The Accidental Husband

Starring: Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Comedy, 2007 (Rated PG 13)

Thurman stars as the Love Doctor, a talk show host of a very popular radio show that specializes in matters of the heart and relationships. Women all over NYC listen to her religiously and take her advice as truth. A woman breaks up with her fiance a week before their wedding based on Dr Emma Lloyd's advice and the jilted fiance Patrick (Morgan) tries to get back at her for ruining his life. In the process of exacting his revenge he finds out that he actually likes Dr Lloyd despite the fact that they are total and complete opposites. Dr Lloyd herself is on the brink of getting married to her book publisher Richard (Firth) and now that Patrick has wreaked havoc on her perfect life she finds herself questioning her own relationship and asking for advice when she is usually the one that gives it.

• This movie was pretty funny and enjoyable.
• Thurman's character is a classic type A has everything together perfectionist and it was interesting to watch her perfect little shiny life crumble a little bit.
• Richard was the perfect husband on paper and completed her neat and perfect life but that is not always the one you should be with.
• I didn't quite feel the chemistry between Emma and Patrick but I loved the story and the way it ended.

4 Stars

Inglourious Basterds

Starring: Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent
Comedy, 2009 (Rated R)

A group of men led by Lt Aldo Raine (Pitt) that refer to themselves as the Basterd's make it their mission to hunt Nazi's and teach them a lesson that they will not soon forget. They find out they have an opportunity to destroy top SS guards including Adolf Hitler himself and so they join forces with a German actress in an attempt to carry out this plan. Meanwhile a young woman named who narrowly escaped being murdered by Nazi's suddenly finds herself befriended by a high ranking SS officer who just so happens to be the star of a Nazi propaganda film. She too sees an opportunity to carry out a plan to destroy those who tried to destroy her but things don't go exactly according to plan. For anyone.

• This one wasn't really on my list of movies I wanted to see even though I do like Brad Pitt but it just so turns out I really liked it.
• It had a lot of classic Quentin Tarantino touches like the dated movie soundtrack, the separation of movies into different chapters, and the way those characters in those chapters end up crossing paths in unique ways. Oh, and of course it was pretty long.
• Brad Pitt was really funny in this. The movie was an interesting cross between comedy and drama due to the heavy subject matter.

4 Stars

Nothing Like The Holidays

Starring: John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Debra Messing
Drama, PG 13 (2008)

This is a movie about adults coming home for the holiday's and how often they bring all of their excess baggage with them along with presents. There is the Iraq war hero, the Hollywood starlet, and the successful lawyer with his equally if not more successful stock broker Caucasian wife. This is a Mexican family that loves each other and when they find out that their parents who have been married for three decades are on the brink of divorce it causes quite an uproar.

• We do find out the parents are on the brink of divorce but the reason why turns out not to be what you expect.
• I enjoyed watching a movie about a regular Mexican family that was really about family and not boxed into some of the typical stereotypical themes that often arise in movies about Latinos.

3 Stars

My Sister's Keeper

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva
Drama, 2009 (PG13)

The parents of a young girl diagnosed with cancer decides to genetically create another child that can provide what will hopefully be lifesaving donations that will keep their youngest daughter from dying. Over the years Ana (Breslin) is subjected to numerous medical procedures and with Kate (Vassilieva) still dying actual organ donation is next. Ana decides to pursue medical emancipation so as to gain rights to her own body even as her sister Kate withers away.

• Get your kleenex ready because you are going to need it. Their were tears streaming and eyes tearing up on every main character in the movie within the first 30 minutes. I found myself fighting sobs by the half way point.
• Very touching movie. Despite everything the family has to face you can tell that they really love each other.
• Your heart just goes out to Kate for living such a pain filled life of being ill. Vassilieva does an amazing job of capturing not only the pain and but also the joy that is inside of Kate despite her uphill battle for life.

Julie & Julia

Starring: Meryl Streep and Amy Adams
Comedy, 2009 (PG-13)

This is the true story of two different Julia's wherein Julia Powell is inspired by Julia Child. Julia Powell is a lowly government secretary who works in a cubicle and has friends who design things, write things, and have big titles. She is a writer but doesn't consider herself to actually be one because she couldn't find anyone to publish her book. Shortly after her and her husband move to Queens she grows tired of her uninspired life. She loves cooking and decides to cook 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book in 365 days and write a blog about it. Well, french cooking is not as easy as Julia Child makes it look and with a full time job the task becomes way more difficult then she ever imagines but also yields amazing rewards that she never thought possible.

• This movie is very touching. So many 30 something woman can identify with feeling like they are going nowhere fast and have somehow ended up in their 30's with nothing to show for it.
• I am actually a Julie myself except I have not ever written a book. Successful friends and a cubicle job. Wouldn't it be amazing to have her fairy tale story?
• I really love Amy Adams. She is perfect in this role. She has such a real and endearing quality about her that plays perfectly.
• Meryl Streep does a great job mirroring Julia Child's high pitched style of speech and they did an amazing job of making her look taller then she is.
• The movie switches back and forth between Julia Powell and Julia Child but it's never confusing. It's just fun.

5 Stars

Four Christmases

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Reece Witherspoon, Sissy Spacek, Robert Duvall
Comedy, 2008 (PG 13)

A couple who routinely avoids Christmas with family in favor of tropical island vacations together find themselves snowed in and unable to avoid visiting all four parents in one day for Christmas. As they visit each parent and see each other with their families they learn things about each other that they hadn't known. Kate (Witherspoon) has a light bulb moment in regards to their relationship that changes things but is it for better or for worse?

• This movie was way funny and I would expect nothing less from Vince Vaughn. He is just a funny guy.
• The relationship between Kate and Brad is very cute. They are so much alike that they are perfect for one another until Kate decides she wants to change the rules a little.
• I love Reece's platinum blonde hair and side swept bangs. She looks great and acts great too.

4 Stars

I Hate Valentines Day

Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett

Romantic Comedy, 2009

A florist is such a hopeless romantic that she limits every guy to 5 days so as to keep the romance fresh and avoid any hurt or disappointment. She begins dating a handsome man who opens a restaurant across from her flower business but when the five dates are over she finds that she feels just a little bit differently about her normal operating procedure then usual.

• I thought it was cute how the passage of time in this movie was marked by the different holidays as shown by the decorations and flowers inside Genevieves' flower shop.
• Her character is flanked by the two gay guys who work with her and some other unique friends that add a lot of humor to the movie.
• I am not sure how John Corbett became Mr. Romantic comedy lead (I suppose his role on Sex In The City helped out a lot). He has a kind goofy quality about him in this movie that makes him any girls dream date.

3 Stars

The Ugly Truth

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler
Romantic Comedy, 2009

Hiegl plays Abby who is an uptight lovelorn television producer who hasn't had sex in eleven months. Falling ratings causes her TV station to hire Mike to appear in a television on sex and relationships much to Abby's dismay. Abby knows exactly what her dream man is like and Mike is the exact opposite and totally cynical when it comes to love. He convinces her to accept his expert advise on how to properly snag her dreamy doctor neighbor and Abby finds out that Mike isn't as bad as she originally thought he was.

• Heigl is wonderful as usual playing her kind of typical role as a successful and beautiful woman who is lacking in the love department.
• It was strange to see butler in a Romantic Comedy after his mantastic role in 300 but he pulled it off well. I can kind of hear his Irish accent on some of his "I's" but he did a really great job.
• Some very funny moments. Perfect for those who love romantic comedies-which I totally do!!

4 Stars