The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is great feel good film. I found it to be quite captivating and am very glad that I made the effort to see it. I recommend it to others.

In brief, the film revolves around the coming together of seven elderly and somewhat impecunious Britons who, of their own volition, and quite separately, decide to retire to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur. They discovered the place on the internet and, as we all should know, the internet can sometimes be a bit misleading. Indeed, this is the case here. The hotel had been billed as a marvelous palace when, in fact, it was tired and chaotic.

The seven visitors form the key members of the cast and are led by Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy. Some can adjust to the way of life in India while others fail completely. Along the way, we are given a peek into daily life in India in all its colour and noise.

The movie is often funny but always enthralling. I will say no more as to the plot. I have no wish to spoil this film for others. However, I will say that it is money and time very well spent.

John Madden's "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" may not be a great film, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable one that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. It isn't challenging in the slightest, which has caused many critics to downgrade it, or damn it with faint praise. All I know is that the audience in the packed theater where I saw the film applauded at the end, and I applauded with them.

By now everyone knows the story of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." A group of English retirees decides for various reasons (mostly financial) to move to India. The retirement hotel they choose sounds glorious from the brochure, but turns out to be a rundown, if once-grand, hulk run by a young Indian with much more enthusiasm than skill. A lot of comedy ensues, and a little conflict and tragedy; attitudes are changed, old bonds broken, and new bonds forged.

The ensemble cast of British character actors ranges among the super-famous (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith), the moderately famous (Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton) and the not-so-famous (Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie), with the addition of one young rising star (Dev Patel, of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame). All of them are as charming, funny and touching as they possibly could be. Meanwhile, Madden and screenwriter Ol Parker do an excellent job of blending and articulating the various plotlines, aided by the gorgeous photography by Ben Davis and the insinuating score by Thomas Newman. Considering the effort all these master professionals made to give an audience a good time, it seems churlish to give "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" any less than five stars.

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I saw TBEMH at a theater in a community well-known for its attractiveness to retirees. Most of the audience seemed to be over sixty. I am in my 70s. The reactions I heard were all about relating to the characters and the dialogue. Most of the dialogue was more original than Maggie Smith's comment about green bananas, which I've heard dozens of times before. Having visited northeastern India and felt its overwhelming splendor and squalor, I was reminded of much of what I saw there. India itself seemed to be one of the characters, and was ably supported by both young and old Indian characters but also stood on its own with the visuals and the cacophony. The Hindu funeral made me wish I could have one too when my time comes. This is a movie I will see again and again just for the pleasure of seeing people and places that make me feel that it's really OK to be 70 and "out there."

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"Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line..."

We started with a smile which rarely faded in this lovely PG-13 comedy. Here are gathered the best old war horses of British cinema. What a treat! And as a bonus, a trip through the color and chaos of modern-day India as seen through the eyes of seven senior citizens caught up in major culture shock. Each of our principal players is going to India for his or her own reason: to find a lost love; to look for a rich maharajah, to find a cheap place to live, to rejuvenate a marriage, to get a new hip; the reasons are as diverse as the people.

We have:

* Judi Dench ("As Time Goes By") Told to imagine her audience naked to overcome her stage fright: I think I'm a bit past all that..."

* Bill Nighy ("Blow Dry") After failing to fix a leaky water tap: "Now that I've got the hang of it, do you have anything else I can NOT fix?"

* Maggie Smith ("Downton Abbey") In response to the National Health Care's six-month wait for a new hip: "Six months! At my age, I don't plan anything that far ahead. I don't even buy green bananas!"

* Tom Wilkinson ("The Debt") Answering the question, "What do you see out there?" he beams, "Smiles!"

* Penelope Wilton ("Match Point") Sitting in the stifling, self-imposed exile of her room, "How can you STAND it out there?"

* Ronald Pickup (lots of TV) When asked the advisability of sex for senior citizens, "Well, if she dies, she dies!" He is an aging wanna-be gigolo who can get an astonishing amount of "action" from two aspirin!

* Celia Imrie ("Cranford") thinks she's got enough "it" for at least one more go at landing a wealthy husband.

* Dev Patel ("Slumdog Millionaire") Trying to recapture his deceased father's dream: "Everything will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, it's not the end."

* Tena Desae ("Yeh Faasley") joins the pantheon of gorgeous stars formed in the Bollywood galaxy. We love her as she trains at a call center and copes with disapproval.

Each character is in one crisis or another but no ends are left dangling. This is a satisfying and entertaining look at a country most of us will never visit but which intrigues us, nonetheless. We see remnants of the old caste system, while we recognize remnants of a new one which flit by, unnoticed; AND we appreciate the skill with which each old pro commands his or her moment in the spotlight. I can hardly wait until this is available on DVD from Amazon.com!

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"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is a joy for those who love veteran thespians who can act up a storm. A group of English retirees decide to relocate to a seniors hotel in Darpur, India, to live a relaxing life of leisure. Unfortunately, the hotel turns out to be a dive -rundown, dreary, and depressing.

The characters are a lot more colorful and interesting than the plot. Tom Wilkinson plays gay magistrate Graham Dashwood, who has returned to India to find the boy he loved and left when he was young. Bill Nighy is retired bureaucrat Douglas Ainslie with an irritating, constantly complaining wife (Penelope Wilton), whose savings have been lost by a daughter's careless investment. Judi Dench is recent widow Evelyn Greenslade, who has never before looked after herself. Maggie Smith is Muriel Donnelly, an unapologetic racist in need of a hip replacement. And Celia Imrie is Madge Hardcastle, a gold digger still very much on the prowl.

