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

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

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

Taking Chances

2009 – Comedy/Romantic Comedy by director Talmage Cooley

Description: A self appointed local historian living in a financially broke town with a small history finds out that the town officials are trying to get Native Americans to build a casino in their small town.  He meets a mysterious girl and convinces her to join his fight.  In trying to prevent the building of a casino on his beloved battlefield and dragging the town into a sleazy tourist trap he finds that there is more going on behind the curtain than the town realizes.  Knocked down every time he tries to stand up against the casino he drives on desperate to find a ray of light.

Review: BORING!!!!  The story lags.  What humor is in the movie is few and far between and in need of a face lift.  I am glad that I did not pay to see this.  The cast suggests that this movie will be at least a little funny but the writing was terrible.  I do have to give credit to the actors, they did the best they could with what they were given.  I had a hard time pulling even one quote out of this sinking ship.  There was no incentive for me to care about this town or its citizens.  There were a few pathetic attempts at plot twists, whatever.  Over all this movie is completely forgettable and I do not recommend it.

My ratings:
Storyline & plot – 2.5
Acting - 5
Romance - 2

My favorite quotes:
"If this thing gets out, we’re gonna find ourselves with a mouthful of balls. By which I mean to say, it would be unpleasant.”

Lead cast: Justin Long, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rob Corddry
Supporting cast: Keir O’Donnell, Missi Pyle, Brian Howe