2013 Movie Marathon - Week 9

We begin week 9 with Greg Kinnear, the artist from “As Good as It Gets,” only this time as an artist of a different kind - a pianist - in an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, “The Last Song.” No matter how many times I watch this movie, it makes me cry. And aren't those baby turtles adorable?

Monday, we hang out briefly with Kelly Preston (the mom in “The Last Song”) as a mom again, but this time in “Old Dogs.” Now this is a funny movie. Robin Williams is cast as an unsuspecting father (gotta watch those wild drunken nights!) who is called upon to keep the kids he didn't know he had for a couple of weeks while mom is serving time. John Travolta is Williams’ business partner, and they embark together on an adventure being first-time dads—of 8-year-old twins! I think my favorite scenes involve a gorilla cradling a red-headed man … watch and see what I’m talking about!  "I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you...."

Tuesday, Rita Wilson (a hand model from Monday night's movie) takes us out to Seattle where we meet up with her brother (but real-life husband) Sam (Tom Hanks), who is a widower whose son wants him to find a wife (preferably "Annie" (Meg Ryan)) in “Sleepless in Seattle.” Valentine’s Day on the roof of the Empire State Building!  Gotta love the romance!!! "That's your problem. You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie!"

Wednesday, we visit with Meg Ryan again, only this time she’s a woman whose fiancé has abandoned her for a hot French babe in “French Kiss.” (Seriously, how can ANYONE compete with an 18-year-old in a tiny skirt with legs up to her ears? Seriously?) Kevin Kline puts in a convincing effort as a nasty Frenchman.  Amazing how the love of a good woman can turn a snake around.

Thursday, Kevin Kline takes a bath and gets a hair cut and a shave and becomes President!! Okay, not really THE President, just “Dave,” the stand-in, so the real guy can go sneaking off with one of his office assistants (remind you of any of our formers?)  But what happens when the real President is suddenly incapacitated? Dare I say “balanced budget?” Just shows what could happen if you got a real average Joe in the White House. (just don’t let the First Lady sing!!)

We bring Eddie Marsan from Washington to hang with Tom Cruise on Friday in “Mission Impossible: III.” This one was pretty cool because they used real and current technology as props in the movie, and not super far-fetched stuff! Of course there's the typical Tom Cruise sprint!

Saturday, we end the week backing up a bit, by bringing Tom Cruise back for yet another sprint and to take us to Mission Impossible (the first one). There’s a method to our madness, folks. Just remember Dougray Scott (the evil guy). You’ll be seeing him again next week!!

And that wraps up Week 9 ... and now we're all caught up until next week!! 

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 8

We begin Week 8 with Steve Carrell again; this time as husband to Tina Fey, in “Date Night.” How can a simple fancy dinner in town with the wife end up with the two of them doing a disturbing pole dance? Well, that’s what happens when you try to steal someone’s dinner reservation!

Monday, we bring Leighton Meester (Katy from “Date Night”) over with us as a country star wannabe in “Country Strong.” This one has taken a little getting into for me ... a little sadder than my normal romantic comedy ... but it's a good movie. Gwyneth Paltrow is convincing as a depressed country star trying to pull herself together, and Tim McGraw does a nice job as a not-quite-so-nice guy! 

Tuesday, we leave the stage and head back in time to 19th Century England with Gwyneth Paltrow as a proper, reserved, matchmaker wannabe in “Emma.” The girl-child and I really enjoy those period movies. Invariably, we end up talking with a British accent when it’s all said and done!

Wednesday, we take Jeremy Northam (who was oh-so-dreamy as Mr. Knightley in “Emma”) and hang out with him (as the bad guy this time) and Sandra Bullock in a movie about identity theft in the early computer days in “The Net.” (Talk about a culture shock – floppy disks, dial-up internet, pay phones – just wow at how far we’ve come!)

Thursday, we hang out with Sandra Bullock again (one of my favorite actresses), and return to the FBI where Bullock is again Gracie Hart, the “face of the FBI,” out in Las Vegas, trying to help solve a kidnapping. Favorite scene: Bullock dressed up as “big bird” (Coco to Regina King’s Tina Turner) and singing "Rollin' on the River" ... TOO funny!!

