I'm Going To Go "Overboard" On My Review

Overboard (2018)

Rated PG-13

Starring Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris,

Directed by Rob Greenberg

The Story:

Leonardo (Derbez) is a wealthy snob who has utter disregard for how the real world works, or those that work in it. So when he callously fires Kate (Faris), wouldn't you know that karmic payback was in order as he washes up on shore with no memory, and Kate claims him from the local hospital as her loving husband and devoted father to their three girls. Yep, it's payback time!

Oh no!

It's the dreaded, "Hollywood is remaking one of my classic films that I love" syndrome films.

However, let me ease your worries, hopefully, just a bit.

For those with fond, or distant memories of Overboard (1987) starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, which I actually watched earlier this year because I vaguely remember watching it 30 years ago...

It's not that great. Sure, there are some funny moments, and there's no denying the chemistry between the leads, but much of the humor is actually quite mean as you watch the story unfold.

There's no way that flies in the ultra-hip, totally modern 21st century...

Unless you actually are mean to the man, then by all means, game on!

Thankfully, the man in question is Eugenio Derbez who simply makes great movies that continue to get added to our movie library where we can laugh (and cry) whenever the mood strikes us.

Don't believe me? Go watch Instructions Not Included, a film that made my Best of the Year list not too long ago.

He carries most of the movie here as well, garnering the laughs and the sympathy as the hen-pecked husband who does his best to readjust to a life he doesn't remember.

If I had to choose between which of the Overboard films I'd watch again in the future...

Well I've seen the original twice in just over 30 years.

I've seen the new one once, but I plan on purchasing it and watching it a few more times over the next year.

It's not a masterpiece by any means, but it's fun and enjoyable, and that always fits the bill.

Final Grade: B

Cupid, Draw Back Your Bow..."When We First Met"

When We First Met (2018)

TV-14

Starring Adam Devine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig, Andrew Bachelor, Robbie Amell,

Directed by Ari Sandel

The Story:

Noah (Devine) met Avery (Daddario) 3 years ago, and fell head over heels. The problem? After that first date, Noah found himself in the "friend zone" and now he's watching the girl of his dreams get engaged to Ethan (Amell). However, when Noah discovers that he can go back and try and fix that night, he realizes he can make sure that he's the one that winds up with Avery, and not Ethan!

The Rom-Com is alive and well, and thriving on Netflix. :)

Just in time for Valentine's Day comes When We First Met, a fun comedy that comes squarely from the "What if we took Groundhog Day and made it a ...." family of films.

Thankfully, I'm a big fan of that genre of films, and this Netflix Original didn't let me down.

The cast clicks nicely together, and Devine anchors the film with his weary Noah, chasing after the girl of his dreams, regardless of what it takes to woo her.

However, as with all good Groundhog Day-type movies, he's got to learn a few things along the way, and he does.

And it's what he learns along the way that makes this one not necessarily follow the beat for beat pattern that we get used to with these films.

Sure, there's some things he needs to change in his life, but Noah himself is not a bad guy, far from it. :)

And, as with apparently all Robbie Amell Netflix originals, he apparently is required to be shirtless in at least one scene in the movie!

It's a fun one, and doubtful you'll be disappointed.

Final Grade: B Ah heck,  in the spirit of the holiday, B+  :)

Quirky Yet Charming..."The Matchbreaker"

The Matchbreaker (2016)

Rated PG

Starring Wesley Elder, Christina Grimmie

Written and Directed by Caleb Vetter

The Story:

Ethan (Elder) is a hopeless romantic that always finds good reason, at least to him, to set the ladies in his life free. When he loses his job, he lands a one-time gig of being hired by the parents to break their daughter up from her boyfriend because they don't like him. Ethan does, and voila, a new career is born. However, when the girl he has had a crush on everyday of his life for the past umpteen years suddenly comes back into his life, Ethan will do whatever it takes to not let Emily (Grimmie) go this time. Lucky for him, her mom hires him to make the boyfriend go away.

What could possibly go wrong?

This scenario, or one very similar has played out a million times in the cinema already, and I'm sure it has at least a million more variations that will come out in the future.

