A Whirlwind Movie Week!

I am sure that most of you know by now that I am in law school. Unfortunately for me, the rumors are true: law school is very time consuming. So, having had this week off for a much needed fall break, I thought that I would take the time to see some movies I had been dying to see because all my favorite t.v. shows were re-runs this week and movies are $5 on weekdays (JACKPOT!). What movies were on my list? Well, lots of movies were on my list, but I only saw four: Life as We Know It, The Social Network, You Again, and Easy A. For the sake of everyone's sanity, I will try to keep my thoughts short! One thing that I can go ahead and say for all of the films is I recommend them to you!

Life as We Know It

Starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, Life as We Know It is a film about two single people brought together to raise their best friends' baby daughter after they die in a car accident. This movie has a lot of the typical rom-com plot elements: a strong and opinionated single female who seems unfit for a relationship; an absurdly handsome male who's a womanizer and could not be bothered to have a relationship; and most obviously, the two misfit adults coming together in the end because they fall in love. However, despite the cliches, there are dramatic elements that make this movie slightly different from the rest. Let's face it, most rom-coms do not have the tragedy/aftermath of death hovering, or at least present, throughout the majority of the film. Also, most films do not revolve around two uninvolved people raising a baby! Sure, this movie is definitely unrealistic: if you're someone's godparents, doesn't that automatically make you the next-in-line to raise the kid in question if the parents die? Shouldn't one be informed that they might be responsible for raising a kid if said parents die? And really, someone like Katherine Heigl always being the single lady? Nope. All of the non-realistic elements aside, this is a rom-com/dram (if you will). Obviously, if you are not of the rom-com sort, this is not a film for you. But for those suckers like me whose hearts melt the second the adverse pairing on the screen finally falls in love, you'll like this movie! It's an enjoyable couple of hours that had me laughing and crying...plus, there's an adorable baby!

The Social Network

This movie has gotten a lot of hype, and as a film fan (and wish I was critic), I knew The Social Network was a movie I had to see. I remember hearing about this movie a year ago and thinking to myself, "How are they going to make a movie about Facebook?" But, they did it. The Social Network chronicles the life of Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) and the early years of Facebook. The slogan of the film captures its essence perfectly: "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." A genius idea, making enemies of friends, millions in litigation, and billions in profit later?...you have Facebook. I thought this film was solid in all aspects: acting, story, fluidity, etc. Admittedly, this is a dramatized account of Mark Zuckerberg's life and those in it. However, only real life could provide the foundation for a story so compelling. I recommend this movie to any film lover...especially if you want to get an early start on the Oscars train!

You Again

All I can say is Betty White! This film is your stereotypical romantic comedy...and I loved it! Starring Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver, and Jamie Lee Curtis, You Again forces us all to take a look at ourselves, both in the past and the present. Would you really want to be wholly judged on your high school self? Probably not. Kristen Bell plays Marni, a girl who had an awful high school experience and ended up being a successful young adault. Finally seeming to have the life she always wanted, Marni is brought back down to earth when her older brother is set to marry her arch-nemesis from high school, Joanna (played by Odette Yustman). Joanna, the "Queen Bee" in high school is seemingly still perfect eight years later. What's worse is that Joanna does not seem to remember Marni, but that's all an act. Catfights and emotional conflicts ensue and relationships are damaged. But, like any good rom-com, there is a happy ending and all of the characters end up learning something about themselves and each other. If you are looking for a good laugh, the dance class scene in this film will do just the trick! Every now and then, we all need something lighthearted!

And last but not least...Easy A

Of all of the films I saw this week, hands down Easy A was the most anticipated! I personally am a HUGE fan of the teen film genre (particularly, those of the John Hughes make...what can I say, I was born in the wrong era). Easy A is for The Scarlet Letter what Clueless was for Emma: a smart, modern and satirical revamping of a classic novel. Emma Stone has made a name for herself playing the smart, relatable teenage heroine in other films, but Easy A is arguably her first leading role in a highly promoted film. Stone carries this film with the help of a talented supporting cast including Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, and Thomas Haden Church. Stone plays Olive, an anonymous high schooler whose life becomes much more notable after some false rumors spread like wildfire. Being the smart and witty girl she is, Olive bucks tradition and embraces her new identity as a whore even though in reality, it's all a lie. Fortunately for Olive, there is one guy who stands by her side and does not believe all of the jibberish (Todd, played by Penn Badgley). Unfortunately for Olive, the rumors that Olive does not seek to deny, start to take a toll on Olive and her reputation. She is a modern day Hester Prynne. Like real life, especially real life in high school, all choices and actions (or in Olive's case, actions that were really inactions) have consequences. Without a doubt the best teen comedy since 2004's Mean Girls, this film has a lot of heart, smarts and sass. And, if you are a big fan of the 80s teen movies like myself, you will certainly appreciate all of the classic movie references. Do yourself a favor and see this movie!

And with that, my 4 day-4 movie-thon is complete. Better late than never!
Channeling out,
Erin