The film attempts to tell too many stories simultaneously, which gives it an overstuffed feel. But it's unusual to have a movie these days reliant on Golden Agers, and it's a pleasure watching these superb actors sinking their teeth into sometimes underwritten characters and enlivening them with years of experience.

Once the principal characters are assembled and disappointed by what they find, director John Madden provides their back stories. There are many cliches and maybe too neat an ending, but the performances more than make up for the script's shortcomings. Personally speaking, I would be happy to watch Maggie Smith peel an apple. She is, at this point in her carrer, legendary and a master at her craft.

Available on both DVD and Blu-ray, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" bonus extras consist of only behind-the-scenes footage and some location interviews.

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Nine Months (2011)

Samuel and Rebecca have it all. During their near-perfect, five-year relationship, they've seen their careers thrive; experienced countless nights of passion in their wonderful San Francisco home; and had the freedom to take off on romantic weekends at whim. And then one day they receive a little surprise... one that will catapult their life of Perfect Order into one of Utter Chaos: Rebecca is pregnant, and Samuel's life will never be the same. His frenetic new existence begins with an unlikely friendship with a couple of well-meaning, but overbearing parents, Marty and Gail. This is one of the funniest movies. This movie will make you laugh and cry. I highly reccomend this movie.

An outstanding romantic comedy, Nine Months, brings to the screen exactly what the title implies: the story of a pregnancy with all the ups and downs that it entails!

It is a film about human relations, hope and second chances, but most importantly about trust, love, and inner strength.

Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore, Robin Williams, Tom Arnold and the rest of the cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few laughs, not to mention a few tears. The film is simple enough, but does a great job of describing people's every day lives and the problems they face. It just goes to show that simplicity is often far better than complexity, when trying to present issues of a human nature.

In short, Nine Months is a movie definitely worth watching!

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Robin Williams, poses as a Russian Doctor struggling with English and trying to assist with his first delivery. His scenes are laugh out load funny, and the remainder of the movie is very amusing.

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I've watched this movie many times since I've been ill, and I know it kept me from going nuts. I laughed out loud from one minute into the movie when Tom starts giving mouth to mouth to Samuel until the very end. My son had to come and check on me to see if I was OK since I was ill. There was never a dull moment. It's exactly how a lot of single guys would act when told there about to become a dad. Especially when their life is just perfect! I adore Hugh Grant, and I thougt the entire cast was terrific and superbly cast. The SUV scenes were truly great and well directed, as were all the others. Hugh brought tears to my eyes at the end of the movie when he picked up the baby and danced to "These Are The Days". Hugh you would make a great dad, and you certainly knew how to hold this baby, maybe YOU need to see the movie again. In my opinion it's right up there with "FWAAF" and "About a Boy" great movies.

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This review refers to the DVD edition(20th Cent Fox) of "Nine Months"......

Looking for a good time but don't want to leave your couch. Here's the answer for you.."Nine Months". Directed by Chris Columbus(Harry Potter/Home Alone) starring Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore,Robin Williams, Tom Arnold, Joan Cusak and Jeff Goldblum. These are names that really know how to entertain and will have you laughing out loud the entire length of the film. "Nine Months" is a hysterical look at the fears, joys and anticipation of becoming a parent and the waiting period that goes along with it.

Samuel and Rebecca have a relationship to be envied. Samuel is a successful child psychiatrist, the beautiful Rebecca is a graceful dance instructor,they have a cool apartment and car and five years of UNwedded bliss...don't fix it if it ain't broken...right? Well they are in for a big change in their lives. When Rebecca utters those wonderful words..."Samuel...I'm pregnant", the very cool and level headed Samuel practically kills them when he runs the car off the road. And so the fun begins. He discovers he has some growing up to do and it's easier said then done.

Included in the fun are their new "friends", Marty and Gail Dwyer a very pushy but well meaning couple played by Tom Arnold and Joan Cusak. They are old pros at the pregnancy game, as they are working on their fourth. Arnold's one liners are non stop and delivered with his usual brand of boisterous humor, and you never knew how funny delivering a baby could be until you have seen Cusak's brilliantly comical turn in the labor room. Jeff Goldblum, is Samuel's single friend, his link to his youth,and turns in a great performance.Then, of course there's the obstetrician. Who else can make having a baby such a riotious romp other than Robin Williams. He's just absolutely zany as the Russian Dr. Kosevitch, about to attempt his first delivery, human delivery that is!

So prepare to laugh out loud as Samuel and Marty go fist to cuffs with "Arnie the Dinosaur", Dr. Kosevich butchers the English language, it's Murphy's Law on the way to the hospital, and Rebecca and Gail make impending motherhood a delight for all.

You can't go wrong with the film or with the DVD. It's a beautiful picture in anamorphic widescreen(Aspect Ratio 2.35:1), and the audio in Dolby Dig 5.1(or Surround) is outstanding. The soundtrack including "The Time of Your Life"(Steve Van Zandt) and scoring by Hans Zimmer is perfect for this film. There are subtitles in English and Spanish and may be viewed in French. There are trailers but no other special features included. It's a quality transfer with at an exceptionally good price.

