Monday, May 21, 2012

70. When In Rome (2010)- Mark Steven Johnson

When In Rome Trailer

For something that falls under the genre of a "romantic comedy," the only thing romantic about it is the Italian backdrop, but it is certainly not comedic- at all. Except maybe if you are the kind of person who laughs when you feel extremely awkward- then maybe you would find it funny. With a cast of potential, I was utterly disappointed at this lackluster excuse for a fairy tale. Kristen Bell stars as Beth, the ugly duckling who is completely consumed with her job as a curator. When she discovers that her beautiful, yet impulsive younger sister is getting married to an Italian man that she met just two weeks before, Beth has to be convinced to even go to the wedding. She obviously does, because the entire plot of the movie revolves around her being the worst maid of honor, getting frustrated about her own love life and stealing other people's coins out of a fountain. The movie had potential, the story wasn't awful (it was bad, don't get me wrong, but tolerable), except that the actors seemed completely uninterested and lame. I really wanted it to be cute, but it fell completely short and just left me feeling uncomfortable.

69. John Tucker Must Die (2006)- Betty Thomas

John Tucker Must Die Trailer

Everyone knows a John Tucker. "That guy" who is stunningly good looking, a total sports phenom, and completely capable of sustaining three girlfriends all at once, from different social circles so they don't realize that the others even exist. All is well and good in the life of a John Tucker, until the girls discover each other and are completely unamused. And what happens when you put those girls in a room together? They make a plan to destroy said man. This might be the basic premise of "John Tucker Must Die," but there is so much more to it than just a bunch of teenage girls getting revenge on their cheating ex boyfriend. There's herpes, man thongs, Elvis Costello, "the other tucker" and skip. Staring Brittany Snow, Ashanti, Sophia Bush and Penn Badgley, this is a comical play on high school stereotypes and their affect on the social dynamic that they function within. From the self obsessed head cheerleader, to the vegan teen activist, to the future Katie Couric, to the nobody who blends into the crowd, the comedy lies within the fact that these girls would never have been brought together without the one man they plot to destroy: John Tucker.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

82. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)- John Madden

The Best Exotic Marigod Hotel Trailer

A very charming depiction of a group of "seasoned" Brits, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" highlights what life is like in the golden years. The story begins with a handful of strangers sitting for hours in an airport after their flight to Jaipur has been cancelled. Soon, they are thrown into a run down, yet alluring hotel in the slums of India. They are immediately disappointed as the accommodations do not match up with those from their brochure. However, as the film progresses, the various characters are put through the physical, as well as mental challenges that come with growing older, all while learning to adapt to their unfamiliar surroundings. Whether it is getting your first real job working as a telemarketer, or learning to handle the death of those closest to you who are your peers, this film delves into it all. The script came with all of the attraction of a British "rom com": quick witty one liners, sentimental and relatable relationships, mixed with a little bit of heart break that can only be found with extremely well developed characters. Virtually a perfect movie, I left the theater feeling a mix of emotions- in a good way. The cast was stellar (Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Tena Desae...need I go on??) and all lived up to their respective reputations. This film may feature protagonists who's average age is above 60, but that does not mean that it can not be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

67. Love And Other Drugs (2010)- Edward Zwick


Besides the fact that both Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal are naked more in this movie than they are actually clothed, I didn't really see what the hype was all about. It actually seemed pretty cliché.  Hathaway plays Maggie, who a free spirit who suffers from Parkinson's disease. She reluctantly falls for womanizer, drug rep Jamie (Gyllenhaal) who goes from office to office trying to sell Viagra. The concept was there, but the follow through fell just short. There was something strange about the juxtaposition in her Parkinson's and the way it is dealt with, versus the "sport" of pharmaceutical sales. I think what I am most bothered about is that this film was marketed as a "rom com" when meanwhile there is nothing funny about it. It was sad and slightly disturbing, and the only enjoyable part was the obvious chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, which was certainly undeniable. It's not that it is a bad movie at all, I just think that it could've been better.