Two Movies

I don't often feel like booing a movie at the end. Even the sappiest movies make me cry. However, last night Joe and I watched The Holiday with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Jude Law. Don't waste your time! The movie was uneven and most poorly acted. Diaz had these weird movie trailer flashes into her own life that were completely out of step with the rest of the movie. Also, she isn't really a good actress. Although she has amazing hair that never looks messy. Jack Black was tamped down and tamed into a rather simpering and dull love interest. I love Jack Black, but he has to be over-the-top for him to really hit the chords he plays best. (Remember the end of Hi-Fidelity?) It was just sad to see him forced into submission. On a positive note, Kate Winslet was really good -- vulnerable and frumpy and cute at the same time. (A lot like me! Hahaha. Only kidding. I can only claim the frumpy. -sigh-) Her scenes with Eli Wallach were the best parts of the movie. And Jude Law was nice to look at. And the movie was very predictible which made for a nice parlor game for Joe and I and lent a certain comfort to the evening. See?? I ended on a postive note.

Now brace yourself...here's more positivity for you. The other night we watched, also on DVD because we don't get out that often, Music and Lyrics with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. It is an odd thing to watch a movie about an aging pop star and then realize that he is your age! Argh! The star, Hugh Grant, now finds himself playing at class reunions and being lusted over by women who graduated in 1987! (I graduated in 1986.) The movie starts and ends with terrific send-ups of early videos by groups like Duran Duran and Wham! Hahaha. Talk about nostalgia. The movie is really sweet and who can't swoon a little over Hugh. Drew Barrymore was her usual cute and winsome self. Brad Garret and that chick from Third Rock from the Sun were in the movie too, but the one who stole the show for both Joe and I was Drew's character's brother-in-law. He just seemed like such a nice guy, and very real. We wanted to have dinner with him. Anyway, we recommend Music and Lyrics for the laughs, particularly to those of you, who like us, remember the 80's all too well.