Movie Review Monday: Serendipity

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2001 romantic comedy, Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

I always knew about this movie and just randomly decided to watch it recently. It does feel a bit dated in some ways having come out 15 years ago, but the story is pretty evergreen. It follows John (Cusack) and Sara (Beckinsale) as they try to figure out what to make of a chance encounter that leaves them both reeling. They have an undeniable chemistry but are both with other people. They figure if fate steers them back to each other, then they'll give it a try. What follows is a fun ride figuring out if life is sending you signs or not.

I feel like we can all relate to this movie. We all have those "ones that got away" that we wish we could reconnect with or look for fate sending us signals in our lives. Sometimes it can be silly but it is a nice sentiment to see the universe as a slightly more magical place, with soulmates, destiny, and signals coming from the universe.

There are some great supporting performances in this movie from Jeremy Piven, Molly Shannon, and Eugene Levy. Where the film suffers for its sort of (for lack of a better word) serendipitous plot movements at times, it makes up for it with its message and implications. My partner and I enjoyed the movie enough and it has a good pace and doesn't go too long either. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a light rom-com to pass the time.

You can catch Serendipity streaming right now on Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Hot Tub Time Machine 2

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 comedy Hot Tub Time Machine 2, starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Adam Scott.

Following the moderate success of the oddball original, in true Hollywood fashion we got a sequel that no one asked for (five years later no less) that suffers from the law of diminishing returns. I enjoyed the first Hot Tub Time Machine (HTTM) enough to apparently have me be curious enough to check out the sequel, which is now available to stream instantly on Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Part of my curiosity comes from enjoying time travel stories, the other part comes from enjoying self-aware comedies, which seem to be having a moment right now with stuff such as the TV show Community and the Jump Street movies to name a few. This is certainly not as good as either of these two examples, but it was still a decent movie with a few good moments. I am a big fan of Adam Scott (especially his work on Parks and Rec) so he was a draw to check this out as well. He is a bright spot in his supporting role, and the main cast holds things together pretty well too. The plot of movie is where everything falls apart.

The crew sort of meanders their way through the film, not having much urgency or direction. The premise of them being in the future versus being in the past gives some space to play around, but they also stumble in their sense of logic since they only go ten years into the future but the world is a dramatically different place from where they came. I get that we have a lot of technology coming out all the time, but some the leaps HTTM2 makes are silly, but that isn't really the point of the film already short on logic (we are traveling through time in a hot tub after all).

I'd recommend this movie with reservations only to folks who like me, enjoyed the first one to some extent and enjoy (most of the time) these sorts of comedies. I would not have liked it as much if I had to pay straight up for it as a rental or at the theater, but for something to just put on and enjoy without having to think too much, this is a solid option.

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekly Geek Outs - 01/29/16

Greetings!

Hope all is well with everyone out there! I'm happy to give this weekly post of mine a little bit of a refresh, courtesy of the excellent design work of Alice Rugoletti, She was kind enough to whip this up for me (as well as my new main logo) to allow for an image unique and custom-made that is solely my own. You'll see something new for my movie reviews as well, so get excited for that.

Without further ado, here's what is going on in my world this week:

• The Man in the High Castle

I've been checking out this Amazon Original Series that depicts an alternate 1960s America where we lost World War II and the country is divided between Japan and Germany. Based on an acclaimed novel of the same name, we follow a small resistance that is trying to fight their overlords from the shadows. It's pretty grim and dark, but as a history major, I enjoy this intriguing setting for a show. I haven't finished the first season but I am going to finish it soon, unlike other shows I've invested time in lately, like Heroes Reborn, of which I will not be wasting any more time with.

• Parenthood

I've been slowing working my way through this show with my partner, and we just began season 3. I geeked out about this show several months ago, and while it has been slow going so far, we have really enjoyed it. The drama and comedy are great as well as the emotional family moments, which never fail to warm my heart. It's another great show to share with my partner too, so I look forward to continuing to watch it with her. You can find it all on Netflix if you want to check out the entire series yourself.

• 7 Days in Hell

This one-off comedy event came out a little while on HBO, and before my trial expired, I checked it out since I had remembered hearing good things about it. It stars Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington (of Game of Thrones fame) in a sports mockumentary about this epic, never ending tennis match. It is silly, smart satire that is also just ridiculous enough without being over the top. I'm a pretty big Andy Samberg fan and this is true to form for him, so if you get the chance to watch it, definitely do so!

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Obvious Child

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film (the first of 2016!) is the 2014 comedy, Obvious Child, starring Jenny Slate.