It's it's a great ride, and one you will want to go on again...have fun...Laurie

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Our Family Wedding (2010)

OUR FAMILY WEDDING

STARRING: Forrest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, Lance Gross, Regina King, Diana-Maria Riva, Lupe Ontiveros, Anjelah N. Johnson, Charlie Murphy and Shannyn Sossamon

WRITTEN BY: Wayne Conley, Malcolm Spellman and Rick Famuyiwa

DIRECTED BY: Rick Famuyiwa

Rated: PG 13

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: 12 March 2010

Review Date: 25 March 2010

Our Family Wedding was good, but it was barely good. As has been the case countless times in comedies and romantic comedies lately, it's the film's actors that save the film. Is it the writing or is it the directing and producing that is continuously falling short? It's often tough to say, but regardless of the condition of the screenplay, it's the producers, editors and directors who are the last ones to touch the project; I'm just saying.

Forrest Whitaker, as is probably to be expected, out-acts everyone in the film. He is just brilliant, and can steal any scene from any actor bold enough to share it with him. Here, he plays Brad, the father of Marcus (Lance Gross).

Marcus is happily engaged to Lucia (America Ferrera) and the two are madly in love. There's just one little problem; neither of them have told their parents. To make matters worse, they are both worried that the fact that

Marcus is black and Lucia is Hispanic, may play a part in causing an issue between their folks. Oh, and they are leaving the country, and have been secretly living together as well, which is a big no-no in Lucia's family.

Carlos Mencia plays Lucia's somewhat obsessive father, Miguel. If you know anything about Mencia, you will be blown away by him in this film. He really is a talented actor. However, I could not help but feel this part should have gone to George Lopez. Lopez is a master at this kind of comedy, and I felt that Mencia was being held back in the film, comedic-ally. He's got a dirty mouth, and not to type-cast him, but I'd rather see him in a film where he could use it frivolously.

There is a pretty funny scene early on in which the two dads meet each other, not knowing that their children are dating one another. Miguel owns his own towing company and Brad is a successful DJ. Living in California, the filmmakers clearly wanted them to be very good at their jobs, because they both have a ton of money, based on their extravagant homes and accessories. It's a stretch, but okay, whatever. Miguel ends up towing Brad's nice car and the two get into a juvenile racial spat in the middle of the street.

Later that night, we meet the rest of the family and discover that Brad has a thing for younger women, as his date (Shannyn Sossamon), is about the same age as his son's fiancé. Of course everyone is already sitting at the table and has been introduced to one another, by the time the two unsuspecting fathers join them and realize their unwanted debacle. More racial tension and some pretty descent laughs ensue.

Perhaps my favorite element the film had to offer was a side relationship that brews between Brad and his longtime best friend and lawyer, Angela, played by the amazing Regina King. Regina King, is long overdue a starring role. Do you hear that Tyler Perry? Sign her up!

Marcus's mother has been out of the picture for years, and Brad and Anglea are a very flirtatious couple of friends. We know right off the bat that they are into each other and that inevitably they will end up together. What I loved, is that the film doesn't painfully drag it out through a series of mindless tid-bitts, only to have them end up together in the last five minutes, for the sole purpose of an, "ohhhhh" moment. They get intimate somewhere in the middle, and this was a nice refreshing turn. King and Whitaker's chemistry together was extraordinary.

There are several good laughs to be found in the film, but there are plenty of missed opportunities as well. The one thing I definitely would have changed was the goat showing up to ruin the ending. Well, that was okay, but did it really have to eat Brad's Viagra and dry-hump Forrest Whitaker? Where did this come from? It was funny, but belonged in a Ben Stiller movie.

My 19 year old daughter bought this movie around Thanksgiving 2011, I watched it with her and liked it. . .she's away at college, so I thought "hmm better buy myself a copy" -I like Forest Whitaker and Regina King so it works for me!

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EVERYTHING I EXPECTED AND MORE. VERY HILLARIOUS, FUNNY AND DOWN RIGHT EXCELLENT MOVIE, I GIVE IT A 9 RATING, GREAT MOVIE FOR YOUR COLLECTION

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Witty ,funny,smart and very sexy .Just the right actor for this part. Supporting cast very good also.The groom's father one of my favorite actors ,Forest whitaker, a fellow Texan, (Longview ,Texas) was great. this is a amazon purchase .WDO

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This movie was very funny. I truly enjoyed it. The differences between the two families really made the movie enjoyable. It's a great movie to watch for laughs with the family.

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Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

This movie was a blast, but you know that already. Read on for the

details of this fully-loaded DVD edition:

Feature Commentary Track

w/ Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes; Deleted Scenes

with Intros by Kevin Smith and members of the View Askew family; -

Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash w/Intros; Gag Reel w/Intro;

Internet Trailers w/Intro; TV Spots; Still

Galleries; Storyboards; Behind The Scenes Featurette;

"Morris Day and The Time Learnin' the Moves"

Featurette;

Afroman "Because I Got High" video; -

Stroke 9 "Kick Some Ass" video; Comedy Central's Reel

Comedy special; Cast and Crew Filmographies; Guide to

Morris Day and The Time; Some DVD-ROM goodies Widescreen

(2.35:1) Enhanced for 16:9 Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound -

Special DVD Mix French Language Track; Spanish Subtitles

I've always heard that if you look beneath the grimy setup you'll see the beautiful interior. Well that saying is not dissimilar to the horrors of the summer movie season 2001! Some of the most anticipated flicks of the summer are huge dissappointments (ie. Scary Movie 2) and some of the best moves, the general audience are too ignorant to set foot in (ie Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Well thank god we can still depend on the rapier wit of Kevin Smith. the King of Curse Words and verbal fluency. Has given us the most entertaining installment in the View Askewniverse. Well I know it ain't saying much but "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is the funniest film of the summer!!