But that's okay, because it's a formula that works.

Whether paid to break up the couple, or to get a couple together, or to make a bet to make the ugly duckling into a swan...

All related.

When done well, all enjoyable.

This one does just fine as a no-names, no budget indie romantic comedy.

Elder doesn't have the look and appeal of the handsome leading man mold, but he works perfectly as the guy that can charm his way into a girl's life and make her realize the neanderthal she's dating really isn't good enough for her.

Grimmie seems familiar, and carries an almost Anna Kendrick vibe to her. She's plucky and full of spirit.

Sadly, this was her only performance, so the world was robbed of what could have been for years to come.

I caught it on disc, but it's now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

If this genre is your cup of tea, then this is worth a spin.

Final Grade: C+

Quite The Little Charmer..."A Royal Night Out"

A Royal Night Out (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Emily Watson, Rupert Everett, Jack Laskey, Jack Gordon, Jack Reynor,

Directed by

The Story:

Princess Elizabeth (Gadon) and Margaret (Powley) would very much like to get out of the castle and celebrate V-E Day with Londoners everywhere as World War II is over. Letting your daughters out on a night like that is worrisome enough for parents, but when your parents are the King and Queen (Everett & Watson) of England, you can imagine the answer already. However, they do send the girls out with a pair of military escorts (Laskey & Gordon) to ensure the girls are fine.

Naturally, you know what's going to happen next.

Based on the Queen's own true story, though I'm sure much of the efforts are exaggerated for comic effect, this movie is a sweet little story about 2 little girls who have one shot at feeling normal in their lives, and are determined to take it.

Gadon and Powley are up to the challenge of putting a little life into their royal portrayals and make the characters come alive getting a chance to experience a lifetime of events all in one night.

Equally charming are Everett and Watson as the stiff upper lip monarchs who are thrilled to see the war is over and now worried about what their girls are up to.

Of course, while the 2 military escorts play the comedy part of the movie, there's a 3rd (Reynor) who will bump into Elizabeth and provide the romance.

Like with all whirlwind movie romances, the two don't exactly hit it off very well upon their first meeting.

Very well done, and I'm glad the Queen was able to get out and let her hair down at least once in her life.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B

These Ladies Like To Party..."How To Be Single"

How To Be Single (2016)

Rated R

Starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Alison Brie, Anders Holm, Damon Wayans Jr., Nicholas Braun, Jake Lacy, Jason Mantzoukas,

Directed by Christian Ditter

The Story:

Alice (Johnson) has been dumped by her boyfriend (Braun), so she sets out to get over him with a new job, new friends, and a new attitude in New York City! Her circle of friends include Robin (Wilson), Meg (Mann), and Lucy (Brie) each with their own foibles and crises. Of course, in a town full of eligible bachelors, they ladies run into some interesting characters as well (Holm, Wayans Jr., Lacy, Mantzoukas). But, just when you think you know how these relationships are going to end, stick around, because you might be pleasantly surprised...or disappointed!

It's a tough line to balance an R rated comedy that wants to have both raunch and heart, and this film is no different.

Thankfully, it's a fantastic cast, so it's easy to laugh with, and at, their predicaments.

I won't spoil which couples work and which ones don't, because that's half the fun of the film is watching these characters learn to realize what is most important to them, and who do they want to spend their time with.

Another nice touch, as the film is focused on the ladies as the stars, the guys come off rather well, upending some cliches that often are standard with romantic comedy fare.

As usual, Jason Mantzoukas kills it in every scene he's in. I'm not sure if he'll ever be the lead in a comedy, but as long as they keep casting him as a supporting player, I'll always give that movie a chance!

It's a little long for a comedy, but not unbearably so. There's a bit of wandering in the narrative as well, which seems like a 2 birds with one stone killing could have made a few of the issues go away.


Final Grade: C+

Seize The Day..."Hello, My Name Is Doris"

Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015)

Rated R

Starring Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Tyne Daly, Stephen Root, Peter Gallagher,

Directed by Michael Showalter

The Story:

Doris (Field) attends a self-help seminar where Willy Williams (Gallagher) instills in her a confidence that she's never had before. Doris begins to make some changes in her life, all in an effort to possibly woo a new co-worker (Greenfield)  who is half..maybe...her age.

