The story follows Susan and the Monsters, who now work for the U.S. government. They’re sent to Susan’s hometown to stop an alien invasion in the days before Halloween. Clever as always, the aliens have adopted the guise of harmless jack-o-lanterns as they lie in wait for the perfect time to strike.

I caught up with Seth Rogen by phone:

1. Do you like Halloween and are you dressing up this year?

Unfortunately, I have to work at 6 AM the next morning, so that kind of puts a slight damper on my plans. I have a girlfriend now and I’ve entered the unfortunate world of paired costuming, which is not fun. I always end up being the lamer half of the costume. It’s like she’s a dog and I’m a fire hydrant, so maybe I’m dodging a bullet this year. As far as Halloween, I had a lot of allergies when I was a kid and I couldn’t eat sugar very often. So for me, Halloween was just a day to gorge myself, which is a tradition I carry through to this day.

More after the jump…

2. Do you get to improvise a lot doing voice work?

You can actually improvise a lot as a voice actor. The time consuming part is really creating the characters and the sets and the worlds. Aside from that, it’s not much different from shooting a live action movie; the characters’ mouths are quite easy to manipulate once all the information is built into the computer.

3. Do you have any favorite Halloween specials?

I always liked the Simpson’s Halloween specials. They were always amazing, and I always looked forward to that on Halloween. And I always watched the TGIF sitcoms because I was a nerd and had nothing to do on Friday nights. So I always enjoyed whatever the sitcoms would do for their Halloween special.

4. Did you have any input into the character of B.O.B.?

Yes, definitely. It was a collaborative process with the directors, Conrad [Vernon] and Rob [Letterman], trying to come up with the character. At first, there wasn’t a ton to work with, but then we slowly realized the joke was that he had no brain and he was very stupid, and we kind of worked from there.

5. Which do you prefer: acting or writing?

That’s a good question. Just acting is not enough; I can say that. To do a little role in something is very fun, but to be on set all day as an actor … it just seems like I’m doing an iota of what I should be doing with my day. I really enjoy writing. My most enjoyable times are when me and Evan [Goldberg] have a script to write and plenty of time to write it in and nothing else to do. But right now, we’re filming (“The Green Hornet”), and I’m one of the producers and the writer and the actor, so it’s busy, but it’s also a lot of fun. When it all comes together, that’s when it’s most creatively satisfying.

Image: Paramount Pictures

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Personally, I think he’s a genius! The movie turned out to “The Green Hornet,” which hits theaters Dec. 22, 2010. Here’s Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz filming a scene:

And here’s an excerpt from Paz’s experience:

Seth has been observing my slowly developing epiphany, chuckling. I don’t blame him. I must look like a total dumbass.

“ROLL SOUND….AND… ACTION!!”

You’ve got to be kidding. That happened way too fast – I didn’t even have a chance to move.

Somehow, the little bald guy completely missed me. And I am now in a movie.

I quickly look down at my Blackberry and frantically begin checking non-existent e-mails. I am invisible. I am invisible.

A wide-lens Panavision camera swings down 10 feet in front of my head and a movie scene unfolds. I’m watching it all like its on TV…

Seth Rogen walks purposefully past me and the blondes chatter with exaggerated gestures as a stretch Hummer pulls up in the courtyard. A valet opens the door…

“…AND CUT!!”

The scene is over. Seth ambles back to his mark. I am frozen in time.

“Dude,” he says to me on his way back. “If they don’t catch you in post, you should totally sue.”

I am Jack’s speechless larynx.

I cock my head back as if to say, “Yes. I am a moron.”

If you see ‘Green Hornet’ next summer and happen to notice an out-of-place jackass in a blue blazer with a valet ticket, let me know.

