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By Horacio Garcia

There is a very fine line to walk on -when somebody directs that thing called "dramedys". The most common problem is that the movie will over tip one way or another and will go all teary or completely crass. 50/50 manages to keep walking straight and delivers a touching, realistic and hilarious (because real life is sometimes very funny) story about how a normal, intelligent guy deals with cancer.

Jonathan Levine directed this real life-based film, with the indie touch he seems to prefer (and that gave him an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008) and consequently we got a funny and rough ride where people behave like in real life: slightly crazy. He manages to pull it out by using one of the bests casts of the year; Joseph Gordon-Lewis, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick and on top of them, Anjelica Huston.

The plot is based on the life experiences of Will Reiser, who's the writer of the script and his friend and co-producer Seth Rogen, whom again manages to play a character very much like himself in a movie, this time with such luck that he is actually playing himself. Will Reiser really got sick  with cancer and his friend Seth really was there for him.

The main character, Adam, a producer for Public Radio in Seattle, is told one day that he's got an inoperable type of Spinal cancer that gives him 50/50 percent chances of survival, so this introverted and cynical young man looks for support of his best friend Kyle. The problem is that after completely freaking out, Kyle doesn't think the prospects are bad: "If you were a Casino game, you’d have the best odds", he tells Adam, and you are not sure whether he is being encouraging or simply literal.

Anyway, from that point is obvious that Kyle has made the decision of not allowing something as trifle as cancer to spoil the important things in live for two guys in their late twenties; that is, girls. So we are for a while immersed in the complications of girl-picking strategies while (possibly) dying, interrupted with the difficult task of convincing Adam’s mother, a very freaked out Anjelica Huston, not to move in with him.

At this point in the story, enters Anna Kendrick as the inexperienced therapist for a group of chemo patients that offers Adam free therapy sessions as part of her thesis and with her,  a couple of great characters: Alan and Mitch, two elderly medical-marihuana- wised patients who make Adam's life a little easier.

Curiously, the romantic part of the movie that is usually the least realistic here works the other way around; Kendrick’s Dr. Katie McKay is as stiff and unprepared as any just graduated shrink and Adam plays the cynical almost dying guy masterfully.

All in all, 50/50 is one heck of a dramedy with some of the best performances of the year. This one is a must see.

Tags 50/50, Anjelica Huston, Anna Kendrick, blogger: Horacio Garcia, Joseph Gordon Lewis, Seth Rogen

By Michael Lopez

As the old saying goes, "if you've got, flaunt it!" Several of the world's most fit athletes are ready to strip down for ESPN Magazine’s annual "Body” Issue." Expect to see bare-bodied jocks like Apolo Ohno, Hope Solo and even a few chiseled Latinos. Mets' shortsop Jose Reyes and Brazilian car racer Hélio Castroneves have both confirmed their participation.

For the past several years, the "Body Issue" has become famous for its provocative portraits. Tennis champ Serena Williams, Olympian Lolo Jones, and surfer Kelly Slater have all posed for pictures that probably made Hugh Hefner blush.

This year's group may be the sexiest bunch yet, or at least that’s what ESPN’s editor-in-chief, Chad Millman, thinks.

"This is an issue in the short time we've been doing it that's become pretty anticipated," he said. "In terms of the athletes we've attracted, we feel like the group is really strong."

Look for the "Body Issue" to hit newsstands on October 7.

Would you ever pose naked for a magazine? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Apolo Ohno, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Body Issue, ESPN Magazine, Hélio Castroneves, Hope Solo, Jose Reyes, Sports

By Michael Lopez

At this stage of the game, Jennifer Lopez is pretty easy to make fun of. Whether it’s her famous "junk in the trunk," her autotune lyrics, or those multiple husbands she keeps leaving behind, J to the Lo is a prime target for video parodies. And La Coacha and Jiggy Drama have lovingly skewered the A.I. diva and her latest hit "Papi."

Calling their track "Puppy," the four-minute video takes jabs at Marc Anthony, Bradley Cooper, and (you guessed it) William Levy. Coacha has built a huge online rep for her work with Perez Hilton and her hilarious viral videos. For this one, she does a dead-on Jennifer impression, right down the white suit!

Jiggy doesn't actually appear in the clip, but raps out a hilarious Pitbull impression for a spoof of "On The Floor." The Pit in the "Puppy" clip is an actual canine, complete with sunglasses and rough reggaeton beats.

So far, "Puppy" has garnered tens of thousands of YouTube views and has received a heavy push from Hilton's site (he exec produced the video). And if you dig it, you should definitely check out La Coacha's homepage, which features a great spoof of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro."

Which video would you most like to see La Coacha spoof? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Jennifer Lopez, Jiggy Drama, La Coacha, Música, Papi, Perez Hilton, popnews, Puppy, Video Parodies, Videos, YouTube

By Michael Lopez

You've got to hand it to Antonio de la Rúa, he definitely has great taste in women. The Argentine jet setter famously dated Shakira for 11 years and has now moved on to a former Miss World Colombia. According to reports, Antonio and Daniela Ramos are now an item.

