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No Strings Attached, The Switch and Morning Glory: 3 Romantic Comedies to Anticipate

Posted on November 9, 2010 Written by ripitup

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No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher

Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in No Strings Attached
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in No Strings Attached

The storyline is obviously ordinary and predictable but if you like the actors, this one seems to be having some nice jokes and it is also refreshing that it is the girl who resists mixing romantic feelings with the sexual ones. Here’s the plot:

Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman are longtime friends and at some point they realize that they are the best candidates for each other when it comes to a non-problematic, non-complicated no strings attached sex. But just like many friends with benefits arrangements in real life and fictional world, things will get complicated. We will just have to see if this one will dare to pull a 500 Days of Summer type of ending…

No Strings Attached Trailer:


[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubfcfs98MBw [/pro-player]

Morning Glory starring Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford & Patrick Wilson

Morning Glory starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Patrick Wilson. Also featuring Jeff Goldblum
Morning Glory starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Patrick Wilson. Also featuring Jeff Goldblum.

Rachel McAdams plays a young and ambitious news producer who is happy to land a job, despite she is warned by her boss (Jeff Goldblum) that she will be underpaid, overworked and will have a really hard time. She is too over-the-moon to turn this opportunity down. The show is hosted by the eccentric Diane Keaton and Rachel’s job certainly doesn’t get any easier when she decides to hire even the more eccentric, veteran host Harrison Ford, who thinks he is just too good for the position. In addition to her ever-challenging job, her romance with a co-worker (Patrick Wilson) might not make her life any easier either.

A sweet comedy with a touch of romance, true-to-life career ups and downs; including a great friendship story….I love the cast and I so can relate to the plot. I’ll be seeing this movie.

Morning Glory Trailer

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9lWUqraDoU [/pro-player]

The Switch starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis & Jeff Goldblum

The Switch Movie starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis
The Switch Movie starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis

Whether I will wait for the DVD or just see it at the theaters is irrelevant. I will watch this film. Yes, all Jennifer Aniston-haters, you’re welcome to look down on me for being enthusiastic about her new romcom. But frankly, even though I agree that Jen needs diversity in her career, romcom is a profitable genre, it has a certain audience and a good one can offer a great escapism and there is no reason you can’t enjoy it if you like the actors. And even if you despise Jennifer Aniston, have you seen the rest of the cast?

And I did have a real laugh (during the trailer) at how Jason Bateman ends up making the switch and then forgets about it. Sure, the fact that he had feelings for his friend for 13 years and is only just realizing it goes against all my experience and beliefs about relationships and love, but hey, we watched Friends. We can handle this storyline.

And yes, I wish I could see more of Patrick Wilson and Jeff Goldblum and have loved Juliette Lewis since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Cape Fear.

The Switch Trailer

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEYqgyXyk9A [/pro-player]

**

Note: You can watch the trailers on IMDB by clicking on the links below. Just incase youtube videos don’t work for some reason.

IMDB Trailer Links

No Strings Attached

Morning Glory

The Switch

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Ashton Kutcher, comedy, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Aniston, Juliette Lewis, morning glory, morning glory movie, morning glory trailer, movies, Natalie Portman, no strings attached, no strings attached movie, No Strings Attached Trailer, Rachel McAdams, romance, romantic comedy, the switch, the switch movie, the switch trailer

Chasing Liberty starring Matthew Goode, Mandy Moore, Jeremy Piven & Annabella Sciorra

Posted on October 28, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Chasing Liberty starring Matthew Goode, Mandy Moore, Mark Harmon, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra and Caroline Goodall.
Chasing Liberty starring Matthew Goode, Mandy Moore, Mark Harmon, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra and Caroline Goodall.

This one could have been so much more fun if it hadn’t been chasing a ridiculous soundtrack and well, cheesy dialogue.

I mean I know most romcoms are cheesy but this tends to overdo itself. Nevertheless, I can think of worse things (for a girl) than sitting at home and watching a Matthew Goode movie where he gets to ne ridiculously romantic and all that. There is also some really fun scenes and great locations.

