The Wedding Date

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 4, 2005

DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005

Plot 411: Kat hires a male escort to come with her to her sister's wedding in England . . . then falls for the guy.

Review: First off, this is another chick lit book (see Confessions Of A Shopaholic) that is somewhat ruined by Hollywood in its attempt to adapt the book to the screen. If you can get your hands Asking For Trouble by Elizabeth Young, it's definitely worth the read. The plot used as the basis for this film happens in about the first quarter of the book, if I remember correctly. Anyway, Debra Messing plays Kat, a woman who posts a newspaper ad for a male escort to her younger sister's (Amy Adams) wedding. Nick (Dermot Mulroney) answers the call and the two pose as a couple for the complicated family affair. I think I'll leave it at that. Personally, I loved this film because it was quirky and had twists that were actually pretty heavy for a rom com. The plot was unique (although, like I said, the book is better) and the characters were believable. I cannot even fathom how Adams could portray such a spoiled brat in this film. Amazing! While I don't find Mulroney that attractive, he somehow pulled off the role as a male escort. I think it's his charisma and a deep voice that'll make any woman's knees quake. As always, Messing is hilarious in that amped up chihuahua kind of way. She's always frantic and nervous and when you contrast that with Mulroney's calm and collected attitude, they just seem to work. My favorite character though was Kat's British cousin TJ (Sarah Parish). She is fricken hysterical.

Watch It: After reading the book . . . or

Skip It: Completely for the book.

The Perfect Man

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 17, 2005

DVD Release Date: November 1, 2005

Plot 411: A single mom uproots her family whenever her heart is broken and her eldest daugther finally puts her foot down.

Review: Heather Locklear and Hilary Duff star in this film about female empowerment . . . well, sorta. Locklear plays Jean, a single mom who is struggling to raise her two girls Holly (Duff) and Zoe (Aria Wallace). She is also desperate to find a man because she's tired of struggling on her own and doesn't feel fulfilled unless she has one. Because of her desperation, she continuously picks losers who let her down. When (not if) her heart gets broken, she packs up her house and kids and moves to another city. This is their family's new adventure. During their recent move to Brooklyn, Holly decides that enough is enough and creates a perfect man for her mom. This man is based on her friend's uncle, played by Chris Noth. She takes his advice and through the power of ingenuity and technology she is able to create a virtual suitor in hopes that her mother realizes she is perfect the way she is. While watching this film, I couldn't help but wonder whether Noth chose his films because of their location (New York) more than plot. From Sex and the City to Law & Order, the guy doesn't seem to leave the Big Apple. Also, Locklear and Duff look really good as mother and daughter. Their blonde hair and blue eyes are really striking. Other than that, this wasn't a really notable rom com or teen flick.

Watch It: For a chance to see Mr. Big?

Skip It: Because it's pretty unforgettable anyway.

First Daughter

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 24, 2004

DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005

Plot 411: A president's daughter finally experiences the world outside the White House.

Review: Katie Holmes (very much pre-Tom) plays Samantha, the 18-year-old daughter of the president of the United States (Michael Keaton) who is going off to college in California. Despite her desire to have a normal college experience, Samantha must also deal with secret service agents watching her every move. Samantha's roommate is the outspoken Mia (Amerie), and the two learn to maneuver through some uncertain circumstances. During her time in college, she meets an RA named James (Marc Blucas) and falls for him. However, as uncertain as she is about the whole college experience, she's also tentative on love. But when Samantha's antics get out of hand, her parents pull her out of school to help solidify the perfect family in hopes to win at the polls. Her father is fighting to be re-elected and every vote counts. The film was told as a modern day fairy tale, which was an interesting interpretation. I suppose the White House can somewhat resemble a castle of sorts, and the first family is definitely our version of royalty. The movie poses interesting questions about identity, responsibility and growing up. Despite the fact that most people do not have secret servicemen outside their doors, it's easy to relate to overprotective parents. This film demonstrates that concept in the extreme.

Watch It: For Katie before she got all grown up and serious and became Kate.

Skip It: Because, of course, the acting isn't the greatest.

Last Holiday

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 13, 2006

DVD Release Date: May 2, 2006

Plot 411: A conservative woman finally learns how to enjoy life when she is told she only has weeks to live.

Review: Queen Latifah stars as Georgia, a clerk at a department store who dreams about becoming a chef. After a freak accident, she is examined and told she has brain tumors. She decides to spend her remaining days enjoying life and quits her job. She withdraws all the money from her bank and jets off to an exotic locale where she reinvents herself as a wealthy woman. Her carefree, kind nature touches everyone at the hotel, including Chef Didier (Gerard Depardieu). This film was an interesting twist on the regular rom-com as it was more about self-discovery and self-acceptance than about the love thing. Georgia's love interest, by the way, is her co-worker Sean, played by LL Cool J. The film was uplifting and inspiring despite the heavy-handed message that we should all cherish our lives and live them to the fullest. Still, Latifah has a wonderful pressence on screen that is almost infectious. She has good comedic timing and isn't afraid to look dumb. LL Cool J is pretty stiff during his scenes but that could be due to all those muscles. Also in this film are Timothy Hutton and Alicia Witt.

Watch It: For a good dose of shop-therapy.

Skip It: Because really it's just another rom-com.

Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 7, 2002

DVD Release Date: November 5, 2002

Plot 411: Like mother, like daughter.

Review: I really enjoyed the spunky nature of this film and related with Sidda (Sandra Bullock) a lot. I'm not sure what that says about me or my relationship with my mom but let's not dwell on that. After reading Sidda's interview that mentioned a bad childhood, Sidda's mom Vivi (Ellen Burstyn) is so upset that she disowns her. In her own dramatic fashion, Vivi throws a tantrum that Sidda reciprocates because she is completely frustrated by her mother's behavior over the years. In an attempt to reconcile mother and daughter and because they belong to the age-old sisterhood of the Ya-Yas, Vivi's friends Teensy (Fionnula Flanagan), Necie (Shirley Knight) and Caro (Maggie Smith) kidnap Sidda from New York and bring her home. The three women will not let another sister down and hope they can explain to Sidda why her mother acts the way she does. Through flashbacks, we are treated to the childhood, teen years and young adult lives of the Ya-Yas. Ashley Judd plays a young Vivi. Despite all the harping and irrational behavior by Vivi and Sidda, this movie is somehow endearing. The characters have their flaws, but that's what makes them realistic and dare I say lovable? I've noticed that a lot of films set in the south portray very strong female characters, such as Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias. This one is no different.

