Easy A (2010) Review

director: Will Gluck

writer: Bert V. Royal

starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Thomas Haden Church

genre: Comedy, Romance

There are two kinds of teen films that come to mind. Your shallow, non provocative teen film and then your polar opposite of racy, controversial humor and sex ala American Pie. Both have standouts in the genre and failures. But what if someone was in the mood for something right in the middle? Well don't you worry because Easy A is that kind of film that pushes the boundaries of touchy teen issues without having nudity, profanity and still manages to be a entertaining film.

The Invention of Lying (2009) Review

director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

writer: Ricky Gervais

starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, C.K. Louis, Jonah Hill

genre: Comedy, Romance

Now here's a original idea and applied to the most unoriginal genre of romantic comedies. Ricky Gervais is the man behind the hit British TV shows the Office and Extras and now co-directs, writes and stars in a very funny film that teaches us the valuable lesson that being truthful and honest doesn't get you anywhere.

Youth in Revolt (2010)

director: Miguel Arteta

writer: Gustin Nash, C.D. Payne (Novel)

starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Zach Galifanakis

genre: Comedy

How many films a year do most of us get to see that are actually funny? Not many is the the truth due to the fact thats It's difficult to please someone when your dealing with comedy than if it was drama or action. My humor is drastically different than everyone else and vice versa. Youth in Revolt is not a laugh out loud kind of comedy. Its not going to make everyone laugh. But its one of those films that has a superbly well written script with many jokes, incredible dialogue and a fantastic funny cast.

Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) is your typical youth. Quite, smart and alone. Everything and everyone is against him in his life as a teenager. Family, girls, justice nothing goes right for him. When his Mom (Jean Smart) and boyfriend Jerry (Zack Galifanakis) decide to take a trip to a trailer lodge, Nick finally finds meaning in his life in a girl. That girl is Sheeni (Portia Doubleday). In Sheeni he will find everything he could ever want in a woman beauty, elegance, style all in one sophisticated, smart girl that's into him. But as with every love you have to fight to keep it going. But this love isn't as easy as he hoped. He will have to get through Sheeni's parents, ex-boyfriend and his own family situation to be with her. To accomplish this he brews the new him in the persona Francois to be a better man and evil enough to get to his goal.

Where Youth in Revolt gets it right is in it's script. The dialogue is superb. The level of sophistication in the writting clearly defines the characters threw the dialogue and comes out beautifuly threw the actors performances. Me personally I couldnt stop laughing with Micael Cera delivery of evil lines. I love when humor comes out of words than just action or fart jokes. Its more difficult to make you laugh with just words.

Besides the script the film is the Michael Cera show. Many people wondered if he could manange to play diffrent roles besides the quiet adorable type which he's known for. Evidence is right here. His potrayal of his evil self and even of the quiet self is perfect. He is not your pretty boy Zac Efron or your dramatic young man actor Paul Dano. He your right mix of both where he can lead a film in many directions. Case in point his new film that will come out soon Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

Youth in Revolt is one of those films that you never really thought anything of and actually is better than you'd expect. From Michael Cera's performance, to the outstanding cast and the great script the film dosen't disappoint. Youth in Revolt is one of the best comedies of the year. Enjoy!

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Date Night (2010)

director: Shawn Levy

writer: Josh Klausner

starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey

genre: Comedy, Romance

Date Night goes the step forward from other formulaic comedies by pausing the film's pacing and having actual moments where the characters can talk about who they are and what they are going through. Many Hollywood film just speed their way from act to act. Date Night for it's simple and mediocre appearance still manages to be fun and an easy film for people to see.

Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire (Tina Fey) are just your standard routine filled couple. No excitement or something out of the ordinary is in store for them. Both have their defects in their marriage and feel trapped and unhappy. When their best friends break up, its an wake up call to them to change things around. A night in the city for the both of them changes their life for ever.

