Cin’s Movie Critiques

Guest Review by Mari Peacock

Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo.  2007, Romantic Comedy.  Mari’s Critique:

In musicals or Disney cartoons and the like, everyone bursts into song and/or dance as beautiful music begins to play in the background. They are always on key, have perfect hair and clothes and it all seems like a normal occurrence. This is not so in real life. I have on many occasions started singing in the store or while walking or wherever I happen to be (my own made up song of course) or have danced along to the elevator music playing in most grocery stores and have gotten many strange looks. Most of the time I don’t realize I’m doing it until people either start giggling or completely and totally ignore me. I usually make up new words using primary hymn tunes.

In Disney’s Enchanted they bring to real life the make-believe world of cartoons and all their fruitiness and happily-ever-afters. They do a great job of making fun of themselves and the typical Disney Princesses.

Giselle (Amy Adams) is a cartoon princess living in Andalasia who is rescued by Prince Edward (James Marsden) and they immediately fall in love and prepare to be married the next day and live happily… well, you know. However, the wicked stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) doesn’t want him to ever marry or she has to give up her throne. She throws Giselle into a fountain and sends her to modern-day New York City. Prince Edward and his “friend” Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) follow after to rescue her.

Giselle meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey- Dr. McDreamy, Hello!), his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey) and his girlfriend (Idina Menzel- the original Elephaba on Broadways’s Wicked) and becomes entangled in their lives as does Prince Edward, Pip the talking chipmunk, Queen Narissa and Nathaniel.

The adventures run rampant as lives and loves are questioned, mixed then found again as the land of make-believe and real-life collide.

It is quite a silly movie, but the good kind of silly that adults and kids can all enjoy! It was written, re-written and directed by several different people. Alan Menken composed as Stephen Schwartz (Of Wicked fame) served as lyricist.

Guest Review by Matey

The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan

Lindsay Wagner, Mark Singer. Made for TV, probably rated PG for sensuality. 1979, Romance. Matey’s Critique: *****

I know Cinnamon has already critiqued this, but like she said, it is my all time favorite show to watch.  It is a story about a woman going back in time and meeting the owner of her home, and then returning often. Whenever she wanted to go back and spend time with her new love, she would put on this beautiful white dress, which was in the house when she moved in, and she’d do a few other things, and would be transported back in time.

All the way through the story I kept thinking how neat it would be if I was able to do that.  Time travel really intrigues me.  It’s a love story, but not mushy.  The story kept your interest all the way through.  I could hardly wait to see what was next, and the best part of the story was when she was back in time.  It was stormy between her husband and the man she had met, probably fifty years earlier. Also the intrigue of the other characters and happenings kept you glued to the screen.  The ending was very profound, you expected some things, but it was quite a surprise.

I loved this show and have watched it over and over and I never get tired of seeing it.  I even recorded it every time it came on TV.  Just so I would have a back up copy in case something happened to the original.  I think I might have four copies now, and I watch them often.  Lindsey Wagner and Mark Singer were perfect in these roles.  Of course I give this movie a five star rating, even ten if it were up to me.

What would life be without embarrassing moments?

Recently at the gym, I needed to use a machine that some meathead had loaded up with 500 pounds of weights. So I start unloading, one 50 pounder at a time, getting a workout just by doing that. It wasn’t until I pulled the last weight off of one side, in that split second before disaster struck, that my genius kicked in and I realized I should have unloaded evenly on both sides. Too late, CRASH!!! The machine tipped over and the other 250 pounds of weights slid off the other side. Thunder and vibrations echoed through the gym and every single eye turned to me. I was horrified!

There is a good side though. Mr. Muscles, who is the hottest guy in the entire gym, and three, yes three of his friends, were kind enough to pick up the machine for me. Although this was just about as embarrassing as the initial disaster, it has prompted them to talk to me every day! Granted, it’s caveman language and remarks like “Hey Cin, let us know if you need help picking up any machines today.” But at least they notice me right?

If that weren’t enough, the story actually has a new development. I’ve recounted this tale to some friends and family members, always emphasizing how incredibly built Mr. Muscles is, and how enjoyable it was to watch those muscles flex right in front of my eyes.

Monday, I’m picking Colton up from the playroom and in comes Mr. Muscles to pick up his son, and of course, asked me if I tipped anything over that day. Colton looked up at him and had a shining moment of realization. Then he LOUDLY asked me, “Hey Mom! Is that Mr. Muscles?!”

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey. Rated PG-13 for some sex-related material. 2003, Romantic Comedy. Cin’s Critique:

Andie writes how-to columns for a magazine and to add emphasis to her latest article “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days”, she takes a bet that she can do just that. Ben is an ad executive and ladies man who takes a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Naturally, they find each other, and the hilarity begins! While Andie does insanely absurd things to ensure he dumps her, Ben keeps gritting his teeth and puts up with it all to win his own bet. This one is a chick flick that the guys will like because it is gut busting laughter from the time Andie and Ben meet each other until they realize they are actually in love. Plus it has a great Keith Urban song in it!

Till Human Voices Wake Us

Guy Pearce, Helena Bonham Carter. Rated R for a scene of sexuality. 2002, Drama/Romance. Cin’s Critique:

This one was a bit odd, however, I pondered it for days, so that always gets a bonus point in my book. (That, and a love scene with Guy Pearce!) You’ll recognize Helena Bonham Carter who plays Bellatrix Lestrange in the new Harry Potter movie. She has a dark and mysterious beauty.

Till Human Voices Wake Us is the story of a man who returns to the Australian town he grew up in to bury his father. While there he meets an unusual woman who reminds him of someone he once knew. The substance in this movie comes from the flashbacks the character has to his childhood. The story there is told in bits and pieces, and builds into almost a mystery. What happened to him when he was young to make him the man he is now?

It’s an eerie and slow paced movie, with beautiful cinematography, and a very unique story to tell.

The Holiday

Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language. 2006, Romantic Comedy. Cin’s Critique:

Two women with heartache problems, one in LA and one in England, trade locations for the Christmas season. They swap houses to get away from their own lives for The Holiday. Of course, they both meet new men and fall in love for Christmas.

This movie is absolutely hilarious! Seriously, there were parts that I had to rewind because I didn’t hear it the first time around because I was laughing so stinking hard! Each of the actors played each of the characters to perfection. And I loved that it wasn’t a typical romantic comedy. There was some depth here, and interesting side plots that only added to the charm of the story line.

I found a funny little tidbit on IMDB. (Which by the way stands for Internet Movie Database, and is easily accessed through the link right over there on the right and has information on practically any movie ever made). There is a scene where Kate Winslet and Jack Black are in the movie store and Dustin Hoffman overhears them talking about “The Graduate”. This scene was not originally part of the script. Dustin Hoffman really was just driving by, saw all the hullabaloo with the movie filming, stopped in to say hi to writer Nancy Meyers, and ended up with a cameo in the movie.

So, if you haven’t seen this one, and you’re up for a little “Christmas in July”, rent The Holiday!

June 1, 2007 was my parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. It really was wonderful to be with them to celebrate, and to be surrounded by my entire family. It’s not very often that all of us can get together in the same place at the same time.

I helped my mom make the invitations, we sent out a picture of her and my dad on their wedding day. They looked so different then. I wish I could have seen them that day, I wish I knew what they were like before five children drained all their energy away!

Anyway, I’ve been in the mood to watch another wedding movie, and lucked out yesterday when My Best Friend’s Wedding came on TV. If you haven’t seen this one, put it on your list, it’s one of my favorite romantic comedies.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney. Rated PG-13 for one use of strong language and brief sex-related humor. 1997, Romantic Comedy. Cin’s Critique:

Julianne and Michael have a pact. If they haven’t found true love by the time they turn 28, they will marry each other. They have been best friends for years and seen each other through everything. Just before Julianne turns 28, Michael tells her he is getting married. It is then that she realizes just how much she loves him, and sets out to break up his engagement.

Even though Julia Roberts is essentially a villain in this movie, the audience is on her side, hoping that she can successfully break up the happy couple and claim Michael for herself. Full of humor, and even a few tears, this one has a happy ending, even if it may not be the ending you’ve been rooting for the entire movie.

I’ve been house-sitting for two different houses. I must emanate a trustworthy vibe. Muu-haa-haa-haaaaa. (That’s supposed to be a dark and sinister chuckle.) So, I gather mail, water lawns, feed animals, and empty drip buckets. I also eat their goodies, drink their pop, help myself to their DVD’s! (That’s how I stumbled across House.) I got to thinking about that old movie with Goldie Hawn. So I rented it, and came to realize that the movie has absolutely nothing to do with house-sitting, how very misleading!

HouseSitter

Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn. Rated PG for mild sensuality and language. 1992, Romantic Comedy. Cin’s Critique:

An architect builds a magnificent house for his girlfriend and proposes to her, only to be turned down. In his misery he has a one-night stand with a woman who turns out to be a con artist. She moves into his empty home in the small town he grew up in and poses as his wife. That works fine, until he comes back to try to sell the house and half the town congratulates him on his marriage, including his own parents. Steve and Goldie work out a plan to end this fake marriage and win back his old girlfriend. Their relationship built upon lies of course turns out to be true love.

So, I got my first job as an amateur photographer!  Yes, when the preferred photographer fell through, and the backup failed to step up, and the backup to the backup wasn’t available either, I was ushered right in!  Exciting huh?

And what an important first job it was: bridal pictures!  So, I got to finesse my new digital camera and my lovely subject of photography throughout the International Peace Gardens (very cool place, for those of you that enjoy parks, put this one on your list) for three hours.  All the while fussing and primping and promoting the perfect pose.  It was great fun.

So, it got me to thinkin’ about one of my many favorite romantic comedies:

The Wedding Planner

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lopez.  Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual humor.  2001, Romantic Comedy.  Cin’s Critique: 4 *

Mary is a wedding planner.  Her motto is “Those who can’t wed, plan!”  But she finally meets the perfect guy, Steve.  Only to discover, he is the fiancé of her next client.  To complicate matters, this is a very important client, whose account will secure Mary’s career as a partner in the business.  So Mary has to try to put aside her personal feelings and conflicts, and get the job done.  But, when the bride has urgent business to attend to, Steve takes over the wedding planning, and makes it much more difficult for Mary to get over him, and to plan his perfect wedding.

The Wedding Planner is full of laughs from opening scene to end credits.  I especially liked how the movie respected certain boundaries of those who are engaged, no cheating and such.  It is an innocent romance that develops into a happy ending for all.

City of Angels

Meg Ryan, Nicolas Cage. Rated PG-13 for language and sexuality. 1998, Romance. Cin’s Critique: 4 *

Although this movie has Nicolas Cage in it, I really liked it. He plays the part of an angel who falls in love with a doctor who has a passion for life, for mortality. He eventually “falls” to become a mortal man and be with her. This is an unusual love story with little specs of humor and beauty in between the pieces of the plot. A true chick flick in the way of having someone who is willing to do anything to be with you. An incredible build to an ending that I still haven’t decided if I love or hate after seeing the movie many, many times. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the movie. Really, really liked it, this is one I even bought, but the ending, wow, that’s all I can say. You’ll have to watch the movie and decide for yourself I guess. (Let me know what you think by the way!)

Here are some exquisite parts of the movie to notice:

- When the angels gather on the beach at dawn and hear the music that only they can hear with the rising of the sun.

- When he actually falls, the images he sees while falling are ethereal, and emotionally moving.

-The music. This is a soundtrack you must own. The music playing during the two mentioned scenes are what prompted me to buy it, and I love how diverse it is. It ranges from Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”, to Jimi Hendrix tracks, to instrumental music written for the movie.

This is a romance worth watching, it will leave you pondering the meaning of love, whether or not you like the ending or Nicolas Cage!

The Lakehouse

Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock. Rated PG for language. 2006, Romance. Cin’s Critique: 5 *

A woman who just moved away from a house on the lake exchanges letters with the man who currently lives there. The twist? They exist in two different times, two years apart, and the mailbox at the lake house sends their letters to each other through time.

What impressed me the most was the chemistry Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock had on screen, even though they didn’t have many scenes together (being that they were in different time periods). Yes, it seems odd to have a romantic movie where the characters are never together; it is kind of a contradiction of romance isn’t it? However, in this case, it actually added interest to the plot and helped build to the climax of the movie. The ending scenes of the movie were so intense and agonizing I could feel my own heart pounding! And what an ending it was. Try this one, you’re sure to love it!