Watch It: If you're a girl who thinks that you'll never, ever, ever end up like your mother.

Skip It: If you're that girl's boyfriend/husband as you know the above is an outright lie.

Happy Feet

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 17, 2006

DVD Release Date: March 27, 2007

Plot 411: A penguin goes on a journey of self-discovery when his differences are too much to ignore.

Review: In this animated film, Elijah Wood provides the voice for Mumble, a penguin without a singing voice. His lack of vocal talent makes him an oddity because all penguins must be able to sing in order to find their mate. Instead, Mumble is blessed with two tap dancing feet. When he becomes separated from his classmates, Mumble meets other penguins and for the first time he is accepted for who he is. This revelation encourages him to go home to reunite with his friend Gloria (Brittany Murphy). However, he also learns about aliens (humans) who are causing the fish to disappear and he's determined to remedy the problem for the sake of his family. This was a cute film with tons of singing. The music was definitely one of the highlights, allowing both adults and children to enjoy this film. The characters were also delightful to watch. I wouldn't necessarily say that this was a deep film, however, you could definitely tell that there were underlying themes in it. Still, I don't think the themes were successfully communicated because they were a bit obvious and clunky. I challenge the filmmakers to address their audience with a little more respect for their intellect. Also voice acting in this film are Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPaglia.

Watch It: For the singing and dancing.

Skip It: If you want a more fulfilling animated flick like Up or Wall-E.

Princess Mononoke / Mononoke hime

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 12, 1997 (Japan) / October 29, 1999

DVD Release Date: December 19, 2000

Plot 411: A young prince must convince humans and forest dwellers to find peace in their hearts in order to save the Forest Spirit.

Review: Prince Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) is cursed when he kills a demon that is enroute to destroy his village. Ashitaka must travel to the demon's homeland to find a cure. However, once he arrives he discovers a battle between humans and forest dwelling animals and spirits. The humans, led by Lady Eboshi (Minnie Driver), are clearing the land to search for more iron. They are harming nature in the process, which is upsetting the animals and spirits. The Moro clan of wolves is led by a mother wolf (Gillian Anderson) and her cubs, which includes a human girl San (Claire Danes). There is a lot of animosity between the Moro clan and the humans and San does not trust any human, despite being one herself. Ashitaka must find a way in which humans and nature can coexist, not only to save his life but to save everyone's future. You can obviously see that there are tons of themes coursing through this film. On one level, it is far more superior that the recent imitations like Avatar. There's a depth to it that leads to further discussions solely about Hayao Miyazaki's meanings. However, the animation is marvelous as well. It is something at which Miyazaki completely excels and there's no denying his influence on modern day animators. The world he creates is magical, and while the techniques used to portray his visions are different from James Cameron's recent work, it is just as awe inspiring.

Watch It: For a truly whirlwind experience through a magical world.

Skip It: If you're just looking for a fun time. If so, see Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs instead. Despite being a kid's flick, this movie will make you think.

Cherish

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: June 7, 2002

DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

Plot 411: A stalker, a woman under house arrest and an officer of the state fall into a weird love triangle.

Review: Set in San Francisco, this film is about Zoe (Robin Tunney), an introverted computer animator who commonly calls radio stations and requests love songs as a means to escape her life. Unbeknownst to her, she has a stalker (Brad Hunt) who is following her every move. When he forces his way into her car she inadvertently drives into a police officer. Because she's just come from a club and is DUI, Zoe is arrested and put under house arrest while her stalker escapes. When she claims that there was an assailant in her car, even her lawyer doesn't believe her. She is moved out of her apartment and into a bad neighborhood for her confinement. Bill (Tim Blake Nelson), an officer of the law who is in charge of maintaining the electronic ankle bracelet, acts like a pseudo parole officer, friend and therapist. As he interacts with Zoe, Bill falls for her despite himself as well as all of her antics. This movie had a great soundtrack that featured songs from the '70s and '80s. I really enjoyed their abundance throughout the film, but I think others might find them a bit intrusive. The music was used to express the characters thoughts and feelings, and I felt the song that were selected were a good choice. I also liked how the film addressed the lengths to which people will go in the name of love. Sometimes, love will definitely take you beyond your boundaries. At other times, love definitely makes people unstable and scary. Jason Priestley and Liz Phair also play small parts in this movie.

Watch It: For a character piece with a strong female protagonist that was funny and entertaining.

Skip It: If you're hoping for an action flick. Despite the cop and stalker, it didn't have any real action.

The Orphanage / El orfanato

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 11, 2007 (Spain) / December 28, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: April 22, 2008

Plot 411: Mysterious things occur when a woman and her family return to the orphanage where she grew up.

Review: In this film, Laura (Belen Rueda), her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) and their adopted son Simon (Roger Princep) return to an old orphange in Spain where Laura grew up. She hopes to renovate it and turn it into a place for sick children. However, as she and her family spend more time there, Simon starts to play with an invisible friend named Tomas (Oscar Casas). Simon reveals that Tomas wears a bag on his head, and this is very disconcerting for Laura. Rightly so, in my opinion! Why is it that sack people are so goddamn scary? I swear they're a lot creepier than Jason, Michael or Freddie put together. After a fight between Tomas and Laura, Tomas goes missing. Laura begins to hear weird sounds in the house as if there are children playing. Lured by the kids to play the games she played as a child, she soon uncovers the deadly secrets that the house hides and is frightened her son will never be found. This is a true masterpiece in the horror and thriller genre. I completely recommend this if you want a tense, high-stress movie to watch. It is so different from American horror films (no cheap scares here) and I found it easier to follow than Asian horror films. The cinematography was eerily beautiful, and when combined with the isolated set and score, it really got your imagination going.

