Valentine's Day

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Emma Roberts, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher...to name a few.
Romantic Comedy, 2010

A series of interwoven stories plays out on Valentine's Day.  This day means something different to everyone.  There are affairs, new love, lonely hearts, and broken hearts as everyone attempts to find their way on Valentine's Day.

• This is a classic case of a movie that tried way too hard to be good. 
• I'm not going to say it was bad but it really just didn't "Do" anything for me.  The characters were mostly shallow and one dimensional.  I found that I really didn't connect or care all too much about what happened to any of them.
• I did like the way the stories wove together in unexpected ways but other then that this movie just sort of fell flat for me.  I can't quite put my finger on it.  There was just something missing.
• You certainly can't criticize the cast.  That's for sure.  With an all star cast of a huge variety of established and new actors there was likely a favorite in there for everyone.
• It was nice to see Taylor Swift take her first stab at acting.  She played the ditz and I don't know if was because the movie itself was so flat to me but her acting kind of felt that way too. 

3 Stars

The Invention Of Lying

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner
Comedy, 2009 (PG13)

Imagine a world where people do not lie. Everything anyone says is taken as fact and nobody even bothers with little white lies that spare peoples feeling or keep things polite. Well, this movie does just that. Mark (Gervais) discovers one day that he can lie-although he doesn't even have a word to describe it. Suddenly his life changes as he realizes the power of telling lies especially in a world where others don't. He gets everything he wants except Anna (Garner) the girl of his dreams. Can he convince her that despite his plain exterior that he is the man of hers?

• This movie is actually quite funny and entertaining. It does have some slow moments but overall I really liked it because it was so unique.
• I am immediately annoyed by Anna because she is so incredibly shallow and vain. But really aren't we all in at least some small way? Just not in such an "in your face" kind of way.
• It confronts the concept of physical beauty and success or lack thereof in a head on no apologies kind of way. Often it's what people are thinking but no one dares to speak out loud.
• When a perfect stranger in this town asks you how you are doing it's ok to say you hate your life and you think that they are ugly. Somehow I found the thought of not having to say that you are fine if you aren't just to make polite conversation. On the other hand....do you really want people to know all of that information about you?

3 STARS

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

Romantic Comedy, 2009 (PG-13)
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Douglas, Lacey Chabert


Drawing on the age old scrooge concept a shallow, self centered womanizer is visited by the ghosts of his girlfriends past, present and future to help him see the error of his ways before it's too late.

• Very cute and funny movie
• Some of the dialogue was so sappy sweet and cliche but oh how I loved it. It's so romantic. The kind of thing that makes my heart melt.
• The message is kind of black and white but I buy it 'cause I'm all for love and romance. Those who don't buy into it are not likely to agree.
• Moral of the story: If you don't believe in love and lead a single loveless bachelor type man's man lifestyle you an empty shell of what you could be. Accordingly, the life you lead along with everyone you touch will be negatively impacted.

4 Stars