Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
It's Complicated
Yes, . . . we get it. Relationships are complicated.
Especially when those in relationships are beautiful, wealthy, intelligent and funny. Relationships seem to become less complicated when common, everyday people are just trying to get through day by day. Sure, those of us barely getting by have issues; we might think the grass is greener in the next pasture, we just don't have the moxie, resources or narcissism necessary to traipse into that pasture.
Jake Adler, played by Alec Baldwin, has all three. In spades.
Adler, a wealthy attorney once divorced and now remarried, is selfish enough to have an affair and dumb enough to have that affair with his ex-wife. Baldwin plays Adler like those high school jocks who grow up to become a caricature of their youth: he's desperate for attention and love, and will sell his soul and yours to get it.
Alder's ex-wife Jane, played by Meryl Streep, is also desperate and lonely. With kids grown and gone, Jane has little but her work to occupy her time. Scared of serious relationships, she balks when Adam, played by Steve Martin, comes a-courtin'. She jumps at the advances of Jake, and jumps into his bed because he's familiar. But she wants to learn to love Adam.
And in the process of doing that, she learns to love herself.
It's Complicated isn't really, but it is cliche. But it's funny cliche, and it's endearing cliche. It's cliche I can live with.
Especially when those in relationships are beautiful, wealthy, intelligent and funny. Relationships seem to become less complicated when common, everyday people are just trying to get through day by day. Sure, those of us barely getting by have issues; we might think the grass is greener in the next pasture, we just don't have the moxie, resources or narcissism necessary to traipse into that pasture.
Jake Adler, played by Alec Baldwin, has all three. In spades.
Adler, a wealthy attorney once divorced and now remarried, is selfish enough to have an affair and dumb enough to have that affair with his ex-wife. Baldwin plays Adler like those high school jocks who grow up to become a caricature of their youth: he's desperate for attention and love, and will sell his soul and yours to get it.
Alder's ex-wife Jane, played by Meryl Streep, is also desperate and lonely. With kids grown and gone, Jane has little but her work to occupy her time. Scared of serious relationships, she balks when Adam, played by Steve Martin, comes a-courtin'. She jumps at the advances of Jake, and jumps into his bed because he's familiar. But she wants to learn to love Adam.
And in the process of doing that, she learns to love herself.
It's Complicated isn't really, but it is cliche. But it's funny cliche, and it's endearing cliche. It's cliche I can live with.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
2 Guys / 3 Movies
This week AllClick and I discuss Sherlock Holmes, Crazy Heart and The Book Of Eli.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Hot Tub Time Machine
This hilariously funny flick has inspired:
My Top 5: Things I'd Do If I Could Time Travel Back To My Senior Year In High School
1. Write a note informing my future self that spending a decade as a college undergraduate may be a bit much;
2. Have one more dinner of rampsand raccoon;
3. Tell my then-17 year old self, who had never taken an advanced Math class in school, that answering "Mechanical Engineering" to the question of what I wanted to study in college sounded dumb;
4. Pack all those Silver-age comics in some plastic;
5. Watch Risky Business at a genuine drive-in theater
My Top 5: Things I'd Do If I Could Time Travel Back To My Senior Year In High School
1. Write a note informing my future self that spending a decade as a college undergraduate may be a bit much;2. Have one more dinner of ramps
3. Tell my then-17 year old self, who had never taken an advanced Math class in school, that answering "Mechanical Engineering" to the question of what I wanted to study in college sounded dumb;
4. Pack all those Silver-age comics in some plastic;
5. Watch Risky Business at a genuine drive-in theater
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