Opened July 9, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.
R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use

I have been waiting very impatiently for this one. In part, because I just adore Julianne Moore and Annette Bening. And in part, because I’m so glad that finally a major motion picture is being done about a normal gay couple that really has nothing to do with them being gay!

It’s a peek into a family. The parents (Moore and Bening) have been together for around 20 years or so. Their oldest daughter has just turned 18 and is soon leaving for college. There’s a 15 year old son who’s a pretty typical teenage boy. The kids have decided to try and contact their biological father (the sperm donor.) There’s a whole system in place through the sperm banks that is set up to handle exactly this (it’s been in the news recently, probably because of the movie.) Contact is made and they meet cryo-dad (see what I did, with the frozen sperm and the dad thing! And the play on the bio… never mind.)

This is about a couple who’s relationship has gotten too comfortable, routine, mundane. Who take each other for granite. I think most married couples can relate to that. Then a stranger is thrown into the mix, who invades their homes and lives, uninvited and unwanted (at least to the Moms.) And they’re left trying to figure out how their family still fits together.

The average, everyday, total normalcy of the family is what I think I most enjoyed. Nobody cared about their sexual orientation! Not the neighbors, or the kids friends parents, or the guys at the hardware store. Not one person. They could have been any couple. FINALLY!

I admit, I have strong feelings about this one. I was anxious to take my 19 year old daughter because she is gay and I was really looking forward to such a positive movie for her. She was excited to see it for the same reasons. And it totally lived up to that. She LOVED it. She is a shy, quiet girl and is still coming into her own. This gave her a bit more confidence that maybe, someday, she can have that normal life too. (I got the OK from her before outing her on the Interwebs!)

This movie is sweet and funny and sad. Just like real life. The acting is superb. I didn’t feel like I was watching a movie. I felt like I was eavesdropping on a family. It was THAT good. Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) & Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth) are all fantastic. Just beyond words… AWESOME!

My overall review: One of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Just seriously excellent.

WORD OF CAUTION: The R rating is for a VERY good reason. There are some pretty graphic simulated sex scenes here. And gay male porn. Yes, you read that right. Most of it is near the beginning, so don’t think that the whole movie is just a big orgy. But for the more prudish (squeamish!) this might not exactly be your cup of tea. And maybe not something you’d take your mother too. Well, I guess that depends on your mom!

The Kids Are All Right official movie website

You can read more of Tiffany’s writing at Mommy in Real Life.

Opened July 23, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.
PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and intense sequences of action

Angelina Jolie kicks ass.

End of review.

What? You need to know more? Fine.

My parents loved it. My teenage boys loved it. I loved it.

I heard that Tom Cruise was originally cast as Edwin Salt, but he backed out. So they did a rewrite and brought in Angelina as Evelyn. That was possibly the smartest thing anyone in Hollywood has done in a very long time! This could have ended up being just another Minority Report, with Tom running around all framed and persecuted.

But Angelina, just WOW! She brings a whole other dimension to it. And you are never really sure just who’s side she’s on. I was questioning it right up til then end. And even then I was thinking, is this yet another twist? Who else is in on it? I didn’t know who to trust (and I was just sitting in my seat!)

I read that Angie did all her own stunts (that the insurance company would allow) but that the only really injury she suffered was busting through a door and rolling into a desk head first. Stitches and a big bandage later, she said she was completely embarrassed!

She won me over in the acting department too. I haven’t been a big fan of hers and so I’ve sort of avoided most of her movies that didn’t involve trying to kill Brad Pitt. I really had no idea if she was a decent actress or not. But then I remembered she was in Girl, Interrupted with Winona Ryder (and the late Brittaney Murphy. RIP, Brit!) Back before anyone knew who she was. And she was seriously intense and awesome. Guess what? She’s only improved with time!! She NAILED this one. Big time. I have total respect for her (in the acting arena, still haven’t forgiven her for the whole Brad/Jennifer split. Team Jen!)

My parents said that by the end of the movie they were completely exhausted! It is a mile a minute race. Just when you think she’s cornered, BAM! She finds another totally unexpected escape route. The storyline is extremely fast-paced, with lots of twists and turns (I feel like I’m writing the review for Inception again!) and loads of double agents!

There are other people besides Ms. Jolie in this one, though Liev Schreiber is probably the only name you’ll recognize. The supporting cast is excellent. All very convincing, maybe too convincing. I couldn’t tell who’s lying and who’s telling the truth!!

A special shout out for the dialect coaches. Not a single Boris or Natasha accent in the bunch! Way to go!!

My overall review: I want to be Angelina Jolie when I grow up (and I pretty much couldn’t stand her before this movie!) Sure, you could wait and rent it. But what fun is that?!

Salt official movie website

You can read more of Tiffany’s writing at Mommy in Real Life.

Opened July 16, 2010 | Runtime: 2 hr. 22 min.
PG-13 for sequences of violence and sequences of action

This is yet another movie where Leonardo DiCaprio runs around looking confused and constipated. Ok ok, I’m being a bit harsh here. But I have been referring to it as Shutter Island 2 with good reason. He’s essentially playing the same type of character in the same type of movie. The setting is different, and this time we’re dealing with dreams instead of psychosis. Though some would argue same difference. But there was definitely a sense of deja vu as a movie goer.

With that said, I thought Inception was GREAT! OMG – the twists and turns! Ok, so you can sort of see the ending coming. But man, the ride there is exciting! I had to remind myself to breathe a few times!

It is VERY confusing! I had a difficult time keeping up with the storyline. It moves at break-neck speed and switches gears constantly. Plus, you’re not always sure what’s “real” and what’s a dream. Which is, of course, part of the fun! I advised my parents not to see it because I knew they’d hate it! They’re always complaining that they have no idea what’s happening. And this one, forget it. They wouldn’t make it through the opening credits!

The special effects are excellent in a very Matrix-y sort of way, what with the whole defying gravity bits. Those Fx guys really know what they’re doing! The streets scenes where they get all bendy – you totally buy it! Freakin’ excellent!

And then there’s Leo in some desperate need of Metamucil… again (do you think he and Rob Pattinson have the same acting coach?) However, as with Shutter Island, it totally works. He IS supposed to be confused and freaking out and hiding. A lot. Which, I suppose, makes you look like you need an uptake in your daily fiber. He’s quite believable as a guy slowly unraveling.

Ellen Page is possibly my favorite. I’ve loved her in just about everything I’ve seen her in. She’s the newcomer. The one everything has to be explained to (so there’s a reasonable motivation to explain it all to us, the audience.) She’s how we found out how all this works and more importantly why. She’s just as awed and fascinated by it all as we are. Can I just say how much I appreciate that they gave this roll to a REAL actress and not just some hot-at-the-moment ditz like Megan Fox? I’m so tired of these bikini stuffers, who couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag, playing doctors and scientists! Give me a break already!

Sorry. Tirade over. Where was I? Oh yeah…

Joseph Gordon-Leavitt gives yet another understated yet crucial performance. I am really liking this guy. You may remember/recognize him as the youngest member of the 3rd Rock from the Sun cast. He has since cut his hair and really honed his acting chops (I think I mixed a metaphor there!) He’s been popping up in more and more movies lately. And with good reason. He gave one of the best performances in last year’s GI Joe and was heartbreakingly sweet in 500 Days of Summer (if you haven’t seen that one, go rent it! Great date night movie!!)

My overall review: This one lives up to the hype. If you love the movie theater experience, go see it now. And I definitely recommend renting it too. Just so that every time you think “Huh? What the heck just happened?” you can do your own instant replay! I’ve already got it in my Netflix queue!

Inception official movie website

You can read more about Tiffany at our Imperfect Women’s Contributors page.

I’m not going to lie. When I was first contacted about attending the press screening of Ramona and Beezus in my area, I had mixed feelings. Feelings like, woot! free movie and press? me? and Ramona? really? is there not a Johnny Depp flick that needs reviewing? But if you know me, you know that woot! free movie won and, hello, I have an 11-year-old daughter, so of course we would be first in line to see a Selena Gomez movie.

Also, until the movie began, I was not certain I could tell the difference between Selena Gomez, Demi Lavato or Mirando Cosgrove. Frankly, still not sure. But I digress…

Carlie and her friend Hannah and I headed off to the *free* movie, wherein *free* = we did not pay for tickets, but we spent $32 at the concession stand. Free? Heh.

I’m not going to lie. The filmmakers knew exactly what they were doing when they cast this film. Selena Gomez? The two 11-year-old girls with me could not have been more thrilled. But mommas, fear not. Your needs were not overlooked in this movie.

SIDE NOTE: Have I ever told you about the time I wept openly while watching Sex in the City because my beloved DJ Chris from Northern Exposure had made a grand comeback as Carrie’s boyfriend Aidan? True Story.

Not gonna lie. Had to stop and process the fact that one of the men from my Top 10 Hotties of all time list is now playing the dad character. Way to make a gal feel ancient. But any movie casting John Corbett in a leading role is going to, at the very least, get my attention.

It was somewhat less traumatizing to have Leo from All My Children play the hot-and-reformed bad boy next door. OMG, do you remember the Leo & Greenlee love story? Swoon.

As for the movie. The girls loved it. And I am willing to drop my hardcore rock-n-roll-mom persona (bwahaha) long enough to admit that I enjoyed it to. Both of my girls cried at the sad part. And then they both cried at the happy part. And then I said oh, holy hell, preteen hormones, someone save me.

As far as finding a movie suitable for the preteen girls that I had with me, this movie was the perfect mix of goofy little sister, pretty/cool teen sister, cute boy/innocent crush and family. It was definitely more Junior Chick Flick than kiddy movie. Which suited my girls just fine.

Between the three of us we give it six resounding thumbs up (as opposed to the last movie I saw with Carlie, which she gave two thumbs down and one finger up the nose. It was that bad.)

Ramona and Beezus opens nationwide July 23.

You can read more of Shana’s writing on her blog – So Not Zen.

Opened July 14, 2010 | Runtime:2 hr. 1 min.
PG for some mild rude humor, fantasy action violence and brief language

For some reason, I’ve had a really hard time writing this review. I’m not sure why, but here goes.

This is inspired by the Disney Mickey Mouse Classic Short of the same name. In fact, there’s even a recreation of the mop scene in the movie! Sweet!

I liked it. Didn’t love it. But definitely liked it. It was better than I expected, but I didn’t expect a whole lot. It’s a FUN movie. I actually liked Nick Cage in it. I didn’t think that was possible so big Kudos to Disney!

I guess my biggest problem is I didn’t think it was a great movie. Some people do. I’m just not one of them. The acting is good, the plot is OK, the special effects are awesome. I don’t really have anything negative to say. It just wasn’t SPECTACULAR. I wanted a little something more.

I took my 14 and 17 year old sons with me. They LOVED it, which surprised me! They’re big fans of Jay Baruchel, so maybe that had something to do with it. They’re also big fans of things blowing up, so there’s that too.

NOTE: STAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CREDITS! There’s a very small bonus scene at the end that is totally worth it!!

My overall review: I can’t give it a high recommendation, though others might. I think it would be great on DVD. This is one you could easily save for Netflix.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice official website

The Summer Blockbuster season is upon us and there are a plethora of movies from which to choose. Since even I can’t see them all (though I do give it my very best shot!) I’m taking requests.

What movies would you like to see reviewed?

Here’s the “short” list of what I’ve seen since Memorial Weekend, in no particular order:

Iron Man 2
Toy Story 3
Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Shrek Forever After
Get Him to the Greek
Letters to Juliet
Robin Hood
MacGruber
Sex and the City 2
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Killers
Marmaduke
Splice
The A-team
The Karate Kid
Cyrus
Grown Ups
Despicable Me
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Requests for upcoming but as yet unreleased movies are also welcome, so I can plan my Friday nights accordingly!

