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Superstar - Dvd [1999]


RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £1.92 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Superstar is a big-screen vehicle for Molly Shannon, the latest comic from the American sketch show Saturday Night Live to have a movie built around her. She isn't exactly funny--in fact, she's a little unsettling. Her creation, the neurotic Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher, invites laughter because she's a little too close to the bone for anyone who grew up feeling ugly and unloved, which is a lot of people. Mary lives with her grandmother (Glynis Johns), who insists that Mary study business. Mary herself yearns to be famous and admired, though for what isn't exactly clear; she envisions some vague combination of singing, dancing, and acting that will make her a superstar. A talent show promises to be her ticket to stardom (the winning prize is a role in "a movie with positive moral values"), and she won't let her loser status or any hostile cheerleaders stand in her way. Meanwhile, Mary acts out dating fantasies with trees and signposts, envisions the school lunch room bursting into a Fame-like dance number, and longs for the biggest jock in school. What makes Superstar more than just a collection of bad high school memories is that, though the formulaic plot redeems Mary, the movie as a whole isn't so sure. Mary completely loses herself in her obsessive fantasies--many inspired by cheesy made-for-TV movies--but there's always someone watching, aghast, as Mary acts out her inner thoughts. Is she misunderstood or freakish? Superstar never commits to one side or the other, which makes it both comic and uncomfortable. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com


What a terrible film
Review date: 2008-09-12 Rating: 2 out of 10

There's not really much to say about this film, apart from it is just plain terrible. I have not seen the character on Saturday Night Live, so do not know if it is similar - but this film just isn't a good comedy at all. Will Ferrell is the only funny thing about it and even then, he doesn't have a massive part in the film. I do not understand how watching a school girl make the sign of the cross with a stupid sound at the end and then fall on to her bed saying, "Superstar....." can be classed as funny. And then be funny after you see her do it many times over and over. Molly Shannon is actually funnier in Taladaga Nights, which is a small part, than she is in this entire film.

Other reviews have given this a really good rating. Saying that it's the funniest film they have ever seen. Sadly, it is not. If they can give this 5 stars, then Anchorman, See No Evil Hear No Evil and such must be off the scale. This film is absolutely atrocious. If you are a Ferrell fan do not buy this film as you will be very disappointed.

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Reviews


Rubbish Film, dont buy if you value comedy
Review date: 2007-10-17 Rating: 2 out of 10

This film is awful, just awful.
By reading some of the other reviews which gave it 5 stars (how?) I decided to purchase it. I turned it off half way through. Will Ferrell provides the only and very small pieces of comedy in this poor attempt at a mildly funny film.
Perhaps you have to have watched Saturday night live to get the humor but i repeat my own words; awful, just awful.

If you want to watch a funny Ferrell film buy anchorman or Talladega knights because this is not worth giving away, let alone buying it.

How can you not love Mary Katherine Gallagher?
Review date: 2007-07-08 Rating: 8 out of 10

The real Superstar is Molly Shannon, who never gets enough credit for her comedic and bona fide acting skills. It's great to have the always-funny Will Ferrell (as well as Harland Williams, one of my favorite comics) alongside her for the ride, but her portrayal of Mary Katherine Gallagher is all you really need to laugh it up for the 80 or so minutes of this SNL skit - turned full-fledged movie. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be one of the lucky people who were always cool and made great sport of putting the Mary Katherine Gallaghers of the world down. I'll never know because Mary Katherine is definitely "my people," a unique character who suffers the insults and humiliations of life among her cooler, prettier peers even as she dreams of having just a taste of the kind of life they take for granted. In the context of this movie, what Mary Katherine yearns for is a real slobber-knocker of a kiss - and, like all of us losers, she falls for the most popular guy/girl in school. In other words, she does not have an easy row to hoe.

She is realistic enough to realize that the likes of Sky Corrigan (Ferrell) isn't going to drop the head cheerleader and come smooching her way any time soon (even after he tells her she has some nice moves). No, she thinks the only way she can get the hunky guy is to emulate her Hollywood heroines and become a - wait for it - Superstar! And just when she thinks she's exhausted all of her options, along comes a school talent show (with the winner getting the part of an extra in a morally positive film in Hollywood) that just might be the answer to her prayers. Winning the talent show would definitely impress Sky, she tells herself.

To make her dreams come true, she's going to have to talk her grandmother into letting her audition, scratch and claw her way through a catfight or two with the head cheerleader (who also happens to be Sky's girlfriend), and overcome several other less than surprising obstacles in her way. She does have some help, though - from her fellow Special Education students, her new best friend, and even her own personal image of Jesus (also played by Will Ferrell).

Yes, it's oftentimes low-brow humor, especially in terms of the whole armpit thing, but somehow Mary Katherine's story always manages to remain above the fray of tastelessness and vapidity. There's a little (or maybe even a lot) of Mary Katherine Gallagher in many of us, and there is actually a good story in here beyond all of the jokes. The filmmakers even manage to pull off a really good ending without insulting our intelligence. This is just a fine, really funny movie.

Just brillaint!
Review date: 2007-02-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

I also saw this first overseas in Dom Rep. There weren't may videos in the store there so I thought I would give it a try. It was initially unimpressed as it takes a while to get into the characters. But once I got the joke I loved it. I rented it every few weeks and never tire of it.

I got a copy once I got back to the UK and it still tickles me. My friends love it too.

A great movie to chill out to and have a giggle!

The best medicine.
Review date: 2005-08-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film never fails to make me laugh my socks off. I have introduced it to as many of my friends as I can get to watch it and almost all of them have had to go out and buy their own copy. If you are looking for something to cheer you up then this is the one for you!!!!

The only flaw is the lack of any features on this disc but to be honest with a film this funny you dont miss them too much!!!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Harland Williams
Will Ferrell
Mark McKinney
Molly Shannon
Elaine Hendrix

Creators:
Molly Shannon (Primary Contributor)
Molly Shannon (Writer)
Will Ferrell (Primary Contributor)
Albert Botha (Producer)
Erin Fraser (Producer)
Lorne Michaels (Producer)
Robert K. Weiss (Producer)
Steve Koren (Producer)
Steve Koren (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437810939
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-01-22
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 78 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-10-08
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Croatian (Subtitled)
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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