License to Wed (2007)

I am a pastor. In spite of everything I do, I know that the statistics are the same for couples I counsel as ones who elope. The divorce rate is still 50%. Statistics are worse for couples living together before marriage.

In fact, recently a couple I was preparing to marry split up weeks before the date. She was planning a wedding while he was planning to leave her. So I watched this movie to do a little cheering up. As I did so, I gained a lot of perspective and insight.

In this hilarious movie (I do want to emphasize it is for mature audiences), Father Frank works in hilarious ways to wipe the innocence off of the faces of the young couple. While they are seeing hearts and roses, he wants them to see and talk about what is real to them. By creating off the chart stressful situations, he helps them to see past the romance and into the reality.

I am actually considering this movie as required viewing for future couples! I can make a list of various scenes to discuss.

This will remain in my library!

What a great movie!! License to Wed I read all the reviews online and was surprised with some of the comments. I think people missed the point of this movie. I viewed it as a satire to marriage preparation; however, there were some great points made. One, with marriage comes committment, trust, communication and children. Two, marriage is never easy and one should not go into it thinking life will be great. Both parties need to learn to communicate and work out the every day issues.

The actors were great-like everyone else I love John Krasinski who I think was perfect for this role.

I highly recommend this movie for a nice easy going, hilarious family movie. My 11 year old daughter could not stop laughing.

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If you are reading this review, you are probably thinking that this movie may be worth while seeing, it has robin williams. Not so. HE could not even save this completely disasterous movie. This follows the trail of a couple who get engaged at her parent's 30th anniversary party, then find out to use the "family" church to get married, they only have 3 1/2 weeks to do so, or it is wait 2 years. During this 3 weeks, they have to pass the pre-marital class ran by the "reverend" played by Robin Williams.

The chemistry of the couple is not believeable, the extent that the reverend goes to is so far fetched it's not funny, and the script has numerous holes/flaws (please see many of the other reviews, so i won't have to rehash). I'm glad I rented this rather than seeing it in the theater. Even one for robin williams loyalists to skip. No wonder MSN ranked this Worst movie of the year.

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There are parts within `License to Wed' that will make you laugh, and even a few scenes that may make you laugh hard, but in the end `License to Wed' cannot be called a good film because quite frankly, it's not. I really wanted to love this film, and while I did like it to a certain extent there were still times when I felt it was almost a wasted evening. I love me some Mandy Moore and really hope that she picks up the ball and makes some better role choices in the near future because her recent film choices have been less than desirable. Now, `License to Wed' is light years beyond the ridiculous and utterly wasted effort that was `Because I Said So' but it is no where near the brilliance that was `Saved' so you see my dilemma. It's fair to midland at best.

The film follows a young and adorable couple Ben and Sadie who are undeniably in love. At Sadie's parents thirtieth wedding anniversary party Ben decides to purpose and this thus starts our little outing. Sadie has always dreamed of getting married at the same church her parents were wed but in order for them to do so they need to take a marriage preparation course put on by Reverend Frank. It becomes quickly apparent to Ben and to the audience that Frank is a psycho but for some strange reason no one else can see that. Ben quickly grows tired of Frank's rules and mind games and soon starts to wage war with the man in cloth only to drive a wedge further and further between Sadie and himself.

Mandy Moore is still adorable here but she falls a little flat due to the poor plot and dialog. John Krasinski is almost wasted here. He ends up being the punch line most of the time, leaving everyone around him to bring whatever funny there is at his expense. In fact, he finds himself upstaged almost every step of the way, even when the only other `actor' on the screen is a mechanical baby (who by the way should have been in EVERY scene). This brings us to Robin Williams. Now I have not seen `Man of the Year' but I hear it was not that rewarding either, so it appears to me that Williams is running into a bit of a snag in his career, going the way of De Niro as of late. This is sad because we all know he has so much more to offer. He offers nothing in `License to Wed' besides over the top antics that are at times extremely annoying. In fact, the funniest thing about Reverend Frank is the choir boy that follows him around everywhere he goes.

`License to Wed' is not going to be a film you remember, which is kind of a word in its defense. While there is nothing outstandingly wonderful to remember, there is nothing painstakingly horrible to remember either. Williams is annoying but forgivable and while the plot is far too overdone it is not like we expected something revolutionary or truly inventive. `License to Wed' is just a movie to pass the time. Something to watch and that's really it. I may never watch it again, but this is the type of film that doesn't warrant repeated viewings. I laughed a bit, sure, but I'll laugh more watching something else.

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The theme seems to be that people many times really don't

know each other well enough when they get married

and as a result marriages don't last.

The family preacher or priest was traditionally the one to go to

for marriage counseling. This movie has the preacher from hell

making the lives of the people he is supposed to be helping

miserable. The motivation and the result of this movie seems to be two different things.

The spying, conniving preacher and his alter boy might be funny

in another universe, but in this movie they are terrifying?

The movie is very bad for organized religion too?

You get feeling really sorry for the clueless couple.

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Up in the Air (2009)

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) As someone who has both laid off staff and a year later, became the victim of a layoff after twelve years with the same company, I had a personal interest in seeing how director/co-screenwriter Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) was going to adapt Walter Kirn's smart, unsettling 2001 novel. Even though eight years have elapsed since the book's publication, the filmmaker along with co-writer Sheldon Turner manages to deepen Kirn's themes in this wry, emotionally resonant 2009 dramedy and make them even more relevant with the pervasive downsizing of corporate America. The movie also manages to surprise even when certain plot turns seem evident before they occur. Initially, there is a veneer of cynicism that makes you think the story will be an abject lesson in the impermanence of life, but instead, it evolves into one man's journey into the heart of the emotional turbulence he had been careful to avoid. Toward that end, Reitman seems to be inspired by Alexander Payne's equally perceptive road movies, About Schmidt and Sideways, films that reflect a similar storytelling style.

The plot focuses on laser-sharp corporate layoff consultant Ryan Bingham, a man who regales in the impermanence of life by traveling 322 days on the road, informing targeted employees that they are about to lose their jobs. There is a necessary callousness in his approach, but he knows it's necessary to be present and honest when it comes to conveying the unpleasant news. Bingham is also a motivational speaker who espouses unburdening one's life of possessions and fitting everything essential within the confines of a backpack. Proving his case, he lives in hotels, airplanes, and airport terminals with his one life goal being the seventh person to collect ten million frequent-flier miles. If you can get past the Spartan one-bedroom apartment he keeps in Omaha for the 43 days he is forced to be at home, the hatchet man appears to lead a charmed if rather solitary life. Complications, however, ensue on both personal and professional fronts.

Bingham meets a fellow transient traveler named Alex Goran in an airport lounge and assesses that he may have found his soul-mate, so much so that he invites her to come to his estranged sister's wedding in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Bingham's boss wants to introduce a new strategy proposed by a fresh-faced, post-grad school upstart. New hire Natalie Keener suggests using remote teleconferencing to perform the layoff notifications. Since the new technology is the antithesis of Bingham's one-on-one method, he brings Natalie along on the road to show her how it can't possibly work. In a role that feels custom-tailored to all his strengths, George Clooney plays Bingham with an emotional precision that complements his charismatic persona which pivots between swaggering and self-effacing. On one hand, it's his most definitive movie-star role, and yet Clooney has never revealed as much about himself onscreen.

The always watchable Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Down to the Bone) is sexy and confident as the woman who seems perfect for Bingham, even though their adroit compatibility could not possibly sustain an actual commitment. Their interplay is fun to watch because there is a Cary Grant-Rosalind Russell-level rapport that keeps both on their toes. Anna Kendrick (Twilight) is winning as Natalie even if her character's naiveté feels a bit manufactured at times. Jason Bateman has a field day playing Bingham's smarmy boss, while Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, and Danny McBride (Pineapple Express) plays their accustomed types with aplomb as members of Bingham's immediate family. In cameos, J.K. Simmons (Juno) and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) sharply play two of the victimized employees, but for the rest, Reitman uses non-actors replaying their recent experiences of getting laid off. As usual with Reitman's films, it boasts an eclectic soundtrack that works really well with the storyline.

Hard to understand how a movie that manages to make you feel down in the dumps in many instances can have you laughing out loud the rest of the way. Perhaps because UP IN THE AIR is a movie so very full of surprises and complete knowledge of its main subject (I swear the next time I go through security in an airport I'll be looking for the oriental businessmen and avoid babies at all costs).

All throughout the movie I was expecting the obvious conclusion (the firer being fired) and was surprised to get something completely different in return, but even UP IN THE AIR's schocker scene, managed to make so much sense it's hard for me to understand how I didn't see it coming.

There's no question in my mind UP IN THE AIR will be the movie future generations will look back in trying to understand this particular era we live in. It is quiet simply a classic.

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This hybrid comedy-drama-romance is a rare treat that honestly addresses job loss, love and relationships without resorting to common cliches or contrived situations. George Clooney and co-star Vera Farmiga are reminiscent of Cary Grant and Deobrah Kerr in An Affair To Remember.

Vera Farmiga is the strong, female co-star Clooney has long needed. She is beautiful, sophisticated and restrained, similar in many aspects to Brigit Bardot and Sophia Loren. She is Ukrainian but was raised in America. However, she did not speak English as a child which probably explains her elegant restraint when speaking English. Men will truly enjoy the brief but wonderful scene of Farmiga naked in Clooney's motel room. Wow, what a hot body.

Clooney is superb as a confident, insensitive but charming employee terminator during the economic collapse of 2008. Clooney works for a corporate consulting company based in Omaha, Nebraska that performs the dirty work for spineless business owners. It is a thriving business during the 2007-2009 recession. This movie was released during late 2009.

Clooney as Ryan Bingham boasts that during the previous year he spent 322 days on the road, flying from city to city in pursuit of victims. But, one day while sitting a hotel bar, he initiates a conversation with Vera Farmiga playing Alex Goran, a fellow road-warrior and corporate shark, equally consumed by frequent flyer perks and privileges. They end up in bed but the traditional, cliche love story never evolves.

The script is superb as is Farmiga who previously appeared in The Departed by Martin Scorsese and the 2004 remake of the Manchurian Candidate. Obviously, she is not an obscure actress but this role was meant for her. She plays her character with incredible charm, grace and sexual vitality telling Clooney "Just think of me as yourself with a vagina." Although captivated by Clooney's charm and appearance, Alex always remains his alter-ego much to his dismay.

In the end, Clooney is consumed by a life free from personal responsiblity and the daily toil of earth-bound inhabitants as he pursues his goal of becoming the seventh person in the world to achieve 10-million frequent flyer miles. I don't know if American Airlines paid a fee to partially sponsor this film but it is a long-form commercial for American Airlines elite frequent flyer awards program which bestows unique privileges to a select group of travellers.

The screenplay by Sheldon Turner and director Jason Reitman was adapted from the 2001 novel by Walter Kirn. It should be studied by screenwriting students at cinema schools because it is a rare example of honestly addressing difficult issues such as job loss and life without love. And, Jason Reitman should be applauded for honestly presenting the devestating effects of economic collapse while simultaneously entertaining us. It is both rare and rewarding to see documentary film seamlessly interwoven in a fictional story. Instead of resorting to token cliches, Reitman gives us real victims expressing their rage and anguish after losing long-time jobs.

This film is a tribute to great writing, acting, directing and producing. It successfully embraces comedy and tragedy and is truly enjoyable to watch.

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After a while, it gets pretty tiring to have nearly every Hollywood movie either overtly or subtly suggest that real happiness lies in marriage and family. I love this movie because it asks us to consider that happiness is personal, not cookie-cutter. The protagonist loves his life of traveling and the lack of ties that go along with it. Some might see this as melancholy, and at times it is portrayed that way in the movie, but overall, it's clear that what most people want is not what the protagonist wants. I love the realistic, insightful way that this different outlook on life is presented in this movie.