Opened July 9, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.
PG rude humor and mild action

When I saw the first trailer for this movie over a year ago, it was a scene with an insanely obnoxious (and all too typical) American tourist family in Egypt and a giant inflatable pyramid. And I remember thinking What.The.Heck?! It didn’t really make any sense. Then finally around January another trailer, this one with Gru (Steve Carell – the main “villain”) trying to invade another villain’s Fortress of Evil (that looked like it was Bill Gates’ summer home) and a shark. Which didn’t fit in at all with the previous trailer and left me wondering if the filmmakers had decided to scrap the first idea and go in a completely different direction. That would also explain why it was taking so darn long to finally be released!

Subsequent trailers improved (though that inflatable pyramid nor the obnoxious Americans never reappeared) and I began to think “hey, maybe this won’t suck after all.” With the heavy promotion of Steve Carell (and being a big “The Office” fan), I decided to gamble and take the kids to see it.

I’m so glad I did!!

Funny, smart, off-beat, dark and witty. All the things that made the first Shrek film so great (without as many pop-culture references, though there are some.) It’s a movie that’s not just for kids, but for the adults required to endure it with them.

Example: Gru needs a loan, so he goes to the bank. The Bank of Evil. And it has a little sign underneath that reads “formerly Lehman Brothers”.

I can’t tell you the laugh they got out of every adult in the audience (and there were lots of us, it was a packed house.)

Gru is endearing in his devotion to all things evil… and unexpectedly to the three little girls he adopts, for reasons I won’t get into here. No spoilers!!

But perhaps the best bits go to his minions, the tiny yellow pill shaped workers. They could have a movie all their own (and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rolled into one of those Saturday morning cartoons.) They are hysterical. And definitely add so much to this already very funny movie.

Plus, with the voices Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnet and Julie Andrews, how can you lose?

Note: In most areas, it’s showing in both 2D and 3D. We opted for the 2D (well, my wallet did.) I don’t think we suffered in the least.

My overall review: while it’s no Toy Story 3 (and really, what could measure up to that?!) it’s totally worth an afternoon at the theater. If you miss it there, definitely put it at the top of your Netflix. Or better yet, add it to your at-home collection. Your kids won’t be the only ones wanting to watch it over and over (and over!) again!

Despicable Me movie website.

Mel Gibson has once again become embroiled in a scandal over his use of racist epithets (as well as making horrifically violent and misogynistic comments to the mother of his 8-month-old daughter). TMZ, which broke the 2006 story of Mel’s drunk driving arrest and subsequent anti-Semitic rant, obtained tapes of Mel screaming at Oksana Grigorieva, using words we won’t repeat here and telling that if she were to be “raped by a pack of (racial epithet) it would be your fault.”

Mel and Oksana have been battling publicly the past few weeks over custody and support issues; Grigorieva claimed earlier this week that during a confrontation in January, Gibson punched her in the face, breaking several of her teeth and giving her a concussion.

Gibson has been perceived as rehabbing his image somewhat in the past year, appearing in his first film in years (Edge of Darkness, released in January), and making the talk show rounds to promote the film and talk about becoming a father again to his and Grigorieva’s daughter Lucia. This latest scandal would appear to be an enormous setback in any narrative depicting Gibson as “reformed.”

What do you think? Will this affect his career? (From one perspective, at least, it may not matter; Gibson is rumored to be enormously wealthy.) Will you boycott his future films – either acting or directing?

For the last fifteen years, Pixar Studios has been making wonderful and entertaining films that are adored by all ages. Even though their films have different plots, settings, themes, characters, and overall feeling, all of them have managed to fill the hearts of critics and audiences alike.

It all started in 1995, with “Toy Story”, a clever and original story about toys coming to life and displaying unique personalities. Jealously, teamwork, and unexpected friendships were skillfully woven into the tale. Despite the stiff GCI that made humans look lifeless and Zombie-like, “Toy Story” managed to stand the test of time and entertain people from all generations.  Thanks to the success of “Toy Story”, Pixar has managed to move on to more progressive storytelling and complex themes. Yet despite this growth, future Pixar films have managed to keep the childlike, carefree spark that “Toy Story” possessed while also demonstrating their own identity.

 With the release of “Wall E” in 2008 and “Up” in 2009, Pixar films started to gain a new reputation. “Wall E” and “Up” have been described as “heartwarming”,  “tearfully bitter sweet”  and “completely heart wrenching.” Pixar’s new movie, “Toy Story 3”, the final chapter in the Toy Story saga, has many movie goers saying that it is the most heart tugging Pixar movie to date.

As a child of the 90s, I was an obligatory “Toy Story” fan. I had a Woody doll like many others of my generation. I joyfully anticipated the release of “Toy Story 2” and after I saw it viewed it as the ultimate summer treat of 1999. But when I first heard of plans of a “Toy Story 3” as a young teenager, my first reaction was “Why would you want to ruin something so good?” It didn’t matter that Pixar had established their excellence at movie making and they already handled one sequel fantastically. I was skeptical and wished that Pixar would leave well enough alone. I guess I was being pessimistic, thinking that Toy Story would fail to join the pattern of “Good Things Come in Threes”, along with the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Lord of the Rings trilogies.

But over time, as I caught sneak peeks of the production of the third movie, I found myself getting excited and nostalgic about the upcoming sequel. “Maybe I was wrong” I thought to myself. Finally, in June 2009, a year before it was to come out, I, a now seventeen-year-old girl (almost an adult) was convinced that I was in for something very special.

The plot of “Toy Story 3” is actually pretty standard and simple. But do not, under any circumstances, confuse it for being “predicable.” Andy, Woody’s, Buzz’s, and all the other beloved toys owner, has gone from a cheerful and energetic little boy to a serious, but nevertheless warm young man who is bound for college. As you can imagine, he doesn’t play with his toys anymore. Despite this, he still holds a special place in his heart for his toys and has no interest in throwing them away or donating them, much to his mother’s chagrin. As his days before college are numbered, he finally gives into his mother’s wishes –well, sort of. He plans to take Woody to college while Buzz, Jessie, and the other toys are being put in the attic in storage. While doing that, he gets distracted and leaves the soon to be stored toys in a garbage bag in the middle of the hallway. Andy’s mom, using her motherly instincts, assumes it is trash and puts the bag outside to be picked up by the garbage truck which is just a block away. Woody, who has been watching this whole time, panics and immediately tries to rescue his friends. Although his attempt is successful, Woody now has to deal with the other toys that are now bitter and resentful towards Andy due to a simple, but unfortunate misunderstanding. To make matters worse, while Woody is trying to explain to Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang that they were storage, not trash, all of the toys end up in the box for donation – to Sunnyside, a local preschool.

 The toys see that Sunnyside is a bright and colorful place full of diverse toys, ranging from a dingy non-speaking baby doll to an pink fluffy bear (who smells like strawberries!) to an actual Ken doll, who all appear to be very friendly. Andy’s toys, sans Woody, all love Sunnyside and want to stay. Woody is more interested in getting back to Andy’s house before he leaves for college in a few days. Realizing that his friends don’t want to go with him, he is forced to venture alone. However, as soon as Woody leaves Sunnyside, the remaining toys realize that Sunnyside is not toy heaven, but in fact, toy hell. Now it’s up to them to try and escape Sunnyside while also recognizing that Andy has grown up. Has their ultimate purpose been fulfilled?

 While the film definitely plays up the nostalgia, it also takes note of the present and future. No matter how much you don’t want it, change is bound to happen. Everything, in a sense, comes to an end. This can cause stress and horror to many. But what people tend to forget is that an end or a change can give birth to something good. Every end starts a new beginning. Maybe Andy won’t be there to play with his toys everyday like he did ten years ago, but that doesn’t mean life for Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest becomes meaningless. In fact, a different but nevertheless new adventure starts for them. Not spoiling anything, but the ending was one of the most touching things I have ever seen on film. And to be frank, you don’t have to be Andy’s age to fully appreciate the film’s significance. Adults will recognize the message that as we navigate through life things grow more complicated, stressful and in many cases, boring. But we’ll always have the times when we were young not only in our minds, but in our hearts. We cherish the things that brought us joy, even if they don’t exist anymore, such as family, friends, events, and yes, even toys. Children may be too young to fully understand the development that Andy is going through, but the implication won’t be lost on them.

On the internet, there has been mass speculation on symbolism within the film. Is this whole ordeal like the Holocaust and is Sunnyside Auschwitz? Are there subtle Catholic themes that include the toys on a metaphorical road to hell? Such speculation ranges from mildly interesting to confirmation that people on the internet really do have too much time on their hands. I’m not insulting these theories, but I don’t think “Toy Story 3” is the type of film to really go deep into symbolization with. Overall, when you strip it to the bone, “Toy Story 3” is a just story about growing up and moving on. Yes, change might be scary, unsettling and depressing, but sometimes, something good, maybe even something better, is waiting around the corner. That’s the main moral. And what a wonderful moral it is.

 Overall, I highly recommend “Toy Story 3” for all ages. Especially if you, like me, have grown up with Woody, Andy, Jessie, Buzz, and the rest of the gang since early childhood. It manages to be heartbreaking, heartwarming, action packed, and hilarious all-in-one. Using the old movie review cliché, it will “keep you on the edge of your seat.” This film isn’t just for the young at heart, but also the ones who are generally serious, enjoy adult life, but sometimes reminisce of a simpler time.   

Natasha is the daughter of a (very) imperfect woman. She recently graduated high school and will be attending college full-time in the fall.

Sex and the City 2 was released this past Friday, and has apparently taken the second spot at the weekend box office, after Shrek Forever After. I’m glad SATC2 has been released, if only because maybe now I won’t have to hear about it any more. I confess I don’t get the hype over a (reported) crappy sequel to a (reportedly) crappy movie based on a cable television show that was pretty much played out by the end of its run.

Don’t get me wrong; I was once a fan of the HBO series. Not a “best show evah!” kind of a fan, but I caught most episodes and enjoyed them at the time. By the last season or two of the show, I was pretty sick of Carrie; Sarah Jessica Parker’s characterization seemed to have devolved into “Aren’t I cute?” mugging much of the time, and her navel-gazing was in my opinion, less fitting and appealing once she passed 40 (not to be ageist, but come on, we do expect people to grow up at some point, right?). By the time Carrie reunited with Big, I felt that the show and characters had said all that they really had to say, and that was fine. 

But then came the movie. And for some reason it was a big deal. I mean, I already think 99.9% of movies based on television shows are evidence of the dearth of new ideas in the film industry. I think the last TV-show-based-movie I saw was Starsky and Hutch, at least five years ago, and that had the advantage of being a silly but affectionate parody of 70s cop shows. I really don’t understand the point of movies based on television shows that haven’t even been  off of the air for five years. Nevertheless, there was lots of buzz when the first movie came out: Cosmos, shoes, girls’ night out at the theater blah blah blah. Okay, I know I sound cranky, but the whole thing did make me a bit so, the way cultural phenomena that I Just Don’t Get are wont to do. (Especially cultural phenomena that I’m supposed to get by dint of being female.) Then the second movie went into production, and I swear we had movie stills every other day of Charlotte or Samantha in character in some fabulous outfit. I don’t know when I’ve seen a movie in production get so much continuous coverage. So I’m just hoping that now that the movie’s out I won’t have to hear any more about it (at least until they start shooting the next one).

How about you? Do you plan to see SATC2? Are you a fan of the series, of movies based on television shows, and of sequels? Share!