2012: Week 18: The Five-Year Engagement

The Five-Year Engagement

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Main Players: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie

General Gist:  A couple becomes engaged yet continually postpones their wedding due to unforeseen circumstances.

Tiff's Take:
This week's movie was one I was looking forward to.  Some weeks, like last one, we are struggling to find one to go to.  This week was a no brainer. 

I didn't really have any doubt that this would be a funny movie.  I wasn't disappointed.  Best of all, the previews didn't give you all the good parts.  There were so many funny scenes.  Scenes that made me cry I was laughing so hard.  Man, I love a good comedy.  I also love a good love story.  This was a decent love story but it definitely didn't match up to the comedy.  And that's okay.  It wasn't super intense or serious but enough to make it a believable relationship.

I thought the chemistry between Jason Segel and Emily Blunt was great as far as the comedy was concerned and decent as far as romance was concerned.  Pretty much like the movie in general.  There were some great supporting roles.  The sister and some of the coworkers really fed off each other well.  I agree with Deb that this would be a great date night movie.  A little romance and a lot of comedy.  It's also pretty sexually charged so keep that in mind when you pick your company.          

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night

Deb's Take:
I was looking forward to seeing this movie.  We have been seeing the previews for some time now and it looked like it was going to be pretty funny.  Jason Segal usually does a great job with comedy, and I like Emily Blunt.  This movie was not disappointing at all!  I loved the humor.  There were actually some moments when I got the giggles and even though the next scene was up I was still laughing from the scene before.  I think the humor was just a little "off" which is why I found it so entertaining.  I am weird that way.  I also liked how all the characters, not just the main players, played on each other and worked together.  I think the comedy was actually more of the highlight of the show, vs the romance part.

All that being said, it wasn't the "perfect" film for a couple of reasons.  It was a little long...I suppose depicting 5 years is going to be long, but there were some scenes that I felt were unnecessary and drawn out.  The comedy was good, the romance was slightly lacking.  The main characters did a good job of playing an engaged couple, but I am a sucker for the highest romance, and what can I say, after 5 years the romance is not so "intense", the relationship was more true to life then sappy story.  I do think it would be a pretty good "date night" movie.  Funny for the guys, without too much chic flicky stuff.

One other quick tid bit, Dakota Johnson plays in this film.  She looked so familiar to me.  She is actually the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson...just a fun fact.

Deb's Rate: Friday Night

Preview: We have acquired some prizes for our next giveaway!  Be on the look out.

Week 26: Bad Teacher

Bad Teacher was the movie for this week.  I have to admit I was a little more disappointed than Deb for this movie.  I wasn't expecting this movie to be great but I thought it would be funnier.  It turns out I was more annoyed with the characters than anything.

I generally like Cameron Diaz in most movies.  She usually plays characters that are easy to like.  For this one, not only did I not like her character but I was a little disgusted.  Okay, maybe disgusted is too strong of a word.  I'll go back to the word annoyed.  I was annoyed with her selfishness and annoyed with the absurdity of the story line.  I mean really, what teacher would get away with acting like her character did?  Does this mean I'm getting old?  I can't laugh at this kind of stuff anymore?  Maybe so. 

And I'm usually a fan of Justin Timberlake too.  Even he fell short for me.  The only character I thought was decent was the one played by Jason Segel.  He had a little more genuine quality to him even if he didn't have much chemistry with Cameron Diaz.  Lucy Punch's character was okay.  Dare I say, slightly annoying.

Overall the absurdity of this story should have been overshadowed by the humor.  It just wasn't for me.  I guess my funny bone wasn't working as well as Deb's for this week.

To Sum it up: Good actors who should have been funny but just plain...annoying.

Week 26: Bad Teacher

"Bad Teacher" was our movie of choice this week, starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch and Jason Segel. I can't really say this movie had any depth what so ever, it really was quite shallow and mindless, however, I laughed a lot and the comedy was good.

The movie was basically about a teacher, Elizabeth, played by Cameron Diaz who teaches for no other reason, then that she needs a job. Her primary goal is to find a rich man to take care of her, and she thinks Scott, played by Justin Timberlake, will fit the bill perfectly. Amy, played by Lucy Punch, can see that Elizabeth is shallow and only out for self fulfilling goals, and goes about trying to prove it. Russell, (jason Segel) is the gym teacher, and has a thing for Elizabeth, but does quite fit the bill for her.

All in all, like I said, pretty shallow and little depth, but for some reason the humor hit my funny bone today and I enjoyed it. The humor was raunchy, (not as bad as the hang over) definately an "R" rating, and if you are looking for a movie that challenges your mind in any way, this isn't it..but stupid humor? right no it!

Overall, makes you laugh, a little romance and mindless entertainment.