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Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has carved out a life of weightlessness (almost). He's an executive for an out-placement firm that is engaged when a company needs to get rid of large swatches of their employees. He's pared down his existence to a single carry-on; so much so that he's beginning to carve out a side career teaching others how to shed their possessions, their obligations, even their relationships and loved ones.

He lacks one of the key elements of what it is to be human. He's almost estranged from his family, he has no wife, no kids, no pets, not even a houseplant. He does have a good business relationship with his boss, his assistant, and that's pretty much it. He is so detached that he doesn't even notice anything is missing. But, things will soon happen that shake up his world.

On first viewing, I admired the acting (especially Clooney), the set design, the lighting, the cinematography, and the sound. The story itself was clever, but the movie watcher really knew what was going to happen. Bingham was going to experience something (or someone) that would make him realize that his goal of being the seventh person to achieve the coveted 10 million mile status (the youngest to get there) paled in comparison to his startling lack of human involvement. The movie was extremely well directed (by Jason Reitman) and well achieved, but curiously non-involving. It's good, but it's not a film that will be taken down from the DVD shelf very often.

It's only after watching the commentary with director Reitman that I really appreciated the craft of the movie. This commentary is why DVD special features were invented. Playing the movie with the commentary on added a whole other dimension to the film. Reitman grew up on Hollywood, his dad produced the film (Ivan Reitman), and he has many, many stories to tell about the making of the film. So many, in fact, that he hardly ever stops talking. There are two other members of the crew on the commentary, but you seldom hear from them. Reitman just won't let them get a word in. He's good and very entertaining to listen to, but why even have the other guys there? And yet, he is entertaining as hell. What a great dinner companion he would be. Once he got going, you'd just sit back and listen.

I do have to also comment on the film's 'fired folks'. Some of them are actors, but most of them are non-actors who were asked by Reitman to appear on camera and sort of relive their own firings. These non-actors were very, very good, and certainly lent an air of authenticity to the film. A stroke of brilliance to include these people.

Three and a half stars for 'Up in the Air'. Four-and-a-half for the DVD extras (there's also an interesting interview with the company that did the opening shot, and other aerials in the film).

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Election (2013)

This is by far the funniest movie Hollywood has produced in years, probably the best in my opinion since "Get Shorty."

Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, an over-ambitous student with desires to be elcted to her student council. Tracy Flick is the kind of person I think we've all met before. Driven, ambitious, very bright, but at the same time she really has no discernable personality. The fact that she is driven and involved in everything is what's getting her by. She has very few friends and is, if anything, made fun of routinely.

Matthew Broderick plays her teacher. He's a very regular man, teaching a dull course, leading a fairly boring and repetetive life. When he finds tracy's ambitions threatning he sets out on destroying her.

Election is far more hilarious than most movies because of its extremely bitter nature. Many people will find the story cold and sterile but if you get past that it is a hugely entertaining film.

All the performances are first rate and if you compare it to the other "teen" comedy of the year, "American Pie" it is evident that this is light years ahead. While "American Pie" settles on cheap belly laughs and a feel good ending, "Election" opts for exactly the opposite. In fact this is really a very adult film performed by teenagers.

"Election" is a cynical, bitter, vicious movie that is also the best comedy in years.

"Election" is one of the most intelligently-written, original and well-acted films to come out in years. The storytelling is never predictable or conventional, yet everything that happens feels honest and correct. The characters are far more fully-developed than those in any recent Hollywood film I can think of. In the beginning, you expect Broderick to be the hero and Witherspoon to be the villain, but the former does some despicable things, and the latter proves to be somewhat sympathetic. Although "Election" is a comedy (and a very funny one at that), it makes more valid and honest observations about human nature than most "serious" films.

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Election was not popular in America, and it's mainly because it viciously attacks everything the USA holds dear. This is exectly why this is such a brilliant black comedy, but if you're the type of person who prefers 'comedies' like American Pie then this is definitely not for you. It ridicules everything the sexual pysche of the wounded male ego, high school hierarchy systems, the teacher-pupil relationship whilst at the same time satirising American politics. Payne's commentary on the DVD is informative, but it would have been nice to have a feature on the making of it of or an analysis of the intentions of the script from people involved. Hell, a trailer would have been good, but buy the DVD for the film, a classic of American cinema which doesn't need to be in your face to make its point. Well worth your money.

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At the start of "Election," Jim McAllister tells viewers how well his life is going. He's a dedicated and popular social studies teacher at Carver High School in Omaha, with a loving wife and a best friend on the faculty. By the film's end, Jim has been fired from his job, become a national laughingstock, been divorced by his wife for infidelity, and moved to New York City. Why? It all starts with Tracy Flick.

Tracy, played in career-defining fashion by Reese Witherspoon, is a running for student-government president at Carver. She's an odd mix of youthful naivete; barely suppressed resentment at slights both real and imagined; and a pure Machiavellian drive to succeed. She's also having an affair with Jim's math-teacher best friend Dave, whose extracurricular activities get him fired early in the movie.

Concerned about the effects of Tracy's reckless ambition and bitter over his friend Dave's firing, Jim develops an unhealthy obsession with her (the scene where Tracy appears in Jim's head while he's being intimate with his wife is one of the most consistently funny in movie history). Determined to halt Tracy's rise, Jim decides to recruit popular ex-jock Paul Metzler to oppose her in the election. Paul, brilliantly portrayed by Chris Klein, is everything Tracy isn't: innocent, wide-eyed, naive, and slow-witted, with a penchant for vacant stares and extremely stupid comments. Paul's lesbian sister Tammy also decides to enter the race, bitter over her brother's theft of a girl's affections.

