Book Club puts the sex back into sexagenarian

Movie Title:  
    Book Club

Grade:  B-

Rating: PG-13, 104 minutes

In a Nutshell:  I guess you could say that this movie puts the sex back into the word “sexagenarian", although the majority of the leading ladies are in their 70's and 80's.

Sex is the main focus of this movie which, honestly, disappointed me because this talented cast could have done so much more.  There are so many interesting topics that could have been explored to develop the characters better.

The stellar cast includes four Oscar winners and two nominees: Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, and Richard Dreyfus.    

Designed for an older viewing crowd, the audience I sat with laughed non-stop, while I mostly rolled my eyes.

                                                 

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, crude language, and 1 F-bomb.  As Candice Bergan’s character says in the movie, “Must you always be so crass?”  Exactly.
• TONS of wine.  Someone is drinking wine or some other kind of alcohol in almost every single scene.
• Lots of sex out of wedlock and LOTS of talk about sex, often with metaphors. Just so you know, the four women in the BOOK CLUB read all of the books in the Fifty Shades of Grey series, which is what triggers the focus.  Sharon says, "I'm not sure this qualifies as a book."  Exactly.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Reaching millions of people doesn’t come close to reaching just one you love.” – Arthur (Don Johnson)
• “I know I’m getting older, but I’m still learning and one of the things I’ve learned is that I deserve to be happy.” – Diane (Diane Keaton)
•  Friendship
• Self-esteem
• Love and connection
• The power of books!

                                            

Things I liked:

• I thought Candice Bergan’s character was the most enjoyable and realistic.  As a federal judge, I thought it was cute that she named her cat after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.  She's 72 in real life.  By the way, have you heard her famous hit TV show Murphy Brown: Season 1 is coming back to TV?  I used to love that show and am excited to see what they do with its revival.
• The food at the ladies’ Book Club gatherings always looked so good.
• Jane Fonda is 80 and looks amazing.  Have you seen her recent TV show Grace And Frankie Season 1 ?  She's really great in it and looks stunning.
• You should read Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.”  It’s great and referred to in the movie.  What do YOU think it means?
• Keep watching the rolling credits at the end for a few more scenes.
• Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen also played a married couple in the movie The Proposal.  She is only 65, the youngest in the group.  He's 74.
• This was Bill Holderman’s directorial debut.  Hopefully, he’ll bring more older actors and actresses to the Big Screen.  As evidenced by the large audiences I saw for this film on opening day, there is definitely a market there.  Jane Fonda revealed that studio bosses wanted younger stars to play the characters in this movie. Ageism is alive and well in Hollywood.

Things I didn’t like:

• As much as I adore Diane Keaton, and I do, she pretty much plays the same character in all of her movies, including her clothing style with scarves, hats, and pant suits.  She even wore an Annie Hall hat in the pool scene.  It’s like she’s just playing herself in movies.  In fact, her character’s name in this movie is Diane.   Ha ha
• There is such a huge age difference between Ed Begley Jr.'s character and Mircea Monroe's character that it was ridiculous.  I know this is a comedy, but it was just silly.
• This is a true rom-com Chick Flick where all of the men fall all over themselves to please the women (except one). 
• Sometimes it’s annoying when everyone in a movie has unlimited time and money to do whatever they want.
• The second half of the movie really dropped for me. 
• Andy Garcia played Diane Keaton’s nephew in The Godfather, so I thought their ages were unmatched in this film.  In this movie, she says she was born in  1951.  In real life, she was actually born in 1946 and is 72 years old.  Andy Garcia is 62.
• The movie franchise of Fifty Shades of Grey is so pornographic and I’ve never understood how those movies could ever make it to mainstream box offices.  Don Johnson, who is one of the leading men in this movie, is the real-life father of Dakota who stars in those sadistic sex movies.  Gosh, isn’t he proud?
• Blatant brand merchandising always annoys me.  This movie had tons, including Zillow, Bumble, Buca de Beppo, Brooks Brothers, Mercedes, and more.
• Diane Keaton’s character never says “goodbye” when she talks on the telephone.  Do you know people in real life who do that?  So annoying.
• I wanted to see more of Richard Dreyfuss and Wallace Shawn.  They're both so awesome.

