Saturday in The Office

During a lazy weekend a few months ago, I caught up with some of my favorite pals from NBC's The Office in some of their more recent independent feature film roles.  Creed Bratton, who plays wonderfully creepy Creed on TV, plays equally creepy on the big screen as Uncle James in Azazel Jacobs coming-of-age tale Terri. Played wonderfully by newcomer Jacob Wysocki, Terri is a teenager that should be full of angst but can't seem to gather the energy it would take to care.  Overweight, living with an uncle on the verge of senility, with no parents to be found, or really friends for that matter, Terri lets us in to his quiet world of quirkiness.  After missing a lot of school, Terri is pulled into the office of Assistant Principal Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly).  Fitzgerald is the kind of Assistant Principal that most of us would have liked, but never would have admitted to it; he genuinely cares for Terri, even if he doesn't always know the best way to go about doing that.

Even discovering that maybe his friendship with Fitzgerald places him in a category that everyone else already did (the dude wears pajamas to school everyday, need I say more?), Terri grudgingly gives in to becoming friends with the other less desirables in Fitzgerald's posse, such as Chad (Bridger Zadina), a kid who constantly pulls out his hair.  When one of the more popular girls in school, Heather (Olivia Crocicchia) allows a boy to do a very private thing in a very public place, she becomes an outcast that only someone the likes of Terri can sympathize and reach out towards. 

This is where Terri could become really cliché; the part of most teen movies where the lovable loser gets the girl, is accepted by the cool kids, and becomes valedictorian and prom king. However, this film stays away from the coming-of-age playbook and stays true to life, or at least the life we have been presented.  As the tagline states, "We've all been there."  The scenarios may be different but the emotions are the same.

Roger Ebert declared this one of the best movies of the year in 2011.  I wouldn't go that far.  It's slow paced and kind of trickles into an ending, but if you like movies that do not really take you anywhere but allow you a snippet of an inside look into someone's life for a while, give this movie a shot.

The other film I took in was Michael J. Weithorn's directorial film debut, A Little Help, starring Jenna Fischer as Laura, a dental hygienist who is dealing with the aftermath of losing her husband and trying to handle her 12 year old son. This is no Pam Beesly-Halpert; unless maybe you limit your comparison to the drunken Pam at the Dundies.

That is because we spend the majority of the movie watching Laura try to escape her humdrum life through a can of Budweiser. Not very content with her status quo, Laura falls into an even deeper sense of dreariness once her husband is out of the picture, leaving her alone with her already meddlesome family. To everyone Laura is a screw-up, and her reluctance to sue the doctor in her husband's case in order to provide a better life for her and her son is perfect evidence that without "a little help" Laura would be falling off the deep end with no safety net.

The only person that sees Laura in a different light is her brother-in-law; the other member of the family who tends to try and sneak out of family together time whenever he has the chance. The fact that he would like to spend that away time with Laura is just another issue for her to try and handle. There is not a lot that happens in this movie, but what does occur feels authentic for the characters.

While it could have played off very unrealistic for Laura to go with the lie bratty son Dennis (Daniel Yelsky) tells everyone at his new school about the way his father died; it doesn't. After all the put downs and lack of trust to be able to do anything right that Laura receives from her own family, it's not hard to imagine that fessing up is not high on her list of priorities.

 Like Terri, this could be considered an antithesis to the most fast-paced, action-filled movies out there. Although there is a small glimmer of hope that we are leaving her a little better off than where we found her, Laura's storyline does not wrap up in a pretty little bow. But if nothing else, maybe these two stories will allow the viewer to see their own struggles as survivable.

 Besides, it sure beats a day in the office next to a co-worker like Dwight Shrute.

Toy Story #3

When Toy Story first came out, it was the beginning of a new era of digitalized cinema. It was innovative and exciting. And it was fun. So much fun that there was no surprise that a sequel was in order. As almost all sequels go, Toy Story 2 was not as good as the first, but it was still nice to see our old friends again.

This go round our old friends have not aged much, but their beloved owner Andy sure has. Now 18 and off to college, the toys from his past face a new crisis; what happens to a toy once they are no longer deemed a prized possession?

Through a series of missteps Buzz, Woody, and the gang find themselves in a sort of toyland utopia – a daycare center, where they will be played with all day by children who will never tire of them and will never grow old, as a new set of enthralled youth will run through the doors for years to come.

However, the animated world is not lost to the saying “too good to be true.” Soon the toys find themselves looking to escape slobbering toddlers for their former owner even if the best scenario involves being tossed in an attic for years to come.

As Andy has matured, presumably the audience has as well, as there is a darker feel to parts of the movie that were not there before. Sure, we had the evil kids in the former films, but a sinister undertone is given to some of the new toys encountered along the way that may be a bit frightening for younger viewers. I mean one is a clown and let’s face it; those things can freak out some adults (ok, I’ll admit it, namely me).

The film is not as enjoyable as its predecessors, but can still be a lot of fun. The addition of Ken and Barbie bring freshness to the sense of nostalgia looking back on the toys we loved, not only from the series, but from our own childhoods.