So far, it seems to be quirky romance week here at Review Central.

Following up on yesterday's Mr. Right, comes a triumphant tour de force for Sally Field as Doris, the best role she's had in ages.

It's funny, sad, heartwarming and heartbreaking, but it's never dull.

These are characters that may very well exist in the real world, yet have been given a tweak here and there to up their quirkiness.

Believable, but never overblown, Doris will suck you up right into her world, and you'll find yourself excited for her one moment, and cringing with (or for) her the next.

Never once do you expect the relationship to work, yet deep down, you're totally pulling for her to make it work.

It's a terrific cast and a genuinely heartfelt dramedy.

Final Grade: Solid B

"Mr. Right", Or At Least Close Enough

Mr. Right (2015)

Rated R

Starring Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth,

Directed by Paco Cabezas

The Story:

Martha (Kendrick) is unlucky in love, then quite by accident, she bumps into a man (Rockwell) who just may be...Mr. Right. She is smitten, and he seems to genuinely care for her as well. Hopefully the fact that he's an assassin won't damper things between the couple.

File this one under quirky, but utterly charming, thanks mostly to Rockwell and Kendrick who rarely disappoint and their chemistry helps make this one well worth a viewing.

A few minor changes here and there to the storyline, and I would have graded it higher and let it be a contender for best of the year.

But it's got a few issues.

Those issues aren't deal-breakers for me though.

It's a scoop of vanilla ice cream that needed a topping or two to put it over the top.

But still, it's quite the charmer.

There is of course, the reasoning behind what Rockwell does for a living. Yes, he's the living paradox of a killer with a conscience, and to say more would spoil some of the fun.

So go in with no expectations other than to see a movie with Rockwell and Kendrick, and you'll come out of the viewing with a smile on your face.

Mostly guaranteed.

:)

Final Grade: B-

So That's How "Christian Mingle" Works

Christian Mingle (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Lacy Chabert, Johnathan Patrick Moore, Morgan Fairchild, David Keith

Written and Directed by Corbin Bernsen

The Story:

Gwyneth (Chabert) has it all in life, except for Mr. Right. So in an act of desperation, she puts a profile on Christian Mingle dot com. There she discovers Paul (Moore) and the two hit it off. There's only one problem, really: Gwyneth isn't really a Christian...

Cue the ominous music and crash of thunder!

:)

Okay, this lighthearted romantic comedy is a labor of love for writer/director Corbin Bernsen. He is a devout believer, but tries to deliver the message in a way that's enjoyable for those that believe and even those that don't.

Many accuse a lot of films with a Christian message or theme to beat it over the head of the audience so that nobody will enjoy it unless you're preaching to the choir.

That probably holds true here again.

Gwyneth is about to tell Paul the truth, that she's not really a Christian, and then doesn't, then it snowballs out of control as she overdoes it every time that religion is brought up.

The comedic effect is there, but it begs to question how blind is Paul when everyone else notices that Gwyneth is struggling with her faith, except the guy who likes her?

Of course, if she doesn't struggle with this portion, she doesn't get to come to terms with what she actually does believe in, if anything, and that's kind of the point behind the whole affair in the first place.

Bernsen surrounds Chabert with a great cast of familiar faces, and after a long career in front of the camera, I'm more than willing to give this former Psych star a chance behind the scenes.

While I watched it on disc, it is now available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C

Awkward Title...Charming Cast... "Some Kind Of Beautiful"

Some Kind of Beautiful (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Malcolm McDowell, Duncan  Joiner, Ben McKenzie

Directed by Tom Vaughan

The Story:

Richard (Brosnan) happily teaches poetry to his classes at Cambridge. Of course, having an affair with Kate (Alba) who is one of his students is just another perk to the job, Richard likes to keep his options open. When he meets the lovely Olivia, he is instantly smitten, then horrified to find out that she is Kate's sister. Then he's even more horrified to find out that Kate is pregnant. He gives up everything he knows to move to America to be a good dad, but things get really difficult, really fast.