An atypical comedy with a romantic angle, it focuses on comedian Donna Stern, who is a sort of dramatized version of Slate, as she struggles with losing both her job and boyfriend on the same day. What follows is a comedic, dramatic, and resonating story that is simple and unique. It's not uproariously funny or depressingly dramatic but it serves the small journey we go on with Donna.

A focus of the story hones in on Donna having a one night stand and becoming pregnant. She deliberates what to do and tries handle everything on her own. Where the movie ends up is a nice, minimalist story with a positive message (I won't spoil anything for you here about what happens). Just rest assured this is a good movie with an authentic plot and ending. I enjoyed this pure energy and it is what makes small, indie movies like this so good.

I could see this movie not being for everyone for some of the above reasons. It is sort of typical indie art (understated, slow moving), which I know isn't for everyone. It also does deal with the question of abortion, but I think it handles it very well. Some people who have a hard stance against it might be turned off though.

You can check out Obvious Child streaming right now on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Top Five

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is 2014's Top Five, starring Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson among a stellar ensemble cast of comedians and actors.

Top Five follows a sort of dramatized version of reality, where Rock's character Andre Allen, is a fictional mouthpiece for struggles common to Rock (and surely other comedians and actors like him), such as authenticity, integrity, creativity, and addiction. It feels very similar to the movie Funny People, or the television show Louiein certain respects. Other entertainment industry shows like Extras (or the several others out there) also hold a lot of thematic similarities to Top Five, just to get a flavor for this movie since it feels so unique to me. While it falls into a pantheon of other great shows and movies, it falls a bit short for me in the end.

The movie as a whole is pretty funny. It's not uproariously hilarious, nor is it unfunny, it has some humorous moments, and was a pleasure to watch, but it could probably be better billed as a "dramedy" (drama + comedy). Allen struggles with alcoholism, his personal motivation for where his life is going, people taking him seriously, and relationship woes. Rock imbues the character and his struggles with a reliability and his unique swagger, so it makes the proceedings engaging enough to watch.

All of the other actors in the movie shine in their brief roles. Tracy Morgan, Michael Che, Jay Pharaoh, Gabrielle Union, and Leslie Jones specifically all hold their own, and Dawson is fantastic as her character, reporter Chelsea Brown, accompanies Rock's character around for most of the film. There are also some really fun cameos later in the film that made the whole viewing experience even better.

I'd recommend folks check this movie out, especially if you're a fan of Chris Rock and/or comedy as an art form. It explores issues that I found interesting and I think others like me would as well.

You can stream Top Five right now on Hulu and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: When Harry Met Sally

Welcome to another awesome edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 1989 romantic comedy classic, When Harry Met Sally, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

This movie came out the year I was born and has been referenced and given homage to many times over the years. I feel like I had seen it already but I had never sat down and watched it from start to finish. It felt like a good choice to watch on a lazy night with my partner and we were right.

The story follows the long, winding journey of the friendship between Harry and Sally (Crystal and Ryan respectively). They fall in and out of contact over the course of over ten years, sharing a special connection neither dares to speak of. Their friends all know it, but they feel as though what they have is good and they don't want to ruin it by trying to make it more.

This movie is a wholesome, fun, relatable story about love, friendship, and the courage to take a chance. It is a very timeless story (other than some of the fashion choices and the use of pay phones) and I'm sure will be a classic in the genre for many more years to come. While it isn't uproariously funny, it more than makes up for it with heart.

I definitely recommend checking out When Harry Met Sally, which is streaming now on Amazon Prime Instant Video.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 01/09/15

Hey there! Here is what's going on in my world!

• Google's Inbox

I've been using this new way to manage your Gmail for about a week now and I love it. It helps simplify my messages and get my email out of my way. The ways it compiles common emails and messages of the same type as well as allows for easily snoozing, pinning, and archiving messages. You have to get invited (I can invite you!) or request access from Google (which takes some time) but it is definitely worth it. There is a free app for iPhone and Android, and you can also access it via the Chrome web browser. I definitely recommend you check it out if you love Gmail!

• Band of Brothers

I just finished this mini-series on Amazon Prime, where it is available to stream alongside many other HBO series. The story surrounds Easy Company and their journey in Europe during World War II. It came out over a decade ago but still holds up well. The series spans over two years worth of time in the matter of ten episodes so the story does sacrifice character development and some nuance for this fast pace, but the emotion and action are still definitely there. This is a great series for any American history fans like myself, and you'll even see a lot of familiar faces before they became major celebrities, which is fun.

