According To Greta

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 11, 2009

DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010

Plot 411: A rebellious teen girl gets shipped off to her grandparents' house for the summer.

Review: Hilary Duff stars as Greta, a highly rebellious teen who sports an enormous attitude. She is sent by her mother to live with her grandparents (Ellen Burstyn and Michael Murphy) in New Jersey, a jail sentence Greta thinks she will never survive. Greta continues to walk around with all her emotional and psychological baggage, which affects everyone around her. She gets a job at a local restaurant where she meets Julie (Evan Ross), who gives her a different perspective about life. I've gotta admit that this is my favorite Hilary Duff movie ever. It's a turn to something more mature and a step away from her previous teen rom com fluff. While this movie is still about young people and essentially a coming-of-age story, it is leaps and bounds ahead of the other stuff she's made. There's an actual sense of character (and a realistic one at that) that is deeper than surface level. Greta is a product of many bad situations in such a short life that I'm positive audiences will be able to relate to her angst.

Watch It: As it captures both sides of the coin and you'll either be able to relate to the teenage rebel or the frustrated adults.

Skip It: Because there is no prince who sweeps her off her feet and saves the day.

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.