Drive Me Crazy (1999)

Isn't it funny how some films don't quite fit their stereotypes? I settled down to watch Drive Me Crazy because I was in the mood to watch a mindless teen movie, and given that this film stars Melissa Joan Hart of Sabrina The Teen Witch fame, I was expecting really more of the same. It doesn't help that the beginning of the film reinforces the stereotype (complete with cheesy pop background music, neon-lit opening titles and slow pan across a typical teenage girl's bedroom followed by Melissa answering the phone in her best "a la Sabrina" perky voice).

What I encountered was a film that is still very much rooted in the teen "prom" genre, but is slightly deeper and sophisticated (as well as more ponderous and slow-moving) than I expected. It's quite a biting and penetrating observation of the high school social hierarchy as well as the conflicting emotions of young love. Think of it as a more serious version of Clueless with a dash of Dangerous Liaisons thrown in.

Nicole Maris (Melissa Joan Hart) is a pretty and popular girl at the Timothy Zonin High School (definitely in the "in" crowd) who is organising a big formal dance celebrating the centenary anniversary of her school. She has the hots for school basketball star Brad (Gabriel Carpenter) and hopes he will be her date for the dance.

Neighbour and fellow classmate Chase Hammon (Adrian Grenier) is on the other side of the school social stratum. Sporting a "rebel without a cause" attitude and a grungy appearance, he hangs out with nerdy Ray (Kris Park) and "Designated Dave" (Mark Webber) the latter so-nicknamed because he doesn't drink therefore he always chauffeurs the other kids when they are blind drunk and want to go back home after a party. At the beginning of the film, the three of them (masterminded by Chase) stage a prank involving putting coloured dye into the school sprinkler system which nearly gets them suspended.

Incidentally, Nicole and Chase used to be childhood friends but then grew apart into their different ways. Both have single parents (William Converse-Roberts as Mr. Hammond and Faye Grant as Mrs. Maris) as Chase's mum died of cancer and Nicole's father (Stephen Collins) is estranged. Their parents appear to be very "friendly" with each other, and later on in the film we find out why.

So, when Brad on the verge of asking Nicole to the centenary dance falls in love with a cheerleader instead (when he accidentally fell on her during a basketball game), and Chase's girlfriend Dulcie (Ali Larter) dumps him because she thinks he's too shallow (because she is into animal rights and he doesn't seem to be interested), Nicole and Chase strike an unholy deal they will pretend to be in a relationship with each other in an attempt to make their desired partners jealous.

Nicole gives Chase a Pygmalion-like makeover and suddenly it looks like their crazy plan may just succeed after all. Or will they fall in love with each other instead? And what about Nicole's best friend acid-tongued Alicia (Susan May Pratt) will she throw a spanner into the works?

The ending may be somewhat predictable, and yet the film as a whole seems to be more than the sum of its parts. The characters are reasonably fleshed out and have complex overtones to their personalities, and the dialogue is reasonably clever in places. However, overall I found the film to be somewhat slow-moving and uninvolving. The problem is, a romantic comedy with artistic pretensions can aspire to become a piece of serious drama, but an ambitious teen movie ends up looking awkward because let's face it what is the serious equivalent?

Incidentally, I think Melissa should really stop playing teen roles. She may still have the pert little body and a perky voice, but she is not as fresh-faced as she used to be and it would be nice to see her play her age for a change in a more substantial role.

I must admit right off the bat that I'm a sucker for these type of movies with the predictable, happy ending. However, I must also say that I truly believe this was a good movie because it both hit the mark with what high school can be like yet it was different from many of the recent high school flicks that have been made. It is different because neither character is chasing the other one and they are former friends rather than 2 people who know nothing of each other. Also, even though Melissa Joan Hart's character is the popular, perky one, Adrian Greiner's character is not your typical "loser" character nor would I classify him as a loser. He is not an academic nerd either, but a rebellious person who gets in some trouble. That being said, I do have some beefs with the movie. First, the "falling for each other" between Hart and Greiner doesn't develop as it should. It also bothered me that neither one says how/what they feel even at the end. The audience knows they are attracted to each other but they never say anything. Also, this movie really should have been longer so that the story could have developed more, again especially the relationship between Hart and Greiner. Still, a good movie overall and one worth seeing if you like romantic-comedies or this type of genre.

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I'm honestly not one to be a big fan of teenage movies, USUALLY. But...when I saw this movie I notcied that the world of teenage cinematic productions really DID have potential, can you imagine! Adrian Grenier is the cuuuutest, and Meslissa Joan Hart acually acts in this movie, hard to believe, but yes, she does! It has an interesting plot and is one I could watch over and over again. It is funny, smart, and witty. Never leaving you yawning this movie receives a 5 in my book! I would reccomend it to anyone!

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Britney sings the title track to this movie that Melissa Joan Hart satrs in.. relaly good teen flick

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Drive me Crazy on the surface is portrayed as a shallow,run-of-the-mill, simplistic movie.I also thought it would be this. But instead it is an eyopening web of complex emotions. Some of the beginning parts are questionable though (Chase goes from grunge-boy, to popular boyfriend in about 2 seconds with little instant remorse, or thought), but as the movie unfolds, it becomes something more. This is largely in part of the simple, yet true to the heart performances of the two leads, Adrian Grenier, who delicately portrays a teenager somewhere between a hurt child, and a noncomformist anti-hero, and Melissa Joan Hart believeably portraying a perky popular girl who has a slow change of heart about who she is and where she stands. As supporting characters ''Designated Dave'' is strongly played, showing acore of insecurity and hurt. BUt overall what makes the film worth seeing is the general feel of it. The simple, yet realistically portrayed wounds of hurt, insecurity, and inferiority that make the ''uncool'' kids try to be what they aren't. High school is finally realistically portrayed as a Nazi-like environment. As brutal as it seems, it really is. People get hurt, and suffer and are dehumanized in what is no less than a Nazi following of kids degrading each other. Hopefully other filmmakers will take the hint and start creating movies that are more true to life, instead of the upper-cut, simplistic movies they currently process.

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Death at a Funeral (2010)

Aaron is a well-mannered and hard working young man, married to Michelle, and still living at his father's home. When his father dies, it is up to Aaron, the oldest son, to organize the funeral and give the eulogy. The funeral takes place in his father's home and Aaron tries to put on an appropriate expression on his face to welcome his relatives, including his famous writer brother Ryan and his father's friends. But preserving a civil atmosphere will be a hard thing to do, especially, when from the very start, the undertaker makes a horrifying mistake.

This movie has almost a scene-by-scene remake of a 2007 British movie with the same title, I think it's funnier than the original, it's due in large part to the strong cast and screenplay that makes this movie funny. Overall, "Death at a Funeral" is an excellent movie that is well worth watching if you want to have a laugh or a ton of laughs.

So, I did not watch the British version of this movie before watching this one; that being said, I thought this movie was laugh out loud hilarious! This movie was perfectly casted with some big names and excellent actors who brought the script to life. In my opinion, Tracy Morgan (ala 30 Rock) steals the #1 spot of funniest character, with James Marsden (ala X-Men trilogy) in a close second, and the crazy uncle played by Danny Glover in third. I don't really understand why people have rated this movie so badly, other than that maybe the British one is better. All comparisons aside, this is a well-written and well-acted comedy, unlike most these days, and is worth watching. RECOMMEND

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Are you kidding me?!

I caught this flick at a friend's house (read not by choice) and when I saw Peter Dinklage reprising the very same roll of Peter from the original Frank Oz production of 2007 I asked my friend to turn it off. This film is a complete exercise of futility.

The art of the ensemble is something Frank Oz handles with deft hands. Oz understands the importance of chemistry and timing in comedy subtlety. Three years later and Sony releases a near `frame by frame' remake that exemplifies all that can go wrong in an ensemble work. No matter how talented a cast a director (Neil LaBute) should facilitate a comedic ensemble by stressing underplay and nuance. In this remake LaBute looses or exercises little control and we end up with a one-upmanship mash up that is simply not funny. I was actually surprised that this was a LaBute film as he has a strong talent for controlling and facilitating the emotion in an actor's performance (I had the opportunity to see Sigourney Weaver in "The Mercy Seat" a devastatingly rich performance that highlights his skill as a performance driven director).

Bottom line is this film made me angry. I was angry that Sony, Labute, and Dean Craig (the writer on both versions of this film) felt it was necessary to rework the property into a dumb downed in your face version for an American audience.

My friends and I did watch the remainder of the Labute version and subsequently the Oz version all prefer the Oz version if for nothing else than it is a genuinely funny and entertaining ensemble comedy.

