The Change-Up

2011 Comedy/Romantic Comedy by director David Dobkin

Description:  Dave, a lawyer by day and a family man, with a wife and 3 kids by night and his long time friend Mitch, slacker/stoner/very small time actor are about to take a ride on the weird roller coaster.  After an evening watching the game at a bar and getting a little drunk Mitch and Dave accidently pee in a fountain while wishing for each other’s lives.  So as is common when simultaneously peeing and wishing in the presence of a statue or fountain or in this case both, they wake up in the other’s body.  Let’s see just how much damage Mitch can do to Dave’s life and how many awkward situations Dave can experience with Mitch’s.

Review: Can I just express my favoritism here for both Jason Bateman & Ryan Reynolds? They are so funny!  But they have totally different styles of humor. Ok, on with it… Out of all the “trading bodies” movies out there, this one definitely just knocked my number 1 down a peg. Although the plot of the story isn’t original, it’s the writing and the delivery that I love. The physical and visual comedies are just hilarious. The character Tatiana is so messed up and Mitch is sick and twisted for actively perusing and just being involved! Watching Ryan & Jason play each other is great, because you get to see through their eyes kind of; body language, facial expressions, verbal character (pitch, whine, assertiveness, etc). Do not miss this movie.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9
Acting – 10
Comedy – 9.5
Romance – 7.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “You’d be early too, if all you did all day is eat hummus and masturbate.”

ü  “I’m the mother, its 3 o’clock in the morning! Get the fuck outta the bed right now before I fucking cut you!”

ü  “No way! Phil Neikro is like my number one favorite of all time! Why is my voice so high?”

ü  I’m goin to work today, I’m gonna quit my job. I’m goin to apply to um Kinkos alright? Or maybe Chick-fil-A or Waffle House, huh? Foot Locker….”

Lead cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann
Supporting cast: Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Mircea Monroe

Friends With Benefits

2011 Romantic Comedy/Drama by Will Gluck

Description:  Jamie is a New Yorker corporate head hunter looking to fill an executive position at GQ magazine.  Dylan is a successful writer for a very popular internet news blog from LA. When Jamie convinces Dylan to come to NYC to meet with GQ a friendship sparks.  Both are recently dumped and bummed about their single status.  After drink a few beers and watching a goopey romance movie they decide to add a few benefits to their friendship.  They do pretty good for a while… But eventually find that they have both invested more than intended in their sexual relationship.

Review: The story is kinda “been there, done that”, especially lately with “No Strings Attached” releasing in January 2011 and this one releasing in July 2011.  Seeing as how I have seen both and am reviewing one I will try to keep an open mind and do this like I haven’t seen the other.  There was a sad element to this movie so it wasn’t all ewwy gooey through the whole thing.  It was definitely funny, and I thought that the flash mob thing was cool.  Mila and Justin work really well off of each other.  There were several interesting twists throughout the film.  There was a lot of sex going on, like more than normal even for romantic comedies.  Not bad… J

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 7
Acting – 7.5
Comedy – 8
Romance – 8
Drama – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “I don’t want to be the guy that shits the bed.”

ü  “Why don’t they ever make a movie about what happens after the big kiss? – They do… It’s called porn.”

ü  “I love women. They’re beautiful, majestic, mysterious, mesmerizing creatures.  Smart, empathetic, far superior to men in every way and if I had a choice I would be with women to my dying day.  But me likes cock, so I’m strictly dick-ly.”

Lead cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson
Supporting cast: Richard Jenkins, Jenna Elfman, Patricia Clarkson, Bryan Greenberg

Breakfast With Scot

2007 Comedy/Drama by director Laurie Lynd

Description:  A former tough guy pro hockey player, Eric, and his lawyer, Sam, who is Eric’s partner, are tasked with temporary custody of a young boy after his mom dies.  Eric is mortified when he discovers that young Scot has a liking for the flamboyant, gaudy, feminine side of things.  While trying to care for and protect Scot from being teased and picked on, Eric unintentionally gives the impression that Scot can’t be himself.  How high is the price of Scot appearing to be a “normal” child?

Review: A really great movie, with a great story, and great actors portraying great characters.  It shows the struggles of both children and grownups and it served up good “it’s ok to be yourself” lessons all around the table. I really like Tom Cavanagh as an actor; I don’t think that I have ever seen him in a bad movie.  I don’t want to say diamond in the rough because that seems too cliché and not quite right.  But how about if I say that it was a treasure buried in a sea of movies and is not likely to show up on a lot of people’s radars.  So if you are reading this, I hope that you will rent this title.  I have not read the book that this movie is based on, but I think that I will have to pick it up; if the movie was this good I can only imagine what the book will be.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9.5
Acting – 9.5
Comedy – 9
Drama – 9

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Look Sam, You wanna be worried about anything? Worry that that kid’s upstairs singing Christmas carols in October… To himself… By himself.”

ü  “When you’re out in public, watch the twirling, ok?”

ü  “You’re gonna get tall and you voice is gonna change and your face is gonna change and it’ll all be amazingly different.  But it’ll all happen so slowly, you won’t even notice. But I’d notice. I’d notice you. Every day I notice you.”
ü “We're all a little sissy around here."

Lead cast: Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, Noah Bennett
Supporting cast: Jeananne Goosen, Dylan Everett, Fiona Reid

Surf's Up

2009 Animation/Comedy/Family by directors Ash Brannon & Chris Buck

Description:  A young penguin, Cody, just wants to get out of his small town home of Shiverpool, Antarctica, when a scout for the annual Penguin World Surfing Championship comes to town.  Feeling like this is his big break; Cody follows the scout to the sunny tropic island where the championship is being held.  Surf along with Cody as he deals with a big bully, big waves and a larger than life role model.

Review: Great movie, it really was delivered well.  Most streamline animated movies are made for children with a few adult elements thrown in so the parents watching with their kids are completely bored.  But it’s almost as if Surf’s Up is the opposite; made for adults but fun for kids too.  I was also impressed that it has a real music soundtrack… Most “family animations” have a score of made for the movie songs.  It also did a really awesome job trying to make the camera shots as realistic as possible.  Plus this movie has “The Dude” in it :oP

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 8
Acting – 8
Child Friendly – 7.5
Comedy – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “He’s a dirty trash can full of poop.”

ü  “Dude, she's totally into you! She called you crap!”

ü  “I'm gonna chum the water with your head!

Lead cast: Shia LeBouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel
Supporting cast: Jon Heder, James Wood, Diedrich Bader

The River Why

2010 Drama/Comedy by director Matthew Leutwyler

Description: A coming of life story about a young man who wants nothing more than to live in the river, Gus. Raised by a by the book fly fisherman and a spontaneous bait fisherwoman, Gus decides that it is time to get out of his dueling parents line of fire and strike out on his own.  Now, spending all of his time on the river, he begins to question his beliefs in everything.

Review: A wonderful tale, great characters and contrasting points of view on the “whys” of life.  The pace of the movie is on track with the pace of fly fishing.   It’s not a well known movie I guess, but it was definitely a good find.  The actors did a great job portraying their very different character roles. Beautiful footage of the NW United States scenery!

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 8.5
Acting – 8.5
Drama – 5
Comedy – 6.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Um, Titus? The dog’s in Dochart’s chair now… And he’s rocking… Should I tell him to get down?  It’s amazing, how did you teach him to rock a chair like that?”

ü  “How can you be so patient when searching for fish and so hasty to write off your soul because you can’t see it?”

Lead cast: Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, William Hurt, Dallas Roberts
Supporting cast: Kathleen Quinlan, William Devane, Gattlin Griffith

Star Trek

2009 Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Comedy by director J.J. Abrams

Description: On the day of James Kirk's birth, his father dies on his ship in a last stand against a mysterious alien vessel. He was looking for Ambassador Spock, who is a child on Vulcan at that time, disdained by his neighbors for his half-human nature. Twenty-five years later, Kirk has grown into a young troublemaker inspired by Captain Christopher Pike to fulfill his potential in Starfleet even as he annoys his instructors like young Commander Spock. Suddenly, there is an emergency at Vulcan and the newly commissioned USS Enterprise is crewed with promising cadets like Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov and even Kirk himself thanks to Leonard McCoy's medical trickery. Together, this crew will have an adventure in the final frontier where the old legend is altered forever even as the new version of it is just beginning. (I liked their description so much that I borrowed it from imdb.com)

Review: Ok, so I should start out by saying that I am not a trekkie per se but have always been a fan of Star Trek and grew up watching the tv shows. But I really enjoyed the opportunity to see the beginnings of our favorite Star Trek characters.  This rendition has edginess that the previous movies and tv shows have lacked.  I was so happy and surprised to see Leonard Nimoy.  Chris Pine’s Jim Kirk is so cocky that it is undeniable that he will grow up to be William Shattner!  There are so many great actors in this movie; I don’t have the space to list them all!  J.J. Abrams did an amazing job!

