Happy Go Lucky

This is a Mike Leigh film, meaning it is really a character study. Of sorts. The lead character is a 30 year old, elementary school teacher named Poppy. She lives the life of extended adolescence that is very popular right now. And she is happy and silly. There are some bizarre moments, and some fresh moments and some poignant moments, but the problem is that the character and most of her mannerisms are so damn annoying that you don't care about her. She has an irritating habit of giggling under her breath, and of making inane conversation that one can't listen to without starting to itch. I couldn't decide if Mike Leigh wanted us to actually LIKE her, and unfortunately for me, that was the only way the movie could make sense. Of course, growing up and being an adult and committing to another person does NOT take away your ability to be happy. In fact, it rubs offs some of those annoying edges in most people. I'll give it 2 stars so you can go if you want and judge for yourself. But I doubt I'd have gone to see if despite its high rating among other reviewers. I think those reviewers just didn't pay attention!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Oh, yes I did. I went to see it. Talking dogs have come a long way. And if you are UNDER the age of 12, happen to like dogs, have a tender heart and huge leaps of logic, then you will like this movie. Should you be lacking ANY of those things, you should probably skip it. I'm sorry to be late posting this, but well, it just wasn't on my mind! If you have kids over the age of 4 and under 12 and need a place to seek cover during a storm or something, then by all means, go see it.

An American Carol

David Zucker, the director and co-writer of Airplane!, uses the format of Dickens' A Christmas Carol to build the plot for this satire/comedy about the commonly held and true notion that Christianity and conservatism and patriotism are under fire these days. It's trendy to hate your country in some areas. If you read a review by a liberal critic, they will pan it. If you read a review by a conservative critic, they will like it and agree with it. The audience of about 250 we saw it with on a Sunday afternoon APPLAUDED and laughed. It has a silly plot, but a heavy point. I've seen movies that derided anyone who believed in the terrorist threat to America and blamed the evil Americans. It's worth essays and books to explain the generosity of Americans and the way they hand back countries to their people rather than occupy and set up a flag. If the premise of this movie doesn't appeal to you- if you hate the military, think the war is not worth it, think Christians and/or religion is a waste, and don't like Trace Adkins, Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Neilsen, Jon Voight, Dennis Hopper or Kevin Farley (chris's little brother), then don't go see it. IF you do see it, realize that it is a movie, but it has a serious message shrouded in slapstick and some comedy. Sometimes it feels like a lecture, but maybe some people need a little lecture. I'm not the person to discourage going to see it. I felt good after I saw it. Maybe you might, too.

Ghost Town

Ricky Gervais established his acting style in The Office and Extras. If you know Gervais is in a movie, you can be fairly sure that he will be playing the same character. But, it's a good character. And one you are comfortable with. In this, he plays a dentist who dies for 7 minutes during a routine colonoscopy, and can see dead people with unresolved issues. It's an old story that's been told quite a few times before, but in this, he acts with Greg Kinnear and a sincerely more developed actress than she used to be, Tea Leoni, in a way that becomes touching and sweet. Despite the adult references and languages, there were incredibly NOISY children in the showing we saw. It's an R in some respects and should be treated as such. Also, ghosts of this genre are mature issues- not for kids really. The comedy is well timed. Don't grow restless in the beginning- it will begin to tell a the story soon enough. I'd say go see it- because it never gets maudlin or any more ridiculous than it needs to be.

Burn After Reading

A Coen brothers picture can be a can of worms- or box of hammers, or box of candy- but you never know until you see it how much YOU personally will like it. I happened to like this one. It was the curious mix of Brad Pitt and John Malkovich and the shocking spots of violence that got to me. Seeing George Clooney in such an odd role- sort of a dopey sex obsessed philanderer- seemed off kilter. Clooney seemed miscast to me- and I spent most of his time on screen looking at his new teeth. It's bad when you know an actor that well. It does make playing a specific role harder on them. I must say that Frances McDormand was too quirky, too frantic, too oddball to bring a sense of belief to her character. That is the fault of the directors, the Coen brothers. Also, the film itself has an unfinished end- the viewer KNOWS what is happening, but it seemed like the Coen's wanted to save film, so rather than show a montage of the characters going their various ways, they let someone just SAY it. Movies aren't books on tape. We don't want someone to TELL us the story! At least it wasn't narrated. But I liked it nonetheless. It was preposterous. And Brad Pitt and John Malkovich play characters that they normally are never associated with. So, for that reason, I'd recommend it. NO KIDS- there are adult "toys" prominently featured. And if I was a kid, I'd have nightmares about the one I saw! And some unexpected but pretty gross violence.