We bring Regina King with us on Friday to hang out with Tom Cruise as a sports agent who gets it in “Jerry MacGuire.”  (Is there a Tom Cruise movie in existence that doesn’t have him running a full sprint at some point??) Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays a very egocentric football player, with Renee Zellweger as Cruise's wife. Favorite line in this one: “You had me at hello.” 

Saturday, we finish up the week with Cuba Gooding, Jr. again, this time as an art dealer/ manager for artist Greg Kinnear’s in “As Good as It Gets.” Jack Nicholson is perfectly neurotic in this one … “Sell your crazy someplace else … we’re all stocked up here.” "You make me want to be a better man!"

And that winds up Week 8. We’ll start off next week with Greg Kinnear…

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 7

Once again, I’ve gotten behind on blogging about the movies we’re watching, but not behind in the watching … so let’s get caught up!!

We ended week 6 watching “Sabrina,” and brought Julia Ormond with us to begin Week 7, as Lady Guinevere in one of my all-time favorite love stories, "First Knight" (complete with it’s own pair of distinguished gents in Richard Gere and (heartthrob) Sean Connery). Who could blame Guinevere for being torn between King Arthur (Connery) and Lancelot (Gere)? The music in this movie is awesome too!

We decided to spend a little more time with Richard Gere on Monday, this time in his role as USA Today reporter Ike Graham. Ike made the mistake of publishing a not-so-flattering story about Maggie Carpenter, a/k/a “The Runaway Bride,” (played by another Julia, this time Julia Roberts) that cost him his job. The search for the facts to prove his story and redeem himself takes him to Hale, Maryland, and yields a little more than he bargained for. Blue hair? A luau? Love? Maggie's all ready for another trip down the aisle. Will she run yet again?

Maggie must have run, because Tuesday, we followed the Runaway Bride to Hollywood, where she’s now going by the name “Vivian.’ It’s a good thing she knows her way around, because here comes wheeling and dealing bozillionaire Edward Lewis (Richard Gere again) driving a Lotus and asking for directions to Beverly Hills. “This baby corners like it’s on rails” … you guessed it, “Pretty Woman.” 

Wednesday, we finally leave Richard Gere behind as we take Julia Roberts with us and join Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cuzak and Billy Crystal in “America’s Sweethearts.” I had several people tell me they've never even heard of this one -- it's a cute little movie with a nice twist at the end! Watch it!

Thursday, we hang out with John Cuzak again, along with Diane Lane, as two divorced adults in a too-close-to-home little flick about internet dating called “Must Love Dogs.” It’s always a gamble to see who’s waiting on perfectmatch.com!

Friday, we go old-school, and spend a little time in song … “How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?" We take Christopher Plummer (Diane Lane's dad from "Must Love Dogs") with us to the hills of Austria in “The Sound of Music.”  The costumes are pretty horrific, but the music is wonderful, and Julie Andrews is, of course, fabulous! “She’s a darling, she’s a demon, she’s a lamb …” Everybody sing along!

We keep Julie Andrews with us to finish out our week; this time in a movie that’s a little more animated (*snicker*). Andrews does a complete transformation from a Novice/newlywed in “The Sound of Music” to the voice of the mother of evil villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) in “Despicable Me.” “It’s so fluffy!!” “Curse you, tiny toilet!” L-O-V-E this movie, and can’t wait for the sequel!!

And that wraps up week 7! A hint going into week 8: Steve Carrell ...

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 6

We ended last week with "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," where we kept Kathryn Hahn with us to begin Week 6. 

Sunday, we begin our week with Kathryn, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd, and Owen Wilson in another "how" movie, "How Do You Know?" When you have two men in love with you, how DO you know?? (Sounds like a lot more trouble than I wanna deal with!!)

Monday, we brought Jack Nicholson with us over to "Terms of Endearment" (which I think would have been more aptly named "TEARS of Endearment"!) with Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. Somebody pass me a tissue ... oh heck, just pass the box!