A simple clichéd film can be fun when done right and with the right cast. Here they couldn't have picked a better duo then Steve Carell and Tina Fey who are probably the funniest performers in entertainment today. Every line, facial expression by them is done to perfection. They make the film a pleasure to see no matter its flaws. Them and the supporting cast have fun with the film and do a good job. With these films direction and writing are always standard and mediocre. It's mostly up to the actors star power and talent to lift the film higher than it needs to be.

But will all the good comes the bad. Date Night has a very clichéd plot. The boring couple that suddenly have to go on the roller-coaster ride so they can rekindle their love that had been long lost. Simply Date Night plot is never surprising, pulsating or doesn't start, end or have any kind of bang to it. It has the jokes and the gags and the very special quiet moments but besides that there isn't anything else there.

For a film that doesn't try to be more than it can be, it still manges to be fun enough than most films. This all possible only due to its incredible cast and the filmmakers choice to give quiet moments to the film instead of a film at a maniacal pace. If anybody is in the mood for a light comedy Date Night is not a bad way to go.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Sex and the City 2 (2010)

director: Michael Patrick King

writer: Michael Patrick King

starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth

genre: Comedy, Romance

This film wasn't made for me. But then again I don't believe this film was made for the true fans of the TV show Sex and the City. This film is better than first but that isn't saying much. I'm still sad to see that the original creators of the show aren't once again involved with the film and that not even touch or a spec of realism and charm that the show had is still not present in the second film adaption of the TV show.

Two years after the events of the first film, the girls are still alive and kicking in New York. All in the same situation that we had left them in the last film. But new problems arise as they always do. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Big (Chris Noth) are having marriage troubles meaning there just not use to being married yet. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is in a job she doesn't enjoy. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is afraid her nanny might do something with her husband and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is in menopause. All of them are trying to get through things find the chance to escape and manage go to Abu Dhabi for vacation. There they will solve and confront some of their problems and have one of the craziest adventurous of their lives.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the show but have seen enough of it to enjoy and know well it's style and character. The problem once again with this film as with the first, is that it still falls short of being anything like the TV show. What I mean by that is that it falls short by adding material, scenes, moments that the TV show would never have. The first and the second film have silly montages, over the top music scenes, clear advertisement moments for fashion, and makeup and moments where their is prejudice to other cultures. All these things are the biggest problems of the films that were never featured on the show and not so much the melodrama or the giggly girlie moments the film may have.

Where the film is ever so slightly better is that it doesn't have it's main character Carrie go cuckoo as in the first film and that it spend more time evenly with the other main woman characters. Carrie does once again create a stupid situation for herself as she did in the first film. And this formula feels quite repetitive. But its not so much about Carrie being hysteric with Big but about her being clumsy with him. Also there are many smart jokes that any girl or guy would laugh at and are one of the saving factors of the film.

To conclude Sex and City 2 was a minor improvement from the fist film and once again made most of us wish that we were rather watching the TV show instead. Hoping there will be no more films isn't easy, as a lot of money is involved. Another film will probably happen and all the girls will run for the theaters. All I have to say is, go waste your money girls on the DVD sets of all 6 seasons. Because both films and probably any amount more that will be made will never amount to what the TV show was, as long as the main creators and minds of the show Darren Star and Candace Bushnell aren't involved in the process.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Remember Me (2010)

director: Allen Coulter

writers: Will Fetters

starring: Robert Pattinson, Emile De Ravin, Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan

genre: Drama, Romance

It seems that I've been seeing too many romantic films lately. Either I'm far too much in love or I have a death wish for cliched films. The said film here is what I have been talking about in countless of my reviews. Of a more serious type of romance film, with drama and that is down to earth in many of its aspects. This film for many might be a waste of time due vampire Edward Pattinson being in it. But the film ain't that bad and the film's fault aren't of his fault.

