Ref: Mulhern
Rats, I've again fallen behind the Mulhern on the reviewing. Better get to it - the Oscar clock is ticking!
#23 Date Night
"Claw, you're welcome." - receptionist's telephone greeting at Claw, New York's hottest new seafood restaurant. It has everything... risotto, will.i.am, kill shot threats and thugs who want you dead.
Date Night was a fun movie. Tina Fey and Steve Carell are a believable married couple who become convinced they're stuck in a rut and try to spice things up with a night in the city, to disastrous and hilarious ends. The multitude of stars previously mentioned by Mulhern play crucial roles (I seem to remember reading that it's Leighton Meester's highest grossing movie to date), but the bulk of the film rests on Fey and Carell, who successfully combine comedy with action and suspense, showcasing an ultimately sweet relationship.
Especially funny were the outtakes during the credits. Keep watching until the end!
#22 Going the Distance
Recent news of Drew Barrymore's potential new love interest makes me reflect on this movie because her interactions with Justin Long, her real-life long-term light switch (on-and-off-again) beau, in Going the Distance were so believable, I wondered if they were based on real life. When grainy, realistic footage is shown of their characters out on a date, Barrymore sporting an eclectic ensemble and Long exuding an awkward-cool aura, I figured the film crew just followed the couple for a night on the town.
Barrymore and Long portray another believable couple stuck in a rut, this time of the transcontinental variety. Will their romance be defeated by or conquer the distance? Only time will tell!
One thing that stuck out for me: The Boxer Rebellion. I thought it was weird to feature a real band in this movie when *spoiler alert* Long's character got a job with them at the end. I know they did it all the time on The O.C. but in this case it made me feel like that part of the movie wouldn't stand the test of time - but I guess we'll see.
#21 Easy A
Easy A belongs in the permanent rotation. This delightful homage to 1850s literature and 1980s film manages to be fresh and zany while still holding true to the high school experience.
Characters are well-acted for the most part (Amanda Bynes and Aly Michalka are a bit too over-the-top, even in the context of the movie). Emma Stone steals the show, with Stanley Tucci a close second.
It will also be fun in five years to return to the movie and ridicule the very trendy fashion choices, but such is the lot of "teen" movies, I suppose.
Bonus points for having two Gossip Girl stars and two O.C. mentions (via Micah a.k.a. Volchok) in the same post!
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