Word on the street is that the 3D action is fairly tame and probably not worth the extra money (I’ll have to take the word of those that can actually see 3D as I cannot). But this is definitely worth seeing as a theater release. Even if you know it is time to move on (and it is Pixar, please don’t go “to infinity and beyond” with sequels) it still is nice to spend some quality time with those good childhood friends.

#2: Knight and Day

Like most summer blockbusters, there are a lot of reasons Knight and Day should not work. Full of plot holes and implausible scenarios, loud flashy action scenes, and time space continuum conundrums the smartest of academics would have trouble explaining. And yet there is something that catches the attention and lets you ignore all that and enjoy the ride.

June (Cameron Diaz) is on her way back home to her sister's wedding after picking up a car part in Kansas. On the flight, she meets Roy (Tom Cruise), a seemingly charming man she bumped into at the airport. Here is where the crazy impracticalities begin. After some plane mishaps, the action never really stops. Neither does the traveling to far away places in short amounts of time. And of course regardless of life endangerments and entanglements, there is still plenty of time for romance...between complete strangers who know nothing about each other...throw in some double agent like government officials, foreign bad guys, and a tagalong socially-inept genius and who wouldn't be thinking of making out rather than surviving.

Whenever a film goes through a stack of screenwriters like this one, there are always continuity issues. The overuse of CGI can only do so much to distract from those issues. The one thing that stops this film from being a complete disaster is the chemistry between Cruise and Diaz. Comic timing and facial expressions make the actors seem as if they are part of the joke; they know there are problems but are just going with it and asking us to do the same. And you should; it is a silly loud summer blockbuster in the best sense of the genre. If that is your kind of summer entertainment, take this one in.

The longest, most expensive Coming Attraction so far...

Let me preface by saying I loved the first Iron Man. I thought it was clever, witty, full of enough action to satisfy most testosterone levels, and enough bad boy charm from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to satisfy most ladies. So I was expecting a similar reaction to the sequel, especially under the helm of one of my favorite directors, Jon Favreau. This time around things were just a little...well, off.

Stark is still a narcissistic playboy, but with a little darker edge. Sure, he's got the girl by his side, Pepper Potts, (Gweneth Paltrow), even if their relationship sometimes seems a lot more like business associates than lovers (perhaps that is why the "You complete me" scene from the trailer was nowhere to be found in the finished film.)

When he is not fighting off the ladies, Stark is struggling to keep his suit to himself and out of the governments hands. The bigwigs and his pal Rhodey (Don Cheadle, replacing Terrence Howard) would like to get the suits technology into the militarys hands. Of course, if the good guys want it, so do the bad. If all these guys knew the flashlight of a chest behind the suit was slowly killing our protagonist, perhaps they would be a little less eager. Maybe.

What is slowly killing the audience's attention is the use of so many storylines. Any one of the multi-plots could have made for a compelling film. All together and even the massive amounts of CG and the humorous albeit evil villains can not keep the audience fully engaged.

The 2+ hours does appear to speed up anytime the two major baddies show up, especially Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) a shady business competitor, out to outwit Stark and gain the notoriety that the advanced technology of the Iron Man suit would bring. To help him, he hires Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a Russian scientist out for vengeance against the Stark lineage that has unjustly claimed the fame and prestige (not to mention $$$) that Vanko believes should be shared with the son of the senior Stark's former business partner.

Not enough new characters for you? Don't worry, a latex clad Scarlett Johannson (Natalie, Natasha, Black Widow, take your pick) is right around the corner to add a little more cleavage to the mix. And don't forget her role, along with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, to remind everyone that The Avengers movie is only two years away! And in case that is too long for you, Captain America and Thor are also superheroing their way to a multi-plex near you. So please, don't sweat it if this movie doesn't live up to your expectations, the next dozen or so films to come out of this will. They promise.

As more and more Marvel is piled on the movie trailer bandwagon, this flick is still worth a glance. I'd say wait until DVD, but as the temperatures soar, an air conditioned interlude may just be enough to make this worth watching on the big screen. But do your perspiring body and shrinking wallet a favor and head to the matinee.

The Proposal

I made the mistake of hearing another critic's take on this film before watching it. Because of that, I was waiting to be disappointed. Surprisingly, I was not. Sure, a lot of cliche romantic comedy scenes are inserted throughout. The story is certainly not new -- the loathe to love story has been around since the beginning of the genre; and has been far better told in films like When Harry Met Sally and Pride and Prejudice. But Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are good enough actors that the worn out story may not feel fresh, but will be a couple of hours of welcome relief from the summer heat.

Bullock portrays Margaret, a no nonsense New York book editor that is about to be deported back to Canada after not taking care of her work visa. That is until she coerces her assistant, Andrew (Reynolds) into marrying her. In return, Andrew will get the chance to move beyond his 3 year stint as her go-to guy and get to do the job he really left his hometown of Sitka, Alaska to pursue; that of book editor and author.

So off to Sitka the "happy" couple go to attend the 90th birthday party of Andrew's "Gammy" (scene stealer Betty White). It is here that Margaret begins to get to know anything beyond the office about Andrew. While it would have been interesting to see how their co-workers would react to the "witch" of the office marrying her younger assistant, it is in the placing of Margaret far outside her element and of Andrew's chance to be in a higher position that the relationship has a place to grow.

