Vanity Fair

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 1, 2004

DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

Plot 411: A girl ditches her humble beginnings to climb England's social ladder.

Review: Reese Witherspoon is Becky Sharp, a bright and ambitious girl who establishes herself as a nanny to a wealthy family. Here she rubs elbows with society's elite and further entrenches herself into the upper crust of society when she marries the family's eldest son (James Purefoy). She uses all of her assets to achieve her lifelong dreams of stability, credibility and social acceptance. Becky's actions are shockingly bold for a woman of the 1800s. However, viewed from today's standards, she's, in fact, a heroine for her ability to acheive her dreams. I totally love these period pieces and the wardrobe is wonderfully colorful and intricate. Witherspoon's gowns, jewelry and hair are really impressive. I also enjoy the witty repartee and banter between the men and women. With so many restrictions governing appropriate behavior, it's the lustful glances from across the room or the slightest touch of fingertips that really make the flirting so much more moving than today's thoroughly obvious efforts.

Watch It: If you want to see a woman who will stop at nothing to make it to the top.

Skip It: Witherspoon's pointy witch chin will be too much of a distraction to the action on screen.

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.

Four Christmases

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: November 26, 2008

DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009

Plot 411: When all outgoing flights are canceled, Brad and Kate must spend Christmas visiting each of their divorced parents.

Review: Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have had a tradition of vacationing somewhere tropical during the holidays ever since they first met. The long-time couple both agree that avoiding their respective families is the best for everyone. By doing so, they do not need to experience the chaotic and sometimes embarrassing scenes that occur during the holidays. However, when a thick fog cancels all flights out of San Francisco, they are forced to visit their families and endure a day of four Christmas celebrations. The continuous family time and holiday cheer affects each of them differently and in the end, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible. This is a cute film to enjoy during the holidays. It makes you realize that your own family isn't quite as nuts as you thought they were. Vaughn and Witherspoon are okay as a couple, but I think the chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Vaughn in The Breakup was a lot more real (probably because it was real). Despite this, I think there were a ton of laughs in this movie that came with all the family drama that Brad and Kate have been trying to avoid. Everyone can relate to the craziness of the holidays, and this film seems to capitalize on this concept. I really loved the San Francisco background and liked that the families didn't live within the city like the couple did. Rarely is the surrounding areas of a large city featured in movies so this is a good chance to advertise the suburbs and towns around the Bay area. Brad and Kate's parents are played by Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. Jon Favreau also makes an appearance as Brad's brother. He is hilarious as always.

Watch It: With a cup of hot chocolate in your hands and thank the lord your family is "normal."

Skip It: Because Vaughn is looking quite chunky in this movie. Is that the price of success?

Sweet Home Alabama

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 27, 2002

DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003

Plot 411: A top fashion designer must return to her roots to divorce her hick husband so she can marry the man of her dreams.

Review: This is a sweet rom com starring Reese Witherspoon as a hot New York fashion designer who must face her high school sweetheart Jake (Josh Lucas) in order to marry her long-time boyfriend Andrew (Patrick Dempsey). Melanie thinks she finally has it all by making a name for herself and being engaged to a successful guy. She's escaped her small-town beginnings and become someone. However, when she returns home intent on divorcing Jake, she realizes that maybe life down south isn't as bad as she thought it was. Witherspoon is her sweet, small-town-girl self and despite the fact that she plays a snooty Yankee for a bit is still very likable and genuine. She isn't devoid of faults though, and this makes her very real. She's made mistakes and will continue making them, but the point is that she learns from them. The movie confronts the question of identity, heritage and family. Candice Bergen, Ethan Embry, Jean Smart and Fred Ward co-star. As a side note, Witherspoon and Embry reunite in this film as they co-starred in A Far Off Place when they were younger.

Watch It: For a cute love triangle and classic Witherspoon.

Skip It: Legally Blonde is more your speed because Melanie has a little more depth but less humor than Elle.

A Far Off Place

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: March 12, 1993

DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

Plot 411: Three teens and a dog travel across the Kalahari Desert to escape poachers who killed their families.

Review: This was an intersting movie - sort of a cross between an after-school special and a political/environmental piece. The way in which this story was told seemed very deliberate and there were several lessons that I assume were meant for the audience. 1) Poaching is bad; 2) Stand up for what you believe in whether it is through actions or words; 3) You can do anything you put your mind to; 4) Give people a chance because they can change and grow; 5) The Kalahari Desert is very, very big. Other than that, I guess it was supposed to be a show for kids since it was made by Disney. It starred a young Reese Witherspoon and Ethan Embry (Ethan Randall in the credits).

Watch It: For the some picturesque vistas of Africa.

Skip It: If you have a choice.

Movie Clip:

Monsters vs. Aliens

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: March 27, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBA

Plot 411: When an alien species invades Earth, the government must unveil the monsters its been hiding and studying for the past 50 years in hopes that they can stop the attack.

Review: I loved this flick. It sort of had that alien invasion feel to it like movies from the '50s, but it was animated using the most modern technology. What a contradiction. There were many jokes for the adults to enjoy, and in a way I think the entire film was aimed more at parents than at their kids. The subject matter was a bit intense for young children and some of the scenes were dark and a bit scary. There was also a love story and a lesson on self-acceptance. Just because the film is animated, it doesn't mean that the appropriate viewing age is 5. In this case, I'd say kids 10 and older would enjoy it the most. This is probably the first film in which I enjoyed the performance of Seth Rogen. Amazing. We also got good performances from Reese Witherspoon, Stephen Colbert and Rainn Wilson.

Watch It: If you're conned into taking the kids out to the movies. At least you'll like this one.

Skip It: If you have a choice between this and Adventureland (looks hilarious) or Fast and Furious (if you're a car freak) or Duplicity (probably another good one by Julia Roberts).

Trailer:

Penelope

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: February 29, 2008

DVD Release Date: July 15, 2008

Plot 411: Penelope is striken with her family's generations-old curse and only her true love can lift it.

Review: I really enjoyed this film's message about self-acceptance, accepting others' differences and confidence in one's self. These are some especially poignant themes for young girls in this age of airbrushed images. The love story was sweet, like Disney's movies from back in the day. Christina Ricci was great in the lead, and Reese Witherspoon surprisingly played against type. This was the first time I've seen her in a role where she didn't play the cute blonde girl. It was refreshing. James McAvoy was also a surprise for me. He doesn't look like the typical "Prince Charming," but I suppose that's why he was selected for this role. He brings a twist to the role. This film really reinvent the fairy tale genre so it's current and relatable to today's youth.

Watch It: For a quick trip back to your childhood.

Skip It: If the Disney thing isn't your style.

Trailer: