Dawn Dishes on Movies

I'm so sorry I haven't kept this section up to date on my blog. We see soooooo  many movies and I just  need to remember to come here to tell you about them. Maybe that should be my New Years' Resolution! I'll work on. In the  meantime, we saw a lot of movies over the holidays.  Les  Miserables, Jack Reacher and This is 40. Loved them all! This is 40 is so hilarious, but I'm going to write about Les Mis today. I was so impressed by this movie. Take tissues!

Les Miserables

People have commented that they wonder if someone who didn't know anything about the story would enjoy the movie. Well, I'm here to tell you....YES! I have never read the book (I know, I'll fix that soon) nor had I seen the play. As the previews started coming out I picked up on the storyline. I was able to keep up with the story, laugh and cry when appropriate. Hugh Jackman is one of my boyfriends (yes, we date occasionally - my husband is fine with it) and he has a wonderful voice. I know he's been on Broadway, but I haven't seen him, so I was surprised at what a great voice he had.

Anne Hathaway was awesome and definitely deserves an Oscar along with Hugh. Russell's singing was okay, not bad, just not as great as the rest.

I'm not a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen or Helena Bonham Carter fan, but they were both very funny in the movie. The casting really was perfect. I enjoyed  Marius and Eponine's characters. I wasn't familiar with either of them, but thought they were great.

If you haven't seen it, you should. I've already seen it twice. Once with the hubby and once with my girlfriends.

I'll give you the official blah blah about the movie just in case you live under a rock and aren't aware:

From my friends at IMDB....In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

Go see it! I'll tell you about the other movies soon because you really need to see them too.


Trouble with the Curve

So many things made me want to see this movie.  Let me just name a few….Clint Eastwood (who doesn’t love him??),  Amy Adams – love her, Justin Timberlake (hello, where have you been JT??) and the best part is that it’s set in Atlanta and about the Atlanta Braves! I really should have listed that first because that’s what really made me want to see it.

I don’t care about a movie being predictable, I want sappy happy endings. Isn’t that what we all want to see in the movies? If you want some scary crazy crap then you are on the wrong blog! This one is full of chick flicks, silly comedies, a musical here and there and the best of all, romantic comedies.

I saw this trailer the first time and wanted to see it (Go Braves!), but you know how I like to share the official movie description with you too. Today is no different. Here’s Rotten Tomatoes official description of the movie:

Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus-who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat-refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his.

I think they did a pretty good job describing the movie but now it’s time for the real review. I thought it was a really nice storyline. Father and daughter spend time together, but barely speak. He thinks they have a great relationship meanwhile she’s been in therapy for years. Typical oblivious male, right??  It might move slowly through some portions of the movie, but come on, Clint is 80 years old, he’s gotta move slowly somewhere.  He was your typical grumpy old man, set in his ways, doesn’t need anyone to help him with anything, but still likeable. Amy Adams was awesome and her chemistry with JT was great. It was a nice father/daughter story with an interesting sports story line as well.

I don’t necessarily think I’d rush out to the movies to see this one. There are so many other good ones out right now, but it’s definitely worth a rental.  Keep it on your list of movies to see.

I guess if I only have thumbs up and thumbs down ratings then Two Stews would give it Two Thumbs Up! I guess I need to come up with an average rating……I’ll think on that and get back to you.

I can’t wait to see Pitch Perfect, Taken 2, Argo, to name a few. More reviews coming soon.

Hit and Run

 

Okay, I REALLY wanted to like this movie because it had Bradley Cooper in it and who doesn’t love him?? I've loved him since his Alias days. Yes, he and I go way back. And I really love Kristen Bell and I thought it would be sweet to see her with her real life boyfriend, Dax Shepard, who wrote and directed the movie. Well guess what......none of those things helped this movie. I’ll start by giving you the official description on Rotten Tomatoes and you can decide if it sounds like a fun flick:

 

Hit and Run is a comedy about a young couple (Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard) that risks it all when they leave their small town life and embark on a road trip that may lead them towards the opportunity of a lifetime. Their fast-paced road trip grows awkwardly complicated and hilarious when they are chased by a friend from the past (Bradley Cooper), a federal marshal (Tom Arnold) and a band of misfits

 

Okay, that sounds like something I’d want to see. The trailers looked really funny too. Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I was disappointed so I want to share my pain with you......the trailer was about as funny as the movie got! I forgot to mention that I really DON’T like Tom Arnold. If you are like me, and think he’s one of the most annoying men on the planet, then this movie definitely is NOT for you. He is in it WAY too much! He’s an idiot federal marshal who doesn’t know how to use a gun, much less even hold it. I could go on and on about how annoying he is, but I’m sure you get the message.....he’s ANNOYING! Ugh, anyone else in that role and the movie might have been better, but Tom ruined it for me. Ick.