Read the full transcript of this ultra-fun experience here. Thanks, Paz, for a great story! I’ll be looking for you in the movie, and will live vicariously through you until I accidentally end up in my own Seth Rogen movie.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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It’s a comedy about two British sci-fi geeks who take an RV road trip to the center of America’s UFO heartland: Nevada’s infamous Area 51. In the middle of the desert, the two buddies encounter a fugitive alien by the name of Paul (Seth Rogen), and reluctantly embark on an adventure that will change everything.

The cast also includes Kristen Wigg, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver, Blythe Danner and Jeffrey Tambor.

And here’s even more fun: Filmmaker Greg Mottola and actors Pegg and Frost take a behind-the-scenes look on their What is Paul? Blog. 

It’s scheduled for a 2010 theatrical release.

Image: INF

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Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow: "Funny People" is not autobiographical.

Seth Rogen: "We don’t ask first, we just do it."

Jonah Hill: On making "Funny People 2" in 20 years:

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Now Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Cameron Diaz is in talks to co-star opposite Rogen in the movie. Nothing is firmed up at this point, but Diaz is one of those actresses I can see in pretty much any type of movie. I mostly think of her in romantic comedies, but she seems to jump genres fairly easily.

Michael Gondry will direct the film, based on a script by Rogen and his writing partner, Evan Goldberg. Shooting is scheduled to start soon, with a release date of July 9, 2010.

Diaz is pictured getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Love her cute dress!

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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I’m still wondering whether “Funny People” will be, you know, funny or not. Maybe it’s not supposed to be.

It’s from Judd Apatow (funny), stars Adam Sandler (possibly funny) as a guy diagnosed with a terminal illness (not funny), who takes a young performer (Seth Rogen – funny) under his wing as his opening act. It also stars Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, and Leslie Mann (all funny).

Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality, “Funny People” hits theaters July 31, 2009.

Check out the first trailer here and the official site here. Watch the restricted trailer at ComingSoon.net, and check out 10 images after the jump.

Any thoughts? Think it’ll be funny?

More after the jump…

Images: © Universal Studios

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Anyway, it’s a perfect opportunity for me to expound on my favorite pot-smoking movies. Read on, and tell me YOUR favorite pot-smoking movies in the comments below. Or perhaps, favorite movies to watch WHILE smoking pot…?

1. Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke. Obviously, the granddaddy of all pot-smoking movies, the one that made it cool to smoke pot. Ok, maybe not cool. Ok, maybe cool. Anyhoo, watch it again, but not before you read my interview with professional pot-smoker himself, Tommy Chong.

2. Reefer Madness. Oh, the evils of the weed. How it destroyed lives, wreaked havoc, caused people to murder and go insane, especially in 1936 when this movie was made. Women cry for it! Men die for it! Watch it with drug-crazed abandon! It’s even a musical now!

3. Easy Rider. Smoking pot was just one of the wild and crazy things that Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson did on those choppers. Captain America was absolutely right when he said, "You’re stoned out of your mind, man."

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It’s a simple premise: an oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer take a road trip to Vegas with a briefcase full of drugs. Lots of drugs. And with Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro in the car, they were definitely one toke over the line. Sweet Jesus.

5. Pineapple Express. Ok, I actually haven’t seen this movie, but from all the trailers and press I’ve read – and the fact that it’s helmed by Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow and James Franco – it looks like the ultimate stoner movie. Anyone see it and can comment on the stoner factor?

As always, I look forward to your mesmerizing comments below.

Images: Amazon.com

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Hannah Montana: The Movie (G). Miley Cyrus and her alter-ego Hannah Montana have an identity crisis. Which one will win? Find out in this predictable, but sweet movie. [Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

Observe and Report (R ). Seth Rogen plays a mall security officer in this R-rated version of "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" (don’t studios know when they’re releasing similar movies at the same time?). Anna Faris also stars for this interested. [Official Site]

Dragonball: Evolution (PG). Justin Chatwin stars in this live-action movie based on the popular Japanese manga created by Akira Toriyama. Also stars Emmy Rossum and James Marsters. [6 Clips] [Trailer] [Official Site]

Anvil! The Story of Anvil (opens in NY and LA). This documentary tells the story of heavy-metal band Anvil, who got lost in the fray after touring with Metallica and Anthrax. I saw the band perform at last year’s Traverse City Film Festival. They’re awesome. [Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

Image Credit: © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Well, guess what?! Ramis (now 64!) says all the original core players are onboard for the reboot, including Bill Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman) and Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz), who co-wrote the original films. "We’re all going to be in it in different kinds of roles," Ramis said. "We’re going to be the sage mentors. There are going to be young Ghostbusters."

