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.

Made Of Honor

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 2, 2008

DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008

Plot 411: Tom realizes he's in love with his best friend Hannah only to discover that she's getting married.

Review: It was like watching the mirror image of My Best Friend's Wedding, except worse. Many of the jokes are forced and most of the plot has already been done before. Patrick Dempsey is Tom, a serial dater who follows strict rules when it comes to dating. His character is a confident and suave man who would be the ideal mate if it weren't for his fear of commitment. His best friend Hannah is swept off her feet while working in Scotland and embarks on a whirlwind wedding. It's only then that Tom realizes how much Hannah means to him. Michelle Monaghan does a good job of playing the sweet girl next door. Kevin McKidd is fine as the fiance but really doesn't have a huge role. The dynamic between Dempsey and Monaghan is good and their banter is realistic. However, none of this is new and ground breaking. It's predictable, even for the rom-com genre. Dempsey's charisma really shines, but I'd probably recommend Enchanted over this one.

Watch It: If you're a real rom-com fan.

Skip It: If you could go either way on the rom-com fence. This would probably get you off the genre completely.

Enchanted

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 21, 2007

DVD Release Date: March 18, 2008

Plot 411: A fairy tale princess finds herself in New York City, has eye-opening adventures and sings through it all.

Review: In full disclosure, I must admit that I like most musicals so to say that I loved this film is probably an understatement. The singing and dancing will probably make this into a Disney classic. The songs were really catchy (I even know someone who sings "Happy Working Song" while working). Amy Adams really steals the show. It would be a popular film even without McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) and Cyclops (James Marsden) in the mix, but they only serve to hunkify (yeah, I made that up) the film. The blend of animation and real life is amazing, and this movie truly adds a new dimension to the fairy tale genre.

Watch It: For a contemporary musical filled with timelessly classic techniques.

Skip It: If your kids repeat everything they like over and over because you will not hear the end of it. The songs are just that great.

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