Want to know why Sigourney Weaver has the comedic ability to do a great job in movies like Ghostbusters or Galaxy Quest? Or why John C. Reilly cracked you up so darn well in Step Brothers?

Take a look at Ang Lee’s The Ice Storm or the highly underappreciated Criminal. These guys have the acting chops to pull off drama effortlessly, and like the best comedic actors, have an understanding of every bit of the craft.

This is why I’m so excited for Miguel Arteta’s (Youth in Revolt) new film Cedar Rapids, which has added Weaver and Reilly to the cast alongside Alia Shawkat, The Office‘s Ed Helms, and Anne Heche.

Rapids, developed by Helms and Phil Johnston (Flightless Birds), the film will “center on a wholesome and naive small-town Wisconsin man (Helms) who, when his role model dies, must represent his company at a regional insurance conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his mind is blown by the big-town experience.” Weaver will play Helms’ 7th grade teacher, but it’s unknown what Reilly’s role in the film will be.

Nikki and Samantha

Spread brings a lot to the table in a pretty unknown movie with a well known cast of actors. Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, the beautiful Margarita Levieva and many other familiars. So what is the movie about, well the short of it is this, Nikki (played very well by Ashton Kutcher) is a man-whore! Yes, you heard that right.

Set in a modern-day L.A., we meet Nikki, a foul-mouthed, well-dressed, bad boy from the south who moves to L.A. with the highest of hopes of nailing models and becoming rich and famous. While sleeping his way into high society, Nikki latches on to the stunningly beautiful Sam (Anne Heche) and becomes her live-in boy toy. While continuing to work other women, Nikki lives off the life that Samantha has built on her own.

The story is a sexually charged, relationship-free soap opera between Sam and Nikki. The two don’t know what they want, who they want, or even how they got where they now are. The story follows these two into a downward spiral of sexual intimacy, to an almost pornographic level of sin. Nikki is shown to us as the pretty-boy man-whore and Samantha the ever-beautiful “cougar” that Nikki tries to nail down. Over the course of the story arc, however, Nikki is coming to the realization that this may not be the way to live. Using friends, having no home or car, relying on older women to support him – is this the life for Nikki?

Directed by David Mackenzie (of Hallam Foe and Young Adam), Spread is an iconic look at the sinful nature of sex, money, and access that Hollywood offers to only the “beautiful people”. This film, while acted well, narrows its appeal with over-the-top sex and foul language.

I am not saying don’t see this movie, I actually enjoyed it for what it was. Once and if you can get past all of the sex scenes and sexual tension of the film, the overall feel is pretty solid. The story is well told, the acting is on par and Anne Heche is a complete knockout in this film. She looks gorgeous.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Its time for yet another double dose of Under The Radar. The first of the two is the new sex comedy, Spread. Penned by Jason Dean Hall and directed by David Mackenzie, this movie will tempt you to take a plunge and see how it is. Starring Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva, this tale about getting in the sack and falling in love comes out August 14th.

Nikki’s latest conquest is Samantha (Anne Heche), a stunning middle-aged lawyer who gives him more than he’s ever had before. But then he meets a gorgeous waitress his own age named Heather (Margarita Levieva). She comes to visit Nikki at Samantha’s house while Samantha is out of town, sees what an incredible place it is… and comes to the mistaken conclusion it’s his. Unbeknown to Nikki, Heather lives by playing the same game.

When Samantha comes home, she discovers Nikki’s infidelity and he’s put out on the street. With nowhere else to turn, Nikki pulls out all the stops to win Heather over and they begin to form their own kind of bond. Sexually charged by a game of one-upsmanship, each shows the other their best grifts, and they unexpectedly begin falling in love – the one thing they can’t do in the life they lead. Soon, the truth of their unfolding relationship forces a choice between love and money, and Nikki has to decide whether he can live on his own once and for all in the hopes of finding something real.

Enjoy the trailer for Spread:

The second one to add onto the list is in the form of guitar masters. Combining the greatness of Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), the Edge (U2) and Jack White (The White Stripes) within the form of a documentary film called It Might Get Loud. The Official Selection in both the Toronto Intl Film Festival & Sundance Film Festival, how could this huge heap of awesome not attract many? This movie will roll out into theaters on August 14 or 28th, depending on where you live. Check your local theaters to see when this comes over.

Rarely can a film penetrate the glamorous surface of rock legends. It Might Get Loud tells the personal stories, in their own words, of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos – The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and Jack White (The White Stripes). It reveals how each developed his unique sound and style of playing favorite instruments, guitars both found and invented. Concentrating on the artist’s musical rebellion, traveling with him to influential locations, provoking rare discussion as to how and why he writes and plays, this film lets you witness intimate moments and hear new music from each artist. The movie revolves around a day when Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge first met and sat down together to share their stories, teach and play.

Enjoy the trailer for It Might get Loud:

It Might Get Loud Trailer

Little is known about the upcoming film Spread starring Ashton Kutcher other than it features one of the worst actors working in Shane Brolly. Looking at this new one sheet and the cast list, it does happen to have the hottest thing about Adventureland in Margarita Levieva. I’m none too familiar with the film or David Mackenzie’s work so here’s a plot synopsis from IMDb:

Set in modern day Los Angeles, Spread is a hard biting story about a high-end lethario, Nikki (Ashton Kutcher), who has slept his way into a life of privilege. He shares his secrets with us as he hosts parties and beds scores of women, all while living it up at the Hollywood Hills home of a middle-aged female attorney, Samantha (Anne Heche). Everything is going swimmingly until Nikki meets a gorgeous waitress named Heather (Margarita Levieva), who, unbeknownst to him, is playing the same game that he is. As the truth of their life unravels, they find themselves sexually charged by a game of one-upsmanship that has them dining at fine restaurants and crashing posh parties, until the truth of their lives forces them to choose between love and money.

The question remains as to if Kutcher will be playing his usual “yell at everything for laughs” self but it appears Levieva wants to make a career out of playing a cheap hooker. The one-sheet is below and Spread opens on August 14th.