This film has all the things that make a screwball comedy perfect. Wacky Characters, Funny jokes both verbal and physical, Good storyline, great comic timing, and of course, a monkey.

Many people were afraid that Jay and Silent Bob would be unable to handle a movie on their own. Well not only did they succeed they went through the roof!!! Kevin Smith kept the jokes piled, one on top of the other and each one different and original. Though I loathe bodily function jokes, Smith managed to make them appropriate and not over use them, unlike the comically declined Wayans Brothers, who seem to think making the characters fart is like printing money. Smith on ther other hand keeps you on your toes awaiting what's gonna happen next.

"Is Jay Gonna Do What I think He's Gonna Do?" "If Silent Bob Speaks What will he say?"

Questions like that were popping in my brain because of the aggressive spontaneity of the comedy. But another thing I loved was all our old friends from the View Askewniverse (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and one omnipotent female from Dogma.) Dante, Randal, Brodie, Holden, Banky, and even Willam the idiot Man-child. All performed once again be the same View Askew alumni and all played to perfection. And to go with them there's also stellar performances by many new faces, like Shannen Elizabeth as Jay's love-intrest Justice and also Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, and Jen Schwalbach (Mrs. Kevin Smith) as the evil villainesses. And including great cameos by George Carlin, Marc Blucas, Seann William Scott, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek And God knows how many more. (She does know)

I think Every self respecting View askew fan Is required by cinematic Law to get up off their butts and see this flick. And all those poor schmucks who think The Wayans Brothers actually care about originality, NEED to watch this movie or I'll Beat the ever lovin' tar outta them.

Now I can say there were 5 good movies this summer instead of 4.

And Oh Yeah, To Jay and Silent Bob: Snooch to the Nooch and Good Bye My friends

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a lot of cursing if your sensetive to that but the rest is so fuuny (especially the scooby doo part!) best line

Jay (rapping)30 bucks little man, put that sh** in my hand!

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Who'd have anticipated it? I grew up never needing to be told "just say no to drugs". I always focused on serious subjects when contemplating what movies I'd make given a chance. And now I find myself in a world where the most innocent cinematic diversion are often silly farces about potheads. The riotous hoot "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is a prime example. I wasn't sure about it all the way through. Ali Larter was recently one of my favorite actresses. At least she doesn't take such a disastrous fall herein as Kirsten Dunst did in "The Virgin Suicides". Refreshingly, Ali's character Chrissie admits to being a "bad girl cliche". She gave me pause by repreating a frequent movie assertion (hopefully strictly an urban legend) about what girls don't do. But she gives a new twist, belying the claim at a point where she nearly dooms herself and co-consrirators thereby. Hence one could make a rhyme about her role: "Ali Larter plays the ......" All in all, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is one of the most surprising bits of comic relief I've seen lately.

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First and most importantly, you have to be very well prepared to watch "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" if you want to have any hope of enjoying it to its full potential (assume, for the sake of argument, that this is both possible and desirable). Not only do you need to watch all of writer-director Kevin Smith's earlier films (to wit, "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma"), but you also need to have seen "American Pie," watched enough "Dawson's Creek" to know why Dawson should drown Pacey in the creek, and at least recognize every film Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have made in the past decade (know the title and a one line synopsis of what the film is about).

You need to do this for two reasons. First, it is the only way you can get all of the in-jokes in this film, which is heavily self-referential vis-a-vis the Smith oeuvre. In fact, you are better off using one hand to tick off the names of all the people from Smith's earlier films who are NOT in this movie (Stan "the Man" Lee immediately springs to mind). Second, you will need all this knowledge to be able to explain to the person next to you why Ben Affleck sometimes is playing himself, sometimes is playing somebody else (Holden McNeill from "Chasing Amy"), and sometimes is playing himself playing somebody else (Chuckie from "Good Will Hunting II: Hunting Season").

"Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is another one of those films where two guys go off to Hollywood to stop tinsel town from ruining their good reputations with a film. Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) have always played small but pivotal roles in Smith's films (e.g., the "Chasing Amy" speech in "Chasing Amy"), but this time they not only get to be ABOVE the title of the film, they get to be IN the title of the film. Now, I will readily admit that I have always been one of those who could take Jay and Silent Bob in small doses, which probably explains why my favorite bits in this film usually involve other characters. However, I will admit enjoying Jay's attempt to find a nonderogatory term for women.

I have the feeling that this film is the swan song for Jay and Silent Bob. I mean, now that they have achieved titular glory, how can they go back to being the two man Greek chorus of Smith's prolonged "New Jersey Trilogy." Besides, with the appearance of virtually everyone who every appeared in a View Askew production (always good to see Joey Lauren Adams whether she is playing Alyssa Jones or not), you get the feeling the entire film is setting up a "Revenge of the Jedi" curtain call. Maybe Kevin Smith is turning a giant corner and about to start a new chapter in his life. Hey, it could happen. But I really get the feeling we have seen the last of Banky, Brody and the rest of the boys. Besides, Silent Bob speaks TWICE in this one, surely one of the signs that the end of days is nigh.

