Showing posts with label crazy stupid love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crazy stupid love. Show all posts

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Half-Back

The Half-Back sounds like its probably Jason Bateman's newest movie. With The Switch from last August and The Change-Up out in theaters today, its about time for another ambiguously named comedy. Actually, the Half-Back refers to the classic chick flick cliche- the movie makeover.

The other night, my boyfriend and I were having drinks and discussing the amazing makeover that Steve Carrell, as Cal, undergoes in Crazy, Stupid, Love- all thanks to Ryan Gosling( Jacob.) At one point Jacob asks "Are you in a fraternity? Are you Steve Jobs, the billionaire CEO of Apple Computers? No? Then you have no excuse to wear New Balance shoes. Ever.” I should note that Jacob is flawlessly dressed in this movie.

Well, he is not necessarily dressed there.. but I couldn't help myself. Anyways, we watch Cal go from sneakers and droopy khakis to beautiful shirts and a better hair cut to... somewhere in between. My boyfriend said " I hate how at the end he went half-back." We realized this happens all the time in movie makeovers. For example in Devil Wears Prada, we watch Andrea Sachs go from the "cerulean blue, casual corner sweater" (love that speech!)

To the Gisele envied Chanel boots. . .

To somewhere in between

Time and again, we see this happen in a movie makeover! Tai is half preppy/half grunge by the end of Clueless, Gracie Lou Freebush is wearing a suit, but rocking wavy hair when she is awarded Miss Congeniality, and Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway is makeover queen!) probably has a partial uni-brow growing back in by the time she writes The Princess Diaries of Genovia! I know its supposed to show the audience that the character has became comfortable in who they were... with some positive physical changes of course!

This is actually realistic. Think of how many times you've gotten a new haircut, new makeup, borrowed a friend's outfit for the night and you look like a new person! But chances are you can never quite replicate that salon blowout - you only have two arms and a round brush from walmart for heaven's sake! And by the time you head back in for a new haircut you're slightly embarrassed. "Thanks for spending hours on my hair a few months ago- you'll notice its returned to its natural state." (hangs head in shame)

And as important as it is to embrace your natural self, I think we all could use a makeover that actually sticks now and then! So when you're making a life change- whether its getting bangs or changing jobs- don't settle for the chick flick happy ending and find yourself with a "half-back" situation. Stick with it, buy a new hair brush, grow another arm, and keep wearing those Chanel boots!


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Crazy, Stupid, Love review



I'm a fairly nosy person. Once upon a time "being nosy" was one of my facebook interests, along with "movies that make me cry." We'll get to those later... I just want to make a point that I love unexpected peeks into someone's life. And that's what "Crazy, Stupid, Love" provided.

I felt like I getting a glimpse of major moments and touching heartbreaks of people's lives. I didn't know everything about these people, but I loved feeling like they were real people and I was a nosy neighbor, taking it all in.

If you've watched the trailer you know all you need to about the plot of the movie. I should warn you.. it starts out a little slow. You're interested in all of the characters and their lives, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Then suddenly a crucial scenes makes everything you just watched really matter.

I want to mention that Steve Carrell is fantastic as a leading man. He made me laugh and cry, and I never once felt like I was in a staff meeting at Dunder Mifflin. And Ryan Gosling.... wow. His sexy, confident and mysterious ladies man is definitely my favorite of his roles since NoahCalhoun.


"Crazy, Stupid, Love" is so funny and interesting.... but most of all it is surprising. I laughed out loud and gasped in shock with the rest of the theater. And of course, I shed a few tears. The movie is about what happens to people when they are in love. Laughing, crying, and finding yourself absolutely, unexpectedly breathless? Sounds like love to me.

Crazy, Stupid, Love, rated "PG-13," romantic comedy/drama, starring Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, and Ryan Gosling. A-

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Move Trailer Anticipation Disorder

I have a problem. I watch a movie trailer and immediately convince myself that I have found my new favorite movie. I have been known to tear up and get goosebumps during those contrived 2 minutes. I immediately obsess over when I'll get to see this movie. I check youtube for new trailers. I watch the previews over and over again. When I tell a friend I'm excited about the movie and she hasn't heard of it (because she's a normal person) I gasp and recite any clips of scenes word for word. Chances are I have already downloaded any good songs featured in the trailer. It's really shameful. It is Movie Trailer Anticipation Disorder (MTAD) and I've struggled with it for years.


Then, when at long last, I get to see the movie.... its not the masterpiece I had in my head. Yes this is whole point of a trailer... like Amanda Woods in "The Holiday," people are payed the big bucks to take an average movie and make everyone (or just me!) excited to see it. And I fall for it every time.



I was obsessed with the Sex and the City movie trailer from the time it leaked on Jezebel in winter 2008 until I finally saw the movie in April of 2008. Fortunately for my sanity, the movie was "just fabulous" (as Carrie would say) and did not disappoint.




This only makes MTAD worse when a movie like "The Time Traveler's Wife," based on one of my all time favorite books and starring one of my all time favorite actresses and prefaced by one of the most magical trailers.... comes up short.




However... I will not give up! I have been dying to see "Crazy, Stupid, Love" since the second I saw this amazing trailer. I told my boyfriend I would wait until he got back in town and we are finally seeing it tonight! And so another cycle of MTAD begins...