What follows is one of the most brilliantly satirical movies I've had the pleasure of seeing. Although the central event of "Election" may be a high-school election, it might as well be a presidential race. Carver High becomes a microcosm for the world in general, with the election as the backdrop for a sordid tale of lust, betrayal, power, ambition, and resentment. Jim (is there any doubt that this is Matthew Broderick's best role?) may sound idealistic at the start of the movie, but by the end he's gotten dirtier than anyone else. In fact, out of the principal characters in the movie only Paul really comes out clean.

"Election" is, without a doubt, one of the most well-crafted comedies of recent years. Much like "The Simpsons" in its prime, the movie is brilliant in its vulgarity and unpredictability. The main characters are fully realized and realistic, and the actors (Klein especially) can wring laughs out of even the tiniest facial expression. The humor is often off-color, but never in a stupid teen-movie sort of way. "Election" is a reminder of how funny a movie can be when it relies on little things like wit and creativity. I try to be pretty careful with my five-star ratings, but "Election" would get a hundred out of a hundred from me.

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Election is truly one of the most clever and probably the funniest movie to come along in the past couple of years. I've watched it several times, and each time I'm drawn back in, amused, dismayed and, most importantly, laughing out loud at the plot, the details and the whole package.

Reese Witherspoon is a revelation as Tracey Flick, the perfect student running unopposed for student council president. What could have been such a one-dimensional character is given a great deal of depth through her performance. And it is nice to see Matthew Broderick playing a grown-up, albeit a disturbingly immature one. The supporting players are just as amazingly cast, and act their roles superbly. The details, too, of the Nebraska setting, from the meal Broderick shares with his wife, to the trips to the mall, to the basement band... this is one well-crafted movie.

I highly recommend this movie. I've passed this movie amongst friends and family quite liberally and everyone has enjoyed it enthusiastically. Of course, we all love satire, and this is one of the best to come along in a looooong time.

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Last Holiday (2006) (2013)

Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) works in retail. On the side, she's in the church choir, and afterwards goes home and cooks while watching Emeril on TV. One day at work, she bumps her head and needs a cat scan. From the results of the CAT scan, the doctor then tells Georgia that she has a brain tumor and has three weeks to live. Upset and distraught, she goes home to look through her "Book of Possibilities" book (a book with all the goals she wants to achieve). Thinking it's all over, she takes a trip to Czechoslovakia. While there, Georgia has the time of her life. She bungee jumps, snowboards, and so much more. During her stay, people around her start wondering who exactly she is.

...a feel good movie, with a bit of a love story to it. Last Holiday is a smart comedy that will leave you thinking about life. Latifah is exquisite and also very funny. Two thumbs way up!

Queen Latifah stars in this endearing movie that forces the audience to question their own lives. Queen is told that she only has a few weeks to live, and she finds out that she has to learn a hard lesson about living life instead of waiting for the perfect time for things to happen. While this movie does force the viewer to think about life, there are some very funny moments. LL Cool J was surprisingly good in this film, and the rest of the supporting cast was wonderful.

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I just about never review motion pictures, but I absolutely had to say something about "Last Holiday." I have gone to see it three times, and I plan on seeing it at least once more before it is out of theatres, and I hope it comes out on DVD fairly soon.

Queen Latifah's performance is sensational as always, and she is perfectly cast. The supporting ensemble is also just brilliant.

Sure, this isn't Oscar material, and this won't break any box office record either, but this movie is the ultimate in life-affirming. It is true that the whole notion of the plot is rather cinematically cliched, but Latifah gets around this without a trace of sap on her fingers.

As the plot reaches its climax, it's hard to hold back the tears, at least if you're the sensitive type, and if you are not at least deeply moved you probably need to see a shrink.

You will indeed see that life is not about regrets; go out and fulfill your dreams and enjoy the life you have, because any day could be your last. The character of Georgia Byrd epitomizes this to pure perfection, and, as I said, it is profoundly moving.

And don't think you won't have a barrel of laughs, either. Go see this movie while you can.

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I saw this movie in Orlando a few weeks ago. You know it's a good movie when the audience applauds 2-3 times during the movie. Great cast. Queen Latifah is her usual cute, funny self. She's also regal in this movie. I had so much fun seeing this movie that I'm going again. Lots of funny stuff. And when the movie ended, I felt that warm feeling of happiness.

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Last Holiday is an excellent film starring the wonderful Queen Latifah (OK, so maybe I'm biased because I always liked her). The acting is very convincing and the plot moves along at a good pace. While this won't be wining any awards anytime soon, please don't let that stop you from getting this flick. The script is very well written and the casting couldn't be better. This movie kept my attention every step of the way!

The action begins when we meet Georgia Byrd, a rather shy woman who wears "frumpy clothing" and works in cookware within a department store. She secretly has a crush on Sean Matthews, a coworker, who is played brilliantly by L L Cool J. Just about all Georgia ever does besides work in the store is sing in her church choir and watch TV food shows as she tries to follow along with what the chef is preparing. Georgia even denies herself a single bit of this food; she feeds it to a young child named Darius instead and eats nothing except her "lean cuisine" frozen foods which she cooks in her microwave.

One day things change radically for Georgia. She hits her head by accident in the department store and she is rushed to the store's health clinic much to the chagrin of her supervisor who does nothing all day but talk on his cell phone and worry about profits. Much to Georgia's horror, Georgia has a CT scan that indicates that she has just three or four weeks to live.

Georgia decides that in her last remaining days on this planet she will travel after all to a swank resort in Czechoslovakia. This was one of the things she always wanted to do in her scrapbook of "possibilities." By pure chance she meets the top head of the department store there (Matthew Kragen played well by Timothy Hutton) and his mistress. Georgia also meets the chef she always idolized, Chef Didier played well by Gérard Depardieu; her senator (Giancarlo Esposito) and a few other "notables" who are staying at this resort.

Of course, to make the movie funny these people all simply assume that Georgia is some fantastically wealthy power broker-businesswoman and they try to decide who she is since none of them ever heard of her before. They also are so taken with Georgia that they want to do everything that she wants to do--it's childish but cute and funny and the same time.