Like most View Askew productions, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is rated R for nonstop crude and sexual humor, pervasive strong language, and drug content (Actually, I did not know that the MPAA could use a word like "nonstop" in its description of a film, but certainly the term applies to everything on their little list here). So just remember to go back over Smith's earlier films before you screen this one and save yourself a lot of headaches and avoid watching it with anyone who is going to demand you justify your enjoyment every other expletive out of Jay's mouth.

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Love Happens (2009)

It is not often that 'popular romance comedies' have the courage to tackle issues like death and grieving and make the story work, but such is the case with LOVE HAPPENS, a good little film written (with Mike Thompson) and directed by Brandon Camp. And it helps to have a solid cast of popular and well-schooled actors to pull off a subject that might make a few people uneasy.

Dr. Burke (Aaron Eckhart) is a seminar man who runs a business with his colleague Lane (Dan Fogler) based on helping people cope with grief a group called 'A-Okay'. Burke is a popular guru, more so because of his reason for ministering to grievers: his beloved wife died three years ago in a car accident so Burke can speak about grief from experience. But it seems he is running away from something, too. Most of his followers don't notice, but one man Walter (John Carroll Lynch) is a particularly needy client and seems to pick up on something missing in Burke's seminars. Burke is currently in Seattle (his deceased wife's home) with his manager Lane (who is cooking up all manner of marketing tools and opportunities for the A-Okay team). Burke happens to literally bump into Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) who owns a flower business catering to the hotel in which the seminar is being staged. Eloise seems addicted to losers, and is freshly apart from her latest affair: she is comforted and supported by her sole employee, the somewhat dingy Marty (Judy Greer in a terrific cameo), who encourages Eloise to look for some stability in her next mate.

Burke is attracted to Eloise but is so out of practice in the dating game that he comes across as vulnerable a trait that makes Eloise wary at first and attracted later. The odd things the two do in the mating dance finally result in the uncovering of the secret problems Burke carries. Refreshingly enough the film does not sell out with a happy-wappy ending, just a few thoughts that are particularly tender.

Eckhart and Aniston are a terrific team on the screen: both are lovable without resorting to being sappy and repetitive. Fogler and Greer are excellent as are such fine actors as Martin Sheen and Frances Conroy in memorable cameos. There is a lot to like in this film that makes it a step above the usual 'chick flicks' that were more popular in theaters. Perhaps audiences, sadly, have difficulty hearing about grieving, but death, as well as Love, happens! Grady Harp, February 10

"Love Happens" is the perfect name for this true turn of heart film.

Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart star as florist (Eloise Chandler) and self help guru (Dr Burke Ryan) as they slowly run through each others' emotional defensive shields. Dr Ryan, is a successful self help speaker who helps people deal with grief and loss, but cannot deal with his own issues. Eloise Chandler is a florist with several 'lost' relationships. Through the film both main characters dodge what is happening, and when they least expect it, love truly happens.

So much for the summary.

Unlike man films with truly predictable outcomes and even dialogue, Love Happens, falls just outside the envelope. It is not predictable, but more believable as far as scripting goes. Not sappy, but sappy enough for the lover of chick flicks, it strikes the right chord.

Both Aniston and Eckhart are believable in their roles. Their onscreen chemistry is remarkable and renders this film one of the best in current memory.

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I found this movie to be extremely helpful in the time I needed support the most. My little brother died obout a month ago. When I came home from the funeral this movie was in my mailbox from Netflix. I didn't even realize it was partly about letting go and taking the time needed to mourn the loss of our loved ones. I'm so thankful for watching this movie.

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I thoroughly dislike chick flicks, and rom-coms are just flat out annoying. So why do I like LOVE HAPPENS? Believe me, I gave this film every chance to bug me to the point I would stop watching, but it never happened. So again, why? I'll try to hack out a soppy answer.

Chemistry. There is a legitimate chemistry between LOVE HAPPENS stars Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart; they're not cookie cutter one-dimensionals that populate so many other films of this genre--these characters are believable, interact believably, and harbor true anguish and pain. Eckhart, playing self-help guru Burke (who has penned a bestseller about how to deal with pain and loss), by fate meets Eloise (Aniston), who is the florist for the Seattle hotel where Burke is conducting a seminar. Even though Burke is helping others cope with their grief, it becomes more and more obvious he's bottling up some pain of his own. (His wife having died in an auto accident some years before.) Meanwhile Eloise has been in one disastrous relationship after another, but she has a heart of gold and is willing to help Burke--if Burke will first help himself. All of this rushes headlong to a climactic scene featuring an interaction between Burke and his former father-in-law (Martin Sheen is very special); this scene was so compelling and poignant and tender I had to keep reminding myself I normally don't like movies like this.

Sure, much of the film is sappy and contrived, and Eloise's habit of leaving obscure words behind paintings at the hotel struck me as more than annoying, but overall I very much enjoyed LOVE HAPPENS. Dan Fogler and John Carroll Lynch stand out amidst a solid supporting cast. There's pain, there's humor, there's romance, there's anguish--in short, there's life. Why? Because LOVE HAPPENS.

--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

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This film worked as a study in grief. The characters were sensitive, tried real hard, and worked through some heavy stuff. The idea of a bestselling author/speaker running seminars on grief when he had a few not-so-hidden bones rattling around in his closet was very intriguing. And I really liked the way it all played out.

