You Again (2010)

Have you ever had the feeling leaving a theater that a movie was fantastic?  Then, the next morning while brushing your teeth and shaving you realize that you were mostly wrong about those feelings?  That's what happened to me with You Again.

My initial reaction to this film was that it was funny.  I'll admit it, I laughed, a lot.  But laughter does not a good film make.  I don't think I'll be as harsh on it was Richard Roeper, who called it one of the worst films he'd ever seen.  Believe me, I've seen worse.  D-War anyone?

The movie revolves around Marni (Kristen Bell), who was an ugly duckling in high school, however blossomed into a beautiful swan in life.  She finds out her brother Will (James Wolk) is marrying the girl who bullied her relentlessly in high school.  Joanne (Odette Yustman) has supposedly changed her ways, however Marni sees otherwise, and sets out to ensure that Will doesn't fall into her trap. When meeting with her family to celebrate the wedding, we learn that Joanne's aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) bullied Marni's mom Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis) in high school.  We now follow dual plots of each of the oppressed attempting to one up their oppressors.

The problem with the film is that the plot just simply isn't there.  The movie moves along for most of the middle act as if it were a Saturday morning cartoon, just showing random scenes of competition between the ladies, with no real significance.

I feel the need to also mention Betty White.  Betty White has had a resurgence of popularity lately, and I think it is well deserved.  My problem in the film here is that Betty White is playing the same "character" that she has been playing for the past year. She's flirting with young men, saying dirty things, the usual.  I don't blame her for repeating a winning formula, I mean look how much money Will Ferrel has made doing nothing but yelling loudly and acting like an idiot over the past ten years.  But in You Again, I felt like when Betty White came on screen, I was suddenly watching a SNL re-run.

The movie comes to a fairly standard Hollywood Ending, one that I found to be hokey while watching, and twice as hokey when thinking about it later.

Overall, I gave it a 6 out of 10.  I laughed out loud a lot.  Not snickers but laughs, and I give bonus points for that.

By the way, did everyone catch the mini-reunion of Step By Step in this movie?
I caught two in the theater, but IMDB trivia pointed out there were three cast members.  I would have loved to have noticed it then, but You Again just isn't worth another viewing to see for myself.

You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

If you asked me, I would claim to be a Woody Allen fan.  I'll admit I've only seen a handful of the 46 titles of which IMDB lists him director, but I've found all of them to be enjoyable.  You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger was no exception.

The movie opens with the typical Woody Allen intro, black and white stylized credits and a voice over narrative, introducing us to our characters.  It doesn't take long before we learn each of the character's faults.  

We have:

Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) - An older gentleman who suffers a sort of 'late-life' crisis, divorces his wife and marries a prostitute.

Helena (Gemma Jones) - Alfie's ex-wife, who, at the recommendation of her daughter, turns to a "psychic fortune teller" for comfort.

Sally (Naomi Watts) - Alfie and Helena's daughter, who has to rely on her mother to help her pay the bills for her and her husband, and wants to begin a family, something Roy will have nothing to do with.

Roy (Josh Brolin) - Sally's husband, one hit wonder novelist, chauffeur, and a guy with a "nothing but brown" wardrobe for what seemed to be the entire movie.  Roy falls in love with a women he sees out of his window.

First off, Roy.  I didn't like Roy.  I don't think anyone liked Roy.  I don't know how Sally liked Roy.  The film showed sweet scenes of the two when they first met and fell in love, but I can't comprehend how Sally made it past three months with this guy.  He was an emotional wreck, didn't bring in enough money to even remotely contribute to their bills, and seemed to show no interest whatsoever in their relationship.  I won't spoil the ending for all of you, but I must admit I quite enjoyed Roy's finale.  If the goal was for him to play a moron, then Josh Brolin should get an Oscar, because I was more than convinced.

Anyone watching the movie would have realized that Alfie's relationship with his "wife" was doomed from the beginning.  Hopkins gives a solid performance, and one of my favorite scenes from the film is Alfie sitting awkward watching his wristwatch, counting down the minutes till his little blue pill kicks in.

Sally is an interesting character.  Most of her plot line revolves around her failed marriage with Roy, and her feelings for her boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas).  I felt the most sympathy for Sally, because I felt her choices were the least "offensive". The majority of her actions were made with good intentions, and by the time she considered an affair, we had been shown enough of Roy's behavior that I felt the need to encourage her.  

Helena has the distinction of being the only character with a truly positive outcome.  I had trouble suspending my disbelief with her character, however.  It was difficult to me that she could have lived to her age with a set of beliefs, and suddenly take up sch a genuine faith in the "fortune teller".

Overall, I think my favorite thing about this film was the ending.  I appreciate Woody Allen for giving us a film that gives the characters the endings that they earned, without giving us a deus ex machina happy ending.  I recommend it for viewing, especially if you are a fan of recent Woody Allen work.

The score: 8 out of 10.