"Bounty Hunter"

... comedy with Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston as a divorced couple brought together when Jennifer misses a court date and a warrant for arrest is issued.  Gerard, a former cop and now a bounty hunter, accepts the assignment to bring Jennifer in!  Needless to say, the two find they still have feelings for one another; more so when the two must deal with the mob, bad cops, and a "boyfriend".

 

Funny storyline that flows well, safe first date movie!  Check it out, theater was packed this opening weekend.

"New Moon - The Twilight Saga"

Second movie in the Twilight Series that brings back the same players from the first movie. Bella and Edward struggle with their relationship to the point that Edward leaves. Jacob comes into the picture as a friend, then possible love interest, and then protector. Victoria continues on her quest for revenge but is foiled by Bella's protectors. Ultimately, things come to a climax just in time to leave room for the next movie.

Safe first date movie given the love theme and strong emotions that the main characters are dealing with, just be ready for the "beau hunk" viewers to enjoy it more than others!

"The Reader"

 ... movie with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.  Kate plays Hanna Schmitz, a former S.S. concentration camp guard.  Ralph plays Michael Berg, a lawyer who had an affair with Hanna when he was fifteen and she was thirty-six.  Their affair lasts a summer and consists of reading and sex and more reading and sex.  Michael is unaware of Hanna's past falling hopelessly in love with her.  However, they eventually part their separate ways when Hanna decides to end the affair by leaving unexpectedly.  Later, while Michael is attending law school, he observes a war crimes trial of six female S.S. concentration camp guards, one of whom is Hanna.  While listening to the testimony, Michael realizes that he has information that can make a difference in the outcome of the trial and its impact on Hanna.

Good movie, was surprised by the amount of "skin" shown.  Would hold off as a first date movie but would check it out later as your relationship matures!

"Purple Violets"

... movie with Selma Blair, Edward Burns, Debra Messing, and Patrick Wilson.  The four were once close college friends but years later they lose touch with their mates.  Selma is Patti Petalson and is coupled with Patrick playing popular writer Brian Callahan.  Debra Messing is Kate Scott, Selma's best friend.  Edward Burns is Michael Murphy (or the "Murph"), Brian's lawyer and best friend and once was Kate's boyfriend. In a chance meeting while having dinner at restaurant, they meet and what follows is the rekindling of second chance love!

A chick flick movie that may squeak by as a first date one.  Only because (spoiler...) the couples get together for the long term.  More an IFC style movie than a main stream movie.  Still, enjoyed the way things played out.

"Up In the Air"

... movie with George Clooney as "corporate downsizer" Ryan Bingham, Vera Farmiga as Ryan's acquaintance Alex Goran, Anna Kendrick as his business peer Natalie Keener, and Jason Bateman as Ryan's and Natalie's boss Craig Gregory.

 

Ryan Bingham is on the road a lot, logging over 250k miles a year.  His job is to fire people.  He does it well.  So much so, that he has amassed a significant amount of frequent flyer miles and is well on his way to the magic goal of 10 million miles.  Only 6 others have reached that goal, he will make every effort to be number 7!  Things seem to be going okay for Ryan, more so when he meets a Alex Goran, a female version of him, that he gets along with.  However, Ryan's plans are sidestepped when hotshot Cornell graduate Natalie Keener proposes and gets buy in to rollout a new business model - firing people over the internet using a video teleconference!

 

Not a bad movie but would hold off as a first date one, mainly because of the non-committal character that George plays in this movie.  Do check it out, was entertaining!

"Did You Hear About The Morgans?"

... comedy with Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker as a couple with marital issues brought to a halt when they witness a murder.  Pulled in to the Witness Protection Program, they are whisked away from New York to Wyoming.  "Big City" meets "Small Town America"....

 

Funny moments and quips with an expected happy outcome.  Liked the supporting roles of Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, and Wilford Brimley.... Safe first date movie!

