blott2319-1 Reviews

Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

It's all been done before and done better

[5/10 · 19 November 2022]

Can't Buy Me Love might have been an early example of this story structure, but this is certainly something that became quite popular in romantic comedies over time. The idea of a makeover to get one person to fit into another crowd is well-trod territory, but I was surprised that in this version it's the outcast kid who leverages something in order to convince the popular kid to help him out. However, this choice in the script makes the protagonist extremely tough to like. He's mean-spirited at the start as he basically bribes/blackmails to get what he wants, and then just gets worse as he gains popularity and mistreats others to fit in with the hip crowd. I've seen somewhat similar tropes, but here it got so bad that I struggled to care about the guy winning the girl in the end.

I did like Amanda Peterson and Patrick Dempsey in the lead roles, and they had some decent chemistry. I only wish the script gave them more time to develop a convincing romance. It felt like they were thrown together for script convenience, but didn't have enough real moments of quality time that I could believe anyone fell in love. All that negative being said, there's just something about this type of rom-com that I enjoy. I'm sure it relates to the nerd getting the girl, since I was a nerd myself. It has moments that make me smile, and I appreciate that they show how awful some of the childish behavior of teenagers can be, particularly when engaged in strictly because the popular kids are doing it. As you can tell it's not one of my favorites, but it's one I wouldn't refuse to watch again if asked.

Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

One hit and a lot of misses

[4/10 · 16 November 2022]

I guess I can see why filmmakers like these large ensemble films with a bunch of little storylines going on at once. It's like shooting with a shotgun, so even if some of it misses the mark you're bound to have a hit somewhere. Sure enough I definitely connect with the one storyline that you might consider the "main" plot. Ethan Embry and his unrequited love for Jennifer Love Hewitt is just adorable, and hits a number of heartwarming beats that I enjoyed. I was so interested and invested in that story that I wish they spent more time on it. All the other stories are less successful for me. Some are OK but mostly just for comic relief while others are kind of stupid (like whatever is going on with the band.)

I'm surprised how poorly Can't Hardly Wait ages when it comes to the nerd and jock story, though. The idea that they use homosexuality as a point of shame is disappointing. I also found the nerd too stupid, and can't believe he was able to integrate into the cool crowd so quickly. One of the weird things about a film like this is that it focuses on the building of these new relationships, but it's all after the last day of school. We're watching people who likely won't see each other much (or even at all) in the future. That makes it tough to get invested in the blossoming of new love when you think it won't last. At least this is better than the similar film Dazed and Confused, because I actually cared about some of these people.

Long Shot (2019)

A fun and funny rom-com that's a little over-the-top

[8/10 · 15 November 2022]

I kind of expected that Long Shot was going to be a somewhat authentic and sweet story of an unlikely guy winning his way into the heart of a beautiful woman who was planning to run for president. However, while the plot was what I expected, the tone was not. This doesn't play like any realistic scenario, as these characters are crass to a level that I can't imagine ever being accepted by anyone in the media. Not to mention the fact that it ended in the way it did. There's a level of goofy irreverence in the plot that keeps this from falling under the label "authentic." Also, while there are some cute moments, the film on the whole is less "sweet" and more sexy. The main characters have real moments of connection with one another, but that leads to them jumping into the sack instead of simply staring longingly into one-another's eyes.

All this sounds like I didn't enjoy the film, but it's quite the contrary. While it defied expectations, I still enjoyed the ride. Seth Rogen continues to be unabashedly himself whenever I see him in films. He's not interested in putting on airs or disappearing into a role, he just shows up to deliver his goofy sense of humor and if you don't like it then you better watch someone else's films. What I really appreciate is Charlize Theron blending into the tone of the film. She is a great actress, and displays it by the way she finds some chemistry with Rogen and works to deliver just as many laughs through her acting choices as he is getting. I was annoyed with the expected point of conflict at the end of the film, as it felt a little more over-the-top than was necessary. I also wish Theron wasn't quite so foul-mouthed so I could believe her more as a legitimate presidential candidate. But otherwise, Long Shot was a good film and one I'll recommend to others.

Densha otoko (2005)

Charming story of nerd meets girl

[8/10 · 15 November 2022]

I am all about a romance film that features the underdog getting the girl. Train Man is such a sweet story about a stereotypical nerd overcoming his social awkwardness in order to ask a girl out. Things aren't all smooth sailing, but it's ridiculously relatable (especially for all of us introverts who wish we had the boldness to say what we are thinking instead of staying in our shells.) The cute progression of the relationship is fun to watch, and leaves you with that lingering fear that our protagonist is doomed for the "friend zone." I thought the actors did a good job with their roles. The transformation of Takayuki Yamada might be a touch unrealistic as something a lifelong nerd could pull off on his own, but he made it convincing in the portrayal of his character.