Like Sandra Bullock's former film, While You Were Sleeping, her character is without a family of her own, and begins to fall in love not only with her male partner, but with his entire family. The similarities continue with a fear of a grandmother having a heart attack once the truth is revealed, and that revelation coming out at the altar (no I'm not spoiling anything. You will see it coming a mile away). Perhaps even the swapping of a groom is the same, at least in a metaphorical way. Margaret doesn't fall in love with Andrew's brother (lucky for him, he's an only child), but in love with a different Andrew than the one that drinks the same kind of coffee as her, just in case he spills hers and doesn't want to deal with an un-Starbucked boss.

Timing is an issue with this story. It seems completely implausible that the couple is able to fly across the country, convince his family, attend pre-wedding festivities, try to deter a determined immigration officer, and be back in New York by 9 am Monday. But timing is also a strong suit for both Bullock and Reynolds. Reynolds in particular, is the king of timing in both glances and one-liners, that has the audience completely swept up in the moment, regardless of the absurdity of it. Having that delivery to play against is what makes Bullock's fish-out-of-water story more believable than others, Renee Zellweger's in New in Town for example.

No, this film is not for everyone. But if you are looking for some light romantic comedy fun, this is one to see. Consider it the Transformers 2 of chick flicks; not the best or most realistic movie you will ever see, but entertaining for entertainment's sake. And at the beginning of summer, what more could you ask for?

Away We Go

A movie starring The Office heartthrob John Krasinski and SNL alum Maya Rudolph might evoke images of slapstick comedy. To be sure, there are a lot of comedic moments throughout the film; however, an extended improv sketch this film is not. Instead, this is a story about a couple trying to find the right place to raise their daughter while trying their best not to be total screw-ups.

When Burt's (Krasinski) parents tell the expectant couple that they are moving to Belgium a month before the baby's due date, the couple decide to find a place that will be close to people they know that can help them wade through the fear of being completely responsible for a child's life and well-being. Thus begins their cross-country journey to family and friends stretched out across the States and even up into Canada, in search for a new place to call home.

Each visit brings a cast of characters that show just how screwed up everybody is, regardless of how "normal" they come across thousands of miles away. The supporting cast, including Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan bring a lot of humor to the adventure, but Maggie Gyllenhaal takes dysfunctional to a whole new level with her character "LN"; a hippie professor from family money who feels the need to share her kooky observations on parenting and her breastmilk with any child willing. Bringing a heavier hand to the plot are old college friends Tom (Chris Messina) and Munch (Melanie Lynskey) Garnett who seem like the ideal family with their many adopted kids, until disclosing a heartbreaking series of miscarriages have kept them from having a biological child.

Director Sam Mendes does a great job of mixing humor and honesty throughout. Like most road trip stories, the ending is not the destination; the heart lies within the journey it takes to get there. Overall this is an independent film that feels like one; it doesn't try to live in a mainstream world of quick fixes and cheap laughs. It is a realistic portrayal of a grown-up love story; a snippet in time where everything is uncertain except the love that is shared.

Bourne's Retirement Plan

If you thought Indiana Jones was getting too up there in years for much action, don't tell Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills in the action flick Taken. Looking like Jason Bourne with a memory and a few more years of expertise, Bryan spends most of the movie taking down guys a third his age while hardly breaking a sweat.

This movie is mostly action, and that is where the solid performances occur. Don't sweat the uber cheesy beginning and disappointing end; the rest of the film makes up for them in a blaze of punches and bullets. The lame attempts at capturing a father/daughter bond are unbelievable and trying to create tension in the relationship makes Bryan's daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) act out like a 12 year old rather than a 17 year old. But once the story moves out of America and into Paris, the pace is fresher and faster and leaves you in your seat for the remaining hour.

What starts out as a trip through Europe for Kim and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), turns into a race for Bryan to find them before they are lost in a sinister underground world. The slow pace of the beginning gives way to nonstop action by the time Bryan braces Kim for what is about to occur with the terrifying announcement, "They are going to take you."

Bryan then gives the kidnappers a solid warning that if his daughter is not released, he will find them and kill them. They should have taken heed. Unleashed, Bryan is a lethal weapon. We know that he was a former spy, but much more is uncovered about his former job by the sheer expanse of knowledge he has about such things as impromptu IV's and a good dozen different ways to torture and kill.

It is a violent movie, with a lot of uncomfortable scenarios. However, even someone as anti-violence as myself found enjoyment in Bryan's methods of saving the day. It is not always easy to find a movie of pure action escapism in the droll winter months. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.

What's in a Name Anyway?

Don't let the strange title fool you. Slumdog Millionaire deserves all the awards season hype that has come its way. It is not your typical multiplex feature, to be sure, but it is not so far down the independent trail that the average movie goer will be disappointed.

The story begins with Jamal Malik, an illiterate teen from the slums of Mumbai, being accused of cheating on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Through each question that comes up, a flashback to Jamal's troubled childhood with his brother Salim and a fellow orphan, Latika, shows how possible it is for someone so outside of the mainstream world to know the answers.

Having seen the Oscar nominated film Water a few years ago, I was surprised that this film was able to shoot in India, as it does not portray the country in a particularly pleasant light. However, the authenticity of the location lends itself beautifully to the telling of the story. Danny Boyle's (Trainspotting) fast action shots throughout the slums is done masterfully, making full use of the chaos of living in such a place, without jolting the camera too much.