Here’s the movie’s deal:

Anna Foster (Mandy Moore) is the First Daughter. She is 18 and it is impossible for her to enjoy a romantic and private date out with a boy she likes because there are agents everywhere watching and following her. Her last date goes awry again and she decides that she can get a taste of the normal teenage life in Prague, where she will be traveling with her parents. She even convinces her dad (Mark Harmon) to assign only two agents: Weiss. and Morales (Jeremy Piven and Annabella Sciorra). She goes out with her friend Gabrielle (Beatrice Rosen), only to realize that Secret Service are again everywhere. So to punish her dad and prove her point, she gets on the motorcycle of the handsome English guy – Ben (Matthew Goode). Ben helps her ditch the agents Anna can’t believe her luck- she is free in Prague, hanging with a cute guy. Unbeknownst to Anna, however, Ben is also an agent. When her father learns that she ditched the others, he tells Ben to look after Anna, staying undercover. After all, he is sure Anna will come running very soon.

But Anna has other plans, including attending the Love Parade in Berlin.  Ben does his best to try to keep her out of trouble but of course Anna is far too naive, pig-headed and optimistic to be safe. There is also the fact she is making it clear she wants him. What is a secret agent to do, especially when he wants her too?

Fun premise, beautiful locations. We get to see  Berlin, Venice, Prague, London…I really like Jeremy Piven’s character. He is simply too funny to resist and the sub-plot involves him trying to get Morales  to like him.

The movie is only enemy is that it tries too hard to be romantic and it could have been just more fun and genuinely romantic, had they not exaggerated too many things on Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode’s sides. If you want Mandy Moore be subtler (and she can), watch Dedication. If you want a non-cheesy, genuinely sweet and naturally romantic film, watch Before Sunrise.

But even though it has too many flaws, Chasing Liberty follows a fun fantasy. Forget about being the president’s daughter, it is just so fun running off in Europe with a hot stranger no matter how old you are. Still, I’d like the movie more if Anna’s character hadn’t been so stupid in general…

Co-starring is Caroline Goodall as Anna’s mother.

Fun note: Matthew Goode’s 2010 romantic comedy Leap Year also has the leading female called Anna.

Favorite Lines/Scenes


Anna Foster: Dad! Way to go. I can’t believe you had that restaurant swarming with all of your secret servants. You ruined my date! And now, I’m going to die before I ever get to third base… I mean second base.
[Anna turns to see others in room]
President James Foster: Anna?
Anna Foster: I’ll talk to you about this later.
President James Foster: No, no. Stay. Pull up a chair. We were just discussing the G8 Summit in Prague, how to best persuade the EU leaders to adopt our plan for distributing humanitarian aid and medical technology to developing nations, but you had a bad date, so we should probably focus on that.
Anna Foster: No, no, no, I’m so sorry to have interrupted. Excuse me.
[Anna leaves]
President James Foster: So third base is what again?
[indistinct mumbling]
President James Foster: Glad I asked.

***

Anna Foster: I want to swim naked in the Danube!
Ben Calder: Actually, it’s the Vltava.
Anna Foster: Who wants to swim naked in the Vltava? Nobody says that.
Ben Calder: Because in English,Vltava means ‘unhealthy bacteria level’.
Anna Foster: Yeah, right.
Ben Calder: Why can’t you be free without being naked?

***

Ben Calder: [to Anna] Can you please stop taking your clothes off around me?

Other Matthew Goode Movies

Copying Beethoven starring Ed Harris, Diane Kruger and Matthew Goode

Watchmen starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman & Matthew Goode

Leap Year starring Matthew Goode and Amy Adams

Other Posts feat. Mandy Moore

Nicholas Sparks vs. Happy endings. feat. A Walk to Remember starring Moore

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Annabella Sciorra, Beatrice Rosen, caroline goodall, chasing liberty, chasing liberty movie, comedy, jeremy piven, leap year movie, Mandy Moore, mandy moore movies, mark harmon, Matthew Goode, matthew goode movies, movies, romance, romantic comedy, romcom

Leap Year starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode

Posted on October 24, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Leap Year starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode
Leap Year starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode

American Anna (Amy Adams) has a profitable career in “staging homes” for the real estate agents and she is really good at it. She’s also in a 4-year relationship with her cardiologist boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott). They are candidates to live in her dream apartment so things just seem perfect.

