#66 "A Family Thanksgiving"

Stats: 2010. Starring Daphne Zuniga and Faye Dunaway. Not Rated.

Background: All I "knew" about this movie before I popped it in the DVD player was that it took place in the 1800's (yup, it was another of those Holiday 6-pack movies that I bought because of something else in the pack), so I was quite surprised and puzzled to see it was modern ... and then I realized I was confusing it with An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, another film that also aired on the Hallmark Channel.

Plot: Claudia is a lawyer on the verge of becoming the first woman at her firm to make partner. She promised her sister, who left her own high-powered dreams behind to raise a family, that she would be there for Thanksgiving. When her boss assigns her a case that must be tried the day after Thanksgiving, she decides her career is more important than a day spent with family. That’s when she meets Gina, a mysterious woman who promises her another chance at life. Suddenly, Claudia is married with two kids and no recollection of the choices that led her there. Though initially desperate to get back to her old life, she soon learns the joys of being a wife and mother. But will her newfound life last?

Reactions: Yes, this film has been done before. Take The Family Man, throw in a little Comfort and Joy, change the holiday, and you have A Family Thanksgiving. But because I’m a sucker for these types of movies, I loved it! This is a perfect movie to put on while you’re cooking or cleaning—you don’t have to pay rapt attention to get what’s going on.

Verdict: Keep

#65 "Christmas in Boston"

Stats: 2005. Starring Marla Sokoloff and Patrick J. Adams. Not Rated.

Background: I taped Christmas in Boston, which is an ABC Family original, several years ago. I recently dug it out and watched it … and then I found it on Amazon for less than $5, so I went ahead and bought it on DVD.

Plot: Gina and Seth have been pen pals since elementary school. She lives in Boston, he in Denver, and they’ve never met. One Christmas, he has to go to Boston for a business conference, so they decide to meet … only when they exchanged pictures years ago, each sent a picture of their (in their opinion) better-looking best friend. They send their friends to the designated meeting in their stead … and end up meeting at Seth’s conference, though neither knows the other’s true identity.

Reactions: This movie is so cute, though it’s not for the younger set. Seth and Gina’s relationship is sweet and innocent, but the same cannot be said for their best friends’ relationship. The movie has a definite You’ve Got Mail vibe to it … I love those mistaken identity stories! It’s a movie I’ll definitely be pulling out each Christmas!

Verdict: Keep

#64 "A Christmas Without Snow"

Stats: 1980. Starring Michael Learned, John Houseman, and James Cromwell. Not Rated.

Background: This came in a Holiday 6-pack (sound familiar?) that I couldn’t pass up at Walmart. I knew nothing about it going in, and I was surprised to find it’s a movie older than I am—it was made in 1980.

Plot: A recently divorced woman (Learned) moves from Omaha to San Francisco to restart her life. She joins a church choir, and the new director decides the choir should put on a concert of Handel’s Messiah. Along the way, the choir faces several trials, including vandalism, death, sickness, and prejudice.

Reactions: I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this film! While it isn’t mesmerizing by any means, it is a nice little Christmas movie. Not all the threads are tied up by the end of the movie, but I found that I didn’t really mind. The movie ends with about five minutes of the Messiah, and I thought it was a fitting conclusion.

I do have to mention a couple things, though. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves when Nebraska is treated as "the sticks" in movies. While the filmmakers did a good job of not making Omaha, where the main character is from, sound too backward, she did bring up a couple of “Nebraska sayings”… one of which I’m certain I've never heard in my 26 years as a Nebraskan! (The one I’d heard was “Can’t died in the cornfield.” This was said after one of the other characters said he couldn't do something. The one I hadn’t heard was “Dead dogs don’t talk,” which was referencing her tired feet.)

Verdict: Keep (I may never watch it again, but I’ll surely watch one of the other movies on the disk.)

P.S.: You can watch it for free here.

#63 "A Child's Christmas in Wales"

Stats: 1987. Starring Denholm Elliott, Mathonwy Reeves, and Glynis Davies. Not Rated.

Background: Oh, Walmart $5 bin, I am powerless to resist you!

I got A Child’s Christmas in Wales in a Christmas 6-pack I found in the $5 bin (similar to the 6-pack A Christmas Romance was in, only cheaper). Now that I have this 6-pack at home, I can’t even really remember why I bought it. But since I’m always up for a Christmas movie at this time of year, I decided to open it up rather than return it!

Plot: It’s Christmas Eve, and Thomas is sad because it is raining, not snowing. To cheer him up, his grandfather tells him about the many adventures he had during his boyhood Christmases. And at the end of the night, after putting Thomas to bed, Grandpa opens the window to find the rain has turned to snow.

Reactions: I sincerely hope the other films in this 6-pack are better than A Child’s Christmas in Wales! It’s not that there was anything wrong with it; it was just incredibly … boring. Apparently it’s quite the beloved film (just check out the reviews on imdb!), but its 55 minute running time was about 45 minutes too long for me.

Verdict: Keep (because there are five other movies packaged with it)

P.S.: If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can watch it free here.

