Next Stop Wonderland

Again, I liked the cast in this film, Philip Seymour Hoffman, although he is rarely seen, and Hope Davis, who hasn't been around in awhile. She is good, and interesting in a Jennifer Jason Leigh sort of way. This film centered around a single woman who's mother places a personal ad in the paper for her. She plays around with the responders and they are all quite dull. The film shows two lives parallel and eventually the two get together. A VERY boring man and a VERY boring woman. Sometimes I wonder how some films get made! This is one of them. I guess the premise was decent enough. This is one of those cases when they spend a ton of time on it and it just doesn't work! I don't recommend this film.

I give it a 3 out of 10. (only because Phil and Hope are in it! otherwise, it should be a ZERO!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV-RVcSpu8o

Walking and Talking

I have no idea why this film is entitled Walking and Talking. It centered around two best friends and their romantic relationships. Catherine Keener plays Amelia and Ann Heche plays Laura. Laura and Amelia have grown up together since early childhood and now are facing two unique romantic circumstances. I liked this film a bit, my favorite quote was when Liev's character, Andrew, says to Amelia, when she asks him why their relationship didn't work out, "You made me too important." I thought that was such a genius statement and a mistake many people make when entering in a relationship! It sticks out in my mind. This wasn't a particularly deep story, but I do love Keener and Heche. The cast was decent and it was fun enough and I could relate enough to the friendship that I remained interested.

I give it a 4 out of 10.
This movie is too old and unpopular to have a trailer online!

Dirty Love

Finally, a comedy where women are the main characters and it isn't careful on the dialogue and more raunchy realistic than, say...The Sweetest Thing.. Jenny McCarthy plays a barbie like LA woman who loses her model boyfriend to another woman. The film centers around her struggle to get him back and she makes a fool of herself incessantly. She is perfectly cast and actually WROTE THE FILM and I would like to see more of her. She is a great physical and comedic actress. Carmen Electra was funny as a white girl who thinks she is black, sooo funny. Although I didn't laugh out loud, I really did like this film because it broke barriers. All raunchier, realistic comedies center around men being "realistic", while the women all remain too ladylike and unnatural. I appreciated the endeavor of Dirty Love and thought the execution of it was rather fine, not super, but great for a beginning of this genre. YAY JENNY! Seriously.. a breath of fresh air.. I like the extreme characterizations.. so good..

I give this a 5 out of 10. (for originality)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UinWUtEZ5vM

Seeing Other People

Why doesn't Jay Mohr do more films? I like him and he is quite adept and ABSENT from the film world. He stars in Gary Unmarried, a television show. He is funny, cute enough and talented! Phew, that was a mouthful.. anyway, I also love the lead, Julianne Nicholson, she is so interesting to look at and I go back and forth thinking she is really pretty, then just plain cute. My girl from Gilmore Girls, Lauren Graham is in this film as well. This is a film about a couple about to marry and at the engagement party, the woman part of the couple, Alice, played by Nicholson, happens to catch the eye of a cute waiter and then rethinks her relationship. She suggests to Jay Mohr's character, Ed, that they can fool around with other people until their wedding because she feels that she never really sowed her wild oats. This is a classic case of guy screwing up, getting girl back, but much more clever and fun than Trust the Man. The writing was better, made more sense, was cohesive and interesting!

I give it a 5 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaup05S-pOs

Trust the Man

This is your classic story involving two couples who hang out together and both men make huge mistakes, lose their women, and then redeem themselves. I watched it because of the impressive cast! I also like romantic comedies because they always touch on something that is familiar. While at times, I liked it, I had a tough time remaining interested. It took me 3 times of sitting down and watching to get through it. This film had so many corny scenes, and that always blows it for me. The end, in particular, was so cliche and horrible. Endings are difficult to write and quite often dictate whether or not the film is "good." The ending ruined the few good parts of the film, for me, anyway. Lots was realistic and I could see from where the writer sat...

I give it a 3 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SGXGki_rSU

500 Days of Summer

This was a clever, quirky story about a young man who falls madly in love with a co-worker and his struggles that emerge as a result. Tom Hanson, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (mini Heath Ledger) is a quiet sort who falls in love with Summer Finn, played by the wonderfully quirky, and skillful Zoe Deschanel. I loved this film because it wasn't rife with "beautiful actors", instead it featured realistic looking characters without that big studio feel. It was indie through and through, ahhh refreshing and smarter... The dialogue wasn't over the top and the direction was quite effective. I felt what it was like to suffer from Tom Hanson's emoting and experience due to Summer's finicky and odd behavior. I communicated with a friend after seeing it and I asked him if he thought it was sad, he said no, if anything he found it hopeful... I can see that... The film was simple yet telling and thought provoking. I believe we all have a little Summer and Tom in us... I enjoyed it very much and loved the music as well.. This story definitely conveys all the nuances that come with romantic entanglements.

I give it a 9 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM

Pumpkin

This movie is hilarious! It reminds me so much of a John Waters film. The music and the cinematography make it unique and totally ridiculous. The script didn't hurt the ridiculous department either! Christina Ricci plays a sorority girl, Carolyn, who is doing charity work for special needs kids and ends up falling in love with one of the "retarded" boys. Meanwhile, Carolyn has the most handsome and athletic guy in college! Such a funny story.. twists and turns and everyone is bothered by Carolyn's fascination with Pumpkin, the retarded boy. It just isn't "right" according to the onlookers and peers. This film is all about Carolyn's struggle to forget Pumpkin and lead a "normal" life. The film is rife with hysterical quotes and campy scenes.

I give it a 7 out of 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvhzaFRYO2w