Thomas Lennon

First Trailer for WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING Starring Elizabeth Banks and Cameron Diaz

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

The first trailer for What to Expect When You’re Expecting has debuted and it’s actually not bad at all. Given the film’s large ensemble and multiple storyline style, I figured we were in for the Valentine’s Day of baby movies, but What to Expect actually looks like a solid comedy. The standouts here are Elizabeth Banks and Rob Heubel, with the latter playing a man who really, really shouldn’t be a father. Unlike Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve, this movie appears to be actually telling real stories with interesting characters, with some solid laughs thrown in for good measure.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. The cast also includes Anna Kendrick, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, Matthew Morrison, Brooklyn Decker, Thomas Lennon, and Wendy McLendon-Covey. [Update: We've been sent a high resolution image from the film, which is now included after the jump].

TOP 5: A VERY HAROLD AND KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS, BREAKING DAWN, 21 JUMP STREET, Albert Brooks Interview, American Film Market Coverage

by Jason Barr    Posted: November 5th, 2011 at 11:55 am

Happy Saturday, folks. I’m writing to you this week surrounded by a mountain of used facial tissue (that’s right, I’m not endorsing Kleenex on the site without some sort of kick back…wait, dang it). Cold season has officially set in which means I’m on a daily regimen of Dayquil (which I have no problem endorsing), warm tea, and self-pity. In case you’re a longtime reader of the “Top 5″ and you’re wondering to yourself, “Wasn’t Jason just complaining about the summer heat?”, the answer is yes. Out of the 52 yearly weeks, I’m generally not complaining about the weather for approximately 2 or 3 of them. It’s sad, I know.

In this week’s “Top 5″ you can find our video interviews with the cast of A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, press conferences with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and more from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 junket, the red band trailer for Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s  21 Jump Street, a sit-down with the great Albert Brooks, and our coverage to date of this year’s American Film Market. Find a brief recap and link to each after the jump.

Thomas Lennon Talks A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS, RENO 911!, Karaoke, and Zac Efron

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: October 31st, 2011 at 8:07 pm

With director Todd-Strauss-Schulson’s A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas opening this weekend, I recently got to speak with the cast and every day this week I’ll have a new interview.  Up first is Thomas Lennon.  As you might expect from Lennon, our conversation is all over the place and very funny.

During the interview, Lennon talked about how a KJ (Karaoke Jockey) saved his life in Las Vegas, how when people meet him all they want to talk about is Zac Efron, what was he able to add to A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, is Reno 911! really coming back, and what moments in the movie he couldn’t believe made it into the final release.  Hit the jump to watch.

Ben Stiller Replaces Russell Brand in RENTAGHOST; Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant to Write and Produce

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 12th, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Last December, Russell Brand signed on to Rentaghost based on the British children’s TV series that ran from 1976 to 1984.  The show centered around a company that rents out ghosts to perform various tasks, and Brand was set to play “Fred Mumford, a recently deceased loser who feels he can find work for ghosts whose lives were as failed as his.”  However, Deadline now reports that Brand has dropped out of the film and has been replaced by Ben Stiller who will partner with his Night at the Museum writers Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant.

The plot will now have Stiller playing “an American turnaround consultant who is sent to the UK to reinvigorate a failing company.”  Fox sees it as another strong family franchise and I see it as another film where Stiller will be the straight man to a cast of zany ghosts who help him to learn a valuable lesson.  Hit the jump for a recap of other films Stiller has in the pipeline.

Exclusive: Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant Talk FX Pilot ALABAMA, WRITING MOVIES FOR (FUN AND) PROFIT, and Future Projects

by Jake Lasker    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 7:58 pm

Over the weekend I had the rare privilege of speaking with two of the funniest men in Hollywood, Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. The two have managed to maintain the rarest of comedy careers: they have had tremendous success in writing big studio films (Night At The Museum) while still working with their specific brand of off-beat humor (Reno 911!).

During our extended discussion, we talked about their recent FX pilot Alabama, their massive slate of upcoming films and of course their new screenwriting book Writing Movies For Fun And Profit. We got to talk a lot about many films that haven’t been announced yet so you’re not gonna want to miss this. Continue reading for our full discussion.

CEDAR RAPIDS Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: July 5th, 2011 at 12:33 pm

The premise of Cedar Rapids is familiar: small town boy (Ed Helms) goes to the big city, and discovers a lot about himself, and who he thought he was. But in Miguel Arteta’s take,  this story is both smaller and more perilous than previous versions. The big city is Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the peril is that the main character tries meth and hangs out with a prostitute. The film also has a killer line up of actors, with Helms playing alongside John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith and Thomas Lennon. My review of Cedar Rapids on Blu-ray after the jump.

Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant Interview WRITING MOVIES FOR (FUN AND) PROFIT: HOW WE MADE A BILLION DOLLARS AT THE BOX OFFICE AND YOU CAN, TOO!

by Scott Wampler    Posted: July 4th, 2011 at 2:46 pm

If you’re a comedy geek, the names Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant are almost certainly familiar to you.  These are two of the founding members of MTV’s The State, two of the biggest cast members on Comedy Central’s Reno 911, and the guys who wrote a slew of high-grossing (if not critically-adored) comedies like Herbie: Fully Loaded and the Night at The Museum movies.  The guys have had a lot of success in Hollywood over the years, so it makes perfect sense that they might have a few interesting things to say about their experience– not to mention some advice for aspiring screenwriters.  As such, the two have written a book– Writing Movies For Fun and Profit:  How We Made a Billion Dollars at The Box Office and You Can, Too!– and today they sat down with Collider to talk about it.  Read on for the interview, after the jump.

Steve Carr Takes Over THE BOONDOGGLE Starring Rob Riggle and Thomas Lennon

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Director Steve Carr (Paul Blart: Mall Cop) has been handed the keys to the Rob Riggle and Thomas Lennon comedy The Boondoggle. Details on the project are currently sparse, but we do know that it will feature Riggle and Lennon attending a giant waste of time dressed up as a business trip that happens to take place on an island. Deadline reports that the pic is scheduled to begin shooting later this summer. The Boondoggle was penned by Christopher Halvorson and underwent rewrites by Riggle and Lennon. In addition to The Boondoggle, Riggle can also be seen alongside Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne and is currently shooting 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp, Jonah Hill, and Channing Tatum. As for Lennon, the man behind Reno 911! can be seen this weekend alongside Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, and Justin Timberlake in Bad Teacher.

Vin Diesel to Produce and Star in Action-Comedy THE MACHINE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 19th, 2011 at 1:02 pm

Vin Diesel provided the voice for eponymous character in 1999′s The Iron Giant and he’s about go back to robotics.  Heat Vision reports that Diesel will produce and star in the action comedy The Machine for MGM.  Diesel will play “a human-like machine created in secrecy by the Pentagon as the world’s first true ultimate weapon. Twenty years after the project was buried and decommissioned for reasons unknown, The Machine is discovered by a kid who befriends him. When the government learns it has been reactivated, the Machine must protect the family harboring him.”  So it’s kind of like The Iron Giant except without the charming animation.

Hit the jump for more details on the film and why I don’t think we’re getting anything close to the level of quality seen in The Iron Giant.

Gillian Jacobs Is SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD; Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, and Thomas Lennon Join RAPTUREPALOOZA

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 6:50 pm

We have a couple of casting bits to bring your way tonight. First up, Community‘s Gillian Jacobs has joined Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Written/directed by Lorene Scafaria (who wrote the film adaptation of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Friend tells the story of a man (Carell) and woman (Knightley) who embark on a trip to locate the former’s high school sweetheart before an oncoming asteroid ends life on Earth as we know it. THR reports that Jacobs’ role will be that of a “waitress high on Ecstasy that the duo meet on their journey” (which sounds eerily similar to the one Lindsay Sloane was in talks for as of last week). The story also confirms earlier reports that William Peterson, Adam Brody, and Rob Corddry will appear in the film. Production on the film began this week in Los Angeles.

Speaking of Rob Corddry, Variety confirms that he, Rob Huebel (Childrens’ Hospital), and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!) will star in the post-apocalyptic comedy Rapturepalooza. The trio join a cast that already includes Anna Kendrick (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), John Francis Daley (Bones), and The Office‘s Craig Robinson. The promising, albeit low-budget (coming in at less than $2 million), centers on two teens (Kendrick and Daley) who battle their way through the end of the world in order to defeat the Antichrist (Robinson). Paul Middleditch will direct Rapturepalooza for Lionsgate from a script by Chris Matheson.

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant Take on THE WEE MCGINTY

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 5th, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant will write the Summit Entertainment comedy The Wee McGinty.  In addition to splitting scribe duties, the Night of the Museum writing team/Reno 911! cohorts will also take on further responsibilities with Garant set to direct and Lennon poised to take on a supporting role in the film.  In case you were curious, Garant’s previous feature directorial work can be found in two 2007 films – Reno 911!: Miami and Balls of Fury.  As for Lennon, he can be seen in the upcoming comedy Cedar Rapids alongside John C. Reilly, Ed Helms, and Sigourney Weaver.  That film will debut later this month at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Per Deadline, The Wee McGinty tells the story of a “height-challenged wish-granter who loses his memory and settles in with a group of Chicago firefighters” only to have his peaceful existence challenged by his long-lost leprechaun family.  At first glance, I can’t decide if this sounds crazy or so crazy it might work.  I suppose only time will tell.

