THEN SHE FOUND ME

THEN SHE FOUND ME AND THEN SHE LOST ME AND THEN I FOUND HER AND THEN...
My first impression upon watching this much hyped film is that Helen Hunt looks like crap. I wondered if she did that on purpose so it really shows us her struggle, so she can look really good at the end of the film or maybe it's to prove her transition into directing, but no, she just looks like crap. This is an attempt at a story about motherhood and what it takes to be one. April (Hunt) hears her biological clock going off like a police car siren. Her adoptive mother dies and suddenly, the biological mother pops up out of nowhere and voila, instant mom. When dealing with men, clocks and mothers, the rest is not easy to summarize. It wasn't a great film, but it did hold my attention and the subtle nuances slipped in between the obvious biological clock/baby/mother and relationship jokes. I'm not sure I liked the ending, but you be the judge.
PICK: Not an obvious film, but provides a new insight into an age old tradition.

JUNO

JUNO... THE LITTLEST INDIE THAT COULD
"You should've gone to China, you know, 'cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know, they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events."

Unless you have been hiding out under a rock since December, you have already either heard about or have seen Juno. It was nominated for a million categories the standouts being their many Oscar nominations including Ellen Page (Juno) who was nominated for best actress and Oscar winner Diablo Cody for best screenplay. In a year where most all the nominated films were literally bloodbaths, this was the fresh breeze, a lifeboat to save the movie goer drowning in blood and violence. Not since the After School Specials or just about anything on the Lifetime channel has a movie been made about a teen facing pregnancy, nevertheless a funny one. Juno is a true character, richly written and delightfully portrayed. She has a keenly developed level both maturity and immaturity, which I think is part of the human condition, however her spin is unique. Loved her brief and hilarious interaction with Rainn Wilson (Dwight from NBC's The Office). When I was much younger we used the term "home fry" and at the time it seemed cool. Who knew? The cast on the whole has clearly developed characters, who supported Juno, each holding their own as an integral part of the story. The best part of this film was how it found itself rising from the indie cinemas (The Grand Cinema) into the more mainstream theaters as the buzz grew louder. Who would have guessed that a bright and funny film could cheer up so many in the 2007 "blizzard of blood".
PICK: Very clever, well written and refreshingly delivered. A VERY big pick!!!

MARTIAN CHILD

MARTIAN CHILD NEEDS TO GO BACK TO SPACE "I don't want to bring another kid into this world. But how do you argue against loving one that's already here?" This story is based on the scriptwriter's real life experience with adopting a child. I wanted to like this movie. I adore John Cusack; alas, my love just wasn't strong enough. The premise is good and pure. David (Cusack) recently widowed, decides to do something good with his life. He adopts a child (Bobby Coleman) who claims to be from Mars. I didn't buy it. There was Cusack being Cusack and then a first-timer, Coleman, who I didn't believe. The setup is too neat, clean and predictable. Every effort was used in attempt to cry. Toward the middle-end of the movie I did shed a tear and for those few moments Cusak was David. The messages are trite; 'be yourself', there is no 'normal', parents aren't perfect. Good messages, but expressed too precisely. Amanda Peet and Joan Cusack filled their roles well. I wanted this movie to be magical and semi-believable and it just wasn't.

NOT a pick: K-PAX did a better job with the same idea. I just didn't feel it.