Tuesday, Shirley takes us over to hang out with Kevin Costner, Jennifer Aniston, and Mark Ruffalo to tell the alleged behind-the-scenes story on which the movie "The Graduate" was based in "Rumor Has It" (cue Adele song ...). Boy, that Kevin Costner really gets around!! THREE generations!? (you'll have to watch to find out what that means!)

Wednesday finds us reconnecting with Mark Ruffalo, this time as (the adult version of) Matt, who is best friend and boyfriend wanna be to the 13 year old version of Jenna (adult version played by Jennifer Garner), whose birthday wish at her 13th birthday party is to be "30 and flirty" in "13 Going on 30" (Gotta be careful what you wish for!!) What would you do differently if you could go back and do it all over again??

Thursday was Valentine's Day (or "Single Awareness Day" to some of us), so of course, we had to watch the movie by the same name, "Valentine's Day," to which we connected through Jennifer Garner. There are a whole host of actors/actresses in this one, so the connection possibilities are endless for Friday!! Eenie, meenie, miney, moe ... 

Friday, we decided to bring Patrick Dempsey with us from Valentine's Day and do a little traveling! What's a guy to do when the girl he loves is engaged to someone else? Why, go to Scotland for the wedding and be her "Made of Honor" of course! It's kinda hard to compete with a Duke for the fair maiden's (Michelle Monaghan) hand, especially wearing a mini kilt, but he does win the title "the worst maid of honor of all time." Question is: can he win the GIRL?

Saturday, we wrap up our week as we connect over with actor Sydney Pollack, (who actually produced today's movie), and head out to Long Island to the Larabee mansion where we get to hang with Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear as the Larabee men, and Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild in "Sabrina." Why is it that as men age they look more "distinguished," but as women age, we just look old? (I'd like one Harrison Ford to go, please!!)

As hard as it is to leave such handsome and distinguished men behind (happy sigh), we'll be bringing Julia Ormond with us to connect over to Week 7 ... stay tuned!

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 5

Thank goodness Bill Murray finally got things right and got the girl (Andy MacDowell), because we need her to start week 5!

Sunday, Andy is a "Yank" (American) in a British world and has captured the attention of Hugh Grant in "Four Weddings and a Funeral."  

Monday, we keep Hugh Grant with us and hop the pond over to NYC and then take a little trip down memory lane to a day about 6 years ago. It was the girl-child's "worst day ever" and I took her to see "Music and Lyrics" to get her mind off things. Not only did it take her mind off things, it put the smile back on her face! And so began our fascination with movies!

Tuesday, re-join Kristin Johnson (who played Sophie Fisher's sister in "Music and Lyrics") as the stand-in Maid of Honor for Anne Hathaway who has had a major falling out with her former Maid-of-Honor (also bride) Kate Hudson in "Bride Wars." Bridezilla's got NOTHING on these two!! When they say you're supposed to wear "something blue" on your wedding day, I don't think they mean your hair!! (or bruises!)

Wednesday, we take Candise Bergen from her role as Wedding Planner and put her in the role of Pageant Director with a sinister plan in "Miss Congeniality." This is another of our favorite movies. Favorite line: "You go, Gracie Lou!" I got to use that line myself last month when my girl-child (aptly named "Grace") won "Miss Congeniality" in the school pageant! 

Thursday, we leave behind pageants and weddings and take Michael Caine, who does a quick-change from prissy pageant coach to Warlock dad to Nicole Kidmann, a/k/a Samantha "Sam" Stevens, who is doing a little nose-twitching in "Bewitched."

On Friday, we tag along with Heather Burns as she morphs from dressing room assistant on "Bewitched" to best friend and co-activist to activist/attorney Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) in "Two Weeks' Notice."   

Saturday, we wind up the week bringing Robert Klein over to introduce us to Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey as Andi Anderson and Ben Barry in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Favorite Klein quote in this movie: "... women of New York, frost yourselves!!"