Here's a romantic comedy/dramedy that flew well below the radar last year.

It reunites Brosnan and Hayek and the two have a wonderful chemistry together, and yet they are pretty much to be kept apart for the majority of the movie.

Even though, you and I know full well how everything is going to turn out, it's still an enjoyable ride to get to it.

Brosnan gets to play a bit more frazzled than we're used to seeing, and it's a refreshing change that he employs very well. While things may not have worked out with Kate, he adores being a dad and wants to make up for what he feels was a bad relationship that he had with his father (McDowell).

I enjoyed it, and if you want a nice, enjoyable date-night movie to enjoy, this should count as a good one that neither of you have seen before.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B-

It's Time To "Man Up"

Man Up (2015)

Rated R

Starring Lake Bell, Simon Pegg

Directed by Ben Palmer

The Story:

Nancy (Bell) has grown weary of all the blind dates that her friends and family have set her up on. By chance, she winds up meeting Jack (Pegg) who thinks she is the blind date that he has a date with. Nancy decides to go along with the assumption, and the two hit it off quite well.

And then, things take a decidedly different turn once the lies are exposed.

Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy tries desperately to get girl back.

It's the standard formula for romantic comedies, but this one approaches it with enough charm and fun and engaging performances by Pegg and Bell that you easily forgive formula and get sucked into their date and look forward to what is going to happen next.

For the most part, it is a dialogue driven movie, and I don't wish to spoil what unfolds upon their date.

I won't say it's the most realistic romantic comedy you've ever seen, but it is one of the most grounded, if that helps.

It's a chick flick that guys should also appreciate, how's that?

Totally worth your time.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B 

Time After Time..."Kate & Leopold"

Kate & Leopold (2001)

Rated PG-13

Starring Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Breckin Meyer

Directed by James Mangold

The Story:

Stuart (Schreiber) has discovered a wormhole in time and is checking out New York in the 1800s when he is followed back to the present by Leopold (Jackman). A respectable gentleman of the past is suddenly surrounded by the modern society and he has much to learn, yet also has a few things to teach as well. When he falls for the lovely Kate (Ryan), it's a match made for the ages, but how can two people from two different times ever really be together?

This is one of those romantic comedies that has been bashed far too often, for far too long.

This was Meg Ryan at the height of her romantic comedy powers, before someone told her that it would be a good idea to get plastic surgery because she was getting older.

If I had a time machine, I would use it to go back and tell her it's not worth it, bad things are going to happen!

This was also Hugh Jackman before he became... Hugh Jackman!

Not yet the megastar he would become, yet he is so effortlessly charming, any plot holes you may have with a time travel film (and there's always plot holes!) are willingly overlooked just by how sweet this film really is.

Not to be left out Breckin Meyer who gives another great "aw shucks" character that he can do in his sleep, as Kate's brother. He is integral to the plot in both teaching Leopold a few things about the present while also accepting some sage gentlemanly advice from the man he is convinced is the greatest method actor of all time! :)

So if you haven't seen this one in the last 15 years, or managed to somehow miss it completely, both Netflix and Amazon have it streaming.

Considering some of the stinkers that Jackman has had lately (where he was usually the best part of the film), it was nice to revisit a movie at the start of his career where the movie was good and he simply made it that much better. You see a star being born, and it's a pretty cool experience.

Final Grade: B

Truth In Advertising... "Trainwreck"

Trainwreck (2015)

Rated R

Starring Amy Schurmer, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, Bill Hader, LeBron James, John Cena

Directed by Judd Apatow

The Story:

Amy (Schurmer) has grown up to be an addict to booze and sleeping around. As a sensationalist tabloid journalist, she has to do an interview with a famous sports doctor (Hader) who falls for her after they have sex. The two couldn't be more opposite and yet she finds she's falling for him anyway.

I'd swear I already wrote this review weeks ago and even published it, yet could find it nowhere on my site. It was probably better than the one I'm about to embark upon, but oh well.