Watch It: For a full-on freak fest that's exceptionally well done.

Skip It: If you plan to go anywhere near an isolated beach or forest area.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 18, 2008

DVD Release Date: March 3, 2009

Plot 411: An uptown chihuahua finds herself in downtown Mexico City miles from all that is familiar to her.

Review: Oh man, I never thought I'd actually watch this movie . . . ever. But it was in the stack of DVDs I'm borrowing from my brother so I thought I might as well pop it in and get it over with. The only plus about this movie is that at least they cast Hispanic actors for the ethnic parts. It'd be really insulting if they had cast white folks to play the Mexican dogs. Talk about uncool. Anyway, Drew Barrymore plays Chloe, a 90210 dog who is used to only the best that life has to offer. When Chloe's owner Viv (Jamie Lee Curtis) goes on a business trip, she is left in the care of Viv's slacker niece Rachel (Piper Perabo). Rachel and her friends decide to take a little vacation of their own and head down to Tijuana. But when Chloe gets dognapped and ends up in the dog fighting ring, things get a little "ruff." Ok, I couldn't help myself. Anyway, the dogs she meets on her journey are voiced by the likes of Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Placido Domingo, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin and Luiz Guzman. Pretty classy huh? While some people might find this movie adorable, I cannot claim that myself. It contains two of my pet peeves - tiny dogs and dogs wearing clothes. I'm surprised I didn't break out in hives. Also, the CGI in this is HORRIBLE! C'mon Disney! What were you thinking?

Watch It: For the doggie fashion?

Skip It: For the love of God!

The Simple Life Of Noah Dearborn

The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn Dianne Wiest Sidney Poitier Gregg Champion Mary-Louise Parker | Movie Trailers

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: May 9, 1999

DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005

Plot 411: A man fights a company that is trying to buy his land to build a mall.

Review: Sidney Poitier stars in this made-for-tv movie about a man named Noah. Noah is a carpenter by trade and has lived a tremendously long and simple life in the countryside. He is a master carpenter and has practically built the town with his bare hands. He is a small town legend in his own right. Quiet and respectful, he goes about his business without calling attention to himself. When city folks, led by a lawyer named Christian (George Newbern), come to buy his land from him, he refuses to sell. He is befriended by Christian's girlfriend Valerie (Mary-Louise Parker) and slowly learns to let people into his life. This was a film that pointedly contrasted urbanization and development with pure country living. There are benefits to both, I suppose, but the country life never looked so good as it did here. Poitier's character took strength in living off and working on the land. He lived alone and did all the farm chores himself. He cared for animals, farmed and harvested crops, chopped wood and made repairs. He lived without electricity and any other modern convenience, yet he was happy. For a tv movie, this one wasn't bad. There is a nice bit of character arc for Valerie and (predictably) none for Christian. There were some abrupt transitions between scenes and some dramatics going on between Christian and Valerie, but overall it was a nice movie to watch.

Watch It: For Poitier's quiet strength of performance.

Skip It: If you're looking for some real meat on the plot. It's a tv movie after all.

The Tiger And The Snow / La tigre e la neve

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: October 14, 2005 (Italy) / December 29, 2006 (USA)

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007

Plot 411: A man braves the early stages of the war in Iraq to save the love of his life.

Review: Roberto Benigni is Attilio, a college professor of poetry who has a recurring dream of getting married to his dream girl. When he meets her (Nicoletta Braschi) at a friend's (Jean Reno) poetry reading, he follows her to a cafe and invites himself to her table. Vittoria cannot understand Attilio's infatuation with her and flees the area. However, when Attilio learns that Vittoria is injured on her trip to Iraq, he does everything in his power to get there and make her well. This is another great film starring Benigni (the other is Life Is Beautiful) that demonstrates the lengths to which people will go for those they love. I am still baffled by Benigni's charisma as he isn't at all handsome. But somehow, through his expressions and actions in his films, it is quite easy to fall in love with him. As Attilio, he is forgetful and passionate, determined and somewhat goofy. His actions are awkward yet he has the confidence of Adonis. Besides a weird transition from Act two to three, I thought the film flowed well. It wasn't as compelling as Life Is Beautiful, but it also wasn't as grim either. I loved some of the political jabs that were made throughout the film. The dialogue throughout is inspiring, especially for those who study words. Some lines and turns of phrases were simply beautiful.

Watch It: For a truly awesome demonstration of love.

Skip It: If this is your first encounter with Benigni. Try Life Is Beautiful.

Evelyn

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: December 13, 2002

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003

Plot 411: An Irish father takes the Church and State to court in order to get his children back.

Review: In a film based on true events, Pierce Brosnan plays Desmond Doyle, an Irishman whose life is in shambles. He is out of work, his wife walks out on their family and the court takes his children away. But Doyle doesn't give up. Through the help of a local barmaid (Julianna Margulies), he secures lawyers (Stephen Rea and Aidan Quinn) who take up his case. Fighting the Church and State in an unprecedented manner is a huge undertaking to which the men commit themselves. Brosnan is very convincing as the distraught father and is able to garner so much sympathy for his cause (not that losing your children isn't enough in and of itself). The circumstances and courte are indeed ridiculous, but I suppose it was the '50s so there you go. He is also not as bad a singer as he is in Mamma Mia! This could be due to the fact that he's singing Irish ditties, drinking and not dancing. However, I digress. The actress who plays Doyle's daughter Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur) is quite good as well and is able to demonstrate the girl's innocence, optimism and faith. While this film was mostly a drama focused on Doyle and his family, I couldn't help but enjoy the Irish countryside in some of the shots. Everything is so lush and green. No wonder it's called the Emerald Isle.

Watch It: For a father's love for his children.