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9
Acting – 9
Action – 7
Comedy – 7

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?”

ü  “You got numb tongue? I can fix that!”

ü  “Come with me… Cupcake.”

ü  “Live long and prosper”

ü  “Damn it man, I’m a doctor!”

ü  “I’m giving it all she’s got captain!”

Lead cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana
Supporting cast: Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Bruce Greenwood, John Cho, Anton Yelchin

Tuck Everlasting

2002 – Drama/Romance by director Jay Russell

Description: A young sheltered girl from a wealthy family meets a young man, or so she thinks… At 15 Winnie is faced with a life that is all planned out by her parents.  When she meets Jesse Tuck she is able to experience a completely different way of life and she falls in love with his family’s easy go with the flow way of being. She also falls in love with Jesse.  But as it turns out the whole Tuck family has never aged since drinking from a spring of youth. Now Winnie must make one of the most important decision of her life that she will have to live with for the rest of her life: She has to decide if she will drink from the spring and live forever or stay on a human time line.

Review: A nice young person’s movie that contains a few good lessons to be learned. I did like the character’s different perspectives on immortality and what makes your life a ‘good life’.  The story was well written and well delivered by the director and actors.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 8
Acting – 8
Drama – 7
Romance – 5.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “I need a new name, one that’s not all worn out from being called so much.”

ü  “I’m never gonna let you go.”

ü  “What we Tucks have, you can’t call it living. We just….. Are.”

Lead cast: Alexis Bledel, Jonathan Jackson, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek
Supporting cast: Ben Kingsley, Scott Bairstow, Victor Garber, Amy Irving

The Guardian

2006 – Inspirational/Action/Drama/Military by director Andrew Davis

Description: Senior Chief Ben Randall is forced to take a break from U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimming and is ordered to either instruct potential future swimmers at A school or ride a desk.  Airman Jake Fischer, is fresh out of basic training with awesome potential, has a massive chip on his shoulder, has a hard time with authority, and with being anything other than the best.  Although they are a few decades apart in age, these two have a lot more in common than either of them is willing to admit to and lay on the table. Watch as Randall pushes Fischer to his full potential and to humble his at the same time and Fischer forces Senior Chief to come to terms with his own demons.

Review: I love this movie!  It’s one of my favorites in the inspirational genre.  Kevin Costner played the role of Senior Chief amazingly.  And it was no shocker that Ashton Kutcher was completely believable as the cocky, smart-alecky, super star kid fresh out of his teens, but he did a really good job showing his serious side in this film.  This is a great movie for everybody but it is a good coming of age or accepting your age film… I really liked the chance to see the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers in the spotlight.  Great writing, great direction, great acting, just all over great!

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 10
Acting – 10
Comedy – 9
Drama – 9
Action – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “When storms shut down entire ports, we go out. When hurricanes ground the United States Navy, we go out. And when the holy lord himself reaches down from heaven and destroys his good work with winds that rip houses off the ground… We go out.”

ü  “What if another swimmer had cut into your lane? For the love of god, you could have been killed!”

ü  “There will come a time when you are going to have to say no.”

ü  “You might want to re-check your compass… This ain’t no puddle pirate bar.”

Lead cast: Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward, Melissa Sagemiller
Supporting cast: Brian Geraghty, Neal McDonough, Clancy Brown

Fido

2006 – Comedy/Drama by director Andrew Currie

Description:  When Timmy Robinson’s mom buys a house zombie his whole family is in turmoil.  His mother doesn’t want to be the only family on the block without a zombie anymore, his father is terrified of zombies and Timmy doesn’t know what to think. Always being picked on by bullies his new zombie comes to the rescue and then eats an old lady.  Timmy has to think quickly to fix this mess and then decides that he should name is zombie Fido.  Before you know it Timmy and Fido are inseparable.  Scared of someone finding out that Fido ate the neighbor, Timmy has to figure out what to do now.

Review:  A well done, fun, and funny faux period zombie piece.  Of course I am always a sucker for zombie flicks, but there aren’t a lot of funny zombie movies so it’s nice to have another to add to the arsenal.  There was one thing that I thought was weird, the soundtrack was all period appropriate save for one exception.  In the scene where the mom is dancing in the living room the song playing is “Put A Lid On It” on the album “Hot” by Squirrel Nut Zippers, released in 1996.  Other than that I really enjoyed this movie and recommend that it be added to everybody’s ‘DVDs to buy’ list.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 9
Acting – 8
Comedy – 8
Drama – 6.5

My favorite quotes:

ü  “In the brain and not the chest. Head shots are the very best.”

ü  “From dust have you come and to dust shall you return, but from dust shall you not be resurrected.”

ü  “That’s why they call it “A Man’s Job”… Flesh eating maniacs need not apply.”

ü  “You crazy, wonderful zombie!”

Lead cast:  Kesun Loder, Billy Connolly, Carrie-Ann Moss, Dylan Baker
Supporting cast:  Henry Czerny, Tim Blake Nelson, Alexia Frost, Sonja Bennett

High Hopes

2006 Comedy by Joe Eckardt

Description: A group of friends are trying to make a movie. They have a script, an actor, a stoner, and a deaf mute. All that they need now is the money to finance this flick. Starting to feel a little desperate, they devise a plan that if exacuted properly will put them into a a very large budget for a bunch of nobodies.

Review: This movie is just a bunch of supporting actors in lead roles. So basically who you see is what you get.  It’s not a terrible movie but it’s nothing special either. The story line tends to lag a little and as the viewer I didn’t really have any motivation to care what happens to a bunch of guys fumbling through a scheme. Also, there were a few funny parts but I couldn’t find one quote worth the ink to write it down.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 4
Acting – 6
Comedy – 5

My favorite quotes:
None

Lead cast: Corin Nemec, Jason Mewes, David Faustino, Jason Marsden
Supporting cast: Lacey Chabert, Andy Dick, Edward Furlong, Cecily Gambrell

Eagle Eye

2008 Action/Suspense/Mystery by director D.J. Caruso

Description: When a high tech, top secret classified, super smart computer decides that it knows what is better for the American people than the American people do, things get complicated.  The computer starts enlisting the assistance of unwilling everyday citizens to help complete its objective through blackmail. Now it’s up to Jerry and Rachel to save the people of America from this computer, while being chased by law enforcement, the military and 3 letter agencies.  Will they be successful in protecting the American way of life or will the super computer take over?

Review: A very well done “what if” story.  Granted, this idea has been done is various ways before; the idea of computers taking over is always a very real chance.  But I really liked the direction that Eagle Eye went and I like the character’s solutions. There is lots of action and suspense with a few comic relief moments. Well written, directed and acted.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 7.5
Acting – 7.5
Action – 8
Suspense – 8

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Jerry Shaw you have been activated. Your compliance is vital.”

ü  “Well on behalf of all that fucking bomb equipment in junior pinhead’s apartment, no, you’re not.”

ü  “You’re all going to be demoted into something that’s gonna require touching shit with your hands.”

ü  “You couldn’t have picked a worse time to be of some use.”

Lead cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton
Supporting cast: Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Embry, William Saddler

A Guide For the Married Man

1967 Comedy/Romantic Comedy by director Gene Kelly

Description: Everyone knows that all married men cheat on their wives… Most men get caught. This movie shows them how to do it successfully.  Step by step.  Watch as Paul learns all the tricks from his buddy Ed.

Review: A very funny farce, Gene Kelly did an excellent job!  Walter Matthau is very funny, as usual, and very nervous and innocent.  Packed full of great cameos!  Absolutely silly.   Even if you don’t like old movies, you should see this one.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 7
Acting – 7.5
Comedy – 7

My favorite quotes:

ü  “Well if you think I’m going to stick about here, just watching you be cheerful, you’ve got another thing coming!"