What didn't work for me was the Eloise (Aniston)/Burke (Eckhart) romance aspect. I didn't understand why, in the midst of his struggle/depression, he became so passionately fascinated with her. I also didn't understand much of their relationship overall and why there was such interest on both sides. Many of their moments together just felt painful.

There was no sex but there were a few token comments. Overall pretty clean with some moderate language. If you like introspective relationships or exploring the fascinating world of mourning, or Eckhart or Aniston you might like it. I'd suggest a rental first if you are unsure.

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Zeta One (aka The Love Factor): Remastered Edition (1969)

[ZETA ONE (AKA THE LOVE FACTOR) 1969 directed by Michael Cort Widescreen] An early (and somewhat embarrassing) example of late 60's British sexploitation comedies, 'Zeta One' (originally titled 'The Love Factor') serves up a decent portion of softcore nudity, trippy psychedelic scenery, some unintentionally hysterical dialogue, some uncomfortable attempts at real comedy and, unfortunately, very little else. Except for a few beloved Hammer film Euro-lovelies like Valerie Leon, Dawn Addams, Anna Gael, Carole Hawkins and Yutte Stensgaard. And therein lies its worth.

'Zeta One' was based on a short lived European photo-magazine that obsessed (rightfully so) on beautiful models scantily clad in futuristic clothing. At its liveliest, the film contains recreations of kinky photo-shoot favorites like catfights and fetish-fashioned femmes in torture chamber tableau, as well as colorful scenes of 'alien' women discreetly disguised in identical black wigs and thigh-high Carnaby Street fashions. Sounds fantastic, right? I thought so too, having a genetic weakness for 60's fashions and the bountiful babes who wore them. So shoot me, I was wrong. The original Salvation DVD release gave this as a synopsis "A race of topless, large-breasted women from the planet Angvia, in another dimension, come to earth to kidnap women to repopulate their planet". Huh? And how might they procreate, if you don't mind my asking? And would you mind terribly if I watched? See, now there's your problem when you screen flicks like this, these details shouldn't matter, 'cause most men stopped reading right after the "race of large-breasted women" part, and that's how it should be.

The film's first quarter of an hour is a mercilessly motionless card game between Robin Hordon (the wooden male lead of 'When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth'), playing a poor man's James Bond, and office secretary Yutte Stensgaard as they drink, deliver pages of inconsequential dialogue and make furtive eyes at one other. Despite containing the film's first show of flesh, as they're playing strip-poker, this is pedantic padding at its most painful and just goes on forever. Eventually Hordon narrates flashbacks of some "very extraordinary business" concerning the Angvians, an interstellar race of women who kidnap lovely girls then brainwash them with kaleidoscopic optical effects. One such abductee gets hustled into a car by Angvian women in broad daylight then treated to a guided tour of their futuristic lair, which resembles the set of a children's TV program. Angvian headquarters includes such acid-induced deliriums as the 'Contemplation Room', the 'Self-Revelation Room' and let's not forget the unflappable 'Static Time Area' (as if we could). Where's 'Star Trek' era William Shatner when you need him most? 'Still with me? Frankly, I'm shocked...

The cinematic 'climax' serves as the film's inglorious highlight with stunning starlets as alien women running naked around the British countryside freezing their backsides off while pretending to fire invisible rays from their hands, and trying (in one instance failing) not to break out laughing. Whilst Eurovixen Brigitte Skay managed to drum up a fair amount of publicity for the film photos of her in a revealing space-age bikini earned 'Zeta One' the cover of both Continental Film Review and Cinema X magazine it wasn't until the 1995 video re-release that the film really found an audience, having since gone on to achieve a degree of novelty status due to many of its female cast members (nearly) finding success in Hammer horror and 'Carry On' comedy roles. Not that many of these actresses have fond memories of the production, mind you. Yutte Stensgaard claimed she felt exploited by her then father-in-law/manager who in a surreptitious turn didn't tell her about her nude scenes until she arrived on set, while the late Imogen Hassall was known to joke that a higher force must have been guiding her the day she turned down the role of an Angvian angel. Valerie Leon's sole memory of the production was that one-movie director and screenwriter Michael Cort being a somewhat strange bloke. Then again, if you've seen this film, you've probably guessed that already.

It's as simple as this if you've got a penchant for silly 60's sexploitation films with knock-out babes running rampant topless in pendulum-swinging retro fashions, you'll enjoy it (once). Everybody else needs to avoid this one entirely, or you'll think you got stuck in the 'Static Time Area' indefinitely.

Secret Agent James Word (I guess his word is his bond) has just returned from a mission. He is met by his superior's assistant (his superior is UU (Double-U like an upside down M)). She plays coy and sexy but really just wants the details of his mission. During breaks in apparent intimacy he recounts his tale.

He has been investigating a Major Bourdin who has been have a series of run ins with a mysterious force of women. They are led by Zeta and have the ability to teleport. It is unknown if they are from space, the future or another dimension, but they have set up a colony of women. They add to the colony through kidnaping and brainwashing.

The film appears to have made no attempt at being erotic (check out the strip poker scene as an example) and the plotting is wooden (although some of the actual acting is quite good).

In the end we learn what the secretary is really up to and the final fate of James. I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would based on the other reviews.

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No this isn't one of those sleeper great films, and it isn't so bad it's good. The production quality and story line is not very good by 2012 standards. This film is iconic, it represents the 1960's British free love era. Everything about this film screams 1960's Britain.

