Movie #219........................."Faithful in My Fashion"

Movie #219 "Faithful in My Fashion" is a black and white film, still another TCM movie on a Wednesday night tribute to Donna Reed, and it was one I hadn't seen, and I'm glad I did. It's not a classic by any means, but it was very refreshing in the story it was telling. I can honestly say it was different from most romantic comedies I had ever seen. Oh, not with the deception on one of the party's part, but on the reason why she was doing it. Here's the premise: Jeff (Tom Drake) returns after being gone for 4 years in the war, and he immediately goes to the store he used to work at, and to see the woman he used to work for, whom he has been carrying a torch for ever since he left ---- and he's been sending her money and he's ready to marry her ---- in his mind. she, Jean (he calls her Chunky? It's Donna Reed, not chunky) sees it a different way ---- he's a guy she dated a few times before he left for the war ---- a hero who now comes home and whom she doesn't want to let down, and neither do the quirky employees at the store --- there are 4 of them led by Edward Everett Horton, along with Spring Byington and Margaret Hamilton (the wicked witch of the west) and they convince Jean to pretend the past fours didn't happen, and that in the four years Jeff was gone, she did not get a huge job boost, she didn't change her apartment, and didn't get engaged - oh my. It's cheesy, chaotic, goofy, but its heart is in the right place. And Tom Drake and Donna Reed play the two characters so sincerely, you can't help but root for them to work it all out. Cute film. I give it 3.7 stars.

Movie # 217........................."Confessions of a Shopaholic"

Movie #217 "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is one of few romantic comedies that totally misses its mark to me. I hated it. Not much that redeems it --- the dialogue is inane, the characters are unlovable and they lack charm, and the plot is stupid --- yes, it passed the stupid line and in about only 15 minutes or less of viewing. I had just told someone yesterday that I couldn't remember a romantic comedy that I didn't like, but then this shows up!! And I was disappointed because there are so many big names in here: Joan Cusack, john Goodman, Christine Ebersole, and esp. Hugh Dancy --- so disappointing (had they really read the script before they signed on???) . Don't waste your time. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

Average rating: 3.34
I gave it one star
Confessions of a Shopaholic
(2009) PG
With dreams of writing for a top fashion glossy, shopping addict Rebecca (Isla Fisher) begins working for a financial magazine pushed by the same publisher. But as her career skyrockets, she struggles to pay off overwhelming bills -- and manage her love life. Joan Cusack, John Goodman and Krysten Ritter co-star in this glittery rom-com based on the best-selling series of Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella.

Movie #218........................."Valentine's Day"

Movie #218 "Valentine's Day" is kind of like an Americanized version of "Love Actually. In fact, at times it's funnier, but not as poignant or well acted as the former film. There aren't the meaty Emma Thompson breakdowns in this one, but there is also a kid who is missing his mom (his real valentine) , and two best friends that you know will get together eventually . It has faster editing and movement from one person to the next and many more characters than Love Actually. What a cool idea to take one day and show how silly, romantic, cheesy, loving, serious, crazy, deceptive (and more ) we can be when hit by Cupid's arrow. There were some neat, ironic casting with Topher Grace and Ashton Kutchner in the same film (but not sharing screen time) , Shirley Maclaine kissing Hector Elizondo in front of herself on the screen kissing her leading man, and speaking of Elizondo, he's sharing another film with Julia Roberts, but not being in a scene with her here. There are some in jokes from other movies they've done with Garry Marshall, and watch for Marshall's wife who has a key line in a hospital scene. I recommend it, but I'm a sucker for romantic comedies.






Average rating: 3.788
i gave it 4 stars
Valentine's Day
(2010) PG-13
In this Los Angeles-set comedy from director Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman), the tripwires of modern love are exposed in a carousel involving relationships and the single life on the most romantic day of the year: February 14. Proposals, infidelity, loneliness and more are explored. Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper and Patrick Dempsey lead a star-studded cast.

Movie #216........................."Leap Year"

Movie #216 "Leap Year" is a romantic comedy much like many others, two people hate each other, on a journey they learn a lot about themselves and the other person, discover they are soulmates, and come together at the end of the journey --- a 5 star film that set this path was "It Happened One Night." This is no "It Happened One Night." But a huge gauge for me if it's a good romantic comedy is that at the end of the film, I feel I will miss the couple and I truly believe they are in love --- And this film has all that and more, including drop dead beuatiful scenery (it is all filmed in Ireland), cute secondary characters, and a good theme on trying to live your life without regrets. I buy that, I buy the couple (the Irish guy is terrific -- want to see more of him, and Amy Adams never lets me down), and I buy the film.