What makes Train Man more enjoyable is the structure of the story, where we see all these specific people who offer advice to the protagonist in some internet chat group. It feels just like a conversation I would read online. These were all people who genuinely wanted what was best for the young man. They give good advice based on their own experiences, and live vicariously through him in some cases. My only real complaint about this film came in the very end, I mean as the credits began to roll. There is one last scene that befuddled me and made me wish I had stopped watching as soon as it felt like the film had ended. I couldn't tell what the purpose was of this moment, and I feared it was undoing the entire movie. Otherwise, Train Man is a delightful romantic comedy film that I'd watch again any time I need a big smile.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

Good for fans, but not as great as I was hoping

[7/10 · 6 November 2022]

I was extremely excited to see Weird: The Al Yankovic Story when I heard it was being made, but still knew nothing about it and thought that it was going to be a more traditional biopic about the life of Weird Al. Then someone pointed out this was going to be a comedy written by Al himself. I was even more excited because I've always connected to his sense of humor both on his albums and in the movie/TV appearances I've seen with him. The end result is something that is definitely entertaining and I'm glad I was able to watch it on the day it first released. However, I can't say it quite lived up to the level of hype I had built up for myself. I did love the fact that they poked fun at the tedium and predictability of modern music biopics. Making an accordion a taboo akin to heavy drugs or sex was perfect to deliver some big laughs. Every interaction between Weird Al and his parents was great at the beginning and the end. The reveal of the father's past was everything you expect from this kind of film, but with the ridiculous twist that this movie demands.

They went quite heavy-handed with the implication of how Weird Al came up with the parody lyrics, but I think you are intended to get there almost 5 minutes before he does. They also steer so far from reality in the plot that there's no real way to find a kernel of truth that might actually be how these parody albums (that so many of us love) were created. I was good with Daniel Radcliffe's performance in the film, as he does a fine job of getting into this goofy character. However, I was really put off by how obvious it was that he wasn't singing the songs. He is made up to look like Weird Al, but he never sounds like him. I almost wonder if the film would have just been funnier if Al himself had taken on the role, not even speaking to the fact that he's an older man playing himself as a young man. (Of course that would have taken away one of the funniest scenes in the film with Al and Will Forte, so I guess the trade-off is worthwhile.) I just know exactly how Weird Al sounds when singing, so when his voice is coming out of Radcliffe's mouth, I'm taken out of the film.

In almost a callback to UHF, as Weird: The Al Yankovic Story goes on, things become increasingly over-the-top. The heavily publicized relationship with "Madonna" is the most outrageous aspect of the film, and goes to an insane extreme that you don't expect going in. I was less invested in this part of the movie, and didn't find the comedy to be as laugh-out-loud funny as the more subtle humor moments. There are still little pieces of this nonsense that made me smile, but I found myself thinking "When are we getting back to the music?" I don't want to sound too down on this movie, because it can come across that way when something doesn't quite live up to my expectations. There were a number of amazing scenes that have made me anxious to watch this movie again. One in particular includes an abundance of cameos that are hilarious (both in the famous people that show up and the people who play them.) I do think fans of Weird Al should watch Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, because it is like a parody song version of the usual musical biopic, and there's more that works in it comedically than there are things that fail.

Halloweentown (1998 TV Movie)

Fine for the little ones if they like this sort of thing, not for the parents who have to watch too.

[3/10 · 5 November 2022]

Many years ago, probably when it first came out, my wife and I watched Halloweentown. I remember disliking it somewhat because I don't have a strong affinity for the holiday of Halloween and thought the story was a little childish. But my wife liked it enough that she had us watch a couple of the sequels back then. Well, this year on Halloween she wanted to watch something for the holiday and I thought I'd give this another shot for her sake and do my best to have a good time with it. Sadly, there's nothing good about Halloweentown. Even the great Debbie Reynolds is forced into an overly corny role as a more sanitized version of Endora from Bewitched.

Everything about Halloweentown screams low-budget made-for-TV kids movie. The costumes are not great, the sets feel small and cluttered with Spirit Halloween stuff, and the acting is like watching an elementary school play. I can give them a little bit of a pass because they are targeting the film to a young audience, but it shouldn't be necessary to talk down to kids as much as this film does. The plot is extremely basic and there is very little in the way of surprises. This film also falls prey to one of my big movie pet peeves that tends to sour most magic-based movies for me: There aren't well-defined rules to what the witches can and can't do. One minute they can seemingly perform a complicated task by making a rhyme, but then later they need multiple different items or a potion to perform the simplest spell. I can see the entertainment value in the Halloweentown franchise for little kids, particularly if they like Halloween stuff, but for me it is a total dud.