While there is a lot of humor throughout, there is a heaviness to this film, due to the harsh lifestyle the main characters have had to endure. However, the heart of each character shines through, regardless of whatever despicable act they need to perform in order to survive.

The storyline of destiny is weaved intricately throughout, leaving no doubt that what occurs is what is meant to be for each character. In the end, it is a sweet love story full of hope that will resonate with most audience members during these difficult times. At a time when most Oscar contenders are on the downtrodden and somber side, Slumdog Millionaire gives a refreshing note of optimism to lift your spirits and brighten your outlook. Give yourself a boost and seek it out in theaters while you still can.

Should Second Chances Always Be Given?

Last Chance Harvey suffers greatly from a script that feels like it follows Romantic Comedies 101. If this had been for a younger generation, a la Before Sunrise, it might have been more passable as realistic. Unfortunately for the plot but fortunate for the audience, the characters in this film are older, wiser, and played with brilliant subtlety by two of the most talented actors around.

Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, a slightly past middle-age musician, who finds his original compositions being turned into television jingles. Frustrated by threats of losing his job to a younger generation, Harvey takes off for an weekend trip to London to see his daughter married. It is at Heathrow that he meets Kate Walker (Thompson), a census taker that has had one bad date too many and spends most of her time on the phone with her eccentric mother (Eileen Atkins).

In a spiral of bad luck, Harvey loses his position of giving the bride away, his job, and his plane seat. Drowning his sorrows in the airport bar, he runs into Kate once again, and tries to strike up an awkward conversation. This is where the magic acting capabilities of these two screen legends truly begins. If Hoffman is ever hurting for work, he would make the worlds best used car salesman; Harvey is able to weave his way into Kate's world in a way that makes it plausible that two complete strangers, that shy away from most of life's awkward moments, would find companionship with each other in the span of an afternoon.

The film plays at an easy pace and tries to make the most out of the London location. The problems with this film emerge when it tries too hard to be something it is not -- a comedy. The subplot of Kate's mother fearing her neighbor is smoking human bodies in his backyard barbeque feel awkward and misplaced. So does the frivolous montage of Kate trying on dresses.

As with all films of this genre, there is a boy loses girl moment, that almost makes you groan out loud when it comes -- it is just too obvious and completely unnecessary. Too much time is spent at the beginning showing Harvey as inconsiderate and somewhat of a jerk to make it crucial for him to get the girl at the end. It is only in the palpable loneliness of Kate that the audience hopes for a happier ending for her sake. Whether Harvey is able to ultimately help her find that happiness is up to the audience to decide.

If writer/director Joel Hopkins would have left these characters in the actors more than capable hands, it would have been such an invigorating thing to see where they end up. Instead, the subpar script leaves the film enjoyable enough for a Saturday night rental, but not creating enough waves for an older audience to strike out to the theaters to see it, even with a senior discount.

Cut the Cake Already...

Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a big fan of Anne Hathaway. I enjoyed the Princess Diaries, thought she was great in The Devil Wears Prada, and I even didn't throw a fit when she was chosen to portray my beloved Jane Austen in Becoming Jane. That said, I know that she is talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award for playing a recovering drug addict in Rachel Getting Married. I just wish I wasn't invited to the wedding.

It's not that this wedding doesn't feel authentic. It does. Perhaps that is the problem. It does feel like you are taking part in a weekend of premarital preparation before watching two become one. Between the overextended wedding toasts to the excruciatingly long rehearsal dinner, you are there to partake in it all, whether you want to be or not. And I, for one, felt more like a prisoner than a guest.

There's not a bad performance in the bunch; this is truly a character study at it's heart. Hathaway plays Kym, sister of Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), who has been given a weekend pass from the rehabilitation center she has been attending for the past nine months, to see her big sister get married. Kym is obviously dealing with some tough issues, unable to forgive herself for things she has done in the past while high. This makes you feel slightly sympathetic towards her, though she tries her darnedest to make you hate her. Meanwhile, poor long-suffering Rachel just wants her wedding to be about her for once, instead of everything being about Kym. After spending half an hour with her family, it is no surprise that she is working on a PhD in psychology.

Director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) tries to bring so much authenticity to Jenny Lumet's screenplay, that a good portion of the movie is filmed with hand held cameras. It gives the feel of a home video of the celebrations, true to authentic form, but mostly downright boring. The film is just shy of two hours, but feels longer, due to the unnecessary and strangely placed scene between Rachel's father (Bill Irwin) and her fiancee (Tunde Adebimpe) trying to see who can load a dishwasher the best,and the music video length portrayals of the wedding musicians. Unlike a real wedding, where you can quietly escape once the cake is cut and the couple have their first dance, Rachel's wedding just went on and on and... well, you get the picture.

The best thing to come out of this film is that it finally emerged Hathaway into the world of adult roles. While I highly doubt she will be chosen for the Academy Award, she should feel right at home at the ceremony; not only because she is that level of an actress, but because the program tends to continue on long after the enthusiasm for it has worn off.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is at the top of the nomination list for the 81st Academy Awards, and with good reason. The special effects, make-up, and cinematography displayed feels lightyears away from any other recent film. Which is strange for a story that is about such human elements and doesn't involve spaceships or creatures from another planet. Then again, how would one be able to relate at all to science fiction, if there was not that essential element of truth and recognition involved?