Remember Me is all about Ally (Emile de Ravin) and Tyler (Robert Pattinson). They both have gone through tragedy in their life but still try to move forward. Both have come from tough backgrounds, Tyler's brother committed suicide and Ally's mother died in front of her eyes when she was a child. Both still haunted and affected these events try to enjoy life and fix things for themselves and their families. Tyler and Ally once together seem to have accomplished what they always wanted, love, clarity and peace and a way of moving forward themselves, coming to accord with the past and connecting their family.

The ultimate problem with the film is that it gets its point across and then it makes the mistake of trying to go even deeper in your skin with a even deeper message that i thought it was misplaced within the film and completely unnecessary. I wont spoil it, but keep your mind open for something you wont expect towards the end of the film. Its not the twist of the century but it plays out the ending of the film in a different matter that I didn't understand the necessity for it. The film is about father issues and family coming together. Getting through tragedy and hoping for a better future. Then when you've got the message, the ending gives you a final touch to it which wasn't a bad thing but they way they did it is where many will be puzzled and rightly so.

I managed to enjoy Remember Me. For its performances, for its fresher take on the genre compared to today's romantic films, and for the film to actually have the guts to play it risky instead of playing it safe with its story. Even though I still didnt go bananas for the film I still recommend it.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

the Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

director: David Slade

writer: Melissa Rosenberg

starring: Robert Pattison, Kirsten Stewart, Taylor Lautner

genre: Fantasy, Romance

Twilight is known as the never-ending love triangle between Bella (Kristen Stewart), Jacob (Taylor Lautner), and Edward (Robert Pattinson) and continues in the latest addition to the Twilight saga in the third film Eclipse. Although I must say I am not a fan of Twilight , this by far has been the best movie of the series in my opinion.

In Eclipse, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and the malicious vampire known as Victoria continues her quest for revenge against Bella. In the midst of it all, Bella is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob , knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampires and werewolfs. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.

It's by far the best movie of the series so far. It has managed to blend the melodrama and action to create a superb movie that makes the most of all resources put into it. The actors are finally given the chance to shine and to deliver, while the secondare characters are brought into focus without having the story lose that sense of emergency.

In the Twilight Saga: Eclipse, you cant have anything exciting like blood and gory death scenes as we are all acustomed to in other vampire movies (ex. Blade). Instead in this movie the vampires get their heads ripped off and instantly turn into mannequins injuries (personally they could have done better ). Unfortunately Melissa Rosenbergs script isnt helping with the whole idea of vampirers and wolves because simply the whole material of the movie is based on romance for preteen girls and brainwashed housewives mesmerized by Jacobs abs (who could not say no to Jacobs abs?) and glitter paint (sorry not a fan of glitter boys). In terms of special effects it's a definite imrovement and can be noticed with the fights between wolves and vampires.

Although Rosenberg's writing has never been the problem in the series generally, the credit for the success of the “Eclipse” should probably go to the third director of the series, David Slade. He finally wrapped up the indulgence in this teenage girl fantasy , that two hight school hunks are in love with her and willing to die for her, exept,of course that one is already undead. Enjoy the film!

Personal Rating:

Review by Danai725

Metroland (1997)

director: Philip Savile

writers: Adrian Hodges

starring: Christian Bale, Emma Watson

genre: Drama, Romance

Romantic films usually miss the point entirely. Focus is always or most usually put on the story of two hated individuals that will eventually fall in love or a love that has a deep secret that has to be revealed so the both can be together. Formulas that Metroland and other serious romance films stray away from by being more original. Analyzing how romance can be boring and how a midlife crisis can play out.

Chris (Christian Bale) is married man in his 30's who's having a midlife crisis. He lives the normal life with a job, child and his wife Marion (Emily Watson) but its not enough for him. Ideas and thoughts follow him day to day and thing only get worse with the arrival of his old friend Toni (Lee Ross). More memories come afloat as he relives his old love life and if he would have been happier living his life differently with one of his old loves or his wife.

