You're gonna be bothered by how cool I am.

Not because I think it's terribly good, but nor do I think it's as skin-peelingly bad as most of the critics seem to think it is. I actually rather enjoyed it, despite what I feel are deep flaws, and this is mostly due to the charm and talents of its stars, Amy Adams and Matthew Goode.


Leap Year

( Read more... )

IMDB's daily links list is often a rich source of interesting blog posts, but it's sometimes also a rich source of posts that make ME want to blog right back. Case in point, Entertainment Weekly Online's 24 Rom-Com Cliches We'd Retire. I agree with some of these, but others are downright ridiculous, and some only have a couple of examples - hardly a cliche. Let's have a look, shall we? (Bolded headings lead to EW's thoughts on the cliche in question.)


"Men never get this movie."

( My opinions, let me show you them. )

**********

I said it several times above, but I'll say it again. Cliches are not a bad thing and something that people need to fortheloveofGod stop. If something is stale and annoying in a film, it's because it's written or acted in a stale and annoying way, not because a cliche is being used. The real problem here (and I agree there is one) is when filmmakers just push a cliche button like an automatic microwave timer button. The cliche is not going to do your job for you. You actually have to work to make it charming and make it not feel like a cliche.

I've been anxious to see this for a while now, because the trailers intrigued me and I felt this would be one of those non-typical romantic comedies, which of course are the only kind that are really good. I was only partly right, but not in a bad way.

Let me see if I can explain.



He's Just Not That Into You

I absolutely loved this movie, and I'll tell you why. Two things. One, as I had hoped, it's not a typical romantic comedy. You can't guess what's going to happen by just looking at the poster or watching the trailers, and I love that about it. Two ... well, it is a typical romantic comedy. In that it's essentially still a slave to the rules that make good romantic movies satisfying. Sure, the complications are there and make it interesting and genuinely (as opposed to eye-rollingly) suspenseful. But you want to leave the movie knowing that the characters are happy, or at least okay.

Let me put it this way, for you fandom types: If you like "shipping" in your stories, beyond the most simplistic definition of that term (meaning you like a little meat on the slash, as it were, along with maybe a little gristle), you will enjoy this movie.

( Get yourself some ribs and some ice cream, because you have been dumped. )

I've been anxious to see this for a while now, because the trailers intrigued me and I felt this would be one of those non-typical romantic comedies, which of course are the only kind that are really good. I was only partly right, but not in a bad way.

Let me see if I can explain.



He's Just Not That Into You

I absolutely loved this movie, and I'll tell you why. Two things. One, as I had hoped, it's not a typical romantic comedy. You can't guess what's going to happen by just looking at the poster or watching the trailers, and I love that about it. Two ... well, it is a typical romantic comedy. In that it's essentially still a slave to the rules that make good romantic movies satisfying. Sure, the complications are there and make it interesting and genuinely (as opposed to eye-rollingly) suspenseful. But you want to leave the movie knowing that the characters are happy, or at least okay.

Let me put it this way, for you fandom types: If you like "shipping" in your stories, beyond the most simplistic definition of that term (meaning you like a little meat on the slash, as it were, along with maybe a little gristle), you will enjoy this movie.

( Get yourself some ribs and some ice cream, because you have been dumped. )

As I said before, I think Shakespeare should get the prize for inventing romantic comedy as we know it. And as such, the last three days are going to belong to him.

Today's movie came during a surge in "let's take classic works of literature and set them in a modern high school" trend. However, it's a good deal more successful than most of its contemporaries that were trying to do the same thing.

I give you ... The Taming of the Shrew. Sort of. :P


10 Things I Hate About You

( Do you really wanna get all dressed up, so some Drakkar Noir-wearing dexter with a boner can feel you up while you're forced to listen to a band that, by definition, blows? )

As I said before, I think Shakespeare should get the prize for inventing romantic comedy as we know it. And as such, the last three days are going to belong to him.

Today's movie came during a surge in "let's take classic works of literature and set them in a modern high school" trend. However, it's a good deal more successful than most of its contemporaries that were trying to do the same thing.

I give you ... The Taming of the Shrew. Sort of. :P


10 Things I Hate About You

( Do you really wanna get all dressed up, so some Drakkar Noir-wearing dexter with a boner can feel you up while you're forced to listen to a band that, by definition, blows? )

First of all, and this must be completely understood, I think we can all agree that the best thing about this movie is Anthony Michael Hall as Farmer Ted (or "The Geek," as he is credited). John Hughes clearly knows the rule about meaningful secondary characters in a romantic comedy. Moving on.


Sixteen Candles

( Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens. )

First of all, and this must be completely understood, I think we can all agree that the best thing about this movie is Anthony Michael Hall as Farmer Ted (or "The Geek," as he is credited). John Hughes clearly knows the rule about meaningful secondary characters in a romantic comedy. Moving on.


Sixteen Candles

( Relax, would you? We have seventy dollars and a pair of girls underpants. We're safe as kittens. )

"I Love the 80s: The Romantic Comedy." It's not particularly clever. It isn't really sexy. And it's not especially original. But it's sweet and funny, and I love it.


The Wedding Singer

( You think the 'time to make the doughnuts' guy is sexy. )

"I Love the 80s: The Romantic Comedy." It's not particularly clever. It isn't really sexy. And it's not especially original. But it's sweet and funny, and I love it.


The Wedding Singer

( You think the 'time to make the doughnuts' guy is sexy. )