#62 "A Christmas Romance"

Stats: 1994. Starring Olivia Newton-John & Gregory Harrison. TV-PG.

Background: I can’t believe I didn’t see this movie when it first aired. I couldn’t find what network it was on, but I’m guessing CBS, as it is similar in tone to A Holiday to Remember and Christmas in My Hometown (now renamed A Holiday for Love) which both aired on CBS in the mid-90’s. Two years ago (the last Christmas I had cable … oh, how I miss it during Christmas!), I caught this on ABC Family during a Christmas movie marathon. As I probably watched six other Christmas movies that same day, I didn’t remember too much about it. But then I found it in a Christmas six-pack for less than $10. Yes, please!

Plot: Julia (Newton-John) is a single mom living outside a mountain village. She has just lost her job and doesn’t know how she’s going to make ends meet. Brian (Harrison) is the manager of the city bank that holds the loan on her house, and he heads up the mountain two days before Christmas to threaten foreclosure as she has ignored her last payments. He has an accident and ends up concussed and snowed in with Julia’s family … and sparks begin to fly.

Reactions: Of all the Christmas movies I’ve watched in the last few weeks (and there have been many), this one is my favorite. Newton-John and Harrison have palpable chemistry, the girls who play the daughters (one of whom is Newton-John’s daughter) are endearing, and the story line is cute. It’s no more realistic than any other Christmas romance out there (especially the end), but we watch Christmas movies to escape reality, not confront it.

Verdict: Keep

P.S.: For now, anyway, you can watch it on Hulu. Check it out!

#61 "The Christmas Choir"

Stats: 2008. Starring Jason Gedrick & Rhea Perlman. Not Rated.

Background: I watched The Christmas Choir on the Hallmark Channel during the 2008 Christmas season. I also videotaped it—yes, I still use a VCR, not a DVR. I recently went on a Christmas movie buying spree, and I got this in a 3-pack with Moonlight & Mistletoe and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. (Sorry, you’ll have to wait a while—maybe years—for those reviews!)

Plot: Peter (Gedrick) is a workaholic accountant who, through a chance meeting at a bar, becomes involved with a homeless shelter. When he desires to do more than serve food to the men at the shelter, he comes up with the idea of forming a choir comprised of homeless men. This group—known as The Christmas Choir—becomes well-known throughout the city, and Peter learns what it means to forgive, love, and give of yourself.

Reactions: This is an enjoyable film, and though it seems a little far-fetched, it’s actually based on a true story. Rhea Perlman is great as a caustic nun with a heart of gold, and the homeless men—especially musician Bob and pickpocket Juan—fill the story with life. It’s a great feel-good movie.

Verdict: Keep

P.S.: For a limited time, you can watch The Christmas Choir on Hallmark.com.

#60 "The Christmas Hope"

Stats: 2009. Starring Madeleine Stowe, James Remar & Ian Ziering. TV-PG.

Background: The Christmas Hope is the third movie in the series based on the Newsong song “The Christmas Shoes.” I got this in a 3-pack with The Christmas Shoes (see review here) and The Christmas Blessing (see review here).

Plot: When a single mom dies in an accident, she leaves behind a young daughter. Social Services steps in, and when no temporary foster home can be found, Patricia (Stowe), one of the social workers, decides to take the girl through Christmas. Patricia and her husband are on the verge of divorce as they still are reeling from their son’s death two years before, but helping this young girl through her mother’s death opens them both up to the possibility of loving again.

Reactions: You know how on soaps they recast characters all the time? Well, the character of adult Nathan Andrews (the boy who buys the Christmas shoes for his mother in the first movie) has been played by three different actors in three different movies. In this film, they even went so far as to reshoot a scene from the second movie that was used in a flashback. It reminded me of how General Hospital reshot some of the pivotal Lucky & Liz moments after they decided Lucky really wasn’t dead and Jacob Young replaced Jonathan Jackson on the show. (Don’t judge me, okay? Yes, I was a GH fanatic back in the day.) Anyway, I couldn’t get past the fact that Neil Patrick Harris (Nathan in The Christmas Blessing) and Ian Ziering (Nathan in The Christmas Hope) are nothing alike (kind of like Jacob & Jonathan on GH, actually). I think the film would have been better (and less distracting) had they not tried to carry through Nathan’s story line—or if they’d coughed up the money to get NPH back.

The Christmas Hope is definitely the weakest of the three movies—in acting, cinematography, and plot. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever watch it again. Still it’s part of the 3-pack, so …

Verdict: Keep

#59 "The Christmas Blessing"

Stats: 2005. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Rebecca Gayheart, Angus T. Jones, and Rob Lowe. TV-G. 

Background: This is the sequel to The Christmas Shoes, and since I'd never watched that film before, I didn't want to watch this one. I just bought it in a 3-pack with The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope. (See my review of The Christmas Shoes here.)

