Movie #1724 ........................."Juliet, Naked"

Movie #1724 "Juliet, Naked" was a quirky film I saw on the airplane the other night --- noticed that Chris O'Dowd and Rose Byrne were in it, and the plot sounded "out there" so I watched it and chuckled a few times.  I DO believe there are some people who are obsessed with someone famous like Chris (playing Duncan) is in this movie, and a stalwart partner who puts up with it like Rose Byrne (Annie).  The goofy twist is that Annie starts up a relationship with the object of Duncan's obsession and then it's a whole new ballgame that was fun to watch.  I esp. liked the little boy who follows Tucker around --- he helps make Tucker more of a likable character, which helps the movie out.  I'd give this 4 stars out of 5.  Liked it and its quirkiness.  And the subject matter was different for a rom-com.









"JULIET, NAKED"

Juliet, Naked

 2018 R 1h 37m 

Once madly in love with Annie, his longtime girlfriend, Duncan has become more dedicated to faded rocker Tucker Crowe than to her, causing the relationship to flounder. But in a surprising twist of fate, it's Annie who ultimately connects with Tucker.

Cast 

Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Dodds, Jimmy Ouyang, Lily Brazier, Enzo Cilenti, Denise Gough, Phil Davis

Director 

Jesse Peretz

Genres 

Comedy, Romantic Comedies

Moods 

Romantic

 

Recommended based on your interest in 20th Century Women, Room, Captain Fantastic

Movie #1723 ........................."Booksmart"

Movie #1723 "Booksmart" is a film I really enjoyed!  Funny/witty from beginning to end, I guess it could be compared to "Superbad" for women, but so much better!  There were really only a couple of moments that I had to look away and roll my eyes because the situation was so sophomoric, it became unbelievable, but there were very few.  It's smart, up-to-date, risky (a  lesbian sex scene that was done well and believably for two young girls), and what I really liked about it the most is that it actually showed a strong female relationship between two friends (not lovers, but BEST friends) and what it takes to be a good friend --- I can't remember any moments (besides a big blow out fight) where they aren't building each other up --- how refreshing that is!  And the director Olivia Wilde had me from the get go when she introduces the kids in the opening on their way to school , and when they see each other , they communicate that greeting with dance steps --- it was very funny and just the right tip off if you are going to enjoy the film or not.  And I Loved it --- 5 stars out of 5 from me.  I want to take Dave to it and own it next so I can show it to others.  I liked "Eighth Grade" last year, but this is even better!  Excellent script writing here, in my opinion.

"BOOKSMART"

Booksmart

 2019 R 1h 42m Blu-ray/DVD  

On the eve of their graduation from high school, best friends Amy and Molly -- both 

academic overachievers -- realize they've missed four years of fun and set out to make 

up for lost time ... all in one night.

Cast 

Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Eduardo Franco, Noah Galvin, Skyler Gisondo, Molly Gordon, Billie Lourde, Michael Patrick O'Brien

Director 

Olivia Wilde

Genres 

Comedy, Teen Comedies, Coming of Age, Indie Comedies

Moods 

Witty

Movie #1722 ........................."The Sun is also a star"

Movie #1722 "The Sun is also a star" was a movie I saw in NYC while it was raining on a recent visit.  Movie pass paid for it (saved me $16.95 in NYC!  wow!would have been $5 in Illinois) Okay, so I am a big fan of "Before Sunrise" & "Before Sunset"( all those Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy movies) where it is one day in the life of two people who meet on a train and the whole movie is just dialogue exchanged between the two.  This one has other people in it that have dialogue esp. John Leguizamo (love him) as a lawyer who plays an important part in both of their lives.  And the actress from "Grownish" is able to sustain my interest, but the guy, not so much --- he seemed the weak link.  Also, the pacing is so slow --- there are huge gaps ---- for what?  And then I have problems with the ending --- (don't read this next paragraph if you plan to see the film)

Ending doesn't work for me because I had two big questions after watching it --- she says she lost him somewhere and couldn't contact him for 5 years, yet when she was looking for him earlier in the film, she remembered his dad owned a hair place (family business) and found him that way --- did that place close?  if it did, you can usually find where it moved to or what happened to it...
the other question is that if he was so in love with her and hated to see her go and pines for her on college campuses (like the movie suggested), she had his phone number and he had hers, why didn't he connect once in a while , just in case. or if he changed his phone number, why wouldn't he tell her before , just in case she wanted to contact him.

