Cinderella Man

Russell Crowe . . . . . . . . .Renee Zellweger
Paul Giamatti . . . . . . . . .Craig Bierko

PG13 144 min 2005

Cinderella Man chronicles the personal and professional struggles of James J. “Cinderella Man” Braddock, during the Depression on his rise to height weight champion.

“Cinderella Man" is a rousing, uplifting and emotional drama. This movie was beautifully acted. Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger anchor an outstanding drama that will become timeless. Paul Giamatti leads an outstanding supporting cast that helps round it out.

This story makes me want to be a better man. This story shows that men can stand up and fight for his family. Crowe’s performance as Braddock showed that a man can defend his family with his life. It also upset me that my own family wasn’t half the man that Braddock was and he can’t even defend his actions.

This should be seen by everyone. I don’t know what awards it was nominated or who was it competition but it couldn’t have been as strong as this film. James J. Braddock was a man’s man and a hero to all. This is an awesome movie and not be missed.

Two other movies by Russell Crowe that should not be missed is "Beautiful Mind" and “ Gladiator”. One of Crowe’s earlier pictures is “Virtuosity”.

5/5 Gs

The Perfect Man

Hilary Duff . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Locklear
Chris Noth . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike O’Malley
Ben Feldman . . . . . . . . . . Vanessa Lengies
Caroline Rhea . . . . . . . . . Carson Kressley
Kym Whitley

PG 100min 2005

Hilary Duff plays a teenager that is frustrated with her mother (Locklear) always moving after a break-up. Finally fed up Holly (Duff) creates a fictional man to date her mother until it’s ruined when the “perfect” man does exist played by Noth.

Watching “The Perfect Man” I can see why Hilary thought that Heather Locklear could play her mother. It’s a touching fluffy movie. A friend of mine said that half of all “chick flicks” secretly appeal to men. Maybe it appeals to women but I found it just a little bit too “chick flick”. It has its charm but it doesn’t touch me like it did females that I know.

It’s a better outing for Hilary Duff than "Raise Your Voice”. I’m guessing since I made it this far I might as while finish with “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”. What I have found is that Hilary is making progress in her acting and that always an accomplishment.

2/5

Raise Your Voice

Hilary Duff. . . . . . . . . . . .Oliver James
David Keith. . . . . . . . . . .Dana Davis
Rita Wilson. . . . . . . . . . . Kat Dennings
Jason Ritter . . . . . . . . . .Rebecca De Mornay
John Corbett

PG13 103min 2004

Young woman (Duff) loses her creative light, after losing her brother in an accident, just before her entrance into a pretentious musical school. Now she must over come her lost and rise to the occasion and reach her potential.

Although I can see the message they wanted to portray the packaging was all wrong. “Raise Your Voice” is Fame, extremely lite, on the Hollywood Starlit Diet. It just didn’t work for me. The movie came off emotional forced and contrived, a waste of movie resources and time. This movie was made to show case Hillary Duffy, was probably the only one not faking but was the least talented of music heard. She brought no emotion I didn’t feel the pain and grief.
The parents are just thrown in to have parents in the movie. It was just a waste of three talented Hollywood veterans. The supporting cast is full of up a coming Hollywood making the television rounds.

The highlight of this movie is the music. There are some creative and interesting musical spot. There are also the pops songs thrown in for good measure. A movie with the same message but better packaging is "Save the Last Dance”. I can say it’s better than “Crossroads” and “Glitter”.

1/5 Gs

Big Momma's House 2

Martin Lawrence. . . . . . . . .Emily Proctor
Nia Long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kat Dennings
Marisol Nichols. . . . . . . . . . Sarah Brown
Mark Moses

PG13 99min 2006

Agent Turner (Lawrence) must go back undercover, as a nanny, to solve a murder investigation of some close to him.

When most people think of sequels most think been there done that, but Martin and "Big Momma" came we something funny and entertaining. Big Momma's House 2
is funnier than the original. The stuff "Big Momma" gets into is funny, although nobody in their right mind would get into some of these things, they are hilarious.

The movie industry tells actors not to do movies with animals and kids and this holds true. The kids stole the show from Martin, "Big Momma" and the rest of the adults. Kat Dennings plays a convincing 15 year old but it’s the younger two children and the dog that shines and steals the show.

These children have the same boilerplate dysfunctions as other kids do in these movies but funnier. See the movie and you'll understand. These kids are off the wall hysterical and should not have been let out of the asylum.

If you haven't seen, Big Momma's House 2, then its well worth the price of admission. Go have a bucket of popcorn to eat, a soda to wash down the popcorn from choking and don't play the stupidly rigged video game machine at the theater, waiting for the movie. So go check out "Big Momma's House" and some other funny nanny movies are “ The Pacifier” and “Mrs. Doubtfire”.

5/5 Gs

Must Love Dogs

Diane Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . John Cusack
Elizabeth Perkins . . . . . . . . Christopher Plummer
Dermot Mulroney . . . . . . . . .Stockard Channing

PG13 98min 2005

Two 40-something preschool teacher (Lane) and boat maker (Cusack) find love in the modern world of internet dating and the hilarity that ensues.

Must Love Dogs is not my usually my cup of tea but I found it funny, as I’m not a forty something looking for love. It wasn’t overall a very good movie but the individual part that made it bearable. It had its moments spread through out the movie.

Christopher Plummer shined as an old player playing the field after the death of his wife. Lane and Cusack are likable as a couple. Jordana Spiro‘s promiscuous younger woman was also a highlight.

Cusack does a much better job in Serendipity. As it was a friend’s movie and I didn’t pay for it this one can wait until it’s on the old release unless you just have to rent it now.

2/5 Gs