The film is adapted from an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, though despite the main idea, most everything else has been changed. The short story originally takes place in Baltimore and begins with the birth of an adult man well into his eighties who begins to get younger. The film takes full advantage of the latest in visual effects technology to make Benjamin a baby born wrinkled and arthritic like a man of eighty and growing into his body as his looks grow younger. The film also transfers the setting to New Orleans, making use of the post Hurricane Katrina filming discounts, and even using the hurricane as a subplot.

The story begins with Daisy (Cate Blanchett) dying in a New Orleans hospital as her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) reads to her from Benjamin's diary. We learn that after his mother dies in childbirth, Benjamin's father (Jason Flemying) is so distraught and disgusted by his mutant looking son, that he leaves him on the front steps of an old person's home, to be cared for by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson). Benjamin fits in here, at least looking the part, although he feels different from all the other tenants. He wants to explore, to play, to be the young child that he is inside, but his frail elderly body restricts him, as does his overprotective "mother."

Benjamin goes on all kinds of adventures that he just happens to fall upon. Regardless, never far from his thoughts is Daisy, who he met as a child when she visited her grandmother at the old folk's home, and who he keeps intertwined with throughout his life. It is a strange and mostly implausible love story, but isn't that almost always the case? Certainly in Eric Roth's screenplays, most notably similar is Forrest Gump. There is no denying that there are A LOT of similarities between Benjamin and Forrest. Most of them I could look past; the use of a humming bird in place of Forrest's feather motif, I could not.

Besides all the CGI effects, the period costumes and look of the locations makes the films almost three hour long time frame bearable. Not to say that the film could not have used more help in the editing department. It is simply too long, and there are several scenes that could have been shortened, if not omitted altogether. One scene in particular that tried to convey a message, but just seemed to relentlessly drag on is one that deals with an accident and all the factors that had to have taken place in order for the accident to happen. Yes, the story would have been different, had it not occurred, but the Groundhog Day stylization of it halfway through the movie was tedious and unnecessary.

There are moments of this film that fill poignant and memorable. The look of the film is beautiful. However, there is a coldness within the story, perhaps due to the director's other works (Se7en, Zodiac), that lacks the warmth this story needs to be a true epic. Instead of learning a new lesson regarding human life and relationships, the film sometimes feels like a discomposure of the message it is trying to portray. Still, for the picturesque qualities displayed, it is worth seeing at the discount theater or on a big screen TV.

"Believe those seeking the truth. Doubt those that find it."

There is no doubt that Doubt will be a heavyweight when it comes to this year's awards season. The film, directed by the author of the play it is based on, John Patrick Shanley, is the telling of life within the cloistered walls of a Catholic school in the 1960's and what happens when a priest is accused of giving "special" attention to the school's only African-American student.

Meryl Streep proves to once again be the queen of accents as Sister Aloysius, the no nonsense principal of the school. She is the kind of nun that gives shudders to those brought up in the parochial schools of yesteryear. Her counterpart, Sister James (Amy Adams), is young, intimidated more than intimidating, and more than willing to ease up on the ancient rules and allow some of the secular culture of the times inside.

That world comes through soon enough when Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is noticed giving special attention to altar boy Donald Miller (Joseph Foster II). What follows is Sister Aloysius's one nun crusade to have Father Flynn removed from the school, regardless of her lack of evidence as to the exact nature of the relationship between priest and student. In a conversational scene between Sister Aloysius and Donald's mother, Viola Davis proves that when it comes to Oscar nominated performances, sometimes it is not the amount of screen time you have, but what you do with it. It is one of the most powerful and heartrending scenes I've ever encountered on the big screen.

That said, this is a hard movie to digest and recommend. It is not only the uncomfortableness of the subject matter, but the way in which it is presented. No clear answers are given, one is able to make their own judgements, and undoubtedly will. There is a reason Shanley's play won the Pulitzer Prize; it is thought provoking, engaging, and highly well written. While the look and design of the film help bring the decade it represents to life, it is more for the performances that makes this a film worthy of watching.

And They Called it Puppy Love...

Who could say no to that face? The advertising executives for the new film Marley & Me are banking on not too many. Based on the international best selling book by columnist John Grogan, Marley & Me tells the story of the "world's worst dog." Of course, many of those in the audience or who have read the book could tell you horror stories about their own claims to that title, but Marley does his best to live up to his claim to fame.

The movie tells the story of John (Owen Wilson) and his wife Jennifer (Jennifer Anniston) and their relationship with their dog Marley throughout his entire life. That's right his entire life; meaning be prepared for a three hankie ending. The movie is rated PG but will probably resonate more with an older audience, especially those who have sent their own dogs to that big farm in the sky. Making it even less entertaining for the young tot set are the adult issues throughout the film; starting a family, career struggles, and the balancing act between the two.