Meanwhile, Matthew Kragen pays off one of the staff to rummage through Georgia's things to find out once and for all who she really is--and Sean Matthews heads for Czechoslovakia to get Georgia back for his soul mate and bride.

The movie can go anywhere from here. Will Matthew be able to discover who Georgia really is? Of course, Georgia never actually said she was a powerful business leader so maybe that will help--or maybe it won't when these snobs find out who she really is. What about Sean--will he be able to reach Georgia while she is still at the resort? And how will Georgia ever be able to handle her last days in Czechoslovakia after an avalanche may well leave her stranded there?

The DVD has a couple of deleted scenes and the "making of" extras are good. I agree with the reviewer who writes that "Last Look" was indeed the best of the bonuses.

Last Holiday gets two thumbs up from me! The cast is wonderful and everybody plays their roles perfectly. I highly recommend this film for people who like Queen Latifah and the other stars on this film; it's a good comedy as well.

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The Dukes of Hazzard

I grew up watching the TV show and had waited for a movie version to come out. What I got wasn't the Dukes I remember. That being said I won't stand on my soapbox and bash this movie like so many others on this site have. I'll simply say this if you like comedy that appeals to the lowest common denominator then this will be a DVD you will enjoy.

I didn't see this film in its theatrical release. If I had, I would have given in one star. The plot is horrible, and everything that made the TV series fun is gone in this version. Sheriff Roscoe pretty much stole the show in the original series, and always managed to garner genuine laughs. In this one, however, Roscoe is an unpleasant, unlikeable fellow with no real part to play.

Willie Nelson mamages to rise to the same level he did in Honeysuckle Rose, his film debut from the 1980s. Which is to say he can't act at all.

Johnny Knoxville is ignorant as Luke Duke, and the other guy who plays Bo, seems out of place. He can actually act, which means he has no place in this film.

And Jessica Simpson? Yeah, she looks great, but if you want to sit and gawk at Jessica, just watch the video that comes as an added extra in this package. But there's better eye candy in this unrated version, which earns it two stars instead of one. There's a whole bevy of topless sorrority chicks that make Jessica hardly worth a second look. The extras have even more!

But even that's not worth laying down money for...

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I was a fan of the original TV show, but don't remember much of it, since I was in grade school at the time and haven't caught any reruns on cable. For sentimental reasons, I gave the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie a chance. It was worse than I thought it would be. It's not a good bad movie, just a bad movie. On the original show, I seem to recall that bad guys were the dumb ones and the good guys mostly did not act like morons. Here, the situation is reversed. All the while, the South is portrayed as the irretrievably backward place that it is not (which was pretty silly in the 1980s when the show was on, and it is even sillier now). The "Dukes of Hazzard" plays more like an episode of Knoxville's "Jackass" than the old TV show. The Duke boys are unsympathetic and self-destructive, and the stunts are not good enough to make up for a terribly unfunny script. Jessica Simpson carried herself rather well, I thought, and looked great doing it. But the film is truly bad. Fans of the much funnier "Super Troopers" will spot some of that movie's actors here (this film and "Super Troopers" have the same director). And anyone who went to LSU will recognize the campus (which subs for the University of Georgia.) But for the most part, this movie is dumb minus the fun. Spend your money and time on something else.

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This movie doesn't even remotely run along the same lines as the classic Dukes Of Hazzard. We turned it off after 30 minutes and it's now sitting in the trash. Way too much cussing and since when does Jessie Duke smoke pot?

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Poorly done on many counts. Bad acting, thin plotline, and characters that weren't true to the original characters in the TV show.

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Straight Talk (1992)

If you've seen Straight Talk, you're no doubt a fan. This light-hearted movie is such a pick-me-up! I just love finding a movie I can watch several times and still laugh out loud!! I just love the scene where she loses her $20 bill on the bridge and James Woods comes to the "rescue"! The soundtrack is even good with songs written and performed by Dolly.

The DVD falls short though. No extras, no inner liner notes and it's ONLY available in full screen YUCK!! Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment should be ashamed of themselves for putting out such a poor product. Maybe this film wasn't a total blockbuster, but it sure deserved a better presentation than what it got.

Movie *****

DVD **

Overall ****

Yes, It's true. I am a diehard Dolly Parton fan, but if I wasn't I would still love this movie. Dolly's natural charm and humor comes to play in this rags-to-riches type of story. This is a must see!! Dolly is hilarious. This movie is a five star plus. You definitely won't regret seeing this. I don't care what the critics say. By far my favorite movie ever!

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I loved this movie! Shirlee Kenyon was a down on her luck country girl, when a mistake turns her into a big time radio doctor. I thought that her boss was kind of an a hole... He goes by the impression that people who have been married 3 times are losers, or those that have something real to say, He would write them off as losers..

This film shows off Dolly's spicy side of things! She had quite a few one lines... "I am like a one legged man in a butt kickin' contest!' Plus you get to see an early appearance of Terri Hatcher! (Lois & Clark The New Adventures of Superman)

I would like to have seen the trailer. as well as the music videos and even a commentary would have been nice... Aside from that, I still love the film....

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Some stores are already selling these locally. I picked one up yesterday, and the transfer is wonderful. Even though it is not posted on Amazon as of this writing, rest assured it is in 1.78:1 16x9 widescreen enhanced ratio. But, there are no extra's at all.

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Dolly Parton is utterly delightful in this corny, syrupy but immensebly enjoyable comedy. Her unlikely romance with James Woods is actually quite interesting as it is easy to see how Dolly's charm could permiate even the most jaded people. Sure it's not very original and it is very lightweight but it's got an old fashioned Frank Capra kind of sweetness to it.

