Sunday, November 12, 2006

Stranger Than Fiction (or Cheese & Broccoli......I can't decide which)

Why do movie previews always do that?? Why does the preview show all the funny parts (or use editing to create funny parts that aren't even there), when the movie is serious or depressing or heavy?? The Family Stone did that. The Weatherman did that. The Break-Up did that. And mostly, Stranger than Fiction did that. Do they think we'll only go see it if it's a comedy? Do they have to trick us into seeing a drama with life lessons that are good for us? Kinda like cheese melted all over our broccoli so we'll eat it?

Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, & Queen Latifah are the man reasons for seeing Stranger Than Fiction. Emma is amazing in her dark, British way. Dustin is less cartoonish than he's been lately. Maggie is more wonderfully likable than she normally is. The Queen has too straight and small a part but lovely. And Will is a ton more serious than usual but I personally think it suits him. I've never noticed his sweet, soft, lovable eyes before. Stranger than Fiction has some very funny parts. But it's definitely not the goofy type movie's that Will is known for, and I'm not sure the previews reveal the true nature of the movie. And even though I feel tricked, I liked it! Cheese on Broccoli is good, dammit.

On the other hand, the other movie I saw this weekend was The Break-Up and I'm glad I rented it with my magical Blockbuster-in-the-mailbox club. It really wasn't funny. It was depressing with no redemption. We get a few seconds of Vince Vaughn's charmingly quick and witty dialogue, and then we get two characters arguing for another hour or so. Ok......so we get some Jennifer nakedness for about a second too. But mostly, we just get that awkward voyeurish feeling of watching a couple argue about stupid stuff. We could have video-taped our own lives if we wanted to see that!!

I guess the Broccoli wasn't cooked enough for me (I actually like vege's cooked well and yes I know they're not as good for me). I guess you can't fool me into liking hard, microwaved Broccoli, even if you spread cheese all over it.

2 comments:

Snoskred said...

I'm trying to visit as many of the NaBloPoMo blogs as I can and I thought I'd say hi, great blog.. :) I like cheese on my broccoli but I will eat it without, too. ;) But I can't stand Will Ferrell. It's just a fact of life.. ;)

Anonymous said...

wHAT A WONDERFUL review, Bill and I saw Stranger than Fiction this past weekend and loved it so and I couldn't have said it any better than you about How I felt about that movie, much better than they gave it credit for. As for Breaking up, I totally agree with you darling, it was like being in the house of your child, married of course, or your own. Did not like it at all. Very disappointing. So do we THINK alike, as always we certianly do and I will say it again and again, Thank GOD FOR BEING YOU TO ME AND THANK MOM FOR LEAVING ME YOU.
I LOVE YOU, SECOND MOM SANDY