Average rating: 3.709
I gave it 4 stars
Leap Year
(2009) PG
Anna (Amy Adams) chooses February 29 to propose marriage to her "perfect" boyfriend, Jeremy (Adam Scott), sure he'll accept because of an Irish custom. But after meeting charming innkeeper Declan (Matthew Goode) en route to Dublin, Anna must evaluate her original plans. Anand Tucker directs this charming romantic comedy about finding what one really wants in the most unexpected places. John Lithgow co-stars.

Movie #215........................."Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"

Movie #215 "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" has a witty script, and such a flow to it ------once it gets started. It took me two times starting the movie --- had trouble getting into it, but once it piqued my interest (about 15 minutes in it or so), the film took off for me and it was a continual delight as each calamity builds on to the next one! Love the people in it, too. Kudos to Almodovar, the director. His stuff never fails to amaze me --- but for different reasons. This one was a hoot, and now I understand the big poster that Dave's sister Kate owned with all the characters from this film. It has been in my Saved queue for netflix until Netflix got a hold of it, and I'm so glad I waited to see it! Thanks, Kate, for this one!




Average rating: 4.068
I gave it 4 stars
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios
(1988) R
After being dumped by her lover, Iván (Fernando Guillén), Pepa (Carmen Maura) finds her life -- and the lives of those around her -- spiraling out of control in this madcap farce from acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. As Pepa tries to contact Iván, her friend Candela (María Barranco) reveals her involvement with a terrorist, Iván's wife visits with loaded guns, and Iván is about to board a plane that Candela's boyfriend plans to hijack.

Movie #214 ........................."Ransom" (Glenn Ford one)

Movie #214 "Ransom" is not the Mel Gibson one and boy is it better. Glenn Ford is the dad, Donna Reed (whom I was named after) is the mother, and they handle the melodrama so much better than the remake of this classic film. I just caught this again on TCM the other night, and although I have seen it before, and also the remake, there's something about this one that keeps my interest so much more. First, the acting is so much more believable --- what an intensity these actors need to be in through THE WHOLE movie with their son being kidnapped almost at the very beginning of the film. And all the twists and turns. What I liked about this original rendition is the relentlessness of the father to hold his ground, and not budge in giving in to the kidnapper --- he refuses to pay and turns the tables on the kidnapper, and he is so convinced that paying will bring harm to his son and perpetuate this crime further. This father is so brave to stand up to everyone ---- the police, the journalists, his family, and esp. his wife. It's intriguing to watch him stand firm. Second, if I can remember the differences between the modern and the classic, I think the classic was braver in its stand on NOT paying off kidnappers --- mostly because it could be ---- that stance in a film with Mel Gibson (high profile) would be a bit chancey in this day and age. So i guess what I'm saying is that this film is worth a second look (or a first, if you haven't seen it). But I'm giving it 4 stars because it does go into the melodrama a bit ---- I just think you won't mind it because it IS so well acted by Ford and Reed.

Movie #213 ........................."Letters to Juliet"

Movie #213 "Letters to Juliet" has Vanessa Redgrave, and it is shot in Verona and Siena (both of which we traveled in this past November), and Amanda Seyfried has the biggest eyes I have ever seen. I wanted to say something nice before I then wrote that the script is cliched, the guy they got to be Redgrave's grandson is a stick (actingwise and every other wise) , and personally, I think she would have had a better chance with the other guy (and that's not giving any of it away!) I DO think the set up is a cool idea, and I had a tear in my eye (sorry, romantic comedies are my very favorite, cliches and all) in the most romantic moment of all in the film --- that scene worked for me, but the end................oh please! Did I say the film scenes that work are with REdgrave and anybody but the stick?





I gave it 3.3 stars
Letters to Juliet
(2010) PG
By responding to a letter addressed to Shakespeare's tragic heroine Juliet Capulet, a young American woman (Amanda Seyfried) vacationing in Verona, Italy, sets in motion a series of events that leads her -- and the missive's lovelorn author (Vanessa Redgrave) -- in search of romance. Directed by Gary Winick, this deeply tender and uplifting drama also features Gael García Bernal and Franco Nero.