And there you have our Week 5 lineup! We have another holiday next week, so we're trying to connect our movie cast dots to get there ... can we do it?? (I think we can!) Stay tuned ...

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 4

Hi there!! Soooooo ... yeah, maybe I got a little behind on the blogging about the movies ... but never EVER behind on the watching of said movies!! 

Week 4 found us still hanging out with Drew Barrymore from Week 3. You may remember that we ended last week with her in "50 First Dates." Well, interestingly enough, on Sunday, even after 50 dates, (and 50 first kisses), she's trying to convince us she's "Never Been Kissed!" How would YOU like to go back to high school for a bit of a do-over!? Would you do anything different?? 

On Monday, we brought Molly Shannon with us to Washington, where we hung out with Steve Carrell as Senator Evan Baxter in "Evan Almighty."  When God talks, it's usually a good idea to listen!! And if you start seeing animals showing up in pairs ... just sayin' ...
"SSSsssssshhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppp!!!"

Tuesday we hung out with Morgan Freeman again - not as God this time, but as a retired CIA agent who seems to be on someones hit list in "Red."  Favorite line this time: "Open the Pig!!"

Wednesday, we take Karl Urban with us as he transforms from uber-cool CIA operative to Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy to Chris Pines's James Tyberius Kirk in "Star Trek." This movie has some epic music with fabulous French Horn!! (The girl-child plays Horn, so I can't help but listen for it!)

Thursday, we spend a little more time with Chris Pines - this time not as Captain, but as King-wanna-be Nicholas Devereaux in "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement." Anne Hathaway is cast as Princess Mia, and Julie Andrews as her grandmother, Queen Renaldi. Don't laugh, it's a cute little movie!!

Friday, we go undercover with Anne Hathaway as Agent 99 to Steve Carrell's Maxwell Smart in a remake of the classic "Get Smart." Apparently, if ever you find yourself in a dangerous situation, if you'll just kiss your captor, they'll be so stunned, they'll instantly release you!!

Saturday, February 2 (Groundhog Day), we rescued Bill Murray from his cameo in a tree in Get Smart only to have him go over and over and OVER the same day until he finally gets it right in (of course) "Groundhog Day."

And that, my friends, brings us to the end of Week 4 of our 2013 Movie Marathon. Only 48 weeks to go!! 

2013 Movie Marathon - Week 3

We began our week with James Marsden, who came with us from "27 Dresses" to the musical "Hairspray," with John Travolta, Christopher Walken, and Allison Janney. This is a fun little musical set in the early 60's when hair was big and desegregation was first beginning.

Monday, MLK Day, Allison Janney introduced us to "The Help," another story set in the early '60's. I had also read the book and I have to say that the combination of the book and the movie is excellent. Always remember two things:  1) You is kind, you is smart, and you is important; and 2) do NOT eat the chocolate pie!!

Tuesday, we brought "Skeeter" (Emma Stone) along with us from "The Help" and she showed us how one little lie can turn into a mess, and what it's like to have false rumors spread about you, Scarlet Letter-style in "Easy A." 

Wednesday, we spent a little more time with Stanley Tucci, who played the dad in "Easy A" as he plays the role of Shaun, Cher's sidekick and Christina Aguillera's father-figure, in another musical, "Burlesque." (This is one of my all-time favorite movies!)

On Thursday, Julianne Hough, who had the role of "Georgia" in "Burlesque," takes us to "Rock of Ages," a modern-day musical with some really excellent medleys of the hair band rock. Tom Cruise does an excellent job as Stacy Jacks, the lead singer in the group Arsenal. (And he sang all the songs himself!)

Russell Brand joins us for Friday's movie, "Bedtime Stories," in which Adam Sandler's nephew makes up stories at bedtime that come true! Have YOU ever seen it rain gum balls?? Maybe I should start making up bedtime stories wherein I win the lottery or Prince Charming shows up at the door on his white horse!? 

We round out our week Saturday in Hawaii with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in "50 First Dates." Because of a head trauma, every day is a new day for Barrymore --

Just a little hint for Week 4 -- it starts off with Drew Barrymore :)  Until next week!!