Plot: Nathan (Harris), the boy from The Christmas Shoes, is burned out from the stress of being a surgeon in a city hospital. He returns to his hometown, where he attempts to reconnect with his dad. He meets teacher Meghan (Gayheart) and quickly begins building a relationship with her. He also connects with Charlie (Jones), an young boy who has just moved to town. When Charlie and Meghan both become ill, Nathan grapples with the prospect facing of loss yet again. 

Reactions: Before I get into my overall review, I have to get two things off my chest: 1). The fact that Nathan hides that he’s a doctor when he meets Meghan really bugs me. I just don’t understand his motivation. This, of course, sets up a major conflict in the movie, as Meghan is furious when she discovers Nathan didn't tell her the truth about who he was. Everyone else in town knew he was a doctor, so why didn't he tell Meghan? 2). You have to pretend the last five minutes of The Christmas Shoes didn't happen when you watch this movie. I was glad to see Rob Lowe reprise his role as Robert from the first movie, and it was good to see the changes Robert made in his life. But to have him not know who Nathan was when he clearly figured it out at the end of the first movie was a bit frustrating. Plus, Nathan left the shoes at his mother’s grave in The Christmas Shoes—but in this film, his father accidentally gave them to a Goodwill-type organization. Continuity, people!

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. It’s not as gripping (or tear inducing) as The Christmas Shoes, but it’s still a good story. I especially enjoyed the story line following Nathan’s father as he finally decided to move on with his life. And you really can’t go wrong with Neil Patrick Harris as a romantic lead. (For another great NPH movie, check out The Wedding Dress. At this rate, I’ll be 50 before I get to it in the review list!) 

Verdict: Keep

#58 "The Christmas Shoes"

Stats: 2002. Starring Rob Lowe & Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Not Rated.

Background: Somehow, I managed to escape this movie until tonight. It probably has to do with the fact that, though I enjoy a good tearjerker every once in a while, I don’t want to be sad at Christmas. I did see a clip at a Newsong concert last year, and I think I may have teared up a bit (though I can't quite recall—that concert was more memorable for other reasons). I’ve been on a bit of a Christmas movie kick lately, and when I saw The Christmas Shoes packaged with its two sequels for less than $10 from Amazon, I couldn’t pass it up.

Plot: Robert (Lowe) is a busy attorney who can’t be bothered to spend time with his wife and daughter. Nathan is a young boy whose mother, Maggie (Williams-Paisley), is dying. On Christmas Eve, Nathan tries to buy a pair of pretty shoes for his mom to wear, but he doesn’t have enough money. Robert sees him, and when he hears Nathan’s story, he decides to help him, and, as my sister said, “His heart grew three sizes that day.”

Reactions: Oh, my goodness. Grab the tissues for this one! Had my sister not been at my house when I watched it, I probably would have broken down into actual sobs. As it was, the tears streamed down my face. The Christmas Shoes may be a TV movie, but it’s one that’s very well done. Just try to watch the scene where Maggie dances with her husband one last time without crying! This probably won’t be in my normal Christmas rotation, but it will certainly be a movie I keep in mind to watch when I need a good cry.

Verdict: Keep

#57 "Christmas Lodge"

We've now hit the Christmas season, and you'll see my weakness for Christmas movies. I've always been partial to Christmas movies, and now that I don't have cable anymore, I'm more inclined to buy Christmas movies on DVD. Not so good for my wallet, I know, but sometimes I just can't help myself! Since I'm already past the "C" section of my DVDs, I'm now reviewing many of my recent Christmas movie purchases (go here to read the "rules" I set forth for myself) in the order I bought them. We'll have more Christmas movie goodness later on, too, as not every Christmas movie begins with the word "Christmas." I'm currently languishing in the "F" section of my movies ... maybe by next Christmas I'll be to the Christmas movies that begin with the word "Holiday"! (Oh, and you should be thankful I didn't decide I had to review all the movies I have on videotape—I bet I've got at least 15 Christmas movies taped off of TV!)

Stats: 2011. Starring Michael Shanks & Erin Karpluk. G.

Background: I don’t remember how I first heard of Christmas Lodge—it may have been my Mom’s CBD catalog. Anyway, it caught my attention for two reasons: 1. It’s a Christmas movie. 2. It stars Erin Karpluk of Canadian TV’s Being Erica (thanks for the recommendation, Hulu!). I didn’t realize until later when I looked it up on imdb that it also stars Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson on Stargate: SG-1). I was sold. (And I felt sorry for Shanks—that picture of him on the cover is certainly less than flattering!) I really had no intention of buying it, even though I really wanted to watch it—I was thinking about renting it from Amazon. But then I saw it at Walmart for $10 and snapped it up. Definitely an impulse buy!

Plot: While hiking in the mountains with her boyfriend, Mary (Karpluk) comes across Christmas Lodge, where her family used to spend Christmas. Now in disrepair, the lodge would take millions to bring up to code. Mary determines to use her connections in the construction and restoration world to help Jack (Shanks), the lodge’s owner, restore the building before Christmas.

