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Reviews
Kyle XY (2006)
Great Teen Family Show
My teenage son could not get enough of this show, which is what had me decide to watch it- so that would be two positive ratings.
The show has several story threads: sci fi adventure with an evil cabal, high school drama and family dynamics. They weave together to hit all the entertainment buttons.
Kyle, the brilliant fish out of water, is played perfectly by Matt Dallas who manages an endearing innocence as he discovers his powers, how life works, and the secrets of his past. He gives a non-judgmental Buddha-like narration, but his character is by no means emotionless.
One of the strongest relationships in the show is the mother/son relationship between Nicole and Kyle which is convincing enough to make this mom tear up.
The teenage themes are universal, so probably expected, but when seen through Kyle's eyes they are fresh and entertaining. I was most impressed by the emotional maturity that the characters brought to the resolutions of their situations. Some reviewers found that unrealistic, but I found it refreshing and extremely satisfying.
Character development unfolds over the course of the series as new life experiences bring the characters new choices and growth opportunities.
Younger brother, Josh, provides most of the comic relief and also shows great growth as a character and great acting from Jean-Luc Bilodeau in spanning the emotional arc.
While this review may sound a bit clinical, it was actually fun, action filled, heart-felt and funny. What's not to like? (except ending the series midseason with a cliffhanger!)
Morning Glory (2010)
Inspiring, Rich and Entertaining
The first surprise of this movie is that it is not really a romantic comedy; it is a comedy with some romance in it. The movie is about the rise of a young television producer's career (Rachel MccAdams) and the setting of the career of a news anchor from an earlier generation (Harrison Ford). The clash of their two worlds is hilarious, but the writer also supports the comedy with just enough back story and character growth to make you care how it turns out for both of them.
Comparisons to Working Girl and Devil Wears Prada are tempting, as there are so few women's career movies to choose from, but Morning Glory is not like either of those movies. Both of the other movies are fairy tales where the antagonist is an evil witch and the heroine and innocent must overcome or escape the evil female executive. Morning Glory is less dramatic, and therefore more satisfying and relevant to modern career women (and men). The struggle is with a system that is not evil, just difficult and unforgiving.
McAdam's character, Becky, takes on the challenges of her career with energy and courage and the hero's most essential characteristic- perseverance. Very delighted that her love interest, played by Patrick Wilson, is supportive of her career and ambitions!!!! (And he is gorgeous- could have used a few more shirts-off scenes there lol).
Great actors like Jeff Goldblum, Daine Keaton and cameos by some familiar network faces attest to the high quality and attention to detail of the film.
Becky is sure to inspire young career women and Morning Glory is sure to lift your spirits.
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Touching love story
This is not a sci-fi adventure story with a little romance thrown in. It is a right from the heart love story about how love overcomes all odds-even time. Eric Bana plays Henry, a man who is involuntarily pulled from the present to other times in his life. He is pulled to the childhood of his wife, Claire, played by Rachael McAdmas, and she grows up knowing him and of course loving him.
I would not say these two sizzled on screen, but instead they mesh just like two people who have been waiting their whole lives for each other and light up just to be with each other. Each moment on the screen together you can feel how deeply they love each other. As Henry's time travel does not include his clothes- it was nice that they found someone who looks so good naked!
It does help that I read the book years ago- so it was not so confusing to me as it might be for the virgin viewer. Still the confusion is a part of the experience- living life with a time traveler, or as a time traveler is confusing.
True, there was not much action to the story, boy meets girl, they get married etc. Ordinary life with a twist- which makes it so accessible to all of us who have ever loved. Get out the hankies and enjoy the ride.
I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)
You Go Girl
That is what i would have titled this movie. I could not bring myself to rent something that references "be your woman" It seemed so Tarzan/Jane like. But it came on cable and I settled down with not too high expectations.
I was pleasantly surprised. First, the plot had much more to it than a May/December romance. The relationship between the mother, Pfieffer and her daughter, Roan, was equally important, and delightful. Enjoyed how much of the Mother's career was involved. And the anti-hero goofy charm of Rudd was fun. Lots of good lines and funny scenes.
However, there was a lot of odd stuff that did not fit together. Though I enjoyed Lovitz role as the ex-husband/father, I could not imagine him married to MP. I love quirky Tracey Ullman, but her role as Mother Nature was awkward and just confused the theme of the movie. Was the motto that you can fight Mother Nature- while at the same time the movie mocked all our attempts to do so? In the end it seemed to glorify youth after all. The script gave little attention to the falling in love part of the romance between Pfeiffer and Rudd- what made him hit on her right out of the box? They always seemed a little awkward together to me.
The best part was the role of the daughter. Ronan hit it right on the mark and was delightful. It is worth it just to hear her version of "Ironic" near the end of the movie.
The Invention of Lying (2009)
so funny we watched it twice
Brutal honesty has it's funny side, as the movie opens with the surprising things that people might be thinking on a date, but that in our reality, no one would ever say. In this universe, however, truth is the only option, and it is just outrageous to hear spoken what our rules of decency don't allow.
In a very light-hearted vehicle Gervais manages to explore the nature of love, compassion, the value of honesty, the extent to which our culture relies on certain types of lies, social stereotyping, wealth, creating your own future and yes, religion.
My favorite bit was the script for "The Black Plague" a thrilling and remarkable re-write of history. Also the ads for Coke and Pepsi- what can you say in advertising that is absolutely true? I would have loved to have a bonus feature with more ads from the land of truth. The movie showed how important and helpful religion is, but also points out that it really doesn't have to be true to work. The weakest part of the movie, Gervais' obsession with Gardner's character. She seems shallow and unworthy.
It made us laugh, it made us think, and you might even shed a tear or two. I only gave it 8 stars instead of 9 or 10, because its a good romp, but not cinematic history.
The Duchess (2008)
A moving story
Flawless. This is so much more than a pretty costume piece. Yes, there is only one linear plot, but Kiera Knightly takes us so deeply into the story of her character, The Dutchess, that we are completely absorbed.
This is no comedy of manners, as we are used to in so many period pieces. This is the story of a girl excited about her future, learning blow by blow what it means to be the wife/property of a powerful man. I was impressed that Kightly was able to portray the pain of her marriage and the deep love of a mother.
Ralph Fiennes was perfect as the Duke. A man so used to his own power and privilege that it allowed him to live with no consideration for others. You don't like him, but you do understand him.
I saw the love interest of the Dutchess, not in terms of an undeniable passion, but more as an attempt to snatch some shred of joy for herself in a life empty of love. In that respect, it was played convincingly.
I am not sure that men will be able to relate to these themes, but women who have been married and have children will have their hearts torn by each painful compromise and decision. Somehow Knightly and/or the director manages to lead us through this tragic tale in a way that is moving instead of depressing.
Despite its historical nature, this is not a family film as the sexual themes are for mature audiences.
Open Season 2 (2008)
nothing for children or adults
With Open Season 1 being so original and full of laughs, this sequel is such a sad disappointment. We laughed ten times during the 60 second preview scenes from Open Season 1 and maybe three times in all of #2. The plot is a very trite adult theme of fear of commitment before getting married. Kids don't care about this theme and adults have seen it a million times. Blah, blah, boring. Lets see, a but* crack joke- so funny, never seen it before. What passes for humor in the other plot line is some sort of play on military torture- is this funny for anyone- especially kids? There was a creative pet paradise setting-umm that's it. What a wasted evening.
The House of Eliott (1991)
More than fashion- timeless drama
Completely addictive story of two sisters who start their own fashion house in London in the 1920's. I rented the series because, like so many girls, dreamed of being a fashion designer (along with ballerina, president and actress). What I found however, was a solid story of entrepreneurship that would be inspiring to any woman in business.
I love that the Eliot sisters are strong no nonsense business women, without falling into the stereotypes of women in power being unhappy man-eaters that we see in Hollywood portrayals. I love the mixing in of social issues, news events and subplots from all different bits of society. The side characters are developed well enough that you care about them as much as the main characters. I also appreciate the portrayal of the two sisters as loving and supporting each other instead of the trite sibling rivalry that is so often overdone.
The fashion is delightful, but Jack Maddox's career progression in photography and film is just as interesting.
The trip back in time to the 1920's is very well done. That aspect alone managed to hold the attention of my 11 year old son for the good part of an episode. (though I would not say this is a family show as the themes are of more interest to adults)
Rent or buy the complete set- you won't want to wait for the next disc!
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
pancake syrup on a baked potato
I could barely sit through this movie. OK, I pushed the fast forward quite a few times. Too much syrupy happiness just layered over inappropriate situations.
I am a big fan of Pollyanna and the idea that a little kindness goes a long way in life. But the main character of this film, Poppy, was simply annoying. From the opening scene where she harasses a book seller who is not cheerful enough for her liking to the non-stop happy babble she foists on her driving instructor, I could barely stand it. The fact that all this happy talk was strung together with constant inappropriate giggles did not help. Grating.
I found the strung together vignettes to fall far short of a plot. The only point of the movie seemed to be to show Poppy-the-bright in contrast to the various degrees of dark characters around her.
The characters were somewhat interesting, as in colorful, but not with enough depth to make you care about them. There was no character development, no one learned anything, or grew, or changed.
To make it all worse, the editing and timing was drawn out. Too many scenes of walking alone, walking with friends, staring into space, looking at something, getting into cars, getting out of cars. There is a full scene- 10 or more minutes of Poppy listening to a homeless man speaking gibberish.
I have read other comments that go into the literary themes and archetypes of the movie and how well they are done. That may be so, and if you are interested in that sort of thing, you might enjoy this movie. But if you just want a feel good movie about a nice person, go for Amilee, or even the original Pollyanna- at least they have plots and no annoying giggle/laugh.
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
good grown-up love story
Being a middle aged mom myself, I very much appreciated seeing a romance between grown-up people that weaves in the many issues that effect us.
Diane Lane beautifully portrays Adrienne and the sacrifice and conflict that a mother goes through, wanting to do what is right for her children, but still have a happy life herself.
I am not a big Richard Gere fan, but he always does a good job with the guy who is sort of jerk, but learns something about himself.
Criticism of their romance as unrealistic is hardly justified when compared to most other romantic movies. When Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman fall in love riding across Australia, with barely a conversation between them, its considered high romance. We get so much more here with Rodanthe. She redeems him. He sets her free. Its beautiful.
The intimacy they create by sharing their deepest insecurity, fans into a flame of passion. How long it takes is irrelevant. Perhaps the movie was a bit too subtle in the point that it was the letters they shared over the following year that deepened their relationship- again another real-life time-honored way to get to know a person.
As much as I enjoyed the plot and themes, the dialogue was not consistent in quality. Some lines rang so true, and other lines were embarrassingly trite and flat.
I also enjoyed the relationships with Adrienne's teenage daughter and her best friend, reminding us that there are many types of love, not just romantic love.
This is not a lighthearted romantic comedy, more a romantic drama. It does have a very relaxed pace that some might consider too slow.
The beach house is a work of art- fabulous. Look for the driftwood bench on the porch in the first pan-over the house- very beautiful. I also enjoyed the music and scenery, which combined to create the effect of the location as being the third main character. It was this place away from their regular lives that allowed them to see themselves and each other in a different light.
If you are old enough to appreciate these themes and are in the mood for a good cry- get out the Kleenex and enjoy this movie.
Australia (2008)
romantic adventure
This is a good solid romantic adventure that stands on its own as an entertaining evening of watching Kidman and Jackman heat up the screen. Watching it at home, no need to worry about the length of the movie- hit pause and get some more popcorn. Unfortunately, when compared to great romantic epics, Australia falls far short.
The similarities to Out of Africa were so strong, that even during the movie I began to feel a twitch of sympathy for the actors that this was so much less than O of A. In the same amount of time, O of A managed to give us more character development of the leads, more insight into the supporting roles, more connection to the land and the people, more humor and a broader historic background. Australia relied on pretty pictures and the charisma of its stars, instead of a good script. (I do blame the script- the stars did a great job with what they had.)
I was surprised and delighted by the role of Nulla played by Brandon Walters. This was the only original twist to the movie and Walters was adorable- who wouldn't want to take him home? (Why didn't he share the top billing? I thought this was "his story")
I also liked the ending song By the Boab Tree.
If you are a young romantic who has never seen epics like O of A, you are going to love this movie. Us older romantics will still enjoy the movie. If you are looking for top notch historical fiction- forget it.
City of Ember (2008)
Creative fantasy adventure
My 11 year old son and I enjoyed this movie very much, perhaps because neither of us has read the book. Visually it was a treat to visit Ember, a handmade city with no cars, creative clothing and houses and a community where everyone knows you. It just looked so interesting.
The movie got off to a quick start, giving just enough back-story to get the mystery of the plot going. I think it is predictable from the beginning that the kids will find a way out, but how they piece together the clues and the specifics of their escape are unravelled in exciting bits and pieces. The suspense worked on two levels- will they find the way out before the City collapses- and will they find the way out before "the law" stops them?
While all the actors did a fine job, I particularly enjoyed Saoirse as Lina. And the girls who played Poppy were adorable.
My son said the same thing as other reviewers about the end- he would have liked to have seen the whole town pouring out into the light.
Hancock (2008)
Plot twist ruined by DVD cover
Spoiler alert- don't read the back cover of the DVD! It says "until he meets a woman(...Charlize Theron ...) with similar powers to his..." Considering this was the major plot twist to the movie- what were they thinking?!?
By using my very limited zen powers to put aside my irritation at already knowing this major twist, I was able to enjoy this fun romp through the world of a superhero with serious personal issues. Will Smith manages to make you like Hancock, even when he is being a jerk. Without saying anything about it, you just know if Will Smith is being a jerk, it is for a good reason.
Jason Bateman was adorable as Ray, who becomes Hancock's only friend. He exuded such an innocent boyscout goodness that I just wanted to gobble him up. Goodness seems to be so out of fashion that it was refreshing to see a male character portrayed this way.