Dumb ending ---

But it did get across a strong theme --- the importance of the day --- but that's a very popular theme in a ton of movies on the same subject.  After a while I didn't care about these people, and I don't think you will.  I don't recommend it.  I would give it a 3 because the girl is very good, but after it's all over, the movie wasn't that good,  and I am a sucker for good romances.

P.S.m  the film IS topical, dealing with an immigrant issue --- wish it would have done more of that!

The Sun Is Also a Star

 2019 PG-13 1h 40m 

Born in Jamaica but now living in New York City, realist Natasha Kingsley is facing imminent deportation. As she looks for an eleventh-hour reprieve to remain in America, fate leads her to meet young dreamer Daniel Bae ... and sparks fly.

Cast 

Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, John Leguizamo, Jake Choi, Keong Sim, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Cathy Shim, Camrus Johnson, Jordan Williams

Director 

Ry Russo-Young

Genres 

Drama, Dramas Based on the Book, Romantic Dramas, Teen Dramas, Teen Romance

Moods 

Emotional, Romanti

Movie #1721 ........................."Long Shot"

Movie #1721 "Long Shot" --- Got to see this movie the other day and came out kind of foggy about how I felt about the whole movie because I liked parts of it, but other parts not so much!  There's a section that brings us to the high point that I didn't find funny at all, but I applaud the guts the film shows generally ---- The story offers very little new to  the category of rom com, but in comedy in general, it tries to tackle some tricky political issues and our state of the government, which isn't easy to do.  I don't like Seth Rogen's  careless, angry demeanor, usually ---- and I really didn't care for it in this film either, but Charlize Theron is really, really good --- she's believable, she takes chances, she can take lame dialogue and elevate it (which she does here occasionally) and can actually makes us believe at times that she falls in love with Rogen.  He, on the other hand, has some problems with that and it affects the chemistry between the two of them --- they like each other, and you can sense that, but love?  not sure.  Anyway, I think the film pushed to get to  that last frame, when we see an interview with a female president and the "first gentleman" --- like:  "get used to it, folks!  some day!"  I appreciated that and many of the messages in the film, so I would rate it 3.8 out of 5.  This film, and most comedies, constantly remind me just how difficult it is to make a good, solid comedy.  Nice attempt here.  (disclaimer:  pretty crude in parts -- well, it's seth rogen!)

Long Shot

 2019 R 2h 5mins

 Like many a child, journalist Fred Flarsky had an unrequited crush on his baby sitter. Years later, after she's become one of the most famous and respected women in the world, Fred decides to make his move.

Cast 

Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård, Randall Park, Ravi Patel, Lisa Kudrow, James Saito, Aviva Mongillo, Tristan D. Lalla, George Chiang, Wanya Morris, Daniel Rindress-Kay, Sean Tucker, Sean Curley

Director 

Jonathan Levine

Genres 

Comedy, Romantic Comedies, Political Comedies

Moods 

Goofy

Movie #1720........................."Poms"

Movie #1720 "Poms" --- this hasn't gotten rave reviews from the critics (43%) but the audience likes it (73%) and I agree with them.  I have always felt that the critics don't give enough credit to how difficult it is to do comedies.  I have enjoyed some comedies that critics have only given 25%  --- esp. in rom coms, there are just a few directions a writer can go when writing this genre, so I don't take much stock  for a critic to say "been there, done that."    It's not a helpful review to me for comedies.  So I usually have to look at the credentials --- who is in it?  who wrote it?  who directed it?  I saw this one because of Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver  --- and it looked believable that they were all in this retirement home trying to capture their youth.  The conflict was a bit weak, and Helen's son was written as  way too big of an ass and unbelievable, but other than that, the end of the film I found quite inspiring ---- and the messages are important ones in our society today.  And these ladies shown a lot of bravery, esp. Diane Keaton, to be filmed the way they were in this film.  I know it's not for everybody, but there are young people in it, so it isn't way off base, if you gen xers see it with your moms or grandmas.  There aren't a lot of guys in it but I think men would identify with the ageism.  but who knows?  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

Poms

 2019 PG-13 

In this uplifting comedy, life in a retirement community is anything but retiring for a group of young-at-heart senior ladies who decide to pull out the pom-poms and form a cheerleading squad.

