Mini Review 4-Pack!

Guess what guys? Today you get an extra special treat, which is that I am going to review in short a few movies. It'll be fun!

The Help - The narrative is very clunky, but the spot-on performances from every single member of the cast and the visually appealing aesthetic more than make up for it, and I'll be darned if I wasn't a teary mess by the end. Emma Stone is great, but this is Viola Davis's movie and she runs away with it, giving a performance of sensitivity and gravitas. However, best in show goes to Sissy Spacek, who somehow manages to turn the word "napkins" into one of the funniest moments in the movie. (7)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Cliche time - I admired this movie more than I enjoyed it. Considering this could have been a total joyride made for money's sake only, it was surprisingly artistic and intelligent. It tackles themes like animal testing and human evil in ways that are, while not always subtle, usually successful - not an easy task. Plus, the CGI was UN BE LIEVABLE. Bonus points for the cinematography. (7)

30 Minutes or Less - In short, the movie is as enjoyable and funny as it could have hoped to be but it's nothing really special - and for 83 minutes, it somehow seems to drag. Aziz Ansari and Jesse Eisenberg make a really great tag team though, with Ansari being wildly hysterical and Eisenberg providing a unsurprisingly powerful amount of real acting in a role that could have come off as hysterical and incoherent. (6)

Crazy, Stupid, Love - This one was tough for me. I think that I'm confusing how much I wanted to like this movie with how much I actually did. That being said though, despite being imperfect and falling prey to some minor cliches, it's definitely one of the best big-studio romantic comedies in a LONG time, thanks almost completely to the remarkably talented cast, none of whom can really be singled out because they were all just so good. I will say though, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were simply superb, and the amount of chemistry they exuded was irresistible. (7 - but a super high seven. Like, almost an 8. I'd have to see it again.)

And just for fun (and because I love lists), my top 10 performances from this quartet, in no order:

• Viola Davis, The Help
• Sissy Spacek, The Help
• Octavia Spencer, The Help
• Jessica Chastain, The Help (um, range much? this was completely different from Tree of Life)
• Jesse Eisenberg, 30 Minutes or Less
• Aziz Ansari, 30 Minutes or Less
• John Lithgow, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
• Ryan Gosling, Crazy Stupid Love
• Marisa Tomei, Crazy Stupid Love
• Liza Lapira, Crazy Stupid Love

So, which of these movies or performances was your favorite? As always, your opinions, be they affirmative or negative, are always welcome below

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" Trailer

The awesomeness of the cast kept causing me to flip out. Julianne, Emma, Ryan, Marisa and Steve? Really, it's perfect - especially since all the couples look like they'll have amazing chemistry (Emma and Ryan! That's so cute!) it looks like the humor might fall into the trashy/cheap laughs category, but I have a feeling that the amazing actors will make it all work. I mean, you really can't go wrong with these people. To guarantee the amazingness, the trailer features Grizzly Bear music, so, I mean, there you go.

Your thoughts? Amazing cast with a ton of potential, or trashy-derivative summer comedy? Sound off below!

TV Meme Day 26: OMG WTF?!?! Finale

The most OMG WTF moment I can remember was probably predicted by almost everyone except me. It took place during the "Company Picnic" episode of Season 5 of "The Office".

The episode is just hilarious, with Amy Ryan and Steve Carell's rendition of "Slumdunder Mifflinaire" being one of the funniest moments of the season.


But the biggest WTF?! came at the end, when it's implied by Jim (John Krasinski) that Pam (Jenna Fischer) may be pregnant. I say it's a WTF because the episode ends, leaving us hanging! We assume that she's pregnant, but is she? We don't know for sure, and we have to wait for a few months until we can keep going in their lovely romance (which was greatly developed during that season).

Unfortunately, this most recent season of "The Office" has sort of separated itself from me - I just haven't kept up with it well enough, but the "Company Picnic" was such a great finale for a great show. OMG!!!

Automated!! I'm beginning to lose the meme-steam...can you all tell? Haha. Anyway, comment and I promise to try to get back to you ASAP.

Now Playing: Date Night

First of all, Steve Carell and Tina Fey are an amazing duo! Their chemistry is fantastic and they work off each other so, so well. But the movie is working against their comedic chops - it had its hysterical moments but the chase scenes and um, the rest of the plot got in the way. Celebrity cameos from Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, etcetera made me happy, and Taraji P. Henson proves once again that she has the gift for making unimportant characters so special. Overall enjoyable and optimistic, but not as funny as it could have been.

6/10