A Life Less Ordinary

This is one of those films that many will disagree with me on. But I LOVE this movie. Its exactly my kind of humor! A dark dark comedy, great lines like "I thought we agreed - no cliches" and LOTS of great side characters (Holly Hunter is out of control and I love it)! This movie brings Stockholm syndrome to a whole new level! Okay, granted, the end gets a little derailed. It gets a bit weird but so many charming scenes, great chemistry, fantastic side characters and funny romance all throughout the film make me forget that ending. Here is how A life Less Ordinary checks off the Remke ransom demands for RC's:

Giddy: Yes! Ewan always gets me giddy! And he is adorable in this film. The perfect puppy boy!
Lie: There is the whole kidnapping thing...
Big Emotional Outburst: Yes! The love poem scene, the fight to save her from Delroy and Holly, but my favorite is when Ewan is digging his own grave. Classic!
Wedding: Yes! How very Shakespearean we end in a wedding.
Dance Sequence: YES!! I tried so hard to convince my husband to dance our first dance to Beyond the Sea (but he wanted to be "original").
Rewatchable: Yes! I downloaded this to my ipod so I can take it with me on days like today when I'm barely being paid to sit and smile at the very few customers who wander in on a hot day like today.
Love: This is a dark cupid love story - God demands that love happen between these two opposites and angels have a hell of a time making it happen.
Fantasy: Well there's a lot of shooting in this movie that doesn't end in killing them(and anytime you've been stuck in really bad traffic or in an argument with a complete idiot who just keeps making the same illogical point over and over again- you have had the fantasy of wanting to shoot that person - or someone- but not necessarily want the whole death on your hands), then there's the fantasy of being filthy rich, and then there's the comforting fantasy that there are angels out there pushing us toward our destiny.
Journey of the Main Character: The rich girl learns to slum it and open her heart to love and the poor boy learns to be a bit braver
Body Count: 3 (but 2 are not really cause they are angels)
Music Montages/Soundtrack: I like the music in this movie but I don't think there are music montages. I think I heard Squirrel Nut Zippers. I love that band!
Strong Female: Even though she is a spoiled little rich girl she can sure shoot a gun, take control of every situation, have little fear and generally be tougher than anyone else on the screen (except Holly). Oh yes, she's strong!

Did you hear about the Morgans

Oh my god she's back and talking about more RC's? YES! I'm working one of my many jobs that are not helping cover my NYC rent(to quote another not-so-RC-movie "Its hard out here for a pimp) and I had a little free time between kissing the SOHO Chic's asses so I thought I'd rant on this movie I saw last night.
Um.. there are only two ingredients really required in a Romantic Comedy and that is ROMANCE and COMEDY! And this movie... tried... but did not have either really in it. As you know by now, I'm a Hugh Grant fan through and through. No blow job from a hooker is going to turn me away from loving him on the big screen. But every scene it looks like he is desperately trying to get Sarah (or as my husband calls her SKELATOR)to play along and so every line comes out like "hey - maybe you'll find me funny or charming if I say THIS line". Meanwhile, all the surgery and days without food have not only taken away any fat cells left on Sarah Jessica Parker's face but also the ability to react to anything. Ouch, maybe that's a little mean. But ultimately, what we're missing here is JOY. Every great RC has that twinkle in the eye of the actors that lets you know this is fun, this is love, this is JOY! And even Mary Steemburgen seems to have been told this was a drama instead of a comedy. So here is how "Did you hear about the Morgans" (and do I really need to even mention how much that title SUCKS?) adds up to the Remke list of RC Do's:

Giddy: The only time I was Giddy, was when I saw that it was out on video and my husband and I sat down to watch it with a plate full of great pasta. From that moment on though... I was pretty disappointed, sorry to say.
Lie: They are pretending to be from Chicago instead of New York as they stay in the witness protection program.
Big Emotional Outburst: I think there was supposed to be one from Jessica... but I... I... well... I never saw it...
Wedding: Nope
Rewatchable: Nope
Love: Nope - okay that's not fair but really its the kind that is like: I love you but I want to make a baby so much that I drive you crazy and to cheating and then we separate and then we witness a murder together and are forced to be together out in a small town and that makes us bond again...and decide to adopt (the only real positive message I got from this film).
Fantasy: They have a very rich life in NYC that I want...
Journey of the Main Character: I think Sarah is supposed to go through a change out in the small town that makes her love her husband again but um...I ... I ...well... I didn't see it...
Body Count: 1 (thank God for small miracles)
Music Montages/Soundtrack: Oh dear lord, its like the editing team got together and said: Hey this movie is SLLOOWWW paced, lets speed it up with music montages. And they are horrible. Most of the music reminds me of a really bad musical I did in Chicago that I'd rather forget about but it had all that old school country in it. Ug
Strong Female: um... she shoots really well the very first time she picks up a gun?