The Unbelievable Truth (1989)

What is going on with the positive reviews here? This movie is utter trash.

[1/10 · 5 November 2022]

When I started watching The Unbelievable Truth I was a little puzzled. As it continued to go on I thought I was being punked. I was completely baffled by the fact that I saw a 7.2/10 rating on iMDb, and a 3.7/5 rating on Letterboxd. So then I started exploring reviews, looking to see if this was some kind of cult classic that people think is so-bad-it's-good like The Room or Miami Connection. Yet there was sincerity in some of these reviews, so perhaps it flew completely over my head. I must be missing something, because even now, I cannot comprehend what it is that people actually like about this movie. Someone mentioned David Lynch in their review, and I wonder if that's an accurate comparison, because I also find his sense of humor completely incomprehensible. I never once found anything funny other than those moments that the film was so awkwardly bad that I was laughing at it.

The last time I saw acting as bad as The Unbelievable Truth was when I watched an episode of Best of the Worst on Redlettermedia's Youtube channel. Every line was like watching a really bad high school play. I started to feel a little embarrassed for the actors that they had to keep this going for almost 2 hours, and had to deliver terrible clunky lines that don't sound like normal humans. It's no surprise to me that Edie Falco is literally the only actor in the entire film who went on to have any notoriety at all. The plot, if you can call it that, was impossible for me to care about. An extremely irritating girl falling for a murderer over a long period of time isn't my idea of a good time. No two characters talked to each other like normal people, particularly when discussing the actual murders. To say I hated The Unbelievable Truth feels like an understatement. I can't even remember the last time I checked this frequently to see how much longer I had to watch.

Desk Set (1957)

There's a limit to how playful you can be before undermining the entire film

[6/10 · 5 November 2022]

There's no denying that Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn had some good chemistry, both romantically and comedically. They play off each other extremely well in Desk Set, and it makes for a light and breezy feeling to the film where you can chuckle along as they go through a number of misadventures. I like the bit of mystery they build into the plot, so we are left guessing (along with the characters in the research department) what is actually going on, and what the bosses have planned. You can kind of make some guesses because it fits into a number of romantic-comedy tropes, but I liked that they didn't drag out the conflict between the protagonists at the end too much. There was certainly potential to make it painfully awkward for a longer section of the film, which isn't all that fun for me.

There's something weird going on in Desk Set, though. I love films where they have a playful tone and you never feel like they are taking things too seriously. It can really work to get me laughing, and having a good time. Yet in this film it seems that they take nothing seriously. Every little thing that happens is chuckled off to the point where it doesn't feel authentic. Even the big potential conflict in the middle of the film between Hepburn's character and her boyfriend fizzles out as if no one cares. But unless you're making a farce, someone has to take things seriously, someone needs to ground things. As a result the film feels so light-hearted it threatens to just fly away. By the end it felt the plot was so unimportant that I never for a minute feared there were negative consequences for anyone. Plus that machine is utterly ludicrous and kind of annoying, but I guess that's the point. Anyways, I still had a fine time with Desk Set, but I fear there was something lacking so it won't stick with me for long.

Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Great acting, but I think whatever version you see first will be your favorite

[6/10 · 4 November 2022]

I always find it weird that I don't despise Jane Austen stories. The idea of women who live their lives almost exclusively to impress and/or "win" a husband is infuriating to me, and that seems to be such a huge driving force in these stories. In fact, I can't think of a single main character in the entire film that has a job, they seem to exist solely to spend money and go to parties. Pride & Prejudice is about a group of 5 daughters scrambling to find a rich husband to support the rest of the family, so they can continue to spend money and go to parties. Yet there's something about the way the characters are written and the story is told that engages me despite my frustration with the subject matter. They condensed a lot of the novel down for this film, and yet I still was connected with the story and felt like they did a good job of fleshing out the characters.

Some credit for the quality of the characters in the film has to go to the amazing cast. I could call out most of the names in the ensemble because they all are giving a lot to set themselves apart as individuals. Even some of the daughters that barely speak in the film have something that makes them feel like a vital piece of the story. That being said, I've seen this story before. While I like this cast, I was more entranced by the presentation in the 2005 film. Perhaps it was the fact that it was fresh and original then, and now it feels like I've delved as deep as I need to in Pride & Prejudice. There's even a chance that seeing this one first would have resulted in me having a reverse reaction. All I know is that once was probably enough for me with this plot. I can't point to any one piece of this Pride & Prejudice that made me dislike it, but I just know it is the one I will be less likely to revisit.

