“A Couple” Movie Reviews from the Film Vault – Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and The War of the Roses (1989)

KRAMER vs. KRAMER (1979)

 

THE WAR OF THE ROSES (1989)

 

Two films about marital divorce that tell stories that are 180 degrees apart from each other. The first film, Kramer versus Kramer, is a tender and very personal story of a wife and mother (Meryl Streep) who has an identity crisis and decides to leave her marriage and abandon both her husband (Dustin Hoffman) and her young son (Justin Henry). Part of her problem is that she feels her husband is putting his successful career as an advertising executive first and before his family and not listening to her own creative needs to also be professionally productive.

“Paul” – Movie Trailer

If you liked Shaun of the Dead and you liked Hot Fuzz then you enjoy great movies.  Finally, the next movie from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who have great on-screen chemistry, going more US mainstream featuring the likes of Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, and Sigourney Weaver.  This alien comedy is set to debut in Febuary 2011.  Knowing how these guys work, it will be more than just a comedy though. 

Two side thoughts.  (1) Are Pegg and Frost the British alternate universe Spade and Farley?  (2) Did they rip off the alien from American Dad?

Paul trailer – Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

– Craig

“A” Movie Review from the Film Vault – Date Night (2010)

DATE NIGHT (2010)

After watching War and Peace on Wednesday night and Lawrence of Arabia on Friday night, I was in the mood for a nice light comedy to watch on Saturday night so I rented Date Night at my local Blockbuster store. When the movie was over (actually long before it was over), I kept asking myself how a director/producer (Shawn Levy) could possibly see this finished product in the editing room and actually go ahead and release it to the public.

“A” Movie Review – The Switch

“The Switch” is…….a movie that’s neither on (good) nor off (bad), it’s just neutral (ehhh)……..

“A” Movie Review – The Other Guys

“The Other Guys” is…….a decent buddy comedy, with jokes and one-liners that will continue to play on 3rd & 4th viewings……

“A” Movie Review – Dinner for Schmucks

“Dinner for Schmucks” is…….a movie with a couple good chuckles, but overall is pretty bland (& crude)……..

“A” Movie Review – The Kids Are All Right

“The Kids Are All Right” is………an indie-comedy getting critical raves across the country, that is just all right……..

Trailer Preview – Due Date

“Due Date”, a comedy, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis, is a comedy about a father’s road trip home to see the birth of his first born. This has the potential to be the funniest movie of the year, and opens on November 5.

Due Date Trailer (Courtesy Comingsoon.net)

– Paul

“A” Movie Review – Grown Ups

“Grown Ups” is………a standard Adam Sandler movie, with the standard Adam Sandler jokes……a reuniting of old SNL cast members, that could have been much better had at least one writer been reunited with the cast as well……the movie equivalent to Twizzlers (my snack of choice) – enjoyable while eating, but quickly forgotten once you’re finished……….a middle entry (not great, not horrible) to the Sandler/Rock/Spade/Schneider/James movie cannons.

Personal experience used to write this review:

• 102 minutes, where the funniest parts of the movie are shown in the 2:32 trailer or 0:30 TV commercials, but are still funny on the big screen.

– Paul

Moxie & Charisma Rating: “Two Stars” (Average)

 

“A” Movie Review from the Film Vault – The Princess Bride

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (REVISITED)

The Princess Bride is a beautifully framed fairy tale love story told in a most irreverent,
satirical and unusual manner. Clever, imaginative and most unconventional, it unfolds with its
characters doing things that one does not normally expect to occur.