What attracted toward the film was its depiction of the main characters Chris and Marion. The in doubt, tempted husband on the brink of midlife crisis and the depressed wife in need of her husband's commitment to the marriage. Their portrayals and performance are what make this film so good.

Also the content matter of the film is very interesting and usually never played out in realistic terms in other romantic films. Things like sexual boredom, past-fantasies, tempting seduction and the change of partners are sometimes too taboo for mainstream audiences that are only in the mood for a fairy tale story. As if the man or woman of the film cant be a in a love and flawed at the same time.

Every time one of these type films actually make it too the cinema it's a blessing. You cant alway be in the mood for a cliche romance film every month or so. Even weird romance films like Sex and Death 101 are a breath of fresh air. This old romance of the 90's is worth your time and patience. So check it out.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Killers (2010)

director: Robert Luketic

writers: Bob DeRosa, Ted Griffin

starring: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl

genre: Comedy, Romance

"Marriage..give it your best shot"

In the movie we meet Jen (Katherine Heigl) and Spencer (Ashton Kutcher). An ordinary happy couple of a 3 year marriage, who meet and fall in love in while they were both on vacation in France. Soon Jen and Spencer get a surprise and their happy suburban life changes, when Jen discovers that her husband Spencer used to be a undercover government assassin (Spencer: "Let's just say that i used to work for the bla bla bla and they gave me a license to bla). And he discovers that the career he thought had left behind now has a 20 million dollar bounty on his head.

Jen and Spencer soon find out that they cannot trust anyone because the killers have hired friends, neighbors and co-workers all around them. Jen and Spencer life's turns into a race to save their life's and fight off their crazy neighbor-money-hungry killers.

The movie Killers is not a completely devoted to moral lessons and the qualities of life. Its a movie that shows us what marriage is about, trust and honesty.

Also the movie has many scenes which the characters partake in shootings, car chases and a martial arts style of violence with deaths that are of gruesome nature at times. I find this violence is a bit too gruesome for the comedic genre and the audience who will go and see this film. Even though film has cliches it does have very funny moments and is a enjoyable summer to watch with your partner. I personally recommend it!

Personal Rating:

Review by Danai725

She's Out of My League (2010)

director: Jim Field Smith

writers: Sean Anders, John Morris

starring: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve

genre: Comedy, Romance

Not only do we romantic films filled with cliches, fairy tales and whatsoever other lie filled conventional story that get made year after year. But we also have films that put their central character in situations that have no possible way of happening or no belief whatsoever of that given situation. "She's Out of My League" try's to be a film about self-confidence and being yourself for love, but fails miserably with a stupid scenario situation, not enough meaning to its plot and poor quality jokes.

Kirk (Jay Baruchel) is the classic cliched character. Fell in love with a bad person and cant get unstuck until he finds the most beautiful person ever. Kirk is skinny & normal looking airport security guard that nobody expects better of him. Molly (Alice Eve) is a beautiful successful event planner that has the world in her hands. Together they are the odd couple that nobody can believe they are together. Both have to overcome their insecurities to make the relationship work and stay in love. If you think about it, its not that bad of a idea. The whole insecurity angle, playing on people's confidence in romance. Just wish it wasn't for the crazy ideas this film has and its easiness to fall on to conventional story progression, it would have been all fine.

The film is filled with classic cliches and set-ups that are quite predictable. The trick of rehashing a plot is having a point to it or brining something a bit more new to the table. Sadly that angle which I mentioned before wasnt enough and not built up in a better way. But the biggest problem is the family setting for the starring character Kirk. We all know these films have people with terrible lives. But when it goes to very unrealistic means I just cant buy it. Supposedly his father bought a pool instead of paying for his college, his ex-girlfriend was practicaly adopted by his family which is never properly defined in the film, and his family love her and her new boyfriend more than him. If you can get around all these silly details you might like the film a little bit more than I did.

