Page 14 - aruba-today-20230117

A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 17 January 2023
Glossy ‘House Party’ remake falls short on the fun

By LINDSEY BAHR decision to go to Miami
AP Film Writer perfectly.” “Your hairline is
It’s never a good idea to perfect.” “You were great
promise too much, either in ‘Trainwreck,’ ... The New
in an invitation to a house Yorker said you were the
party held in a stranger’s funniest part of the movie.”
mansion, or in a reboot of a It should be noted that Kev-
three-decade old hit. in and Damon know they’re
But the new “ House Party getting fired already by the
“ does just that, starting out time they decide to throw
with a romantic voiceover the party.
about Los Angeles, where The cleaning company
we’re told “a party can execs saw them goofing
change your life” as we’re around on surveillance
shown a loving montage footage but staffing short-
of storefronts and people ages mean they’re still
in South LA. Fair enough, needed to finish the job
but then they take it to an- and Damon knows how to
other level with the pitch turn off the cameras for a
that, “Some crazy, beauti- few days. Again, logic.
ful, weird ass (expletive) is These characters aren’t
about to go down.” If only. This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows D.C. Young Fly in a scene from “House Party.” dumb teenagers and they
This version is especially Associated Press also don’t seem that des-
convoluted, trying to get they’re standing on: The will cover security, cleaning to care about Kevin and perate for fast money.
two broke best friends, GOAT, as we’re reminded fees and all of their hopes Damon’s stakes and in- “House Party” is supposed
struggling single dad Kevin over and over again. and dreams. A desk calen- dulge in some wealth voy- to be a good time for
(Jacob Latimor) and as- The logic puzzle continues dar with the words MEDI- eurism as the two bask in someone, right?
piring promoter Damon as they scheme to plan TATION RETREAT scrawled the little conveniences of There are quite a few
(Tosin Cole), in a position a party, which they hope over two weeks leaves the uber rich, including big-name cameos play-
where they might be able will solve Kevin’s financial them breathing easy that self-fluffing couches, a bed ing themselves, but the
to throw a big party at LeB- woes, pay for his daugh- James will not be returning that conforms to the body, only one who really gets
ron James’ house. It’s not ter Destiny’s education home anytime soon. a bidet and popcorn that to have fun with it is Scott
as hard as you might think, through college and put “House Party,” written by drops out of the ceiling Mescudi, or Kid Cudi, play-
it turns out. These guys work Damon’s party promoting Stephen Glover and Ja- into a popcorn bowl on ing it straight as an anti-so-
for a fancy cleaning com- skills on the map. This mas- mal Olori and directed by voice command in a plush cial lurker who doesn’t like
pany and one day end up ter plan includes posing as Calmatic, a Grammy win- screening room. parties (“too much laugh-
on assignment in a very James’ assistants, hacking ning music video director, The only really fun part of ing”) and only wanted to
big, very nice house. It’s into and inviting his famous takes quite a bit of time this extended cribs riff is the go to give his pal LeBron a
only when Damon stum- friends and teammates (around an hour) to get LeBron hologram they find poem. He and the LeBron
bles into a trophy room that and charging big entry fees to the actual party. In the in his closet that gives com- hologram are the big high-
they realize whose grounds to the normals. The figure build up, they try to get us pliments. “You handled the lights of the film. q

Lizzo, Ed Sheeran among acts set for 2023 Jazz Fest

By CHEVEL JOHNSON place over two weekends Plant & Alison Krauss, Kane with Louisiana roots who ask you? None.”
Associated Press beginning April 28. Brown, H.E.R., the Steve Mill- will perform. Other New Festival organizers said
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lizzo The lineup released Friday er Band and Ludacris. Orleans-anchored acts this year’s event also will
and Ed Sheeran are among also includes Dead & Com- Quint Davis, the festival’s include Trombone Shorty include a celebration of
the headliners at this year’s pany, Mumford & Sons, The producer, said he’s really and Orleans Avenue, the Puerto Rico, with artist
New Orleans Jazz & Heri- Lumineers, Santana, Jon excited about this year’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band demonstrations, live mu-
tage Festival, which takes Batiste, Jill Scott, Robert event. and the Radiators. sic and dance showcases,
“This one is special,” Davis The festival, which features parades, cultural displays,
told The Associated Press hundreds of acts and draws photo exhibits and authen-
by phone. “We’ve got tens of thousands of visitors tic cuisine.
something for everybody. daily, unfolds on more than Asked why the festival at-
Don’t just read through a dozen music stages on tracts such eclectic talent,
the first few names on the the infield and surround- Davis said its reputation has
list. Read down through it. ing structures of the historic a lot to do with it.
There’s some great stuff Fair Grounds horse track. “These acts hear about
all over it. If there’s some- It also features scores of us through conversations
one scheduled that you food booths that offer deli- with other groups who tell
haven’t heard of, go to cacies from Louisiana and them how it was handled,
YouTube or Google them. beyond, plus numerous art how the audiences are,
There’s buried treasure in and craft exhibitions. how their energy feeds
this festival.” “We’re appealing to all into theirs. The managers
Batiste, a New Orleans-ar- ages, tastes and commu- tell us their artists had the
ea native and former band nities with this one,” Davis best show ever and the au-
British singer Ed Sheeran performs during the Platinum Jubilee leader for “The Late Show said. diences responded. That
Pageant, in London on June 5, 2022. with Stephen Colbert,” is “What festival has Ludacris makes it great for all who
Associated Press one of many performers and Tom Jones on the bill, I go,” he said.q