 

Dax and Kristen’s relationship is cute and you root for them, but the movie drags at times.It seemed like it was going to be action packed, but oddly enough sometimes the action was boring.

 

Sorry Dax, Kristen and Bradley, but Two Stewarts give this one two thumbs down!

 

 

Magic Mike


As I have started the reviews below, I'll give you the official description. I pulled this one from IMDB. Notice in the reviews below how they are a little bit more descriptive. Here's what we get for Magic Mike:

A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.

I just thought that was so funny, but really people, what more should we say?? This movie is exactly what I expected it to be. A fun movie to see with girlfriends, plenty of eye candy and great dancing. Channing Tatum did NOT disappoint with the dancing. Man, that boy can move!! It's worth seeing the movie just to watch him dance. The other men couldn't really move like Channing, but they weren't bad to look at either. Worth your $10 movie ticket.

I don't feel like I should write a serious review here. Come on, it was Magic Mike! A movie about male strippers. I saw it, I got what I expected and all of the ladies reading this should go see it or plan to rent it at soon as it comes out! Make a fun girls night out of it when you rent it. Invite your girlfriends over, make some popcorn and enjoy a cocktail or two....

In case you were wondering, my husband didn't go see this one with me so One Stew gives this one One Thumbs Up! Just go see it. It's a fun night out!



The Five Year Engagement

Since we see lots and lots of movies, I have been encouraged to add movie reviews to my blog. Happy Allison? This week was a busy movie week. I saw THREE movies. I'll start you off slow though and give you one review at a time.

My husband and I saw The Five Year Engagement. We love "How I Met Your Mother" and Jason Segal so this was really a no brainer. He wrote and co-produced this movie too. It was also produced by Judd Apatow and who doesn't love his movies?? I'm a fan of Emily Blunt too so that was just an added bonus. You've seen Devil Wears Prada, right?? The hubby loves chick flicks as much as I do so I don't have to beg him to see romantic comedies, which is awesome.

I'll start off with the official description of the movie.....not my words. I'll give you a short one since my words are way more important than IMDb's.

"One year after meeting, Tom proposes to his girlfriend, Violet, but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together. "

Sound funny? Well, it really was. They probably needed to hire me to write their reviews so the movie would sound more entertaining.

I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Violet and Tom. The characters seem to genuinely love each other which makes me happy in my romantic comedies. I don't want any stupid ending where someone dies or the main characters don't end up together. I want happily ever after. I don't mean to spoil it for you, but I'll just say I was pleased with this ending.

Chris Pratt (the main ball player from Moneyball) was really funny!  I don’t watch Parks & Recreation, but I hear he’s funny on that too. And I certainly didn’t know that Pete’s wife (Alison Brie) from Mad Men could be funny! She’s also on Community, but I don’t watch that either. I’ve only seen her as Pete’s pretentious wife. Much more likeable in this movie.

This movie had a nice love story along with some silly, low-brow jokes, which always make me laugh, and a little nudity. All at the top of my list! Now you should know ahead of time that I set the bar pretty low with my entertainment so I'm pretty easy to please and make laugh! I'll give you a hint into what I think is funny.....Friday is one of my favorite movies of all time and I loved Knocked Up, Bridesmaids and The Hangover. Don't knock them, those are all really great movies!

I don't have a scoring system, but if I go In Living Color "Men on Film" Style I could give it two snaps and a twist, or go really old school to just two thumbs up Siskel and Ebert style. Let's just say Two Stews give it Two Thumbs Up!

Think Like A Man

Great ensemble cast! Every character is very likeable and engaging. Lots of laugh throughout this movie.

Here’s the official description of the movie based on Rotten Tomatoes:

"Based on Steve Harvey's best-selling book, Think Like a Man follows four interconnected and diverse men whose love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy Harvey's book and start taking his advice to heart. When the band of brothers realize they have been betrayed by one of their own, they conspire using the book's insider information to turn the tables and teach the women a lesson of their own."

That description doesn’t do it justice nor tell you how freakin’ hilarious Kevin Hart was. His character had some of the best lines and so very loveable. After all, Wendy Williams was his wife in the movie, which was a funny twist. Sorry to ruin it if you haven't seen it.

I don’t know why reviews hated on this one so much. It was laugh out loud funny. This is why I don’t listen to reviews.....but you should listen to mine! I wouldn’t let you go to a bad movie. In all honesty, I should let you know how low I set the bar though......Friday (yes, that one, but not any of the sequels) is one of my all time favorite movies. Loved Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, and every other stupid bathroom humor comedy. 

There was lots of talk about Steve Harvey’s book so I’m sure the sales shot up for him. That seemed to bother some people. Who cares though, it made a funny and entertaining movie, and that is what the movie is based on so shouldn't we mention it??

Lots of great laughs. My husband loved it too. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should! Again, Two Stews give it Two Thumbs Up!