Reactions: As far as Christmas movies go, this wasn’t the best, but it was far from the worst (Christmas in Wonderland, anyone?). It is completely clean and sweet, and it has some genuinely touching and funny moments. The cinematography bugged me a bit (and I never notice things like that!) when Mary was first looking around the lodge—the camera kept jumping from showing Mary to showing what she saw, and it was awkward and jumpy.

Also, I have to mention the cheesiest moment of the film. Mary’s dad is a contractor, and she’s trying to convince him to take on the renovations at Christmas Lodge. When he refuses, Mary’s grandpa pipes up with this line: “I remember a tale of a carpenter that would not turn down this job regardless of money or convenience.” I thought, “Really? You’re going there?” Yup. Grandpa even ends his little speech by saying, “You might even ask yourself, ‘What would Jesus do?’” Of course, Mary’s dad can’t argue with that, and he agrees to oversee the renovations.

Still, despite the cheesiness, I enjoyed it. (Come on—it’s Shanks! The sci-fi nerd in me was destined to love it.) Do I think you should rush out and buy it? No. But it will stay in in my Christmas movie collection, and you're welcome to borrow it.

Verdict: Keep

P.S.: The small role of Mary's boyfriend is played by Peter Benson. The name might not mean much, but if you're a Psych fan, he'll look familiar—he played Lester, the Ryan Seacrest character, on the "American Duos" episode. (If you have Netflix, you can watch it here.)

#56 "Beautiful Boy"

Stats: 2010. Starring Maria Bello and Michael Sheen. R.

Background: I remember hearing buzz about Beautiful Boy while it was on the film festival circuit, but I didn’t think too much about it, just that I’d probably add it to my (insanely long) queue if it ever showed up on Netflix streaming. Then it appeared in one of my Amazon Vine newsletters, and since I didn’t have offers for any amazing electronics, I chose it. (That was a joke, by the way. Some "Viners" get offered insanely expensive products, but most of us get newsletters stuffed with books and food. Not that I'm complaining, though—I've gotten some great stuff, including a portable clothes dryer, a baking stone, a great camera ... and lots of food and feminine hygiene products!)

Plot: Kate and Bill are on the verge of separation when their son Sammy (Veronica Mars’s Kyle Gallner) opens fire on his college campus, killing 17 others and himself. As they struggle with their grief and guilt, they realize they need to rely on each other if they want to survive.

Reaction: Bello and Sheen are fabulous in their roles as parents of a mass murderer. This film is worth watching for their performances alone, though the supporting actors were all excellent, as well. (Loved Alan Tudyk of Firefly and Dollhouse as Kate’s brother, and Gallner—who plays "troubled" very well—did a great job with his limited scenes.) One scene in particular stood out to me. They were staying in a motel because reporters were camped out at their home, and Bill convinced Kate to go out for dinner. As she sat at the table waiting for Bill to return with their menus, her strong exterior melted, and she dissolved into sobs. Bello totally sold the scene, which could have come off as overdramatic. Instead, it was the most touching scene of the film. This movie is quiet and understated with an underlying desperation. It’s a well-made look into the lives of people we often don’t consider—the parents of killers.

While I enjoyed the movie, there is a pretty intense sex scene halfway through the film. As I've determined not to own movies with that kind of content, I’ll be getting rid of it.

Verdict: Throw away (after 6 months, which is how long I’m contractually obligated to keep Vine products.)

#55 "Family Plan"

Stats: 2005. Starring Tori Spelling, Jordan Bridges, Greg Germann, Abigail Breslin. PG.

Background: Family Plan is one of those movies I couldn’t help but watch every time I came across it on cable. It ran on the Hallmark Channel, and I’m always a sucker for those movies. (If I could purchase a subscription to watch Hallmark Channel movies online, I would totally do it. Why haven't any cable channels done that yet?) One night, I even stayed up until 2 a.m. watching it—even though I’d seen it before!

A few weeks ago, I needed $7 worth of stuff added to my Amazon cart in order to qualify for free shipping. This was $8. Easy sell. (I have this compulsion to always get free shipping when I shop on Amazon, which I wrote about on my other blog.)

Plot: When the company Charlie (Spelling) works for is bought out by family-oriented Walcott Cookies, she fears for her job. You see, Mr. Walcott (Germann) thinks that family and honesty are the two most important aspects in life, and he doesn’t quite trust someone who doesn’t have a family. In their first meeting, Charlie mistakenly gives Walcott the impression she is married, and she doesn’t do anything to correct his assumption. Suddenly, Charlie needs to “create” a family in order to keep her job. She hires Buck (Bridges), a struggling actor, and her friend’s daughter Nicole (Breslin) to act as her stand-in family. In the process, Charlie discovers that a family just might be the thing she wants most.

Reactions: Could this happen in the real world? Probably not, but it’s certainly fun to watch it play out on television. While I’ve never been much of a Tori Spelling fan, I certainly enjoy watching her in this movie. It’s not deep; it’s not thought provoking. What it is is fun, and that’s sometimes all you need!

