High Society

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: July 17, 1956

DVD Release Date: April 22, 2003

Plot 411: A rich girl takes the safe route and is engaged to a dull guy to protect her heart.

Review: The lovely Grace Kelly plays Tracy Lord, a socialite who is days away from marrying a "nice" guy George (John Lund). George doesn't come from wealth, but he has worked his way through the coal mining business, a business that Tracy's father runs. Tracy is divorced from Dexter (Bing Crosby), a songwriter and her family's neighbor. Because of her father's affair, Tracy doesn't allow herself to open up to people and can be cold and standoffish, but Dexter still loves her. When a magazine rag threatens to print a story on her father, Tracy's mother forces her to allow the magazine to cover her lavish wedding. The magazine sends a journalist (Frank Sinatra) and photographer (Celeste Holm). During the pre-wedding festivities, Tracy finds three men vying for her affections. I didn't find the plot all that interesting, even with several love triangles going on. The characters seem unrelatable, and I'm not sure if this was due to their wealth, the difference in time between now and the setting or if the acting was just bad. What I did enjoy though were the musical numbers. You can just imagine the quality of songs coming out of Cole Porter and being performed by Crosby, Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, who played both narrator and musical guest. Crosby and Sinatra have a great duet, which I believe is the first of its kind on film. The Cole Porter hit "True Love" can also be found in this film being sung by Kelly and Crosby.

Watch It: For the musical numbers that advance the so-so plot and develop the characters.

Skip It: If you're looking for substance.

Swingers

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 18, 1996

DVD Release Date: September 24, 2002

Plot 411: A comedian trying to make it in Hollywood deals with the recent breakup of his six year relationship by hitting the clubs with his boys.

Review: This was an excellent '90s movies. Who knew that 13 years would make this movie almost nostalgic? I had forgotten about the swing music revival, the wallet chains and the Frank Sinatra-cool wannabes. The movie really captures a specific era that didn't last very long but was interesting nonetheless. Mike (Jon Favreau), a comedian from New York, moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of getting his own sitcom. Unfortunately, his now ex-girlfriend is dating someone else and he's miserable. His L.A. friends Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Sue (Patrick Van Horn) and his buddy from N.Y. Rob (Ron Livingston) all try their best to lift his spirits. Trent takes the alpha dog approach and tries to bolster Mike's self-esteem through "babies" (aka women). Rob takes a more subtle route, doing more listening and hand holding than anything else. The boys are so "money" as they club hop around L.A. It's completely funny how they believe they're shot callers, like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, yet they can't even manage to land a gig. Vaughn is ridiculously funny in this role. The movie is hip, for its time, and right on with its comments on people's attitudes during this time period - from the wannabe gangsters to the cool dude swingers.

Watch It: For the bear and bunny scene.

Skip It: If you're living a break up right now. Mike is such a downer that he'll make you feel worse.

On The Town

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 30, 1949

DVD Release Date: May 13, 2008

Plot 411: Three sailors dock in New York and have 24 hours to enjoy the sights.

Review: This is another one of my favorites. There's just something about Gene Kelly musicals that make me smile. The idea of three sailors dashing around New York City trying to see all the sights and pick up the pretty girls is classic. There are some great song and dance numbers throughout. You really come to realize that the world is smaller than you think and home is not so far away. Frank Sinatra and Ann Miller also star in this flick.

Watch It: If you like movies that make you want to kick up your heels and dance the night away, even if you don't have a rhythmic bone in your body (like me).

Skip It: If Milli Vanilli is the closest you'll get to dudes lip singing and dancing.

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