Dear Producers of Did you hear about the Morgans: I'm sorry - this hurts me more than it hurts you. I know that.

Day 31: Pretty Woman

Did you miss me? I missed me too! I have had a horrible start to the new year and well, its been very rough and I'm even unemployed! Oy! Some things, no RC can fix. I meant to write a couple weeks ago but couldn't get around to it through the tears and struggles. But here were are at an end. Not really cause there is hope! Hope that I will grab a new, flexible, great job. Hope that it will allow me to continue this diatribe on Romantic Comedies (because I have 24 in my collection alone as well as a Netflix membership and a willingness to take suggestions from you dear readers). Hope that it will pay all my bills and allow me to continue to go out there searching to be in one of these great Romantic Comedies. Hope that I'll be in one. Or at best, hope that I'll win the lottery and never really have to hope again!
So with that hope, this is not the end, but lets reflect a bit shall we? We've had 31 days of Romantic Comedies that at worst, distract us from our daily miserable lives and at best, define our very heart's desire. Why would a feminist like me love these oh-so-predictable stories where women are never complete without love? Maybe it was because like so many of us, I was weened on fairy tales. Maybe it was all that Barbie playing. Maybe its that I like a little escapism that horror and action really don't make me feel as warm and fuzzy afterward. Maybe its that there is a little truth to these movies (the struggle to find love, to find someone who sees you, understands you, completes you) but it comes in a palatable form. Maybe, like going to church having already read the bible, its the small variations on each theme that help me to understand love in a new way each time. Or maybe, and most likely, I'm just a damn sucker for a good romance because my heart and head are rarely based in this world of reality.
Oh so, here we are, the last day(well not really) and how appropriate is it that this one is the one that started it all. I was 14 years old and this movie was the first R movie I was allowed to see with my parents. And I soaked in every moment that wasn't covered by my mother's hand. Too many of us have worshiped this movie with out thinking it really through. We forget that this is NOT really the ideal love story (how many of us truly want to be a hooker with a heart of gold and get paid for a week to play a girlfriend to a rich over-worked man)but that is forgiven by all of us because of the chemistry between this great duo. And well... it's just a classic! And here it is, the one, the not so Only (I think the French did this plot first and they had the hooker die at the end, like they do- being french and enjoying the sorrow more)Pretty Woman:

Giddy: Well yes we have all the classic lines and awesome music that from the very opening moment to the very last scene, I'm Giddy!
Lie: Pssst... don't tell anyone but She's a Hooker!
Big Emotional Outburst: "I say who, I say when, I say WHO"
Dance Sequence: Well, one small one when she's trying on clothes but not really no,Oh but there is making love on top of a piano. "Your forgiven"
Wedding: Nope, but we have great montage of shopping for 80s clothes.
Rewatchable: Okay so, when I sat down to watch this movie I was SHOCKED to see scenes that weren't in there before. Did you remember that there was more to the date when she steals him away from work and they go back to the club looking for her other hooker friend and the Limo Driver has a gun that he uses to scare off a pimp? Or that after the dinner with the company he's about to take over, after the "Slippery little suckers" snail scene, she puts ketchup on her steak? I have been watching this movie on TV for 20 years and so it was a lovely little present to see the scenes they always cut out. Also did you know that Hank Azaria is in this movie? In the beginning after the classic lines "No We're From Orlando" (which in Orlando, when I saw this movie for the first time was A HUGE hit line)? So yes, I think I've proven my point about the rewatchable factor.
Love: Oh the "I picked up a hooker and she is actually not a crack addict or a messed up stupid ho that will never amount to anything but a beautiful smart woman that is JULIA ROBERTS and she's going to be the first woman to make me actually enjoy my life" kind of love.
Body Count: ONE! Skinny Marie!
Music Montages:Oh yes! And to this day, I still get teary at the one that starts when he's given her the diamonds to wear and they get on the plane for the Opera.
Strong Female: Yes, if you consider hooking (a career I might have to pursue in order to get me out of this debt and able to pay my bills- hey it's got to have flexible hours right?) and then turning down an incredible offer to be some guys ho for life because she has respect for herself. It's one thing to have sex with a guy for money, its another to do it long term. She's no gold digger!

Day 30: He's Just Not That In To You

3 years into my relationship with my boyfriend and living together, my mother's best friend was watching Oprah. She saw the episode where they talked about this revolutionary book called "He's Just Not That In To You" and my mother's best friend went out, bought the book, tabbed the chapter titled "He won't marry you" and mailed it to me. But, my boyfriend opened the mail that day, when it arrived. Thus a huge argument came about. And to this day, my now husband has a very strained relationship with my mother's best friend. But who knows, maybe the books arrival is what shamed him in to finally popping the question. Or maybe it's what made him take another year to actually do so. But I did actually flip through the book and all it did was make me feel insulted and worst of all - powerless. I mean, I just had to sit around and wait for a guy to be in to me?! What the hell?! Why is it always one sided?
That personal bitterness aside, this is a great movie (which I still can't convince my husband to watch with me)! This movie is... not at all like the book! It has so many great moments! And it is not one sided! I love so many parts of this movie! The entire end, when everyone is hooking up, or not hooking up and learning about themselves, I'm just weeping! So here is how He's Just Not That In To You checks off:

• Giddy: Every scene has a moment, but to narrow down to a few: The 2 ladies talking about having never been dumped but really they had been, the 7 different technologies monologue by Drew, the lashing out but then cleaning up your own mess scene, the oh so terrible phone messages Ginnifer leaves, and my all time favorite gooey moment (whenever it happens in a movie , and it happens a lot in RCs) the stopping the babbling with a kiss!
• Lie: There is some lying and cheating going on
• Big Emotional Outburst: They all get their moments but Jennifer Connelly's is by far the best, cause they keep the camera rolling after she breaks stuff to show her going back to pick it up. Yep, at some point through the tears, you still gotta do that!
• Dance Sequence: Small one at a wedding. Non romantic though. Oh well.
• Wedding: Yes!!!!
  
• Rewatchable: Yes, but this one probably never around my husband.
• Love: All different kinds. My personal favorite story to follow is Jennifer Aniston and Ben Afleck's (cause that's the one I relate to the most - gee I wonder why).
  
• Fantasy: Some LOVELY apartments, some great jobs, some fantastic romantic gestures.
  
• Journey of the Main Character: Despite this star studded film (the film of Jennifers actually) Gennifer, I think, is the one we're following (she seems to be the one the writers are most like) and though everyone has their own little journey in this movie, their is nothing better then learning you are an exception to a rule. :)
• Body Count: almost lost Jennifer's dad... but no.
• Music Montages: Yep
• Strong Female: This book was written to slap insecure women in the face and tell them to get over stressing over guys not wanting them. The movie is a much milder version of that. The women in this movie seem to have moments of strength and moments of insecurity and weakness.
  

Day 29: Serendipity

I will admit it. I'm a believer in signs too. I'm THAT hopeless romantic, yes. Figure 8s for luck, hearts for love, feathers for taking flight and now X's (which I haven't yet figured out what they mean- but I see them all the time). This movie encourages me to continue my belief in signs and fate (and maybe that is not a good thing but I'd rather a life full of wonder, wouldn't you?).

I can't believe this, but I only have seen, till last night, bits and pieces of this movie and I think I must have been in a bad mood when I saw them because I had no interest in tracking this movie down till now. But OH MY GOD - I bounced up and down with joy watching this movie last night! I got the girly giggles that only a really good RC can do. And now, Serendipity checks off on my list:

• Giddy: The definition alone of the title of this movie: A fortunate accident; "They should make pills for this"; both scenes in the skate park in Central Park, Selling a 700 purple suit just to get a name; the engagement ring not fitting; and oh my so many others, I can't possibly write it all down!
  
• Lie: Well, they are "keeping the truth" from their partners that their true love is someone they met just once, but um... no I am not really going to count that. There is the lie that Kate tells to her friend and fiance to go to NYC with alternative motives.
  
• Big emotional outburst: I love that she runs in to the Waldorf ready to break up the wedding screaming STOP - but there is no wedding there.
  
• Dance Sequence: Okay not really but hilarious dancing from John Corbett with his new age band.
  
• Wedding: Well, though we don't get to see it, there is the ALMOST wedding at the Waldorf Astoria. WHOA! See fantasy for the rest of this rant.
  
• Rewatchable: Yes! Oh yes! Living in NYC, this is going to become a "Saturday afternoon Staple"
  
• Love: The Fated kind (and this is why I love RC's! In reality, I'm not quite the believer in fated love. I have believed for a long time that you can have several Mr. Rights in your life, and much of love depends on timing. But being the hopeless romantic I am, I WANT to believe in fated love, and a really good RC like this helps me live out that fantasy for 2 hours).
  
