21 Jump Street Review

Ever since Vince Vaughn launched into his "Janice, I apologize to you if I don't seem real eager to jump into a forced awkward intimate situation that people like to call dating" monologue in Wedding Crashers, I've started to expect R rated comedies to be rambling, outrageous, and partly improvised. Especially once Judd Apatow threw his hat into the ring.

So imagine my surprise when Jonah Hill, a Judd Apatow darling, cowrites and stars in 21 Jump Street- a tightly written, fast moving, but still very funny comedy. Beyond the name, I'm unfamiliar with the 1980's tv show, but I think there were a few nods to the original, including a great surprise cameo!

More than anything, I enjoyed the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Channing has some real talent as a comedic actor! He's perhaps better suited for this than the tough guy in love parts I'm used to watching. And I've thought Jonah was ridiculously talented since Superbad- more on that in another post. The movie has some great observations about what this generation of high school kids are like. Considering I work with students every day- I was highly amused.

21 Jump Street received mostly rave reviews from famous critics which surprised me a bit. Yes, I laughed out loud many times, but high school comedies, like chick flicks, are often unappreciated. The movie veers of course a bit with a sudden influx of violence as the movie comes to end. Fortunately, it also sets us up for a sequel. And more Channing. So I'll be there.

21 Jump Street, rated "R," comedy, starring Jonah Hill, and Channing Tatum, "B"

The CFC Awards

After bidding adieu to awards season I realized there was one ceremony left- my own! What's the point of having a blog about movies without getting to hand out a few (faux) movie awards of your own? So, I present to you

The CFC Movie Awards

Criteria: The movies we're talking about were released in 2011 (and conveniently for you, many of them are available for rental right now!) Personally, I'm much more about specific movie lines or quotes or moments. I will describe to you my favorite part of any favorite movie if you want to listen. ( Most people don't.) So we're awarding movie moments-not performances, scripts, art direction, etc.

Best Kiss- hands down, Hannah (Emma Stone) and Jacob (Ryan Gosling) in Crazy, Stupid, Love. In a matter of minutes, Hannah slams down her drink, breaks up with her douchey boyfriend, and is making out with NoahCalhoun in a bar. Awesome.

Best Please Pass the Tissues Moment- I would say the entire 2 hours and 26 minutes of The Help but I did say moments so I will go with the very beginning where Aibileen lifts Mae Mobley out of the crib and says for the first time " You is kind, you is smart, you is important." Oh god, I'm tearing up just typing that. I loved the book so, so much and as soon as that happened I just knew the movie was going to be wonderful.

Best LOL- Ok so I know Melissa McCarthy was hilarious and all but I really don't think Kristen Wig and Rose Byrne got enough attention for their wonderful frenemies chemistry in Bridesmaids. I laughed and cried the entire movie, but the part when I really lost it was at the bridal shower. When Helen gives Lillian a trip to Paris and Annie has finally had enough. "Are you f***ing kidding me?!" she yells. That turns into one long hilarious rant which wraps up with Annie confronting Lillian about her... um, bleaching. Anyways, I think we've all felt like just standing up and yelling " Are you kidding me?!" Expletives or not.

Best Swoonworthy Conversation- Okay it involves Justin Timberlake. Does that surprise you? Anyways, there's this part in Friends With Benefits when Dylan and Jamie are trading compliments and first impressions before they actually get down to business.

Dylan: I liked your eyes. I didn't think I'd ever seen such big beautiful eyes.
Jamie: And your lips. Yeah, thought you might be a good kisser.
Dylan: I am.

Jamie: I liked your hands.
Dylan: Mouth.
Jamie: Butt.
Dylan: Voice.
Jamie: Chest.
Dylan: Eyes.
Jamie: You said that.
Dylan: I meant it.

It looks dumb written out but it is SO cute in person. In person? Did I just put myself in a romantic comedy? Oops.

Best Falling In Love Sequence- Nothing irritated me more than when my facebook feed the night after the Oscars was filled with people saying "A silent movie won best picture! F that!" Sorry, so much cursing tonight. Just see The Artist, okay? Then you can complain (not in silence!) all you'd like. Anyways, there's this really lovely scene when George Valentin and Peppy Miller share a dance as he is filming a new movie. He keeps losing track of what he is supposed to do next as he dances with her for a bit longer each take. Its so sweet and funny and of course now I'm in love with George too.

Best Dance- Footloose came out on DVD last week and of course I immediately needed to watch it. I must say, I was appalled with how cheesy it was! What a difference 5 months and a birthday make! Actually, I know I thought it was absurd the first time around but I still adored the line dancing scene. And Ren McCormick. And red cowboy boots.