Verdict: Keep

#54 "Christmas in Wonderland"

So I watched this movie months ago, wrote the review, and then forgot to post it. I am SO THANKFUL I wrote about it then because watching it again now would be torture. No lie.
Stats: 2007. Starring Patrick Swayze, Tim Curry, Chris Kattan. PG.

Background: I remember seeing commercials for Christmas in Wonderland a couple years ago—I’m pretty sure it ran on Hallmark, ABC Family, or Lifetime during the Christmas season—and I remember being completely uninterested. The only reason I have this movie is it was part of a Christmas 4-pack sold in Walmart’s $5 bin, and my mom gave it to me in my stocking because I absolutely love one of the other movies (Borrowed Hearts—see my review here).

Plot: Wayne Saunders (Swayze) moves his family from L.A. to Edmonton, Alberta, because of a new job. His wife (who stayed behind for some reason I can’t recall) is stranded at LAX, and it’s the day before Christmas, so Wayne decides to take his kids to the mall so he can go Christmas shopping. Wayne leaves his two younger kids with teen-age son Danny, who in turn leaves them in line to see Santa while he goes off moping about how horrible Canada is. When Mary and Brian discover a bag full of money, they decide to go on a spending spree—and find themselves being chased by bumbling counterfeiters (including Chris Kattan).

Reactions: Please don’t waste your time on this movie! The kid who played Brian was the only “natural” actor in the bunch—everyone else came across as either completely over the top or bored. Tim Curry as the Mountie in charge of the counterfeit money investigation was slightly humorous … he played the same over-the-top character he seems to always play—but I couldn’t get over his Scottish accent. What was up with that? At one point, the plot when all "Home Alone" … only it was probably more like Home Alone 4. Do you think it’s funny when a villain gets covered in ping pong balls? Didn’t think so. The most laughable part (and not in a good way) was a scene that’s supposedly taking place at the North Pole. Brian opens a door that leads to the North Pole, and instead of real elves, he sees CGI elves … circa 1995. It looked like an old-school video game. They obviously had to pay someone to create the scene … so why couldn’t they just pay two guys to dress up in elf outfits and pretend to put together some toys?

Verdict: Keep—only because throwing it out would mean throwing out Borrowed Hearts.

P.S.: The cover lies. Patrick Swayze, may he rest in peace, will not melt your heart in this film.

#53 "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Stats: 1986. Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara. PG-13.

Background: I’d heard of Ferris Bueller long before I saw it. It was one of those movies I’d hear guys talking about, and I never really had much interest. Then, somehow (I can’t really remember the circumstance), I saw it. And I really enjoyed it. When a friend gave me a gift card to a local video store, this is one of the DVDs I came home with.

Plot: Ferris (Broderick), his best friend Cameron (Ruck), and his girlfriend Sloane (Sara) take a day off of school to go into the city. Hijinks ensue, and Charlie Sheen makes a cameo appearance.

Reactions: Ferris Bueller is fun … in a way that I’d like to see maybe once every five years! I think this is one of those movies where the parts are greater than the whole. I always think of this movie fondly—“Bueller…Bueller…Bueller;” the contraption Ferris rigs in his room to make it appear he’s there; the Chicago parade scene; Ed Rooney’s face-off with Ferris’s sister when they're both trying to prove Ferris is lying. But when I actually sit through the entire movie, I find my mind wandering. If I waited five years to watch it again, I’d probably love it!

Verdict: Keep

the state of this blog

I was just noticing that in the first "year" of this blog (which was really just the last five months of 2009) I posted about 35 films. And that was without posting at all in November, during which time I wrote a novel! (The novel was truly terrible, though, and it will never be seen by anyone's eyes but my own.) I only wrote about 7 movies in 2010, and I've written about 10 films so far in 2011.

So what's the difference? Why did I write so much at first and so little in the years following? Well, for one thing, I now review tons of books. Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew in that department, as it's extremely difficult for me to pass up a book that sounds interesting! (I currently have 14 books waiting to be read and reviewed. Ridiculous, I know.) Netflix also has something to do with it, I'm sure--now that I have thousands of movies and TV episodes that I can stream through my Wii, I'm less inclined to watch a movie I've already seen. (I'm also less inclined to buy a movie, so I guess that's a good thing.) But I think I'll soon be watching more of my already owned films. Why? Because I'm working on a new, top secret project that will require the use of my hands but not all of my attention. So I plan to plant myself in front of movies that also don't require all of my attention (since I've already seen them) while I work--and then blog about said movies immediately! (No more of this "I watched this film while preparing to move out of my apartment a year ago, but I'm just now getting around to writing about it" stuff. Seriously. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of this blog?) I only have one more "already watched" movie to blog about, and then it'll be back to the proper movies in the proper order. At least I hope so.

Stay tuned!

#52 "Diary of a Mad Black Woman"

Stats: 2005. Starring Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Tyler Perry, and Shemar Moore. PG-13.

Background: This is the first Tyler Perry movie I saw snippets of—back when I had cable (those were the days!), TBS ran it non-stop some weekends. So I knew the basic plot, and when I saw it in Walmart’s $5 bin, I couldn’t pass it up. (A Tyler Perry movie for $5? I don’t know if I’m even capable of passing that up!)