I feel Labute should stay away from re-visioning films that work in their original state as "The Whicker Man" and this death are potential career lowlights.

I give this film one star for the tremendously talented and funny cast whose directed performance was the true death at this funeral of a film.

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A re-make of a film only three years old, "Death at a Funeral" is not great; many of the gags fall flat and it's not a film I need to see again any time soon, but considering the lack of good comedies coming out of Hollywood today, this is not bad.

The best thing about the film is the cast. While I have always loved Chris Rock's stand up performances, I have always felt that his film work left something to be desired. Here, however, he is funny as Aaron, brother of a successful writer, Ryan (Martin Lawrence). Their father has died, which unites the family for the funeral, and things go awry at every turn.

Also included in the cast is Luke Wilson, Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana, and Peter Dinklage, who reprises his role from the original film. To me, much like another recent comedy (Date Night), the script is so-so (written by Dean Craig, who wrote the original), but the cast elevates the material into something enjoyable and fun.

Like I say, the film is not great, and there was one scene in particular involving Danny Glover's character that I found to be far too crude and tasteless. However, if this cast appeals to you and the trailer peaks your curiosity, you will probably enjoy this film. If the cast does not appeal to you and the previews did not interest you, you probably would be better off skipping this one.

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It seems like only yesterday I was giving a passing grade to "Death at a Funeral," the 2007 British farce from director Frank Oz. Amazing, how quickly a remake can come along. What's even more amazing is that, despite being virtually the exact same film, this new 2010 version is even funnier. It is, in fact, the funniest film I've seen since "Get Smart." Before, the premise was crazy, but now, it reaches levels of insanity that I simply could not ignore. Oh, I tried to tell myself that I'm an adult now, that I'm too old to laugh at any of this, that I'm supposed to be out of my dirty jokes phase. But on this particular trip to the theater, I felt very immature indeed. Essentially, I let my guard down and just allowed myself to enjoy what I was watching.

You see, I normally wouldn't be amused by the sight of an old man sitting on a toilet and doing his business while someone else's hand is pinned underneath the seat. And usually, I would find the ... aftermath of this scene disgusting, cheap, lowbrow, and needlessly vulgar. But boy, how I laughed. Sometimes, it's nice to stop being a critic and allow yourself to take pleasure in what you're viewing.

Perhaps it helps that it features a great variety of stars, all of whom are naturally funny. At the center of it all is Chris Rock, who successfully balances the screenplay's use of slapstick comedy, witty dialogue, and quiet interludes, the latter surprisingly rich, if ultimately brief. He plays Aaron, who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders now that his father is dead and everyone is gathering at his home for the funeral. His wife, Michelle (Regina Hall), wants to get pregnant -on the day of the funeral. His mother (Loretta Devine) says nothing kind to Michelle and clearly favors her other son, a successful but financially irresponsible writer named Ryan (Martin Lawrence), who hasn't lived up to his end of the deal when it comes to paying for the funeral. Aaron, jealous because of his own failed writing ambitions, is continuously reminded that Ryan was expected to give the eulogy, not him.

Before long, he's approached by a dwarf named Frank (Peter Dinklage, reprising his role from the 2007 film). He has numerous pictures that prove he had been ... very, very close with Aaron's father. Unless he receives $30,000 in compensation, he will expose his secret to the rest of the family.

Other zany subplots are woven throughout the story, including the dead man's niece, Elaine (Zoe Saldana), having to get a handle on her boyfriend, Oscar (James Marsden), who mistook a hallucinogen for a valium and is now wreaking havoc all over the house. At the same time, she has to contend with her disapproving father (Ron Glass) and her ex-boyfriend, Derek (Luke Wilson), who seems incapable of taking no for an answer. We also meet the crotchety Uncle Russell (Danny Glover) and a family friend, Norman (Tracy Morgan), who Uncle Russell hates for no apparent reason. In one form or another, both find themselves drawn into the rapidly escalating Frank fiasco.

The director is Neil LaBute, whose film and stage work has been defined by unflinching depictions of human behavior (I exempt his remake of "The Wicker Man," a truly awful movie). Remember his previous film, "Lakeview Terrace"? Aside from being a genuinely thrilling ride, it was also one of the most intelligent, complex, and honest examinations of prejudice and relationships of recent memory. "Death at a Funeral" is certainly much different in tone, but it still benefits from LaBute's affinity for strong characters and themes. Yes, they're all greatly exaggerated, but not so much that we don't see some degree of truth in them; we believe in the reality of Aaron's personal and financial woes, we understand his wife's persistence, and we can sympathize with anyone who has had to deal with an Uncle Russell. As they say, there's one in every family.

I was also impressed with the quality of the performances, especially Marsden's; it's one thing to act like you're under the influence, but it's quite another thing to keep that act consistently interesting, and to make sure there's still a personality underneath it all. He manages this, making him not only funny, but engaging as well. Also of note is Danny Glover, who isn't given much screen time but definitely knows how to make the most of what little he has. He's over the top, but that's okay because, given the screwball nature of the plot, subtlety would not have been appropriate. I noted back in 2007 that the "fun" had been put back into "funeral." It seemed all right to say it then, but now I realize that I should have reserved it for this version. While the original was amusing, the new "Death at a Funeral" is truly a lot of fun.

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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (2013)

Ace Ventura, for the most part, is a perfect vehicle for Jim Carrey. I was pleased with the film the first time I saw it. I have, however, seen it on network TV, and have found out that there are many more scenes present in the TV version not shown on the DVD. These scenes not only make the film better, but also more undestandable.

If at all possible, could we see a WIDESCREEN EXTENDED CUT, Mr. Shadyac???

Thank you very much.

"Ace Ventura Pet Detective" is a vehicle that is tailor-made for the comedy genuis of Jim Carrey. In his first major comedy, Carrey absolutely carries this picture on top of his broad and very funny shoulders! Carrey will tickle your funny bone in this riotous picture.

Carrey plays "Ace" a pet detective, who gets involved in solving the missing case of a dolphin from the Miami Dolphin's training camp. Co-starring the gorgeous Courtney Cox and believe it or not, Dan Marino, the plot has so many funny moments that I cannot begin to list them all. The jokes fly at you about every second minute, so if you don't like one, just wait for the next! I guarantee you will laugh out loud several times and give your tummy muscles a good workout in doing so.

Carry is a genius in facial expressions that will tie your funny bone in knots. His physical comedy ranks with that of Lucille Ball. Carry establishes his comedic "star" in this flick.

If you want to relax and take your mind off your worries and just laugh out loud, then this is the film for you! I highly recommend it! It is easily in my top-10 comedies of all time.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig

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Jim Carrey's work in Pet Detective is just short of Brilliant. Funny thing was, he was mostly being himself. Don't let the movie premise fool you. The character of Ace Ventura is not a bumbling detective who lucks out in his cases, he is actually smart and knows what he's doing. This is what I most liked about this movie. He outwits the police at many turns, staying far ahead of them on the case of the missing mascot for the Miami Dolphins, a field goal kicking Bottlenose. In his efforts he befriends, and beds, pre-friends fame, Courtney Cox (say that ten times fast). Even stranger, they seem to have great chemistry. Sean Young plays the hard-nosed Police Lt. I couldn't tell if she was hamming up her reputation as a difficult actress or just over playing the part really well, it was obvious that she wasn't taking this movie very seriously. In any case, this movie can't be taken too seriously anyway, although it does on some levels, but it works. This film marked the first in three successful films that Carrey made with Director Tom Shadyac; `Liar Liar' and `Bruce Almighty' followed. Both movies were hits as well. I love this movie I found it hysterical. But if you don't like Carrey at all, then you probably won't like `Ace', but if you have found yourself even smiling at his goofiness and rubber-face antics, this movie should make you feel good. Although there was a sequel, and it started out ok, it is no where near the level of the first.

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The cable networks such as TBS and USA have for years been showing a version of this movie with several deleted scenes that were never in the theatre and still aren't available on DVD. At a time where every studio is re-releasing special editions of every movie under the sun, how in the world has this comedy classic not gotten the royal treatment? I suppose Warner Studios has an exclusive deal with USA and TBS so that only they can show the "special" version of this movie. That's not cool.

The deleted scenes include additional insane asylum scenes and another scene where Ace visits his friend at the heavy metal club. He winds up on stage with the band "Cannibal Corpse" and graps the mic and starts screaming into it and flailing around on stage like a fish then stage dives onto the crowd. anyone fortunate enough to have seen this deleted gem probably wet themselves because it's so funny. And it's not available on DVD!!!

This movie gets 5 stars but the DVD get's 1 star for awful. Do not go in there! I think it's the pate.

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I don't know what's up with all these people who give these bad reviews to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. I think this is amoung the Top 3 movies EVER! The character is perfect for Jim Carrey and the film is just plain and simply funny! He throws out constant one-liners that will keep you laughing everytime you quote them (If it gets cold enough... if you've seen the movie you're laughing). The best part about this movie is that no matter how many times you've seen it the sheer fun of watching it will keep you coming back, which is what makes this the perfect movie to own! Mine's so worn I'll have to replace it soon (thank-you DVD). Now, I'll be fair, I'm a huge Carrey fan so that probably tilts the scales in his favor but even so, the actual movie IS good! Sure the plot is a bit outrageous, but it's a COMEDY! Lighten up people, it's supposed to make you laugh, not make you think, and believe me, it makes you laugh. It's also got it's fair share of stars (Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Tone Loc) and not to mention a certain Hall-of-Fame football player (Dan Marino). In summary, this movie's got everything from comedy to stars. It's the perfect movie to watch over and over again and you'll never get sick of it. I would have given it 6 stars, but they wouldn't let me...

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Casanova '70 (1965)

Lorber has added 1965's "Casanova '70," directed by Mario Monicelli, in the great, handsome Blu-rays and DVDS that they did to the Vittorio de Sica and Sophia Loren Collection they have out. It, too, stars Marcello Mastroianni, but the co-stars are a bevy of beauties including Virna Lisi, who crossed over to American films probably more than any other Italian actress other than Loren, and also features Marisa Mell (looking never better), Margaret Lee, Michele Mercier and many others. The screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award. It concerns a man who comes to believe he may be impotent, but only becomes aroused when the situation takes a dangerous turn leading to a lot of rather hilarious exploits. The transfer is quite good and the packaging by Lorber is very handsome and viable enough to be also a collector's jewel. I understand there were problems with poor transfers in other editions of "Casanova '70." With the state of the Italian cinema being sold to low-esteemed companies, this is probably as good as it will get. In Italian with subtitles and trailers. Well-directed.

Mario Monicelli's Casanova `70 was the kind of risqué globe-trotting Italian sex comedy that found favour in the US at a time when the local censors seemed to allow foreign films more leeway than American ones but which now, despite its unapologetically smutty premise and some brief nudity, seems much more innocent and charming. Marcello Mastroianni is a NATO officer who finds that the sexual liberation of the 60s is sapping his libido to the point of impotence: with women not just easy prey but practically throwing themselves at men (provided you meet the minimum requirements, of course), the thrill of conquest leaves him unable to make love unless there's an element of danger to spice things up. His efforts to control his sexual demons are constantly doomed to failure, thanks to a succession of female lion tamers, jinxed prostitutes with a reputation for killing their clients and rich wives with homicidally jealous husbands until he finds himself in the dock with his various conquests (Virna Lisi, Michele Mercier and Marissa Mell among them) called as character witnesses...

It's very much of its time despite the title, it was made in 1965 and it's hard to understand quite how it got a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination that year, but after a rather sluggish opening that's short of real laughs it does develop into something much funnier, and not just in the scenes with his female co-stars: two of the funniest scenes involve a cottage industry faking antiques and selling them by the pound like steak and cuckolded husband Marco Ferreri's attempt to get rid of his new rival. It's the kind of glamorous fluff that's increasingly enjoyable if you're in the right mood, with Mastroianni on particularly good form, and Kino's Region-free US Blu-ray offers a decent but not outstanding widescreen transfer (there's some slight digital noise in places, but nothing too distracting) in the original Italian with English subtitles. Extras are limited to the original Italian trailer, stills gallery and trailer for Kino's other Mastroianni and Sophia Loren titles.

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Not even Marcello, not even Virna, could keep this abortive attempt afloat. That says plenty about what happens when cheap foreign tastes and formulae are imported into Italy.

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[Casanova '70 1965 Directed by Mario Monicelli Widescreen Italian with English subtitles] The always charismatic Marcello Mastroianni shines in this light-hearted sex romp from director Mario Monicelli ('Big Deal on Madonna Street', also starring Mastroianni) as an army officer who only gets amorously aroused when there's an air of danger about; otherwise he's uninterested and blasé, something no one does better than Mario.

