Cast: Owen Wilson (John Grogan) & Jennifer Aniston (Jennifer Grogan)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Marley & Me page.
I read the book Marley & Me before seeing the movie, since I tend to prefer the books to movies. I think they did a good job selecting what to keep and what to cut out of the movie of Marley & Me. Clearly, not everything from the book could make the cut, but I think they did a very good job with the story. I was a bit surprised that they made John someone who hadn't had a dog before, but I can understand cutting out the sad opening of the book. I don't think that would work as well in the movie - especially the way it was marketed for the holidays.
If you enjoyed the book and are willing to accept that changes have to be made when making a movie, I think you'll like the movie. If you haven't read the book, Marley & Me is definitely a good heartwarming movie and well worth renting.
Grade: B
Labels: 2008, animals, book, comedy, drama, family, Jennifer Aniston, movie, Owen Wilson, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin (Gigi), Scarlett Johansson (Anna), Bradley Cooper (Ben), Justin Long (Alex), Ben Affleck (Neil), Jennifer Aniston (Beth), Jennifer Connelly (Janine), Drew Barrymore (Mary), Wilson Cruz (Nathan), Kris Kristofferson (Ken Murphy)
For complete info on this amazing cast, see IMDb's He's Just Not That Into You page.
Initially, I thought a movie based on the hilarious book He's Just Not That Into You wouldn't be done well enough. Then, the cast was announced and I thought there was no way they'd get that many well-known cast members if the script wasn't well done. Turns out, I was right.
Other than using the title at an appropriately timed place in the beginning of the movie, the title is never used. No one actually says, "He's just not that into you," though they say similar things throughout the movie. I think it was very well done and is a hilarious movie worth seeing (in a theatre or renting it). If I hadn't had friends interested in going, I probably would have rented He's Just Not That Into You. It won't lose anything on the small screen, but I'm still glad I saw it.
One thing I really like about the movie is that it's NOT all women misjudging men. There are guys who don't necessarily get it, too. It helps to show that misunderstanding the (often very clear) messages from the opposite sex is something men and women both have to handle.
I also really loved seeing Greg Behrendt (most public author of the book) in the movie as the minister in a scene. He didn't say anything, but he looked right at the camera and I think it's good that he was a part of the movie. I'm sure it helped to keep the movie on target and funny.
Clearly, it won't be nominated for any awards, but He's Just Not That Into You is a very enjoyable chick flick.
Grade: B
Labels: 2009, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, comedy, drama, Drew Barrymore, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Justin Long, Kris Kristofferson, movie, romance, Scarlett Johansson
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:15 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Vincent Cassel (LaRoche), Clive Owen (Charles Schine), Jennifer Aniston (Lucinda Harris), Addison Timlin (Amy Schine), Melissa George (Deanna Schine)
For complete info, see IMDb's Derailed page.
This movie about adultery and dealing with a blackmailer is very clever. I can't say too much about it without ruining the plot, but I highly recommend renting Derailed if you missed it in the theatre. The movie kept me interested until the very end. It's very well written, acted, & directed. The music sets the mood well. It's a lot like Match Point in many ways. A movie that's not simple seems rare at times. Derailed was definitely a lot more complex.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2005, Clive Owen, drama, Jennifer Aniston, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jennifer Aniston (Olivia), Frances McDormand (Jane), Joan Cusack (Franny), Catherine Keener (Christine), Greg Germann (Matt), Simon McBurney (Aaron), Jason Isaacs (David), Scott Caan (Mike)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Friends with Money page.
I can't really place my finger on it, but somehow Friends with Money fell short of my expectations. The cast is amazing. The story? Not so much. Some of the friends are rich, some aren't. Some are in unhappy marriages and even marriages that are a front of sorts, some aren't. Some are employed and unhappy with their jobs, some like their jobs, some don't need to work... But other than a couple things that happen to Olivia and Marty, not much is resolved.
The movie ends without most of the story lines being sewn up nicely. It's unclear what will happen in most of the marriages and only two relationships seem to have clear futures. This bothered my husband more than it did me, but still at the end of the movie I wondered why they bothered making it. There just didn't seem to be much of a point.
Grade: C+
Labels: 2006, comedy, drama, Frances McDormand, Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Vince Vaughn (Gary Grobowski), Jennifer Aniston (Brooke Meyers), Joey Lauren Adams (Addie), Cole Hauser (Lupus Grobowski)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Break-Up page.