Ramos and de la Rúa were caught displaying some major PDA this past week by Colombian paparazzi. Just 23-years-old, she a full 15 years younger than Antonio, but seems to be smitten nonetheless.

The Bogota beauty earned her crown back in 2009, nabbing titles like "Prettiest Face" in the national competition. De la Rúa met her last September, when he was still technically with the She Wolf. Could that have led to some issues with their breakup?

According to reports, the answer is no. Daniela and Antonio remained friends for several months and only after the breakup did things start to heat up. Hopefully the newly-single Shaki isn't too shaken up by the news.

Do you think Antonio and Daniela make a cute couple? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags antonio de la rua, Beauty Pageants, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrity Couples, Chisme, Daniela Ramos, Miss World, popnews, Shakira

By Astrid Rivera

Scarlett Johansson is no stranger to the spotlight, but earlier this month the Avengers star was placed onto a very uncomfortable stage by a group of dangerous hackers. Right before Johansson's scheduled trip to East Africa, these hackers allegedly broke into her phone and leaked private nude photos of the star on the Internet.

The actress, 26, has never appeared fully nude in a film and instead of ignoring the situation has taken to the media to defend her right to privacy. She sat down for an interview with CNN while in Kenya for the first time since the photos were divulged and was adamant about the right to privacy for all, even high-profile celebrities such as herself.

Johansson said,

"Who doesn't want to protect their own privacy? Just because you're an actor or make films or whatever doesn't mean you're not entitled to your own personal privacy. If that is sieged in some way, if feels unjust. It feels wrong."

She hasn't been the only one to get hacked; other celebrities like Paris Hilton and Disney darling Vanessa Hudgens have all been the victims of hackers. But unlike these other celebrities, Johansson saw the opportunity to use the situation as a precautionary tale to others and as a platform to take a stand against these hackers.

As soon as these photos hit the web, the actress fought back with the help of the FBI and a group of skillful lawyers. The question remains, who are the hackers? And how exactly were they able to get access to this sort of personal information? One thing is sure, these hackers better watch out because ScarJo is not backing down!

Putting the issue of her nude photos aside, the beautiful actress got back to business and acted upon her duties as ambassador for Oxfam. An active ambassador since 2004, she traveled to Kenya to stress the intensity of human suffering happening in many parts of Africa. She documented her experiences on CNN and the Huffington Post and by doing so, hopes to spread the word on the urgency for change in Africa.

This was a life changing experience for Johansson, who was deeply touched by all of the stories and people she encountered in refugee camps. She reveals,

"What struck me the most is the fact that people are just surviving, they are sort of in a state of limbo."

ScarJo is just another incredible example of how the power of fame can be used to help others in need. Maybe other celebrities will start taking cues from this amazing movie star (Paris Hilton anyone?).

Check out Scarlett's adventures in Kenya!

Tags Avengers, Blogger: Astrid Rivera, CNN, Huffington Post, Oxfam, Paris Hilton, popnews, Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Hudgens

By Michael Lopez

First it was Anahí and that Snickers bar, now it's Gisele Bundchen's skimpy lingerie commercials. Could some of the world's most famous Latinas be perpetuating "sexist" stereotypes? In regards to Gisele's latest ads, the answer may be yes.

The Brazilian bazillionaire recently appeared in a series of promos for Hope lingerie. In the most controversial spot, Bundchen confesses to her husband that she has wrecked the family car. When she is fully dressed, her approach is labeled wrong. But when she tells him the same info wearing skimpy clothes, the "correct" sirens start blaring.

The commercial was created by a Rio-based advertising firm and they are standing by their work. But viewers and female officials from the Brazilian government are demanding that it be pulled.

"The [Hope] campaign promotes the misguided stereotype of a woman as a sexual object of her husband and ignores the major advances we have achieved in deconstructing sexist practices and thinking," Brazil's women's secretariat said in a statement.

Seeing how the country currently has a female President, we imagine Women's Rights is a pretty important topic down there. Gisele has yet to respond publicly, but we're very curious to see what she wears when she does.

Do you think there are still a lot of sexist stereotypes in Latin America? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Brazil, Chisme, Gisele Bündchen, Hope Lingerie

By Michael Lopez

Expect a lot of activity from Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in the next few months. The popular puppets have been popping up in commercials, posters, and even talk shows to promote their upcoming movie. And proving their connection to the Latino audience, Kermie and company filmed a Hispanic Heritage Month promo too.

Colorful as ever, the Muppet couple proudly saluted HHM and even dropped a few Spanish lines.

"Viva Latinos!" Miss Piggy exclaims towards the end of the spot.