There are cute and funny moments scattered throughout; but you have probably seen most of those in the commercials, so feel free to leave the kids at home. If you get overly emotional when it comes to dogs you might want to stay at home as well; better to wait for video so you can avoid the ugly cry in public. However, if you do decide to see it in a theater, rest assured you will not be the only sniffler in the room.

Yes is the New No

In his latest film, Yes Man, Jim Carrey returns to the screen in his crazy antic self, although this time he is a little older, a little more subdued, but just as funny. Carrey plays the role of Carl Allen, a bank loan officer who finds his constant declines at work have filtered into his personal life since his wife of six months left him over two years ago. Still bitter, Carl is forever ignoring friends requests to go out or do anything more than checking out videos at the local Blockbuster.

That all changes when he is coerced into attending a "Say Yes!" seminar by his friend Nick (the hilarious John Michael Higgins). Inspired by the guru Terrence (Terence Stamp), Carl now decides that he will say yes to every opportunity that comes his way. Of course, informing others of his new philosophy leads him into situations that at first seem inopportune, but in movie magic fashion, end up being the best thing for him.

Digging his free spirit ways is Allison (Zooey Deschanel), Carl's love interest that he meets the first night of his new found ways. Deschanel plays the adorable quirky girl role that is familiar to her, and she does so brilliantly, though the age difference between the two actors (they are exactly 18 years apart) might be a bit too much for some moviegoers to make a convincing love story.

There are also some elements that will undoubtedly remind the audience of Jim Carrey's 1997 hit Liar, Liar. The comparisons are not helped by the screenwriters' decision to make Carl afraid of what will happen if he changes his response to a negative one; it's a little too close to Liar Liar's magically induced truth telling. However, this film is a fun escape from a world that makes it all too easy to be isolated and negative.

While it may not make you compelled to say yes to everything that comes your way, it may make you think before giving an automatic no at your next opportunity. Check it out at the matinee show or wait for a rainy day rental.

Longing for the Dark

While being one of the few females I know who was not completely enthralled with Stephenie Meyer's human/vampire love story, Twilight, I had high hopes that the movie based on the international best seller would fare better. Instead, it was on level with the book; a good premise lost in teen angst and unsophisticated production.

Those few souls that have not been swept up in the hype, here is the story in a nutshell: lonely, clumsy, new girl in town falls for lonely brooding boy of the undead variety.

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) moves from Phoenix to Forks, Washington towards the end of her Junior year. Completely awkward and shy, she makes quick friends in high school, invariably due to nothing new and exciting happening in town for ages. The one group that doesn't race to secure her friendship is the Cullen clan, a group of "teenagers" that were adopted by the local doctor and his wife and who keep to their brooding selves.

Being rejected obviously makes Bella want to befriend the Cullens even more, especially the hottie of the group, Edward (Robert Pattinson). Edward's desire to have nothing to do with Bella both infuriates and intoxicates her, and it isn't long before they are thrown into life and death situations that leave Edward forced to befriend his prey.

That's right, Edward and the rest of the Cullen gang are vampires. Although they are vampire lite, or as they like to call themselves, "vegetarian vampires" because they only try to survive on the blood of animals and not humans. This helps them stay in one place for a while, long enough for the younger looking to graduate from high school again, and again, and again. And you thought your high school classes were boring!

While it is dangerous for Edward and Bella to fall in love, they can't help it and give in to their mutual obsession. Unfortunately for Bella, not every vampire is of the "Save a human, eat a deer" mentality and it isn't long before a group of more traditional vampires (if you can call any of Meyer's creations traditional) comes along seeking Bella for more than chaste companionship.

This movie was obviously made for fans of the novels, as those that have not read the novels will find themselves sometimes confused by what seems like the unnecessary introduction to a bevy of new characters that go nowhere and strange plot points, like the need for the Cullen family to wait until a thunderstorm to play baseball. While I can put up with Meyer's changing the more popular theories regarding vampires for the most part, don't even get me started on the idea of vampires avoiding the sun because they sparkle.

I don't envy director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg's roles of adapting the story to film. Twilighters (crazy obsessed fans of the book) are meticulous when it comes to the characters being just as they imagined. Whether or not they are the most talented of actors, Stewart and Pattinson do their best to make the sometimes downright awful dialogue work and always place themselves fully and confidently into their roles. The unintentional giggles that broke out during my screening at some of the attempted serious scenes was more the fault of the material (and the horrible make-up job on the vampires) than the performance.

Despite all the film's flaws, the massive mob of fans that flooded the movie theaters opening weekend has guaranteed that Meyer's second novel in the series, New Moon, will be coming to the multiplex near you sometime this winter. Hardwicke's unexpected replacement at the director's chair, Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) will hopefully either have a higher budget for special effects or nix them altogether. Afterall, if the film is really made for the true Twilight fan, the violence could be left out completely. As long as Edward still struggles to resist holding Bella's hand in Science lab, the fans will be more than satisfied.

Forecast: Occasional Bursts of Laughter

Ben Stiller is not afraid to take on Hollyweird in his latest pic, Tropic Thunder. Co-written with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen, Stiller also produced, directed, and stars in this comedy about the making of a Vietnam film that goes awry. The movie brilliantly introduces the main characters through mock trailers of the stars previous films.

