Big Miracle

Title: Big Miracle

Directed by: Ken Kwapis

Starring: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Dermot Mulroney, Kristen Bell, Tim Blake Nelson, Vinessa Shaw

Genres: Adaptation, Drama, Family

Running Time: 1 hour. 47 minutes

Release Date: February 3rd, 2012

MPAA Rating: PG

Review: 'Big Miracle' is a family film, based on the true story of a small town news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer who join forces with some unlikely allies to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in Alaska. It has a great story, a great cast (Hello, Kristen Bell, Drew Barrymore, and John Krasinski!), and some really funny moments. It's not called 'Big Miracle' for nothing.

All things considered, 'Big Miracle' is a heartwarming family film, suitable for kids and adults alike. And while it does occasionally tug at the heart strings, and might even well up an eye or two here and there, it is not a sad story overall. I will admit to having shed a couple of tears, but I'm pretty soft-hearted, particularly when it pertains to animals, and I still left the theater uplifted. I would recommend seeing 'Big Miracle', and if you don't in the theaters, definitely see it on DVD.

P.s. Do not walk out as soon as the credits start rolling, or you will miss the side-by-side comparison of the real deal versus the film, which was quite entertaining.

Grade: 7.5

Youth In Revolt

Title: Youth In Revolt
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Zach Galifinanakis, Erik Knudsen
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adaptation, Family
Running Time: 1 hour. 30 minutes
Release Date: January 8th, 2010
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Micheal Cera as his alter ego is absolutely brilliant. Michael Cera as Nick has his moments of hilarity. The rest of the film; from lightly giggle-inducing to jawdroppingly awful. The first real disappointment of the new year. Please, please, pretty please, let it get better from here.

Grade: 6

Where The Wild Things Are

Title: Where The Wild Things Are
Directed by: Spike Jonze
Starring: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper
Genres: Comedy, Kids/Family, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Animation, Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour. 34 minutes
Release Date: October 16th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Review: This film feels like childhood is remembered, and it is wonderful. The way Mr. Jonze has captured the scary, funny, quirky, odd, beautiful, sad and amazing flavor of this story truly left me with a sense of childlike wonder. This is what childhood imagination could do, without the limitations of rational adult thinking, and it is glorious.

Someone asked me "will my children like it?", and the answer to that question I do not know. But I do know this; I liked it, and the little kid still left in my heart LOVED it!

My hat goes off to you, Mr. Jonze. Well done.

Grade: 7.5

Away We Go

Title: Away We Go
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Carmen Ejogo, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Running Time: 1 hour. 37 minutes
Release Date: June 5th, 2009 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R

Review: This quirky, charming, sometimes funny (sometimes so NOT funny), sometimes sad film was definitely worth the trip to the out-of-the-way, artsy fartsy, independent theater - the only place left in the area still offering this film. The film is well acted both by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, who have a very lovable chemistry together, as well as by the often ridiculously hilarious supporting cast.
I have a lot of love for Sam Mendes work, and even though this is no American Beauty, it is definitely worth a look.

Grade: 7

The Proposal

Title: The Proposal
Directed by: Anne Fletcher
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Denis O'Hare, Malin Akerman, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Family
Running Time: 1 hour. 48 minutes
Release Date: June 19th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG - 13

Review: I usually avoid most Rom-Coms like the plague, but under the influence of several torturous phenomenons (the sweltering summer heat, our home's lack of AC and sauna-esque construction, my brain boiling in my skull from heat stroke) I found myself in the very same cool, dark and wonderful movie theater, where this flick was showing. Surprising, I know.

Starting off, I was honestly positively surprised by 'The Proposal' - it was funny, likable, Sandra was charming, and Ryan Reynolds sported his signature "sad puppy dog face" in every scene he was in. Furthermore, the home where the majority of the movie takes place was absolutely mesmerizingly gorgeous (hey, what can I say, I'm a traditional girl with classic taste at heart). And kudos to Sandra's wardrobe people on a job well done.

However, it was not long until the movie started to derail with over the top, trying-to-hard-to-be-funny dumb shit, starting with Ganny's Native American camp fire dance, and it is down hill from there. Ms. White's raunchy-old-lady act, which I had heard was so hilarious in this film, felt tired, and more often than not, not at all funny. I started out kind of liking the film, but by the time it was over, I walked away hating it, which is kind of funny given the story line.

The movie is just as predictable as these things tend to be, but if the director would not have felt the need to add the lame shtick, it might have been a somewhat charming cookie cutter film of the genre. I would say skip this one, but then again, if you are normally in to this sort of thing, then it might not disappoint.

Grade: 4.5