Enough Said (2013)

Average rom-com that needed something more

[5/10 · 4 November 2022]

I'm really sorry, everyone. Taking 2 months to complete one round is just not like me, but there was not much I could do about it. There are multiple reasons I didn't go back to a traditional year-long movie challenge. One of them is just the fact that my new job responsibilities require a lot more time and attention, I just can't sit down and watch a movie any time I feel like it nowadays. Even though things have been going relatively well with this challenge, and I look forward to watching the movies more, it just takes some time. I'm hoping things will ease up soon. In the meantime, I did get one movie watched while on vacation last week. @Mike recommended Enough Said, a movie I only knew about based on the people who appear in the film.

When Enough Said was released in theaters I remember a little conversation about it, but most of that was just the fact that it was one of James Gandolfini's last roles. Turns out it's a romantic comedy that takes a look at the relationships of divorced people. The film has a very indie feel, as it can be a bit slow and lacks the kind of highs and lows you expect from big studio style rom-coms. I wasn't bored by the movie, but I kept hoping there would be some bigger romantic moments or something to elevate the story a little more. I did appreciate the performance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She felt so natural as this hard-working mom who is struggling through a new relationship. It was actually Gandolfini who I found a little flat and lacking in charm. I'm not sure this role was ideal for him, but I don't have enough experience with his acting to know if it's a fluke or not.

The story structure of Enough Said is a little odd, as it feels like there are multiple things going on that have nothing to do with one another. However, it's fairly easy to guess where the plot is headed, if you assume that things will eventually relate to one another. Prior to the connection being revealed I was quite enjoying the film. I thought there were some fun moments in the early stages of the romance. I also liked the B-story about the protagonist trying to form a new parental bond in light of the fact that her daughter was going away to college. The complications that arose were the part of the film that started to annoy me. I understand that it is important in most stories to create conflict, but I'm always a little frustrated when it is entirely caused by people not having a simple conversation. I still was engaged by Enough Said and the story it was telling, but I was less entertained than at the start. The end result is a film that is just fine, but not much more than that.

The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012)

Don't even watch it for HDTGM ;)

[1/10 · 1 November 2022]

I've been listening to the How Did This Get Made podcast for more than a decade now, and it's always been a dream to go to a live show. Finally, they decided to visit the Midwest on a tour, which included a stop in Detroit. I was quick to get a ticket, but somewhat appalled when I saw the movie they were going to put us through was The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure. This is a truly painful movie to watch. Even having no kids of my own, I've seen some bad children's TV shows, but this is like the worst of those all stretched out to be feature film length. The entire thing is so slow and tedious, with no educational value whatsoever. It doesn't teach any real life lessons, and at best can get kids to count up to 3. It's almost the opposite, in that it teaches kids they can safely jump from high places holding nothing but a balloon, and it also displays some mild racism.

What might be the most shocking about The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure is the cast of human characters that show up to embarrass themselves. Chazz Palminteri, Christopher Lloyd, and Toni Braxton are just 3 of the faces that are dancing and singing as horribly goofy characters. I will acknowledge that it seems they are giving their all in these performances despite how stupid the characters are writtten. Speaking of that, the writing is what I find most obnoxious about this film. It's one thing for goofy puppet characters like Barney to talk in very simple words so children can understand them, but these creatures say utter nonsense half the time. The songs are somehow worse. I've heard improvised lyrics that are better than this drivel. And if there's one thing I can't imagine parents wanting when they bring their kids to the movie theater, it is for a movie to encourage their kids to get up and start dancing and running around the theater. What can I say other than never watch The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure? Even if you have little kids there's no value in it, and God help you if they decide they like it and want to watch it again and again.

Freaky (2020)

A fun new twist on a familiar trope

[7/10 · 28 October 2022]

I assume if you are reading this review that you already know the basic premise of Freaky. It is in the trailers, and the title kind of gives it away, but if you don't know the events that start off this movie just avoid this review. The opening sequence of Freaky kind of gives you an idea of what you can expect as far as violence and gore. This movie pulls no punches and has extreme bloody violence in the kills. They establish early that the villain is a psychopathic killer who revels in all kinds of murder, with no signs of remorse. For the longest time I thought they were going to maintain him as a completely silent/mute person, but I think they did some good things with him talking as the film moved on, so it was probably worthwhile that they gave up on that choice. I do struggle sometimes with these kind of slasher films because they are predicated on people making stupid decisions, and that certainly holds true here. Every major character in this movie acts like an idiot at least once or twice.