Stiller plays Tugg Speedman, an action star in serious need of a box office success after his last couple of films were flops. Jack Black plays comedic actor Jeff Portnoy, whose portrayal of every character in films about an overweight family with serious flatulence problems is an obvious take on Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor films. Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up) plays newbie Kevin Sandusky and Brandon T. Jackson plays rapper turned actor Alpha Chino, whose audacious ad for the energy drink "Booty Sweat" begins the film. While each of these characters have their moments, the real star of the film is Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus, an 5-time Academy Award winning Australian actor who undergoes a controversial procedure to darken his skin to play the African-American Sergeant.


Over-his-head director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) takes the advice of the writer of the book the film is based on (played with perfect gruffness by Nick Nolte) to drop his group of spoiled actors into the middle of the jungle and film them through hidden cameras in order to get a more realistic portrayal of soldiers. Through a serious of missteps, the actors soon find themselves lost in a jungle surrounded by Viet Cong heroin dealers with no way to get back to their cushy lives on set.

Of course with so many self-absorbed actors together friction ensues and with it some hilarious scenes between the characters. The most controversial scene involves an extended use of the word "retard" during a conversation between Stiller and Downey's characters about the Academy's lack of giving Oscars to actors that go "full retard." While many disability advocate groups protested the use of the word, the writers are satirizing Hollywood more than making fun of mentally-challenged people. There is plenty of the usual Stiller shtick throughout, but there is also a higher level of satire hidden below the surface.

The film is able to make fun of big Hollywood productions while being one; the cinematography is top notch, and the high production costs don't go unnoticed. There are several funny cameos throughout the film, the biggest being Tom Cruise as the foul-mouthed, gangsta dancing (it alone is worth the price of the movie), malicious studio exec. While the action sometimes overtakes the comedy, and the film is a tad too long, it is an enjoyable way to bid farewell to the summer blockbuster season and get ready for the heavyweights of fall.

A Couch Vacation That Will Have You Tripping

This weeks featured rental, Wes Anderson's meandering road trip through India, The Darjeeling Limited, might not make a lot of sense, but it is interesting. Combined with some take-out Indian food, this will make for a relaxing beginning to another stressful week. Owen Wilson plays Francis Whitman, the oldest of the 3 Whitman brothers, who decides after a near fatal motorcycle accident to take a religious journey through India and asks his estranged siblings, Peter (Adrian Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) to come along. The brothers have not spoken since their father's funeral, a year ago, and Francis has a goal to have them become brothers again, like they used to be. In order to do this he brings along an assistant with a computer, printer, and laminate machine.

Each morning the brothers are to find a laminated itinerary in their train compartment that they are to follow in order to successfully complete their enlightened spiritual journey. Soon enough they discover that these kind of journeys cannot be planned and the real enlightenment begins once they encounter unforeseen obstacles on their path.

There is a lot of symbolism throughout the film, as well as an in-depth look at the nature of sibling rivalries and human behavior. If you are looking for a film with a lot of structure, this is not it. If you have not been a fan of Anderson's previous films (Rushmore, The Royal Tenebaums) you will probably find this to be more of the same. However, if you are looking for something a little different, pop this movie into your DVD player and enjoy a trip to India sans Bollywood hype. Oh, and be sure to watch the short film Hotel Chevalier before the main film, it will give you a good preview of what to prepare for and is the most (quite literally) that you will see of Natalie Portman.

Traveling Pants Work Their Magic Again

This summer The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is back with a sequel that will satisfy those that loved the original and most readers of the novels the movies are based upon. The movie opens with a montage of what has happened since we first met the girls three years ago and catches us up to date with what is going on as they embark on the summer after their first year of college.

Carmen (America Ferrera) can not wait to catch up with her friends and spend the entire summer together, only to find out everyone else has other plans. Lena (Alexis Bledel) will be taking a figure drawing class at her Rhode Island art school, Bridget (Blake Lively) was accepted to take part in an archaeological dig in Turkey, and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) will be repeating her screenwriting class at NYU due to her romantic comedy couple breaking up. With everyone heading their separate ways, Carmen follows new college friend Julia (Rachel Nichols) to Vermont for a theatre festival.

Of course all sorts of romantic and life entanglements pursue and director Sanaa Hamri and screenwriter Elizabeth Chandler do a superb job weaving in and out of the girls' separate storylines with relative ease. This movie is a combination of the last three books in the series and so book followers will have a little more insight into each character, but may be slightly distracted by the rearranging of the time events take place when comparing it to the novels. While this shift helps the film flow more naturally, it may be frustrating to readers who know the lives of each girl as much as their own.

This film is rated PG-13 and deservedly so. As the girls are about to leave their teenage years behind, they are approaching adulthood and the maturity that goes along with that. However, the mature themes throughout the film are tasteful, never gratuitous, and are issues that most teenage girls and young adults can relate to and empathize with. Each actress proves that they are the next big talents to come out of Hollywood with the in-depth portrayal of their characters. Amber Tamblyn does a particularly good job portraying Tibby's fear of letting people in that lies beneath her sarcastic attitude and quick wit.

Friendships are not always as comfortable as a worn pair of jeans and this friendship is no exception. However, the love each girl has for each other is strong and true; just the kind of friendship every one wishes for and some truly lucky already have. Take a friend or two to see it, and you are guaranteed an enjoyable time. Take an acquaintance and you might just find yourself at the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Oh no, here he goes again!

