Bedtime Stories

Who:  Amber, Jonathan, MIL & FIL
What:  Bedtime Stories
Where:  Sullivan 6 - the only movie theater near Jonathan's home town (it's only about 30 miles away)
Why:  It looked cute (plus, there wasn't much choice)

This movie was really cute!  The previews kind-of give away the basic premise.  Adam Sandler (Skeeter) is babysitting his niece and nephew for 5 days.  His dad used to tell him awesome bedtime stories, so he decides to keep the tradition alive.

He tells them one story, and the next day it comes to life!  I'm sure we've all seen the 'raining gumballs' scene.  I figured all the stories would come to life unrealistically (like - it was actually raining gumballs), but it was actually 100% realistic, which I really appreciated.  I like a good old fashioned relatively realistic movie.  It actually wasn't raining gumballs, but a gumball truck has crashed (on an overhang bridge), so gum was falling out of the truck onto Adam Sandler below (although he thought it was some kind of magic).

When he realizes his stories are coming to life, he tries to tell stories that will help out him with his dead end job, and help out his niece and nephew.  Unfortunately, the kids just want a funny story, so they always end up with Skeeter not getting 100 million dollars, but he gets stuck in the rain instead.

In true Adam Sandler form, you'll see a cameo from Nick Swardsen, Rob Schneider, the QB from Water Boy, and more of his buddies.

I highly recommend this movie!  It works for adults and kids alike.

Nights in Rodanthe

Who: Monica (and my Mom)
What: Nights in Rodanthe
Where: Theater near home
Why: B/C it's a Nicholas Sparks story

Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors. He writes mostly dramatic chick flick sort of books and they are usually somewhat predictable. They are always great stories though and turn into wonderful movies. Examples include: "The Notebook", "A Walk to Remember" and "Message in a Bottle".

Having read "Nights in Rodanthe" several times, I was very anxious to see the movie. With the two main characters being played by Richard Gere and Diane Lane, it was sure to be a good movie.

The setting is beautiful, on the beach at a Bed & Breakfast Inn, off the coast of North Carolina. Doctor Paul Flanner is coming as the only guest for a weekend to talk to the family of a former patient, he has some serious things to deal with as he leaves his practice, his house and his way of life. He is headed to patch a relationship with his estranged son, after he deals with the family of his former patient. Meanwhile Adrienne is "Inn sitting" for the owner and her friend who has left town, in the midst of a coming storm, for a wedding.

Paul and Adrienne must spend the weekend together at the Inn, alone. They need to prepare for the coming storm and find a way to relate to each other. I'm sure you know what happens next.

The main characters are mostly "the only" characters during the major length of the movie. While that makes for a fantastic read, it seems to drag on a little slow on the big screen. I enjoyed how the story was adopted to fit in a 2 hour movie and don't think anything from the story was really added or taken away. It's different, but not enough to make you feel like you don't know this story.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a serious chick flick/drama and Nicholas Sparks stories. I do have to say it's probably a renter due to it's predictability and lack of serious action.

Reno 911! Miami

Who:  Jonathan & Amber
What:  Reno 911! Miami
Where:  @ home - borrowed the DVD from a friend
Why:  We love the TV show

This movie was really funny.  Although, if you've never seen the TV show, I don't think you would enjoy this movie.

The movie features our 8 favorite police officers from Reno.  They get invited to Miami for a Police convention.  Of course, they give the registration info to Weigel (the most moronic cop) and of course she screws it up.  So now they are in Miami with no convention.

Long story short, the Miami PD needs their help!  Like the TV show, they go on 911 calls, and hilarity ensues.  Just wait until you see 2 of the beach officers - yowsers!

The best part of the movie is that all the random regulars from the TV show are there too.  Patton Oswald, Terry (the guy on rollerskates), Pee Wee Herman (almost unrecognizable!) and others are all here.

Again, if you're a fan of the show, then I would recommend this movie.  I'm guessing it will be on Comedy Central in about a year, so just wait it out.  And if you've never seen Reno 911!, I recommend that too.  I've seen commercials for it forever, and I thought it looked so lame, but it's actually quite good.  All the cops are so funny, and their personalities really shine.  None of them are 'bad' cops, they all do their job pretty well, but funny stuff always happens to them.

Speed 2: Cruise Control

Who:  Amber
What:  Speed 2:  Cruise Control
Where:  @ home - recorded off cable
Why:  I searched for 'cruise' on my DVR (hoping for travel shows about cruises, but I found this)

I had seen this movie before.  I knew it was a bucket full of cheese, but it's a good movie to watch while I'm cleaning the kitchen or playing on the computer.

This movie almost leaves off where Speed 1 ended.  Annie (Sandra Bullock) is trying to get her driver's license, so she doesn't have to take the bus anymore.  She's dating Alex (Jason Patrick - what happened to that guy?!?), a LA Cop.  Annie actually mentions Jack (Keanu Reeves - star of Speed 1) and mentions why they broke up.

