"Monumental" movie

Are we going to be seeing a romance between Robb and Macaulay Culkin? That sounds pretty terrible. And if those two aren't the main romantic focus of the film, is it going to be a supposedly-comic fling between Robb and a 66-year-old Jeremy Irons? If so, that is possibly the most ironic pairing of all time. I think we both know why.

Why are the FBI always in these movies? The FBI are usually concerned with national espionage and gathering intelligence pertaining to national security in real life, but it sounds like the characters in this film just committed manslaughter, accidentally killing someone of little federal or political significance. Shouldn't it just be the police force of whatever state or region they committed the crime in that's hunting them down? The FBI don't need to involve themselves in every murder, purposeful or otherwise, that's committed in the US. I'm pretty sure directors add the FBI to every movie they can that involves crime because they can dress them up like the Men In Black and have them say funny things behind unnecessary sunglasses. Regular cops just don't seem to cut it.

Also, what is the point of kidnapping somebody and trying to escape the country when you committed the crime you did accidentally? If they could provide proof that the guy's death was manslaughter and not murder, their sentence would be much smaller than if they got caught trying to flee the state with a hostage. Not only does running from the police make you appear more guilty, taking a pointless hostage just increases the jail time they'd serve when the cops (sorry, I meant the FBI) get hold of them, as would definitely happen to two young, inexperienced accidental criminals.

And why is Jeremy Irons even in this film? Assuming that the film's romantic focus is between Robb and Culkin, and the director described it as a 'high-octane romance', why is he even necessary to the plot? It seems like they threw him in there so he could have a bunch of cliched Vietnam veteran flashbacks and say crazy, incoherent nonsense that we've heard from a million Vietnam veterans in past comedy movies. Plus, Jeremy Irons is English, and I'm pretty sure the UK didn't contribute anything more than funding and munitions to the war effort in Vietnam. The actual fighting was mostly carried out by US and South Vietnamese forces. So is he going to attempt an American accent in order to play a realistic Vietnam veteran? He's a top actor but I can't help but have qualms about the dreaded Transatlantic accent switch (often the harbinger of numerous crige-inducing, toe-curling moments in a film; think The Amazing Spiderman) playing a part in a movie whose already-critical fromage factor is nearing overflow and could do without another helping. In any case, it's a small blessing that, someday, it will finally start being unrealistic to have Vietnam veterans appear in movies because they'll all be too old and/or dead. From someone who had to sit through The Veteran a few years ago, that day could not come too soon.

I've read only the one-paragraph synopsis you posted and already this film seems pretty stupid. I can forgive some of the cliches but I've seen enough AnnaSophia Robb roadtrip films to know roughly where this one is going. Oh, well. At least Dwayne Johnson isn't in this film. And thank goodness Robb isn't playing an alien with nonsensical superpowers in this film. And, even though this director is known for directing music videos and has only come out with one (mediocre) full-length feature movie, I'm glad it's not M. Night Shyamalan directing this film. It's also nice to see that AnnaSophia seems to be awakening from her slumber and getting involved in a lot of new projects, and with an over-the-hill comic actor and a heroin addict as her co-stars, this seems like yet another show for Robb to steal. Almost makes me wonder whether she signs on to unremarkable projects just so she can steal every scene she's in. I'm not complaining.



If God gives you lemons, make lemonade. If given melons, return them and tell God he needs glasses

Are we going to be seeing a romance between Robb and Macaulay Culkin?
It doesn't specify in the summary I posted, but ASR is playing opposite Rory (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0191412/), not Macaulay (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000346/) or Kieran (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001085/) -- Which is indeed mostly irrelevant. It's not as if the situation is much better just because he's the youngest, and closer to Robb's age.
Jeremy Irons, Virginia Madsen, AnnaSophia Robb and Rory Culkin have signed on to star in the action-comedy film Monumental.

The film, which will be directed by Brett Simon, is being shopped to foreign buyers at the Cannes film market by Kathy Morgan International. CAA is handling domestic rights.

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This seems like yet another show for Robb to steal. Almost makes me wonder whether she signs on to unremarkable projects just so she can steal every scene she's in. I'm not complaining.
Hhhmmm... Interesting conclusion. I can't sincerely say I feel it's a good thing.

AnnaSophia has stolen the spotlight in many performances co-starring acclaimed actors. Nevertheless, I recognize the validity of your point -- it's like her being the only good part in Spy School. However, I'd rather see Robb be outstandingly captivating in a similar way as Bridge to Terabithia and Sleepwalking.

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W-a-a-a!..W-a-a-a!..How do you like it?!?..W-a-a-a!

I didn't even know Macaulay Culkin had a brother. Apparently Rory is just under a decade younger than Macauley, so God knows why he decided to go into acting after seeing what it did to his elder sibling. There's no denying that Macaulay was very talented before he fell by the wayside, though, so maybe his brother's not too bad.

Nevertheless, I recognize the validity of your point -- it's like her being the only good part in Spy School.

That was the film that sprung to mind for me, too. She was so obviously punching below her own weight in Spy School (though her British accent really wasn't up to much, if I recall) that it made me wonder why she bothered, since presumably the paycheck for a film that unheralded wasn't astronomical.