What makes Freaky for me is the comedy. They lean in hard to the silliness of a teenage girl living in a grown man's body, and Vince Vaughn does a pretty good job of portraying that. He actually doesn't fall into all the stereotypes of teenage girls either, and seems to be portraying this particular young woman. However, I think the real genius was in the performance of Kathryn Newton. She is absolutely transformed as this insane murderer, and every single body movement and expression is different. I loved everything she was doing, particularly when she is playing a huge man who expects to get more strength from this little body. The kills were a bit extreme for me, and most of the plot elements were overly predictable. Yet, I was still entertained by Freaky, and I like that someone is finding new ways to use old genres and tropes to keep them fresh and original. This isn't a movie I'll want to seek out on a regular basis, but it is one I would be willing to watch again if I'm in the right mood.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

Nothing special here, just an unfunny mess of familiar tropes

[3/10 · 27 October 2022]

I should probably admit up front that I'm not a big fan of Halloween and all the "spooky" mumbo-jumbo that we are bombarded with every October. Needless to say, that means I have extremely low expectations when sitting through Halloween films for kids. When my wife convinced me to watch The Curse of Bridge Hollow, I'm sad to say it lived down to those expectations. The story here is extremely straightforward and feels familiar, like one you've seen in a hundred other movies like this one. It's the familiar trope of an evil spirit brought to town by an ancient curse, and a magical spell that must be cast to stop the attack. In fact, it has a lot in common with Hocus Pocus, so fans of that movie might have a good time with this one as well. I'm not one of those people, but I'm married to one.

My biggest struggle with this movie is that it lacks humor. It is fighting for some laughs, and only got me chuckling a few times. Most of the humor that worked for me was exclusively because I like Rob Riggle's goofy personality, and some of John Michael Higgins' schtick. Nothing Marlon Wayans did was even slightly humorous to me. Priah Ferguson plays his daughter and she ends up being more of an annoying nag than anything else. I don't really understand why we're expected to laugh at Kelly Rowland making vegan treats that everyone finds disgusting, or at the paranormal kids club, or even at Lauren Lapkus and her exaggerated accent. The film has some slightly scary images (in particular some homicidal clowns) but it's not enough to satisfy real horror fans, just enough to make it a tough sell for young kids. I can't really recommend The Curse of Bridge Hollow, but I will say if it looks like something you'll like then you're probably right, and if it looks bad to you then just skip it.

First Blood (1982)

Not exactly a thrilling film, despite how iconic the main character has become

[5/10 · 26 October 2022]

Rambo has become a pop culture standard, but First Blood doesn't really feature the version of Rambo we've all come to know. Here he is an unassuming guy who seems to resist fighting for as long as possible. It is a little unusual that the police are the antagonists from the beginning. While I recognize there are some serious issues with our police in this country, it's far from normal to find a film painting them as the bad guys. The lengths to which these cops go is a little extreme, and makes me wonder how they expected someone to react after being so aggressively abusive to him in ways that are utterly humiliating.

It is interesting that they tie his reaction to all that happens to him back to his experiences in Vietnam. It gives some depth to the character that I didn't expect. I wish Stallone was a little better at portraying some of the emotions involved in that kind of PTSD, but he's not exactly a world-class actor. I did appreciate that the Colonel showed up and filled us in on more of the back-story so we would understand better what these police were facing. The story as a whole is fine, but it isn't one that gave me any major thrills. I was appropriately outraged at the mistreatment of John Rambo, and I was interested enough to keep watching. But strangely, despite how legendary this film and its main character have become, I found First Blood largely forgettable. I doubt I'll recall most details within a few months, but I don't regret watching it.

The Sound of 007 (2022)

A fine reflection on Bond songs, even if it offers no new information

[6/10 · 26 October 2022]

I love all things Bond, and have for a long time. Along with that, I have owned a compilation album of Bond theme songs that I listen to regularly basically my entire life, which I replaced more than once over the years as new movies/songs released. It was a foregone conclusion that I was going to rush to watch this documentary about "The Sound of 007." It was a big celebration of all the great music over the years, and talked directly about the way they make these theme songs. There was some extra attention given to No Time to Die, but that's not surprising since it is the most recent film and they had a lot of access to Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell. They interviewed a number of people involved in the creation of the music, and all of them still seemed pretty passionate about the work they did.

I was impressed that The Sound of 007 actually admitted the fact that not all 25 songs have been winners. They discussed some of the ways they have fallen short, and even made some speculation why that might have happened. They also openly discuss in this documentary that the franchise has a tendency to follow trends in modern music which doesn't always work. If I had my druthers, they would have walked through time and discussed every single song at least a little. Seeing more of the singers/bands discussing what they did would be awesome. As it stands they hit all the expected highlights, and skip over some of the others. It's still a decent documentary even if it didn't tell me anything new. In conjunction with the live concert that you can also watch online, this was a fun way to celebrate 60 years of James Bond films (while we wait at least 3 or 4 more years before we'll see a new one.)

