The Holiday

Sophie Rutherford

Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black
Rating: PG

The Holiday shows two women from different worlds, who want to trade what they have for something else. The two women, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) swap homes for the holidays, Iris to Amandas LA pad, and Amanda to Iris's house in the English countryside. What the two women did not expect is the direction this move would take each of their lives. Iris falls for film composer Miles (Jack Black), and Amanda is charmed by Iris's brother Graham (Jude Law). Several hurdles arise during the film, but are predictably solved and the movie ends happily ever after.

This is a good veg out film to see with the girls, but is hopelessly predictable. It would be bearable if it had a bevvy of good looking men, but Law is the only major player in the looks department, made all the more attractive by being cast opposite Black.

Recommended audience - Girls night in.

Check out the trailer for The Holiday

Moulin Rouge!

Alyse Cox

Director: Baz Luhrmann, Jim Broadbent
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
Rating: M
♥ ♥ ♥

Feel like an out-there Romantic Musical? Then Moulin Rouge! is your film! Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris in France the film is based on the Orphean Myth and the Giuseppe Verdi's opera; La Traviata.

The film portrays a story of a young English poet and writer, by the name of Christian (McGregor), Who moves to the Montmartre Quarter. There he falls in love with the Star of the Moulin Rouge, Courtesan and Cabaret actress Satine (Kidman). There is a hold on Satine's life by both the La Traviata and the Duke (Roxburgh) that Christian dares to break which could either result in their happily ever after or their destruction.

Mysterious but bright and colourful the humour in this film is elegant and well devised. With plenty of AWESOME music, singing and dancing it is definently worth the viewing. However, the runs at a considerably fast pass and therefore the story is found to be shallow and completely irrational. As you will notice in all Luhrmann's films, he has an eye for the glamour and extreme dramatisation.

If you enjoyed Baz Luhrmann's other films such as Romeo and Juliet, Strictly Ballroom and Australia this is definently one not to miss!

Recommended Audience: Girls night in

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER

Valentine's Day

Alyse Cox

Director: Garry Marshall

Starring: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Shirley Maclaine.

Rating: M

♥ ♥ ♥ 

Valentine's Day tracks a group of people through their experiences on Valentines Day. From High School sweethearts to those who have celebrated years of love this film brings together all kinds of people and relationships from different experiences. In short, this film has something for everyone.

The film deals with the break-ups, the make-ups, the affairs, forgiveness, the kinky and love that is unbroken and unbound. New love is found and old love revealed. The characters are cleavily connected together so that they all run across each other in the film.

The only criticism of such a film would be its an American take off of Love Actually. It has a similar concept and interconnectivity of characters. However, regardless of similarities Valentine's Day presents new ideas with more characters and pulls the whole thing off quite nicely. Besides if you enjoyed Love Actually you will most likely enjoy Valentine's Day but that is not to say that if you did not like Love Actually you will not like Valentine's Day. Give this film a go it is a guarrenteed pleaser.

With a steller cast this film is definently one to see! Quirky and funny, yet serious and sublime Valentine's Day is worth viewing.

Reccommeded Audience: Anyone who likes that 'warm and fuzzy' feeling.

 CHECK OUT THE TRAILER

Legally Blonde

Alyse Cox

Director: Robert Luketic
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis
Rating: PG
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

A spin off of the Typical blonde this film depicts blondes for all that they are and all that they are not (according to the stereotype anyway).

Elle Woods (Witherspoon) is a college student who is majoring in Fashion Merchandising as well as being the Sorority President. She is madly in love with her boyfriend Warner (Davis), who is about to begin attendance at Harvard Law School.

Elle goes on a date with Warner where she expects his proposal only to find to her horror he is breaking up with her. Desperate to get the man she loves back Elle Woods studies and passes the Law-School Entrance Exam in order to got to harvard and win his heart.

She finds an unlikely friend in Emmett (Wilson) who befriends her and gives her advice on finding her way around Law School. Elle emerses herself in her studies in order to prove to Warner she is capable of being a proffessional Lawyer. However, once she proves capable she is unsure as to whether she needs, wants or loves Warner...

A feel good movie that is far-fetched, corny and silly through its play on the stereotypical 'dumb-blonde' this film is bound to create and uproar of laughter and emotion.

Reccomended Auience: Girls Night, Teen Flick, One even he will enjoy!

Check out the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18cRPnOdQHU

10 Things I Hate About You

Alyse Cox

Director: Gil Junger
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julie Stiles
Rating: PG
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


10 Things I hate About You is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, set in high school.

Bianca (Oleynik) is Kat's (Stiles) sister. Bianca is popular but is not aloud to date due to a family rule that Kat, being her older sister, must first find a suitor. Potential boyfriends for  Bianca, Joey (Keegab) and Cameron (Gordon-Levitt), devise a plan in order to get Kat to date by using badboy Patrick (Ledger).


However, Patrick falls for Kat as she does for him but their relationship will be tested when Kat discovers the truth...


I would have to say that this is one of the greatest teen flicks/Romantic Comedy. A fun and 'cute' story that is also an exceptional adaptation of Shakespeares play. With well developed characters played brilliantly by Stiles and Ledger this is a must see on your list!


Recommended Audience: Teen Flick, Girls Night, Something even 'he' will enjoy!


Check Out the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWmjzCZr0Jw

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Jessica Kunovsky

Director: Peter Sollett

Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron, Jonathon B. Wright  
Rating: M
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Meet Nick O'Leary; a sensitive, young bass player for his queercore band, the Jerk Offs who was recently (being 3 weeks, 2 days and 23 hours)left broken-hearted by his cheating, ungreatful girlfriend Triss. After his band's gig in New York City he gets kissed by a stranger, who actually goes to school with Triss and steals the mixed CD's Nick makes for Triss who just laughs and throws them in the bin. This unusually introduction turns into a whole night adventure for them, as they begin their journey around New York to find their favourite band, Where's Fluffy.

With not much in common and the many obstacles they face throughout their adventure such as Norah's drunk best friend, Nick's obsession with Triss, Norah's 'friend with benefits'. But fortunately their passion for the same music holds everything together and a new relationship is formed.

I recommend this movie for all the Michael Cera fans out there as well as those wanting to watch a cute, quirky love story.

Click on the link below to check out the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUNwvKD81U&feature=related

Mean Girls

Alyse Cox

Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachael McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried
Rating: PG

♥ ♥ ♥

Cady Heron (Lohan) went from home schooling in Africa to being thrust in the midst of a High School setting. There she has trouble fitting in. Once she finds friends, in Janis (Caplan) and Damien (Franzese), she is torn from their company by the most popular and bitchy girls in school, Regina (McAdams), Gretchan (Chabert) and Karen (Seyfried). With Janis and Damien, Cady devises a plan to bring down the bully trio. When a boy, Aaron (Bennett), becomes a part of the mixture Cady begins to become just like Regina George (ring leader of the trio) in order to win the favor of Aaron. But this could result in her losing both him and her real friends...

Mean Girls is a satirical take on typical High School dynamics. Funny and corny but at the same time encompassing a serious tone this film will have you laughing in stitches as well as contemplating the effects of high school drama. The film breaks up the social groups that have become stereotypical in High School. At times Mean Girls tends to appear to take a humorous stance on bullying and bitchiness as well as having a convoluted and in places unresolved ending to the lessons that the film tries to teach. This degrades the concept and quality of the film significantly.

All in all it is a different (in a good way) chick flick which is bound to please the audience just be wary that the ending does not exactly satisfy the plot!

Recommended Audience: Teen Flick, Girls night.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER

Love Actually

Sophie Rutherford

Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightly
Rating: M 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 


The film showcases ten separate stories, the characters of which all are intricately linked in fascinating and hilarious ways. The film starts five weeks before christmas, and follows multiple characters in the lead up, giving detailed perspectives into each of their lives. At the heart of each story, and the film, is the idea of love, and that 'love is all around us'. Love is heartwarming and makes everyone feel splendid, and each of the characters learns this in their own way and at the perfect time of year to have love around; Christmas!
With an all star cast and plenty of laughs and feel good moments, this film will keep you warm all winter! (or watch it again in Summer just for laughs!)

I recommend this movie to anyone who loves a feel good movie and has a taste for sexy English men!
  
Check out the trailer for Love Actually

When Harry Met Sally

Jessica Kunovsky


Director: Rob Reiner

Starring: Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher,
Bruno Kurby
Rating: MA 15+
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Ever wonder whether sex made it impossible for men and women to be friends? Well then this movie is for you.

This classic Romantic Comedy from 1989 follows the relationship between Harry and Sally, starting with their initial introduction after their college graduation. They part their seperate ways after an 18 hour long drive to New York city where after 5 years they meet again.

Meg Ryan is the star of a couple of the most classic comedy scenes including her terrible ettiquette in ordering a meal, which takes her a few minutes to explain what she actually wants. Another hilarious scene is when she is convincing Harry that women can and do fake orgasms. 

I recommend this classic to all romantic comedy lovers out there who want to enjoy a night in.

Click on the link below to see a sneak peak of the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u44zHRpUiKs

When in Rome

Jessica Kunovsky

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Alexis Dziena, Will Arnett, Dax Shepard

Rating: G
♥ ♥

Beth is a young New Yorker who is in love.... with her job. This leaves her little time for a real relationship. After her ex announces he's engaged to a different workaholic women who he is willing to stick it out with, she's left feeling as though there's noone for her. Especially, when her babi sister informs Beth of her of her wedding plans after only 2 weeks of knowing her fiance. However, it is at this wedding in one of the most romantic cities in the world, Rome, that her life and understanding of whats really important to her drastically change.
During the wedding she meets the Best Man, Nick, who she becomes very attracted to and chooses to follow her father's advice and open herself to the idea of love, until she sees him kissing another women.
Due to her mixed emotions, which are exaggerated by a large consumption of champagne, she steals some coins from the Fountain of Love thrown in by people in search of love. By trying to protect these strangers, she finds they bring her far more attention and love than she bargained for...

Overall, this movie is watchable because it has a few funny moments... but predictable. Not a movie on the top of my recommendation list.


click the link below to check out the trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G0J6GC4Pbo

17 Again

Alyse Cox

Director: Burr Steers
Starring: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry
Rating: PG
♥ ♥ ♥

As an adult do you look on your past and wish you could go back and change a decision to alter the course of your life?

Mike O'Donnell (Efron/Perry) gets his chance through a mysterious, very corny (but nevertheless fun) way. In the midst of his seperation as his wife (Mann) is opting for a divorce we meet Mike who is unhappy with his lot in life due to a decision he made in high school.

When Mike gets the chance to go back in time and do it all again he takes the opportunity to fix his relationship with his children and his wife. As he replays his high school moments he finds himself back where he was when he was 17 and he must make the decison as to whether to change the decision he made and alter his entire life...

Heartwarming with a 'Freaky Friday' thing happening this film teaches no regrets and to make good of your lot in life. It will have you laughing at the randomness yet feeling all 'mushy' inside as the film causes you to ponder relationships and the importance of family.

Recommended Audience: Girls Night, Family Movie, Teen Flick

Check Out the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH9MUQTaBow&feature=related

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Jessica Kunovsky

Director: P.J.Hogan

Starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman
Rating: G
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The ultimate chick flick includes love, hate, laughter, tears and shopping; all with a comediy twist. And this movie has it all. So grab your girls and settle in for a great night as you follow Rebecca Bloomwood whose best friend and true love is the shopping mall. Nothing gives her more joy, not even when she's stalked by a debt collector for thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

Desperate for a job in the top fashion magazine she lands a job as a collumnist for a financial saving magazine instead. How ironic!
But once her addiction threatens to destroy her love life and career, she must reconsider what's most important in her life...

Recommended viewers: Girls night in and those wanting to crack their shopping addiction

Check out the link below to see Confessions of a Shopaholic movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBWVH8tNViE&feature=fvst 

The Importance of Being Earnest

Alyse Cox

Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench and Tom Wilkinson
Rating:G
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Smart and Witty with a hilarious cast and storyline this film is bound to have you in stitches.  

Two young men, Algy (Everett) and Jack (Firth) who are similiar in many ways are 'playboy pals' in London. Jack goes by the name of Earnest in order to keep his life in the country private.  Jack falls for a women, Gwendolen (O'Connor), using the name of Earnest to which she declares is the only name she could ever love. 

Algy discovers where Jack lives  and visits Jacks country estate looking for Cecily (Witherspoon) using the name of Earnest. As the name 'Earnest' becomes the only way for each man to secure their woman problems arise leading to a comedy of mistaken identities.

Bound to make you giggle, The Importance of Being Earnest, is a tale of incredilous relationships and mix-ups set forth in a intellectually entertaining and humorous story-line.

Recommended Audience: Girls Night, a Film for you and him

What Women Want

Alyse Cox

Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt
Rating: PG
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The one thing most Women would agree on is that men struggle to be able to listen or understand what it is Women want.
What Women Want depicts a man, Nick Marshall (Gibson) who has an accident and a result of this accident is that he has the power to hear what Woemn are thinking.
Marshall uses this to his advantage in trying to bring down a woman and co-worker, by the name of Darcy (Hunt), he can't stand but as he delves further into her thoughts he begins to fall for her.
Will this gift he has result in his undoing...

Gibson and Hunt work well side by side to bring about a Smart, Sassy and Sexy film that explores relationships between men and women, fathers and daughters and general relationships in the workplace and everyday living.

This is a must see film! Encompassing everything you love about Romantic Comedies in one film.

The Prince and Me

Alyse Cox

Director: Martha Coolidge

Starring: Julia Stiles, Luke Mably

Rating: PG

♥ ♥ ♥

Every girls dream to be swept up by a prince and live happily ever after in his castle as his princess, is reality for Paige Morgan (Stiles) in the Prince and Me. Corny yet heartwarming and funny this flick is sure to make you giggle.

Prince Edvard aka Eddie (Mably) just wants to have fun. He loves cars, women and ultimately is a speculative for the public media. He journy’s to America for College in the interest of seeing American girls topless. There, disguised as merely a rich guy from Denmark, he meets Paige, a moody young woman who has love, fooling around and marriage last on her agenda as she seeks to become a Doctor in her future. Edvard breaks through her walls of angst with his silly but cute behavior and his ability to understand and recite Shakespeare. 

Complications arise when "Eddies" identity as prince is discovered. Paige is thrust into the life of royality and is forced to make a choice between her prince and the career she so desperately wants.

Funny, silly but ultimately romantic, The Prince and Me explores young love and the sacrifices in relationships in a tasteful and beautiful manner. 

Recommended Audience: Girls night, Teen Flick