However when Jeremy fails to propose at the expected moment, Anna  gets inspired by the idea she gets from her loving but unreliable father (John Lithgow): she’ll honor the Irish Leap Year tradition and will go to Dublin- where Jeremy will be attending a medical conference- and propose to him.

But awful weather conditions land her in a remote town in Ireland, where she will need to persuade the unwilling bartender/motel owner Declan (Matthew Goode) –who of course is young and really attractive in a scruffy way.

Monetary issues for Declan to drive her. But everything that can go wrong on the way does-including a growing attraction between the two seemingly opposite strangers.

Is there a chance that Declan is the one instead of Jeremy? And can they figure out they feelings  until it is time to part in Dublin?

I know the three words you’re thinking: typical romantic comedy. And you are right. I am not saying to bash the movie, it is a fact. However it is a perfectly enjoyable experience for those in the target audience- romantic (mostly)females who love a good romcom escapism (which I am a part of) it.

It also helps it when you like the leads and I really enjoy watching both Amy Adams and Matthew Goode.

Yeah, it is full of clichés and it is highly unbelievable that they can fall for each other in a couple of days and decide to pursue it. But then again, it is precisely for these clichés that we watch romcoms.  And frankly Declan, to me, is the perfect fantasy male. He is ruggedly good-looking, has a good sense of humor, isn’t materialistic and is actually really romantic. And Irish countryside is always a plus (for watching in the films).

Yes, there are no surprises in this film. It is simple, ordinary and entirely predictable. But it is also a good genre example. Watch it if you are not allergic to romcoms. I had fun. My only complaint is that John  Lithgow has such a small role.

Other Matthew Goode Movies

Watchmen starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode

The Lookout starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Goode and Jeff Daniels

Other Amy Adams Movies

Enchanted starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day starring Amy Adams, Frances McDormand and Lee Pace

 

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: adam scott, Amy Adams, amy adams movies, comedy, Ireland, john Lithgow, leap year, leap year movie, Matthew Goode, matthew goode movies, romance, romantic comedy, romcom

A Good Year starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard

Posted on October 5, 2010 Written by ripitup

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A Good Year starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. Co-starring Albert Finney, Freddie Highmore, Tom Hollander, Abbie Cornish and Richard Coyle.
A Good Year starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. Co-starring Albert Finney, Freddie Highmore, Tom Hollander, Abbie Cornish and Richard Coyle. Directed by Ridley Scott.

Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) is a very successful, ruthless and ambitious stockbroker in London. He is loved by women, envied and hated by his co-workers and rivals. His career and reputation are his whole life. To him, leaving London even during a weekend is unquestionable. So that’s why he is reluctant when he receives the news of his uncle Henry’s (Albert Finney) death. Max is Henry’s sole beneficiary but legal details force him to go to France in order to claim the estate, which consists of a beautiful farmhouse with a pool, garden and a big vineyard.

Convinced that he can handle things on a day trip, Max goes to France. He starts being haunted by the memories of his childhood and Henry, spent talking, playing games and drinking wine – idle and fun times that couldn’t have been more different than Max’s current hectic life. When he arrives at the estate, he is still set on spending as little time as possible in France and getting back to his life in London; but funny accidents, French laws and the aftermath of Max’s questionable but very profitable stock  management strategy obliges him to spend a little more time in France. However as time passes, Max becomes more emotional about the place and really starts enjoying his life, especially after meeting the gorgeous and passionate French woman Fanny (Marion Cotillard). So what should Max do? Sell the estate, go back to London and forget about Fanny? Or rethink about his priorities and keep enjoying what life has to offer him?

A Good Year is simply one of my favorite movies. It ended up making me a Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard fan. This is the first film I saw Cotillard in but not my first Crowe movie. But prior to this film, I just didn’t like Crowe for some reason. I had nothing against his capabilities as an actor but to me, he lacked the sense of humor, self-depreciating manner that made me warm up to many of my favorite actors. But this movie, Russell played a great, flawed character that perfectly transformed from an apparently insensitive but highly smart jerk to the real, fun-loving and passionate character his childhood self promised us to be, while engaging in great comedic situations but great liners (and thankfully, the timing for thje comedy was natural). The scene where he falls into the pool, his attempts to save himself and Fanny’s revenge are just priceless.

A Good Year is one international film: English Max is played by New Zealand-born and Australian raised Russell Crowe, Max’s youth and Uncle Henry are played by English actors Freddie Highmore (August Rush, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland) and Albert Finney (Big Fish, Erin Brockovich). Max’s might-be-cousin, American Christie is played by Australian Abbie Cornish (Bright Star, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Candy). French actress Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies, Inception) stars as Fanny. And of course I have to note that Tom Hollander and Richard Coyle (Coupling’s Jeff, The Best Man, Prince of Persia) and Tom Hollander (Pride and Prejudice, Martha Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence).  Note that the actors playing Mr.  And Mrs. Duflot (Didier Bourdon and Isabelle Candelier)are also priceless.

This movie is one little gem. It is funny and romantic, with a great cast, adorable cinematography and a lovely story. Based on the novel by Peter Mayle, written by Marc Klein and directed by Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven), this is a must see for anyone who wants to have a great time, laugh a lot, smile all the time and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Favorite Scenes and Lines:

*After Max has won his company millions of dollars through his questionable strategy:
Kenny: Ready for the fan mail?

Max: Shoot, sunshine.

Max keeps reading his paper casually as Kenny keeps reading the messages.

Kenny: Bastard. Bastard.

Max: A-ha.

Kenny: Burn in hell.

Max: Alright.

Kenny: Rot in hell.

Max: Lovely.

Kenny: Die.

Max: Charming.

Kenny: Congratulations , you are my hero.

Max: Who sent that?

Kenny: Your lawyer.

**

Duflot: (on Fanny) Remember what Proust said – leave pretty women to men with no imagination.

Max: Duflot, I am a banker. I have no imagination.

**

Max: (on the candle-lit table Mrs. Duflot prepared for him and his potential cousin) Ludivine? Don’t you think this is a bit much? I mean, she is my cousin.
Ludivine Duflot: Almost all French aristocrat have, how you say… liaison with their cousins, yes?

Max: (amused) Gosh, that explains a lot.

**

Max: (to his lawyer Charlie, played Tom Hollander) Just a quick question. You’d know this. In France, is it actually illegal to shag your own cousin?

Charlie: Only if she is ugly.

**

Max sees Fanny for the first time after Fanny fills the pool with water and Max has to swim in the dirt. He goes up to her in the restaurant.

Max: Joan of Arc?

Fanny: Oh, Jacques Cousteau

Max: You tried to drown me!

Fanny: You tried to run me over with your little car!

Max: What do you mean I tried to run you over? What sort of bullocks is that?

Fanny: You were driving in your midget car. And I believe you had your ass stuck very far up your ass. (pulling up her skirt – revealing her leg and part of her bum to show her giant bruise) Look at the

Damage you have caused! You tried to kill me, I tried to kill you. (she walks away angrily- Max is fascinated)

Max: My God. She is fantastic.

Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard in A Good Year
Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard in A Good Year. Image via worth-2-hours.com

Trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-B6FsAAvmM[/pro-player]

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: a good year, Abbie Cornish, albert finney, comedy, Didier Bourdon, France, freddie highmore, Isabelle Candelier, Marc Klein, Marion Cotillard, movies, movies set in france, Peter Mayle, Richard Coyle, Ridley Scott, romance, romantic comedy, russell crowe, Tom Hollander

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