Of course Charlize Theron was hot- as the housewife and the superhero. She also brought depth and caring to her more intimate scenes with Will Smith. I agree with most that the humor was spot-on and really kept the movie moving.
More character development of any of the main or side characters would have enriched the movie and added more plot for those like me who had the major twist spoiled by brain-dead marketing.
The problem with the ending is not that it was too deep, but that it is just unsatisfying to Hollywood audiences. Life in the movies is not supposed to end with hard choices and compromise, but with a clever twist that ties up all the loose ends.
I am sure my 11 year old is going to see this with his dad as it is funny and the level of violence is pretty typical for movies today. However, we will need to make it very clear that children do not use the word "a**hole" to adults or other children and if I hear the B word come out of his mouth- he will not soon forget my wrath.
La doublure (2006)
funny and sweet
Both my boyfriend and I greatly enjoyed this movie. It was a good thing that it was subtitled, because we were laughing so loud we would not have been able to hear the dialogue. There is a certain way that American movies of this sort go, and The Valet did not follow the "princess and the toad" formula, which made it fresh and interesting to us. It was also refreshing to get so much humor without crudeness, profanity or idiotic gags that have become so commonplace- it was just genuinely funny. I don't know how believable people expect movies to be, but the only character that was hard to swallow was just how nice the super-model was. Not knowing any supermodels personally, I won't be the judge of that. Watch The Valet for a fun evening of lighthearted entertainment.
Flawless (2007)
gem of a heist movie
If you are looking for car chases, kidnappings, and violence- you won't like this little gem (can't resist the pun) of a heist movie. Instead you have a clever plot that unwinds in small and subtle bits, like a trail of bread crumbs. Just when you think you have it figured out, another quiet twist sets your theories spinning again.
It keeps you on the edge of your seat, not because you are afraid of the next gun fight or bomb blast (there are none) but because you care about the characters and what happens to them. The casting is perfect, with Moore as the smart, strong, but emotionally stoic diamond manager; and Caine as the simple janitor with a brilliant plan. It was refreshing to have the "relationship" between the male and female lead not be a romantic one- there are so many more dimensions to human interactions.
While this movie is appropriate for the whole family, it may be too subtle to hold the interest of younger audiences. Also its themes- a woman in a man's world, career disappointment, mourning a lost love- are not themes that children relate to. A movie my boyfriend and I both enjoyed.
Shrek the Third (2007)
cute but lacking substance
Some cute jokes and set ups, but definitely NOT the "best Shrek yet". I am beginning to think that the more a movie is hyped the more likely it is covering up for something missing. In this case the plot was a single strand with no twists or turns that ended up just the way you think it will; unlike One and Two where we were kept guessing with a surprise in the last 5 minutes of each movie. This movie climaxes with a "believe in yourself" speech that could have been copied from any kid's movie from the past 50 years. Donkey and Puss had no real role in the plot- just hanging out. In the previous 2 movies we saw Shrek and Fiona's relationship be tested and grow stronger- they barely talk to each other in this one. And all the clever little Fairy Tale innovations of Shrek's world that delighted us in One and Two- nothing new in Three at all. It was more like a formula Disney movie than a Mike Meyers creation. Oh well, still fun to watch. My 9 year old really liked it. But when I hit the DVD collection to watch a fave- it will be Shrek one or two- not the Third.
Catch and Release (2006)
lovely
Beautifully done. I wouldn't say this is so much a romantic comedy as a romance with some good fun moments in it. The premise isn't really funny. A man dies, his fiancé', best friends, and mother come to terms with it. In the course of it all there are heart wrenching moments and funny moments and romance. Jennifer Gardener (Gray) was not sweet- she was sad, ticked-off, thoughtful, surprised, happy, confused, strong, insecure, gutsy- such a nice change from so many one dimensional romantic heroines. Each character brought a similar depth to the story, which unfolded in its own time- not on the tidy schedule of most Hollywood romances. However, my boyfriend left after 20 minutes- so its not for everyone. The movie left me feeling like I had spent the evening rooting for my friends to get through a tough time- and happy that they made it.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
tired clichés about women in business
Yes, an entertaining bit of fluff and Meryl Streep was great, but after hearing such rave reviews, I expected more. Not only are the characters stereotypes and the plot predictable, but in a way that is irritating to real career women. Powerful women are vilified while sweetness and innocence win out. When are we going to see happy powerful women, and young women who demand that their friends and boyfriends support their career choices? The story also assumes that in some fairytale land one will have a great career without ever having to kiss up to one's boss, dress for success, miss family events, or play office politics. Any other working moms find that annoying? Or maybe that is why so many people like this movie- women, more so than men, want to believe that we can make everyone happy, have a rewarding career, and stay sweet forever. If that doesn't make you puke, you will love this movie.