2012: Week 35: Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect


Genre: Comedy, Music

Main Players: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Elizabeth Banks, Skylar Astin

General Gist: A self made DJ/Mixer (??) decides to join an all girls a cappella group, "The Bellas", her freshman year at college to appease her dad.  They try to make it to nationals to beat the favorites, the school's male group.

Tiff's Take:
Last year was the year of Natalie Portman.  This year I'm officially calling it the year of music.  Much to my dismay.  I'll admit that some of them we've seen this year haven't been too bad.  Surprisingly this one has probably been one of my favorite music/musical type movies so far.  I'm actually shocked to say that out loud.

The female actors in this movie are the main reason for liking it so well.  I know I've said it before but I'll say it again.  I really like Anna Kendrick.  It seems like she should be pigeon holed into certain type of roles but she isn't.  Not in my opinion anyway.  I just really like her and her sense of humor, and who knew she could sing?!  (But then again, can't they all?) 

Rebel Wilson.  What can I say?  She is hilarious.  And even though Elizabeth Banks had only a minor role she was equally as funny.  Another one of my favorites. 

On top of the acting, the music was fun and a little more "hip" then the music in some of the other ones we've seen this year.  That always makes things more enjoyable.  Definitely an entertaining movie that keeps you laughing as well. 

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night 

Deb's Take:
As Tiff mentioned, we have hit the year of musicals...or movies with music...I had only seen one preview for this movie, and didn't really know what to expect.  Well, I got more then my expectations.  Unlike Tiff, I am a movie music lover.  Music makes the whole experience better!  I agree, some of them have been..... not so better. I liked this one for a few reasons.

1.)  Anna Kendrick is becoming more and more likable to me with each show she does.  I was rather amazed that she could sing.  I like her easy nature and sort of real personality she brings to the table in her movies.  She seems to find the personality of each of her characters and makes it so her own.  She never seems to be the "same" character but in different movies.  That is impressive to me.  There is a scene in the movie, when she is trying out for "The Bellas"  LOVE IT!!

2.) Rebel Wilson!  She is stinkin hilarious...she makes me laugh out loud.  I love her! ( I think her accent helps)  She really makes the comedy of this movie what it is.

3.) There was some romance, although it was choppy and not really what the movie was about.  But I like romance.

4.) AWESOMENESS in the singing department.  Wow, I do like what music is becoming..the music battles, the overlaying of songs, a cappella singing.  All very cool

Deb's Rate: Friday Night...only because the romance was a little weak.

Preview:   Any suggestions?

2012: Week 20: What To Expect When You're Expecting

What To Expect When You're Expecting

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Main Players: Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Brooklyn Decker (these are the main females, there are waaaay to many main players to list them all...)

General Gist:  Five interconnected couples are followed through the ups and downs of pregnancy and experiences of expecting a child.

Deb's Take:  This movie was another one of our many pre-screenings.  We are having so much fun!  We got to experience a movie at AMC Mainstreet regular theatre. (vs the Cinema Suites).  Very nice theatre, comfy chairs and a nice set-up of stadium seating. 

This movie had a lot key actors.  Both men and woman.  This was one of those movies that follows several (5) different couples yet they all are connected somehow.  I was a little surprised because the movie was actually quite different than I expected.  (kind of like having children!)  The previews really played up the comedy, funny aspect, but I didn't really feel like this movie was a comedy as much as a Drama.  There were funny parts for sure, but the whole meaning behind the film and the relationships dominated more than the comedy.  I did like that, as I do like drama, but I think the advertisements were trying to draw in the male audience, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were slightly disappointed.  I think this was a little bit more on the chick flick side.

I liked the acting, Elizabeth Banks has a great scene that many woman may be able to relate to, and I think the men all did well portraying life as fathers and fathers to be.  My favorite "relationship" was played by Anna Kendrick and Chace Crawford, however,  a few storylines hit on that sort of , roll your eyes, kind of dumb.  I liked the message the movie was sending...are we ever really ready to have kids?    Not bad for a pre-screening.

Deb's Rate: I waiver a little here....A good girls Friday night out, but a Matinee for you couples.

Tiff's Take:
I think I might be just a tad bit harsher with my review then Deb.  Like Deb, I felt like the previews were really playing up the comedy in this movie.  Going into the movie that's what I was expecting.  I left feeling like it was just so so.  There were more serious parts to this movie which I think would have worked really well with the funny parts but both were just a little lack luster.  The comedy could have been much funnier and the drama could have been more relatable.  I don't think I really felt a connection to many of the characters and their stories.  Also like Deb, I liked the relationship between Anna Kendrick's and Chace Crawford's characters the best.  They really had great chemistry.  On a side note, I have to say that every time I see Anna Kendrick in a movie I like her more and more.  I'm not sure what it is. 

Don't get me wrong, I thought this was a decent movie.  There were good laughs and even a time when I got teared up but this movie had so much more potential.  Unfortunately it left me a little disappointed. 

Tiff's Rate: Matinee

Preview: Might be struggling to find something this week.  Any suggestions??

Week 40: 50/50

For week 40 we saw 50/50.  It was about a guy in his 20's who finds out he has cancer and how it affects his relationships in his life.  The guy, Adam, was played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  You know, the kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun.  His best friend is played by Seth Rogan and his girlfriend Bryce Howard Dallas.  His therapist is Anna Kendrick and mother Anjelica Huston. 

Obviously this had a pretty sad undertone.  But it also had some funny moments thanks to Seth Rogan and some surprisingly funny moments with Anna Kendrick.  I'm always surprised by how much I like Anna Kendrick.  My first impression of her is the annoying high schooler from Twilight.  But then I saw her in Up in the Air with George Clooney and I was super impressed.  Anyway, I felt the same way about her in this one too.  The jury's still out on Bryce Howard Dallas.  And Seth Rogan's crude sense of humor actually fit well.

I thought this movie gave a real genuine take on what it might actual be like to find out you had cancer.  The drama that you might find in some movies really wasn't there.  It was almost anticlimactic but still told a touching story.  It was a really down to earth and a humorous take on a serious situation.

To Sum it up:  Sad, funny and touching.

Week 40: 50/50

Wow...if we are on week 40 that means we only have 12 more weeks/movies this year. I am so suprised how fast it went, and I can't believe we have seen so many movies!! What great fun we are having!!

So, I am a little slow posting as this was really last weeks movie, and we have already gone to this week's movie, so lets see if we can get caught up.

So we went and saw 50/50. Looked like a different kind of movie. Cancer with humor is what it was played up to be. Probably because Seth Rogan starred in it and he tends to always go the comedy route. Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt played the main character, and I think he tends to do comedy as well. Anna Kendrick played the main female character.

So, with that cast I wasn't sure what to expect. Well...it was different. There was funniness, romance, seriousness, and all in all a real life feel. The story follows a guy who finds out he has cancer, and basically goes through his story. How he deals with it, how is friends deal with it, and how is family deals with it. Like I said, it just had a real life sort of feel to it. I felt like I was really just watching a guy with cancer, and getting a look into his everyday life.

I have to say I was most impressed with Anna Kendrick. She has played in "Twilight", "Up in the Air", and now this. (She has done lots of Broadway shows too!) She has a certain character type, and I don't know that she could change that too much, but it fit in this movie.

Basically, it was a movie about a real life crisis and they played it that way. I can't say it was the greatest movie in the world, but it wasn't bad. Maybe more of a renter....Coming up next "Footloose"