Midnight in Paris

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An engaged man from the present day (Owen Wilson) falls for a woman from the 1920s (Marion Cotillard), who dreams of living during the Belle Epoque. The one thing they can agree on, Paris is the only place to be.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni, Corey Stoll, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Lea Seydoux, Marcial Di Fonzo Bo, Adrien Brody, Gad Elmaleh

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Personally, I could’ve sat and watched this movie for another 2 weeks. It has everything I love: Paris, Owen Wilson, Paris… But unless you’re a very well-read and highly cultured individual, many of the references will be over your head, and the storyline’s not enough to make up for it. Then again, you’ll always have Paris.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Michael Sheen’s pretension had me giggling through every one of his scenes.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I felt sad that I wasn’t inside the picture.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Anyone who gives me this much Paris to dream about has my vote!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Owen Wilson plays a great Woody Allen. And he may even be the first to do it without losing himself. At the same time, it’s kind of unsettling to see a Texas good ol’ boy embracing his love for a place that is sooo not Texas. In retrospect, I'd like to add that I can't stop thinking about Alison Pill, who is an absolute stand-out as Zelda Fitzgerald.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Never been Woody Allen’s forte, but Paris’ beauty is impossible to miss.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Scripting is Woody Allen’s forte, and while the dialogue remains witty, this script has several amateur mistakes. Rachel McAdams’ character has so few redeeming qualities, that even the Mean Girl herself can’t infuse any charm into her. The fantasy element is fun, but it doesn’t build beyond the one note joke of getting to hang out with famous dead people. Once you’ve established that, a professional screenwriter is supposed to do something with them. I’m assuming Woody Allen doesn’t know this, because he never went to see Night at the Museum. Then again, I can’t stay mad at him for throwing together a script whose sole purpose seems to be to showcase Paris.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: I've always thought Ernest Hemingway was one of my favorite authors. Between you and me, I've only actually read one of his books, but I read it like six times, so I think I get a lot of cred for that! But my point is, after seeing Corey Stoll's interpretation of Hemingway's speech patterns, which so cleverly mimic his writing style, I remember all the more clearly why I love Hemingway so very much.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Midnight in Paris Trailer

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Something Borrowed

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A woman (Ginnifer Goodwin) is in love with the man (Colin Egglesfield), whom her best friend (Kate Hudson) is about to marry.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you're in the market for a romantic comedy that has enough characters to make you wonder who’s good, who’s bad, and which way this is going to go, you will appreciate the tension in the dilemma this story-- so obviously based on a Chick-lit book-- has to offer.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It’s more romance than comedy, but at least it's not unfunny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Surprisingly, there isn’t even a point at which you would want to, because right when things get as bad as they can, something on the side always happens to go right.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Lamest Use of a Falsely Gay character. The set up is fine, where they take it is a missed opportunity.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: After hearing the premise, I was curious to know how they were going to make the main character likeable, with such a questionable motivation as wanting to steal your best friend’s man. The answer lies in the casting. Ginnifer Goodwin is the perfect noble victim, and Kate Hudson is the perfectly oblivious nuisance.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Luke Greenfield lets the story take the lead... But this isn't the first time he's made a "comedy" that isn't funny.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Not unfamiliar to either readers of chick-lit novels, or viewers of romantic-comedy films, but certainly at the top of both (naturally limited) genres, which I personally love so much, despite all the hateration.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Something Borrowed Trailer

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Leap Year

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Following an Irish tradition, a woman (Amy Adams) flies to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend (Adam Scott) on Leap Day. But to her dismay her travel plans fail at every step of the way, and she gets stuck with a guide (Matthew Goode) who is her polar opposite… I wonder if they’ll attract?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow, Kaitlin Olson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Most of the twists and turns that keep the unlikely couple from getting to their destination require that they be extremely careless and idiotic, and that you, the audience, suspend your disbelief. So it starts out pretty corny, but by the end it actually gets you saying, “Aw. That was cute.”

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes, at how predictable it is.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes, at how predictable it is.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It deserves the Irish Tourism Board Award, because any woman who sees this will quickly come to believe that Ireland is not only beautiful and rustic, but also the current residence of that gorgeous man she has yet to meet and marry.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I have yet to meet and marry Matthew Goode, myself. No, actually, I’m not into actors. But I do have yet to see Matthew Goode fall short of superb in any of the versatile roles I’ve seen him play. Amy Adams, while much less versatile, is perfectly adorable as usual. And no one could’ve been better cast for the role of the kind and loving but self-obsessed and superficial boyfriend than Adam Scott.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The directing in this movie will have you asking, “Who is Anand Tucker?”… No, actually it won’t. In fact if you asked a group of people who’d just come out of seeing this film that very question, they would most likely reply, “I don’t know. Who?”

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If not for the participation of Amy Adams, this could have just as easily ended up on the Hallmark Channel.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/leap%20year/trailers

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The Proposal

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a powerhouse publisher (Sandra Bullock) finds out she's getting deported back to Canada, she blackmails her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her for the Green Card. Because she's a beeatch!

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Malin Akerman, Oscar Nunez, Denis O'Hare, Aasif Mandvi

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! This movie makes you wanna kiss somebody.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's funny how, in romantic comedies, relationships are so much cooler than in real life. I guess real life relationships would be cool, too, if you never had to find out what happens to you after the first three days.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It makes me cry to know that no matter how many sweet movies I go see, in my real life, the a-holes I encounter never turn out to have a heart. You know who you are... Oh, no wait, you're too full of yourself to know that you don't have a heart. Well, rest assured, we know who you are.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best night scenes to take place in full daylight. Thank you, Alaska. You are a very confusing place. But at least now I understand why you pick such strange leadership. You haven't had a good night's sleep since last winter.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Cliche alert!!! Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have great chemistry... But they actually do. And Oscar Nunez gets laughs just for showing up. (You'll know what I mean when you see it.)

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I love that Anne Fletcher's career is thriving! What would I love more? To see more than one woman director thriving at a time. One scene I was particularly impressed by was the naked collision scene. Spoiler alert!!! (Not really-- it's in the trailer) She manages to show all the movement and action of naked people accidentally walking into each other, without showing any of the nudity. I sat for several moments wondering how she pulled it off so well. When I see it on DVD, I'll make a point to pay closer attention.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Peter Chiarelli does a nice job setting up a story that seems impossible to justify. Sure you have to ignore a couple of realities, like the sexual harrassment lawsuit Reynolds could have filed and won, but the one thing I had a hard time overlooking-- and I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm stereotyping-- was Sandra Bullock's personality. Because I have never met a Canadian that wasn't nice.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-proposal/30250/trailers

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Yes Man

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A depressed man (Jim Carrey), who hates life and everything in it, is able to turn things around simply by saying "yes" to offers, instead of "no."

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Rhys Darby, Danny Masterson, Molly Sims, Sean O'Bryan, Fionnula Flanagan, Terrence Stamp, Sasha Alexander, Brent Briscoe, Luiz Guzman, Vivian Bang, Aaron Takahashi

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! This inspirational comedy reminds us that when we take life by the cohones, we do a great service, not only to ourselves, but to all those around us. Happiness is contagious. And here's a newspaper article to prove it: Happiness is Contagious, research finds

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: During Zooey Deschanel's musical performance, you may even squeal a little. Especially if you're a girl who's ever been with a guy.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Tears of joy and positivity... No, not really. You probably won't cry.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best lyrics EVER!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: No one in this film is really pushing the limits of their acting tool, here. In fact, pretty much all of them are playing characters we've seen them play in other movies before. Hey, stick to what you're good at, right?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Peyton Reed always manages to infuse an energy into his films that causes you to leave the theater wanting to dance in the streets.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The set up and the conclusion are kind of easy, but I love when a script brings back even the most innocuous and seemingly irrelevant moments for a big pay off. And for doing that, I love these writers, and I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is a very well crafted screenplay.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/yes%20man/trailers

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Ghost Town

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Due to a mishap during a colon operation, dentist Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) dies for 7 minutes. Now he can see dead people, and they all want his help resolving their unfinished business, so they can cross over.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Aasif Mandvi, Kristen Wiig, Alan Ruck, Dana Ivey, Bridget Moloney, Michael-Leon Wooley

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Even though it's exactly what you'd expect it to be, and you've probably seen something like it before, you will leave the theater smiling. And that's just generally good for all the people who have to look at you.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's starring Ricky Gervais... Of course it will!

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Could do...

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: No, but some people in my theater applauded at the end. Which was surprising, because usually people only clap at the end of pretentious movies... Of course, the clappers soon got embarrassed, and stopped. After which several other people laughed at them. But secretly, I'm pretty sure they wanted to clap, too.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Ricky Gervais is delightful as a "MILH"-- Misanthrope I'd Like to Hug. Nobody can play a hatable jerk in more lovable manner. And Tea Leoni is one of the most talented and underused comedy actresses in Hollywood. Please go see her funny movies, so they'll give her more of 'em.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are a couple of moments in the middle of the second act that could be tightened to keep the pace rolling. But considering he's never directed a comedy before, David Koepp does a decent job of making sure all the laughs are on the screen. And that's a skill that sounds easier than it is.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The setup has a giant "buy," where you are forced to accept that Gervais' character will talk to Greg Kinnear but not to any of the other dead people. The only justifiable reason for this seems to be that Greg Kinnear is the famous guy with the lead role. But if you can overlook that little hiccup, the script goes on to skillfully walk a fine line of on-going double-entendres, which make Gervais' regularly insensitive comments come off as charmingly funny to Tea Leoni's character-- and you totally buy that she would hear the humor in them rather than the bitter place they're actually coming from. This especially difficult task is accomplished not once, but in several long sequence. They were lucky they got Ricky Gervais, or it might not have worked out so well for them.

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