Wanderlust

Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star as a married couple, George and Linda, who can no longer afford their Manhattan lifestyle. They are unexpectedly detoured to a hippie commune in Georgia.

The eclectic supporting cast includes Justin Theroux as Seth, the unofficial leader of the compound and Alan Alda as the elder-statesman and only original founding member of the naturist village Elysium. Also completing the community, Malin Akerman, Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney, Lauren Ambrose and nudist wine-maker Wayne, as portrayed by Joe Lo Truglio. Ken Marino is George's obnoxious brother Rick. Marino is brilliantly outshone by one time SNL cast member Michaela Watkins in every scene they share. Watkins is fantastic as the kooky sister-in-law.

In case you were wondering, Wanderlust is defined as a strong desire for or impulse to hike, wander or travel and explore the world. Seems like a fitting title telling the story of two characters that did not know that they had the desire but stumble upon the exploration.

The movie is quite raunchy and over the top. The set-up of the main characters lays a good foundation that is based in reality and the current economic climate. All the more to veer off later.
Stay for all of the credits, even when you think the extra stuff is finished, there is one more scene.

And on DVD...
50/50
I enjoyed this movie with Emily when we saw a screening of it before its original release in September. We enjoyed it just as much the second time around. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young man diagnosed with cancer and Seth Rogen is his buddy. The story is based on the real life happenings of the writer/director Will Reiser and his friendship with Rogen. Believe it or not, despite the heavy subject matter, it is a comedy. This movie received some awards attention at the Golden Globes and the Independent Spirit Awards, though no Oscar love. Comedies really need to be included more, even in a year when Bridesmaids received two Oscar nominations.

Just Go With It

Well, I had high hopes for this movie. Happy Madison Productions was apparently hellbent on cramming as many stupid sight-gags as they could into what was actually a very funny movie with a lot of heart. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston were hilarious together and had great give and take in their scenes together. The stupid stuff, just ruined it. What could have been a Wedding Singer or a 50 First Dates, was two competing movies. One good and one bad. Now I can look the other way at a few items of humor that are not my thing and still appreciate or even love a movie despite those things (eg the androgynous aquarium worker in 50 First Dates). I would like to own the Non-Stupid-St8t edition of the DVD (or the Non-Devlin edition to use a phrase/joke from the movie). Not my Valentine's pick...stay home and watch a double feature of Wedding Singer and Object of My Affection for some quality Sandler and Aniston. Though I do hope they work together again, they are great together.

The music throughout the movie was excellent. Lots of Sting and mash-ups of Sting songs, as well as less commonly used Beach Boy songs. And there were several excellent cameos in the movie. I won't ruin the surprise (though, I don't recommend seeing this one in theaters, wait for DVD) but one typically serious actress is wonderfully wicked and funny in the film. In a way, I think it shows she has a sense of humor about herself (one hint, she is nominated for an Oscar this year). As the fabulous Miss Katy Hagert observed, Adam Sandler's wife Jackie Sandler, is in the opening scene of the movie. After a little research to confirm, the two were introduced by Rob Schneider after she appeared in Deuce Bigalow, and she has been in several other Adam Sandler movies.

One interesting thing I noticed in the credits, was that the movie was based on Cactus Flower. Cactus Flower is the 1969 movie with Goldie Hawn (she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her film debut in it), Walter Matthau and Ingrid Bergman (and that movie, was first a play).

Also, amid the eight or so trailers before the movie, I really laughed out loud at the preview for the Arthur remake starring Russell Brand (who is hosting SNL tonight). I would like to state for the record that long before Brand was with Katy Perry, before he was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall or hosted the MTV Video Awards, I knew who he was. I am a loyal viewer of the Graham Norton Show on BBC America and Brand was a frequent guest before making his hop across the pond and into Hollywood movies. Looks good. Hope its not just the trailer.

Anyone else hate the creepy music in the Battle: LA trailer?! Blah, not seeing that.

The Switch

I thoroughly enjoyed the Switch. I've read about the poor opening box office, I attribute that to the fact that people just didn't go to the movies that weekend. The parking lot was noticeably empty for a Saturday night, and yet the theater I saw the Switch in, was full. Just saying.

The movie is laugh-out-loud funny. Much to the credit of Jason Bateman. His scenes with Jeff Goldblum in particular are hilarious. Bateman's rapport with the young character, Sebastian, played by Thomas Robinson, are sweet and humorous. I don't understand the backlash often directed at Jennifer Aniston. I like her, I enjoy her, I won't defend or convince why others should like her.
Amid the rom-com antics, there is genuine emotion and this flick passes my most stringent romantic comedy gage, it didn't make me gag and has no "too cheesy to tolerate" moment. Also, I think the Switch is better than the Back-Up Plan. I think its cool that unconventional ways to make a family are being portrayed in mainstream movies. There was nothing specifically wrong with the Back-Up Plan, but it wasn't great. The Switch is funnier, in my opinion, and has less set-ups for the laughs; my laughs came during the Switch from the dialogue.

I think my next movie will be Going the Distance, so the romantic comedy blogs continue!