"Gray Matters"

... Romantic comedy with Heather Graham and Tom Cavanagh as sister and brother Gray and Sam Baldwin.  They share the same loft apartment, they enjoy the same things, and are best friends!  At times, people think they are dating.  Given this, they decide to find dates for one another.  Subsequently, Heather finds Charlie Kelsey played by Bridget Moynahan.  Charlie shares the same likes and dislikes as Gray and Sam and immediately befriends the two.  So much so that Sam and Charlie decide to marry.  But, confusion results during a bachelorette weekend in Vegas when Charlie and Sam have one too many drinks that leads to a passionate kiss between the soon to be bride and the groom's sister!

 

Slow to start, light hearted comedy with an expected happy ending.  Has it moments and should be a safe first date movie. But, would not place it on the "must see" list.  Save it for a rainy day.

"Saint Ralph"

... movie set in 1950's Canada.  Ralph Walker, a high school freshman at St. Magnus Catholic School, is dealing with many complex issues like experimenting with smoking and a preoccupation with the opposite sex.  In trouble one too many times by the school's principal Father Fitzpatrick, Ralph is ordered to join the school's cross country running team.  The storyline looks to follow the normal path until viewers learn that Ralph lives by himself in the family home; has been lying to the school saying he is living with his grandparents, who are already deceased; and telling his widowed hospitalized mother that he is staying with a friend. However, Ralph changes his focus once his mother falls into a coma. Through a chain of circumstances, Ralph believes that winning the Boston Marathon will help his mother to come out of a coma!

 

Safe first date movie, really enjoyed this one!  Was expecting less having rented it on a whim; was extremely pleased the choice turned out to be a winner!

"Bella"

... IFC style movie with Tammy Blanchard, Eduardo Verastegui, and Manny Perez.  Tammy and Eduardo work as a waitress and a cook at Manny's restaurant, respectively.  Manny and Eduardo are brothers and seems the more hot-tempered of the two.  His temper comes to light when Manny fires Tammy for being late one too many times.  Eduardo decides to comfort Tammy when he learns she was late because she is pregnant. Without notices, Eduardo takes the day off and spends the rest of the day with Tammy.  They spend their time together getting to know each other and ultimately make plans for the future.

 

Good movie with an interesting ending and an underlying story that brings the two main characters together.  Safe first date movie!

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"

... comedy with Michael Cera and Kat Denning.  Michael plays Nick, a high-school senior from New Jersey.  Kat plays Norah, a friend of Nick's ex-girlfriend. The two meet at a club when Norah pretends that Nick is her boyfriend.  From there, the fun begins as Nick and Norah, share a love of music, hunt for a band scheduled to play somewhere that night, lose Norah's drunk friend Caroline, and then search for her with the help of Nick's gay band mates (Nick plays guitar for a garage band where he is the only straight guy).  Throw in a beat up Yugo car, an obsessive ex-girlfriend, and some decent tunes, then you get a movie that can grow on you. 

 

Safe first date movie, check it out some time!

"Guitar"

... movie about a woman who finds out she has a tumor and only has two months to live.  Soon after finding out about the tumor, she loses her job and is given 4 weeks severance pay.  With little time left to live, she uses her severance pay to rent a penthouse loft and goes on a spending spree using her credit cards to make purchases over the telephone.  One purchase is a guitar that she does not know how to play but is motivated to learn.  Alone at first, she manages to sulk in the "buff" for a while.  However, she soon becomes friends with the girl that deliver pizza and the man that delivers packages of things she ordered.  Yada, yada, yada,... love and sex results with pizza girl, with delivery guy,.... yada, yada, yada,... ménage' trios' ensues,.... yada, yada, yada,... epiphany results.  Won't say more other than she lives!

 

Would hold off on this movie for a first date, main reason are in the "buff" moments.  Else, liked the ending.

"Hamlet 2"

... comedy about a 'less than famous" actor Dana Marschz, played by Steve Coogan.  Dana has placed his acting career on hold and is working as a drama teacher for a High School in Tucson.  Dana writes and produces stage versions of popular movies that are not very good.  Things don't seem to be going his way.  More so, when he is told the Drama Class is cancelled due to budget cuts.  So, to call attention to the Class, he writes an zany original play called Hamlet 2.

 

Funny movie once you get past the profanity and Jesus-references.  Hold off as a first-date movie though, let's not push the profanity and Jesus-references so early in a relationship.  Check it out later some time, you should get a chuckle or two!