Cast 

Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Pam Grier, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman, Alisha Boe, Phyllis Somerville, Charlie Tahan, Bruce McGill, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Carol Sutton, Patricia French, Sharon Blackwood, David Maldonado

Director 

Zara Hayes

Genres 

Comedy, Indie Comedies

Moods 

Inspiring

Movie #1719 ........................."Dater's Handbook"

Movie #1719 "Dater's Handbook" --- this is the other Meghan Markle film on the Hallmark double pack dvd , and surprisingly , I liked this one, too.  I liked the guy in this one better --- and the plot, too.  She changes a bit --- in the other one, she seemed younger and giggly, esp. in the opening.  In this one she is a smart aleck when she's with the whimsical, creative guy, and much starchier (like she probably is with the queen) with the more conservative guy.  I bought the premise, too.  She is known in her family to always pick the "wrong" guy, the noncommittal one.  So she leaves her choices up to her sister and mom and a professional lady's dater's handbook...... of course, that will never work, but it's fun to watch them figure that out.  It's fun, snd I'd give it 4 out of 5.  But not necessary to see.  Of course, it might be the best thing she's ever done, but I can't speak on that because I have never seen anything else (besides the previous movie in the pack) she has done.

"DATER'S HANDBOOK"    2016         1 hour and 26 mins.

Cass is a successful business woman that appears unsuccessful in her personal life and decides to try The Daters Handbook at her sisters encouragement and dates several guys to test the process

Director:

 James Head

Writers:

 Jennifer Barrow, Rich Tabach

Stars:

 Meghan Markle, Kristoffer Polaha, Jonathan Scarfe 

Movie #1718 ........................."When Sparks Fly"

Movie #1718 "When Sparks Fly" ---- so with the royal baby coming into the world the other day, I decided I should get more acquainted with his mum, so I picked up one of those hallmark two-packs and this was the first movie I saw her in ---- she's impressive , for a hallmark film --- ie, I would actually seek her out in more films if she were making them --- which I don't think she will ever do again.  Anyway, this would be a fun movie to show at 4th of July because it deals with her family owning the only fireworks company in this small town, but she leaves it to go to Chicago to follow her dream of being a big deal journalist, but she's unhappy with that job.  When she goes back to be in her best friend's wedding, she finds out her bf is marrying her old boyfriend, whom she still carries a torch for (but she hasn't seen since moving to Chicago).  Ooh!  another kind of fireworks start up --- I really didn't think the film could ever come to a happily ever after ending with that conflict, but Hallmark does amazing things in that department.  Seriously, she's a good actress, very wholesome, truthful, natural --- she'll be GREAT dealing with all her royal ness and that queen!  I'd give this 3.8 -- it was pretty predictable, but honest.

'WHEN SPARKS FLY"       2014        1 hour and 26   minutes

A big city journalist is sent back to her small hometown to write a Fourth of July story and discovers the life and love she left behind are exactly what she's been missing.

Director:

 Gary Yates

Writer:

 Carol Starr Schneider (teleplay) 

Stars:

 Meghan Markle, Lochlyn Munro, Chelsey Reist

Movie #1717 ........................."Chasing Liberty"

Movie #1717 "Chasing Liberty" --- saw that Matthew Goode was in this NETFLIX  streamable film and had to watch it (he's one of my very favorite actors).  Anyway, not a huge fan of Mandy Moore, but she was okay in this one --- BUT  nothing new with this story --- however,  with Goode playing the president's daughter's guide through Venice, Prague  and other beautiful European cities, and Mark Harmon as the President, well, that was kind of a win/win/win for me.  The story is lame, I'll grant you that , but it is nice to see an ethical person who doesn't give in to the ready and willing overtures from the other sex and gives the reason that he has to do his job!  It's nice to know if the ethical person is  still around (this is an older film, though, so who knows).  Anyway, I just watched it for the love story and the beautiful scenery, and for those I'd give it a 3.8 --- it is NOT a must see, unless you are like me and like Goode and Harmon!



"CHASING LIBERTY"    2004        1 hour and 51 minutes    PG-13

Anna wants to be like other girls her age (18): date a guy etc. but she's the US president's daughter and always guarded. In Prague he breaks his promise of only 2 agents following her to a concert and she runs away with Ben to see Europe.

Director:

 Andy Cadiff

Writers:

 Derek Guiley, David Schneiderman

Stars:

 Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode, Mark Harmon