Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 1, 2009

DVD Release Date: September 22, 2009

Plot 411: On the eve of his brother's wedding, Connor's views on marriage do a 180 with the help of ghosts from his past.

Review: Connor (Matthew McConaughey) is a successful photographer and man whore. He's with a different girl every night, and life is just peachy. When he returns to his childhood home for his brother Paulie's (Breckin Meyer) wedding, tries to convince him that marriage is an outdated practice meant to keep you down. Despite his warnings, Paul is thoroughly in love with Sandra (Lacey Chabert) and looking forward to the wedding. Throughout the night, Connor's opinion on marriage begins to change because he is visited by several ghosts. With the help of his Casper-like friends, Connor revisits some of his past relationships and rediscovers how his current playboy persona came to be. Also in this movie are Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Emma Stone and Anne Archer. Obviously the plot of this movie is ridiculous and stupid. I went in fully knowing and accepting this. However, this could be why I ended up liking it more than I anticipated. I still couldn't really recommend this movie, but I'm surprised that I even liked it at all. Could my expectations have been so low that anything would make this movie better? Perhaps . . . I'm not gonna lie. McConaughey, whom I have detested in most of his recent attempts at rom coms, was actually okay in this role. Yes, he played the same arrogant character he normally does, but maybe this role allowed him to fully embrace this and made the movie better? What's that really say about him? He plays the prick really well?

Watch It: To see sweet little Claudia Salinger from Party Of Five all grown up.

Skip It: Unless you really have low to no expectations of it.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 7, 2003

DVD Release Date: July 1, 2003

Plot 411: A journalist goes undercover as the worst girlfriend in the world to write a column with steps for getting rid of your dude.

Review: This is undoubtably my favorite Kate Hudson flick. Hudson plays Andie, a budding magazine writer with dreams of covering hard news one day. Until then, she is stuck with writing a "How To" column. In her most recent assignment, she must go undercover and commit all the crazy girlfriend acts that many women do in a relationship, such as intruding on poker night, becoming overly possessive and sharing secrets with the guy's mom. She will use her experiences to fuel her article. Ad executive Ben (Matthew McConaughey), in an effort to win an account that would normally be handled by his co-workers Judy and Judy, boasts that he can make any woman fall in love with him. The Judys set him up with Andie and sit back to watch a disaster in the making. Hudson and McConaughey have great chemistry together and create memorable scenes during which you'll find yourself laughing at the absurdity. You grow to love them and root for them to work out despite all the underhanded things they do to each another. Some of the best lines in the movie come from supporting actors Adam Goldberg and Thomas Lennon, who play Ben's co-workers and overall cheerleaders. Bebe Neuwirth also does a great job at portraying Andie's editor. She carries herself in the same manner as Meryl Streep did in The Devil Wears Prada, but Neuwirth doesn't have as much of a bite.

Watch It: For what I assume is the first game of Bullshit (the card game) ever filmed.

Skip It: If McConaughey's machismo annoys you as this is an integral part of his character in this movie.

Angels In The Outfield

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 15, 1994

DVD Release Date: April 23, 2002

Plot 411: Two foster kids who love baseball cause a sensation when one of them begins seeing angels.

Review: A young Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Roger, a boy who wishes on a star for the California Angels to win a penant, because this is when his deadbeat dad told him they'll become a family again. When Roger begins to see real angels like Al (Christopher Lloyd) helping the team, he informs their coach George Knox (Danny Glover). Whenever Roger sees an angel, he tells Knox. Against his better judgment, Knox does what Roger says and the team begins to win games. Can they win enough games to reunite father and son? You never know . . . because angels are always watching. This is a good family dramedy from the '90s that deals with some serious issues like the fostercare system and faith. Gordon-Levitt does a good job at playing the down-but-never-out Roger, who, despite life's circumstances, still believes in goodness. With a child-like innocence, he creates a fervor in the entire Angels team. Soon the team, who is down in the dumps, begins to have faith in each other and develops a will to succeed. Led by Mel, an ailing pitcher (Tony Danza), the team is soon better than ever. The film includes some now-famous actors like Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey. Why don't they make movies like this these days?

Watch It: For a throwback to times when good old fashion family sports movies were all the rage in Hollywood.

Skip It: If The Sandlot, Rookie Of The Year and all the other baseball films of the '90s seem to be playing the same song.