there's a starman

Pop culture titan William Shatner captains Comicpalooza along with star-studded cast

Starman Shatner gets top billing at this year's Comicpalooza.

Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ReedPop

In one of the most famous sketches in the history of Saturday Night Live, host William Shatner plays himself where — at a Star Trek convention — he screams “get a life!” at the collected assortment of sci-fi minutiae spouting (and all male) dorks.

“It’s just a TV show!” he flusters, before pointing out one audience member: “You — you must be almost 30. Have you ever kissed a girl?” The dejected look on the Spock-eared Jon Lovitz, sadly, answers that question.

How things have changed since 1986. Today, muscled comic book superheroes, swashbuckling space rangers, and sexy, tormented monsters not only drive seemingly all of modern pop culture, but the fanbase net is cast much, much wider.

In Houston, that’s nowhere more obvious that during the annual Comicpalooza weekend. And Captain James Tiberius Kirk himself— the 92-year-old Shatner — has set his beaming coordinates for Houston as this year’s headlining star, May 26-28 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

One of the largest shows of its kind in the country and billed as "Texas' largest pop culture festival" Comicpalooza — which began in 2008 as a tiny event in the lobby of a movie theater — counted nearly 50,000 attendees last year.

Celebrity signings and meet-and-greets, live podcasts, an Artist’s Alley, interactive demonstrations and shows, live gaming, panel discussions, and cosplay (Iots of incredible cosplay) are big attractions. Of course, most of the real estate is given to vendors selling everything from 1930’s Marvel Comics to original Kenner Star Wars figures (be on lookout for that Double Telescoping Luke Skywalker!) to today’s hottest Funko Pops.

Recently, the show even introduced Fandom Court. That’s where two litigants on opposite sides of an issue stand at podiums and argue their case, which is decided before an actual judge. One such War of Words had two Harry Potter fans quibbling about the topic “Voldemort: Genuinely Evil or Victim of Circumstance?”

Organizers will continue to roll out guests over the next few weeks, but also announced as guests with Shatner were TV’s dreamy and bloodsucking brothers Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries), actor Lou Diamond Phillips, voice actor Christopher Judge, and anime voice over talents Paul Castro Jr., Luci Christian, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Amber Lee Connors, and Jason Douglas. Visiting celeb Karl Urban is sure to draw crowds for his work in Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Thor: Ragnarok, and more.

Comic book guests (the OG genre of fandom) include Steven McNiven, Yanick Paquette, and Frank Cho, along with literature scribes Terry Brooks, Stephen Graham Jones, and Mary Robinette Kowal. They join already-announced guests including Stephen Amell and Rick Gonzalez (Arrow) and Anthony Star (The Boys).

But just like Shock Rocker Alice Cooper in 2022, and the cast of The Mandalorian in 2021 (COVID killed Comicpalooza in 2020, but it came back just like Jason Voorhees), the biggest crowds and lines will likely be for Shatner. Himself the subject of the recent documentary You Can Call Me Bill and whose latest book was Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder.

Sure, most of the questions and interest will be about Star Trek. But don’t forget T.J. Hooker, The Twilight Zone, Miss Congeniality, and the sung/spoken records. (Not even Elton John can touch Shatner’s tuxedoed and cigarette-smoking cool in the video for “Rocket Man.”) The man even makes commercials for the law firm of Smith & Hassler interesting. (His Priceline commercials were gems, too.)

Our hero even pulled a real Captain Kirk, in a boldly-go-where-no men have gone before (well, maybe a few), gravity-free journey on Jeff Bezos’ truly spacey Blue Origin rocket flight.

Given Shatner's headlining appearance and the star-studded cast, it's safe to say this year's Comicpalooza will be a real blast.

-----

Comicpalooza runs May 26-28 at the George R. Brown Convention Center (1001 Avenida de las Americas). For tickets, VIP information, full schedules, and more, visit www.comicpalooza.com

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film — which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century — has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples — the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis — turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights — and occasional bawdiness — make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

---

The Invite is now playing in theaters.

movies film

there's a starman

Pop culture titan William Shatner captains Comicpalooza along with star-studded cast

How vintage finds shaped the look of Houston’s nostalgic new steakhouse

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

8 of Houston's best thrift stores for vintage finds and designer deals

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite