He hasn't played Houston in more than 30 years, but when Van Morrison takes the stage at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Saturday evening, he's making sure it's a night concertgoers won't soon forget.
It's not just the hits, it's the rather unusual list of rules we (I'll be there on the hill with my whole Fam Damnily) were e-mailed just a few days before.
First, as the only act on the bill, Morrison plans to start at 8 p.m. sharp. (On-time headliners? That I've never encountered) and expects fans in their seats or on their behinds by 7:50 p.m.
The outdoor concert venue, one of only a few open-air concerts Morrison will play this year, is also suspending the sale of alcohol during the show. This isn't anything new for Morrison, but it's something we'd expect an intimate indoor venue, not a gigantic outdoor one.
They must know their Texans well — promoters have agreed to open the doors a half hour early (at 6:30 p.m.) to accomodate those who like a healthy buzz for their concerts.
If people leaving their seats are an unwelcome distraction, I wonder what Morrison will make of the enthusiastic dancing sure to break out on the hill when "Brown-eyed Girl" starts up.
Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.
Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara), and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.
He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin — a weatherman at a local TV channel — even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.
Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.
The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.
Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, many things in the story go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.
Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.
There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.