Skip It: For a movie with even more social injustices involving Irish Church-run facilities in The Magdalene Sisters. Boy, those nuns are something, aren't they?

Catch And Release

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 26, 2007

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2007

Plot 411: A widow discovers that her fiance kept many secrets from her and wasn't the person she thought he was.

Review: When Gray's (Jennifer Garner) fiance Grady dies at his bachelor party, she must deal with fallout that includes his secret life. His L.A. friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant) comes to the funeral, but Gray is puzzled as to why he continues on afterward. Grady's friend Sam (Kevin Smith) and business partner Dennis (Sam Jaeger) are also on hand to help Gray pick up the pieces as she relinquishes the home that she and Grady had planned on living in together. The turmoil of losing a loved one is compounded by the mystery of Grady's estate. Gray contends with her would-be mother-in-law for the engagement ring and is completely overwhelmed with emotions. The film does a good job at portraying how people deal with loss in different ways. While similar to P.S. I Love You, this film takes on death in an entirely different light. Garner does a really good job at playing the mourning fiancee (even though there are times when no tears are shed despite all the crying). I think casting for Gray was perfect as Garner looks like the perfect Patagonia-esque wife that the character must be. The film shows us how complicated humans are with all their feelings and thinking. It makes you wonder just how much you know the people closest to you. This film also stars Juliette Lewis.

Watch It: For a somewhat bittersweet plot that walks the line of political correctness when it comes to death and how people behave.

Skip It: If you're looking for a big, heaping bawl-fest.

Knowing

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: March 20, 2009

DVD Release Date: July 7, 2009

Plot 411: When a time capsule is dug up at his son's school, John discovers that a 50-year-old letter correctly predicts all the major disasters that have occurred.

Review: Nicholas Cage plays John, a college professor teaching astrophysics at MIT. When his son receives a 50-year-old letter, John uncovers a code that details every major disaster that has happened. This spurs him to find the letter's writer and anyone connected to her in order to prevent future events. When John learns the writer is dead, he seeks out her daughter (Rose Byrne) Diana. In the meantime, John's son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury) begins to hear whispered voices in his head and see visions of destruction. To me, this movie made no sense at all. After establishing that John is a professor at a prestigious university, he spends the rest of the movie running around town like effin Indiana Jones. He is so not Indy. Another baffling thing is the numerology involved in the plot. Apparently the writer was possessed by something that made her write all these numbers down. These numbers predicted mass casualties in the future. Caleb also becomes possessed and writes a series of numbers at one point in the film, yet these numbers do not come to fruition. Why would one work and not the other? There are just too many plot holes in this film for it to work for me.

Watch It: If you're a Nick Cage fan or into the sci fi genre.

Skip It: If you're a fan of a good movie.

Definitely, Maybe

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 14, 2008

DVD Release Date: June 24, 2008

Plot 411: A dad tells his daughter the real story of how he fell in love with her mother, but it's complicated.

Review: Will (Ryan Reynolds) is in the process of divorcing his wife when his daughter Maya (Abigail Breslin) asks him to tell her the story of how he met her mother. Besides being intrigued by what happened, Maya also hopes this will reunite her parents. Will decides to change all the names and some of the things that happen in this retelling, forcing Maya (and the audience) to guess which woman is her mother. As the story goes, Will has three relationships with women who could possibly be Maya's mother: his college sweetheart (Elizabeth Banks), a journalist (Rachel Weisz) and his best friend (Isla Fisher). As the tale unfolds, things get more and more complicated but Maya is determined to figure out who her mother is. This film took a unique stab at the rom com genre and actually made it a lot more interesting. Because of how the plot, the audience really becomes invested in the characters - if not for Will's sake but for Maya's. As each piece of the puzzle is revealed, your anticipation mounts. I also enjoyed the twists and turns of how each relationship played out. While some things were still predictable, many aspects of the relationships were utterly true to the real world. Rather than wrap things up nicely, this film showed us all the loose ends. It didn't pull its punches - just as real life never will. Reynolds does a really good job playing a concerned father and his on-screen relationship with Breslin is great. As usual, he is good looking and funny, but now his affection for his daughter really makes him a dream catch. It's just the thing to pull in female viewers.

Watch It: For the unique storytelling hook of the plot.

Skip It: If you like your romances straightforward and passion filled. This one would be described more as sweet and endearing.

Just Like Heaven

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 16, 2005

DVD Release Date: February 7, 2006

Plot 411: An overworked doctor awakens from her accident to find that she's a ghost of her former self.

Review: As if 13 Going On 30 didn't make all of womankind fall in love with Mark Ruffalo, he's gotta go and make Just Like Heaven. This guy, who appears to be like the average Joe, somehow gets it right in every movie he makes. I'm glad to see that after achieving some fame with these initial rom coms, he's moved on to other genres and spread his wings. Ruffalo (David) plays opposite Reese Witherspoon (Elizabeth) in this film set in San Francisco. Elizabeth is a dedicated doctor who gets into an accident. When she wakes up, she is shocked that David is living in her apartment. She does all she can to get him out while he does the same (although it's with some hocus pocus mumbo jumbo since he thinks she's haunting his home). David even consults new ager Darryl (Jon Heder) for help with getting rid of his ghost. The movie opens up and the audience is able to play off Ruffalo and Witherspoon's chemistry. This is a lovely romantic comedy, especially if you're in the mood for a movie about destiny.

Watch It: For Ruffalo's easy going performance. The guy never seems to overact in any of his roles.

Skip It: If you're not looking for a run-of-the-mill rom com. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, it's not much different than others of its kind.

Fired Up!

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 20, 2009

DVD Release Date: June 9, 2009

Plot 411: Two football players ditch training camp to attend cheer camp instead.

Review: This movie is definitely not groundbreaking in either plot or genre, but it did have a couple of good laughs. Nicholas D'Agosto plays Shawn and Eric Christian Olsen plays Nick, two jocks whose goal in life is to hook up with as many girls as possible. When Nick suggests they go to cheerleader camp, the boys think they've hit the jackpot. They hope to seduce all three hundred girls during the three-week camp and continue on their way. What they don't plan for is Carly (Sarah Roemer), the head cheerleader who actually has some morals and brains. She intrigues Shawn because of her obvious distaste for all that he stands for. Nick, on the other hand, is still playing the field and even tries to come on to the cheer coach (Molly Sims). The rest of the movie is exactly what you think it is - young things prancing around in near nakedness and piercing, rhythmic cheering. The movie was actually better than I thought it'd be, but I didn't really have high standards for it anyway. It's a somewhat irreverent teen comedy with good looking people and a few gay male cheerleaders thrown into the mix. It's an interesting addition to the cheerleader genre.

Watch It: If you think you'll like a cross between American Pie and Bring It On.

Skip It: If you've got high quality film standards.

Gigantic

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 3, 2009

DVD Release Date: August 11, 2009

Plot 411: Brian has wanted to adopt a Chinese baby all his life and he's not sure how his new girlfriend will fit into the picture.

Review: I have no idea what the point of this movie is and would probably not recommend it to anyone. It strives for that cool, indie feel that examines the characters rather than builds up large set pieces. However, even the characters are difficult to grasp and I didn't feel connected to any of them. Brian (Paul Dano), a mattress salesman, is in the process of trying to adopt a Chinese baby. He's only 28 years old and single, but he's diligent in this desire for adoption. While at work he meets a girl named Happy (Zooey Deschanel) and they develop a relationship. Brian is awkward and weird. Happy is quirky and cute but also flighty and lost. She comes from wealth and John Goodman plays her father who gives her anything she wants. She doesn't have a real job and because of him, she doesn't really need one. Throughout the film Brian is constantly getting into altercations with an unidentified man (Zach Galifianakis). The purpose of this is completely unclear to me. Has anyone else seen this and do you know what the hell's happening?

Watch It: Maybe if you like Deschanel's quirky character? However, I didn't even find her very likable in this film. I thought she was much better in (500) Days Of Summer.

Skip It: Because it's pretty much a waste of your time.

Chinatown

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: June 20, 1974

DVD Release Date: November 23, 1999

Plot 411: A cheating husband ends up dead and the private detective hired to capture his dalliances vows to find out why.

Review: This movie is what I'd call a slow burn. It's a crime drama with a hint of film noir. According to Wikipedia, this Roman Polanski-directed film is part of a generation of neo-noir films. Jack Nicholson played J.J. Gittes, a private eye whose simple practice of catching cheating spouses is turned upside when the subject of his surveillance ends up dead. However, when he is confronted by the victim's real wife (Faye Dunaway), a completely different woman than the one who originally hired him, he's determined to find out just exactly what is going on. Dunaway plays Evelyn Mulwray, an aristocratic woman wrapped up in secrets that only seem to get more convoluted as the movie goes on. The film is set in the late '30s, which I think adds a bit of mystery to the film. I loved how some of the lighting cut across the actors' faces. It's such a throwback to the films of the '40s. Some of the score, I thought, was overly dramatic but I suppose that it's supposed to increase the tension. For most of the film, the audience is kept in the dark about what's really going on. It is only at the end that all the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together. Also featured in this film are John Huston, Diane Ladd, John Hillerman and James Hong.

Watch It: If you're the type of person who likes to mental exercise of a mystery.

Skip It: If you just want to be surrounded by 100% action 100% of the time.

Dakota Skye

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 2, 2008

DVD Release Date: July 14, 2009

Plot 411: Plagued with always knowing the truth behind people's lies, a teen discovers someone who doesn't lie at all.

Review: Wow, I really loved this flick. Granted, I'm a sucker for those coming-of-age indie movies about love and loss so I might be a little biased. Dakota (Eileen Boylan) is a girl who knows when people are lying. This superpower has made her cynical about life in general and she disconnects herself from much of the world. She's dating Kevin (J.B. Ghuman Jr.), a somewhat lovable yet superficial and sometimes dense musician. It's not because she loves him but because she doesn't not love him. When Kevin's friend Jonah (Ian Nelson) blows into town from NYC, he also blows Dakota away. No, she doesn't fall for him instantly. Instead, she's intrigued and really bothered by the fact that he doesn't lie. After years of hearing people's hidden truths, she's practically beside herself when she can't catch him lying. What's wrong with him? Moreover, what's wrong with her? This movie isn't so much a sci fi, superhero movie as it is one girl's quest to find herself. The superhero nonsense is actually a turn off for me. I think they could've done much better without that part, but I guess it'd be hard to set the rest up. As an audience member (perhaps it's a female thing though), I was completely spellbound by the Boylan/Nelson chemistry. You could seriously see the sparks zinging back and forth between them in a first love/soulmate kind of way. Their performances were right on, which I think is quite difficult to do considering the teen angst period of their character's lives. The hand's down best part of the film is the soundtrack. Awesome, awesome songs if you're into a somewhat unplugged indie/emo/pop-type sound (although Kevin's band is definitely trying to be more pop rock).

Watch It: For a somewhat Juno-like film with more heart and less laughs.

Skip It: If the recent indie hipster movies irk the hell out of you.

Underdog

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 3, 2007

DVD Release Date: December 18, 2007

Plot 411: A mad scientist's experiment turns an ordinary dog into a super dog.

Review: I used to love the cartoon but didn't love the movie. While all the talking animals were cute in their own way, they couldn't save this film. A former drug-sniffing dog, Shoeshine (Jason Lee) is adopted by a night guard (Jim Belushi) and his son Jack (Alex Neuberger). Jack quickly finds out that he's no ordinary dog. Prior to his adoption, Shoeshine had a run in with a mad scientist (Peter Dinklage) that transformed him into a dog with many super powers. Jack and Shoeshine use his powers for the benefit of mankind while trying to avoid recapture by the scientist and his goons. I don't even really know what to say about this one. My favorite breed of dog is the beagle and even this wet-nosed pooch couldn't sway me. This movie also stars Amy Adams and Brad Garrett.

