Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade). In a seemingly serene suburban enclave and safe haven, Evan Bob, Franklin and Jamarcus have decided to join forces to safeguard their community. In addition, they’re enjoying some of the perks that come with being a “Watcher”… like drinking beer and just being guys.