Best Musical Interlude-Have you seen Country Strong? It's okay, most people didn't. I thought it was highly underrated. A great cast and great new country songs! Especially this number between the very dreamy Garrett Hedlund as Beau Hutton and Leighton Meester as Chiles Stanton.

Best Style- This is Chick Flick Chic after all. Maybe it's because I'm enjoying the warmer weather, but I'd like to award this to Something Borrowed. The things I didn't enjoy about the book continued to bother me in the movie. Sleeping with your best friend's fiancee is just wrong, I don't care if she's a bitch. Also why is Rachel such a doormat? Kate Hudson and John Krasinksi were adorable though and totally stole the show as Darcy and Ethan. And I LOVED Darcy's summer in the city/weekends in the Hamptons wardrobe.

Speaking of style, if I'm hosting an awards show then I need a kickass dress. I've been really into Elie Saab on the red carpet lately so I've selected this gown from the Spring 2012 collection. The color, the sequins, the high slit (no Angelina pose, I promise.) I die.

And the final two awards of the evening-

Actor of the Year- Ryan Gosling. Sexy, confident, and crazy in love in Stupid Crazy Love. Intense, passionate and calculating in The Ides of March. Strong, silent, and often very bloody in Drive. It still isn't over NoahCalhoun!

Actress of the Year- Emma Stone. Crazy Stupid Love, Friends with Benefits and the Help. Possibly my three favorite movies of the year. And to think it all started when she turned down Jonah Hill in Superbad.

So, that's all folks. And I won't talk about awards season again! Until the Emmys of course. Only 6 months away . . .

Tuesdays with Nora- You've Got Mail

Here we are in our last installment of "Tuesdays with Nora." I realize that it is actually two weeks late, but I didn't think anyone was waiting on the edge of their seat and, just like Joe Fox (F.O.X.) and Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail, we can take our time.

I saw this movie when it was released when I was in 8th grade. I remember liking it, but not really connecting to it until later on in my high school years. I thought this was because I was older and wiser, but let's face it- a relationship built on flirty online exchanges? When I was in high school I basically lived and died by the conversations I had on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger for you oldies or babies.) Although I actually knew these people in real life and didn't exchange witty, proud, stubborn remarks in a Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth Bennett situation.

These days, I love everything about You've Got Mail. Sadly this is the last movie Meg Ryan really looked cute in before she got her new face and I think this is the first (maybe only time) we got to see Tom Hanks as a really confident, but still very charming, rom-com leading man. In Splash or Sleepless in Seattle, Tom is precious but adorably nervous or bumbling. As Joe Fox he perfectly plays the second of half the movie so Kathleen is in love with him AND NY152.

Let's talk about Kathleen Kelly for a moment. I love that in this movie she not only falls in love, but loses her job, learns to speak her mind and stays classy and adorable the entire time. I want to have lunch with Sally Albright and work with Annie Reed but most of all I want to receive emails from Kathleen. She writes, "sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?" Oh for heaven's sake, I've felt like that a million times. As with every great Nora movie I want to shout at the screen " Yes! I know what exactly you mean!"

This movie has one of my favorite endings of any romantic comedy, ever. When Joe walks up the path in Riverside Park and Somewhere Over the Rainbow is playing and Kathleen sees him but doesn't quite understand . . . until she does, and then she starts to cry. "Don't cry Shopgirl" says Joe. But I cry! Every damn time. In fact sometimes I'm all ready to go out and I realize You've Got Mail is on. And I have to wait to the end of the movie. And I have to completely redo my mascara. I can't help it. I love happy endings.

This is the only movie we've talked about that Nora co-wrote with her sister, Delia. And like any great collaboration I think its brings together some of the best parts of our previous Tuesdays. You've Got Mail is about a woman who learns to lead a different life but stay true to herself. Its about two people who hate each other but finally become friends and then, at the very end, fall in love. "So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?" types Shopgirl to NY152. Well, so much of what I see reminds me of something I saw in a Nora Ephron movie. And I think that's wonderful on a Tuesday. . . or any day at all.

Project X Review

I've never been much of a party girl . . . especially in high school. According to various teen comedies this was basically unheard of and according to real life- I think that's true. I remember coming home for winter break my freshmen year of college and telling my friends "I don't think we had a typical high school experience." They agreed.