It's a conventional romantic comedy with too little comedy, not a strong enough leading male, and a lot of insane ideas that i couldn't go along with. I wouldn't recommend this to anybody even though the film is not the worst of it's genre. In the mood for real romance? See Metroland (1997) or Kate & Leopold (2001).

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

It's Complicated (2009)

director: Nancy Myers

writer: Nancy Myers

starring: Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Steve Martin

genre: Comedy, Romance

The previous month i had written a review about the best romantic comedy of the year. I mentioned there how a romantic comedy can personally attract me. My examples were primarily, for the characters situations to be similar with my own. Well it cant always be just that. But also a more realistic plot, some inteligence and an overall point to the story. It's Complicated is a adult romantic comedy meant for people over 30 or 40 years old. Its funny and dosent for any step of the way think you the audience as a moron to believe that anything that happens on a cinema screen is possible.

The film follows Jane (Meryl Streep) and her single life after her 10 year divorce from her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin). Both are lucky to have 3 glorious kids. One of which is graduating from college. By chance they meet again at the hotel before of their kids college graduation. And as you guessed old sparks of love come back. Weirdness and guiltiness are the first reactions. But isnt always that simple. Jane having after a while, a youthful experience, still dosent realize the consequences. In the meantime she does meet a very nice architect Adam (Steve Martin) who is going to help renovate her home. So new sparks do fly. It will be up to her to realize what she truly desires. Her old flame which everything had gone wrong and could go wrong again or the very nice architect who could do no wrong.

Nancy Myers has had one hell of a career. Making some of the best adult romantic comdey films of the last two decades. None of them were perfect. But most were of a very good quality and entertainment. Most of us liked What Women Want, and who can complain about Something Gotta Give. All her films for their cliches, and happy endings all had great performances, funny plots, with funny situations. Also the fact that all her films put beloved actors in memorable situations. Gibson hearing women, Baldwin naked scene her and Nicholson's naked scene in Something Gotta Give. All of those scenes gave us lots of memorable and funny moments. She still hasnt made a masterpiece in my opinion but deserves acknowledgment for understanding the genre and what an audience wants and deserves.

Here in her new film, she continues with her trend of a serious and adult romantic comedy. This time its the story of a divorced couple that still have a spark of love between them. It's a interesting question she puts to us. After hatred, turmoil and divorce, could two people who once loved each other, love again? Well that all depends. And the film doesn't offer a insane way of implementing the idea. All the problems of Jane and Jake are realistic. He's seen what hes lost and she doesn't know who to go for. Life isnt perfect as the film shows and the fact that feelings aren't always easy to decipher. Because pressure, excitement and guilt all play big roles in our life for better or for worse.

In the end this is a Hollywood system film, made by one of the few system directors that actually has good feel of the genre. Anybody over 40 and women will surely eat this film up. I recommend this film to anybody in the mood to warm their heart up with Alec Baldwin's naked body. Hey oh!

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

director: Marc Webb

writers: Scott Neustadler, Michael H. Weber

starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

genre: Comedy, Romance

Let me start this review by stating that I'm like anyone else, I have had some romance in my life. Some good, some bad and some great. And due to this I have a specific way of looking at love and romance. I prefer for a more realistic way of seeing romance in cinema. Instead of just accepting the way romantic comedy's of Hollywood are. Love and relationships are portrayed today in a manner as if there is always something perfect. But the truth is everything is fake and out of order. Everything doesn't have a happy ending and every story dosent have to be recycled. A logical person will be fed up with the genre by now. But then comes a film like this that changes it all around. (500) Days of Summer happens to be the best romantic comedy of the year and any couple should jump to the chance and see this film.

The story is of Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his 500 days of knowing Summer (Zooey Deschanel). From their first meeting to the very end of their connection. As the film says from the very beginning this not a love story. The films story is more like a retrospective of what love can do to a man. From the ecstasy it brings him, to the depression that it can lead him to. Tom always wanted to find the love of his life. But sometimes finding the love of your life doesn't mean you are the love of their life.