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The American President (2012)

Okay, to weigh in on the key points of discussion that keep popping up with regards to this particular romantic comedy. First, I would have liked "West Wing" if I had never seen "The American President" and I would have liked "The American President" even if it was not a test balloon for "The West Wing." Second, of course a romantic comedy about the President of the United States is going to have a liberal in the White House. Conservatives are either (a) not that funny or (b) do not like to be laughed at, take your pick. Third, the part that bugs me the most is the "character" issue everybody keeps alluding to. I know part of the premise of this movie is "What is Hillary died and Bill Clinton was all alone in the White House and Chelsea was giving him dating tips?", but does that automatically mean we have to give all his sexual foibles to the fictional Andrew Shepherd? The man says he has only loved two women in his life and that it has been a long time since he has done anything sexual, so what is this character issue? Somebody explain it to me...like I was a six year old.

The actual plot of "The American President" is as old as the hills: boy becomes President, boy meets girl, boys falls for girl, girl falls for boy, and the entire country has an opinion. But ultimately the story does not matter because we stop flipping through the channels when we come to this movie on television because of the snappy dialogue and the excellent acting performances. Somehow screenwriter Aaron Sorkin got from "A Few Good Men" and "Malice," to this choice piece of political drama. Michael Douglas turns in his best romantic comedy performance as President Andrew Shepherd while Annette Bening plays Sydney Ellen Wade, a paid political lobbyist who discovers she has more of the President of the United States than his ear.

But ultimately "The American President" features one of those ensemble casts that makes you sit and shake your head in wonder. Actually, it is rather depressing to think that the actual occupants of the West Wing are no where as smart or as glib as this crew: Martin Sheen ("Come, friends, let us away"), Anna Deavere Smith ("I think the important thing is not to make it look like we're panicking"), Samantha Mathis ("Sir, I don't understan?"), and David Paymer ("Well, I could explain it better, but I'd need charts, and graphs, and an easel"), and in my choice for the best performance of his career, Michael J. Fox ("Can I just state very clearly I can't be part of anything illegal").

Did I mention the dialogue is really good in this film? However, the film's only Oscar nomination was for Original Musical score. Go figure.

Personally, I do not think the American people would turn upon a widowed President who started dating. But then I have this pesky idealistic streak that refuses to go away. This is a witty, literate romantic-comedy that harkens back to Hollywood's golden age. Ultimately the film's political leanings have little to do with our enjoyment because we know nothing ever happens with issues like gun control and fuel emissions in the real world and Bob Rumson's problem is not that he is running for President but that he is trying to break up the romance between these two kids.

Most Romantic Lines: (1) "Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes." (2) "Perhaps I didn't properly explain the fundamentals of the slowdown plan." (3) "I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer and I lost the other because I was too busy keeping my job to do my job. Well, that ends right now." Of course, these are not the best lines in the movie because those are all about politics more than romance.

If you like "The American President," then check out these other films on the AFI's list: #74 "Woman of the Year" and #31 "The King and I." Why? Well, because in the former you find how hard it is to mix politics and love and in the latter you have a leader whose position does not allow him to fall in love.

I have over 150 DVDs in my collection. This film, which is one of my Wife's favorite films, has been ruined by a bad transfer to DVD. This release is the worst DVD transfer of any film in my collection. Warner Home Video should be ashamed of themselves and re-call this DVD.

There is no doubt that a re-mastered edition of this movie will someday become available. Don't waste your money on this edition.

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This movie has long been my favorite. By the way if you're scanning this to figure out why I only gave this film four stars, it's because of the DVD format. No special features whatsoever. Hey Rob! Climb down off your wallet and do a commentary with Aaron. Annette, Michael, hows about a little interview or perhaps another commentary. Delete Scenes? Outtakes? I want to see Michael Douglas trip over the phrase "Upper Bi-cuspid Region." ::Climbs down off his soap box::

The title of my review says it all in a nutshell. If you're looking for Air Force One, Executive Decision or Thirteen Days, the buck does not stop here. This movie is a fairy tale. Think Ivan Reitman's "Dave." That movie starts with the Subtitle "Once Upon a Time." Exactly. It's Boy meets girl on a grand scale. It doesn't matter that President Andrew Shepherd is a Democrat, and Bob Rumsom (By the way, can you imagine "President Rumson?" Ick.) is a Republican. Rumson is the Antagonist (all good movies have one) period.

Richard Dreyfuss plays an exquisitely delicious villan, using President Shephard's new found love of Sydney Ellen Wade, for his own political gain.

Martin Sheen as Chief of Staff AJ MacInerney, now best known as President Josiah Bartlet on the West Wing, seems to be a fore-runner for the President Bartlet's own COS Leo McGarry (After all Aaron Sorkin [who is GOD] did write this movie and the series West Wing). Sheen is brilliant as Douglas' conscience and confidant.

Michael J Fox' character, Lewis Rothschild, and David Paymer's Leon Kodak, are Shephard's Prism. They show Shephard in Black and White, with no punches pulled, where he's at, where he's going and how to get there.

The other characters, while having lessor roles, are written and performed flawlessly, especially Wendie Mallick, Samantha Mathis, Josh Malina, and Anna Deavere Smith-the last two of whom are also West Wing Alums. Lastly John Mahoney, always the consumate actor round out this amazing cast with a stellar performance of the secondary or quasi-antagonist.

Buy this movie with no political Axe to grind. Buy this movie without your reality blinders on-Yes, I know it's a ridiculous premise, but so is the guy in a white suit with the crewcut sitting on a bench, and look what Zemekis got out of that one. It's a FAIRY TALE. It's FICTION. IT'S A MOVIE. Relax. Enjoy the film.