Plot: Helen (Elise) and Charles (Harris) have a seemingly perfect marriage—at least to those looking in from the outside. In reality, Helen has quietly suffered while Charles carries on affairs, physically abuses her, and demeans her existence. On their 18th wedding anniversary, he throws her out of the house, announcing his mistress—with whom he has two children—is moving in. Enter Orlando (Moore), the man hired to load up Helen’s belongings and take her wherever she needs to go. This is definitely not a “meet cute” kind of situation, and Helen soon kicks Orlando out of the truck—basically because he’s a man?—and goes to stay with her grandmother, Madea (Perry). Helen and Orlando meet again, and he slowly wins her heart. Just as he’s proposing, she learns that her soon-to-be-ex-husband (the divorce petition had been granted and they were in the 30-day waiting period) has been shot. She rushes to the hospital, where his mistress is prepared to let him die. Helen insists the doctors do everything they can to save Charles, and after he is released, she returns to their home to care for him. Will she choose love with Orlando or revenge with Charles?

Reactions: Yes, there are things I dislike about this movie. Sometimes it seems too “play like” (and this film was adapted from the Tyler Perry play of the same name)—such as when Madea takes a chainsaw to Charles’s furniture, saying half of it should belong to Helen. Madea’s brother Joe (Perry again) is a crass, perverted old man. And I hate the way Helen devolves into a raging “mad black woman” while taking care of Charles. It also bothers me that Helen leaves Charles after he’s repented and truly changed.

The positives outweigh the negatives in my opinion. Madea is absolutely hilarious (I know she’s an acquired taste, though—I couldn’t stand her in the first few Tyler Perry movies I saw), even though her advice is truly terrible! I love the story line with Brian (also Perry) and his wife. She became a junkie, leaving him to raise their two children. Eventually, she goes through rehab and returns home—where Brian welcomes her with open arms. Cecily Tyson as Helen’s mother is a wise woman who loves the Lord and her daughter—in that order. She is the one who urges Helen to truly forgive Charles and stop using her new position of authority in his life to abuse him as he abused her in the past. Also, Shemar Moore is pretty easy on the eyes!

Have Tyler Perry's movies gotten better in the years since Diary of a Mad Black Woman came out? Absolutely. But this is an enjoyable film in its own right, and it's one I'll watch again.

Verdict: Keep

#51 "August Rush"

Stats: 2007. Starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers. PG.

Background: I saw August Rush with my mom and sister at our favorite theater—The Warren in Wichita, Kansas. The Warren is like an old-time theater—the workers wear white gloves, a velvet curtain rises when it’s time for the film, and they even (sometimes, though I haven’t seen one in a long time) have cartoon shorts. It’s my favorite place to see a movie.

I recently picked this up out of Walmart’s $5 bin. So many of my favorite movies end up there; why don’t I just wait?

Plot: Evan is the product of a one-night stand. He’s never known either of his parents, but he believes they’re looking for him … and he believes music will bring them together. As he searches for his parents, he joins up with a group of young street musicians (this is where he gets the stage name "August Rush") and then earns a scholarship to a Juilliard.

Reaction: I love this movie—with one caveat; I absolutely cannot stand the Robin Williams plot line. (Williams plays Wizard, the "father figure" for the musicians.) I know it’s important to the story, but I just hate it! In the future, I’m pretty sure I’ll be fast forwarding his scenes.

August Rush is completely unbelievable, yet also completely charming. It's a heartwarming story that I'm sure I'll enjoy again and again.

Verdict: Keep

#50 "The Accidental Husband"

Stats: 2008. Starring Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Colin Firth. PG-13.

Background: Sometime in 2007 or 2008, I saw a preview for The Accidental Husband while at the movies. It sounded like a movie I would love, but then I never heard anything more about it. Finally I was able to get it on Netflix … and sure enough, I loved it! This is one I actually didn’t pick up out of Walmart’s $5 bin—I used credit card rewards to get it.

Plot: Dr. Emma Lloyd (Thurman) gives relationship advice on the radio. When Patrick’s fiancée decides to call off their wedding thanks to Emma’s advice, Patrick (Morgan) goes looking for revenge. His computer-whiz friend hacks into New York’s records department and “marries” Patrick and Emma. Emma, who is about to marry her kind but boring British boyfriend (Firth), tries to straighten the mess out—not knowing Patrick is to blame—and ends up discovering the joy in living outside her ordered existence.

Reactions: Yes, this movie is completely implausible to the point of ridiculousness, but it’s still an enjoyable way to spend an evening. It doesn’t hurt that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has never looked better than he does here! I do hate to see Mr. Darcy not get the girl, but his character is one you don’t really root for, anyway.

Verdict: Keep

#49 "An American in Paris"

Stats: 1951. Starring Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron. Not Rated.