The luscious leading ladies are comprised of Marisa Mell, Virna Lisi, Michele Mercier and Liana Orefi, and trust me, if these Eurobabes can't get you interested in boudoir bagatelle, your heart has already ceased to beat. Thankfully, risk rears its head from time to time, so our hero does get his share of bed-hopping hysterical hijinks. His shrink warns him he's on a path to a premature demise, so he tries to become celibate and wed the virtuous Virna Lisi, but his inevitable descent into decadent sin is far more to his liking (and ours as well).

Mastroianni's legendary dry wit and world-weary facial expressions tell more than the ribald script does, and once again he's a marvel to revel in. What the film may lack in cinematic superlatives is of no matter to those who appreciate his warmth and depth as an actor, the gorgeous ladies he's surrounded with, and Monicelli's directorial skills from the golden age of Italian comedy.

Considering that this is the only review of the actual release pictured and detailed here, it should be noted that the audio and video on this Koch-Lorber blu-ray edition are certainly impressive to those of us who have waited decades for a legitimate NTSC release of this minor but must-see gem. No bonus features except a stills gallery, but still an easy 4 stars all around.

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I really like this Movie and Mr.Mastroianni's character is hilarious,his Shrink even more so.The Women Are lovely Italians and strong(of course Strong have led us to many problems down the road,the so-called Revolution as produced many outcomes and problems such as new diseases/std's, and Men no longer being men but just scared and afraid of political incorrectness.)Marcello as a Person and his Politics I do not care for(his openly so-called unactivesocialist/but voted for them nonetheless,his movie the Organizer and so fourth.Which is a shame,of course his voting and others like him along with unions is what led Italy and Europe overall to it's many Economic perils which continue.His AntiChurch Stance again another problem and flaw in his real life character.(see Playboy 1965 Interview.)The movie itself is a novel approach,the Man cannot be aroused unless he is in a dangerous situation,I had the luck of seeing this instantly on Netflix,and Quite enjoyed it for the story and plot and of course it's ending.It is funny and not so dark as one would be lead to believe,the Jealous Husband and finally An Happy Ending all make the movie a nice one to watch.Would I watch it again or Purchase it considering what I now Know?Sadly No.But it is me,This movie came out at the height of so-called "revolution" and all the hype thereafter of Feminist Movements which again have only come to worsen Society and has led not just to Secularism but Intense Secularism and Outright hostility to any who disapproves of said lifestyles,the movie in itself is politically incorrect and perhaps not to be taken serious,but Real Life consequences are.I would recommend watching it.

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I Hate Valentine's Day (2010)

This was a cute movie a slower paced movie, If your looking for just something to watch on a lazy day; this would fit the bill (almost a hallmark channel sort of feel)

*** Refreshing to not hear the F word every minute.

If you go into this movie with the thought of comparing it to Greek Wedding you'll be disappointed. I watched this on IFC one night after reading who was in it; while the storyline left a little room to be desired I gave it a try because I like the players. I thought it was neat that they were teaming up again. It didn't bore me and I watched the entire thing. There aren't many movies-especially romantic comedies-that are not predictable. This one in my opinion was predictable. For the most part with predicatable movies it is how they tell the story and reach that predictability which would determine the level of awfulness or how cheesy the movie will be. I thought the delivery with this film was fine. Also, the dialog was okay and the humor was subtle but above average. I laughed out loud a few times and I don't always do that even if it is funny. Some of the jokes were corny so you had to laugh because it's almost as if it were corny on purpose.

I like indie movies in general and this one was pretty okay to me. Before buying try renting it or check your local listings. I may buy it one day if the price is right.

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In "I Hate Valentine's Day," Genevieve (Nia Vardalos) runs a flower show in Brooklyn, where she dispenses bouquets and advice to the love lorn with joyous abandon. Having been disappointed by the men in her life, from her estranged father to her first boyfriends, Genevieve has developed a iron-clad policy of only going on five dates. She tells all of her gal pals to do the same thing, and glares at them when they are tempted to deviate from her proscribed path, all the while smiling with an intensity that will make your teeth hurt. Genevieve even has a general description for each of the five dates, just so the guy knows how things are supposed to go. Then she meets Greg (John Corbett), who wants to open a tapas bar down the street. Obviously, this is a guy worthy of way more than a mere five dates, but just as obviously it is going to take Genevieve almost the entire movie to reach that conclusion. Part of the problem turns out to be that there is some confusion as to whether their last date was the fourth date or the fifth date. He thinks that it was and dutifully disappears from her life, while she thinks it was not and wonders why he is not calling her for their final date.

