Romantic Comedy

Angry Angel

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If You are Expecting another Hallmark Christmas Movie, Fasten your Seatbelt!

The movie opens with an obnoxious young Asian woman on a plane giving the flight attendant a hard time and drinking to excess. She turns to the camera and explains that the plane is about to crash, but she doesn’t care because she is already dead. She is an Angel who did not lead quite a good enough life to cruise into heaven with a free ticket. She has to accumulate enough points by doing good deeds on earth to earn her way in. The problem with this one is, her good deed points are constantly being taken away by her “bad” deeds. She has an app on her phone to keep track of her standing. Yep. this one is a little bit different.

It is a rare entry in the Christmas movie sweepstakes: It is hilarious and heartfelt. Not just amusing. Really Funny. Written by Will Gluck, a writer with a strong resume, I suspect that this was meant for theatrical release. This is no mere Hallmark, folks. Great performances all around and great casting. Kudos for starring an Asian American woman as the angel form of the earthly white girl. An original choice. She was obviously chosen because she was the best actress for the part. Jason Biggs plays himself (!). He’s really an angel too. Yes, It is quirky. Did I say that? The love interest is not a fictionally handsome male-model type, but a kind of schlubby but appealing everyman type guy. Again, Kudos. It does not play out like you would expect of a regular Hallmark type movie so it keeps you guessing. It does have a good message and moral like all good Christmas movies should, and plays out in a very satisfying way. I will be watching this one again next year. It is rare that I can say that about a Hallmark movie.**9 out of 10 stars**

Rating: 9 out of 10.

December 18, 2017

Falling for Grace

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Hallmark Type Movie Kicked up a Notch

This was basically a Hallmark romance plot but with a great cast, and much better writing. But since Hallmark movies are my guilty pleasure, this one was right up my street. The cast was very intriguing: obviously someone has some very good friends. A quick perusal of the cast reveal some very respected and high profile actors and comedians. Bobby Flay even makes a cameo and John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted fame has a bit part. I would love to know what got BD Wong so much in a twist that he felt he had to disavow his participation in the movie. He certainly hasn’t directed or produced anything since. It was a warm, amusing, unpretentious, romantic movie with the usual conflict, misunderstandings and a good subplot. I loved the fact that the family spoke Chinese with subtitles. Don’t know why, I just liked listening to it.**8 stars out of 10**

Rating: 8 out of 10.

October 15, 2017

Pride and Prejudice

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David Rintoul’s Performance Costs this 1980 BBC Production

This is an excellent version of Pride and Prejudice second only to the lauded and beloved 1995 production. Elizabeth Garvie’s “fine eyes” and bright performance are a standout. She is lovely and likable. I would put it on par with Jennifer Ehle’s interpretation. Unfortunately, David Rintoul’s performance is a real hindrance. He is as stiff and expressionless as a two by four. He moves through the film like a Zombie. This would have been fine for most of the production, but he almost never unbends to show us his true colors at the end. He only smiles when he is inviting Mr. Gardiner to go fishing, and even then he looks like his face would crack from the effort. Darcy must be shown to have evolved into someone Elizabeth could love and like. Colin Firth revealed Darcy to be shy as well as proud and it was a charming portrayal. Mathew McFayden was almost heartbreaking in the 2005 version. For much of his portrayal, I was looking forward to the change when Darcy finally melts. I was very disappointed. What a lost opportunity! It was very vexing! All of the other actors stand up quite well to the classic, especially Jane, and Mr. Collins. Jane is, in this version, much more the beauty she is described to be. Susanna Harker in the 1995 version is attractive and interesting looking but she is not really a beauty, in my opinion. I do prefer the more comedic performance of Alison Steadman as Mrs. Bennet. The wonderful Julia Salwaha killed as Lydia, and unfortunately, Natalie Ogle’s performance was not up to snuff by comparison.

I have watched this multiple times and it stacks up against every version of this classic of the Austen genre, which is unusual as it was made in the days of stage-like production values. It would have taken just an extra 5 seconds to make this almost perfect. If only…. **8 out of 10 stars**

Rating: 8 out of 10.

August 4, 2017

See Jane Date

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Appealing Lead Supported by Huge Cast of the Semi-famous.

I have tried to watch this over the years several times, and for some strange reason could not get into it. I have no idea why. It was a funny and sharp rom-com with a charming cast filled with many stars that have since made their mark elsewhere. The charismatic and likable lead is the only one that I was not familiar with. But obviously, it’s a personal problem because she had major roles in Buffy, Angel, and had a continuing role in Veronica Mars, one of my favorite shows. She is an excellent comedienne and actress. She steals every scene she is in, playing a character that many women would relate to with a performance that makes her character even more likable and endearing. No Drama-Queen-itis. So when she finally does lose it, it makes a real impact.