The idea for this film had to start out with a bunch of guys sitting around thinking about doing a parody of every spy movie made in the 60's, especially Bond and the Avengers. They probably went on to say, how can they show a bunch of women with their clothes off, but not land in peep show land? They accomplished all this. There is no male nudity the first step to landing the peep show rating. There is very little full frontal female nudity, only a few glimpses of no trimming rules of the era. There are tons of women with their tops off. Remember this is the 1960's, so there is nothing artificial and women are a bit more Rubinesque than they are today.

The spy film paradoy, well that is the place where the film falls a bit flat. The film opens when our hero spy meets up with a woman in his bachelor pad. They decide to play strip poker who ever wins gets to do whatever they want. The poker game takes a little too long. Our hero spy loses. For her reward, the girl decides she wants to talk. They end up talking in bed. The film is flashback of him telling his story about the alien women that are trying to take over the earth. Hey, the women live in a planet where there are only women. The girl says, "how boring." Obviously the spy is happy about this.

Oh the story doesn't hold together very well. But I'm sure the story was never meant to be that good, the whole reason for this film is jiggle. And it delivers a lot of jiggle.

As a flashback to the 1960's and an interesting era in Britain, this film is iconic. It delivers a lot of jiggle.

Read Best Reviews of Zeta One (aka The Love Factor): Remastered Edition (1969) Here

I paid special attention to the end credits of this film, fully expecting to see a formal apology by everyone associated with the making of this indescribably bad film. It is bad enough that this film was actually made, but now a company called Salvation has made this one of the first two releases of its Jezebel lineup of DVDs. Don't let the presence of scantily clad and topless women fool you Zeta One is an abysmal film. I don't know who the looker on the box cover is no one this attractive can be found in the film. This 1969 British film is supposedly kitschy, whatever that really means; from what I can tell, it means embarrassingly ridiculous.

If you read the summary of the film, you will be wondering if you were sent the wrong movie as you watch the opening third of the movie. This may be the most boring twenty-five minutes ever caught on film; even the big strip poker scene is mind-numbingly tedious. Worst of all, we have to spend so much time with the film's main character James Word. I would not even insult James Bond by calling James Word a poor spoof of the man. Word is a spy of some sort who spends most of his time in bed. This is made possible by strange women who magically appear in his apartment from out of the blue. Girl number one is his boss' secretary, which allows her to see through Worth's "brilliant" fake moustache disguise; she pumps him for information about his latest mission, but he has other things on his mind. Did I mention the fact that Worth is a pitiful, rather slimy specimen of manhood? Anyway, Worth eventually opens up and tells girl number one this incredible story about a race of superwomen and the master criminal who tried to conquer them.

Yes, a Major Bourdon and his bespectacled dweeb of an assistant Mr. Swyne have learned of the existence of a race of superwomen who live well, no one really knows where they live; we do know they kidnap selected Earth women in order to brainwash them and make them a part of their female-only society. Major Bourdon is determined to get to the bottom of this for some reason that is never explained. Luckily for him, the Zeta women (Zeta is the name of their leader; I could never understand the name they were given in the film) all dress in identical mini-dresses and go-go boots, making it easy to follow them. (The mini-dresses and go-go boots are pretty much all this film has going for it.) Swyne learns that a certain stripper (actually, none other than the "Queen of the G-strings") is to be the next kidnapped girl, and Bourdon puts his plan in motion of discovering how (and where) to conquer these alien women. It all goes downhill from here. I won't describe the silly information we learn about the mysterious Amazon-like women's society or Word's proclivity for bedding every strange woman that appears from out of nowhere in his bedroom. Word does finally drag himself out of bed toward the end of the film, but he soon returns to the only place he seems to care about. Don't worry too much about the alien women; they have a Plan 69 for anything, it seems. You won't believe the weapon these girls use on silly human men, but you will see the absolutely predictable ending coming from a mile away.

Truly, Zeta One (aka Alien Women) is one of the most ridiculous films I have ever seen. You can have a lot of fun with this film if you make a big party out of it and settle in with a bunch of friends to watch what is the ultimate embodiment of cinematic silliness; apparently, this film exists only for the purpose of being laughed at. Keep a special eye out for the big and absolutely ridiculous "elevator" scene.

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Don't watch! This movie was very slow very uninteresting no plot and was a total waste of time and money

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French Kiss (1995)

Sometimes a romantic comedy comes along that pulls at so many strings and is appealing on so many levels that you have to watch it at least once or twice a year...this movie happens to be one of those special treats.

Paris becomes her own character in this beautiful comedy filled with the romance of a great city all under the watch of the sparkling Eiffel. This movie is directed by Lawrence Kasdan and he works the film around beautiful scenic French views leaving viewer's that love Paris breathless and begging for more. The storyline is humorous and the actors perfectly cast in roles that they seem natural at playing. The film is effortless to watch and that must be why it draws me in year after year.

Meg Ryan plays a woman engaged to Timothy Hutton in a boring and predictable little relationship. Things change drastically when Hutton goes to Paris on business and leaves Ryan at home because she is afraid to fly. But there is nothing like an old jealous heart to overcome such a silly phobia and Ryan finds herself on a plane to Paris to save her man from the arms of a beautiful young Parisian. Aboard the plane she meets Kevin Kline, who represents all things stereotypically French! Ryan is always perfect as the girl next door who stumbles about trying to stay in love. She is cute and perky as usual. Hutton is staid and serious until he is seduced by a vibrant and passionate French woman and begins his mid-life crisis falling for the belief that this seductress wants him and not his salary. Kline is convincingly French, with his wild haired and open minded talk, his always present dismissing pout and his passion for life. The fun begins as the plane lands in Paris and it never ends.

