Movie Review: What’s Your Number

When I first saw the trailer for this movie I figured it would be a renter. It had all the elements of a movie I’d put on when It was chick flick night, including the most essential — eye candy — which in this case came via Chris Evans. But while it wasn’t exactly chick flick night, I did end up liking and laughing and well, swooned a bit, as if it were.

Like “Friends with Benefits,” I was pleasantly surprised with “What’s Your Number?” Given its premise — a girl who is desperate to reconnect with the 19 men she’s slept with to determine if one of them could be “the one” — I actually laughed throughout the whole movie. And, like Friends, I found the story to be a fun telling of the “guy meets girl, guy falls for girl, girl is a bitch and ignores the way she feels for the guy therefore dumping the guy, only to seek him out at the end” story.

Anna Farris is absolutely adorable as lead character Lilly Darling and Chris Evans (despite his usual wooden acting), is perfect opposite her as hunky next door neighbor/musician/secret good guy Collin. Their chemistry is great and almost instantly, you feel as if they are two of your own friends – a pair so obviously perfect for each other you wonder when they will see it, too.

“What’s Your Number?” is currently on PPV and IMHO worth the $5.99. Check it out and don’t be surprised if you find yourself traveling down the path of main character Lilly, remembering your own past loves (or in some cases, one night stands or three date break ups). It’s hard not to in this movie that can’t help but remind you of every guy (or girl) you’ve ever kissed. But if you want my advice, skip your own tallying and stick to a movie snack instead.

Movie Review: Chronicle

We’ve all seen our share of superhero movies. Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of them for the most part over the years. Sure, I grew up with Superman– there was an undeniable magnetism in Christopher Reeves that would turn any moviegoer into a fan. And sure, I ran around in Wonder Woman Underoos like many other 70s babies. And well, ok, who didn’t love Batman when it hit theaters in 1989-”ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” But these caveats aside, I shied away for the most part from flicks centered around superheroes whenever they hit the theater.

All that changed for me when X-Men arrived in 2000. Maybe my passion in film had allowed me to finally look at movies, all movies, in a whole new light; to think about the stories behind the characters, the messages of the films, and in some cases, check out mentally, and simply watch the good guy beat the hell out of the bad guy. It may have taken me awhile, but I finally got it, and superhero flicks no longer seemed juvenile, or even boyish, but well, pretty darn fantastic.

This past Friday I checked out Chronicle. It had been on my list of movies to see for a few months when the trailer began making the rounds. I was curious about a movie where three high school friends possessed a power that gave them the ability to move things with their mind, liked its short run time (too many movies have run on and on lately when really, they could have ended way before the 2 hour mark), and (honestly) the movie I wanted to see was playing later than I thought my sleep eyes could handle (the joys of getting old).

I sighed in disappointment when I realized after the first few minutes it was a found footage film . I’ve not been a fan of those either, except for Blair Witch which scared the hell out of me — the guy, standing in the corner at the end….what the hell was that?!?! But I quickly got over it as the movie unfolded.

Wrapped around three classmates who make a discovery that leads them to develop a strength that can only be described as Godlike-telekinesis,  the three become unlikely friends, and as their powers grow, use it to deal with the everyday perils of high school and their lives as they know it.

It wasn’t your typical superhero movie, but when the lights came on and credits began to roll, I found myself pleasantly surprised. There are moments that make you laugh out loud and moments of darkness that pull you so far down you wondered how it was possible in a film centered around such a simple story arc can go from one emotion to the next. But it did and in the end what I saw was an incredible story centered around the simple question of what if – what if one day you were given a power that could change your life, powers like those of a superhero? Would you use it for good, bad, or could you handle it?

Through its unique story, told through characters you can’t help but like, Chronicle answers that question simply: you wouldn’t use it, it would use you. And unlike superhero movies which leave you wanting the abilities of its characters, this movie left you glad you didn’t. To me, it was a fabulous twist on the superhero movie and for that, it gets a solid thumbs up from me.

Have you seen Chronicle? Did you like it? What are your favorite superhero movies?

Clap your hands ya’al it’s alright…remembering Whitney

I have to admit. Over the years I’ve done my share of bashing Whitney for drug abuse, for marrying that derelict Bobby Brown, for ruining her God-given gift of a voice. But as I trolled Twitter last weekend and read the news as it unfolded tweet after tweet that she had been found dead, I wasn’t shocked, but I did find myself grow sad.

The “Greatest Love of All” 45 (album for you youngsters) was one of my first music purchases. The first album I bought on my own, with my own hard earned chores money. (The Go Gos “Head Over Heels” was the second, in case you were curious.) I must have played that song over and over until the needle from the record player had worn grooves into the black plastic. Her voice was the one that made me want to sing. Really sing. Not just hum along to the radio for fun, but one that had me, singing in our living room while no one was around, belting out a song like it was nobody’s business.

When “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “How Will I Know” came out, I was fascinated by her incredible voice and style. It was the 80s, and I was totally one of those girls. There was no one like her. She was absolutely lovely and I wanted to be like her – hair, voice and all.

When “The Bodyguard” came out, the soundtrack for the movie became the one of my life. I’d grown up and hadn’t listened to her in years — others had taken over my music world by then. But I remember laughing with friends over that album, crying over a break up over that album, and looking back, I believe I even began singing in the living room again, one night while no one was home, because of that album.

It was sad listening to her in recent years. That incredible voice was gone and in its place, a raspy, tired one, as well as younger stars that wanted to be her, trying to imitate her sound and style, but with little success. I hoped after the “Being Bobby Brown” years she’d find that voice again and we’d all remember that incredible talent that had been overshadowed by her life. We waited in vain.

With her passing it seems childhood moved just a little further out of reach. And while the life she had lived in recent years might not have been the one we expected of her, her talent and voice was undoubtedly one to remember. And I for one, will turn up the radio and sing as loud as I damn well please when I hear a Whitney song, because that legacy and memory should be remembered, not the tattered, beaten down one critics and naysayers would like us to.

Instead of posting a list of her songs I like, I’ll just share the one I love most. Surprisingly it’s not a ballad, but one that’s simple in message and delivery – “My Love is Your Love.”