Showing posts with label Kristen Bell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kristen Bell. Show all posts
Don’t Go There, Just Enjoy It
High school was not perfect for everyone. Marni Olivia Olsen (Kristen Bell) had a rough go in high school. She dealt with normal high school challenges like acne and braces but there was also a bully that led the charge against her. Her initials were MOO which fueled the fire. Despite a terrible experience, that bully, and her taunts, pushed Marni to be the high profile PR executive that she has become today.
She’s on her way home to her brother’s wedding when it dawns on her, the bride-to-be happens to be her high school nemesis. JJ, or Joanna (Odette Yustman) as she now is referred to, has fell in love with Marni’s caring older brother. Or is it not love at all?
It’s been years since high school, but Marni just can’t let it go. But she isn’t the only one with a problem. Some additional painful high school memories are brought up when it turns out Joanna’s only family, Aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) happens to have a history with Marni’s mom Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis). High school may have been many years ago, but these women have issues, really.
Ok, some critics won’t admit this, but I’m not some critics; I full well expected to hate this film. Sure hate is a strong word, but it is where I was coming from. I turned out to be pleasantly surprised.
On the whole, You Again is a film for women. This is a girls night out kind of film that will let you take all the girls because of its PG rating. And I think women of all ages will like it.
The rivalries are fun, the leads are all fun actresses to see work, and the humor is for the most part spot on. Plus there are enough small roles and cameos to keep everyone engaged.
Where the film slips is it can border on the ridiculous from time to time in plot setup and pushing characters together, but ultimately who cares in this film? Don’t go there, just enjoy it. We want to escape, relive a little of our past, and laugh with our friends. To that end, You Again succeeds.
B-/C+
You Again
Touchstone Pictures
Director: Andy Fickman
Cast: Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Victor Garber, Betty White, Kristin Chenoweth
Rating: PG for brief mild language and rude behavior.
Runtime: 105 minutes.
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High school was not perfect for everyone. Marni Olivia Olsen (Kristen Bell) had a rough go in high school. She dealt with normal high school challenges like acne and braces but there was also a bully that led the charge against her. Her initials were MOO which fueled the fire. Despite a terrible experience, that bully, and her taunts, pushed Marni to be the high profile PR executive that she has become today.
She’s on her way home to her brother’s wedding when it dawns on her, the bride-to-be happens to be her high school nemesis. JJ, or Joanna (Odette Yustman) as she now is referred to, has fell in love with Marni’s caring older brother. Or is it not love at all?
It’s been years since high school, but Marni just can’t let it go. But she isn’t the only one with a problem. Some additional painful high school memories are brought up when it turns out Joanna’s only family, Aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) happens to have a history with Marni’s mom Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis). High school may have been many years ago, but these women have issues, really.
Ok, some critics won’t admit this, but I’m not some critics; I full well expected to hate this film. Sure hate is a strong word, but it is where I was coming from. I turned out to be pleasantly surprised.
On the whole, You Again is a film for women. This is a girls night out kind of film that will let you take all the girls because of its PG rating. And I think women of all ages will like it.
The rivalries are fun, the leads are all fun actresses to see work, and the humor is for the most part spot on. Plus there are enough small roles and cameos to keep everyone engaged.
Where the film slips is it can border on the ridiculous from time to time in plot setup and pushing characters together, but ultimately who cares in this film? Don’t go there, just enjoy it. We want to escape, relive a little of our past, and laugh with our friends. To that end, You Again succeeds.
B-/C+
You Again
Touchstone Pictures
Director: Andy Fickman
Cast: Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Victor Garber, Betty White, Kristin Chenoweth
Rating: PG for brief mild language and rude behavior.
Runtime: 105 minutes.
It's No Miracle, Big Miracle Works For Families
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| Big Miracle, Opens 2/3/12 |
Small town Alaska has big stories for a young reporter. Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) has just finished his riveting story on avocados in the far reaching part of the world. He’s off to get footage of an amazing snowmobile trickster who just drives in circles. But in the distance he sees and hears something a bit odd. Turns out there are three grey whales (Mom, Dad and Baby) that are stuck in the ice and can’t get home.
When he shoots what seems to be a novel public interest piece on these whales it gets picked up on a national level and becomes larger than life. It attracts the attention of Tom Brokaw and journalists across the continental US. Even up and coming reporter Jill Jerard (Kristen Bell), who Adam has a bit of a crush on, comes to the great northern reaches of Alaska to report on the story. Quite possibly the most interesting person who picks up on the story is Adam’s ex, Rachel (Drew Barrymore) who is an active Greenpeace member.
Now with a diverse group of individuals that includes reporters, native fisherman, Greenpeace, the US military and a large oil tycoon must work together to try to save these great beasts. Will they get them to safety in time?
Based on a true story that captivated America in 1988, Big Miracle tries to pull all the heartstrings during its runtime. And while it is effective in its storytelling, it seems to lack in its realism and attention to detail. Living in a cold weather climate, I know the effects of being outside, and when I see Drew Barrymore go under water in the icy below zero temps with exposed skin, I just cringe. It was an easy thing and should have been caught.
Though I’m picky about the attention to detail that was lacking, the story is a little gem. It’s a touching story that will grip families. Maybe not to the extent they are portrayed onscreen, but it is an attention grabber. Who doesn’t like whales? Right?
Krasiniski is likable in his role as Adam, but I didn’t totally by off on his relationship with Drew Barrymore’s Rachel. The fun in the film is with the small roles. The Stephen Root, Ted Danson, Tim Blake Nelson roles all packed a cool punch and really made things interesting.
Overall, take the family to Big Miracle – or at least gather everyone round when it comes to DVD or VOD. It’s a crowd pleasing movie that you will go out with a level of enjoyment and remind you why animal movies grab us as viewers.
C+
Universal Pictures
Director: Ken Kwapis
Cast: John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Bell
Rating: PG for language.
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes