Movie Mania: Speed (1994)

American comedian Mike Birbiglia shares his views on healthy eating this week…

“I saw this in a movie about a bus that had to speed around the city, keeping its speed over 50, and if its speed dropped, the bus would explode! I think it was called The Bus That Couldn’t Slow Down.”

That’s how Homer Simpson described this frantic popcorn flick – one of 1994’s biggest hits which confirmed Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock as action stars.

Reeves stars as Officer Jack Travern, who after thwarting the plans of a terrorist (Hopper) is drawn into the criminal’s warped game. On a typically busy day on the roads of Los Angeles, Jack is informed that a city bus has been rigged with an explosive device, which will go off when the vehicle drops its speed beneath 50 miles per hour. Jack must rish his own life to save the passengers on board, among whom is Annie Porter (Bullock). Delightfully daft, the film is also far more captivating than it really has any right to be.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels

Celeb Trivia

Grammy-winning indie band Vampire Weekend may be critical darlings three albums into their career, but the group actually began as a joke rap act called L’Homme Run.

The novelty hip-hop project was started by Columbia University classmates Ezra Koenig and Chris Tomson – who released songs like Pizza Party and used the Lacoste crocodile as their mascot.

Despite their comedic intentions, the duo became genuinely annoyed that no one believed their musical ambitions were any more than childish shenanigans.

That’s when they began Vampire Weekend, named after a short film Koenig had made, and added Rostam Batmanglij and Chris Baio to the group.

The New York quartet have since hit number one twice in the US album charts, with their most recent effort Modern Vampires of the City (2013) being named one of the best records of the year by many American publications.

Love Connection

He once took his love down to Violet Hill, so surely Chris Martin wouldn’t be averse to Ashley Greene.

The Coldplay frontman, newly single after splitting from his wife of 10 years Gwyneth Paltrow, will release his band’s sixth studio album Ghost Stories later this month.

Which also ties in nicely with Ashley, who herself is famous for starring in the vampires and werewolves film series Twilight – and last year the Florida native also appeared in the music biopic CBGB.

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Where we’re going, we don’t need four wheels

There are cars which only have three wheels – one notable case being the much-loved Robin Reliant – but this one stands out on the motorway, primarily because it’s supposed to have four. A red Mustang is spotted cruising along the road, despite the vehicle missing its front-left wheel, much to the surprise of the man filming the scene from another lane. The incident is believed to have happened in Texas.

Type ‘Three wheel Mustang’ into search box.

Just for Laughs

What does a baker wear on his feet?

Loafers.

Mole of the Emirates

Overheard from conversations around Dubai this week…

• “That technicolour Kiwi looked pretty peckish in fairness”

• “Happy third friend-aversary guys!”

• “You make riding a bike seem cool”

• “Are those photos in the tank of prospective pet fish?”

Celebrity Anagram

Taylor Swift

Art of Sly Wit