the christmas card

 

the year: 2006

 

the genre: christmas

 

 

the cast: John Newton (Cody Cullen); Ed Asner (Luke Spelman); Alice Evans (Faith Spelman); Peter Jason (Richard); Lois Nettleton (Rosie Spelman); Ben Weber (Paul)

 

 

the plot: In the midst of war in Afghanistan, Cody Cullen is touched by a Christmas card sent by Faith Spelman from the small, picturesque town of Nevada City, California. As months pass, the card never leaves his side, giving him the strength to survive and setting him on a mission to find her.

 

 

 don't miss: the shenanigans that go on when Luke and his brother-in-law Richard get together.

 

 

extra bonus points: if you recogize Paul from the Gas-X commercial. (tee hee!)

 

 

listen for: "Chicken salad sandwich on rye, crispy curly fries - extra crispy, and hot chocolate with marshmallows."

 

 

you've been warned

The next group of posts will include corny, schmaltzy Christmas fluff. You know the kind. Guaranteed to have a predictable plot with either a heartwarming adjustment of priorities to get in the spirit of the season or a life-changing event to the tune of one or more Christmas carols. So if you're in for some good old-fashioned Christmas nostalgia/romance/magic...buckle up, 'cause here we go. What can I say? It's the hap-happiest season of all!

the reel dope

Movie reviews for: A Tale of Two Cities, White Wilderness, and Raw Wind in Eden.

love at the thanksgiving day parade

 

the year: 2012

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Atumn Reeser (Emily Jones); Antonio Cupo (Henry Williams); Ben Cotton(Brian)

 

 

the plot: Chicago native Emily Jones loves her city, and has dedicated her career to coordinating its beloved Thanksgiving Day parade every year. This year, Emily is hoping for a memorable holiday and anticipating a long-awaited proposal from her long-distance boyfriend Brian. Her world turns upside down when the parade director hires a wealthy development consultant, Henry Williams, to analyze the finances of the parade and increase profits. Immediately writing Henry off as a privileged playboy, Emily worries he will ruin the joyful spirit of the parade, not knowing how much it means to the city. As the two are forced to work together to pull off a successful production, Emily is determined to show Henry she’s in charge. But when Emily suffers a sudden setback, she starts to rely on Henry to help her through it, and suddenly realizes she might be falling for him.

 

 

 don't miss: the ice cream dilemma.

 

 

 extra bonus points: if you are game for Nutty Movie Night.

 

 

you can watch the trailer here.

 

 

disclaimer: this is 100% corny, sappy and fluffy.  You've been warned. ;)

the reel dope

Movie reviews for: The Matchmaker, The Big Country, and Rock-a-Bye Baby.

the giant mechanical man

 

the year: 2012

 

the genre: romedy

 

 

the cast: Jenna Fischer (Janice); Chris Messina (Tim); Malin Akerman (Jill); Rich Sommer (Brian); Topher Grace (Doug); Lucy Punch (Pauline) 

 

 

the plot: Janice is out of work, living with her well-intentioned but overbearing sister Jill, and struggling to build a fulfilling life for herself. Tim is a street performer whose unique talents as a "living statue" don't exactly pay the bills.  When they both get a job at the local zoo, their connection begins to blossom.  Meantime, Jill pushes Janice to date the deluded, smarmy, self-help author, Doug Duncan.  Will Jill's meddling ways threaten to undermine Janice's first real shot at love?

 

 

 

extra bonus points: if you don't want to punch Doug after 30 seconds.

 

 

listen for: "I once had a wool sweater. It was really itchy. I almost wore it when I was flying to London in first class for a book signing. I'm an author."

 

 

 

don't miss: when Janice goes postal on the guy who pokes the monkeys. 

 

 

also listen for: “It only takes one person to make you feel special and valid and feel like you belong.”

 

 

the reel dope

Movie reviews for: Bye Bye Birdie, The Ugly American, and Dr. No.

the saint and the falcon

While I was hunkered down during Hurricane Sandy, I spent a fair amount of time flipping back and forth between storm coverage and fun things like (the original) Hawaii Five-O reruns, Looney Tunes cartoons, and even an Adam West Batman cliffhanger with Joker, Penguin, AND Catwoman!

