"Leap Year"

... romantic comedy with Amy Adams and Matthew Goode.  Amy is disappointed when her longtime boyfriend (played by Adam Scott) does not propose to her. Fortunately, she sees her chance for marital bliss when he travels to Ireland on business during a leap year.  Supposedly, Irish folklore allows women to propose to men on February 29!  However, nature and other forces, including a handsome Irish beau (Matthew Goode), make Amy's rendezvous with her boyfriend difficult.

 

Solid first date movie with an ending that was expected.  Entertaining in how the storyline played out even with a bias view as a fan of Amy Adams. Check it out when you get a chance!

"The Accidental Husband"

... romantic comedy with Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  Includes a cameo of Isabella Rossellini. Rented the movie on a whim.  Glad we did.  Plot and ending are pretty much standard fare for a romantic comedy.  Still liked the funny moments enough to rate this one a first date movie.  More on the plot, see IMDB's link. 

"Perfect Getaway"

... drama/mystery with Steve Zahn and Mila Jovovich as newlyweds vacationing in Hawaii for their honeymoon.  Things go well enough until they must deal with crazed murderers bent on killing tourists.

 

Plot with a twist, so pay close attention at the cues.  That said, consider the movie as first date movie because its ending includes a "romantic" marriage proposal.

"Extract"

... Mike Judge comedy with Justin Bateman, Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck, and Kristin Wiig.  Justin is the owner of a manufacturing company that makes food extracts.  Mila Kunis is a con woman that works at the plant as a temp.  Ben is Justin's friend and Kristin is Justin's wife.

 

Comedy has its moments but not as good as "Office Space".  Safe first date movie but would wait for a rainy day to rent this DVD. 

"Sherlock Holmes"

... movie with Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, respectively.  Hard core Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans may get picky about the details but for us movie fans, don't worry... entertaining movie with a plot that made you pay attention.  Especially liked the scenes where Sherlock thinks about his next actions in slow motion, and then viewers see them played out in normal speed.

 

Safe first date movie, just be careful about wandering eyes as Rachel McAdams is looking quite pleasant to the eyes....!  For more details on the movie, checkout IMDB's link.

"District 9"

... movie that starts out like a documentary.  A star ship is forced to land on Earth in 1982.  The aliens are stranded and unable to return to their planet.  Subsequently, they are rounded up into a refugee camp called District 9.  In 2010, a corporation is contracted to evict the population.  The project lead is Wikus van der Merwe, who is later exposed to an alien chemical that causes "changes" him physically....

 

Good story, may play it by ear when it comes to a first date movie due to blood, violence, etc....  Get ready for a sequel.

"Inglourious Basterds"

... blood and more blood in a violent movie by Quentin Tarantino.  Would you have expected less from him?  Brad Pitt plays Lt. Aldo, leader of a band of soldiers tasked to wreak havoc and terror against the Nazis!  If you are a Quentin fan, you should be good with the movie.  If not, remember it is meant to be violent and bloody.  If you are a historical "buff", don't watch else you will be disappointed in the historical inaccuracies!

 

Not a safe first date movie, still enjoyed it.... but I am a Quentin fan.  See IMDB link for more on the movie.

"Avatar"

... movie epic with a storyline that reminds viewers of "Dances With Wolves" but in outer space on another planet.  Replace the Indians with the Na'vi, a humanoid race, and then add a paraplegic Marine for Kevin Costner's role.

 

With that, enjoyed the movie with its special effects and action scenes.  Throw in two "people" growing in love and it becomes a safe first date movie.... only if your companion enjoys sci-fi movies.  Why... because the movie runs for 2 hours and 42 minutes which may be much too long for a budding relationship to weather.-JM

 

For more on the plot - here is a link to IMDB's posting on Avatar.

"Old Dogs"

... comedy with Robin Williams and John Travolta as two marketing executives and long-time friends.  While working on a high-profile account, Robin remembers an old flame and decides to contact her.  After writing a 12-page, single-spaced letter explaining why Robin loves her, they make plans to meet, and soon after Robin discovers he is a father of twins!

Funny movie, safe for a first date.  Check it out when you get a chance, and enjoy a chuckle or two!

"2012"

End of the world as you know it movie with John Cusack, Amanda Peet, and others.  Mayan prophets mark the end of the world as the year 2012.  Scientist (in the movie) confirm the event when geologist observe a change in the Earth's core. Conspiracy theorist will enjoy this story with the "government cover-up" of giant arks built to withstand the apocalypse.

 

Safe first date movie that does a good job portraying one man's struggle to save his family that viewers can relate to.  Check it out some time!

"My One and Only"

Comedy with Renee Zellweger and Kevin Bacon as a married couple with marital problems in the 50's.  Kevin is a "one-hit wonder" big band leader who is always on the road.  Renee is his socialite wife.  After one too many affairs, Renee decides to leave Kevin, taking her two sons with her on a quest to find a new husband.  Renee's character is much too good for a job, she is instead the marrying type. After many mishaps and terrible relationships, Renee and her son find their calling and giving truth to her answer for all problems, "Everything will workout".