More after the jump, including a video…

With Judd Apatow signed on as a producer, expectations are high for the new movie. You have to wonder if Apatow favorites like Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen will be involved. That would be awesome.

But here’s what Rogen said when asked about it: “What? That’d have to be one great f—ing script for anyone to touch that.” They’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill, that’s for sure.

Photo Credit: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

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Gecko Rating:

There’s really only so much you can do with a kids’ movie these days. There’s usually an evil guy, a main character with issues, some kooky supporting characters, and a big crisis that needs to be stopped.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" has all of these elements, but what puts it a notch above most kids’ movies is the animation. The movie is offered in both 3D and regular versions. I saw the 3D version, and while most 3D movies don’t measure up, this one did. The filmmakers really made good use of the 3D, with balls (and sometimes slime) being thrown at the audience, planets swirling about, and an alien spacecraft filled with all manner of cool techie stuff.

The story follows Susan (voiced wonderfully by Reese Witherspoon), a girl who’s about to be married. In fact, the first scenes are at the church where she’s to be married to a self-involved TV weather guy, Derek (Paul Rudd). But outside the church, a giant mass hurtles towards her from space, and later at the alter, Susan starts to emit a greenish glow.

A few seconds later, she grows in size to nearly 50 feet, crashing through the church roof and scattering the wedding goers everywhere. The government immediately shows up, capturing Susan – now known as Ginormica – and locking her up in a secret facility where other monsters also reside, including a blue blobby guy named B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), the techie Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), and a big furry guy named The Missing Link (Will Arnett).

When an evil alien named Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) invades Earth with a giant robot, the government, including President Hathaway (Stephen Colbert) and General Monger (Kiefer Sutherland), realize they don’t have the forces to defeat it alone. So they call upon the quartet of monsters to stop the invasion and put things right again.

The story takes place in California, and one of my favorite scenes occurs on the Golden Gate Bridge, where Susan and the monsters must try and save motorists from falling to their doom because of the alien robot. The animation in this scene was top-notch down to each little detail, from Susan realizing her newfound strength to the peril involving the collapsing bridge. I got a little anxious during this scene!

Aside from the awesome animation throughout the movie, I also loved the growth of Susan. I’m not talking about her growth to nearly 50 feet. I’m talking about her growth as a woman. She realizes that she doesn’t need to rely on a man for her happiness, and that’s a great message to send to young girls.

At first, she’s depressed over the fact that she’s now ginormous, but she soon realizes how wonderful her new monster friends are, as well as what she has to offer the world with her new size. Maybe this is a little philosophical, but we get thrown a lot of curveballs in life, and the best thing to do is just move forward and work with what you’ve got. Sometimes, it’s a lot better than what you’ve lost. Thus ends the philosophical portion of this review.

My other favorite character is B.O.B. When he’s not falling in love with green Jello, B.O.B. has the ability to absorb things and humans, then spit them back out again unharmed. Voiced by Seth Rogen – who has the nerdiest laugh in the world – this character really jumped off the screen at me.

Note to Parents: The story includes a lot of peril, including the aforementioned bridge scene, the monsters being locked up (though you don’t feel like they’re being tortured or anything), the scene where Susan is captured at the wedding, and the government forces dispatched with heavy artillery at every turn. For this reason, I don’t recommend it for very small kids, but it’s ok for kids 7 and older.

Photo credit: Monsters vs. Aliens ™ & © 2009 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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