As for the rest of the talented cast, I feel like I should just name them off. Rachel LeFevre from Twilight, Holly Marie Combs of Charmed, Cameron Mathison of Hallmark fame, Zachary Levi of Chuck and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Joshua Malina of In Plain Sight, The Big Bang Theory and others, Yannick Bisson of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and The Murdoch Mysteries, and Yanic Truesdale of The Gilmore Girls. Antonio Sabato Jr. I’ll stop there.

This will definitely be worth a re-watch at some point. It’s not really a romance, more a comedy as the focus is on her career challenges, female friendships, and a series of bad dates and disappointments. The love interest kind of comes out of nowhere, although it is foreshadowed. Any Rom-Com veteran will see it coming a mile away. **8 stars out of 10**

Rating: 8 out of 10.

May 14, 2021

Letter Never Sent

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A Fresh Cast Elevates a Familiar Plot

Letter Never Sent is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy. Entirely predictable, sure, but sometimes that’s the charm. This one succeeds because of the cast. The female lead is very appealing (and bares a strong resemblance to Michelle Monaghan). The male lead makes a believable ex-nerd who has loved her his whole life. The secondary leads are engaging as well. The actress who plays her best friend Lily reminds me of a more wholesome Scarlet Johansson. She played the best friend in another romantic T.V. movie and it’s about time this actress got the lead role. The actor who plays the “dumb jock” who falls for her is perfectly cast. And now we come to Eva La Rue. She looks young enough to be the lead actor’s sister, not mother! But since she really is 50 years old, it works. The obligatory current fiancé is played by an actor who really makes you hate him. What more could you ask? I seem to be gushing a bit here, but it is so rare that we get a T.V. romantic comedy that doesn’t seem churned out by the hundreds (thank-you Hallmark) and really checks all the boxes. If only Hallmark would take a page from this example and cast some fresh young talent playing 20-somethings that really are twenty- something. This entry shows that with the right casting and a basic yet well written plot without a lot of gimmicks (Christmas Cookies! Ice sculptures! Princesses! Time Travel! Magic Santa Clauses!), you can make a perfectly charming little movie. **9 out of 10 stars**

Rating: 9 out of 10.

November 28, 2016

Christian Mingle

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Funny and Good in context of other Hallmark-type movies even though this was actually a legit theatre movie(!)

I enjoyed this rom-com very much. I loved the angle of a non-Christian pretending to be an evangelical to catch a Christian guy. Lots of Laughs. It gently skewers a few foibles of the Christian culture while still being respectful and pro-Christian. Lacey Chabert did a charming job and was quite funny in places. The guy was pretty much a non-entity, unfortunately. This movie has gotten a lot of flack from both Christians and non-Christians. Either Christians not able to laugh at themselves, and non-Christians taking it way too seriously. This is not some kind of manifesto for Christianity that needs to be attacked so virulently. It’s just a cute rom-com with using a rather unusual take on a fish-out-of-water story. Morgan Fairchild, by the way. I wouldn’t have recognized her. I guess older actresses are screwed either way. Either look your age and get criticized for looking old or have a lot of work done and look frozen and artificial. I admire actresses who choose the former (if they can get work!) **8 stars out of 10**

Rating: 8 out of 10.

June 22, 2016

The Young in Heart

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Not Just Another Romantic Comedy

Although I once was a sucker for any romantic comedy, especially from the 30s, I have become jaded over the last few years. with the preponderance and availability of so many, thanks to TCM. I have been disappointed time and again. The plots are more often than not clichéd and predictable. The acting is, although good for the time, usually, very different from the style we are used to today. The chemistry between actors is usually nil. The quality of the production second rate.

What a treat and a surprise this film was! It deserves to be as highly regarded as The Awful Truth, It Happened One Night, and any top-notch Romantic Comedy of the 30s. It had me laughing and tearing up. The quality of the production was top tier. Imagine using a clip of the train wreck in this movie (which was just a minor plot device) in a 1960’s popular TV series. That is just one example of how 1st class this film is. Some of the scenes, particularly the father and son speculating over the construction site over how the workers could possibly be having any fun, and the father’s horror at actually having to get a job along with the funeral procession to the door of the Flying Wombat dealership to take his position as a car salesman, are absolutely hilarious. (and not just hilarious “for its time.”)

I won’t add to the praise of the actors from other reviewers on IMDb. Just that I agree wholeheartedly.

It’s not just another Romantic Comedy. It has drama and heart as well. **9 out of 10 stars**

Rating: 9 out of 10.

April 13, 2016