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"The Big Year," opening in theaters nationwide today (October 14), tells the story of three men on individual quests that all happen to exist on the same path. For Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), the high-powered New York City business man is looking to retire for good and pursue his true lifelong passion before it's too late. Brad Harris (Jack Black), unsatisfied with his uneventful life, is looking for purpose. And Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) wants nothing more than to maintain his precious record, a singular glorious achievement that defines him fully, whether he wants to admit it or not.

So, how do these three men set out to achieve their goals? By watching birds. Lots and lots and lots of them.

On the surface, a film about bird-watching seems… strange, to say the least. But "The Big Year," packed with countless beautiful birds and endless scenic landscapes, finds its heart in the hilarious and endearing core trio of Wilson, Martin and Black. All three comedians are at the top of their game in the film, but surprisingly, they're rarely all on screen together at the same time.

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Tags jack black, owen wilson, steve martin, The Big Year

It feels somewhat off to call "Kung Fu Panda 2's" Jack Black and Angelina Jolie co-stars. Their animated characters Po and Tigress spend on-screen time together, but Black and Jolie solely worked off-screen, lending their voices to the upcoming sequel of their wildly successful 2008 flick.

But that doesn't mean moviegoers may never get to see them on film together someday. MTV News caught up with the stars at the Cannes Film Festival's "Kung Fu Panda 2" premiere, and they discussed the possibility of working together on a live-action movie at some point down the line.

"We haven't really talked about it, even in a joking way," Black admitted, "We haven't talked [about] it in any type of way." But things soon got rolling when Jolie chimed in about the idea of working with Black again in a different capacity: "I would love to."

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Tags Angelina-Jolie, jack black, kung fu panda 2

When it comes to the biggest casting news of the day, don't look towards the big screen; it's the small one in your living room that holds today's hugest surprise.

Ashton Kutcher is officially the man to replace Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men," putting an end to speculation and rumors that have involved the likes of John Stamos, Rob Lowe and Hugh Grant. It's Kutcher's first return to scripted television in a regular role since "That '70s Show," and one has to wonder how the new gig will affect his future as a Hollywood movie star, for better or for worse.

Read about the rest of today's casting news past the jump, including Alex Pettyfer's new job as a stripper and Lindsay Lohan's continued will-she-won't-she association with "Gotti."

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Tags Alex Pettyfer, ashton kutcher, Bailout, Craig Bierko, Gotti: Three Generations, jack black, Knife Fight, lindsay lohan, Magic Mike, Michael Winterbottom, Mob Street, Rob Lowe, the three stooges, Two and a Half Men

Jack Black and Jason Segel are arguably two of the funniest men working in movies right now. Black has been a fixture on the comedy scene for many years, lending his unique brand of manic humor to films from "High Fidelity" to "School of Rock" to the animated "Kung Fu Panda." Segel, meanwhile, has earned his funnyman stripes on the TV show "How I Met Your Mother" and in the recent flicks "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "I Love You, Man." He's also the guy pulling the strings of the upcoming, cameo-laden and much-buzzed-about "Muppets" movie (in which Black co-stars).

With Black and Segel's modern-day comedic adaptation of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" hitting theaters Christmas Day (December 25), MTV's Josh Horowitz asked the duo to educate him in the art of being funny. The result is the extremely amusing video "Humor: A Comedic Exploration," in which the funnymen impart pearls of wisdom such as these: Rainbow-colored clown wigs are highly comical, and going sans pants equals instant laughs (something Segel knows plenty about from his "Sarah Marshall" days). But more than anything else, Segel and Black wanted to emphasize that the best kind of comedy springs forth from the loins... as in the literal groin area. Read more...

Tags After Hours, gullivers travels, jack black, jason segel, muppets, Video

They fought for their right to party in hilarious movies like "Stepbrothers," "Pineapple Express," "School of Rock" and "Pedicab Confessions" (hey, it counts!). And now Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, Jack Blackand Elijah Wood are teaming up to star in "Fight For Your Right Revisited," a short film written and directed by Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch. The flick will premiere at Sundance in the spring. And we thought Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis were a comedy dream team!

A recently released still of the film shows Wood as Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, Rogen as Mike "Mike D" Diamond and McBride as Yauch. No word yet on who Ferrell, Reilly and Black will be playing, but if this video is just a remake of the Beastie's original 1986 video for "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)," then my vote's on Black as Ric Menello. Read more...