However, I'd rather see Robb be outstandingly captivating in a similar way as Bridge to Terabithia and Sleepwalking.

(*sighs wistfully*) Me too. A comedy perhaps isn't the best platform for her to do so, though, and I'm happy to see her do anything at all at this point. Besides, those kinds of roles sometimes become harder to play as you get older. Leslie's unshakeable optimism and innocent charm is harder to pull off as an adult and would seem less believable, hence why I found Kate Winslet's character in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind to be difficult to watch at times. Josh Hutcherson's grounding influence in Bridge and their chemistry helped Robb in that case, too, so I think she does need a strong supporting cast to help elevate her performances. She has that in Jeremy Irons, though, I suppose.


If God gives you lemons, make lemonade. If given melons, return them and tell God he needs glasses

Maybe his brother's not too bad.
Rory has done a fine job in several performances -- I've seen Signs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286106/), Down in the Valley (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398027/), and Electrick Children (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2139843/). In fact, he is notably better in drama story roles than Macaulay, I think.

Her British accent really wasn't up to much
 Y-e-a-h... Not one of AnnaSophia's highlight skills, although, she has done a decent southern a couple of times: Because of Winn-Dixie and The Reaping. Coincidentally, one of the worst attempts in recent memory of a British accent -- and unnecessary to the plot -- was by Dakota Fanning in Now Is Good (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937264/).

A comedy perhaps isn't the best platform for her to do so
ASR doesn't seem to have the mentality best suited for traditional comedy; she's far more potent as the satirical-style witty character, e.g., Leslie (Bridge to Terabithia), Cassie (Have Dreams, Will Travel), and Tara (Sleepwalking). In contrast, you can see her struggle a little when attempting straight joke-type humor, such as the portrayal of Bethany (Soul Surfer), as Sara (Race to Witch Mountain), and even Susanna (The Way, Way Back).

Josh Hutcherson's grounding influence in Bridge and their chemistry helped Robb in that case, too, so I think she does need a strong supporting cast to help elevate her performances
Josh most certainly performed marvelously as Jesse in BtT, and I don't doubt that having a skilled co-star is very helpful. However, I wouldn't go as far as to say Robb "needs" a strong supporting cast member. Foremost, as we already stated, ASR stood above all else in Spy School, though more significantly and credibly, recall the on-screen -- and even off -- bonds AnnaSophia was able to seamlessly create between her, as well as the characters played by, Josh, Nick Stahl, Cayden Boyd, Hilary Swank, and so forth.

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W-a-a-a!..W-a-a-a!..How do you like it?!?..W-a-a-a!

Glad to hear Culkin's brother is talented. Could end up being a decent project with a core this strong.

Y-e-a-h... Not one of AnnaSophia's highlight skills, although, she has done a decent southern a couple of times: Because of Winn-Dixie and The Reaping. Coincidentally, one of the worst attempts in recent memory of a British accent -- and unnecessary to the plot -- was by Dakota Fanning in Now Is Good

It wasn't utterly unforgivable, especially since, as I recall, AnnaSophia's character was mocking the accent of another girl. It also looked unimpeachable in contrast to Dakota Fanning's attempt. I know AnnaSophia Robb fans tend to dislike Fanning as the two are seen as rivals by a lot of people, but I think Dakota is extremely talented, as is her sister. That accent, though, was appalling.

Josh most certainly performed marvelously as Jesse in BtT, and I don't doubt that having a skilled co-star is very helpful. However, I wouldn't go as far as to say Robb "needs" a strong supporting cast member. Foremost, as we already stated, ASR stood above all else in Spy School, though more significantly and credibly, recall the on-screen -- and even off -- bonds AnnaSophia was able to seamlessly create between her, as well as the characters played by, Josh, Nick Stahl, Cayden Boyd, Hilary Swank, and so forth.


She generally seems to excel when she's acting as the lead alongside someone else. In BTT she was paired with Josh, in Have Dreams with Cayden and in Sleepwalking with Nick Stahl, and given that these three films rank as my personal top three ASR performances (in the order given), this rings out as a crucial common factor.

ASR doesn't seem to have the mentality best suited for traditional comedy

Agree wholeheartedly with this, as is perhaps reflected by the fact that I wasn't utterly blown away by her performance in The Way Way Back. I think she definitely has a certain acerbic, sarcastic humour that often bleeds through in interviews, but I don't see her as a naturally comic person. I think the biggest issue here, though, is the fact that her character, as well as Culkin's, is described as 'bungling' in an online synopsis, which just sets off alarm bells for me. I think Robb has a fantastic range, but the one role I just can't see her pulling off is that of an idiot, a Melissa McCarthy-style mindless buffoon who just bumbles aimlessly through every obstacle she encounters. ASR has always seemed a very intelligent girl and during her golden era (2006-2008) often played mature, complex and precocious characters, Cassie and Leslie being examples. I just feel that her sensibilities aren't at all suited to a dopey, idiotic character and I can't imagine her pulling it off as well as she's pulled off more thoughtful roles before.

Cool.

I think "Monumental" sounds promising. The concept sounds hilarious, it's something out of the ordinary that Robb books into and I'm glad she's going to be doing something different.