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How Do You Know? starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson & Jack Nicholson

Posted on April 13, 2011 Written by ripitup

The Basics

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson

Writing/directing Credits: James L. Brooks

Made in: 2010.

The Plot

Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is a professional baseball player whose life is centered on the sport. Even her boyfriends have all been athletes and her latest, baseball player Matty (Owen Wilson) is no exception. Matty is a charming and immature womanizer, who provides the distraction Lisa needs while she waits to be informed about her future career.

George (Paul Rudd) is a very nice guy, and unfortunately this comes back to bite him in the butt with his company. He is being sued by the government, even though he has no idea what kind of mistake he or his employees have done. To add insult to the injury, his father, Charles (Jack Nicholson) decides to be the ultimate businessman and save the company first. This means the company board won’t be paying George’s legal expenses, and he won’t be informed about anything company-related. His only ally is his pregnant assistant Annie (Kathryn Hahn).

When Lisa and George meet, Lisa is no longer a part of the team and Matty has already decided that he is in love with her. George becomes infatuated with Lisa, but he has no idea how to charm her when they are both going through the worst career-related chapter in their lives…

So how entertaining is the movie?

How Do You Know is a romantic/comedy/drama with a great cast and a mediocre trailer. It is thoroughly enjoyable, and while it is not hilarious, it is very sweet and entertaining – with 5 really quirky characters (including George’s secretary).

Now, the movie is not pure comedy. It is not pure romance. And rather than dramatic, it has some necessary emotional moments. It’s also not just about Lisa finding the right guy. It is a bittersweet self-discovery for her, as well as George, who is also trying to survive the most depressing phase of his life. George is broke, in trouble with the law and discovering that his father can’t be relied upon and Lisa needs to figure out what she will do with the rest of her life. They are both clueless and neurotic, and their interaction is off to a clumsy start. And while the viewer can, and probably will, wonder about what really attracts George during their first date, Paul Rudd makes us buy the connection.

Owen Wilson’s character is a riot. He provides some of the best entertaining moments as his character is totally clueless about what a serious relationship actually means. He is practically a well-meaning yet totally shallow man child.

Who can enjoy it more?

– Fans of the cast.

– People who don’t mind that Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd keep playing the same type of characters over and over again.

– Genuine romantics who don’t mind characters will have to go through some personal stuff, and they won’t always be funny while dealing with them

– If you can handle characters that talk a lot and are clueless about a hell lot more.

Favorite Scenes:

– Lisa spends the night for the first time and Matty (Owen Wilson) has a whole drawer full of new toothbrushes and a whole wardrobe for the morning after (all either XS or S!).

– When both the doorman and Matty actually give space Lisa to think.

– George’s birthday gift and speech

– When Annie impulsively stands up to punch George’s dad…

Fun Notes:

Monk’s starring actor Tony Shalhoub makes a short appearance as Lisa’s therapist.

Verdict:

I’d give the movie a 6.5/10 as a whole, and 7.5 for the entertainment level.

Also on Paul Rudd:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis feat. Paul Rudd

I Love You, Man starring Jason Segel and Paul Rudd

I could Never Be Your Woman starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd

Also on Owen Wilson:

Marley & Me starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston

Wedding Crashers starring Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn & Rachel McAdams

Also on Reese Witherspon:

Just Like Heaven starring Reese Witherspoon & Mark Ruffalo

Penelope starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy

10 Celebrity Couple Break-Ups You May Not Have Seen Coming

Also on Jack Nicholson:

Wolf starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Spader

Something’s Gotta Give starring Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves

Did You Hear About the Morgans? starring Hugh Grant & Sarah Jessica Parker

Posted on April 10, 2011 Written by ripitup

Did You Hear About the Morgans? starring Hugh Grant & Sarah Jessica Parker. Feat. Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen.

Successful and busy New Yorkers, Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Paul Morgan (Hugh Grant) used to be a happily married couple until Paul cheated. Now, they are separated and despite Paul’s constant efforts, Meryl doesn’t seem like she will forgive him anytime soon. However one night, they witness a murder and end up in the witness protection program, in a very small town in Wyoming. They will have to learn how to live without the city, without the technology, and worst, with each other. Can they survive the hitman tracking him, and not drive each other and their protectors Carl (Sam Elliot) and Emma Wheeler (Mary Steenburgen) crazy in the process?

Written and directed by Marc Lawrence, Did You Hear About The Morgans? Is an utterly predictable yet sufficiently enjoyable film. Yes, it is a typical Hugh Grant movie playing a typical Hugh Grant character. And yes, Sarah Jessica Parker once again plays a successful New Yorker who is in love with New York. But it really doesn’t matter. Because it is harmless good time, suitable for when you want an easy-going film with actors you are familiar with. It is not hilarious in the comedy department, though. It is just enough to make you grin a couple of times.

While nothing to write home about, it is not bad enough to deserve its current 4.4 user ranking on IMDB. It might deserve that, or maybe less, in the originality department, but definitely not as a movie in whole.

Favorite Lines:

Paul (Hugh Grant): I love you. Do you still love me at all?

Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker): I don’t know if I can sort of love you or love you a little.

Paul: Well, I’m fine with it. Honestly, I can get by with a little less love for a while. Maybe years.

Paul and his assistant are discussing what else Paul can get for Meryl.

Paul’s Assistant: You can buy a black hole.

Paul: I am not sure a black hole sends out the right message at this point in our relationship.