:)

So forgive me if the synopsis is a little short, but let's get right to the meat of the movie.

Amy Schurmer, 2015's "It Girl".

I don't find her very funny in this film.

I may have to chalk this up to Melissa McCarthyism, where there's a wonderful actress that everyone thinks is the funniest thing in the world, but I just don't get it.

Because she isn't that funny in this movie.

Or perhaps I'm a sexist pig, yet I can rattle off a list of female actresses and comediennes that I find funnier than Schurmer.

That said, I realize as I watched the movie that Schurmer can be funny.

As the writer of the film, she gives THE BEST lines to just about any and all of her co-stars.

Holy cow, this movie belongs to LeBron James! He's the best thing going in the film!!

And while that's great for LeBron, it's not so great for the leading lady who is in 80% of the film.

The other 20%, screamingly funny, but when she's around, the laughs are divided between her and her co-stars.

They get the laughs, that's 40%.

40 + 20 = 60%.

That's a D.

That's not sexism.

That's math.

:)

Then you add in the fact that a 90 minute comedy is stretched to over 2 hour runtime...

You've got grounds to fail an R Rated Romantic Comedy right there.

But I'll be nicer than that, because again, much of what LeBron, John Cena, Marv Albert, Matthew Broderick and a ton of other cameos and co-stars bring to the table is great.

Schurmer has shown me she has potential.

I just don't believe her to be the "next big thing".

Final Grade: C+

Feeling A Little "Lovesick" ? Well, Get Over It!

Lovesick (2014)

Not Rated

Starring Matt LeBlanc, Ali Larter, Adam Rodriguez, Ashley Williams, Rebecca Jones

Directed by Luke Matheny

The Story:

Charlie Darby (LeBlanc) is a great guy. Loves his job, loves his friends, but with women, he's not so great. Because once he falls in love, a crippling paranoid psychosis takes over and he gets insanely jealous. He's decided that he's done with women, and naturally, he meets Molly (Larter). Can he finally break his demons, or is he destined for eternal bachelorhood?

The curse of Friends continues.

The cast has gone on to do other things since the show went off the air, but most have failed to capture our attention and hearts in anything since that time.

Gone is lovable Joey as LeBlanc plays a more down to earth guy in this film, but then he snaps when it comes to love.

Overly jealous, but the movie plays that hand too early by letting his best friend (Rodriguez) tell us that he was diagnosed as a psychotic recently.

So out goes the unlucky-in-love story as they must show that the guy is chemically imbalanced.

Larter and LeBlanc don't really generate a whole lot of chemistry together, so at the end of the day, so it boils down to a lot of wasted talent and potential.

There's too many good romantic comedies out there to waste your time on this one.

Your mileage of course can vary.

Found out after my disc arrived that this one is also available to stream on Amazon Prime for those with memberships.

Final Grade: D+

Spice Up Your Valentine's Day..."Sleeping With Other People"

Sleeping With Other People (2015)

Rated R

Starring Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Amanda Peet,

Written and Directed by Leslye Headland

The Story:

Jake (Sudeikis) meets Lainey (Brie) in college. She has come to the dorms to lose her virginity to Matthew (Scott). Except he's not home, and Jake tells her that Matt is quite the tool. The two bond and then the two virgins become none. Fast forward a dozen-ish years, and the two bump into one another. It's been one bad relationship after another for each of them, but they hit it off and become best of friends. But as we all know, men and women can't just be friends and the clock starts ticking...

I really wanted to like this one more than I did.

Think of it like When Harry Met Sally, except Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan talk about sex for 90 minutes and barrage you with language that makes a sailor stop and say "hey now, hold on a second!".

And yes, I'm a vile hypocrite because I don't mind it as much in some movies as I do in others. If you can take the language out and the jokes are still funny, you're on to something.

If you remove the language and there is no joke, then you've got a problem.

And therein lies my main problem with the film.

I've reviewed one of Ms. Headland's films before: Bachelorette . And I said many of the same things there.

She loves to talk about sex and get great actors to spew forth her dialogue.

