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... )

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? )

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. )

This is Cher's greatest achievement, as far as I'm concerned.


Moonstruck

( You got a love bite on your neck. )

I suppose it's a travesty that I'm doing a Doris Day movie that doesn't also star Rock Hudson, but what the hey. I've always found this movie charming, even if it's a bit dated.


That Touch of Mink

( For 2000 years we've had their children, washed their clothes, cooked their meals and cleaned their houses. And what did they give us in return? The right to smoke in public. We sold out for a cigarette - and you don't even smoke! )

Since the World Series starts tonight, I thought it only fitting for today's movie to be the greatest baseball romantic comedy ever made. No, not the Farrelly Brothers' Fever Pitch. :P I'm talking about the movie that taught us all the valuable connection between sex and baseball, how to breathe through our eyelids, and that when wearing garters, the rose goes in the front, big guy.


Bull Durham

( If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you ARE! )

Happy World Series, everyone! And GO SOX!

Billy Wilder won three Oscars for this one film in 1960 - Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. It's not as fun as Some Like It Hot, but it's a really remarkable movie in its own way.


The Apartment

( That's the way it crumbles... cookie-wise. )

Or a movie version of it, at any rate. :P I wrote about probably my favorite adaptation of Emma (which is Clueless) a couple of years ago, in what was I think my first "movie of the day" series. But very close to that one in my affections is Douglas McGrath's wonderful period adaptation, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, and the devilish wonderful Alan Cumming.


Emma

( Vanity working on a weak mind produces every kind of mischief. )