Revisiting: Rat Race

The last time I saw this movie was probably shortly after it came out on DVD. DVD was still in its infancy then, and I clearly remember this being one of the very very first movies my family ever rented on the new format once we got our first new fangled DVD played. Not the first movie we rented, that was "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" naturally, but this movie might have been rented that same trip to the video store.

And back then I remembering LOVING "Rat Race" like it was the funniest thing that ever happened in the whole world. I even watched it twice that weekend because I couldn't get enough of it. I thought the situations were ridiculously awesome. Imagine - a billionaire sets up a crazy race for $2 million dollars and gives the keys to like seven or eight people - then all these crazy things happen to those people as they race for the money and the billionaire and his friends just sit back and watch and laugh. Nothing could ever EVER top the very Jewish Jon Lovitz mistaking the barbie museum to be about Barbies and not Nazis, as it actually was and then stealing Hitler's car! Or how about that scene where Seth Green and some no namey actor that went nowhere with his career went up the side of the tower at the airport - wait for it - in their truck! It was just too funny and since then I've thought this was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen and has remained on the short list of movies I think of when I think of "comedy."

Well I don't know what could've happened in the nine years that I've last seen this but when I got the chance to record this on my DVR, and excitedly sat down with some popcorn to laugh I found myself utterly bored. And not just bored, I found this movie to have not held up well in the last nine years either. Maybe because a lot of movies have done the same sort of slapstick ridiculousness, or maybe because this was the tale of end of movies doing that, but I was sorely disappointed in the laughs I didn't laugh that I remembered laughing the first time. The bus headed for the "I Love Lucy" convention filled with Lucy's who would act just like Lucille Ball still amused me the most, but as time has gone on, and movies like "Boat Trip" and "Snow Dogs" have happened, I think Cuba Gooding Jr. has lost a lot of the mojo he had going into "Rat Race" and I found him almost unbearable to watch in this.

And poor Breckin Meyers and Amy Smart. Whatever happened to them? I think the 00's swallowed up a bunch of young actors that were supposed to be the next big thing and then spit them out somewhere far from Hollywood. They actually weren't awful to watch, but I had a lot of pity on their careers. And though I won't ruin the ending with who wins the race and the money or what happens to everybody, I will say these two words that happen at the end, two words that may have meant something back in 2001, but today make me wince: Smash. Mouth. Smash Mouth. The entire movie heads up Smash Mouth singing "All Star." Woooooooffffff.

Some parts of this movie, like the "I Love Lucy" bits or Rowan Atkinson's narcolepsy still make laugh, but even the killer line Jon Lovitz's daughter exclaims when she has to poop "I'm prairie dogging it!" - which I have sinced adopted into my own vocabulary - didn't have as much as a punch as it did the first time I saw the movie. Sigh. I wish I loved it as much as I did back then, but maybe I should've relied on those false memories of "Rat Race" instead of rewatching it now and spoiling the romance.


Patrick Approval Rating: 2001 Patrick - 10/10; 2010 Patrick - 5/10


"Rat Race" @ imdb

Review: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

This movie's pretty gay. And I say that in the nicest possible way, but it's true. It's about three drag queens who take a trip across Australia to the middle of nowhere, leaving a blazing path of rainbow in their wake. It can't get much gayer than that.

Cult-ish, yes. Campy, hell yes. Funny and touching? Sure, that too. To begin, drag queens have never been an interest of mine, despite playing on onstage once upon a time in 10th grade (for real. I was in drag for "Chicago" in 10th grade high school and I wondered why I faced the hell I faced during those years.) So I've never been really super interested in the drag queen culture, but have an appreciation for the balls it takes to dress up in the garish costumes and perform onstage as one.

1994's "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," which I will just call "Priscilla" for the rest of this review for the sake of typing it all out everytime, explores those cojones it takes for these men and trannies to do this - their motivations, their trials they face by the public, and though the movie does have some good messages, it puts them across in a very fun, campy way. The opening credits are over an excellent Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith from "The Matrix") dressed in full drag regalia singing, nay lip-synching to "I've Never Been to Me" which is one of my all time worst-favorite songs, but completely fitting for this film. I knew from that moment I was in for something delightful. The other performances from the band of queens include a wonderfully subtle performance from Terrence Stamp  as Bernadette, the older and wiser tranny who knows how to beat up a guy in a fight and Guy Pierce, who I knew from "Memento" and "LA Confidential" among other things, but never thought he could've pulled off such a flamboyant character as Felicia so well. His was easiest the funniest part in movie with lots of quicky and witty one-liners. The  title comes from the bus the group travels in, who Felicia christens "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and the bus soon becomes as much of a character in the movie as the three friends themselves.

I also loved how Australian this film was. You know, because it was made in Australians, by Australians with a very Australian cast so that makes a lot of sense, right? It was an Australian road trip movie, that just happened to feature drag queens. One of the most touching scenes was when the group encountered a band of Aborigines in the Outback and perform "I Will Survive." Whereas every other town Priscilla has stopped in has either shunned, threatened, called names, or even beat up the drag queens, the Aborigines, another minority in Australia who faced persecution and bigotry, accepted the drag queens and even joined into the performance. Where else can you hear a remixed "I Will Survive" complete with didgeridoos and chanting?

The movie is a hoot and holler, so I recommend it highly. It certainly has some flaws as a film, but as a campy cult classic, it works on so many levels - both comically and dramatically. And if you are not too fond of the drag culture, perhaps a movie like this can put a heart and story to the people who perform in drag and make you appreciate their talent.


Patrick Approval Rating: 9/10


"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" @ imdb

Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox (DVD)

I had been hesitant to see this movie, only because I loved "Up" a lot, and everybody said this movie rivaled "Up" in it's animated genius, and I didn't want to believe that and the only way to continue believing that was just to simply not see it.


Well curiosity got the best of me and it soon was at the top of my Netflix queue and the postmaster soon delivered it to my too small of a mailbox. Come to find out, I really really really liked this movie. So much as that I thought it did rival "Up" in its genius. Pixar movies always have that special something in them that makes  both the twenty something adult in me love and adore and the little 12 year old inside me squeal and laugh with delight. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" seemed to be aimed at adults. Don't get me wrong, I thought kids could enjoy the caper too as there are enough visual gags and silly business to keep them interested, but I had to shift perspective to see it as a kid. In any one of Pixar's movies the kid and the adult in me find simultaneous joy - "Mr. Fox" just appealed to the slightly cynical and grown up me, which is always why I will put Pixar's movies on a higher level, but I really liked "Fantastic Mr. Fox" for many reasons. Let me tell you some of them...now.


I get a kick out of Wes Anderson's movies. I appreciated "Rushmore," thought "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" was quirky and fun, but kind of boring, and I love "The Royal Tenenbaums," which remains one of my favorite movies. He has quite a distinct style to his films, trademarked by his simple framing devices, straight on shots and title cards - I think "quirky," though overused, it really the best way to describe his movies. I can see some people hating it, but I find it amusing. It makes me smile. So I was originally surprised to see that style lend itself so very well to animation, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is unlike any other animated movie I've seen, maybe in my life. It was as if it was a real movie, with real people, directed by Wes Anderson, except that instead of real people they're animated animals. I can't describe it, you just have to see it for yourself.  The way the movie looked just kept a smile - maybe even more of an interested smirk on my face  - the entire time.


The voices (provided by the likes of George Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, and Bill Murray as Badger) just added so much to the film, but unlike some movies by other animated companies (say Dreamworks for example - who's reliance on big name movie stars to voice characters that might not necessarily be the best choices but are the biggest names) the big named stars do not overpower their animated counterparts at all. Clooney's soothing, charming voice is perfect for the sly Mr. Fox and I could almost not tell it was Meryl Streep at all, but instead her voice just became the caring wife and mother Mrs. Fox.


And the movie was smart! It was so smart to watch. Things that I know would go right over a kid's head. Like a complicated discussion of the housing market, except as how it applies to holes in the ground as opposed to a tree, with pine trees being way out of Mr. Fox's price range. Or the mid-life crisis Mr. Fox is going through which gives him the itch to get back into a life a crime and how that crisis affects the rest of his family. And the brilliant use of the word "cuss" inserted many many times throughout the movies in the place of vulgar words that would have rated the movie a much higher rating. The first time it happened I thought nothing of it, but the second I went wait a minute. NO WAY! They are totally swearing in this movie! But not really. It's just so...smart! Like I said before, right? For example, a quote:

Mr. Fox: I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice.

Badger: The cuss you are. 

Mr. Fox: The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me? 

Badger: No, you cussing with me? 

Mr. Fox: Don't cussing point at me! 

Badger: If you're gonna cuss with somebody, you're not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss! 

Mr. Fox: You're not gonna cuss with me! 

I'm not sure how much of the original novel by Roald Dahl is retained in this adaptation by Anderson and co-writer Noah Baumbach, as I may have only read this book once and don't remember it at all, but I'm pretty sure they took a few liberties here and there, but those only add to the resonating power of the movie with today's audiences. The spirit had to have been kept at least, and I'm sure it was as I heard no complaints otherwise. We can add this to the canon of Roald Dahl movies that I love now along with "James and the Giant Peach" and "Matilda." But I'm glad Wes Anderson worked his magic with this one. It could've only enhanced this story.


I just really love animated movies and the power they have to do anything. There are no restrictions on them as they don't require real actors, and your sense of belief is already suspended as you know there is never a real person talking on screen, so it's not like watching an actor act with CGI all over or behind them, and I think the art of creating an entire world - the people in it, the settings, the noises, everything! - the fact it's all created from scratch is a mighty impressive feat to me. Which is why good animation has always been and will always be very special to me.




Patrick Approval Rating: 10/10




"Fantastic Mr. Fox" @ imdb

Revisiting: Mamma Mia! (DVD)

I figured it was aboot time I reviewed a musical on here. And I say aboot in honor of the Olympics, which ended last night, and consumed much of my last two weeks' time. I'm sad they're done because I'm so obsessed with anything Olympical and I feel like something momentous is happening while they occur, and then a sense of emptiness when they're gone. Another year and half until the next ones. And maybe I'll be attending them? We'll see.

TANGENT OVER. I don't know why I went there, but I did, and now I'm going to revisit "Mamma Mia!" one of the products of the recent movie musical resurgence. Thanks "Moulin Rouge!" I do own this movie on DVD, thanks to my brother getting it for me this past Christmas. I've collected all major movie musicals on DVD since "Moulin Rouge!" because I do love them all, even the bad ones in their own way.  So it was only natural I got "Mamma Mia!" for my movie musical collection.

I'm kind of embarrassed to say I saw this movie twice in theaters. Yep. The first time I thought it was AWFUL. It was a campy piece of dreck. I thought it started out with potential, and then during the song "Money Money Money" when Meryl Streep rises from her seat at the table into the path of a wind machine and fantasizes herself singing the rest of the song in slow motion on a boat, it lost me. 4 realz. I was like, OK, this movie just jumped the shark ten minutes in and my attitude for the rest of the film was spoiled.

Then I saw it again, knowing how campy and bad it was, and accepted it, and let go of the bad, and then, from somewhere deep inside my soul, a gay little sparkle of enjoyment sparkled its sparkly dance and I started to have fun. Watching Meryl Streep let completely loose is such a thrill to watch, and even though some of the singing (and not so much the actual singing as the lipsynching to the bad singing) of Pierce Brosnan is horrendous, I can get through the entire movie and have fun. I've subsequently seen the film two more times after I watched it in theaters, and it grows on me more and more.

By no means is it perfect. The first time film director, Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the stage incarnation, tries her best to direct a movie, but she is obviously a first timer, and fails to do a lot of things good directors should do. Just certain shots bothered me and seemed amateur-ish and there is way too much slow motion, which actually made me guffaw a couple of times because when the slow motion is used to make something dramatic it actually makes the actors look a little...slow. And not in the speedy sense of the word.

So it's a movie to watch, to not take seriously, and thus to enjoy. Plus the music of ABBA is so darn infectious and catchy you'll be your own "Dancing Queen" for the rest of the day.

Patrick Approval Rating: 6/10

"Mamma Mia!" @ imdb

All Time Favorites: A League of Their Own

I've decided to slowly but surely attack some of my all time favorite movies on this blog to give the four readers a true taste of what movies I love and adore in a longer format with videos and quotes and all sorts of goodies. I know you're all wicked excited for this so let's get started. Why not start with a movie that's been a favorite of mine for a long time? In fact, I don't remember the first time I saw this movie I saw it so long ago. "A League of Their Own" was released way back in the olden days of 1992 when I had tracks shaved into my hair and wore big pants with elastic at the waist and ankles. How is this any different from today?

There are not many movies I can watch over and over and over again and still like them, let alone laugh at them, but "A League of Their Own" is one of those movies. Unlike the schlock her brother Gary directs, Penny Marshall is able to create a film here that not only looks appropriate for time period the film is set in (1940) as well as features contemporary humor, but has somehow created a film that doesn't appear to look dated by today's standards and still hold up in the funny department. To me, Marla Hooch is one the funniest characters in a movie I've ever seen. Kudos to actress Megan Cavanagh to creating a classic, homely as all get out character that makes me howl with laughter with her drunk rendition of "It Had to Be You" or her awkward shuffling/dancing in the mandatory etiquette classes all the girls have to take.

Though Cavanagh nearly steals the film for me, the entire cast is terrific. I can't believe Tom Hanks did this movie, "Philadelphia," and "Forrest Gump" in a row. Could he have taken three more different parts in a row? Not possible. His pissing scene in this is classic - never mind when he delivers the now infamous "There's no crying in baseball!" line. Perfection. And then there's Madonna! Can you believe Madonna is good in this movie? I am fan of her music for sure but as an actress she is much more of a miss than a hit. Tolerable and impressive in "Evita" sure, but she seems to shine in "A League of Their Own" in a supporting role as All the Way Mae. She should have taken more parts like this one. Rosie O'Donnell stars as Mae's best friend, Doris, and I think this movie might have been my first exposure to Rosie. She delivers some classic one liners in her Rosie fashion, and her and Madonna are a joy to watch together.

Geena Davis and Lori Petty are Dottie and Kit, respectively, and for those who haven't seen the movie, the characters whom the story follows for the most part. They are playing in a local women's league and working on their family farm when a scout (played by a hysterical Jon Lovitz who zings one zinger after another in this) shows up and recruits them for the new All American Girl Professional Baseball League. They of course, are accepted to the Rockford Peaches and go on a sisterly journey through one tumultuous season of baseball. The plot moves at a brisk pace, with no dull spots, and the baseball scenes are a thrill to watch. And even though as a youngster the ending of the movie always bothered me because (SPOILER ALERT) I wanted the Rockford Peaches to win the series, and they don't, but looking back on it now, I think it sets up for the perfect happy ending. Sidenote, how did they possibly cast a woman who looks so much like an older Geena Davis to play Old Dottie? It may be the best Old Person to Young Person casting I've ever seen in a movie. So much so, as a kid I thought it was Geena Davis in makeup. To make that more confusing to me though, they did dub the actress's voice with Geena Davis', so if nothing else it sounds just like her (because it is her!)

Old Geena Davis? Nope. Different actress, same voice, confusing children for 18 years.

Watching the movie just brings me total joy. It brings back memories from my youth playing baseball and how bad I was even though I liked playing it as well as memories of watching the movie with my brother and endlessly quoting it. Speaking of, here are some of my favorite quotes from the movie:


QUOTES:


Ernie Capadino: (to a salesman) You know, if I had your job, I'd kill myself! Wait here, I'll see if I can dig up a pistol. 

(Ernie seeing Dottie and Kit vigorously milking cows)
Ernie Capadino: Ow. Doesn't that hurt them? 
Dottie Hinson: Doesn't seem to. 
Ernie Capadino: Well, it would bruise the hell out of me. 
Dottie Hinson: Can I help you with something? 
Ernie Capadino: I'm Ernie Capadino. I'm a baseball scout. I saw you playing today. Not bad, not bad. You ever heard of Walter Harvey, makes Harvey bars - you know, the candy? 
Dottie Hinson: Yeah. We feed them to the cows when they're constipated. 
Ernie Capadino: That's the guy. He's starting a girls' baseball league, so he can make a buck while the boys are overseas. Wanna play? 
Dottie Hinson: Huh? 
Ernie Capadino: Nice retort. Tryouts are in Chicago. It's a real league, professional. 
Kit Keller: Professional - baseball? 
Ernie Capadino: Mmm-hmm. They'll pay you 75 dollars a week. 
Kit Keller: We only make 30 at the dairy. 
Ernie Capadino: Well then, this would be more, wouldn't it? 

Jimmy Dugan: Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL! 















Mae Mordabito: What if at a key moment in the game my, my uniform bursts open and, uh, oops!, my bosoms come flying out? That, that might draw a crowd, right? 
Doris Murphy: You think there are men in this country who ain't seen your bosoms? 




(Mae is in confession; a thud is heard)
Doris Murphy: It's the second time he dropped that Bible since she's been in.
(Mae comes out, reverend looks shocked)
Doris Murphy: Mae. What did you say? 
Mae Mordabito: Everything. 




Charm School assistant: (The charm school teachers are inspecting each of the girls and they come to dowdy Marla Hooch.) What do you suggest? 
Charm School instructor: (repulsed) A lot of night games. 

One of my favorite moments and endlessly quotable lines in the movie. "Oh piss on your hat!"

The movie's anthem. Penned by Betty Spaghetti. Thanks girl!

Visit "A League of Their Own" at imdb.

Revisiting: The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2

Remember how I told y'all about when I need to fall asleep at night I watch comforting movies to help lure to me sleepy-land. Well here's one of my biggest guilty pleasures that I tend to watch on a yearly basis to help me go to sleep at night: "The Princess Diaries."

I very clearly remember seeing this movie way back in 2001. Woof. This movie is nine years old! Anne Hathaway, look at you now! My grandmother took me and my brothers and though I thought the movie looked funny from the trailers, I thought it was HEH-larious in the theaters. Even though it's wicked schlock-y and Gary Marshall directs all his movies like they're a bad sitcom from the 1950s with awkward gags, Anne Hathaway gives the role of Princess Mia Thermopolis her all and makes it work! Some of her stupid pratfalls and ridiculous comments still hold up today. But the rest of the movie kind of falls flat and feels very 2001. Erik Von Detten? What have you done since this came out? Celebrity Mole? I thought so. Mandy Moore, stop being all bratty and stupid and singing a ridiculous uber-pop "Stupid Cupid" on a beach. Nobody cares about you. Nevermind one of the most awkward to look at actresses to star in TV and film, Heather Matarazzo.

Terrifying.

The saving grace of these movies is Dame Julie Andrews. Sidenote: Is she a dame? If not, she should be. She grants us the gift of her presence in both "The Princess Diaries" and "The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement" (the second being released in 2004) and does her best to muddle though the schlock, making the movies watchable and rewatchable. For every awful scene with Mandy Moore (in #1) or Raven (in #2) there is an excellent scene with Julie Andrews and that makes it all better. She makes every movie she's in practically perfect and these are no exceptions.

Of course, the first movie is endlessly better than the second one and I almost wish the second one hadn't been made. The jokes are better in the first, the plot is wayy lame in the 2nd, and even though #2 features Chris Pine as a future Captain Kirk and a young thumb sucking Abigail Breslin (in one of the lamest parts of the movie as Princess Mia takes the stupid children from the orphanage and makes them walk in a parade with her) - the cast can't seem to get past the even worse jokes and gags and ridiculous plot devices and stupid characters that penetrate the humor of the movie.

So give me a good old "Princess Diaries" any day. I don't care. It cheers me up. It makes me happy. We're all entitled to those guilty pleasures. And so be it if I love Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. I'm just glad they never made a third one.

Patrick Approval Rating:

The Princess Diaries: 7/10

The Princess Diaries 2- A Royal Engagement: 4/10

The Princess Diaries @ imdb

The Princess Diaries 2- A Royal Engagement @ imdb

Review: An Education (Theatrical)

I woke up this afternoon from a much needed nap to some obscure Olympics happening on the telly and lounged around for a bit before I ended up feeling stir crazy and needed to get out of my apartment. I tentatively and spontaneously ventured to what may be my new (old) favorite movie theater, Images, in Williamstown, where I caught the matinee (and thus cheaper!) showing of the Best Picture nominated "An Education." What a pleasant way to spend a restless afternoon!

The movie was a joy: charming, funny, romantic. Throughout the movie in my head I kept saying "Swinging 60s baby, yeah!" a la Austin Powers, which I know makes me super cool, and I'm just glad I didn't say it out loud. And since I'm a big fan of this era in history, I appreciated this coming of age story of a 16 year old schoolgirl (Jenny, played by Oscar nominated Carey Mulligan) who has bigger aspirations to be more than the simple English schoolgirl as the world and womanhood changes around her. She meets David, an older man who leads a life of jazz and nightclubs and gambling, and is taught the ways of life (both the good and the bad sides) by him, thus the film being titled "An Education." Makes sense right? Well there is also a lot more to the plot, and it goes from a cute romantic comedy to a heartbreaking drama in a matter of moments, but I'm not going to ruin the movie if you haven't seen it. It's one of those where when you finally see what's coming you get knots in your stomach. But unlike say, "A Single Man" where that knot in your stomach never gets resolved, this one does - but maybe not in the way you'd expect (or want.)

I can't quite place what genre the film falls in. It feels almost like a contemporary costume drama, mixed with a romantic comedy, with a twist of drama. Regardless, the movie wasn't perfect for me - it seemed to lack a reason for being made. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and enjoyed it and thought the performances were good - but I didn't come out of it being wowed. I thought, well that's a good story, but what was it's purpose? You get what I'm throwing at you? No? Well that's OK. I still recommend it, because I think it's a good film, maybe I just didn't "get" this one.

Carey Mulligan is a natural actress, and carries the entire film. It's her story and she drew me right in with her subtle acting. Peter Sarsgaard does a fine job as her love interest, David, and I continue to think he's one of today's most under-appreciated actors. I also think he has too many A's in his last name, and find it amusing he's married/dating/with Maggie Gyllenhaal and she also has one too many A's. Most amusing for me however was Alfred Molina as Jenny's uptight dad. This part could've been a cliche villain of the story, but not only did I find his off-color remarks hilarious, but he also had quite a bit of heart in the character, which was refreshing for a role like this.

I can knock off another Best Picture nominee from my list now. Though I really liked "An Education," I think this is one of those movies that if there wasn't 10 nominees, this one would not be nominated. But y'all should still see it anyhow. It's cute.

Patrick Approval Rating: 8/10

An Education @ imdb

Revisiting: Julie & Julia (DVD)

I first saw "Julie & Julia" (or "Julia & Julie" - whatever. It's basically the same both ways) in September with Mallori in Florida. I wanted to see it soley because of Ms. Meryl Streep, but figured it was a rent on DVD movie. Which it kind of is, but that's besides the point. I really liked it, thought it was memorable, and laughed quite a bit during the movie. I didn't even hate the Amy Adams parts as much as everybody else, but of course, I liked the Streep as Julia Child sequences much better. Almost makes me wish the whole movie was about her, but it's not so I digress.

Upon second viewing, I liked the Julia half even more and the Julie half even less. What an unsympathetic and selfish character Julie is. I almost don't care if she succeeds in cooking all of Julia's recipes in a year because she's such a bitch about it. But I love Amy Adams, and she does good with what she has, but compared with the other half of the movie, the Julie part sucks. Julia on the other hand is a completely charming and endearing character, how can anybody not love her?! Streep is hilarious as Julia and you can tell she had a blast playing this crazy character, which allows the audience to have fun watching her. I caught myself smiling almost every time she's on screen, speaking in that loopy falsetto, which I imitate quite often. "Bon appetit!"

Another thing that excited me much more this time around was the presence of Jane Lynch as Julia's sister. I had seen just one episode of "Glee" when I watched the movie the first time around, and I had an appreciation of Jane Lynch, but now I have a well deserved obsession with Sue Sylvester and how she "C's it and so I love her in this movie way more the second time around.

So rent it. It's a good movie to cozy up to at home with a nice warm blanket, and maybe some popcorn. Because if you don't have something to munch on, you certainly will want to shove your face with food after watching it being cooked on screen for two hours. "Bon appetit!"

Patrick Approval Rating: 6/10 for the whole movie, 9/10 for Julie half.

"Julie & Julia" @ imdb

Review: (500) Days of Summer (DVD)

This was one of those movies that I had heard so much about and piqued my curiosity, but somehow got lost in the shuffle of 2009. Finally Netflix delivered the goods and I mean that in more way than one.

I had heard about the comparisons between this and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is one of my favorite movies ever, and the only thing they have in common is the way the stories are told out of order. But whereas Eternal Sunshine should have multiple viewings to fully understand which piece goes where and how they all fit together, (500) Days of Summer has it laid out for all in title cards that come up in between scenes saying which part of the relationship the scene takes place in.

Having an out of sequence plot certainly makes it Not-Your-By-The-Numbers-Romantic-Comedy. Between that and the fact they tell you right from the beginning that the movie is NOT a love story, makes this a romcom for everybody, not just the swoony ladies. And even though it's an indie movie, the film doesn't feel too "indie" like The Science of Sleep, a movie I couldn't even get all the through because it was so WAH? But this movie is smartly written, well acted, wonderfully directed, and walks a tight line between comedy and drama, hipster flick and classic love story.

Basic plot rundown: Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, obviously of 3rd Rock from the Sun fame) and Summer (Zooey Deschanel, who has too many O's in her first name) work at a greeting card company (a plot point I found very funny since I think greeting cards tend to be a bit ridiculous) and Tom's love for Summer lasts 500 days right from the moment they meet until he meets someone new. They breakup right at the beginning of the movie, but then go to the moment they meet at work. See? Out of order.

The most inventive pieces of filmmaking in the movie was the splitscreen for a good 5 minutes between Tom's expectations and reality when he attended a party thrown by Summer around day 440 or so. This was after they had broken up, and Tom had all these ideas of what will happen, as opposed to what did happen. I couldn't decide which one to watch - the happy scene where he sweeps her off her feet and they fall back in love, or the real life scene where Tom spends most of the evening alone and depressed. But how true is something like this to real life? I know I've had expectations and reality is something totally different. That's why I enjoyed the movie as much as I did, because despite all its gimmicks, which didn't even feel like gimmicks, it felt real. I know I've felt like Tom before, and I've felt like Summer before, and I related very much to the characters and the situations.

Plus, any movie that features any sort of musical number makes me giddy, especially a musical number set to Hall & Oates "You're Makin My Dreams Come True" featuring Tom and a bunch of random people wearing blue dancing through a park. It was very "That's How You Know" from Enchanted. But way more hipster-y.

Patrick Approval Rating: 10/10

(500) Days of Summer @ imdb