The fact of the matter is that she is right about it only being the fourth date, but, more importantly, she is wrong to have her five date plan, a conclusion that you pretty much reach as soon as Genevieve explains it for the first time. But what becomes so disconcerting is that the utter trivilaity of the former is such a stupid impediment to dealing with the stupid rules of the latter. Besides, I did not really pick up on the descriptions of the five rules when I watched the film (the trailer makes them a lot clearer), so I was trying to remember what they were to figure out why Greg thinks the fourth date became the fifth and final date. Meanwhile, we are only halfway through the film, so Genevieve and Greg are treading water in inane ways before we get to the requisite happy ending. By that point I was becoming convinced that these two were better off without each other and starting to get creeped out by Genevieve having that omnipresent smile plastered on her face. The plot was dictating these two should end up together, but the rightness of that was not resonating with me that much. The unhappy couple are surrounded by a rather forgettable set of friends and co-workers, despite having the likes of Ian Gomez, Rachel Dratz, and Judah Friedlander, amongst other semi-recognizable faces.

My favorite moment in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" comes when Ian and Toula are on their first date at a restaurant and Ian comes up with the idea of going out again to a Greek restaurant that he has been to, which happens to be the one owned by Toula's parents. In your average romantic comedy there would be a funny scene where the couple goes to the restaurant and everybody tries to pretend they do not know each other and at some point the comic confusion results in the revelation of the truth, so on and so forth. But instead writer and star Vardalos has Toula admit that it is her family's restaurant. Ian looks at her and remembers Toula from before. This was back when Toula was the frumpy ugly duckling, but this does not matter to Ian. "I remember you," he says, and it is clear that this does not change what he thinks about Toula one iota. It is a lovely scene, and Vardalos and Corbett had wonderful chemistry in both that moment and the entire movie. So when the two co-starred again in "I Hate Valentine's Day," not only written this time but also directed by Vardalos (who came up with the script when the studio handed her the title), I was hoping that lightning would strike twice. But there is nothing in this 2009 romantic comedy that holds a candle to the best moments in the film that still helds the record for grossing the most money ($241 million in North America) without ever hitting #1 at the box office. Consequently, this is not just a bad romantic comedy, it is quite a disappointing one as well because of our fond memories of that earlier movie.

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I enjoyed this movie! It was predictable and a bit drawn out, but very likable. This movie would be perfect for viewing on a lazy, rainy day.

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What do you get when you have "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and strip away the family which adds charm and personality, and then put the entire focus on just the two leads? An unfunny, insipid, character-less piece of affectionate schlock, aka "I Hate Valentine's Day". I rather see that N'Sync fellow make another dirty Greek joke.

Part of what makes this movie unfunny is the abundance of awkward silences. An awkward silence joke usually works when a character is outrageously goofy to begin with and the line is so panned out that the crowd's silence is actually funny; even dry, uncomfortable silence can be funny. However, when John Corbett's character, Greg, made a comment about 'Get On Tapas' and no one spoke, it's neither goofy nor dry-humor. It's just awkward, and the same joke's been used at least three more times; it wasn't funny the first time around. None of the cast tried to put in the effort to make the witty banter less bland than they already were, and how they deliever them were absolutely cringe-worthy, like how that girl was making a scrapbook for her stalkee of the day. What's really insufferable is the main character, Genevieve (played by director/co-star Nia Vardalos). It's irritating by the way she almost always smiled and has a cheerful outlook, even when she made a cynical comment; she's rather disturbing than wholesome, and come to think of, Nia's like that in all of her films. As for her love interest/trophy guy, Greg, well if you've seen "Greek" and "United States of Tara", you know Corbett is playing the same darn character.

I can enjoy a good romance now and then, but this film is a romcom to a soulless and manufactured degree. The only good thing I can say about the movie is it's harmless. In fact, it's so safe, I wonder why it's rated PG-13 in the first place? Okay, Genevieve showed her panties in a 'cheeky comedic' scene and a couple of comments on pregnancy were mentioned, but otherwise, I doubt these are something mid-west suburban housewifes would get into a fit. As I end this review, I have to ask, why is it called "I Hate Valentine's Day"? The whole hook of the title didn't happen until the last ten minutes, and even then, it's never really about the holiday. It's about not committing to relationships, so why wasn't it called "I Hate Relationships"? It makes a point, even if the story is inept, but I guess I shouldn't judge the workings of marketing.

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