 

Good movie, safe first-date movie despite the broken marriage.  Certain that any strong relationship can withstand this movie's take on marriage.

"My Life in Ruins"

Romantic comedy with Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss.  Nia is Georgia, a laid-off history professor working as a tour guide in Greece.  Richard is Irv, a widower on one of Nia's tours.

 

Not happy with her life, Nia plans to quit her job as a tour guide.  On her final tour, Nia and Richard become friends.  During the tour, Nia learns to change her outlook in life and starts live life, meets a handsome guy, and make a decision on what she wants to do going forward.

 

Good movie, safe for a first date.  Check it out some time.  Enough laughs and moments to make it worthwhile to rent.

"Traitor"

Movie with Don Cheadle as an undercover CIA operative acting as an explosive expert.  Captured while overseas making an arms deal with Al Queda, Don becomes tangled in a web of deciept that drives him closer and closer to becoming a traitor.

Slow beginning but has a great turn-of-event ending.  Bottom-line:  Good guys always win!  Check it out some time; safe for a first date movie.

"Ten Minutes"

A short story by Zeke Rutledge recently published on Associated Content:
Ten Minutes: Short Story About a Decorated Veteran's Return Home.

Not bad, may be a good start for a movie!

"Couples Retreat"

Comedy about four couples who agree to go on a tropical-island vacation for marriages needed "help".  One couple is there to work on their marriage; the others are there to enjoy a fun vacation.  However, once there, they realize the resort's therapy sessions are not optional.

 

Funny movie, first-date all the way.  So what if it is about relationships in trouble, you are fine.  Great cast with Vince Vaughn, Jon Favereau, Jason Bateman, and others....  Also, gotta like Jean Reno in his role as marriage guru!  And, Vince's son in the movie will have you going!

 

PS:  Look for the line "Honey,... I will be the biggest ass you have ever seen!"

"Zombieland"

Terror-Comedy about a loner who teams up with three other "zombie-virus" survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. Actors include Amber Heard, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Ruben Fleischer, Emma Stone, and a brief cameo by Bill Murray.

 

Once you get past the blood and terror, the movie will have you laughing in the aisle.  Safe first date movie only if your blossoming relationship can stand a blood and gore comedy!  Check it out some time.

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

Romantic comedy based on the theme from "A Christmas Carol" with Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead, womanizer who swears off marriage and commitment.  Invited to his brother's wedding, he meets an old flame Jenny Perotti, played by Jennifer Garner.  He still has feelings but remains steadfast in maintaining his playboy reputation until he is visited by the ghost of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), who taught Conner about the ways of women.  Uncle Wayne's ghost warns Connor that he'll be visited by three ghosts - past, present, and future girlfriends.

 

Safe first-date movie, ending was expected.  Mainly watched to see how the storyline played out.  Glad to have waited till it came out on DVD versus paying a premium at the theater.  Check it out when you get a chance. 

"Soul Men"

Singing trio Marcus Hooks, Floyd Henderson, and Louis Hinds break apart in the 60's.  Marcus moves on to be an R&B Legend; Floyd and Louis team up as a duo, "The Real Deal," and become one hit wonders.  Over 40 years later, Marcus suddenly dies and a high-profile tribute at the Apollo Theater is planned in his memory. Floyd, who is bored in retirement, convinces Louis, an ex-con, to team up again as the "Real Deal" for Marcus.  What follows is a cross-country road-trip to get to the Apollo in five days.

 

Slow going, slightly picks up in the middle, and then it kinda stays there.  Save it for a rainy day.  Wait for a much later date!

"Secret Life of Bees"

Set in the mid 60's, Dakota Fanning pays Lily Owens, a 14 year-old girl who has trouble dealing with the loss of her mother.  She runs away with her only friend Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson, to a South Carolina town that holds secrets to the past. Taken in by the the Boatwright sisters (played by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okenedo), Lily finds peace in their world of beekeeping.

 

Good movie, safe for a first date. Check it out some time.

"Gigantic"

Independent Film Channel style movie with Paul Dano (brother in "Little Miss Sunshine") and Zooey Deschanel.  Paul sells mattresses.  Zooey's Dad buys one.  Zooey stops by the store to coordinate delivery.  Zooey falls asleep on the mattress.  While asleep we learn that Paul, who is not married, wants to adopt a Chinese baby.  Not certain why but he has wanted to all is life.  Zooey wakes up 2+ hours later, provides a shipping address and leaves for work.

 

Storyline comes and goes with some interesting scenes but was disappointed given the 3.5 star rating.  Still like Zooey and her acting, just the movie is missing something.  Save it for a later day.