YOU AGAIN: FLUFFY, SILLY, CHICK FLICK

You know, there really are not that many substantial comedies in circulation right now. Don't get me wrong, I am not calling this movie substantial, but when looking for light hearted flick, this one did fine. All of those who were nerds in high school had one or two popular girls who we didn't get along with and so is the case in this film. Marni (Kristen Bell) is a young successful executive who has come home for her brother's wedding. She discovers, that he is marrying the one mean girl from high school, Joanna, who tormented her the most. What's a girl to do? Additionally, we find out that her mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) attended high school with Joanna's aunt (Sigourney Weaver) and they too had a tumultuous relationship. There is a lot of slapstick and falling down and spilling things and breaking things and of course Betty White rules the world, but in the end of course it turns out to be a feel-good movie and they all lived happily ever after. Not my number one choice, but a lighthearted silly little romp that is entertaining enough.

EASY A: EASY GRADE TO GIVE THIS FILM

The rumors of my promiscuity have been greatly exaggerated.

Finally comes a smart film that does not talk down to its audience, although many of them are of high school age, but rather treats them with the respect that many of them, if not most of them deserve. A cross between Mean Girls and Saved, this film is definitely not your average boy meets girl boy loses girl boy in girl get together at the end and everybody lives happily ever after. Like 10 Things I Hate about You, the underlying tone of the script follows the story of the Scarlet Letter; "A is for Awesome". Emma Stone is Olive, our heroine who is smart, well spoken and has cutting sense of humor. Her parents are both supportive equally as entertaining (Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci). One of the things that makes this film most refreshing the things that you think will happen don't, and the things that you don't expect to happen do. Olive's parents and their quirky sense of humor is definitely part of that. "Any friend of Olive's is a friend of my daughter." Rarely do I mention a writer, but Burt V. Royal deserves props for his work on this. This film was highly entertaining, so much so that I did have to watch it a second time. In a way, it is an homage to the films from John Hughes where teenagers are respected and not denigrated. I have a list of the films that I consider the best films of the year. Some are obvious, like Facebook, Inception, True Grit and the King's Speech. Easy A may not be an obvious choice, but it is my choice and I stand by it. Do not let this movie pass you by.

HAMLET 2

HAMLET II: THIS IS NOT YOUR CHILDREN'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!

T'was the night before Christmas and all through my place, the movies were playing, and this I embraced...

A failing drama teacher, Dana Marschz (exuberantly portrayed by Steve Coogan) has been told that the drama department, like the music and arts programs, has been cut due to lack of funding. So, as a final farewell Dana produces his opus and production has begun on the most hilarious and SO un-politically correct play to any school's date. This was a refreshing, unpredictable and fun movie: a cross between Saved, High School Musical and South Park. When faced with a stereotypical class, we find pleasant twists and turns than has been seen in movies like Dangerous Minds.

The characters these actors portray are priceless. Catherine Keener is Dana's bitch of a heartless wife. Amy Poeler an enthusiastic ACLU defender of the 1st Amendment and Elizabeth Shue, who we find working as a nurse to 'get out of the business'. The kids (probably in their early 20's) performed seamlessly. All of them were outstanding; you couldn't just pick one. This film was the most unconventional and I found myself laughing at the most crude, physical humor (no, not like Step Brothers). The melody of "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" playing in my head this eve of the birth of Jesus, will let you know where the smile came from. Not terrible clever for dialogue, but the plot and it's winding road combined with Dana's sheer enthusiasm make for good entertainment. Watch the way his body moves; reminiscent of a young Drew Carey. It looked so authentic and real. Charming.
PICK: A bit over the top and an excellent performance from Steve Coogan makes this a gem.

ROCKET SCIENCE

ROCKET SCIENCE
Most movies about high school are full of sterotypes (jock, brain, stoner, preppie) but this movie is refreshingly dramatic without all the drama. High school is portrayed as simply awkward in this film. To add to the inevitable pain, our unlikely hero Hal (Reece Thompson) suffers from a cripling stutter. In this movie he is literally and figuratively trying to find his voice. He is "recruited" by Ginny (Anna Kendrick) who kicks ass on the debate team. She is the 'Tracy Flick' from ELECTION; type A personality. Last year her partner, Ben (Nicholas D'Agosto) froze in the middle of his speach and cost her the most coveted first place. This year, she plans to win and thinks that she can "mold" Hal into a debating God. As he works with her and grows increasinging mesmorized by her, he also works with the school's counselor on his studdering; which include whispering, singing and/or talking with an accent. His first attempt to debate fails miserably and so Ginny dumps him and moves on to a more sure path to her fame. Hal tries to get revenge and seeks the aid of Ginny's former parter, Ben, which also fails miserably, except that he is growing as a character and learns from these events. Ben eloquently puts it, "The fights you fight today are the fights you fight until you die." This is a movie with a heart. As painful as these experiences are to watch, they also remind us of our own experiences. The supporting actors are characters in themselves and very entertaining to watch. Hal befriends Ginny's neighbor so he can spy on her. Every time they pass his parents on the way upstairs to his room, his parents are playing Violent Femmes songs on the cello and piano; great gag. This was a lovely and touching film that is neither too dramatic or overly funny; it's human.

Pick: This film is well done with heart and respect for youth's growing pains. Definate pick.

SUPERBAD

'SUPERBAD IS SUPERGOOD' is too obvious and cheesy as an introduction to my review... but that won't stop me from doing it anyway.
Preface: FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH was released in 1982, fairly early in the high school movie genre. It was considered controversial at the time as it addressed serious issues such as premarital sex, abortion, drinking and drug use by minors; so introducing us to Cameron Crowe and some of today's most promising actors. The "teen movie" concept went high and low. Movies such as SAY ANYTHING were different and real and heartfelt while others such as PORKY'S offered the more crass and vulgar approach. Nonetheless, we began to see teenagers as people who had real feelings and experienced real pain. That being said, undoubtedly my review of this movie may blow my movie-cred (yeah, so?!)
SUPERBAD is a hilarious film. We are introduced to best buddies talking on their cell phones, Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) who complains about the lack of "production value" seen in amateur pornos; Seth quipping back that he was sorry that the Coen brothers were too busy to direct. This movie is typical in the three "B"s of this type of film: Boobies, Booze and Boys. It is crude, vulgar and outright nasty at times. The F-word is used 186 times in this movie; but not by the outcasts or the popular kids, these are "geeks" who are also in the eternal quest for babes and booze, but somehow this screenplay takes a bit of a spill. It is the most sophisticated yet disturbing movies I have seen. It is scary to think about "this generation" of messed up kids in high school, drinking, having sex, wearing provocative clothes... but whose generation hasn't had that? REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE... Hello!? This film is not for the faint of heart and at times I felt squeamish, however, at the core of it all we find two boys who value each other and are nervous about parting as they head off to separate colleges. The sub-plots are equally if not more funny. We have third-wheel friend, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) better known as 'McLovin' who steals so much of this movie. He gets involved with two unusual police officers, Officers Slater ( Bill Hader) and Michaels (Seth Rogen; co-writer of the script) who at the least, are not your average stereotypical cops. In fact, there is no character in this film who is stereotypical. They all start out how we would expect, but by the end of the movie, you see the sometimes subtle, sometimes over-the-top-obvious nuances. I agree that this is a silly movie. It does not go unnoticed that it also has some very poignant and serious moments. However controversial and base this film is, I also think it clever, well written and on my list for one of the better "teen" movies made.
Rating: However crude and graphic (vocally more than visually) , it is also a silly and sophisticated comedy. Do see.