Busy Movie Weekend

My Girl
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
Theatrical Release Date: 11/12/1991
Howard Zieff directed this comedy-drama about the emotional awakening of a young girl in a small Pennsylvania town during the summer of 1972. Anna Chlumsky plays eleven-year-old Vada, a quiet child living with her widowed father Harry Dultenfuss (Dan Aykroyd), a local mortician who prepares bodies in his basement. Vada feels responsible for the death of her mother, who died giving birth to her, and lives in an emotional cocoon, her only friend being a personable local boy, Thomas J. Sennett (Macauly Culkin), who suffers from allergies. Like Vada, Harry keeps to himself, until a freelance make-up artist, Shelly DeVoto (Jamie Lee Curtis), comes to town and gets a job working with Harry. Shelly and Harry fall in love and Vada feels threatened by her presence. But then a personal tragedy forces Vada to come out of her emotional shell.
What I thought: Of course to me, this is like a classic. But for the girls, it was their first time seeing it. This was our choice for movie night on Friday night. All four girls were snuggled with us, emotions were on the high. It was adorable to watch their little faces as they followed along with Vada's journey. When the unthinkable happens to Thomas J, all my girls were visibly upset with tears in their eyes. Morgan was full of questions: Where did he go? Will he grow up like a plant? Wont the girl miss him? But it was Megan that continued to cry long after the movie was over. I thought it would be a nice movie for the girls to experience, now I just hope they dont develop an overreactive fear of bees!

Perfect Stranger
Starring: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Portnow
Theatrical Release Date: 04/13/2007
A hard-nosed star reporter learns who her real friends are -- and gets in way over her head -- investigating a murder in this twisty thriller. Perfect Stranger stars Halle Berry as Rowena, a prominent New York journalist who writes using a pseudonym to entrap some of the tri-state area's most corrupt individuals, using a network of informants, acquaintances, and digital gadgets. Her childhood friend Grace (Nicki Aycox) is murdered when she threatens to reveal she's been sleeping with married advertising mogul Harrison Hill (Bruce Wills). With the help of her loyal techie friend Miles (Giovanni Ribisi), she goes undercover -- and online -- to find the smoking gun that will indict Hill. But Rowena soon finds herself caught in a web of manipulation, deceit, and false truths.
What I thought: Oh my goodness, this movie was excellent! I usually dont care for movies with this type of storyline. But it was so interesting and kept moving right along. Of course there are twists and turns along the way. And for the very first time in our 15 years together, I was able to guess the ending (correctly I might add) waaaaaayyyy before Tim did! It was great!

Horton Hears a Who
Starring: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett
Theatrical Release Date: 03/14/2008
Based on the beloved book, first published in 1954 by Dr. Seuss. 'Horton Hears a Who' is about an imaginative elephant who hears a cry for help coming from a tiny speck of dust floating through the air. Suspecting there may be life on that speck and despite a surrounding community which thinks he has lost his mind, Horton is determined to help.
What I thought: Well, this was the first movie we took the girls to see in the movie theater in a long while. The theater was practically empty (only 2 other families) because the film was playing in 3 different theaters at one time and has been out for awhile. So it was nice to not have to worry when the girls asked questions and such. Overall, the premise of the movie is pretty good. I'm not sure if it was because we had been up so early for church or what, but I actually fell asleep during the movie. I dont think I have ever done that in a theater. I felt it was a bit slow moving and really not much added to the storyline. I would suggest to wait to rent this one on DVD...or till it comes out on cable. But the girls enjoyed it. Although they havent mentioned it since... they are still talking about My Girl.

High Fidelity
Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black
Theatrical Release Date: 03/31/2000
Based on the cult novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, High Fidelity follows the 'mid-life' crisis of Rob (Cusack), a thirty-something record-store owner who must face the undeniable facts - he's growing up. In a hilarious homage to the music scene, Rob and the wacky, offbeat clerks that inhabit his store expound on the intricacies of life and song all the while trying to succeed in their adult relationships. This romantic comedy provides a touching and whimsical glimpse into the male view of the affairs of the heart.
What I thought: Hmmm... well this is another one I would not normally watch. We just looked for something On Demand on the premium channels. We had never heard of it, but we usually like John Cusack (and Tim also likes Jack Black), so we gave it a shot. It wasnt bad. But I definitely would not watch it again. Now I know why I never heard of it (heehee).