In the Dark-Marley & Me

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: Heel the Love (stupid, I know…it doesn’t even make sense…heel just rhymes with feel…heel doesn’t mean feel…??)

Ebert gave it: 3 stars

Marley and Me was the saddest, most depressing movie of the Christmas season. Sure the puppy is a cute distraction from the tragedy in this flick, but after a while I saw through it all.

            Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson do a great job trying to cover up the underlying sadness as well with their comedic acting skills and on screen chemistry. But in case you aren’t getting this, the family dog is not what made me walk out of the theatre feeling blue and maybe even slightly suicidal.

            The Grogans get married, (aww, sweet), they move to Florida to stay warm all year round (precious), both get jobs as journalist in the drop of the hat – and here is where the plot gets sad (notice the dog isn’t even here yet). Jenny has her dream job at the Sentinal, she has the bylines and the fame in the journalism world while her husband is working at a decent paper writing shitty little ditties about stupid city things. Not ready for kids they get a puppy, a puppy that reminds me a lot of my puppy Gigi. This dog is so naughty I’m not sure anyone would ever ask for kids, in fact after a week with that dog I would have my tubes tied. But Jenny doesn’t and proceeds to have a family. Unfortunately she realizes that her dream life with the kids, cute house and the dog leaves no room for her career. Yup Jenny gives up her writing for the rugrats and the devil dog. Meanwhile Johnis now writing his own column, yeah writing about whatever he wants, writing whenever he wants, with his picture in the paper (and not even enjoying it)and a following while his wife yells bad dog about 50 million times a day. Anyone sensing some resentment?

Ok, seriously though, I am cynical. Always have been and always will be and the movie wasn’t about the unfair life of a housewife, clearly since it was written by a man. The movie is about a family dog and how with life’s ups and downs this dog helps them get through it. As bad as Marley is, he seems to know when it’s time to calm down and be the best friend he was meant to be. Funny how dogs have that sense, they take care of you when you need it.  But all good things come to an end, and that is what makes this movie “mean” as I sniffled to my family.

            My first dog’s name was Casablanca, Cassie, named for the great classic. She was the best damn dog – no biting, no pissing on the floor, not even a bark – seriously this thing sneezed when she wanted something. It was one of the saddest days when we had to put her down after she got a brain tumor, but dammit she lived a great little dog life. All these emotions were stirred up while I watched Marley grow, and mature and get old, but it’s nice to know that a furry friend can touch your life so much…and that I’m not the only person obsessed with my dogs.

My Rating:           

  I like dogs, I like Jennifer Aniston, I like Owen Wilson so there are three flasks right there. Plus it was a Christmas family movie that I actually laughed out loud while watching and didn’t throw up from corniness – four flasks from me! The worst part was anticipating the end, my advice – don’t check your watch and maybe you’ll never see it coming.

In the Dark – Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Tagline: Every woman will have her day

Ebert gives it: again, I saw one he didn’t

So I just recently relocated to NYC, the big apple and this was the first movie I went and saw by myself since I moved. Let me tell you – the theatre was PACKED!! And I had to sit next to to old biddies who kept saying ‘huh?” Annoyance. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying a light hearted comedy about romance in the time of war. No, no, no Atonement here – the war is more of a background fear…we see it the same way the young people in the movie see it.Guinevere Pettigrew (Francis McDormand) has found herself unemployed yet again and out on the street. After wandering around like a homeless, hopeless bag lady (minus the bag) she steals a job from her employment agency to assist miss Delysia LaFosse (Amy Adams), a lounge singer with big dreams and a pocket full of boys. Delysia hire Miss Pettigrew on the spot after she helps her out of a pickle with her quick thinking and wit. Miss Pettigrew is whisked away into the world of money, fashion and silencing hearts. As the story unfolds we see that Delysia has some choices to make, between her one true love or her fake love and career. Miss Pettigrew learns about pretending and teaches an important lesson about follow your heart.This doesn’t seem like a movie I would enjoy, but I really did. Amy Adams is one of my favorite actresses right now (She had me at Junebug). There is something about her doelike eyes and red hair and this movie uses those two assets to play up her character who must flirt to get out of so many problems. I also love, love, LOVE Frances McDormand and this is a great part for an aging actress (I know, I know…but it is totally true – that’s Hollywood) The music and cinematography sweep you into a world that is tiptoeing on the line of World War II, a war that the younger generation doesn’t believe will happen and that stirs up old memories for their elders.This movie doesn’t get deep, there is nothing profound or overly exciting about it. It’s just a good flick to get lost in, plus there is this really cute boy who plays the piano. His name is Lee Pace, and he is the star of this mediocre show called Pushing Daisies (just kidding coworker!) He is yummy and I love him. The music, the costumes, the characters – what’s not to love. Every once in a while you need to see a movie that is just filled with good feeling. Those tragic war love stories have been done and yes they are sad and/or glorious, but they take a lot out of you. Miss Pettigrew gives you a break and shows you what life was like before the tragedy hit, what the golden years were like when it was all about cocktails and piano bars – and you know I wouldn’t mind living a love story like that.

My Rating: Yeah I might lose some street cred with that, but I wish I had a Miss Pettigrew to teach me a lesson about being myself, following my heart and finding love…(it’s ok, I’m gagging a little too – but a movie that makes ME feel warm and squishy inside must be working some kind of magic)