Funny lines:

• “The last time she went on a date, she got pregnant.” – Sharon (Candice Bergen)

“I don’t think that’s going to happen this time.” - Vivian (Jane Fonda)
*  "They say that memory is the second thing to go." - Arthur (Don Johnson)
    "What's the first?" - Vivian
    "I don't remember." - Arthur

Interesting lines:

• “Cupid is blind.” – Sharon
• “The choice should be ours.” – Vivian  

                               

                                           @trinaboice

Game Night is a dark comedy with some fun twists

Movie Title:      Game Night

Grade:  B+

Rating: R

In a Nutshell:   “And THAT is how you do a game night!”   

This dark comedy has enough twists to keep the audience entertained and guessing.

Tips for parents: 

• F-bombs, profanity, and other crude language.
• Talk of sex.
• Sibling rivalry.
• Fight Club action
• Blood, violence
• Someone gets shot in the arm

Uplifting theme: 

•  Family, friendship, loyalty 

                 

Things I liked:

• I like Rachel McAdams in pretty much everything she does.
• I love Jason Bateman, but he tends to lean towards the really raunchy movies.  I appreciate that this one was a little cleaner.  He and Rachel McAdams make a joke about child actors that don’t do anything with their lives, which is especially funny, because Jason Bateman was a child actor in the TV show Silver Spoons: Season 1.
• Fans of Lamorne Morris from New Girl: Season 1 will get a kick of his Denzel Washington impersonation.   
• A few fun twists.
• Full of pop culture references.
• Keep watching during the rolling credits at the end.
• Cute opening with clever transitions.
• Some funny lines that I'll probably be quoting for some time.

Things I didn’t like:

•  Some crude humor that lowered the quality of the film.
• The movie poster with Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams is terrible.  There is another movie poster that's being used with game pieces on it, but it isn't very good either.

Funny lines:

* "You're not Liam Neeson!" - Annie (Rachel McAdams)

    "That hurts my feelings." - Max (Jason Bateman)

* "Wait!  You don't have to do this.  I have children at home." - Annie

   "Not with that a$$ you don't." - bad guy

* "Oh no!  He died!" - Annie

*  "Our baby's gonna crush all of the other babies." - Annie

                                            

 @trinaboice

Wonder warms your heart and fills your eyes with tears

Movie Title:   Wonder

Grade:  PG

Rating:  A

In a Nutshell:  Based on the New York Times bestseller by R.J. Palacio, Wonder features a talented cast in an uplifting, heartwarming, and inspiring movie that teaches us all to be a little more kind with one another.  

As Mr. Brown’s precept on the chalkboard says, “When given a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”

The prosthetics and make-up used on Jacob Tremblay are truly a Wonder.  There is enough humor to balance out the emotional moments.  Speaking of emotional moments, you WILL cry.  A few times.  Bring tissue. 

The kids who sat in the audience with me loved it.  It’s a Wonder when both parents and kids can find a movie that they equally like.

Uplifting theme: 

• Who do you aspire to be?” – Mr. Brown (Daveed Diggs)
• “You can’t blend in if you were born to stand out.” – Via ( the lovely Izabela Vidovic)
• “Everyone deserves a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” - Auggie
• “Your deeds are your monuments.” – Mr. Brown’s Precept on the classroom wall.  Summer explains that it means, “The things that we do are things that matter the most.”  
• “Oh Earth, you’re too wonderful for anyone to realize you.” – Via (while acting in the school play of Our Town.)

