How Do You Know

The plot goes something like this: Reese plays Lisa, a career professional softball player who, at age 31, has just failed to make the team for the upcoming season. Playing ball and her relationships with her teammates have been her life, and she begins her slog through the plot in kind of a lost and confused mode. No better off is Paul Rudd’s character, George, who is in business with his dad, played by Jack Nicholson and, as the movie opens, is under indictment by the federal government for shady dealings (not his fault, or we would in no way want to turn over our darling, Lisa, to him. Though it might have made for a more interesting movie…). Wilson plays Matty, a major league pitcher who is paid millions, and has a superficial, selfish, and somewhat womanizing approach to romance. In my humble opinion, none of these actors are believable in their roles. Maybe if we could have seen each of them doing what was supposedly their job, the back story could have propped up this willing suspension of disbelief (I obviously was not that willing). So Lisa goes out with Matty for about 10 minutes, or so it seems, and decides to move in with him. Meanwhile, George is dumped by his girlfriend, meets Lisa for dinner, and promptly falls in love with her. So which one of these guys is it going to be? How do you know?

Okay, so maybe I could have lived with the plot. I could maybe have even lived with the casting, and subsequent lack of chemistry. Maybe, but probably not. Ultimately, it was the dialogue, though, that was just too painful. It wasn’t funny, it wasn’t at all romantic, and much of the time it was thuddingly boring. And thus, this film was imbued with a lifelessness that I couldn’t forgive. Who can we blame? Let’s start with James L. Brooks, who was at the helm of this project as writer and director. He also gave us Broadcast News, Terms of Endearment, and As Good As It Gets. But that was a while ago. He wrote and directed Spanglish, a Rom Com I did like pretty much. It seems, though, that he lost his touch or something just didn’t jell with How Do You Know. When the dialogue wasn’t weird, it was wooden, or sparse. None of the actors seemed comfortable in or with their roles, possibly because the roles were so ill-defined. The exception to this was Wilson’s Matty, whose character was so hyper-defined as to be a caricature, and not believable for that reason.

Enough already with panning the film. One good feature was that the cinematographer was Janusz Kaminski, the cinematographer or director of photography for such notables as Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and Schindler’s List. And the photography in How Do You Know was good. Too bad it was frequently used to show off Reese’s bronzed skin and impossibly blue eyes. Okay, I better end this review because I’m starting to criticize it again. Reasons to see it? You love Reese, Paul, or Owen (if you love Owen, though, I’d invite you to see (even again) Bottle Rocket or Royal Tenenbaums where he was much more at home). Another reason to see it? You love the Rom Com genre, and don’t feel the need to be as picky as I was about this one. The bottom line is that comedy is subjective, and while this movie was not my cup of tea, it may be yours. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]

Comedy/Drama/Romance

Rated PG-13

DVD Release Date: 3/22/11

The story is thus: Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play self-absorbed, in-love yuppies who always spend Christmas apart from their respective families. This year, though, their flight to Fiji is cancelled, and they are coaxed into a visit to each of their four parents’ households. Much levity and dysfunctional family humor ensue. I haven’t really liked Vince Vaughn too much since Swingers, but his character does have ample chemistry with that of Reese Witherspoon’s, and Reese is, as always, really fun to watch.

But there were parts of Four Christmases that were decidedly unfunny for me. One of many examples of this would be a baby being forcefully knocked in the head.

What did appeal to me were the supporting performances of Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, and Jon Voight (his soliloquy on family sounded like a personal message to his daughter, Angelina Jolie). And if that weren’t enough, you also have Jon Favreau, Tim McGraw, Kristen Chenoweth and Dwight Yoakam. I first really noticed Dwight’s acting chops in Slingblade, where he was villainous and amazing, and then later in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Four Christmases is worth seeing for these actors alone.

There are two other redeeming factors, if you need ‘em. One is the, of course, happy ending. The other is that after seeing this level of family madness, our own families don’t seem so bad. I still prefer holiday movies like Home for the Holidays and Pieces of April much more than Four Christmases, but check out these seasoned actors, and kick off the holiday season with a fluff movie peppered with some deeper messages. – [DVD]

Comedy/Drama/Romance

Rated PG-13

DVD Release Date: 11/24/09

Monsters vs Aliens

When all seems to be lost, a giant indestructible alien probe lands on earth, and the monsters are called on to save the world. If they succeed, they are guaranteed their freedom. And Susan/Ginormica can go back to her life and fiancé.

Actors Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd are the odd men out in this line-up, which is a veritable who’s who of Television (if interested the list is below). With the comedic chops of the actors involved, one can’t help wanting more from the film. But instead it joins the ranks of standard Dream Works fare-enjoyable but not distinctive. The movie is well crafted, delivers on the laughs it promises, and can be enjoyed by most age groups.

From Fox: the voices of Hugh Laurie (House M.D.), Kiefer Sutherland (24). And our favorites from Arrested Development: Will Arnett and Jeffrey Tambor. Half of the cast of The Office lend their voices: Rainn Willson, Ed Helms, and John Krasinski.  Rounding out the lineup are Seth Rogen (Freaks and Geeks), Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report), and Amy Poehler (SNL). – [DVD]

Animation/Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Rated PG

DVD Release Date: 9/29/09