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Lame attempt to recapture something that wasn't that great in the first place

[4/10 · 26 October 2022]

I am far from a fan of the original Hocus Pocus, but I knew I'd be watching this sequel because my wife is a big fan of it. This film was everything I expected, but that isn't a great thing. For starters, it is completely in love with the original film. Almost every beat of this film is a callback to what people remember. Some plot elements are just completely copied from that movie. In fact, one of the main adult characters is basically the movie's representation of a Hocus Pocus fanatic. As you might expect the 3 leads are definitely showing their age. They still seem to be excited about their roles (in particular Bette Midler,) and even had a couple of songs to sing, but they definitely have lost a step. It doesn't make a ton of sense thematically that they would be older, but I guess you're just supposed to go with it.

What I certainly didn't expect was that Hocus Pocus 2 would be an elaborate commercial for Walgreens. I've seen my fair share of product placement in the past, but this is to an extreme. It genuinely felt like a cheap commercial for the store was plopped right in the middle of the movie for no good reason. Otherwise, the plot of this film isn't terrible. The opening sequence with the witches as young girls was cute. I can't say I'm all that surprised to find they tried to make the sisters more sympathetic, it seems to be the way modern "re-quels" are trending. The young girls that star in the film are not bad, and their storyline kind of works. The return of Billy was extremely clunky and pointless, but was another box they probably felt needed to be checked. It was tolerable once, but I sure hope I don't have to watch Hocus Pocus 2 again.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

A fizzle out at the end but otherwise a lot of fun

[7/10 · 25 October 2022]

I like the idea of a body-swap movie where the character actually trades bodies with herself. That is a new twist that makes 13 Going on 30 unique. It's like a mash-up of Big and Freaky Friday all in one. I also have to applaud Jennifer Garner for her performance in the film. I think in films like this it is often easy for an adult actor to fall into acting more like a toddler. She had the tween (or early teen) vibe down quite well. The story is definitely charming, even if it heads down all the expected roads. There wasn't a single moment of the film that was a surprise, and that's not the end of the world. This film is inspired by many that came before it, but it still delivers the kind of romantic story people expect.

One of the big struggles I had with 13 Going on 30 was just the way it ended. For one thing, it's strange that I found myself wanting to see her life redeemed in the 30-year-old life we were watching. You spend so much time seeing how life isn't working for her, and you want to see her turn a corner. Yet, by the very nature of the story, the entire slate will be wiped clean and that version of the characters will never exist again. It's also what turned me off a bit on the happy ending, because that lacked the cathartic redemption you desire in these stories, it's just a moment of things going better and a fast-forward into a brighter future. While that little piece of 13 Going on 30 was underwhelming, I still enjoyed my time watching it and would recommend it to others.

Love, Simon (2018)

Even though I knew what was coming, it still stands out as something special

[9/10 · 13 October 2022]

I'm just going to get the bad part out of the way so you all can hate me before I jump into all the stuff I loved about Love, Simon. I totally understand that coming out is a big deal for gay people even to this day, and the last thing I want to do here is diminish the difficulty of that experience. But I think my biggest struggle with Love, Simon is the fact that it did exactly everything I expected. I just wish we lived in a world where being gay and not wanting others to know about it wasn't the go-to point of conflict in any plot that centers on a homosexual. It starts to feel like being LGBTQ is the one and only characteristic that matters to the exclusion of all else. It's not that this isn't something that could create tension, but it's seemingly the only thing I've ever seen used in this type of story. Now aside from this, and the fact that the film takes the same old well-trodden path, there was little else that bothered me about this movie.

Love, Simon is a touching film that does a brilliant job of balancing romance, drama, and comedy. The characters are well defined, and most of them don't devolve into predictable stereotypes. I found the friendships to be wonderfully authentic, and was charmed by all the time we see these kids bonding. Simon's home life was also delightful to watch. They did a nice job of establishing the closeness of all his relationships, and you can feel the tension when he becomes isolated from everyone he loves. I was completely engaged by every moment and felt the highs and the lows of his entire experience. What was truly surprising was that, unlike most rom-coms this one actually moved me to tears. Love, Simon is a brilliantly-made film, and despite the fact that it is 100% the story I figured it would be, it still manages to be unique and special in its own way. A truly heartwarming film that should be a modern classic of the genre.