It wasn't so much that I was a conscientious objector, although I'd like to think that was the case, but I was totally oblivious. The fact that gigantic, wine cooler fueled, run- from-the-cops kind of parties actually existed was almost unheard of to me. After seeing Project X, I think I can say I witnessed all of the teenage debauchery I missed out on so many years ago.

Project X is a comedy but I spent most of the movie gasping instead of laughing. It takes a basic premise-slightly nerdy high school kids who want to be cool and get girls and turns it into a tale of a party gone completely and wildly out of control.

This movie is shot from the hand held cameras of the "teens" at the party so it takes on a Blair Witch/ Paranormal Activity feel. I usually don't comment on the actual direction of a film because I am woefully ignorant of such things but. . . I thought the entire set up was genius. It makes total sense that teens would film a party and upload it to YouTube or Facebook. Partying isn't just about having a good time anymore- its about making sure that everyone knows you had a good time.

One of the best parts of watching Project X was seeing the reactions of the guys in the theater. All of them (my boyfriend included) were laughing out loud, clapping, slapping their knee and generally hooting and hollering like the seventeen year old kids they used to be. If you're a guy who ever even thought of having a massive party in high school, I'm pretty sure you will love Project X.

A funny thing happened as the movie (and excessive sex, drugs, and rock and roll ) came to and end. Instead of feeling completely shocked and appalled by the 90 minutes I walked out of the theater thinking "that was. . . awesome!" You know what they say - "You have to fight for your right to party." Or so I've heard.

Project X, rated "R," comedy, starring actors who look like they're actually in high school, "B+"

Chim Chim Cheree

I saw this video today and laughed and laughed. I admit I have occasionally chopped carrots this way- gross. And when I talk to myself its almost entirely in a British accent. I like to think of it as a combination between Keira Knightly in Pride and Predjudice:

"It would be most inconvenient since I've sworn to loathe him for all eternity!"

Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada:

"A million girls would kill for this job!"

And Carey Mulligan in An Education

"My choice is to do something hard and boring or to go to Paris and have fun!"

And of course Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins:

"Or blow me a kiss- and that's lucky too!"

I also spend a considerable amount of time dancing around and singing by myself like Cameron in The Holiday:

Or like Brit Brit at the beginning of Crossroads:

After searching for that video I entered a googling spiral, we've all been there, where I couldn't stop watching old videos of Britney Spears.

So that's another SSB to add to the list- a hour spent watching 90's pop starts on YouTube.

What are your weird habits when you're alone?

I would totally DVR this

Trashy reality tv and Disney princesses? Best idea ever. Although I feel they missed out on an obvious "Sleeping Beauty with an Ambien addiction" joke.

This Means War Review

In 2009, I visited NYC for the first time on a family girls trip. We were able to be in the audience of Live! With Regis and Kelly and Ray Romano was one of the guests. He came out and started talking being a New York native. When he started to mention that his brother still lived in the area and was a teacher in Queens, several women sitting in front of us started screaming. "We know your brother!!!" they squealed. Ray actually chatted with them for a moment, so of course I spent the rest of the show wondering what I could yell out that would get Kelly to put her aside her hosting duties to start a conversation with her new bff (me.)

When I got home from the trip I immediately played the show on my DVR to catch a glimpse of our television debut. I thought I could catch a glimpse of us in the cheering crowd, but we received much more screentime than that! We didn't realize that the camera panned to Ray's brother's friends and therefore, our faces, in the next row. My mom was making this face at them, like " Oh yeah, sure you know him"- sort of a pursed lips, completely cynical expression. And as I hit pause, there she was, on national tv, looking like she'd never heard anything more ridiculous in her life. And now, every time anyone gets a little skeptical, we refer to it as "the Ray Romano face."

What does this have to do with This Means War? Well, the movie is so absurd, so ridiculously unrealistic that its nearly impossible so sit through it and not make "the Ray Romano face." However, if you're like Mindy Kaling and myself and you "like watching people fall in love onscreen so much that you can suspend your disbelief in the contrived situations"- This Means War is incredibly entertaining!

It's a comedy, a romance, a lot of eye candy with Chris Pine AND Tom Hardy, an action film, and the best clothes we've seen in a chick flick in months!!! I have to admit I'm not usually a fan of Chelsea Handler but she was hilarious as the dirty mouthed best friend.

Let's review some of the sexy, cool, sophisticated looks of Reese in This Means War.

This leather jacket practically had a supporting role.

Here's my version of the look.

I think This Means War appeals to girls, guys, action fans, fashion lovers and maybe even Ray Romano's brother. (Yeah, right.)

This Means War, rated "PG-13," romantic comedy/action, starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, "B"