Sometimes when we critique films we get too caught up in the details and the production of a film. We forget to mention just simply the way a film makes us feel emotionally. Each film leaves a diffrent impact on us. (500) Days of Summer made me once again see in a different way the beauties and hardships of love. The film is not the most glamorous take on love or the most devasting depiction of depression due to love lost. It's the little things that the makers of this film wanted to emphasize on. Too much do we look to the extremes in the genre with a grand chase scene, where at the last second the women will realize she has made a mistake or the man runs to catch the female before her plane leaves. Here the only glorified moment is a fantasy scene of how any one of us feel when we are truly happy.

What many films lack is a connection to the characters experiences with our own. I can understand the way the characters feel because I've passed similar situations. How love and relationships change our outlook at life and the way we live it. You go into love either a cynic or romantic and in the end you might change your mind about what really love is to you. Of course based on the outcome of your own experience. (500) Days of Summer hits this message right on the nail. It precisely shows that love is all about coincidence and chance. Love will happen or it wont. We all don't deserve love or will finally get it. Its sad how it is. But thats how it works and thats how this film treats the subject so well. Of course there will be tiny cliches here and there but where talking about the genre of recycled crap right? But the overall message of the film is that love can always strike again, as long as you don't let chance pass you by.

Ill end by saying that romantic comedies are not like any other genre. As bad as they get people still go and see them. Few romantic films come out, that i can relate to the characters experiences. And there is where the trick lies with me. Something realistic, plausible and smart like we have here, is always the right way to go in these kind of films. But people for odd reasons, lets call it lack of taste, enjoy Sex and the City the movie for example. How can they relate with the characters? The question can answer itself. Either their terribly ignorant or people just dont care. People dont care enough about the genre to ask for better romantic films. So take this chance that a great romantic film has been made and see it while you can. Because the mass audience of people who don't care about the bad films, are the ones who think love is connected to money, fame, muscles and fairy tale scenarios. Say no to Pretty Woman, say no to the Ugly Truth and just say yes to (500) Days of Summer.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

director: Chris Weitz

writers: Melissa Rosenberg

starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Twilight fever has been high. Audiences (little girls) all over the world going bananas for this film. Now compared to the first film why did New Moon get these huge numbers? Did it actually manage to be a better film than the first, did it make the franchise be respected amongst serious movie goers? No and no and of course hell no. New Moon is actually a worse film than its predecessor with silly drama, mixed romances and odd plot direction.

The story continues from were the first film left off. Bella (Kristen Stewart) is still infatuated with Edward (Robert Pattinson) and enjoying life with their soap operish dialogue. After she gets a paper-cut on her birthday at the Vampire Cullen house, she gets attacked by one of the vampires. This event becomes a revelation to Edward who now sees that he and his family are danger to her. Bella now lost goes super dramatic but finds her old friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner) with muscles. Now she feels much better with Jacob but jinxed as she finds out that he is a werewolf. And from there the story goes for Bella to decide what she really wants, the werewolf or Edward the vampire.

I was actually one of the few people that didn't have that much of a problem with the first film. It wasn't as terrible as some people made it out to be. So I actually was going in with good expectations for New Moon. But after the weird things I heard about the film and the bad trailer, my expectations went the way of the dodo. The film manages to be at the same entertainment level of the first film but much more annoying with idiotic and awkward moments. Most of which were purposefully put for little girls to go ape shit.

With the second film a new director came to the project and brought practically nothing new to it. The only part where i can see any significant change from the first film was with the small action scenes that were of better quality and not as amateur. But that is of no excuse for him for putting shots of Edward with his shirt blowing in the wind or Jacob taking his shirt off on purpose to show off his six pack.