This one is more amusing than that film, but that owes way more to Sudeikis' ability to deliver lines like this so well, he's phoning it in at this point. That said, the chemistry and likeability of both Sudeikis and Brie help elevate the overall proceedings. Replace either with another actor, and this review might have gone a whole different direction.

Kudos also to Adam Scott who comes back for more in this film as the slimey Matt who is ruining Lainey's life. He is one of Headland's favorites, and he usually also makes the most of whatever he is given.

I'm seeing improvements in Headland's body of work, but I think it's time for her to leave the bedroom behind and see if there is more to life than a good @#$%.

Or if not, at least be funnier about it.

Final Grade: C+

You May Not "Love, Rosie"... But You'll Probably Like Her

Love, Rosie (2014)

Rated R

Starring Lily Collins, Sam Claflin

Directed by Christian Ditter

The Story:

Alex (Claflin) and Rosie (Collins) are best friends. Have been for years. One night, Alex finally kisses Rosie, but doesn't get the reaction he was hoping for. Fast forward through the years and watch as these two who should have always been together slowly begin to realize what mistakes they've made in their relationship. Is it too late for these two?

Don't take my lack of listing any other actors as a snub on their efforts.

However, this film centers around Alex and Rosie, and Collins and Claflin do their level best to make you like them both and empathize with their situations so very well.

I'd liken Claflin to "the next Hugh Grant"  as his portrayal mirrors much of the great work that Grant has done over the years, especially in the romantic comedy genre.

Otherwise, not too familiar with either of their work, which means yes, I'm one of the few people on Earth yet to see The Hunger Games.

Maybe someday.

And no, I've never read the book upon which the movie is based, so I cannot comment about the differences between the book or the movie.

Of course there are going to be differences, books and movies are different mediums.

;)

So if you're in need of a romantic comedy this upcoming Valentine's season, if you've not seen this one yet, it's a good place to start.

Final Grade: B-

"What If" This Movie Had Been Better?

What If (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Megan Park, Rafe Spall

Directed by Michael Dowse

The Story:

Wallace (Radcliffe) meets Chantry (Kazan) and the two immediately connect. However, Wallace has been burned by love too often, so he's only too happy to remain friends with her, and that works for Chantry also because she already has a boyfriend (Spall). Of course, this wouldn't be a romantic comedy if the two didn't naturally want to take their friendship to the next level. As always though, crossing that line may not be easy, or desirable.

This movie was much funnier when it was called When Harry Met Sally.

:)

Otherwise, it's a harmless, mostly by the numbers romantic comedy that follows the typical stereotype that yes, men and women can just be friends, but invariably, someone might change their mind and want to take things further.

You'd think they could make one where the two don't fall in love, but then, that would be just like real life, and could be boring.

My first recollection of seeing either of the two leads in a film, alone or together. Their chemistry almost works as friends, but it's hard to believe either want to make a go of it with the other.

Would you believe me if I said this was the first film I've watched with Daniel Radcliffe in it?

True story.

Never was interested in Harry Potter, so never bothered.

He seems like a pretty good actor, if a bit bland.

I don't see him as much of a leading man candidate. He doesn't have the charm of a Hugh Grant or the personification of an action/thriller star.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm thinking this is Macauley Culkin 2.0.

Time will tell.

Final Grade: C

Hugh Grant Is In Fine Form Once Again... "The Rewrite"

The Rewrite (2014)

Not Rated (PG-13)

Starring Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney,

Written and Directed by Marc Lawrence

The Story:

Keith Michaels (Grant) is a former Oscar winning writer who has had a few bombs since then, and now cannot find work. His agent gets him a gig teaching a screenwriting course back east. So he swallows his pride, heads back east and grudgingly begins his next career as a teacher.

Marc Lawrence and Hugh Grant have been great as a team since they teamed together in 2002 with Two Weeks Notice. Lightning struck again 5 years later when they worked on Music and Lyrics together and created another great romantic comedy.

Then the inevitable happened, the third time was not the charm, and Did You Hear About The Morgans tanked. I've seen that one, and it wasn't that bad.

