After 22 hours of flying on planes, waiting on security lines and sitting in airport food courts, I've finally returned home from my two-week trip in Australia. (And get this -- not one politician came on to me in the airport bathroom! Drats!) Did you miss me? Did you even know I was gone? Do you even know who I am? Anyway, apart from bringing home some art and some severe jetlag, I also brought with me some cool Aussie slang. For example, I promised my Aussie friends I'd start using the word 'Brekki' in replace of 'Breakfast.' Instead of greeting someone with "Hey, how ya doing?," I've decided to start using the primary Aussie greeting (no, not G'day Mate) -- "How ya going, Mate?" Oh, and I've brought home a Koala to hang out with my dog. But don't worry, it's just a doll.

And is there a better time to return home than on Labor Day Weekend? It's been absolutely beautiful here in New York the past three days, and since my car is still in the shop, I've spent all of it inside, in bed and in front of the television. After all, two weeks running around on the other side of the world can kind of knock you out. Labor Day is a funny holiday because, while we're supposed to be taking a day off to celebrate all the hard work we've accomplished, all we think about all day is how summer has ended -- goodbye beach vacations; hello work and school. For a day off, you have to admit it's sort of depressing. But if you're looking for a good way to celebrate Labor Day by utilizing your home DVD player, there are plenty of work-related films to check out.

Since I spent most of my years in a cubicle, there's no other film like Office Space to show you the comedic side of corporate life. After doing a stint in the world of television production, I'm also quite found of both Network and Broadcast News. For sexy and seductive, go with Secretary. For some funny rise-to-the-top stuff, go with Working Girl, The Devil Wears Prada or (one of my personal favorites), The Hudsucker Proxy. Crazy teens doing crazy things in the workplace? Empire Records. Jaded twenty-somethings hating life? Clerks. No matter what you're in the mood for, there's definitely something for everyone. Which film will you be watching tonight?

The parade of stars keeps growing over at "loose remake" headquarters where they're currently working on the Jessica Simpson starrer Blonde Ambition. Joining a cast which already includes Andy Dick, my former neighbor Rachael Leigh Cook and, somewhat inexplicably, Luke Wilson, is Penelope Ann Miller -- according to a recent article in The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, as our own Erik reported previously, features Simpson doing her best Melanie Griffith impression and slugging through an updated (aka "loose remake") version of the 1988 hit Working Girl. Miller will play the Sigourney Weaver role in the film as the conniving boss seeking to impair Simpson's character and her rise to the top of the corporate ladder. Now, I'm going to take off my cynical hat for a moment and try not to bag on this film too much. Even with a story cribbed from another film and a production company like Nu Image, some of the people involved in this project actually have some talent.

Obviously, Luke Wilson has done some solid work, as has Cooke and Penelope Ann Miller. And directer Scott Marshall has made one or two decent comedies in his somewhat short career. So, this movie might just have a chance if it wasn't for one tiny little problem that will almost surely send it straight to video: Jessica Simpson. Sure, she's nice to look at but I'm almost positive that won't be enough this time -- especially when she's supposed to be the lead in the film and has to do some actual acting. Blonde Ambition is currently filming and looks to hit the shelves of your local Blockbuster sometime next Summer.

Either someone drugged him or Luke Wilson is looking to get "in tight" (if you know what I mean) with Jessica Simpson, because the actor has reportedly joined the cast of Blonde Ambition, a "loose remake" of the 1988 film Working Girl. Yeah, so I guess when they decide to remake a fantastic movie with a horrific actress in the starring role, the safe terminology from here on out will be "loose remake." However, fact is the only thing loose about it is, well ... let's continue, shall we?

According to producer Justin Berfield, Blonde Ambition (wait, wasn't that what Madonna named one of her tours?) will indeed be Simpson's next film, and production is supposed to begin as early as November 27 in Shrevport, Louisiana. This will also mark Simpson's first leading role in a film, and she'll have pretty big shoes to fill seeing as Melanie Griffith scooped up an Oscar nomination for playing the same character. Oh, and if you think this thing can't get any worse, Andy Dick (who co-starred alongside Simpson in Employee of the Month) is in negotiations to play an "evil" secretary. (Man, what's next -- Rob Schneider signing on to play himself?) Story revolves around one woman's journey from the bottom to the top of a corporate empire. They're currently eying a summer release.

Sorry, but I have to ask: Does anyone think this will be any good?

[via Coming Soon]

Happy Labor Day! All year long, you've been working hard, meeting deadlines, filing reports, sending emails, crunching numbers and counting up those vacation days, while strategically placing them at certain times throughout the year in order to maximize their potential. Heck, you deserve a day off -- 24 hours of rest, relaxation and a whole lot of nothing.

My favorite kinds of movies to watch on Labor Day are those that remind me why this day is important in the first place -- ya know, why it matters. And, what a better way to do that then to throw in a package of tasty microwave popcorn, slide into those comfy slippers and settle down with a few of your favorite work-related flicks. So, on a day that's dedicated to the American working men and women, how about we celebrate not working by enjoying some of the following films:

Odds and ends from Tuesday:

• Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen) has signed on to play a young Uma Thurman in Vadim Perelman's (aka 'the dude who allegedly threw his dining room chair at a writer') thriller In Bloom. Produced by 2929 Prods., pic focuses on a teenager (Wood) who witnesses a horrific high school shooting, only to discover just how deep those emotional scars really are when she finds her life is a complete mess 15 years later. Uma Thurman will play the older version of said woman.
• I don't know what's more horrifying: That there are plans to remake Working Girl or that Jessica Simpson is in talks to star in the role made famous by Melanie Griffith? Simpson's rep has confirmed the actress is interested, though it's just one of several scripts currently on her plate. With the success of films like The Devil Wears Prada, I can see why they would want to remake Working Girl. But, Jessica Simpson? Should she take the part, this would mark Simpson's first lead role in a major film.
• M. Night Shyamalan is so fed up over the fact people expect a certain type of film from him, the dude contemplated removing his name from Lady in the Water, as well as the big-screen adaptation of Life of Pi, though he is no longer associated with the latter. Says Shyamalan, "I'd love it if everyone could look at Lady In The Water as a lyrical parable, but there will be people that won't get it because they are coming at it with a certain lexicon of what to expect already in place." Actually, Mr. Shyamalan, all people expect out of you is a decent movie. If you could set your enormous ego aside and craft the kind of film we know you're capable of, you won't have to remove your name from the credits or complain to everyone and their mother. Yes, it's that simple.