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First I liked the movie. If you like a romantic comedy then this is good one. You must put aside any idea that it has any basis in reality. It is the expected hollywood version of the US government. If you are a liberal than you are heaven sent and if you are conservative than you are a hellbound devil who's only interest is destroying the country and starving children and old folk. In this film, you have a ultr-liberal director and the only conservative voice in the film is a monster and played by Richard Dreyfuss who has never had a conservative thought. So if you can get past the extreme bias in the film and not take it too seriously, you might enjoy it. My rating is not about the movie, it is about the distribution of the DVD by Warner Brothers. They have released three verions of the film....kind of. The first version released ten years ago indicated the film was not in enhanced widescreen. It had a poor image but was that was very common as DVDs were first coming to the marketplace. The two followup releases have claimed to be ENHANCED FOR WIDESCREEN TV...BUT WERE NOT. One version had an outer sleave that claimed this, but the actual case did not while the most recent version puts ENHANCED right on the disc insert. Both of these version are the same old version previously released. I would like to believe that this is a mistake, but it occurs too often for this to be true. What is likely more accurate is the WB intentionally mislabels the disc packaging so that owners of the old disce will buy it again, and since once it is opened it cannot be returned....FRUAD profits for WB. WB lies about the product and we simply get ripped off.

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This is an all time favorite of mine and absolutely guaranteed to lift my spirits each time I watch it.

Michael Douglas plays somewhat against his usual type as a likeable, widowed, well-meaning single father who is also the President of the United States, Andrew Shepherd. He becomes romantically interested in an environmental lobbyist, Sidney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) which turns out to cause a lot of problems for both of them.

These two high-powered actors manage to humanize their characters into ordinary, likable people who are just trying to fall in love despite unbelievable opulence of surroundings, ugly political maneuvering and living inside a media fishbowl of publicity. Along the way, there are plenty of funny, heartwarming moments including a couple of very funny telephone calls. (Imagine what YOU would do if you suddenly received a call from someone who claimed to be the President of the United States)

David Paymer, Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen are excellent in their supporting roles as advisors to the President and Shawna Waldron is wonderful as the 1st daughter.

If you love humorous dialog, beautiful, nearly fairy-tale settings and happy endings, be sure to see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

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The Odd Angry Shot (1979)

Pre-dating "Platoon" by years, "The Odd Angry Shot" does not glorify war, but explores the depth of mens souls "in" war. Many Amercans have forgotten Australia was even involved in Vietnam. This is their story.

Early on a young soldier is warned that he will be well sought after for his stories when he returns home, but forgotten when people are tired of hearing them, the stories he see's unfolding are funny, sad, somber, and grotesque, but they are part of who he will become. Don't view this movie expecting an Oliver Stone-esque movie, just don't be suprised if you become part of it. It is a great movie, long overlooked.

Do whatever you need to do to see this film. Sensational performance from all involved including the late, great Graham Kennedy. I know a vet & he indicated this was a very realistic portrail of the Vietnam war. Up there with Mad Max in my faves!

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An Australian friend of mine told me about this movie so I ordered it and glad I did. I had met some Australians in Vietnam while I was there and they seem to be pretty good Fellows. This movie shows the war from their view. The acting was good and the storyline fairly easy to follow. As with most were movies it has a lot of action that also could be seen as an antiwar movie depending on your perspective.

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The ad line for The Odd Angry Shot promised `Cry a little, laugh a lot,' and that pretty much sums up the problem with the film. One of Australia's few efforts to portray their part in the Vietnam war, it plays more like a version of The Virgin Soldiers than Platoon, with much good-natured uttering of obscenities amid the tinnies and banter. It's not bad, has a cast filled with stalwarts of 70s and 80s Oz cinema (Graham Kennedy, John Hargreaves, John Jarret, Bryan Brown) and has its moments (most notably presenting the padre with a home made wanking machine), but it feels too soft and good natured to leave much impact. The final scenes do work surprisingly well, but odds are this one won't linger long in the memory.

Decent extras on the Australian PAL DVD include audio commentary by Sue Milliken, Tom Jeffrey and Graeme Blundell, production notes and original theatrical trailer.

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A very Australian "Take it easy" approach makes a story of Vietnam War diggers less dramatic and more entertaining than military activities, insurgency, mortal dangers and simply death following in reality did.

Unlike "Kokoda" concentrated to a great extent on operational issues, this film about fathers of recent Australian servicepersons in Iraq emphasizes on inter-personal relations, highlighting team actions and mateship as substantial values grounding military achievements.

Rather romantic, this movie is an easy viewing about a steadily debated passage of Australian history the Vietnam War is.

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Irreconcilable Differences (Special Edition) (1984)

I have liked this movie for years and years. It was well done, charming, and worth repeat viewings.

Lionsgate has done an appallingly awful job on this DVD. They don't even know who their audience are...

It opens with a very inappropriate red-banded, R rated noisy hard-sell preview of a horror movie, followed by another horror preview. Both of these fourth-rate screamers have unknown casts, yet they were treated infinitely better than the feature we are paying for on this disc a well written movie starring four very famous actors. While the horror movies got newly remastered in widescreen with new interviews, this movie seems to have been copied from a grainy pan/scan transfer on an old VHS tape.

The gratingly cheesy-busy menus seem to have been made up by someone who thinks the 80s were nothing but disco. The scene selection is lazily authored to force the viewer to manually navigate from page to page, rather than linking them together so you can right click through them all in sequence.

The picture is so dark that many scenes are now played out almost totally unwatchably in black screen or shadows. There are eve changeover cues, meaning it was transferred from an old exhibition print.

Clearly the principle that anything worth doing is worth doing well is lost on Lionsgate. They obviously have no respect for this movie, which they refer to as "forgotten" on the cover, and have deliberately issued a product that is obsolete. It's amazing that they would list "full screen" as a "feature" in today's world when even broadcast TV is going widescreen. The fact is that for a great many people who buy this, it will NOT be in full-screen at all, and it is missing maybe a third of the picture from its Original Aspect Ratio.

Ryan O'Neal, Shelly Long, Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone, Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer all have good reason to be proud of this charming film. You'd think they wouldn't mind sharing some interesting thoughts about it for a commentary or "Making of" featurette, but nooooo... Lionsgate couldn't be bothered to consider that. All we get here is a little trivia track that's less informative than annoying by taking a Quiz format rather then just delivering the mostly Irrelevant information.