Background: When I was in upper elementary or junior high, my cousins checked out three Gene Kelly movies from the library: An American in Paris, On the Town, and Singin’ in the Rain. We watched the three at their house (I think it was during summer break), and I loved Singin’ in the Rain (who doesn’t?), laughed through On the Town, and barely tolerated An American in Paris. It just seemed so boring! I’ve watched the first two multiple times since that day, but I never again bothered with An American in Paris … until I came across it in Walmart’s $5 bin. (My name is Becky, and I can’t resist the $5 bin—admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?)

Plot: Jerry (Kelly) is a WWII vet who stays in Paris after the war and becomes a struggling painter. He meets and woos Lise, a perfume salesgirl, despite the fact that she is engaged and he’s being pursued by a rich American woman. However, the plot is basically an excuse to fill a film with Gershwin music and showcase Kelly’s dancing talents.

Reactions: The music—all by Gershwin—is fantastic. I especially enjoyed the “I’ve Got Rhythm” sequence where Kelly teaches French children to say “I’ve got” and then sings and dances his way through the street. Also, the dream sequence/dance scene common in many musicals of the time is actually tolerable (even enjoyable) as set to “An American in Paris.” Normally I just fast forward through them (can we say Oklahoma?), but I actually paid attention here, due in large part to the music, I’m sure. The film as a whole was much more entertaining than I remembered—perhaps because my attention span is a bit longer than it was at age 13!


Verdict: Keep

Fun Fact: One of the special features on the dvd is an old MGM cartoon short--Symphony in Slang. It is a perfect introduction to American idioms (though some are incredibly outdated) that I think I'll start showing in my ESL classes.

#48 "Far and Away"

Side Note: Here's how far behind I am on my blogging--I watched Far and Away while I was cleaning my apartment after I moved into my house last August. It's now June, and I'm preparing to move from this house into another one a few blocks away. I probably should have rewatched the movie before writing about it, but I didn't want to spend another 2-1/2 hours on it!

Stats: 1992. Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Thomas Gibson. PG-13.

Background: I first saw Far and Away in early high school with my friend Angie. It was one of our many summer movie nights at her house. I may or may not have fallen asleep! I remember really liking the fact that Tom & Nicole were married in real life. So, yeah, that didn’t really work out … (Also, I was all excited to see “that guy from Star Trek.” Yes, I am—and have long been—a sci-fi nerd.)

Plot: After his father’s death, Joseph (Cruise) goes to confront his landlord, whom he holds responsible. He ends up fleeing to America with Shannon, the landlord’s daughter. They hear about free land in Oklahoma and plan to stake a claim. But life—and Joseph’s skill as a boxer—gets in the way, and they separate, only to reunite in Oklahoma.

Reaction: As I started writing this, I had every intention of getting rid of the movie. After all, I’ve owned it for several years and only watched it once in that time. But as I wrote the summary, I started remembering parts of the film I really enjoyed. No, it’s not a movie I’ll watch all the time, but it’s a nice historical film, and I really do like it. (It's gotten kind of a bad rap from critics, but I just came across this on ew.com--I'm not the only one who likes it!)

Verdict: Keep

#47 "Borrowed Hearts"

Stats: 1997. Starring Roma Downey, Eric McCormack, Hector Elizondo. Not Rated.

Background: Borrowed Hearts is a Christmas movie that aired on CBS when I was in high school. I thought it was super cute (though not quite as cute as another CBS Christmas movie), and when I saw it in Walmart’s $5 bin (bundled with three other Christmas movies that I’d never heard of), I wanted it. The problem? I was in the middle of a year long, self-imposed movie purchasing ban. Enter my sister, who bought it and gave it to me in my stocking at Christmas.

Plot: Kathleen (Downey) is a single mom in need of cash. Sam (McCormack) is a business owner in need of a family. He hires Kathleen and her daughter to pose as his family in order to secure a business deal with Señor Del Campo (Elizondo). Of course, they fall in love.

Reactions: This is just as cute as I remembered! Hector Elizondo totally steals the show as the enigmatic Del Campo. This is a feel good movie that the whole family can enjoy.

Verdict: Keep

#46 "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Stats: 1961. Starring Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Mickey Rooney. Not Rated. Based on the story by Truman Capote.

Background: In high school, my friend Dori and I loved Deep Blue Something’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” so we decided to watch the movie that inspired the song. Of course, we rented it on a night when we also rented four or five other movies, and by the time we got to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, we were too tired to watch it. I took it home with me with the intention of watching, but I never did. I think I may have kept it long enough for Dori to incur a late fee, too. Oops.

Last summer, my brother and sister-in-law gave me the movie for my birthday. I wanted to watch it; I just always wanted to watch something else more! Enter a sick day—I was spending the day on the couch anyway, so I decided to pop it in … and fell asleep about 30 minutes later. Two attempts (and another sick day) later, I made it all the way through.