Sundance 2011: First Images from MY IDIOT BROTHER Starring Paul Rudd and CEDAR RAPIDS Starring John C. Reilly, Ed Helms, and Sigourney Weaver

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 14th, 2010 at 11:32 am

The Sundance Film Festival doesn’t take place until late January, but you don’t have to wait that long to check out images from some of the films that will have their premiere at the prestigious festival. Today, we bring you the first images from two upcoming star-studded comedies: My Idiot Brother and Cedar Rapids. My Idiot Brother stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, Rashida Jones, and Adam Scott. The film centers on a ne’er-do-well brother who successively barges into the lives of his three sisters.

Cedar Rapids stars John C. Reilly, Ed Helms, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Heche, Rob Corddry, Thomas Lennon, and Alia Shawkat.  The comedy tells the story of a small-town Wisconsin man who travels to the big city to represent his company at a regional insurance conference. Hit the jump to check out images and a brief synopsis for both films, which will be playing out-of-competition.  The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs from January 20 -30th.

Exclusive: Thomas Lennon on NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 3, CEDAR RAPIDS, BAD TEACHER, WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?, HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 10th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Last week I got to talk to Thomas Lennon during a break from shooting A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D in Michigan.  We spoke on the phone for around 30 minutes and he gave me a great update on who he plays in the third Harold & Kumar movie and what the films about.  He also gave me a huge update on the part-scripted/part-improvised science fiction comedy pilot called Alabama that he’s getting ready to shoot with Ben Garant (which sounds very cool).

But before we got off the phone, we also talked about what’s up with the 3rd Night at the Museum movie, Cedar Rapids, Bad Teacher, What’s Your Number?, How to Survive a Robot Uprising, and a lot more.  Hit the jump for what he said:

Exclusive Details on Thomas Lennon’s New Sci-Fi Improv Show ALABAMA; Says it’s “Reno 911! Meets Battlestar Galactica”

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 8th, 2010 at 10:30 pm

A few days ago we reported FX had ordered a part-scripted/part-improvised science fiction comedy pilot called Alabama from Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant, the screenwriters and creators behind Reno 911! The synopsis was:

“Set a thousand years in the future, the show follows the crew of the space ship USS Alabama as they continue a seven-year mission to maintain interplanetary peace.”

Since the idea sounded awesome, I decided to do a little more digging and managed to land an exclusive interview with Thomas Lennon. During the interview he revealed:

• They only have an order for the pilot
• Call it “Reno 911! meets Battlestar Galactica.” In their mind it’s not really a Star Trek parody
• They’re shooting the pilot either end of September-beginning of October and they want it to feel like Das Boot.
• He said he thinks Natasha Leggero will be on it and a lot of Reno 911! regulars. He also said “I wouldn’t be surprised if the series has a few people from The State.”
• There is a major also overarching plot to the entire series and there’s two twists in the series that have sort of already been designed. Also, they know how it ends no matter how long the series goes.
• “There may be some characters on the show who are puppets. There will certainly be some characters on the show who are cyborgs. So it’s just Reno 911! with a much larger buffet of problems to choose from.”
• Regarding costumes: “No one’s ever going to be in like sort of clean like Starfleet looking stuff. The show is way more like Moss Eisley Spaceport style than like Episodes 1,2, 3.”

So much more after the jump:

Exclusive: Thomas Lennon on A VERY HAROLD AND KUMAR CHRISTMAS 3D; Says There’s a Lot of Nudity Including Showering Nuns

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 5th, 2010 at 8:46 pm

If you’re a fan of the Harold and Kumar movies, you probably know Kal Penn, John Cho and the rest of the cast are currently filming the third installment, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas 3D, in Michigan right now.  As you most likely noticed from the title, the third installment is being filming in 3D (NOT post converted) and I’m sure the filmmakers are going to offer many new and innovative ways to watch smoke being inhaled and exhaled in 3D.  As a big fan of the franchise,  I can’t wait to see it.

Anyway, I was able to get on the phone with Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!, The State, Night at the Museum) yesterday to talk about a few of the projects he working on and of course we talked about his work in Harold and Kumar.  While I knew his character was named Todd, he revealed he’s Harold’s new best friend and “the best way to describe him is he’s the anti-Kumar in every way.” He went on to say “he is a douchey, uptight white person.”  He also confirmed the movie gets released Christmas of 2011 and they’re using the double Genesis camera system for the 3D.

But the best news he told me was “there’s a tremendous amount of pot in the movie and a lot of nudity.”  When pressed for more…he told me they were filming naked nuns taking a shower yesterday.  While we all knew there would be no shortage of weed in the film, I’m very happy to hear this isn’t going to be a soft R.  For a lot more info on Harold and Kumar, hit the jump:

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