This product is a slap in the face of anyone who worked on, or likes this movie. SHAME on Lionsgate for treating obscure horror movies better than this one! I will from here on heavily suspect any product from Lionsgate, and rent their titles rather than buy.

Bottom line, there is no excuse for releasing this bad a product. The disc should be recalled, competently remastered in its full aspect ratio from a good print, and reissued with at least a commentary track. Lionsgate owes us an explanation and an apology meanwhile, do not waste your money on this piece of junk.

I echo some of the other reviews. The movie is terrific; the other "Lost" titles (with the exception of "Slaughter High") are full-framed but pristine prints. This transfer is as grainy as if I had taken the VHS and copied it myself to a DVD. It's an amazing rip-off, but I guess it doesn't matter to Lionsgate. I can't imagine what can be done, save sending back the discs. But since there's no other version (EXCEPT an old VHS copy--with the same quality) you're plum f***k out of luck.

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This was a great movie with an all star cast. The plot was fantastic and it was an excellent "feel good" movie. The movie gets five stars and the film transfer to dvd gets zero stars. My rating is two stars. I love this movie so I bought it to have it in my collection. I am keeping it even though it has many dark scenes and blackouts. Keep this in mind and hopefully someday we will get a good print of this film.

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I have been waiting for this film on DVD for years; because of its non-existence on DVD I had even saved my old Vestron Video copy when I had gotten rid of the majority of my VHS collection many years ago. I was very excited to seen this film recently released on DVD by Lionsgate...until I watched it. This has got to be one of the worst transfers of a film to DVD that I have ever seen by a major distributor. Lionsgate should be totally and unequivocally ashamed to have put out such a shoddily produced DVD. The transfer is obviously taken from a VHS tape, in fact the original Vestron Video logo even appears before (and at the conclusion) of the film, just as on my original VHS tape from the 1980's. The picture is unbelievably dark in many places and the printers marks denoting reel changes are still present (another clue that this is in fact the VHS master, as these marks appear on the original Vestron copy). If this were a well-done transfer, it would have easily gotten five stars because the film is still one of the most underrated comedy/dramas from the 1980's. I hope that with all the negative reviews that this DVD has gotten that Lionsgate will see fit to give this film a more proper release on DVD. We can only hope.

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"Irreconcilable Differences" is finally coming to DVD, and all I can say is: IT'S ABOUT TIME! This is a wonderful underrated movie that was released in theaters way back in the fall of 1984. I remembered seeing it at the theater when it was released. My mother took me to see this and the Sally Field movie "Places in the Heart" in the same day. And it was great to see not one but two great movies at the theater in one day. However "Irreconcilable Differences" was not a hit at the box office, and got pretty much lost while waiting for a DVD release. It was released on home video in the old VHS format, but it has taken what has seemed like forever for the film to get released on DVD. I was constantly checking amazon.com to see if this movie was ever going to be released, and was getting frustrated not seeing anything about a DVD release date. That was until today, when at long last I found out that this terrific little movie was finally getting released on DVD.

"Irreconcilable Differences" is a comedy-drama that tells the story of a Hollywood couple who marry, have a kid, make movies, write novels, and in the end (after one fight too many) are sued for divorce by their 9 year-old daughter. The stars are: Ryan O'Neal, who was still a big star at the time this movie was made (he has since pretty much disappeared from the acting scene and has been having personal problems in real life); Shelley Long, who was starring on the hit TV sitcom "Cheers" at the time when she made this; a very young Drew Barrymore, who made this a few years after hitting it big with Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial"; and a young Sharon Stone, who would go on to be a big star of 90's movies such as "Total Recall", "Basic Instinct", and "Casino". It was directed by Charles Shyer, who co-wrote the screenplay with Nancy Meyers (his wife at the time). This is the same team who won an Oscar nomination for writing the screenplay to Goldie Hawn's hit 1980 comedy "Private Benjamin" and would go on to make the hit comedies "Baby Boom" (1987), "Father of the Bride" (1991), and "Father of the Bride 2" (1995). Meyers later turned to directing and scored box office hits with "The Parent Trap" (1998), "What Women Want" (2000), and "Something's Gotta Give" (2003).

"Irreconcilable Differences" wasn't a hit at the box office, but it received some good reviews from the critics (overall the critical response was mixed). Roger Ebert and his late partner Gene Siskel gave it two thumbs up (both critics gave the movie 3 1/2 stars for their newspaper reviews), and it received 2 Golden Globe nominations: Shelley Long was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy), and Drew Barrymore was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. Everybody does a good job here. O'Neal, Long, and Barrymore are perfect as the Hollywood family who go through good times at first, then rough times later when the couple split up after constantly fighting all the time and in the process ignore their little girl, who feels lost through all of this and decides enough is enough.

I'm hoping that "Irreconcilable Differences" will be released in the widescreen format on DVD. That's the way to view movies. I'm also hoping for some extras on the DVD too. But even if there aren't any extras on the DVD, I'm just glad that it's finally coming to DVD period. It's been long overdue.

WARNING: If you're looking for perfect DVD quality with this film, you might be disappointed. While it was great to see this movie again after not seeing it for so long, the DVD quality of "Irreconcilable Differences" is not the best. All they did was copy the movie off of one of those old VHS tapes from its' original VHS distributor, Vestron Video, and on to a DVD disk (you'll see that old Vestron Video logo on the DVD right before the movie starts, just like it was on the VHS tape). This perfectly explains why the DVD of this film is not in widescreen. And it also explains why the movie doesn't have quite the clear look that you see on most DVD's today. While I may have been a tad bit disappointed by the DVD quality of this film, it's not really all that bad. At least they found a VHS tape of this film that was in pretty good shape. I've seen a lot of DVD's that have been transferred from an old VHS tape to a DVD disk in far worse condition than this. So overall, I'm satisfied with the "Irreconcilable Differences" DVD.

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