Definitely not a great movie, but it's also no Gigli. The Break-Up is a really cute movie. Having seen the previews, I kept waiting for a few scenes that never really showed up in the movie, but that happens more often now than it used to, it seems.
I think this was a really cute movie. Not the best romantic comedy I've ever seen, but it's definitely worth seeing. If you don't get a chance to see it in theatres, since there are just too many movies with major special effects out there, definitely put it on your rental list.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2006, comedy, drama, Jennifer Aniston, movie, romance, Vince Vaughn
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jennifer Aniston (Sarah Huttinger), Kevin Costner (Beau Burroughs), Shirley MacLaine (Katharine Richelieu), Mark Ruffalo (Jeff Daly), Richard Jenkins (Earl Huttinger)
For complete info, see IMDb's Rumor Has It... page.
The funniest thing about this movie (for Melissa, David, and I, who saw it while Tom was working) was the drama in the theatre before the movie. There was a horrible woman who was mean to people who came in late by her definition (but quite a bit before the movie started). Names were thrown back and forth, people stormed out... More excitement than I'd seen in a movie theatre since A Knight's Tale caught on fire right before the climactic scene in the movie.
That being said, this movie where a woman learns that her family is the Robinsons from The Graduate is very entertaining. I think I got exactly what I expected from the movie. It was a light comedy with a great cast (even Kevin Costner didn't annoy me much). Sure, it was a bit over the top and sappy, but this family is supposed to be the family that The Graduate was based on - what would you expect from them?
Although this movie is probably not worth seeing in theatres, it is very entertaining and I'd recommend renting it.
Grade: B
Labels: 2005, comedy, drama, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Mark Ruffalo, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Ben Stiller (Reuben Feffer), Jennifer Aniston (Polly Prince), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Sandy Lyle), Debra Messing (Lisa Kramer), Alec Baldwin (Stan Indursky), Hank Azaria (Claude)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Along Came Polly page.
This was a much funnier movie than I anticipated from the previews. Of course, I'm glad that they didn't give away everything. Hank Azaria was completely hilarious as Claude and the rest of the cast was good, too. The story about a risk analyst whose perfect life gets turned upside down when his wife leaves him on their honeymoon for another guy and he meets up with an old classmate who's totally wild and free is funny and enjoyable to watch.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2004, Alec Baldwin, comedy, Debra Messing, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 5:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jennifer Aniston (Justine Last), Jake Gyllenhaal (Holden Worther), Deborah Rush (Gwen Jackson), Mike White (Corny), Zooey Deschanel (Cheryl)
For complete cast, see IMDb's The Good Girl page.
The Goodbye Girl is a wonderfully done movie that is definitely more drama than comedy. It makes you sympathize with (and in many ways understand) a woman who is struggling to break free from the confines of her boring life & marriage. The cast is amazing, especially Jennifer Aniston, who clearly proves that she's capable of much more than she ever had to show in Friends.
I highly recommend this one for a time when you're okay with a bit more sad times than happy in a movie.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2002, comedy, drama, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Aniston, movie, Zooey Deschanel
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jennifer Aniston (Kate Mosley), Jay Mohr (Nick), Kevin Bacon (Sam Mayfair), Olympia Dukakis (Rita Mosley)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Picture Perfect page.
Kate is striving to advance in her career path, but keeps getting overlooked, since she's not "stable enough" (read: doesn't have a family). So, she decides to invent a relationship and pretends to be engaged to Nick, a guy she met at a friend's wedding. The idea of a woman having to be married to get ahead in life and project the correct image is a good place to start for a romantic comedy. The acting really is what carries this movie to the point where it's extremely enjoyable, though. Kuddos to Jennifer Aniston and Jay Mohr, especially.
I wouldn't be surprised if you missed this movie when it was in theatres, but think of renting it or catching it on HBO sometime. It's a great way to entertain yourself.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1997, comedy, Jay Mohr, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Mahoney (Mr. Fitzpatrick), Edward Burns (Mickey Fitzpatrick), Mike McGlone (Francis Fitzpatrick), Jennifer Aniston (Renee Fitzpatrick), Maxine Bahns (Hope Fitzpatrick), Cameron Diaz (Heather Davis)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's She's the One page.
She's the One is not a typical romantic comedy. It's a bit darker than most and I liked that. It's not the standard girl who gets between two brothers type of movie. John Mahoney, Ed Burns, and the rest of the cast are amazing. If you missed this one, you should catch it as a rental. It's well worth the time invested.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, Cameron Diaz, comedy, drama, Edward Burns, Jennifer Aniston, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:30 PM show | 0 screams