Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Rachel Weisz, Amy Poehler, Christopher Walken Directed By: Barry Levinson Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Dreamworks Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 28, 2004 Running Time: 100 minutes Theatrical Release Date: April 30, 2004
Amazon.com: Envy is a funny movie, but it's more funny peculiar than funny ha-ha, so enjoyment is purely a matter of personal taste. When Nick (Jack Black) invents an aerosol spray that makes dog-poop disappear (think of the boon to society!), he reaps a fortune overnight and sends his friend, co-worker and neighbor Tim (Ben Stiller) into a tailspin of simmering envy, since he had no faith in Nick's get-rich-quick scheme and declined his offer of 50-50 partnership. What makes this potentially raucous plot peculiar is that it sets up the situation and proceeds to ignore its most comedic implications, opting instead for a sub-plot involving bows, arrows, a dead horse, and an eccentric vagrant (Christopher Walken, offering reliable comic relief) who coaches Tim on the joys of neighborly blackmail. All the while, Envy suffers a comedic identity crisis, giving Black and Stiller a few good laughs (along with their on-screen wives, played by Rachel Weisz and Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler) while director Barry Levinson struggles to reach a quirky balance of morality play and blue-collar farce. He never quite gets there. --Jeff Shannon
I "Envy" those who haven't seen this yet! Let me start off by saying I really like Ben Stiller. I have enjoyed many of his films and I think he is very talented comically; not just his performances but his work behind the camera such as his writing, directing and producing. I also really like Jack Black. He is hilarious and I have enjoyed quite a number of his films.
So when I heard that Ben Stiller and Jack Black were going to make a movie together, I was instantly interested in seeing it. I wasn't necessarily expecting Envy to be a great movie, but with Ben Stiller AND Jack Black working on the project I expected it to be at least worth the viewing. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I never got a chance to see this in the theater (maybe because it was not out very long?), so when it came out on DVD I spent money to watch it at home. Please don't make the same mistake that I made. That's why I am writing this review - if I can save at least one person from making the same mistake, then this will have been worth it.
This movie was not funny at all. Perhaps there were a few funny lines here or there, but I didn't find myself laughing very much at all. Let me qualify all of this by saying I enjoy comedies. I have seen all kinds, including plenty of brainless, far-fetched comedies. More often than not, even with the bad ones, there is enough comedic value that it made me laugh and was worth seeing. This is simply not the case with this movie. It was just so dumb and the plot was so implausible.
I still like Ben Stiller and Jack Black, and even this won't stop me from seeing their future work, but this movie sure was a big disappointment.
An okay film Black comedy in which suburban husband Ben Stiller becomes jealous of his best friend and neighbour Jack Black when a product he invents makes him rich and successful. A fun enough movie but with the exception of a surprising plot twist towards the end not much happens in this film. Still, a good enough vehicle for Black and Stiller but I feel that this comedy might have worked better if it had been a little darker in tone
3.5; not bad. Interesting, anyway. People expecting an uproarious Black/Stiller flick, of typical vein, are going to be disapointed, as it is short on knee-jerk laughs, or even terrific comedy scetch, in general. Instead, what we have here is an interesting piece that tries to rely upon the story and the character acting. Unfortunately, the director is sub-par here.
Luckily, it still has its moments, and should go down as a cult-favorite, at least. But, no, this is certainly not a crowd pleaser. It falls way short of the best of either of these actors. I do recommend this, however, as it has enough laughs, and enough story genius to keep it alive. Also, it has Jack Black doing what he can.
Check it out, get it discount. It's only a penny for crying out loud, get it!
Decent movie This movie wasn't that bad. It was a decent movie, with some funny moments. It is well worth $5 at Wal-Mart, If your like me and are a fan of Jack Black and or Ben Stiller, then this is a must own for your collection.
Envy Envy (Widescreen Edition) i found the movie mildly amusing was dissapointed that i purchased it
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