But that's not even the cherry on the cake. The major problem of this film is the treatment of Bella's character into psycho. Due to Edward leaving her, she goes crazy. She starts seeing him everywhere. Now she wants to do idiotic things so she can see him again. Forgetting about her friends and screaming in her sleep. Really? If the filmmakers thought that all of this would be a good message for the a young teenage audience of how a woman should act to rejection than bravo. Because its disgraceful. There's is no admirable characteristic to Bella with her crazy behavior. And im not even going into detail about the whole Vampire and Werewolf mythos that is dealed within the film. Because its here there and everywhere.

To conclude the film manages to be worse than the first. There is no reason to see this film. Save your money and rent this instead of seeing it at the cinema. This film was made for girls who still haven't grown up or realized what love, commitment, passion or sex is. And lets not forget the older women who are suckers for romantic novels and for romantic films without caring about the quality of the material.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

director: P.J. Hogan

writers: Tracey Jackson, Tim Firth

starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, John Lithgow, John Goodman, Joan Cusack

genre: Comedy, Romance







Η Ιστορία:

Νεαρή κοπέλα που ακούει στο όνομα Rebecca Bloomwood μένει μαζί με την κολλητή της (Suze), ώσπου μια μέρα της χτυπάει την πόρτα το αποτέλεσμα της εμμονής της με τα ψώνια ,δηλαδή το χρέος από τις πιστωτικές κάρτες! Η Rebecca που δούλευε ως δημοσιογράφος, χάνει την δουλεία της και μένει κυριολεκτικά χωρίς χρήματα, με αποτέλεσμα να ψάχνει για δουλειά οπουδήποτε.Όνειρό της ήταν από μικρή να δουλέψει στο περιοδικό Alette, μα έπειτα από την αποτυχία της να μπεί εκεί ως δημοσιογράφος, καταλήγει να δουλέψει σε οικονομικής φύσης περιοδικό, όπου θα γνωρίσει καλύτερα τον εκδότη του,Luke Brandon. Μαζί λοιπόν θα ανακαλύψουν τον πραγματικό τους εαυτό και ο καθένας τους θα προσπαθήσει να βγεί από τα αδιέξοδα που αντιμετωπίζει..

Η Κριτική:

Μόνο και μόνο από τον τίτλο της ταινίας καταλαβαίνει κανείς ότι πρόκειται για άλλη μια αμερικάνικη κομεντί, που ουσιαστικά δεν έχει τίποτα να προσφέρει, παρά μόνο μιάμιση ώρα γέλιου και μαλιστα κοινότυπου και σκηνικα που σίγουρα τα έχετε ξαναδεί.

Όμως ας τα πάρουμε τα πράγματα από την αρχή. Η ταινία βγήκε στην διάρκεια της οικονομικής κρίσης και κατά την γνώμη μου το όλο σεναριακό εγχείρημα ήταν άμεσα επηρεασμένο από αυτήν με αποτέλεσμα να μου φανεί προσωπικά όλο αυτό ώς “πάτημα επί πτωμάτων” με σκοπό να εντυπωσιάσει.

Παρ' όλα αυτά δεν είναι άσχημη ταινία.Και όταν λέω δεν είναι άσχημη εννοώ ότι ειλικρινά δεν σε κάνει να κλάψεις από την απογοήτευση των όσων παρακολουθείς αλλά από την άλη δεν σου αφήνει και κάποια καινούργια γεύση στον ουρανίσκο. Μεγάλο ρόλο σε αυτό παίζει η Isla Fisher την οποία πραγματικά λατρεύω, όχι για τα κινηματογραφικά της skills, αλλλα για την γλυκύτητα και την χαλαρότητα που βγάζει μπροστά στον φακό.

Όσον αφορά το υπόλοιπο cast της ταινίας λίγα πράγματα έχω να πώ, μιας και είναι ένα ακόμα κλασσικό cast από ωραίους μα άπειρους ηθοποιούς, που χωρίς να το θέλουν, καταλήγουν να επαναλαμβάνονται χωρίς να το πάνε ένα βήμα παραπέρα. Η σκηνοθεσία για το είδος δεν μου άφησε κακές εντυπώσεις και μάλιστα θα έλεγα ότι με εξέπληξε σε σημεία της ταινίας, θυμίζοντας μου τα μεγαθήρια του είδους.