ü  “That’s the trouble with Ruth; she’s such a wonderful wife…"

ü  “Deny, Deny, Deny! No matter what she knows, or thinks she knows, deny it."

Lead cast: Walter Matthau, Robert Morse
Supporting cast: Inger Stevens, Claire Kelly, Jackie Russell

The A-Team

2010 - Action/Adventure/Comedy by director Joe Carnahan

Description: An alpha team of Army Rangers takes on a mission without orders to retrieve some stolen U.S. currency printing plates. When the plan doesn't go quite the way they had expected, they find themselves in a court martial and with dishonorable discharges. After each member of the A-Team is incarcerated in separate facilities, the action really heats up as these former soldiers seek redemption. 

Review: An awesome movie, considering what it is being adapted from. Don't get me wrong, the TV show is classic in all of its cheesy, corny, retro glory. But to say that it was an amazing TV show is giving it too much. With understandably lowered expectations going in, the pretty much nonstop action from start to finish, and the humor splashed in, you really don't have much choice but to finish the movie in high spirits. Overall, it’s pretty quote-able…  The actors did really well with what they were given.

My ratings:
Storyline & Plot – 6.5
Acting – 8
Action – 9.5
Comedy – 7

My favorite quotes:

ü   “I love it when a plan comes together."

ü  “Give me a minute, I'm good. I've got an hour, I'm great. You give me 6 months... I'm unbeatable."

ü  “No.... They're trying to fly that tank...."

ü  “You should see these bullets in 3-D!"

Lead cast: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copley
Supporting cast: Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney, Brian Bloom

Rumor Has It

2010 – Comedy/Romantic Comedy by director Rob Reiner

Description: Confused and unsure of her place in the world and in her own family, Sarah brings her new fiancée home to Pasadena. While at home she uncovers a highly guarded, 3 generation old secret, her family is the Robinson's. That's right the Robinson family of the book and movie The Graduate. While trying to unearth the truths behind the story and what it might mean for her, Sarah ends up on a path taken by her mother and grandma. Suddenly she finds that NOTHING is what it seems in her family.

Review: Has all of the prerequisites for a romantic comedy: love, humor, complications, resolve, happy ending.  It’s a pretty interesting story line, a nice twist doing the other side of The Graduate story.  I'm always a little disappointed when the characters give in so quickly... If Jeff had held strong longer it would have been more realistic.  But at the same time, everybody loves a happy ending.  Shirley was great, as always, playing a strong willed and brash cougar! Kevin's character was briefly creepy but over all likable. Jennifer really pulled of the scared and confused 30 year old.

My ratings:
Story & Plot – 7.5
Acting – 8
Romance – 5
Comedy – 7

My favorite quotes:

F    “I'm being sucked, and not in a good way.”

F   “Life is short and marriage is long... So... Drink up - it will make it go a help of a lot faster.”

F   “Mrs. Richelieu, are you trying to seduce me?”

F   “Oh, yeah? You and what lightning hands?”

F   “That's the power of please, kids.”

Lead cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Ruffalo
Supporting cast: Richard Jenkins, Mena Suvari

The Graduate

1967 – Drama/Comedy/Romance by director Mike Nichols

Description: Confused about where to go and what to do with his life now that he is a college graduate, Ben goes home to Pasadena.  He fumbles his way into an unusual situation: seduces into an affair with Mrs. Robinson.  Wasting his days away and flinging through his nights, Ben still has no idea what to do.  Unexpectedly he decides that he is in love with and is going to marry the daughter of his mistress, much to the dismay of Mrs. Robinson.

Review: It is a very good adaptation of the book and the roles are played perfectly by a wonderful cast.  Dustin Hoffman plays a nervous, confused, moody 21 year old well.  Of course Anne Bancroft did such a good job playing nonchalant, confident, controlling, guilt tripping Mrs. Robinson!

My ratings:
Story & Plot – 8
Acting – 7
Drama – 7
Romance – 6

My favorite quotes:

F    “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.”

F   “Goddamn, that's great. So old Elaine Robinson got started in a

       Ford.”

F   “Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.”

F   “Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is

       getting a little strange.”

Lead cast: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross
Supporting cast: William Daniels, Murray Hamilton, Elizabeth Wilson