Watch It: If you like talking animals? Even then, there's probably something better for you to watch than this.

Skip It: If at all possible.

Thirst / Bakjwi

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 30, 2009 (South Korea) / July 31, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

Plot 411: A priest infected with sickness discovers that a sickness of a different kind can be a temporary cure.

Review: This is another Chan-wook Park film that embodies a degree of blood and guts with which many people are not familiar. The movie causes an uneasiness within the viewer that I believe adds to the overall effect of the film. Sang-hyeon (Kang-ho Song) is a priest who volunteers for a medical trial that attempts to find the cure to a deadly disease. Unfortunately, he contracts the disease and is given a blood transfusion that turns him into a vampire. To his horror, he finds himself resorting to siphoning blood out of a comatosed patient and stealing bags of blood from hospitals where he volunteers. The public begins to worship him for his healing capabilities and he runs into Kang-woo (Ha-kyun Shin), an old friend. Sang-Hyeon is invited to Kang-woo's house and becomes infatuated with his wife Tae-ju (Ok-bin Kim). They begin an affair that leads to murder. This film is an interesting twist (or addition) to the current vampire craze that is hitting the world. It does not resemble Twilight in any form or fashion (to which many people will probably cheer for joy), but it seems to rethink the entire vampire mythology. I suppose people can interpret, alter or make up their own mythology about vampires (or werewolves for that matter), but personally I prefer the bite-you're-it theory. Overlooking that though, this film focused on Sang-hyeon's sense of honor and morality and his struggle with himself and his identity as a priest and human. Even after he becames a "monster," he still finds himself in turmoil about the right thing to do. His intense mental and emotional battle couldn't be further from the character of Tae-ju. To me, she is completely selfish and conniving. In addition to being sexually explicit and blood-and-guts gory, this movie is Park's comment on man's true behavior when given utter control and power.

Watch It: For a unique take on vampires and an intricate comparison between Korean family dynamics vs. American individualism.

Skip It: If Twilight's love story and mythology is more your speed.

Good Dick

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 10, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 26, 2009

Plot 411: A movie store clerk is intrigued by one of his customers.

Review: This is the oddest film I've seen in a while, but in some weird way it's also the sweetest. I enjoyed it even though I didn't totally get it. It has that indie charm and characters that are so true to life. It's not Hollywood fluff. Could this movie be considered mumblecore? Possibly, but with Jason Ritter playing the male lead it's a little hard to say. The plot is about a guy (Ritter) who works in a video store and a girl (Marianna Palka) who comes in every night to borrow erotic videos. The guy (who doesn't have a name in the film) is intrigued by the girl (no name for her either) and does all types of things to start a relationship with her. He's lonely in L.A. and financially strapped despite having a job. His only real friends are his co-workers, and other than the video store, he has no life. The girl is dealing with her own problems, problems that seem very twisted psychologically and emotionally. She's a tough girl who has built walls to protect herself. But what is it that she's afraid of? The guy desperately tries to uncover this mystery with the hope that she'll return his affection. Somehow, it doesn't seem very likely so why does he continue to try? Is he just a masochist? Is she just a mental institution patient?

Watch It: For a film that confuses your emotions.

Skip It: If the mention of erotica has you stumbling backward. But, just so you know, it's not really the main plotline.

(500) Days Of Summer

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: July 17, 2009

DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009

Plot 411: Tom believes in soul mates. Summer doesn't. This is their story.

Review: When Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sees Summer (Zooey Deschanel) for the first time, he knows instantly she's the one he's been waiting for his whole life. He believes in that kind of stuff. Summer, who recently moved to L.A. from Michigan, just wants to have fun and is not interested in a boyfriend. Their one-sided love story unfolds non-linearly and retraces their relationship as Tom retells the events to his two best friends and his younger sister. This movie didn't turn out to be as dramatic or comedic as I anticipated, but I still enjoyed it's quirky indie vibe. I especially loved the Enchanted parody and was amazed at Gordon-Levitt's singing and dancing ability. As the advertisments about this film reveal, this is not a love story. It's an un-love story, yet despite this negative-sounding concept it is actually pretty positive. The audience is privy to both the good and bad events that take place during Tom and Summer's relationship. Nothing major happens, but then isn't this like most relationships? There's no one big event that broke them up. There was no shouting match. No cops were called for domestic disturbances. Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel played the roles straight and you can find humor and sorrow in daily interactions and life in general. I loved Gordon-Levitt the most during Tom's times of heart break because you can practically feel his pain through the screen.

Watch It: If you enjoyed Gordon-Levitt in Brick or The Lookout. While those are definitely movies of a different genre, his performance continues to be wonderful in its subtlety.

Skip It: If found his best work to be in G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra. In my opinion, he completely sold out by taking that role and it's one of his worst.

For Love Or Money

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: October 1, 1993

DVD Release Date: August 12, 2003

Plot 411: A concierge with all the right moves has dreams of bigger and better things but his lifelong drive toward his goals takes a detour when he falls for a perfume girl.

Review: Isn't it always the case? You think you know where you're headed until you meet someone who knocks your socks off and you find that your life's plans are all out of whack? Doug (Michael J. Fox) is a concierge for a large hotel in New York and is the who's who of concierge people. He knows everything that's going on in the hotel and has many, many contacts outside of the hotel to make things happen. But, Doug's got big dreams and a solid plan to one day own his own hotel. When his friend introduces him to wealthy Christian Hanover (Anthony Higgins), Doug really thinks his dreams will take off if he can only convince Christian to finance his hotel. Doug becomes Christian's go-to guy, providing him with hotel stays for his affair with perfume girl Andy (Gabrielle Anwar) and any other favor that is requested of him. Andy is in love with Christian and holding on to his promise that he will divorce his wife. While Andy lives in this dreamworld, Doug is firmly rooted in reality. He needs Christian and will do anything to get the money for his hotel, even giving up the girl he likes and allowing her to possibly get her heart broken. The movie had a similar feel to it as Pretty Woman. I guess it has to do with the hotel setting, powerful men and inappropriate affairs. Also, the materialism and capitalism of the time was translated through the wants and desires of the characters. Some of the camera angles were interesting and the New York skyline never looked better.

Watch It: If you like to root for the underdog and enjoy Fox's upbeat style of dialogue delivery. For some reason, he'll always be Alex P. Keaton to me - no matter what role he's in.

Skip It: If you're just looking for a rom com because Pretty Woman delivered that a lot better.

Million Dollar Baby

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 14, 2004

DVD Release Date: July 12, 2005

Plot 411: Against his better judgment, a once-great trainer takes an older female boxer under his wing.

Review: Clint Eastwood stars as Frankie, an aging boxing trainer and gym owner. When Maggie (Hilary Swank) shows up at his gym and asks him to train her, he refuses. She returns every day, proves that she is serious about the training and at last Frank relents. Through their training Maggie is able to learn the skills needed to be a great boxer. As she slowly gains notoriety, she attempts to help her financially struggling family, except they do not appreciate her assistance. Frankie also has a rough relationship with his daughter, and even though he writes to her every week, many of the letters come back unopened. Together Maggie and Frankie find in each other what is truly lacking in their lives and become very close. When tragedy strikes, one asks the other to do something unthinkable. Will their relationships be able to survive the stress? The story is narrated by Frankie's former student Eddie, played by Morgan Freeman. This is a heavy, heavy movie to watch and definitely not for the faint of heart. It confronts many things that are normally taboo in Hollywood flicks. But, I suppose it's Eastwood so he can do whatever he wants. The movie tugs at your heartstrings as well as your moral center. It simply asks you how far you'd go for someone you love. Sometimes the answer will surprise you.

Watch It: For an emotional rollercoaster of a film with powerful performances by Eastwood and Swank.

Skip It: If you're not in the mindset for some inner turmoil.

Moonlight Serenade

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: Not sure

DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009

Plot 411: A coat check girl and a financial planner fall in love to classic jazz tunes.

Review: Now who wouldn't like to watch love unfold to well-known standard hits? Definitely not me, which is why I took a chance on this musical starring Amy Adams and Alec Newman as Chloe and Nate. Unfortunately, the movie didn't live up to my expectations though. The film's plot was threadbare, the acting was barely alive and worst of all, the score and musical numbers were pretty horrible. Adams plays an aspiring singer with a drugged out boyfriend. She runs into Nate, a financial planner who plays the piano and sings as a stress reliever. They spend some time together working on music so Chloe can audition for a gig. Despite a rough beginning, they fall for one another. But when her boyfriend gets serious about his drug addition and wants to quit, Chloe drops Nate to help her man. Will their love for music get the through life's unexpected twists and turns? Adams, as always, appears very genuine and sweet in this role. Her voice is nice. However, the dialogue and character need a lot of work. I think she did the best she could with what she was given. This is definitely not a star-making role. Newman had a nice singing voice too, but again the role wasn't great. I'm so disappointed in the song arrangements. It's like they tried to make the music more current perhaps? It was just bad.

Watch It: If you're really into jazz and old standards.

Skip It: For a better showing by Adams in Enchanted.

Candy

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: November 17, 2006

DVD Release Date: March 27, 2007

Plot 411: A love story almost as tragic and destructive as Romeo and Juliet.

Review: Dan (Heath Ledger) and Candy (Abbie Cornish) are a young couple completely in love with each other. Their passion for one another burns even brighter after their introduction to drugs. The drugs seem to make their love more intense while at the same time making them more fragile. The couple's drug habits get worse and they do everything they can to get their fix. They steal from family members, prostitute themselves and commit identity theft just to fill the euphoria of the drugs. When they learn of an unexpected pregnancy, the couple decides to quit for the baby. But after years of drug abuse that has rocked their relationship, can they be responsible enough to raise a child? This movie is the first in which I truly recognized Ledger's acting chops. Sure, he'd been in several movies by this point (such as 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale and Lords Of Dogtown), but even after Brokeback Mountain I thought it just might've been a fluke. How could the guy who did an impromtu Frankie Valli tribute pull off this tweaker? But Ledger pulls out all the stops and is really something to watch. It was a moving and powerful performance and utterly heartbreaking to know that he's gone.

Watch It: Because despite his genius as the Joker in The Dark Knight, I think he is even more amazing as Dan.

Skip It: Because of its pretty explicit drug usage.

Sunshine Cleaning

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: March 13, 2009

DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009

Plot 411: Two sisters trying to make ends meet turn to biohazard clean up as the money-making solution.

Review: Amy Adams and Emily Blunt star as Rose and Norah, two sisters who have lived hard lives and are just trying to make it. Rose, a former cheerleader, is working as a maid to support her young son (Jason Spevack). Norah, the younger and more rebellious of the two, was recently fired from her job as a waitress. When Rose's son is kicked out of his school for exhibiting disturbing behavior, she vows to get him into a private school that will cultivate his creativity and challenge him intellectually. To do this, she must make more money and takes her lover's (Steve Zahn) suggestion to clean up crime scenes. The two sisters embark on this new career path while still hanging desperately on to the past. Their new vocation touches close to home, especially for Norah, because the sisters were the first to find their mother after she committed suicide. Their well-meaning but struggling father is played by Alan Arkin. Like them, he seems to still be affected by his wife's death. The movie is darkly humorous and quirky. The relationship between the sisters is strained despite their closeness and both have different challenges to overcome. I'm not positive, but this is probably the first film that focuses on the field of biohazard clean up. Simply because of that, I think it's worth a watch. It presents a new perspective about life and death.

Watch It: For surprisingly good performances from Adams and Blunt. They're no longer the bubbly princess or the chic fashionista.

Skip It: If blood and guts aren't your thing . . . although, there's really not a lot of it.

The Hot Chick

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 13, 2002

DVD Release Date: May 13, 2003

Plot 411: A high school cheerleader and a small-time crook switch bodies when they both get their hands on magical earrings.