Με λίγα λόγια η ταινία δεν έχει να δείξει και πολλά και με την πρωταγωνίστρια να παρουσιάζεται ως ένα αμερικάνικο στερεότυπο δεν καταφέρνει τίποτε άλλο από το να χαρακτηριστεί τυπικότατη και με ελλείψεις σε όλους τους τομείς.

Γενικότερα,το Confessions of a Shopaholic είναι μια καλύτερη έκδοση του Sex And The City, δηλαδή μια ακόμη ταινία χωρίς προσωπικότητα και κάτι με το οποίο δεν χρειάζεται να ασχοληθεί κάποιος που θέλει να δει μια καλή κινηματογραφική απόπειρα. Πιστεύω παρ' όλα αυτά ότι κορίτσια του Γυμνασίου θα την εκτιμήσουν πολύ, όπως επίσης και όσοι θέλουν να δουν κάτι που δεν θα τους κουράσει πνευματικά και θα τους κάνει να περάσουν δύο παρά κάτι χαλαρές ώρες. Όσον αφορά τους υπόλοιπους, η άποψη μου είναι να μην μπούν καν στον κόπο να την δουν.

Άν δεν κάνω λάθος το Confessions of a Shopaholic έχει κυκλοφορήσει ήδη σε dvd, όπότε σε καμία περίπτωση μην ξοδέψετε τα λεφτά σας να την δείτε κάπου έξω.

Καλή προβολή!

Προσωπική βαθμολογία:

Review by Kapapi

The Ugly Truth (2009)

director: Robert Luketic

writer: Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith, Nicole Eastman

starring: Gerald Butler, Katherine Heigl

genre: Comedy, Romance

The trouble with romantic comedies lately is that there not funny and not so romantic. Why is that? It’s probably that they rehash the same old formulas and just believe the talent of the actors will make everything ok. Well it cant always be like that. Ugly Truth again is just like all the rest of romantic comedy's this year, little bit of funny and a little bit romantic but not enough to make a more satisfying package.

Abby (Katherine Heigl) is a beautiful woman, smart, attractive and professional. But the love her life hasn’t come just yet. After trouble at her morning TV show and her bad dates she’s stumbles on a tv show the ugly truth by Mike Chadaway (Gerald Butler). He gives her a ranting she needs to wake up. By coincidence he's hired to her program and the antagonism begins. The two at odds come to together to show that they can help each other. As Mike helps Abby with her love life she helps him with his career. But they will both will see that helping and caring for someone that deeply means something much much more.

The reason why romantic comedies don’t work anymore is primarily that events occur in the film that are not believable. Meaning something most people would never do. What im asking from a romantic film right? But im not asking for something that’s not possible, but give me something that will either make me laugh with that scene or make me tear up. Simple stupid scenes that are just there to move the plot along dosent move anything, it just drags an nonexistent plot knowhere. And makes us not sympathize with the characters for their dumb decisions.

Classic musical montage, little bit of silly romantic stuff which you cant avoid in the genre are in the film. But there is also some funny scenes and the most important factor the chemistry between Heigl and Butler is great. But as always the plot is predictable and ends too quickly. Wished every romantic comedy passed through the hands of Woody Allen or Richard Curtis for a re write because at least then it be more of a pleasure.

I think you get my drift on my feelings about romantic comedies. I just want what my mom's generation had back in their time, quality even if the plot is a rehash of something else. I enjoyed the film as much as i did The Proposal and he’s just not that into you and that's the problem. Too much of the same lowers the rating for the film but still has a cute feeling and i believe most people will enjoy it even for its standard plot.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul