Bridesmaids

My View:  Bridesmaids  (2011)  Kristen Wiig co-wrote and stars in this very funny comedy about a group of women serving as bridesmaids for Maya Rudolph’s wedding.  Wiig plays a women whose life is unraveling; she’s lost her business, has a boyfriend (played by Jon Hamm) who treats her badly and has roommates from hell.  She is asked to be the Maid of Honor, and everything that she plans for the bride goes from bad to worse. This movie has a very strong supporting cast led by Melissa McCarthy, who, as the brassy sister of the groom, steals every scene she is in.  My only reservation about this film is a scene in the first half of the movie that most of the audience found funny, but I found it just gross.  Good writing and a strong, charming performance by Wiig makes this a film worth seeing.  My Rating:  Full Price   Bridesmaids Website

The 50 (a movie from my best/worst film of all time):

#43 Worst Film:

Batman & Robin  (1997)  This horrible mess of a film was directed by Joel Schumacher and stars the miss casted George Clooney as Batman and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, who goes way over the top.  This film is too long, the big action sequences are boring, the dialogue seems to be aimed at 10 year-old boys and every actor goes way over the top in delivering their dialogue. Giving the Batman and Robin costumes nipples was just one of the many bad ideas that this film delivers.   Batman & Robin Info

Forgotten Film:  A Boy and His Dog  (1975)  In a post-apocalyptic world, a young Don Johnson tries to survive with his dog, who he can talk telepathically.  It turns out the dog is smarter than Johnson as they scavenge in the ruins for both food and sex.  Johnson meets a young woman, who lures him to an underground world where things aren’t what they appear to be.  Based on a Science Fiction novella by Harlan Elison, this is a funny, interesting film that moves at a quick pace.  Johnson does a good job as the wide-eyed scavenger, and Tim McIntire (Soap, Rich Man Poor Man) is hilarious as the voice of the Dog.   A Boy and His Dog Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  The Illusionist (2010)  This is a noteworthy animated film based on a screenplay written by the great French filmmaker Jacques Tati (Mon Oncle, Mr. Hulot’s Holiday).  A French magician is out of work and travels to Scotland for a job.  There he encounters a young woman and allows her to travel with him.  He takes a fatherly approach to their relationship, and tries to provide for the young woman.  As in the tradition of Tati’s films, there is almost no dialogue, which allows the picture to tell the story.  It’s a loving tribute with the typical bittersweet ending that are in so many of his films.   My Rating:  Full Price   The Illusionist Info

Weird Credits:  From the film The Beaver:   Beaver Puppet Handler

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Midnight in Paris (2011)  I have not liked the last few films that Woody Allen has made (You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010), Whatever Works (2009)), but word from critics that have seen this romantic comedy say it’s very funny.  Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams play a young couple vacationing when Wilson learns that there is a whole other world on the streets of Paris after midnight.   Midnight In Paris Website

Until Next Time!