To Rome with Love Review

One of the reasons I love actually seeing movies in the theater is that you get a little bit of an escape.  When I rent a movie I'm tempted to talk, text, wipe down the kitchen counter or blog.  But for two hours in a dark movie theater I can escape from anything else that is on my mind.

To Rome with Love is certainly a lovely escape.  It's a vacation abroad through delightful scenes of the city. It's an escape from worries as each minor conflict in the vignettes is played for laughs.  It's a departure from reality as time stands still and fantasies come to life.  Sounds a lot like Woody Allen's last love letter to a city, Midnight in Paris, right?  Well, I didn't love to Rome with Love. But I enjoyed my trip there!

To Rome with Love, rated "R," comedy, starring Woody Allen, Penelope Cruz, and Jesse Eisenberg "B-"

Ted Review

After seeing the R rating and redband trailer for Ted, I was surprised to find the movie was actually a sweet buddy comedy about friendship, loyalty, love, and growing up.  Of course it is centered around a foulmouthed, pot-smoking teddy bear but after my glowing review of Magic Mike I can't really pretend to have delicate sensibilities.

Without the idiotic slapstick of an Adam Sandler disaster or the heartbreaking realism of a Jud Apatow hit, Ted manages to be a comedy that is just plain funny.  I'll take it!

Ted, rated "R," comedy, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis "B-"

Frankly My Dear

Who's that?

My dear, don't you know?  That's Rhett Butler, he's from Charleston.  He has the most terrible reputation.

I'm off to Charleston for the weekend with my own tall, dark, and handsome beau.  I'll let you know if I run into Rhett though.

Magic Mike Review

Well I feel vindicated.  After repeated disappointments from the movies I was so excited about this summer, I am thrilled to report that my ticket to Magic Mike was worth every penny . . . or dollar bill stuffed into a male thong.


For months  (literally I have been talking about this movie since last fall) I've told everyone that this movie is going to be awesome.  And not just because it takes place in my hometown, and not just because Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, and Alex Pettyfer are dancing around naked.  Because I knew it was going to be more than a movie about male strippers.  And just as Joe Manganiello's character "Big D Richie" promises, it was a lot more.  Okay, enough with the stripper jokes.




Obviously the Xquisite club in Tampa featuring an all male revue is a huge part (I'm so sorry, last one) of Magic Mike and those scenes elicited more than a few squeals and cheers from the female members of the theater.  However, Olivia Munn showed up topless within the first few minutes and my boyfriend cheered for that so you know, equality all around.


 But Magic Mike is also about youth, identity, partying, drugs, sex and living in Florida.  And the movie somehow manages to tackle all of these topics with humor and thoughtful consideration; sans judgement.  Many of the early reviews criticized that Magic Mike starts out as a fun romp but loses its stamina ( I guess can't stop making sex jokes) once the plot takes a dark, drug-filled twist.  I completely disagree.  This is what keeps the movie gritty and compelling.  Without these conflicts, Magic Mike would simply be a more naked version of Step Up.  Which, come to think of it, is a pretty good idea.


Unfortunately Magic Mike was marketed as a movie for tipsy women to watch with their friends and fantasize about the hot guys on screen.  That sounds like a blast, but if you strip away (I'm on a roll!) the gratuitous shots of butts and biceps, Magic Mike is about guys drinking on the beach by day, and partying with girls who want to rip their clothes off by night.  As Mike explains, its all about "women, money, and a good time."  Sounds more like a man's fantasy to me.  But I loved having a front row seat to the show.


Magic Mike, rated "R," comedy/drama, starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey and Cody Horn "A-"

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Review

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is about well, the end of the world, so it can't help but be a little bit depressing.  But I had hoped it wouldn't be quite so miserable.  Actually even if the plot had followed an overall emo format with wistful images of people spending their last days together I might not have enjoyed the movie, but I could have appreciated it.


Instead Seeking a Friend careens wildly from quirky comedy to riots and terror to melancholy final days and at last settles on a disgustingly sweet love story that has no business at the end of the world.  Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightly try their best but they can't make this story compelling or even interesting.  I'm not sure how I'd choose to spend Earth's last days, but I can guarantee it wouldn't be watching this movie.


Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, rated "R," comedy, starring Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightly "D"

Happy 4th of July!

"To me the 4th of July means a time of togethernes.  A time of family, friends, fun and fireworks- that's The Fourth."- Stacey Carosi, 1991 Malibu Sands Miss Liberty Pageant




Confession: My independence day outfit was inspired by one of my favorite independent (although British) women, Lady Mary Crawley.

Brave Review

One of the bad things about going to the movies at least once a week is that I've seen movie trailers countless times before I see the actual movie.  This means I usually come into the theater with my own expectations and understanding of the plot.

Take Brave for example.  Based on the intriguing (and rather touching) trailer I thought this was going to be an inspiring story about a young princess who blazes her own trail and doesn't have time to wait around for a prince to come.  Considering Disney's track record for creating the usual ladies in waiting ( I still love them!) I thought this would be a refreshing change.

Actually, Brave is about the relationship between mother and daughter.  Considering Disney's track record for creating motherless princesses with evil stepmothers ( I still hate them!) I think this was a refreshing change.  

Being a Disney/Pixar collobaroation we can obviously expect a lot of fun, clever jokes, and gorgeous animnation- Merida's red curls are especially breathtaking.  But I couldn't help but miss the story that I thought was coming to see.  A princess striking an arrow through the hearts of her potential suitors?  Awesome.  A teenage girl fighting with her mom?  Eh, we've all been there.

Brave , rated "PG," animated Pixar fun, voices by Kelly MacDonald and Emma Thompson "B"