#73 "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"

Stats: 2009. Starring Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker. PG-13.

Background: I first got Did You Hear About the Morgans? through Netflix, back when I had both the disks and streaming. Shortly thereafter, it showed up on instant streaming, and I watched it again. I enjoyed it both times, though it’s not a movie I would have said I “had” to own. But then I saw it on sale at Target for $4.75, and I couldn’t resist!

Plot: New Yorkers Paul & Meryl Morgan—he a prominent lawyer, she a high-powered real estate agent—are separated, thanks to Paul’s infidelity. When they witness a murder, they are sent into witness protection in Wyoming. As they adjust to living in a rural setting, Paul also tries to win Meryl back. But the murderer is fast on their trail …

Reactions: There’s just something about Hugh Grant’s bumbling Englishman that I really like! (In fact, the same weekend that I watched this film, I also watched Two Weeks’ Notice, and I would have watched Notting Hill if I’d had enough time!)

Really, there’s nothing special about Did You Hear About the Morgans?—it’s just another romantic comedy. But as I happen to greatly enjoy your run-of-the-mill rom-coms, and as this one is just about as clean as they come anymore, I think it’s a keeper!

Verdict: Keep

#72 "Coriolanus"

Stats: 2011. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave. R. Based on the play by William Shakespeare.

Background: About a month ago, I was watching My Week With Marilyn, one of my Vine review products. Coriolanus was one of the previews on the disk. It looked mildly interesting, and I generally love all things Shakespeare, so when it showed up last week as a product I could request from Vine, I chose it.

Plot: As best as I can tell, here it is: Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a Roman soldier who loves nothing more than fighting for Rome. When he returns home from battle, he is pressured to run for consular of Rome. The common people hate him, though, and eventually he is banished. He turns to his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Butler), to help him exact his revenge on Rome. In the end, he signs a peace treaty with Rome, and Aufidius kills him.

Reactions: Um, yeah … if I hadn’t agreed to review this film, I never would have finished it! First of all, I had no idea what was happening. The film is set in the present, but they kept the Shakespearean language, which just seemed odd. It also made things hard to follow. At times, I just wanted to yell, “Speak in modern English, would you?”

Then there’s Coriolanus. Why do the people hate him? Why does he go from being the presumed consular to being banished? And why does he join up with Aufidius? Perhaps if I’d read the play prior to seeing the film, I would have understood what was happening. There’s a “making of” documentary in the special features that helped clear up some of my confusion regarding what actually happened … but I shouldn’t need to watch the special features in order to understand the film!

All that said, the performances were really good—especially Gerard Butler as Aufidius and Vanessa Redgrave as Coriolanus’s mother. The movie was well done … I just didn’t get it.

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

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

#71 "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Stats: 2010. Starring Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley. PG. Based on the book by C.S. Lewis.

Background: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is my favorite of Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve read it more times than any of the other books, and when I was young, if I ever had a choice as to which of the BBC movies we’d watch, I’d pick Dawn Treader. After the fiasco that was the Hollywood adaptation of Prince Caspian, I was nervous about what they’d do to Dawn Treader. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, odd green mist aside, the filmmakers basically followed the plot of the book!

I originally saw it with my sisters, mom, aunt, and uncle on Christmas Day 2010, and I recently picked the dvd up when it was on sale at Target.

Plot: Edmund and Lucy are summoned back to Narnia, along with their obnoxious cousin Eustace, to help King Caspian search for the seven missing lords of Telmar. Along the way, they discover a variety of enchanted islands, and they must find a way to defeat the sinister green mist.

Reactions: Really, this is an enjoyable film. It sticks close enough to Lewis’s plot to keep me fairly happy, and it really is fun to watch! Also, Will Poulter (Eustace) is quite the talented actor! All the funniest parts of the film belonged to him.

Verdict: Keep