That was the cry of audience members at a screening of Mamma Mia! anytime Pierce Brosnan began to sing again...and again...and again. While most of the actors were able to handle their renditions of ABBA songs, Brosnan brought a longing for old film adaptations of musicals a la West Side Story or The King and I; where the leading ladies might have had the right look, but not the right voice and so were dubbed during musical numbers. It became downright comical whenever the former Bond began to sing; unfortunately for him, those were the few serious moments of the film.

Mamma Mia! is not a film to see if you don't want snippets of ABBA songs stuck in your head for days. That is about all you can take from this film; the contrived plot may be successful for the live stage show, but falls extremely flat given the abilities of film. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to be married on the small beautiful island where she was raised by her single mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), when she decides she wants her unknown father to give her away. Going through her mother's old diary, she discovers that there are three possible fathers. Sam (Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), and Harry (Colin Firth) all receive wedding invitations and show up unbeknownst to Donna until she falls through a roof to find them all standing together like a Greek version of "This Is Your Life".

It takes Donna a long time to figure out why the guys are there after a twenty year absence. The guys are just as clueless as to why they were invited to Donna's 20-year-old daughter's wedding; everyone is so clueless about the obvious that it makes you wonder just how many brain cells they killed while they were hippies together all those years ago. It is then no surprise when all three think they are the father and never suspect why the other men are there.

Comic relief from all this stupidity comes from Donna's two best friends who have also arrived for the bridal festivities. Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) try to bring back a little bit of fun and mischief to Donna's life (for all the "fun" she seemed to have in her younger days, she now seems to be striving for sainthood), and bring a refreshing take on women beyond their 30's having a wonderful time that is far too absent from most movies of today.


The Greek isle that plays background to all this silliness is absolutely breathtaking; when you can see it. Director Phyllida Lloyd is unable to make the most of the movie set, instead filling the screen with silly dance numbers from a massive ensemble of supporting cast that seem to come to the tiny island villa for a chorus of "Dancing Queen" before disappearing again into a mysterious void.

In the end, if the movie is given as much thought as the character's give to their own devices, the audience should be able to mind-numbingly tap along to the disco beat. For a night out with the girls (and guys of the dancing queen variety), I'm sure this film could be a fun way to start the evening festivities. However, if you are a fan of ABBA and would rather see a film with some substance, might I suggest renting either The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert or Muriel's Wedding followed by a sing-along to ABBA's greatest hits. Preferably while you are home alone.

Hairspray : It's Afro-tastic!

I'll admit right up front that I'm not a big fan of musicals. Sure, The Wizard of Oz is my favorite film, but it is a fantasy; I don't expect to be greeted in a foreign land by a Lollipop Guild (though how fun would that be?!) so I'm not thrown off by spontaneous songs in the land of Oz. My normal issues with musicals occurs when serious plots are interspersed with random acts of singing. This should have made me hate Hairspray, a musical about a girl trying to stop segregation on her favorite local dance show; but despite all my own prejudices, I found myself toe-tapping along for most of the two hour sixties explosion.

The main reason this third installment works (first was John Waters 1988 movie starring Ricki Lake, followed by a Broadway show still running) is that it doesn't apologize for being a bit ridiculous and over the top. There are serious issues brought to the forefront; mainly discrimination of others due to their appearance, whether it be the color of their skin or size of their waist; but it doesn't become overly preachy on the subject. Lighter in satire than the original film, there are still plenty of tongue-in-cheek comments and song lyrics that are refreshingly never spelled out, regardless of whether the teen or preteen target audience will get them.

Corny is as corny does for James Marsden, who plays the host of the "Corny Collins Show" except on "Negro Day", the last Tuesday of the month hosted by Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). Tracy Turnblad (newcomer and recently arrested Nikki Blonsky) and her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) can hardly make it through the slow clicking of the school clock before they can race to Tracy's house to watch the teenage dance show. Tracy's mother Edna (played surprisingly sweet and ladylike by John Travolta) doesn't enjoy listening to them squeal in delight as they see the head heartthrob Link Larkin (Zac Efron) but doesn't consider it quite the abomination that Penny's strictly religious mom does (hilariously played by Allison Janney). Tracy's dad, played by Christopher Walken, loves his big-haired, big-bodied beauties and supports whatever will make them happy.

Helping Tracy keep the beat without denting her 'do are the kids she meets in detention (for inappropriate hair height, of course), especially Seaweed (Elijah Kelley) who teaches her some moves that would make "pelvis Elvis" jealous. Along with his sister Little Inez (Taylor Parks), he shows her what life is like on the other side of town. Tracy enjoys it so much she wishes "every day could be Negro day" on Corny's show. Talk like that makes her enemy number one for the antagonists looking to stop progress from happening.

The villains of the film are ice queen mother/daughter duo Velma and Amber Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer and Brittany Snow respectively) who make it real easy to dislike them. Luckily this is a musical, so all will end well and they will get their comeuppance (not really a spoiler...could the feel good summer hit of last year really end any other way?)

When the heat is up and your mood is down, this is a perfect video to rent to lift your spirits and keep you out of the summer slump at the August box office.