Also on Sarah Jessica Parker

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I Am Number Four starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer & Dianna Agron

Posted on April 8, 2011 Written by ripitup

I Am Number Four starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron & Teresa Palmer

John (Alex Pettyfer) looks like your high school popular kid, however he is anything but. He lives with Henri (Timothy Olyphant), a warrior assigned to protect him. They are both from another planet. Unfortunately, a viloent race from another planet, The Mogadorians , have wiped out John’ race, except from a few gifted kids with special powers. These kids have been sent to Earth, along with their protectors. Unfortunately, Mogadorians have been able to track and kill three of these kids. John is next.

So Henri takes him to a small Ohio town called Paradise, where he feels it will be easier to stay off the grid. Despite Henri’s objections, John decides to go to the local high school. But being invisible will be harder than he imagined as he meets and falls for the pretty Sarah (Dianna Agron) who enjoys seeing the world through her photographs. Then there is Sam (Callan McAuliffe) , a nice kid who keeps being bullied around by the gang of popular kids (jocks), led by Mark (Jake Abel). It doesn’t help matters that Mark is still not over Sarah.Despite what his common sense tells him, John keeps hanging around Sarah and protecting Sam. In the meantime, Mogadorians are getting closer. Fortunately, John’s discovering that he is a lot stronger than he thinks…

I Am Number Four delivers what it promises: good entertainment. It has all the typical, yet required elements: Lots of action and special effects (although I could have done without the gigantic monsters fighting around), charismatic actors (hello, Timothy Olyphant!), funny one-liners, a couple to root for, the likable sidekick, the likeable hero, bullies, the villains and a kick-ass female character (Teresa Palmer), who shows up just in time to help save the day. Nothing extraordinary, but plain fun.

I like the relationship between Henri and John. They are like father and son (with special skills who are being hunted by villainous creatures, but like father and son all the same). John, in many ways, is a typical teen- despite the dangers, he still wants to live his life. And he likes not doing what John tells him to do. John’s primary concern is to live his life, whereas Henri makes sure John has a life to live.

Full of action, romance and attitude, a movie doesn’t get more unisex than this. Based on the novel by the same name (written by Jobie Hughes (as Pittacus Lore) & James Frey (as Pittacus Lore). Directed by D.J. Caruso. Produced by Michael Bay.

Favorite Scenes:

– John having to use his skills at the carnival.

– John and number 6 (Teresa Palmer) fighting together.

Fun notes:

– Mark, played by Jake Abel, is no stranger to Supernatural fans as he played Adam in Supernatural.

– The cast is pretty international. Teresa Palmer and Callan McAuliffe are Australian, Alex Pettyfer is English and Timothy Olyphant is American.

Entertainment Value: 8/10.

Also on Alex Pettyfer

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Also Teresa Palmer:

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6 Solid Films with Low Budgets and Enclosed Locations Featuring Uma Thurman, Colin Farrell and Timothy Hutton(feat. Restraint starring Teresa Palmer & Stephen Moyer.)

No Strings Attached starring Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman & Kevin Kline

Posted on April 3, 2011 Written by ripitup

No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutche & Kevin Kline. Directed by Ivan Reitman.

No Strings Attached: Plot in a Nutshell

Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) go way back to summer camp. Never really friends or lovers, they keep crossing paths, until one day they decide to finally have sex. It is fun, and they realize they can just be friends with benefits. Although this is more Emma’s idea than Adam’s, he decides to go with it and live every guy’s fantasy: a no-strings-attached, sexual relationship with a beautiful woman. But Emma is smart, funny and just different, and it doesn’t take long for Adam to want more. And while Emma is also developing feelings for him, she just can’t risk getting hurt. She keeps sabotaging the chances of a relationship. Will Adam settle for the friends with thing, or will he keep challenging Emma?

Details and the Verdict

On the surface, the movie doesn’t seem to offer something new or very interesting. The trailer is sort of funny, but to be honest, I never expected the movie to be this funny. It is often quite hilarious, with some laugh-out-loud moments. Also the trailer hides one of the movie’s biggest gems – Kevin Kline as Adam’s father. Kline plays a morally corrupt (watch the movie to see what he does:)), but loving, weed-smoking famous actor whose fame, and TV show lines, keep haunting Adam. Adam also has to deal with the “wisdom” of his two best friends, Wallace (Ludacris), Eli (Jake M. Johnson).

This movie is full of great one-liners, funny characters, good comedic timing as well as some decent physical comedy on Ashton’s part. Our Oscar-winning Natalie doesn’t disappoint in a comedy. And while Ashton does run the risk of being typecast as the funny but hunky romantic lead, I have no complaints here. The guy knows how to entertain his audience.

Yes, just like almost every romantic comedy, this one has a happy ending. But with romcoms, it is almost always about the journey of the couple, and this one offers a very entertaining one at that. It does inevitably get romantic (and emotional) on occasion, but this doesn’t take away from all the moments it made you grin and laugh.

See it. Currently, 6.3 on IMDB. I think it deserves a 7.

Written by Elizabeth Meriwether & Michael Samonek. Directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters series, Six Days Seven Nights).

Fun note:

Boston Legal’s Lake Bell co-stars as Adam’s neurotic and talkative friend/co-worker.

Favorite lines:

Adam & Emma are having sex anytime, anywhere. At Adam’s house, Eli. comes knocking on the door to complain:

Eli: I can’t concentrate on the porn with all the real sex going on around here!

Wallace tells Adam to man-up & (and try to have sex with Lake Bell’s character), right after Wallace has cried at the shooting of the episode Adam has written.

Eli: You just cried at the show!

Wallace:I liked it!

Favorite Scenes:

– Pretty much any interaction Ashton has with Kevin Kline.

– When Ashton wakes up naked at Emma’s house (from the trailer).

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