Design for Living (1933)

Indecision looks awful on you

[3/10 · 12 October 2022]

Design for Living is a pre-code era film. It's one that I didn't have to research or watch some intro from Ben Mankiewicz on TCM to tell me it was pre-code. It is by far the oldest film I have ever watched which actually used the word "sex," and had an entire plot based around extramarital sexual relationships. I'm not that big of a prude, and I can watch movies about people who are a bit promiscuous. I imagine some people might really appreciate that Miriam Hopkins turns the tables on what audiences expected at the time. A woman is allowed to love 2 men and be indecisive about who she should be with, which is the polar opposite of what people anticipate in the 1930s.

While I can tolerate people sleeping with several suitors, I have a much harder time with people sleeping AROUND on their significant other. Infidelity is just irritating to me, and hurts my opinion of the characters. Design for Living is a movie whose primary theme is infidelity. I quickly lose respect for Miriam Hopkins' character, and don't much care for Fredric March or Gary Cooper's characters either, as they have no self-control. The extremely brief amount of time this movie spends showing the 3 main characters as best of friends who work well together without letting sex get in the way is really the only highlight of the film for me. I'm sure Design for Living was bold for its time, but even if it was a legendary groundbreaking film, that doesn't change the fact that I found it more frustrating than interesting.

Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)

Pure carefree fun until the breakup, but that part brings it down some

[8/10 · 8 October 2022]

Band Baaja Baaraat is the Indian take on a classic rom-com. It plays in 2 halves splitting the film almost exactly in half with the point of conflict right square in the middle. The first half of this film might rank up there with the most enjoyable scenes I've watched in movies all year. The bond formed between these two people is so engaging, and you instantly want to root for them to succeed. I love their rapport, and how they seem to complement one another so perfectly. Despite how things start between them, it doesn't feel like they have an uncomfortable vibe where one is secretly pursuing the other romantically and hoping to trick them into jumping into the sack. Instead they both seem to put romance on the backburner so they can be successful partners, which works extremely well for the plot. The early weddings are so enjoyable, and feel like an event I want to attend.

I knew the second half was coming, but I was genuinely hoping they'd find a different point of conflict to come between the two romantic leads. The story even has a potential outside antagonist that they could have used in order to create tension without breaking down the central relationship. I was definitely put off by that story arc, and I started to worry the film was going to lose me completely as the male lead becomes a complete cad. The ending attempts redemption for his character, and certainly has all the hallmarks of a good rom-com climax. I was a little underwhelmed by his confession and how it came across, but between that and some of the wedding scenes at the end, it reminded me enough of the first half of the film to win me over again. With some different choices Band Baaja Baaraat might have been an all-time great for me, but instead it wound up being good, and one I might revisit someday.

Without Reservations (1946)

It works even if it utilizes an annoying cliche

[6/10 · 8 October 2022]

If you're going to use John Wayne as your leading man in a romantic comedy this is the direction to take. WIthout Reservations allows him to be a somewhat stoic soldier who has old-timey values and also spends a large amount of the film being grumpy and quiet. It suits him, and keeps him from having to spend too much time trying to convey romantic emotions which I think he struggles with. That burden is put on Claudette Colbert who nails it every time. She is ridiculously charming as always, and sells all the emotions a film like this needs. I liked the simplicity of this story, and the combination of different misunderstandings that lead to a number of different misadventures along the way. The three leads rarely wind up where they plan, and I think that makes for a nice mix of rom-com and road film.

The biggest struggle I had when watching WIthout Reservations is that it employs one of my least favorite story structures in order to manufacture conflict. It relies on complete lies from one of the romantic leads in order to generate the rift between them. In this particular case I'm not even sure if all the lies were necessary, because it wouldn't be likely to change any of the interactions they had if he knew that she was this famous writer. I understand the reason for it, and it does give her character the opportunity for some growth, but it still annoys me because the inevitable breakdown in the relationship doesn't feel earned, it feels written. But I'm kind of used to this in rom-coms, and Without Reservations isn't too hamfisted in the way they do it, so I still liked the film overall.

You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)

Charming and fun from beginning to end

[7/10 · 5 October 2022]

At first I thought You Gotta Stay Happy was just going to be a version of Runaway Bride (decades before that movie came out) and I was not at all excited about that. However, that's not the story being told here. Joan Fontaine isn't playing a woman who is frightened of commitment, instead she's simply a woman who hasn't found the right person. It's a subtle difference, but I appreciated that, and it made the romance click for me. I absolutely loved the early scenes with all the mix-ups in the hotel room. It was charming, and I am always entertained by what was considered scandalous behavior back in the 40s and 50s. If there was any problem with those early scenes it is how quickly the husband is written out of the story, and he doesn't even seem to put any effort into finding his own spouse.