Now, it wasn't nearly as good as the other two movies, but there were some witty moments in there, mostly on the charm and wit of Hugh Grant.

So, after nearly 6 years away from the big screen, the two re-team and tell a bit of a biographical tale that closely follows the lead of Music and Lyrics.

A formerly successful writer finds love when and where he least expects it.

This romantic comedy takes the slow build, but you know it's coming, and it's actually a refreshing and fun change of pace.

Hugh Grant returns in fine form, and he hasn't missed a beat over the decades and has grown perfectly into the role of the disenfranchised middle aged romantic lead.

It was also nice to see Tomei back in a comedic role for what seems like the first time in a long time.

Plus there is a nice comedic turn by Simmons that's pretty fun to watch.

Welcome back Marc Lawrence, and looking forward to the next project with Grant!

Final Grade: B

"Enough Said" About This Relationship

Enough Said (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Catherine Keener

Written and Directed by Nicole Holofcener

The Story:

Eva (Dreyfus) is a divorced, single parent who works as a masseuse. She meets Marianne at a party, the two connect, and Marianne becomes her next client, and they actually becomes friends as well. Marianne does like to complain about her ex husband, a lot.  At the same party, Eva met Albert (Gandolfini) as well. No real attraction, but the two went on a date and began seeing each other, and they really seem to like each other's company.

Stop me if you can see where this is going.

:)


Now, just because we know who everyone is, doesn't mean that Eva does.

At least, not at first.

However, once she meets Albert's daughter and then sees her again at Marianne's house, well the truth is now revealed to Eva.

And once she knows the truth, Marianne's words begin to slowly poison Eva's relationship with Albert.

Will the two find true happiness, or are they as doomed as Albert's first relationship?

Great chemistry from Dreyfus and Gandolfini, and the relationship seems "real" thanks to the efforts of Holofcener to make the two seem like real people, having real conversations.

Kind of refreshing.

Final Grade: B-

Hopefully Santa Brought You Cool Stuff "While You Were Sleeping"

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Rated PG

Starring Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

The Story:

Lucy (Bullock) works for the subway and every day she pines for mysterious stranger Peter (Gallagher). When she saves his life on the subway, a case of mistaken identity occurs when the nurse introduces Lucy to the family as Peter's fiancee. They are thrilled, and all of them love Lucy, except Jack (Pullman) who is a bit suspicious.  When Peter awakens, it appears he has some very specific amnesia concerning Lucy, but is willing to ignore it since apparently they are in love and are to be married.

I bet you can see where this one is headed, right?

And the truth is, you won't care because it's a fun, sweet story with a marvelous cast from start to finish.

The final Christmas movie to be reviewed this holiday season, While You Were Sleeping takes place between Christmas and New Years, so it's a great way to end the holidays.

It's also a minor part of the story, so you can really watch it any time of year.

This one used to be watched at least once a year, but then sort of fell off the radar over the last decade or so, and that's a shame.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of this film, and it's high time you revisit it if it's been some time since you last saw it.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Not sure if it will become an annual holiday tradition, but it's high time to watch it more often than every decade.

Neanderthal Love... "Cavemen"

Cavemen (2013)

Rated R

Starring Skylar Astin, Camilla Belle, Chad Michael Murray

Written and Directed by Herschel Faber

The Story:

Dean (Astin) and his buddies all like to party in their loft. Facing eviction, they are going to go out in style. Dean's romantic life is not coming together like all of his pals, and his best friend Tess (Belle) is that perfect girl right under his nose.

I bet you can't guess where this is heading, can you?

So, for those of you who read yesterday's review, this is falls into the same category.

Thankfully there are a few differences:

1) The running time: under 90 minutes.
2) The humor is a bit more romantic comedy friendly even though the movie is trying for an R rated comedy.

Not to say that it's perfect, far from it.

There's some scenes that don't really work. Not funny enough. Kind of dragging the storyline at other times.

Most of it is saved by the chemistry between Astin and Belle. He helped make the chemistry in Pitch Perfect, and he brings the charming everyman appeal to this one as well.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nothing in here worth coming back for seconds.  It was barely tolerable enough for one full viewing.