Tags Aubrey Plaza, Beastie Boys, Bill Hader, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, elijah wood, Fight For Your Right Revisited, jack black, john c reilly, Rob Riggle, seth rogen, will ferrell, zach galifianakis

When MTV spoke to Zach Galifianakis at the "Due Date" premiere earlier this month, the funnyman wouldn't deny outright that he's going to be in James Bobin's new "Muppets" movie. And now a new report from The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog claims that Galifianakis is playing a hobo alongside a legion of other celebrity cameos in the upcoming "Muppets" flick.

We already knew that Amy Adams, Chris Cooper and Rashida Jones would be joining Jason Segel in significant roles. It looked like Jane Lynch might have a cameo, but she's since shot down those reports. Not to worry, a fresh new crop of celebs are joining Galifianakis in cameos.. Alan Arkin has been fingered as a tour guide, Jack Black will play a kidnapping victim, and Billy Crystal and Jean-Claude Van Damme are also showing up in unspecified cameos. Read more...

Tags Alan Arkin, Billy Crystal, jack black, jean-claude van damme, The Muppets, zach galifianakis

Everybody loves a kung-fu-fighting panda bear -- we learned that much in 2008, when audiences flocked to theaters to listen to Jack Black be charmingly hilarious for an hour and a half in "Kung Fu Panda." That's why we're so thrilled that a teaser for "Kung Fu Panda 2" hit the Interwebs today, looking like it's going to be just as funny as the original. Now, pay close attention, keep your eyes open, and...

Did you beat Po in that staring contest? I'll admit, he had the strength of will to not blink for a lot longer than I did, though I am glad he's thinking that we as an audience are collectively looking much better than we did two years ago. From what we know of the sequel's plot, though, Po should have been focusing a bit more on his fighting skills than on winning a staring contest. He has quite the villain coming for him this time around. Read more...

Tags jack black, kung fu panda 2, Video

And off to Lilliput we go! A new trailer for 20th Century Fox's "Gulliver's Travels" has hit the Web, and this is not your grandparents' version of the story. I don't remember the Lilliputians rocking out to KISS, having Iron Man-style fighting machines or being willing to act as human foosball players, but maybe my memory's just a bit rusty. But the fact there are more "Star Wars" references (two!) than there are butt jokes (one!) definitely tips the scales in the film's favor.

To refresh, this contemporary version of "Gulliver's Travels" follows a travel writer named Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black) who is assigned a story on the Bermuda Triangle, but ends up getting swept off to the mysterious land of Lilliput. Here he is a giant and, by using some well-intentioned lies, he becomes the Lilliputians' hero. Eventually they find out his secret, but he tries to win back their affections by stopping an attack by their hated neighbors, the Blefescu. Oh, and he's trying to help Horatio (Jason Segel) win over the Princess of Lilliputia (Emily Blunt) in the meantime. Read more...

Tags amanda peet, emily blunt, gullivers travels, jack black, jason segel

MTV's Fall Preview week of exclusives continues today with a look at the hottest upcoming movies of the next four months. We know what you should see and why you should see it, and we've got it all right here. Keep it locked to MTV News and MTV Movies Blog for continued updates throughout the week!

What's It Called: "Gulliver's Travels"

What It's About: A travel writer gets an assignment in the Bermuda Triangle. As you might expect, things go awry and the poor guy ends up washed ashore on an island populated by little people. Very little, like a couple of inches tall little.

Who's In It: Jack Black, Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Catherine Tate, Billy Connolly. Directed by Rob Letterman.

Why You Should Care: It's a classic children's tale upgraded with modern-day ideas and starring Jack Black. Also, the always excellent Nick Stoller co-wrote it.

When You Can See It: December 22

Tags gullivers travels, jack black, Photo

Back in the spring, we revealed that Jack Black will be "stirring things up" in the upcoming big-budget adaptation of the classic fable "Gulliver's Travels." Well, now we can add an additional trait to Black's character...dancer.

That's right, at the Sundance Film Festival "Gulliver's Travels" co-star Amanda Peet dished on her upcoming role as Black's editor (and love interest) who follows him after he doesn't return from an assignment. While clearly thrilled with playing "a giant," Peet was most excited about a little on-set song-and-dance.

"I saw Jack Black dancing in playback. He gets to sing and dance and that was one of the great joys of my life," Peet exclaimed to MTV News. Read more...

Tags amanda peet, gullivers travels, jack black, Video