The Proposal.....................Finally

The Proposal

PG-13

Yeah, I know.  You've already seen it.  Unless you are like me.  I am so busy watching stuff nobody has ever heard of, so by the time I get around to the ones everyone is watching it is old news.  But on the off chance you haven't seen it, here we go.

This is the perfect movie for one of those night where you really don't feel like thinking about anything.  It's fluff but enjoyable fluff.  Margaret Tate is so busy building her career in a large publishing company that she forgets to take care of those little things, like her visa (It's fluff people just roll with it).  Then she comes up with the perfect solution!  If she forces her assistant to marry her, everything will work out just fine.  Apparently these characters have never seen the movie

Green Card but what the heck.  

HEY WAIT!!  Look!  The posters aren't even that different.  Hmmmmm..........  So while the characters may not have seen Green Card the folks who made the movie, almost certainly have.  

Now back to business.  Attractive guy, attractive girl, comedic relationship tension, and Betty White.  All you need is a ginormous Coke and an even more ginormous bowl of ranch popcorn (air pop the corn, coat with melted butter, sprinkle with Hidden Valley Ranch powdered Salad Dressing mix.  You won't regret it.) and you are good to go!


Things to know before viewing


1) Betty White is a hoot but you knew that.  Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson are also along for the ride.


2) I like Ryan Reynolds' character very much but I'm not quite certain what all the brouhaha is about him.  He's cute but he's not THAT cute.


3)You can't not like Sandra Bullock.  


What about the kids?


My kids watched it but it is PG-13 and there are some sexual references.


Currently available on Netflix Instant Viewing and on DVD and Blue-ray


3 1/2 Stars- "Liked It" (plus)


I think I need to go re-watch Green Card.  I have referenced it two or three time in the last couple days.     

Penelope..................A Valentine Offering

Penelope
PG

Since today it Valentine's Day, I give to you Penelope.  A movie that makes my heart swoon.  A modern (ish) day Fairytale, this movie introduces us to Penelope, a girl born to a wealthy couple with a curse. Their first born daughter is born with a pig nose.  To break the curse she must marry a blue blood and so the quest begins.

The cast is stellar and includes Christina Ricci (of whom I am generally not a fan but I like here), Catherine O'Hara (in her neurotic glory), Reese Witherspoon (big name slightly more than cameo), and James McAvoy (be still my heart).  Penelope is touching, witty, and laugh out loud funny in a few part.

Things you need to know before viewing

1) This ain't rocket science folks.  Don't be looking for deep.  Just enjoy.

2) For my friends with OCD tendencies that can't stand inconsistencies in film, be warned.  There is plenty here to drive you mad.  I never notice stuff like that and I noticed on this one.

3)When you get to the scene pictured to the right, hold on to your hat.  It makes me go all gooshy inside.

What about the kids?


Nothing to worry about here.  All of my kids have seen and loved it.  It does lean chick flick though so teen boys may roll their eyes.

Currently available on disc through Netflix and on DVD

Five Stars- "Love it"

Paper Heart...........................Love?

Paper Heart
PG-13

This one is a little hard to describe and every sentence I start to form about it includes the word quirky.  So let me just get that out of the way.  Quirky, quirky, quirky, quirky, quirky.  In case you missed that, this film is quirky.

It is a documentary in which Charlyne decides to find out what love is. She claims over and over again that she doesn't believe in love and wants to understand.   She sets out to do so by interviewing people as she travels around the country.  During filming,  she meets Michael and she has some lessons on the topic that she wasn't expecting.

Charlyne, who really is the lynch pin of the film, is awkward and understated but endearing and you certainly feel for her and Micheal as their relationship emerges on film and they would clearly love to be rid of the cameras and crew.  One of my favorite scenes is in a diner when they are discussing what to order.  Charlyne, a vegetarian, says she is going to order a BLT without the B but with the P and C (pickles and cheese).  Micheal looks stunned and says something along the lines of "But the whole beauty of ordering a BLT is the simplicity of saying  BLT and them knowing what you mean."  (quirky- Sorry.  Had to slip in one more)

Things you need to know before viewing

1) Don't be surprised when puppets show up.  I am guessing the production was low on cash and this started out as a cheap way to show peoples stories.  First time they did it, I was like "What the heck!"  But by the end I was looking forward to them.  It was a really cute idea.


2) There is a totally bogus psychic scene where Charlyne goes to get a reading.  The folks involved find it bogus too and say as much but......yeah.......it's in there.


3) Don't expect a traditional ending.  This is real life.  Quests usually turn up more questions than answers.


4) Did you know that the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus does not have a synonym for quirky?


What about the kids?


There is one interview with a gay couple where they talk about having sex on the first date.  That could be uncomfortable with the kids and is likely the source of the PG-13 but is easy to skip.  Mostly, I think younger kids would just be bored.  


Currently available on Netflix Instant Viewing and on DVD and Blue-ray


Three Stars- "Liked It"