Review: Rachel McAdams is Jessica, a spoiled little rich girl and one of the cool kids in school. She has a crew of other mean girls that includes her BFF April (Anna Faris). While at the mall one day, Jessica pinches a pair of earrings. Unfortunately, she loses one side at a gas station that Clive (Rob Schneider) has just robbed. He picks up the earring, which leads to the body swap the next morning. This is a cross between Mean Girls and Freaky Friday that has its funny moments but again isn't groundbreaking. I'd say it was probably on par with Schneider's other comedic attempts and just another teen comedy for McAdams. Can't really say I'd recommend it, even to its teen demographic. There are other teen comedies that rock and this one just isn't one of them.

Watch It: If you really feel the need to do so.

Skip It: If at all possible.

Star Trek

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 8, 2009

DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009

Plot 411: A prequel to the Star Trek mythology that portrays the lives of young Kirk and Spock.

Review: Romulans attack the USS Kelvin on the day of James T. Kirk's birth, killing his father. Kirk (Chris Pine) grows up as a wild child and is recruited into the Starfleet as a young man. Simultaneously, Spock (Zachary Quinto) is struggling with his half human/half Vulcan persona and unsure which characteristics suit him best. When an emergency calls Starfleet students into action, the flight crew gains support from Uhuru's (Zoe Saldana) linguistic aptitude, Sulu's (John Cho) piloting abilities and McCoy's medical training (Karl Urban). The bad guy in this film is Nero, played by Eric Bana. He attempts to hurt Spock in retribution for the hurt that Spock has caused him. Again, despite not being big on the sci fi genre I think this movie was pretty good. There was humor and action, a small love triangle and definite emotional beats. Even though I didn't really know a lot about the backstory of these characters, I was still able to follow along and not get too confused. I'm sure there were dozens of homage's to the TV series and other films that the fanboys caught that I didn't. The fact that the movie is accessible to both types of audience definitely helps its success. Quinto's performance as Spock is awesome. He completely pulls it off. The emotion he keeps in check due to his Vulcan side really comes through in the performance. Even better is Bana's portrayal of Nero. He is almost unrecognizable in this role. It's a real credit to his acting ability that the audience doesn't know who the hell he is. Another plus about this film is that Leonard Nimoy makes an appearance. This movie also stars Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and Winona Ryder.

Watch It: Of course if you're a Star Trek fan or if you just like action in general.

Skip It: If you're a physicist since you know you'll only get irritated at the inaccuracies of the film. And yes, they did incorporate sound in outer space . . . again.

Avatar 3D

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 18, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: The military sends in an undercover agent to learn the ways of the natives and convince them to give up their lands.

Review: I watched this movie last night and am still in awe of the cinematography and CGI used in it. This is probably the first film in 3D that was worth the extra cost for the glasses. At the heart of the film and plot, this is really just a recycled idea of cowboys vs. indians. There were so many similarities between this film and the Westerns of old. However, I'd have to say that technology has revitalized the genre. I cannot even describe to you how pretty everything looked. For over two hours, I found that I was caught up in the world of Pandora and the lives of the Na'vi. As a staunch non-sci fi moviegoer, I wouldn't normally watch this type of film. However, I was convinced by a friend and must now eat my words. The movie is pretty amazing. Of course, there are a number of flaws, but all of that is really forgotten once you're pulled into the world of the Na'vi. I can't even tell you who the actors were and I didn't find myself caring all that much. In the throes of love, do you really stop and ask yourself the hows and whys? After a bit of research, the stars include Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi.

Watch It: Because it's pretty darn awesome. It's probably my favorite movie of 2009.

Skip It: If you think you might get motion sickness from the 3D effect. If so, catch it without the 3D. I'm sure it's just good.

Hitch

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 11, 2005

DVD Release Date:

Plot 411: A former nerd transforms into a magical date doctor and helps other guys win the girls of their dreams

Review: Will Smith plays Hitch, a guy who helps his clients to get the girl. He is confident that it'll only take three dates for his clients to win over the women of their dreams. He is also on the DL and no one really knows his true identity. He has become somewhat of a legend - people know of him but have never really met him. When he takes on a new client, Albert (Kevin James), he also encounters an investigative reporter Sara (Eva Mendes) who is driven to unveil he date doctor's true identity. As Hitch helps Albert conquer his dating fears with his tried-and-true tips, Hitch finds it surprising that these tips are not helping him with Sara. The humor of this movie comes with the ups and downs of dating life and the misconceptions between men and women. James is pretty funny in this role of Albert. The movie is a good representation of an inter-racial couple, although it is by no means groundbreaking.

Watch It: If you find that you like most of Smith's films.

Skip It: If you find that Smith habitually annoys you. He'll come off as particularly annoying in this film.

August Rush

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 21, 2007

DVD Release Date: March 11, 2008

Plot 411: An orphan caught in the system truly believes his parents are out there and knows that all he needs to do is play music to draw them back.

Review: Evan (Freddie Highmore) is a kid growing up in the New York foster care system. He refuses to be adopted because he believes his parents are out there looking for him. The reality of it is that his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers) don't even know he's alive and aren't even together. However, Evan is so sure they're out there that he runs away and becomes a street kid. He is taken in by Wizard (Robin Williams), a guy who cares for many other runaways in exchange for a cut of their street performances. Evan's talent is so great that he soon moves on to bigger and better things in hopes that his parents will one day find him. This is a truly moving and inspirational film. You'll feel the music flowing through you, just as it flows through Evan. Highmore makes you fall in love with Evan because of his sweet disposition. You really root for the kid and hope things work out, even though through our adult eyes you know the situation is pretty dire. Evan's optimism is unmatched and you gotta wonder how someone in that kind of situation can sustain it. Williams plays a scoundrel one minute and a loving father figure the next. It's quite an interesting mix.

Watch It: And let the music grab hold of your soul.

Skip It: If you live firmly in reality. Some of the plot is a stretch of the imagination.