If you love France this film will romance you many times over. The cast is great together and the romantic comedy great for the heart. From the most romantic city in the world Kasdan gives us a new reason to dance and a desire to kiss as the French do!

I have loved this movie for some time, and just saw it again. It's entertaining, sweet, and plain old fun.

It maybe isn't the most realistic, but for romantic escapism, it's tops. Kevin Klein is great here, as usual, and believable as a Frenchman thief who finds his heart stolen by a whimsical, befuddled woman (Meg Ryan).

I'm not a big Meg Ryan fan, but she's wonderful in this piece, and makes a remarkable transformation on screen from horrified, squeaky girl to remarkable and capable woman. Klein undergoes a similar softening transformation. It's a subtle and gradual change for both, and the effectiveness and tightness of the screenplay and dialog contribute to a wonderfully-entertaining overall product that I can watch over and over again.

The pacing is great and the supporting characters (particularly the concierge at the hotel) are wonderful and help contribute to the fun.

I had a copy, but a friend "borrowed" it indefinitely. Now that's a sincere endorsement.

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Romantic comedies need that perfect couple. Once you've got Meg Ryan, you're more than halfway there. Kevin Kline steps up to the plate here, with enchanting results.

Kline's stereotypical Frenchman (Luc) is as convincing (that accent!) as he is funny. His uber-casual, morally lax attitude is well complemented by Ryan's uptight, loquacious American/wannabe-Canadian (Kate). The movie rolls along at a merry pace from Canada to Paris to Nice and Provence, all with distinctive, eclectic music. The locations are beautiful and serve nicely as foils for the wacky partnership of Luc and Kate, as do the songs (in French and English). Check out the end credits when Kevin Kline sings "La Mer."

The chemistry between Luc and Kate works like it does in screwball comedies a lot of bickering sexual tension but somehow the best and most revealing scenes are the ones where there is no dialogue (Luc and his vine, lost in Paris, train to Nice, Luc's family, dancing). The script is a little lacking, but Ryan and Kline are charming during these quiet moments.

As you can imagine, with all this dualism of French and English, there is a lot of national humor but I think the best summary of the movie is when Kate, who has lost everything (money, love, passport), wisely realizes, "I am without country." Of course, she means this literally, but that wistfulness conveys more. The differences between nationalities become irrelevant when it's really about fulfillment and dreams, which aren't bound by country lines.

Read Best Reviews of French Kiss (1995) Here

We've seen it before (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle) and since (You Have Mail), but Meg Ryan is indisputably The Right One for this cutesy-yet-not-too-slushy romantic comedy lark.

Aviophobic bride-to-be Kate (Ryan) is enthusiastically preparing for the lavish wedding when her fiancé flies off to Paris on a medical conference ... only to 'phone-in a few days later with the startling announcement that Kate should cease wedding arrangements forthwith as ... he has fallen in love with a Frenchwoman. Disbelievingly, Kate faces her mortal fear of flying to get to Paris and shake him out of his infatuation. On the aeroplane she sits next to petty thief Luc Teyssier (Kevin Kline Gérard Dépardieu declined the rôle). Exchanging stereotypical national dislikes, it is hate at first sight.

Or is it ...? Ryan is ever-cuddly and ever-so-slightly-ditzy, whilst Kline is perfectly-accented and stubbled, oozing a pretty darn convincing Gallic charm. Kate's rebuttals by the Georges Cinq's stoic Concièrge she puts down 100 Francs as a bribe; he simply takes it are a treat. And so is her animated air-fighting following the theft of her luggage "Oh man ... ma stuff, man ..." Almost as a fil rouge, Kate's wanderings through the City of Light include constantly not seeing the Eiffel Tower ... until she is on a train leaving Paris. Kate's earlier opinion of loser Luc turns via promiscuous rascal to grudging respect upon discovering that he is, in fact, a Man With A Plan, from a background in fine wine; that moment is quite poignant ... Hovering in the background is avuncular detective-sergeant Jean (Léon) Réno who is aware of Luc's family history as well as his current jewellery-smuggling, but who owes Luc a never-fully-explained life debt. It is he who actually rescues the mis-matched couple ...

Anybody who says "They don't make 'em like they used to ..." should swallow those ill-chosen words as the 1990s have produced endearing romantic comedies to counter the numerous over-the-top petroleum-jelly & mayhem Action Blockbusters. French Kiss may be a trifle formulaic, but its superbly-nostalgic soundtrack Charles Trenet's rendition of Verlaine's 'Blesse Mon Coeur' is wonderfully evocative of an autumn stroll in Paris and the fine interaction between Ryan and Kline help make this one of the more memorable and heartwarming feel-good films of the decade.

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Despite the badmouthing this film receives from various "professional" critics, one would do well to ask a Meg Ryan or a Kevin Kline fan what THEY thought of the movie. As a fan of both actors, let me say this is one of my favorite films (as in I've watched it over 20 times). I liked the comedy, the development of characters, the story, Meg's facial expressions, Kevin's French accent... You name it, I thought it all added up to an enjoyable movie!

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