Monday morning, I also stumbled across a few gems on TCM.  George Sanders (well before his time as the bad guy on In Search of the Castaways, or providing the voice for Shere Kahn) was the dashing, devil-may care Simon Templar (The Saint) and Gay Lawrence (The Falcon).  The Falcon movies were fun, but I have to say I loved The Saint movies best. 

Now I've got to see if I can find them on DVD...

the reel dope

 

Movie reviews for: The Sword in the Stone, The Cardinal, and Charade

the reel dope

Movie reviews for: The Wheeler Dealers, Lillies of the Field, The Haunting, and Beach Party.

once upon a honeymoon

 

the year: 1942

 

the genre: dramedy

 

 

the cast: Cary Grant (Pat O'Toole); Ginger Rogers (Kathie O'Hara / Katherine Butt-Smith / Baroness Katherine Von Luber); Walter Slezak (Baron Franz Von Luber)

 

the plot: At the start of WWII, Katie O'Hara, an American burlesque girl intent on social climbing, marries Austrian Baron Von Luber. Pat O'Toole, an American radio reporter, sees this as a chance to investigate Von Luber, who is suspected of having Nazi ties. As country after country falls to the Nazis, O'Tool follows O'Hara across Europe. At first he is after a story, but he gradually falls in love with her. When she learns that her husband is indeed a Nazi, O'Hara fakes her death and runs off with O'Toole.  But that's not the end of the story...

 

 

listen for:  "I was supposed to be investigating facts, not figures."

 

 

don't miss:  Pat telling the ship's captain that someone has fallen overboard.  Think "We're No Angels" telling Uncle Andre that Adolphe is poisonous.

 

 

did you know: The question of top billing was resolved by having half of the prints with Cary Grant listed first, and the other half with Ginger Rogers listed first.

 

the reel dope

 

Movie reviews for: A Farewell to Arms, The Lady Takes a Flyer, and The Brothers Karamazov.

hotel transylvania

the year: 2012

 

the genre: comedy

 

 

the plot: Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania - Dracula's lavish five-stake resort - where monsters and their families can live it up without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of his very best friends to celebrate his daughter Mavis' 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem - but when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis, his sheltered world may come crashing down.

 

 

don't miss: the little werewolf girl - she's my favorite.

 

 

listen for: "Your zing will come."

 

 

did you know: The film's release date was September 28th, which is World Rabies Day. (That's more significant if you've seen the movie.)  

 

 

extra bonus points: if you know who was originally set to voice Mavis.

 

 

First movie I've watched in the theater for at least 3 years.  Perfect for a no-brainer Friday night. 

 

 

 

ten little indians

 

the year: 1965

 

the genre: mystery

 

 

the cast: Hugh O'Brian (Hugh Lombard); Shirley Eaton (Ann Clyde); Fabian (Mike Raven); Leo Genn (General Mandrake); Stanley Holloway (William Blore); Wilfrid Hyde-White (Judge Cannon); Daliah Lavi (Ilona Bergen); Dennis Price (Dr. Armstrong); Marianne Hoppe (Frau Grohmann); Mario Adorf (Herr Grohmann)

 

 

the plot: One of Agatha Christie's best (with a few liberties taken).  A group of strangers, ten in all, are invited by a Mr. Owens to spend a weekend at his remote mountaintop home. After dinner, they learn via a tape recording that they've been invited to the house to pay for their crimes. The accusations are well-founded and, unable to leave the house, the guests are being killed off one by one. The private detective in the group thinks that their host is likely hiding in the house somewhere. Judge Arthur Cannon thinks the killer is a member of the group and he proves to be correct.

 

 

 

don't miss: all the wonderful screaming by Frau Grohmann.  Good thing she was killed off pretty quickly.  And the black and white is a fun touch, too.

 

 

listen for: "How utterly marvelous! You all came to a house party without knowing your host!"
"Well, what about you, Miss Bergen"
"Darling, it happens to me all the time!"
 

 

did you know: I felt much better when I realized that Fabian is *not* Fabio. 

 

 

extra bonus points: if you recognize the two actors from My Fair Lady. 

 

 

also listen for: "Drop dead!"  "That's not funny."