Movie Review: Friends With Benefits

I don’t typically do a lot of reviewing on my blog, and actually, I’m a pretty horrible reviewer, but when I see a movie I love, I have to let everyone know.

Hubby and I skipped Friends With Benefits at the movie theater because we didn’t have terribly high hopes for it. We love Justin Timberlake and we love Mila Kunis, but we had our doubts about the two of them being able to carry a whole movie on their own.

Boy, were we surprised…in the most pleasant way possible!

Mila plays a head hunter who’s been pursuing JT for many months and finally gets him to fly out to NY from LA to interview for a big time job at GQ. He gets the job, moves to NY and he and Mila become good friends. They hang out together, and there are no boundaries…they’re friends, after all.

But one night, they decide it might be a good idea to “do the deed.” Neither of them has been in a relationship for a while and they’re both a little needy, to put it lightly.

I’ll stop there in terms of summary…I don’t want to spoil anything and I’m worried I’ve already said too much!

But there were so many things to love about this movie. It’s quirky and modern, but the “true love” aspect is prevelant, and JT and Mila have amazing on-screen chemistry. They make you believe in their Happy Ever After. We laughed all the way through the movie and even got a little teary at the end. It’s the perfect movie to watch snuggled up with your significant other.

**Please be aware that this movie is R rated for language and subject matter. Definitely not something you want to watch with your teenage daughter!**

I couldn’t help but think as I was watching it that it would have made a great romance novel. And, as usual, I was kicking myself for not coming up with it first. lol.

Did you see Friends With Benefits? What did you think? Do you have a movie you thought you would hate and ended up loving? Leave a comment and be entered into the Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza!

 

 

 

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Let’s go to the Movies…

Okay, people! It’s that time again! The holiday season, when all the great movies hit the theaters in a mad dash to be included in the Oscar nominations for the year.

We recently discovered that our almost-two-year-old daughter loves going to the movies, much to our surprise and delight. We took her to see Puss in Boots a couple weeks ago, and she was mesmerized. I thought for sure she’d be scared by how loud it was, or how dark it was, or by the somewhat scary action scenes…but no. She sat happily on my lap for most of the film, giggling and meowing every time a kitty came on screen.

So now we have a list of children’s movies that we all get to go see together. The Muppet Movie will be our Thanksgiving night activity with the whole family, and we’ll have to squeeze Happy Feet 2 in there somewhere, too.

 

On top of that, we have the adult movie delights. On the top of our list is Breaking Dawn: Part 1, which we have plans to see Friday night!! WOOHOO! And we’re both really excited about New Years Eve…this years Love, Actually…or Valentine’s Day…or He’s Just Not That Into You…ensemble movies have really become a thing in the last few years, haven’t they?

And last, but certainly not least, I am more than excited to welcome Mr. Robert Downey, Jr and his stunning sidekick, Mr. Jude Law, back to the screen for another Sherlock Holmes movie. *drool*

What about you?? Do you have your movie line up ready for the holiday season? What are you most looking forward to on the Silver Screen?

**LEAVE A COMMENT and be entered into the Regency Christmas Summons Prize Extravaganza!!!

Movie Review: Bright Star

Eric and I went to see the BBC film, Bright Star, last week. The film outlines the torrid romance and tragic (and untimely) end to the life of the great poet, John Keats.

Now, I’m a total sucker for period films (big surprise), especially when they are done well. Of course, my opinion of “well done” seems to differ from many others. For instance, one of my favorite Jane Austen adaptations is the Frances O’Conner version of Mansfield Park – I think it’s just brilliant. But many do not. So, keep that in mind as you read on…

This movie moves at a true 19th-century pace…aka, it’s slow. Not that it’s boring. But there’s a great deal of silence; a lot of observing the characters as they wool-gather. While it might be reflective of the time period itself, I’m guessing this is part of the reason it does not have “universal” appeal…and by universal I mean, it has very limited engagements at a limited number of theaters in a limited number of cities.

While Keats and Fannie were brilliantly acted, I do have to say that Paul Schneider as Mr. Brown made Eric and I both crack up every time he was on screen. We love him in Parks & Recreation; did we buy him as a 19th Century Scottish rogue with homosexual tendencies? Not so much. However, he may have been the most memorable part of the movie for us – we continue to impersonate his performance almost a week later, just for laughs! An impression is an impression, I suppose, whether good or bad.

Fannie’s performance, however, was quite wonderful. She brought a rawness to the role that you rarely get in a glossy, Hollywood film, and I was brought to a state of sobbing by her in one of the film’s final scenes.

In conclusion…

The screenplay: great. Costumes: wonderful and a far cry from the disaster that was Becoming Jane. Music: well-suited to the movie, though the “men’s glee” stuff did make us giggle. Do I recommend it? Definitely to those who have an interest in the time period, and especially to those who write in the time period. The setting alone is inspiration.