Annie and Alex are headed to the Caribbean for a cruise.  Party time!  Too bad Willem Defoe is also headed to the same cruise, and he plans to crash the party.  Willem Defoe is a master of cruise ship technology, and he rigs the entire ship to run off a little remote control that only he possesses (yeah, like that could ever happen.  This guy sneaks in and out of secure places on the ship like he's a magician).  He sounds the 'abandon ship' alarm to save most passengers.  Of course, Annie and Alex, and a handful of others are left behind.

The ship is going to crash and blow up ... will Alex save the day - of course.  Will there be a random cameo at the end of the movie with somebody from Speed 1 (not Keanu) - of course. Does Sandra Bullock have a lot of horrible, cheesy, un-natural dialog - yes!!!  But it's a fun movie with a lot of random action scenes.  Plus I like anything to do with a cruise ship.

Oh, there is also a cute teenage girl on the ship who is deaf and 'speaks' via sign language with Alex, the movie's hero.  She's a cutie.  And I looked her upon imdb.com.  Turns out she really is deaf and she's an advocate for deaf actors/actresses.  I thought that was kind-of cool.

Thomas Crown Affair

Who:  Amber

What:  Thomas Crown Affair
Where:  @ home - recorded off cable
Why:  I LOVE the crazy soundtrack

It's true - I watch this movie when ever I see it on TV because of the crazy soundtrack.  I can't describe the music, it's kind-of like a chant with people clapping in the background.  Regardless, it makes the whole "stealing priceless art" very exciting!

Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is a super rich, and super boring NYC business man.  He also is a master thief, specializing in ripping off art work from a NYC art museum.  The opening of the movie shows him stealing a painting.

Renee Ruso is a sex pot who is trying to catch the guy who stole the painting.  She works for some art insurance company and gets about $5 million bucks if she gets the painting back.  Her way of investigating Thomas Crown is to go on dates with him and sleep with him.  She knows he did it, and he toys with her the entire time ... will she find the painting?

Thomas Crown offers Renee Ruso $10 million dollars if she gives up and runs away with him.  She's crazy for him, and he's crazy for her, but she's got a job to do.  Crown offers to return the painting, then she must meet him at 4pm at some airport.  Does she trust this thief ... or will she continue to do her job (which she's really good at) and find that painting?

Did I mention the music rules!?!

Lovewrecked

Who:  Amber
What:  Lovewrecked
Where:  @ home - recorded off cable
Why:  I'm on an Amanda Bynes kick

This movie was cute!  I searched for 'Amanda Bynes' on my DVR and stumbled across this movie.  I had never even heard of it before.

Basically Amanda Bynes is a really smart high school grad.  She and her best friend (who is a guy) are working at a Caribbean resort for the summer.  Jenny (Bynes) is also IN LOVE with some hot singer guy.  Jenny is one of those annoying girls who screams and screams during a concert.

What do you know - the hot singer guy ends up at this Caribbean resort.  He schedules a booze cruise for his posse.  Jenny manages to get a waitressing job on the ship.  Hot singer guy gets sick, starts puking overboard, and falls in!  Jenny is the only one who sees it, so she jumps in the water with him.  They raft thru the ocean all night and land on a deserted beach ... or is it?

After 3 days being deserted together, Jenny discovers that they aren't on a deserted beach.  They are on the same Caribbean island as the resort.  Jenny doesn't tell hot singer guy that they truly aren't deserted.  What will happen next?!?

Did I mention that Jenny's best friend (a boy) wants to be more than just friends?   What ever will happen?!?

Beach Party

Who: Monica
What: Beach Party
Where: Home
Why: B/C I love old movies, musicals & it was $2 on sale

I love these old movies, any old movie. The Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon movies are fantastic. The music is so fun and if you like old stuff, this one wont disappoint. There are characters from the other ones, "Beach Blanket Bingo" for one. I hadn't seen this one before, but am glad I bought it and will put it with the fun old musical collection. Plot: Kids on the beach surfing, dancing, fighting with "bad" guys, singing and falling in love.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Who: Jaclyn
What: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: $6 matinee baby!

I liked this movie! I'm proud to say my dirty sense of humor has been restored! Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) is dating TV star Sarah Marshall (Kristin Bell) and of course she dumps him for someone else. So afterwards, Peter does what everyone (I wish) does: goes to Hawaii to try to forget her. Only problem is, she's there with the new guy. It was really hard to hate the new guy, he was pretty cool, though a bit weird. The other people he meets while staying there are hilarious. My personal fave was the newlywed couple who are checking in before he does at the resort. Their story is priceless! Especially the husband's "beach tutorial" with a chess set.

It was awesome that they were at a resort I've actually been to! Ahh, memories.

Overall, a cute and entertaining movie. Any time Peter is near a keyboard or piano, it's comedy gold. But on a side note, be prepared to be flashed in the first 15 minutes or so. ;)