“Four Christmases”

Add four families, chaos begins!

I‘ve always been a sucker for a Christmas movie, but this had all the trappings of a good Holiday film: parties, family drama, and everyone coming together with Christmas fever. The film focuses on happily unmarried couple Kate (Reese Witherspoon) and Brad (Vince Vaughn) as they make their way to Fiji to, yet again, avoid their respective families on Christmas. However, the thick San Francisco fog prevents them from leaving and they are forced to visit their families. Four of them, to be exact. The craziness that ensues with each of these families is fun to watch because they each have their own set of funky characteristics, but I don’t want to ruin the fun by giving away any specific details.

Although Michael Phillips of the LA Times said the film’s “slapstick is eerily unfunny,” I disagree because the comedy lies in the fact that it was easy to relate to. Who doesn’t have a crazy drunk uncle or an aunt who always over-shares? Vince Vaughn’s ease on camera is refreshing, as if we are watching him in his personal life. I enjoyed the interaction between Vaughn and Witherspoon because they have a comfortable chemistry on film. The difference in their height also adds a comedic element as she stands at 5’1 and he’s 6’5. The character of Kate’s mother, played by Mary Steenburgen, was interesting to watch because you have no idea what she would do next as an overtly sexual cougar with a new found love for religion. All of the family members have their own set of weirdness from the UFC-wannabe brothers to the bohemian mother, but at the end of the day they are family, which is all we’ve got. I think you should call up your drunk uncle, cousin who over-shares, and head to the theaters. I give it a SEE IT because what’s more fun than watching other dysfunctional families?

Film Released: November 26, 2008 | Runtime: 1 hr. 22 min.

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen

“Persepolis”

Disclaimer: The reason why I’m reviewing movies that are on DVD is because the movies that are out right now are not doing it for me. I’m not going to sit through another overly epic film (“Australia”) or another animated movie. Looking for an interesting film to spice up an otherwise boring Tuesday night? Then definitely RENT “Persepolis.” The animated film follows the life of Marjane Satrapi, who is also the director of the film, as she grows up in Iran during the Iran/Iraq war. The black and white animation is a big element of the film, but I got so sucked into the story that after a while I forgot that it was animated. She becomes caught up in the anti-government rallies of the time even though she is only 9 years old. When her family becomes concerned, they send her to Europe to continue her education. However, she continues to struggle with the issue of the religious fundamentalism of the country that she fled. Slowly, Marjane (Voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) gains acceptance in Europe but finds herself homesick, and returns to Iran to be with her family even though it means putting on the veil and living in a tyrannical society. She begins to realize that although she is deeply Iranian, she cannot live in Iran because the government and its rules are too harsh. The realistic manner in which she tells her story is refreshing, the way she makes a commentary on her own culture is sweet. Having met Marjane Satrapi at a screening of the film, I have come to appreciate even more the character of Marjane in the film. In person she is just as sweet and naïve as the little girl in the movie who accepts her heritage, but is so repulsed by who is in charge of it. A 2007 Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Feature (in my opinion, it should have won), critics and audiences alike universally loved “Persepolis”. John Powers of Vogue called the film, “Wonderful! Funny and inspiring” and Stephen Holden of the New York Times called the film “An unqualified triumph.” Many times when critics love a movie, audiences do not respond as positively. But in this case, audiences loved it just as much because it spoke to a common desire to belong.

Film Released: December 25, 2007| Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.

Starring: Chiara Mastroianni, Sean Penn, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, and Iggy Pop.

“Die Another Day”

If you are feeling like having a dirty Martini, then pop this movie in it and it will give you a better buzz, trust me. RENT this Bond movie and you won’t be disappointed. This Bond movie has all the elements that a Bond film should have: lots and lots of Bond girls, glamorous parties, and not to mention cars with all kinds of weapons. The 20th installment in the Bond series stars Pierce Brosnan as the suave secret agent up against North Korean General Zao (Rick Yune), a diabolical mind who has created a facial mutation device that allows him to take on various identities. I love the way in which he morphs into different people throughout the movie. Halle Berry co-stars as Bond’s latest femme fatale. She is also an undercover agent who he obviously sleeps with. Berry plays a powerful Bond girl who is able to kick ass right next to Bond himself. Toby Stephens played the part of the villain/billionaire who wants to take over the world with ease and likeability, which is the definition of a good villain. The action sequences were large in this film, especially when Bond surfs the tidal wave that is created after a Hotel of ice melts, but there is a refinement to each action sequence. Bond performs the action stunts so effortlessly that it looks easy and makes the viewer feel they can also be Bond, which in my opinion is the best part of a Bond film.

Film Released: November 22, 2002 | Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min.

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, and Judi Dench