• Perspective

"Follow the trend lines, not the headlines." I saw this quote recently in an article and it resonated with me. Too often we get caught up in the little things right in front of our face we forget to look at the big picture. The world is getting better and safer all the time, but people don't see or can't realize the incremental change and improvements that are happening. Change takes time and with marriage equality now available to the majority of Americans, I know this is true. I lived to see this happen over the course of my short lifetime, so I know we can make a difference if we all rally together. The aforementioned article does a great way of explaining this point of view, and it's a perspective like this that helps me stay positive and motivated to keep working hard.

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: In a World...

Welcome to another awesome edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's movie is In a World...(2013) written, directed, and starring Lake Bell.

This is a small movie focusing on the politics of the movie trailer voice-over world. Bell's character, Carol, is a freelance voice coach, longing to go all in on the lucrative movie trailer narration business. Her father, Sam (played by Fred Melamed) is a once famous narrator with a big ego, and is training a protege, Gustav (played by Ken Marino), rather than his own daughter.

Carol is an "adorkable" protagonist who is passionate about what she does and just can't get into this male dominated world of voice-overs. The film follows her journey literally finding her voice and getting found for her own unique talents. I found the film to be very earnest, charming, light, and fun. Some great supporting comedic actors help give the story some legs, like Demetri Martin, Nick Offerman, Rob Corddry, and Michaela Watkins.

The movie also has an important point about role models and seeing people like us in the things we see and hear everyday. I just find it awesome for people to pursue what they're passionate about and inspire others to do the same along the way. This isn't the most dramatic or epic film to make a point  like this but it is a solidly enjoyable one.

You can check out In a World... streaming right now on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime!

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: The Spectacular Now

Hello and welcome to another Movie Review Monday!

This week, I'm reviewing 2013's The Spectacular Now, which is actually available to stream on Amazon Prime Instant Video (not Netflix). In an effort to include more awesome movies for you to stream at home, I'm including now some movies I've found on Amazon. You can get Prime for $99/year (which also includes free two-day shipping on products sold and shipped by Amazon, music streaming, and other benefits). That equates to $8.25/month, which is pretty comparable to Hulu Plus and Netflix, but I digress.

The Spectacular Now stars Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley (the latter most recently of Divergent fame). The plot is a basic coming of age tale for Miles Teller's character Sutter. Both Sutter and Woodley's character Aimee are graduated seniors trying to figure out their respective lives. Sutter is the popular kid who is lamenting the prospect of the future while Aimee is the simple "girl next door" that Sutter takes a liking to. There is a subplot of Sutter exploring his relationship with his deadbeat father that eventually intersects with Sutter's relationship with Aimee in a dramatic fashion.

I found this to be a fresh, modern take on a pretty routine story of growing up after high school. Both Teller and Woodley are great in the movie, and I look forward to seeing more great movies from them in the future, with Woodley probably taking on more Divergent films and Teller starring in movies like the new Fantastic Four reboot.

This is a good movie if you're looking for a realistic love story intertwined with a classic coming of age tale.

Check it out streaming now on Amazon Prime Instant Video! Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 07/18/14

Hey there!

Hope all is well with you! Here's what I'm geeking out about lately:

• The Wire

I just started watching this acclaimed HBO series since it is now all streaming on Amazon Prime (click above). The series is a cop drama based in Baltimore and I've heard about how great it is for years so I'm really happy I am able to dig into it now and see what the hype is all about. I will say, so far, that the characters on the show are portrayed really well and for it having debuted in 2002, I think this show was really ahead of its time and modern "golden age" of television we've been experiencing of late.

• Invisible Office Hours Podcast

A friend of mine on Twitter recommended this podcast to me, and as an avid podcast listener, I wanted to check it out since I knew one of the hosts, Jason SurfrApp, from another podcast episode I recently listened to and enjoyed. The premise of this is that it is a show for those of us that don't have set offices and/or office hours, create things, and are essentially just creatively minded professionals. The show is casual, fun, engaging, and informative so it is the perfect style for me. Hopefully you enjoy it if you're into it and check it out, They just started posting episodes and have a few on some great topics so I definitely highly recommend it.

• Cold Weather Company

I worked with a member of this new indie alternative folk band when I was back in New Jersey at Rutgers. I am a fan of their unique sound and support my friend so I wanted to give them a shout-out here as they work to put their work out into the world. Here is a quick link to all their music on Soundcloud. They're all over social media so you can connect and follow them there and if you're in the greater New Jersey area, they're playing live shows around there. I wish them the very best of luck!

Thanks for stopping by as always! Have a great weekend.