• Fantasy: Oh we have several great fantasies! First off, what artist can possibly afford the apartment the french guy does in this movie, also we never really find out how John Cusack makes so much money to afford a great apartment and a 700 purple suit and a WALDORF ASTORIA WEDDING! My God! Inexplicably rich people! Mmm! Love it! Also, again Fated Love - great fantasy!
  
• Journey of the Main Character: Both of them meet, move on to other parts of their lives and in one weekend decide that they have to seek each other out again.
  
• Body Count: erg. no.
  
• Music Montages: yes I think so.
  
• Strong Female: Yes, Kate is strong and a great individual.

One slightly bad note, I forgot to mention this about Picture Perfect too but what is it with the whore outfits? Was it just the 90's? I mean Jennifer in Picture Perfect in almost every scene is in an outfit I don't think even hookers would wear and then yes, she's hot in it but come on Kate, that ice skating rink scene is um... whoa, that skirt is um... NON EXISTENT!

Day 28: Picture Perfect

Huh. I actually had never seen this movie. Or maybe I did and I forgot. It's meh... I don't know why, I guess it's just I don't really see the love. But technically, it has many of the things I love in my RC cocktail, so lets check it off shall we?

• Giddy: erm... um... wait there's gotta be something here... it's not like this movie is awful or even a drama, it's just sort of meh...
  
• Lie: Okay so she is lying to her company saying that she has a fiance, a guy that she met once at a wedding. And then she hires him to come be her fiance and break up with her.
  
• Big Emotional Outburst: She confesses right before her big presentation to her coworkers and then runs out to find Jay at a wedding and interupt the wedding to tell him she likes him.
  
• Dance Sequence: They mention the bunny hop... but one is never actually done.
  
• Wedding: 2! Yay! Pretty!
  
• Rewatchable: Maybe I'll watch this again to see if it was just my mood from a stressful work week or if it really isn't giddy worthy.
  
• Love: She thinks she's in love with a guy who only wants her if she's unavailable but realizes she's in love with the guy she's made up to be her fiance.
  
• Fantasy: it takes place in NYC with all those big apartments. And because she's engaged, she gets a bigger office and gets to sleep with the man she likes.
  
• Journey of the Main Character: She starts to dress nicer, and realizes the guy she likes is a jerk...
  
• Body Count: no.
  
• Music Montages: yes.
  
• Strong Female: I will give this movie that - Jennifer Aniston is playing a woman who starts off doing anything to get to be a successful marketing executive and learns that she doesn't want that success unless it based on her work and not her lies. Very nice. And she goes after the guy.
  

Day 27: Four Christmases

My father has been quoting for the last 20 years Christmas Vacation. It's not Christmas at our house unless my Dad has said "Shitters Full". This past Thanksgiving, I rented this movie for the family. We LOVED it! And finally, I think my Dad will have something else to quote. This is more comedy than romance but I don't mind! I really don't! Laughed and Laughed at Reese and Vince's misery! Here is how Four Chistmases checks off:

• Giddy: The opening seen where Vince flings off his glasses and takes control...mmmm... also we have the fantastic Mary and Joseph play, practically every house they visit has a moment that has me laughing out loud and giddy happy.
  
• Lie: They lie to their families every year saying they are going to do charity work in some foreign country so they aren't forced to spend the holidays with their horrible families. They get caught in the lie in the very beginning and then must face the consequences.
  
• Big Emotional Outburst: So many!
  
• Dance Sequence: I was laughing too hard to really count, but I don't think so.
  
• Wedding: nope.
  
• Rewatchable: Yes!
  
• Love: This is the kind of love a lot of us start out with I think, common views, common likes, adventurous and fun and then it takes those really trying moments to see what will endure.
  
• Fantasy: The fantasy here lies before the timeline of the movie. The fact that for years they have been going on fantastic vacations instead of being with their families is a GREAT Fantasy (no Mom, if you read this, I'm not talking about you! I love you and of course I want to spend the holidays with you, I'm talking about the REST of the family).
  
• Journey of the Main Character: Reese is great in realizing that her views, her needs are changing (I really sympathize as of late) and has the courage to speak up about it, and walk away from the comfort of what she has in search of it.
  
• Body Count: no, but there are a lot of close calls!
  
• Music Montages: again, laughing too much to remember
  
• Strong Female: Reese- see Journey of the Main Character. Yes! I think that qualifies as strong!