Things I liked:

• Jacob Tremblay does an incredible job as August Pullman.  He has developed quite an impressive filmography for such a young kid.  He starred in the Room, The Book of Henry, Shut In, Before I Wake [Blu-ray], and even The Smurfs 2.  His real sister, Emma, is also in the movie and plays 
• I liked how the story is told through various people’s perspective.  It’s not just a movie about Auggie, but all of the characters who have their own challenges and growth.
• Some of the kids are really adorable, especially Jacob Tremblay (Auggie), Millie Davis (Summer), and Noah Jupe (who played Matt Damon’s kid in Suburbicon.)
• I got a kick out of all the Star Wars references and the audience laughed every time Chewbaca showed up.
• Someone makes a very kind sacrifice that truly impressed me.  I know, I know…it’s fiction.
• This movie hit theaters the same day as the JUSTICE LEAGUE.  You’ll see a REAL Wonder Woman in the role of Auggie’s mom, played by the wonderful Julia Roberts.   SPOILER:  She looks very comely in the beginning of the movie, but by the end, she appears more hip in an intentional “don’t judge people’s appearances kind of way” and a subtle evidence of how she was completely dedicated to Auggie when she homeschooled him and finally found herself by the end of the movie.
• After starring in Broadway’s hit Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [Clean], the talented Daveed Diggs has been busy working on films lately and has a small, but important role in this one.

Things I didn’t like:

• Yeah, some of the teary moments are manipulative, but they still worked on me.
• Cliché standing ovation scenes that almost every middle-grade movie has lately.
• The bully’s parents were ridiculous.  The mom seemed over-the-top.  I sure hope parents like that don’t actually exist.
• They live in an expensive Brownstone in New York City.  What exactly does Owen Wilson’s character do for a living?  We never learn that, but he’s able to send Auggie to a private school and still have plenty of time to spend with his family.  Fiction, indeed.

Funny lines:

• “Have you ever thought of plastic surgery?” – Jack Will (Noah Jupe)

“Dude!  This IS after plastic surgery!  It takes a lot of work to look this good.” – Auggie

• “What evil man invented Dodgeball?” – Auggie

Interesting lines:

• “Why are you sitting here?” – Auggie

“Because I want some nice friends for a change.” – Summer

“Me too.” – Auggie

• “Good friends are worth defending.” – Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin)
• “Not everything in the world is about you.” – Via  
• “Real friends are hard to find.” – Auggie
• “Auggie can’t change the way he looks.  Maybe we can change the way we see.” – Mr. Tushman
• “We all have marks on our face.  This is the map that shows us where we’re going and these are the marks that show where we’ve been.” – Isabel Pullman   (I loved that sentiment, especially as I age and get more wrinkles!)

Tips for parents: 

• Bullying
• Fist fight among boys
• SPOILER: A sad death
• Julia Roberts shows her kids a floppy disc and they have no idea what it is.  Ha ha
• Two kids cheat during a test.
• The middle school does the play Our Town.”  Your kids may not know anything about it.  You should watch the old movie!
• A kid gets angry and throws something.
• The disease that Auggie has is called mandibulofactuallyacial dystosis, also known as "Treacher Collins syndrome."  Jacob Tremblay visited children who actually have it to prepare for his role as Auggie.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Paper Towns features too many self-absorbed teens

Movie:    Paper Towns

PG-13, 1 hour 49 minutes

Grade:    C for Couldn’t stand the self-absorbed teenage angst  
OR           D for Don't waste your time or money on this

In a Nutshell:    Critics love this coming-of-age movie, but I found the self-centered adolescent drama extremely annoying.

Nat Wolff (whose parents hold the titles of famous writer, director, actor, and musician) plays a nerd who will do anything to be with the girl of his dreams, played by model Cara Delevingne.

Written by John Green, the paper thin characters don’t have the depth that his characters in his book The Fault In Our Stars do.  Read my movie review of Fault in Our Stars here.