Of course if you're in the mood for Fozzie Bear or The Great Gonzo, you can watch their videos as well. Clips on the Kermit homepage feature a tribute to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," blooper reels, and tons of exciting trailers for the new film (including a great Girl With The Dragon Tattoo spoof).

Be sure to catch their big screen adventure when it hits screens on November 23. Not only does it star all of your favorite fuzzy friends, it's got Rico Rodriguez, Danny Trejo, and Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo (just to name a few!).

Are planning on watching the new Muppet movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Danny Trejo, Hispanic Heritage Month, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Movies & CineMás, Muppets, Piolin, Rico Rodriguez, The Muppets

By Astrid Rivera

Las Vegas superstar Holly Madison is definitely keeping abreast of her situation- literally. The star recently took out a $1 million dollar insurance policy on her breasts with Lloyd's of London insurance company.

Madison, 31, had breast surgery in 2001 and went from a small A-cup to a Pamela Anderson sized D-cup. This instantly got her the attention of her famed ex and founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner. After the pair split in 2008, Madison became the star of the sizzling Las Vegas production of Peepshow.

She confirmed to People Magazine that ensuring the safety of her money makers was a logical decision and a necessary precaution for herself,

"I've heard about people get body parts insured and I thought, why not? Because if anything happened to my boobs, I'd be out for a few months and I'd probably be out a million dollars."

While many would agree that breasts are certainly a girl's best friend, many would also agree that insuring them for $1 million is a bit excessive. Yet, it makes perfect sense when we consider that Madison has made an entire career off of her goods and keeping las gemelas safe keeps her in the spotlight.

She is in good company: other celebrities like Rihanna, Mariah Carey and even Jennifer Lopez have all insured famous body parts. Jennifer Lopez was rumored to have various body parts insured such as her famous backside, which is estimated to be worth 300 million!

Let's hope Holly never has to cash in on her insurance policy.

Should celebrities insure their body parts? What do you think of this trend?

Tags Astrid Rivera, Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Jennifer Lopez, Lloyd's of London, Mariah Carey, Peepshow, People Magazine, Playboy, popnews, Rihanna

By Ikam Acosta

Earlier this week, Michael Jackson's bodyguard, Faheem Muhammad, disclosed some pretty gory details at the trial held for his doctor, Conrad Murray. Jackson's kids had all been in the room as the doctor struggled to revive him.

Muhammad entered Jackson's room minutes after his death and saw the singer's two oldest children watching with horrified looks on their faces. Paris was crying on the floor while Prince cried in shock. Jackson was in bed, with eyes and mouth opes, while Murray attempted to revive him, to no avail.

The bodyguard also explain how he asked the nanny to take the kids out of the room so they would not have to be subjected to such a horrific scene, the moment when the paramedics would come in and take Jackson away. He then called UCLA Hospital security to advise them of the incoming celebrity and the possibility of the paparazzi following the ambulance to the hospital and trying to get into Michael's hospital room.

The prosecutor at Murray's trial deemed him negligent in administering the pop star's anesthetic without proper monitoring equipment, or even making sure that someone would be in the room with the singer while he administered it at all times.

Do you think the doctor was at fault for Michael's death?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Celebrity Deaths, michael jackson, popnews

By Michael Lopez

Be honest, you know you've got a copy of Angry Birds floating around somewhere in your iPad. According to the latest stats, the high-flying video game app has been downloaded over 350 million times and is now "officially" more popular than Nintendo's famed Mario series.

That's quite a feat considering the app is only two-years old. The brainchild of Finnish gaming company Rovio, Angry Birds was developed for a mere $136,000. Rovio's senior designer Jaakko Iisalo based part of the concept on the swine flu epidemic, which had been dominating the headlines back in 2009. Making birds fly into green sickly pigs seemed like a fun, easy-to-maneuver, time waster.

Little did they know the type of impact this game would have on the world. Rovio is now a billion-dollar company and has created an entire merchandising wing (no pun intended) devoted solely to the Birds. T-shirts, action figures, and plush toys related to the franchise have sold in the millions.

And judging from the latest articles, the Birds epidemic is far from over. Rovio is rumored to be in negotiations with Starbucks about coffee shop gaming devices. They have also set up in-store playing stations at retail outlets like Barnes & Noble, which have proven to be extremely successful.

But that's only the tip of the Angry iceberg. According to CinemaBlend, there may be a Birds movie hitting theaters in the near future. Rovio honcho David Maisel dropped several hints about the project at a recent gaming summit in Hollywood and even discussed the possibility of flying feather heads in 3D!

It all sounds very interesting to us, though we do feel a little sad for Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom. Perhaps if he got Angry enough, Nintendo's famous plumber could stir up heat in the app world and give the Birds some high-flying competition.

Do you like to play Angry Birds? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Angry Birds, Blogger: Michael Lopez, iPad, Mario, Movies & CineMás, Nintendo, Rovio, Starbucks, Super Mario, Technology, video games