Of course, I wasn't interested in watching a love triangle film, so in the long run I like that James Stewart and Joan Fontaine get so much time alone together (although sometimes with a monkey or Eddie Albert.) Their romance was convincing and I thought they had a nice chemistry with one another. The silly stuff that goes on with their flight is humorous, and I liked how it all snowballed from no passengers to a whole handful of people on board. It was kind of weird that we didn't see all those people hanging around all the time, but they needed to create alone time for the 2 leads. Now, every good rom-com has to have a conflict, and that's the biggest struggle with You Gotta Stay Happy. The things that upset James Stewart's character are kind of ridiculous for anyone to take as offensive or disappointing. I took it all in stride because it was matching the tropes I expect from this genre, but with some different choices I would have loved the film more.

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Too much to accomplish in 90 minutes

[5/10 · 4 October 2022]

There are a couple of movies I have near the top of my romantic comedy chart that tell two love stories at the same time. It's tough to balance, but when done right it can really shine. How to Marry a Millionaire attempts to tell three love stories at the same time, and it might be too much. Perhaps with a long enough runtime each romance could get enough screen-time to sell me, but at only 95 minutes with an extended musical intro, everything feels rushed. None of the 3 separate storyline has any time to breathe, and most of the romantic pairings share less than 20 minutes of screen time together. There's even a weird fashion-show break mid-movie that was strange and completely pointless for the plot.

Despite all that, I love the idea of How to Marry a Millionaire. We follow 3 women looking to find a rich man, and yet on their journey they find that the heart can lead you down a different path. It is the classic stuff you can expect from any number of romantic comedies, as the women create their own conflict in their relationships by going in with a particular expectation of the man they will marry. I can genuinely say I didn't see some of those romantic pairings coming at all, so at least there were some small surprises in the story progression. I only wish the runtime was longer (an extraordinarily rare complaint from me.) But the only other solution I could find to this script is to put a tighter focus on one of the relationships and leave the others as a footnote. I can appreciate the story of How to Marry a Millionaire and I don't regret seeing it, but it's not a film I'll likely revisit.

My Sassy Girl (2001)

Not a style of film for me, just too much cringe

[4/10 · 4 October 2022]

My Sassy Girl is a tough style of romantic comedy, because it doesn't follow through on your normal tropes. It was a challenge for me because the female at the center of it all is unpleasant. "Sassy" is a bit of an understatement, vile and repulsive might be a bit better. Now you can certainly tell that there's more to the story, and that there's a reason for her attitude. However, the film keeps you hanging until the final 10 minutes before giving context to her behavior. I'll admit that this reveal definitely changed my feelings about the character slightly. Who knows, on a rewatch it might even play better for me, but this time it was too little too late for me. And, let's be honest, when I have a largely negative reaction to a film it's highly unlikely I'll watch it again.

I think what saves My Sassy Girl from being an excruciating experience is that Tae-Hyun Cha plays a somewhat goofy sad sack character. The fact that he is playing it so goofy is almost like we're watching a spoof comedy film. I still struggled because, even though he's a bit of a silly cad, it does tend to fall into one of my least favorite genres of film. I utterly hate movies with cringe comedy, as we're expected to laugh at a nice guy being constantly mistreated. It's a struggle because I find myself identifying with a nice protagonist who is trying to do the right thing, but he's being yelled at by this woman, getting thrown into jail for her, and so much more. There is more going on than it seems at first blush, but by and large My Sassy Girl wasn't a film that delivered for me.

Penelope (2006)

A little too silly, but worth watching

[6/10 · 3 October 2022]

Penelope is the story of a young girl who is doomed by an ancient family curse, so she is born with a pig's snout in place of her nose. Then in classic Beauty and the Beast style, it requires the magic of true love to break the curse. It's a very traditional tale, and there isn't a single surprise in the entire runtime. Yet, there's a magic about the genre of romantic comedy where not only are you OK with predictability, you kind of crave it. Those of us who love these films don't typically want some surprise twist where the couple doesn't end up together, we want the warm fuzzies all over again. There is a little bit of an unexpected plot twist in Penelope, but it doesn't get in the way of the happy ending. Overall, I was content with how the film played out, and it made me smile, so I'd call that a success.

However, while I really love the fairytale vibe of the film, I also thought it was the aspect that I struggled with the most. It was a little over-the-top how most people early in the film reacted to Penelope. Considering she looks like adorable Christina Ricci with only one odd feature, it just feels strange that people are so repulsed they are leaping out of windows. Now, again, I recognize it's part of the fairytale tone they are going for, but fantasy doesn't have to mean cartoony. In fact, the movie itself seems to call out how extreme the behavior is by contrasting it with how Annie and her other friends take it all in stride. I felt like the movie could have been more grounded and still carried through all the story elements without losing any of its charms. I enjoyed Penelope, and would watch again if asked, but it didn't quite rise to be a favorite for me.