Plot: Holly Golightly is a young party girl who relies on her dates for her income. She also earns money by visiting mobster Sally Tomato at Sing Sing once a week and then relaying a message about the “weather” to his lawyer. When unemployed writer (and kept man) Paul moves in upstairs, he and Holly strike up a friendship, which turns into something more. Then Holly’s ex-husband shows up, Paul becomes published, Holly learns terrible news about her brother, a wealthy Brazilian wants to move Holly to Rio, and Holly and Paul are arrested in connection with the Sally Tomato case. But, of course, it all ends well!

Reactions: The fact that it took multiple attempts to get through this movie should tell you something. I. Was. So. Bored. Even with the complicated plot, I just couldn't get into it. I did enjoy the music, though. Henry Mancini’s score is simply beautiful.

In the future, I think I’ll stick with this version.

Verdict: Keep … for now … since it was a gift …

#45 "The Family That Preys"

Stats: 2008. Starring Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, Saana Lathan, Tyler Perry. PG-13.

Background: Once upon a time, I went on a Tyler Perry binge. I think it was after watching Why Did I Get Married? I went on half.com to see if I could buy it, and I discovered I could get a bunch of Tyler Perry movies for a couple bucks each. So, sight unseen, I bought The Family That Preys and Meet the Browns in addition to WDIGM? and Daddy’s Little Girls, which I’d seen previously. What I should have done is buy all the Madea movies (Tyler Perry's alter-ego) … she’s absolutely hilarious, but I didn’t realize that at the time.

Plot: Alice and Charlotte have been best friends forever—despite the fact that Alice had to struggle to make ends meet while raising her two girls alone, while Charlotte ran a multi-million dollar corporation. Alice’s daughter Andrea goes to work at Charlotte’s company and begins an affair with Charlotte’s married son while her husband struggles to get his construction business off the ground.

Reactions: This is one Tyler Perry movie I should have passed by. I have no complaints with the acting—I especially loved Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break’s C-Note!) as Andrea’s beleaguered husband. I think it’s the plot. The villains are so villainous, that even when Andrea is supposed to become more sympathetic, I was just like, “Good riddance!” Her sister isn’t much better, though she’s not nearly as evil as Andrea—she’s just annoyingly judgmental. Now that I think about it, this could have been a nice “Prodigal Son” type story, but that’s not the route Perry chose to go. Maybe for the sequel? (Also, a little Madea would have helped—she could have whipped Andrea back into shape quickly—while adding some much-needed comic relief.)

I really disliked this movie the first time I saw it, and I would have resold it right away, had I not been doing this rewatch project. When I got to it in its turn, I disliked it as much as I did the first time.

Verdict: Sell.

#44 "Ever After"

Stats: 2002. Starring Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott. PG-13.

Background: I saw Ever After at my friend Dorinda’s 18th birthday party. Well, I saw most of it—we had been at Pizza Hut before going to the theater, and something didn’t sit well with me, so I spent part of the movie in the restroom (TMI?). Afterward, when we were recounting our favorite moments, the chicken scene kept coming up, and I had no idea what they were talking about! Then we went back to Dori’s house and watched Dirty Dancing. Trust me, THAT movie isn’t going to turn up on this list!

Plot: Darker than Disney’s Cinderella and less gruesome than the Grimm version, Ever After is a delightful, highly romantic version of the tale. It actually begins with the Grimm brothers being called in to see an old woman who wants to set them straight and tell them the true story of Cinderella, who was her great- grandmother (or something like that. I can't remember just how many "greats" there were). Danielle (Barrymore) is not your classic Cinderella—yes, she is persecuted by her step-mother and one step-sister, but she doesn’t take it lying down. She is a strong woman who speaks her mind and stands up for those in need—and the prince doesn’t rescue her at the end; she rescues herself.

Reactions: This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I watch it once or twice a year, and I just love it. Scott and Barrymore have great chemistry, Huston makes an excellent villain, and there are plenty of comical moments to lighten the heaviness of the drama. (Watch for the wedding scene with the sobbing bride. Cracks me up every time!)

Verdict: Keep

#43 "Enough"

Stats: 2002. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Billy Campbell, Juliette Lewis. PG-13

Background: I remember seeing a billboard for Enough while visiting my cousin in Chicago one Easter. It took several looks before I realized the woman pictured was J.Lo. I didn’t actually see Enough until it aired on TV a couple years later. Eventually, I picked it up out of the $5 bin at Walmart.

Plot: Slim (Lopez) thinks all her dreams are coming true when she meets Mitch (Campbell). They have a seemingly idyllic life until Slim discovers Mitch’s infidelity. Instantly, Mitch becomes combative, threatening, and violent. Slim flees with their daughter, but she soon realizes the only way to truly escape Mitch is to fight back.

Reactions: Enough preys on every woman’s worst nightmare—that the man she loves is actually a psychopath. (Okay, maybe it’s not every woman’s worst nightmare, but it’s certainly something I’ve thought about!) It’s a well-told story about a woman who refused to play the victim, and I enjoy it every time I see it.

Verdict: Keep

Fun Fact: According to imdb, Billy Campbell and B-movie icon Bruce Campbell (whom I know as Bill Church Jr. from Lois & Clark, though you may know him from Burn Notice or The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.) are second cousins. Who knew?