Big Movie Weekend

Summer is movie season for us. We love going to the movies. Sometimes as often as once or twice a week. We kicked things off in a big way this weekend--two movies in three days!

 

 

We saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Friday night. Very funny. A little shocking with some of the male nudity, but it was played for laughs and it wasn't gross. Just...surprising. My favorite part was that Sarah Marshall wasn't written as an evil, vindictive person--as ex-girlfriends often are in the movies and television--but rather as just a confused and scared person who doesn't know how to find what she wants and who made some (really) bad choices along the way. (Her current boyfriend, the sleazy rock star guy, is very funny and ICK at the same time). As always because this is Judd Apatow movie, it's fun to see familiar people popping up. Jonah Hill as the maitre d' who keeps trying to give away his demo to the sleazy rock star guy. Paul Rudd as the perpetually stoned surf instructor. Of course, Hawaii was gorgeous and it made me "vacation-sick" to see it. ("Vacation-sick" being a similar condition to "home-sick" only with your favorite vacation spot). Mila Kunis, in the first role I've seen her in outside of Jackie on That 70's Show, was terrific and absolutely luminous.

 

 

 

Greg and I often have very different taste in movies. Unsurprisingly, he is not a fan of my Jane Austen-based movie collection. He prefers stuff like 300 and In the Name of the King--anything historical, battle-related or fantasy (dwarves, elves, etc.). In fact, if someone created a movie in which it is discovered that a big historical battle, say the Battle of Gettsyburg, was secretly fought by warring factions of dwarves and elves with the occasional dragon thrown in, he'd probably be thrilled. : ) (Hmmm, if I wrote fantasy...nope, can't do it.) 

 

 

 

Anyway, one area on which we usually agree are comic-book movies. It's action/adventure with super powers and a love story. LOVE it. We saw all three of the Spider-man movies on opening weekend. X-Men, Superman Returns, Batman, Fantastic Four--all of them.  So, it was last minute and with little discussion that we headed out to see Iron Man last night. We loved it! Funny, well-written, timely (given the subtle but still there anti-arms dealing message). Gwyneth Paltrow looked absolutely fabulous as a redhead and Robert Downey Junior MADE the movie. I mean, it would not have been as good with someone else in that role. It was excellent!!! So, go see it. I was skeptical at first, never having heard of Iron Man as a hero, but I think that makes it even better. : )