On the other hand, teens who long for an epic road trip and are on their own journey to discover who they really are will  probably really like this flick.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Quentin says “I feel my heart beating in my chest.”  Margo explains “That’s how you know you’re having fun.”  

·         Enjoy the moment.  You only get one shot at life, so make every minute count.

Things I liked:

·        The beautiful Cara Delevingne reminds me of a young Merriel Hemmingway.

·         Who doesn’t fantasize about disappearing and having an adventure?

·         I was happy to hear Quentin’s speech at the end about the lessons he had learned about life and the truths he ultimately discovered for himself.  At least there was some growth throughout the nonsense.
-    It was interesting to see the clues Margo left and then watch how Quentin figured them out.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Margo is a total vandal.  Aw, how sweet.  Seriously, I really hated her character. She’s such a terrible role model for your kids who want to see the movie.  I'd be furious if one of my sons chased after such a stupid girl, especially if he ditched high school to do it.  I'm such a mom.

·         Margo says “It’s a paper town.  I mean, look at it: the paper houses, paper streets…and the people too.  I’ve never met anyone who cares about anything that matters.”   - This is such an egotistical, ignorant comment.  If she actually looked in her community, she would find countless examples of people serving one another.  Instead of spending her energy getting revenge on people she considers to be less-than-perfect (as if she is without flaws), she should try serving others and thinking outside herself.  She reveals that she doesn't know who she really is, but she has no forgiveness or patience for others who are trying to figure it out for themselves too.

·         Margo asks Quentin “There’s going to be a time in your life when you ask yourself ‘what do you regret more: removing his eyebrow or not?’”  How stupid.  You know, I have to say that I’ve never regretted my decisions to choose kindness over revenge. 

·         The teenagers in my audience giggled at the disrespectful, rebellious behavior of the teens in the movie. 

·         There’s a totally dumb scene where Lacey (Halston Sage)  sits in a bathtub during a party and invites Quentin to get in with her.  She asks him “what’s the first word you think when you see me? When he responds, “beautiful”, she gets mad and whines that no one ever sees her as smart.  She insists “I’m not a slut.”

·         Margo has a history of running away when her life doesn’t go the way she wants it to.  That’s a horrible defense mechanism.  She also doesn’t consider the feelings of others or the consequences of her actions.  Girls, she may be pretty, but she has terrible qualities that you don’t want to emulate.

Funny lines:

·         “Eyebrows grow back.  Lame is forever.” – the note Margo writes to a guy who did something mean way back when they were in middle school.   Wait a second, isn’t she the lame one for holding a grudge for so long?  I guess she never watched Frozen and learned to "let it go."

·         “Who’s the kid?” – Gus, the security guard

“I’m 6 months older than her.” – Quentin

·         “I’m a big believer in random Capitalization.” – Lacey

·         “Look at us!  We’re ninjas!” – Margo

“I’m not a ninja.” – Quentin

“You are a ninja….just a really awkward ninja.” - Margo

Interesting lines:

·         “Margo loved mysteries so much.  I was thinking, maybe she loved them so much, she became one.” – Quentin

·         “We’re going to right some wrongs.  And then we’re going to wrong some rights.  Basically, this is going to be the best night of your life.” – Margo

·         “We bring the rain and not the scattered showers.” – Margo   (She acts deep, but she is extremely shallow)

·         “Here’s a tip: you’re cute when you’re confident….less when you’re not.” – Margo    (great tip for everyone)

·         “What a treacherous thing it is to believe that a person is more than a person.” - Quentin

Tips for Parents:

·         One of Quentin's friends is obsessed with Quentin's mom and constantly makes inappropriate jokes about getting together with her.

·         Some profanity.
-     Talk of sex, venereal diseases.  The worst part of that is the teens' flippant, casual attitude about sex, as if there are no consequences.

·         The worst thing about this movie is the behavior and attitudes of the teenagers.  As a mom, I really hated this movie.

Loved the movie?   Here's the book, and another one from the same author: