"Green Hornet"

... the vintage radio show – the "Green Hornet" comes to the big screen. Seth Rogen plays Britt Reid, a partying playboy and wannabe hero.  When his father dies, he inherits the family newspaper, meets Kato - a gadget wizard and martial arts expert hired by his dad, and somehow blunders on an idea to become the hero he has longed for.  Jay Chou plays Kato and does a great job being the sidekick (although he is the reason the Green Hornet is successful).  Cameron Diaz also plays a role as Britt's secretary – who also is a criminologist.

 

Entertaining movie, liked Kato.  Had a hard time believing Seth Rogen as a Super Hero.  Regardless, not a bad movie.  Safe first date movie.

"Unhitched"

... romantic comedy that we rented at the local video store.  Has Seth Green, Amy Smart, and a host of British actors. Note that the main character is a British actor; Seth Green is his best friend.  Storyline calls for an English Literature Major who graduated and moved on to a writing career that never happened.  Stuck with writer's block he takes on a dead end job as a Personal Assistant at a Publisher.  When a womanizing college buddy asks him to be his best man, things start coming together (or is it apart?) especially when he falls for his friend's fiancé played by Amy Smart!

 

Call this one a sleeper since we heard little about it when it was first released.   Really liked it, a safe first date movie that you and your significant other should enjoy!

"Dilemma"

... movie with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James as best buddies on the verge of a profitable business deal with a major automobile manufacturer.  Except things could go wrong when Vince catches Kevin's wife (played by Wynona Ryder) kissing another man.  Vince does not know if he should tell his best friend, leading to a dilemma that starts affecting his own relationship with his girl friend (Jennifer Connelly), his friendship with Kevin, and possibly their business deal!

 

Overall a god movie, safe enough for a first date.  Only problem was the storyline seemed to drag along at times.  Else, due rent it when you get a chance!

"Country Strong"

Gwyneth Paltrow in a role as a Country Singer on the edge of a breakdown.
Tim McGraw is her Manager and husband. Issues related to an drunken
incident in Dallas while Kelly Canter (Gwyneth) is 5 months pregnant form
the base of the storyline. In parallel, two up and coming Country Singer
and Songwriters play in to the story.

Liked the songs, story was okay, glad to have waited for it to come out in
DVD. Was pleasantly surprised,... but I am a sucker for good music! Safe
first date movie.

"The Tourist"

... Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp play a Secret Agent and a Tourist, respectively.  Angelina is being tracked closely by a number of agencies for her connection to "someone".  That "someone" instructs Angelina to chose a person of same build and height as him and then act as if you know that person. That person is Johnny Depp, an American Tourist!

 

Good movie but slow to start.  Would hold off as a first date movie but would rent it.  PS: Expect a few twists and turns!

"I Love You Phillip Morris"

... movie with Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as convicts, gay men, and
lovers. Overall, not a good movie. Forget this one, especially for a first
date movie. Not worth the time to watch it nor the $2 to rent it.

"The Fighter"

... movie based on a true story of two brothers played by Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg who are professional boxers.  Christian plays Dicky Eklund who boxed Sugar Ray Leonard in the prime of his career.  Mark plays his younger half-brother Mickey Ward, a boxer struggling to get a shot at a title but is running out of time as he gets older.

 

Good movie that sets the stage for the climax by detailing the many issues that they are dealing with - drug addiction, terrible manager/promoter who is also their mother, jail time, injuries, and large family (nine children).

 

Would not recommend as a first date movie but would recommend renting it first chance you get, especially to watch the struggling boxer do all he can to reach his goal – a title!  Not a Rocky boxing movie but still a good one.  Moreover, it is a true story!

"Three Days"

... Russell Crowe plays a Community College Professor who is dealing with his "wrongfully" accused wife's life sentence for murder.  He does everything he can legally to clear her name, then turns to the dark side to break her out.

 

Movie starts out slow, then picks up when Russell begins plotting the break out.  A few twists and turns that can leave viewers wondering will they succeed...  Check it out and find out,.. a worthy a first date movie since it is about a Man willing to do anything for the Woman he loves.

"Battle for LA"

... movie with Aaron Eckhart as Staff Sergeant Nantz, a decorated Veteran plagued with the loss of his men while in Afghanistan.  On the verge of retirement, he is pulled back into action when Aliens attack the Earth,  In the US, the military takes its stand to hold the invaders in Los Angeles!

 

Slow start but picks up when the fight starts.  Would hold as a first date movie, also would have been content waiting to watch it on DVD.  Like the spin on the reason why the aliens attack – water is used for fuel for their spaceships.

"Switch"

... comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Justin Bateman as good friends living in New York.  However, Jennifer's biological clock is ticking and she desires a child.  With no serious relationship, she decides to seek a sperm donor.  Justin, her hypochondriac friend, supports her decision but secretly does not like it.  So, when opportunity arises as well as too much alcohol, Justin switches the donor's sperm for his!

 

Safe first date movie with funny moments.  Entertaining but glad to have waited for the DVD instead of seeing at the theater.  Do check it out when you get a chance!

"Morning Glory"

... comedy with Rachael MacAdams, Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton.  Rachael is young TV News Director that loses her job in an reorganization but quickly bounces back by taking on a jobs for TV morning show, Morning Glory.  Hired on by Jeff Goldblum, Rachael must turn the show around else it will be canceled.  To get things started, she brings on News Veteran Harrison Ford with a chip on his shoulder against "pandering to the TV audience".  Diane Keaton is his co-start in the show and it is readily apparent the two do not get along.  Regardless, Rachael must make the show a success!

 

Safe first date movie, light-hearted comedy with an ending that you know will be for the better.  Check it out and rent it when you get a chance.  Not a gut buster comedy but still a safe first date movie....  For more details, check it out on IMDB.  

"City Island"

Andy Garcia stars in this "dramedy" (drama – comedy).  Andy plays Correctional Officer Rizzo from the City Island (Bronx, NY).  He has a wife, daughter, and a son. They live in City Island, a fishing village in the middle of the Bronx!  Things seem like normal save for a few skeletons in the closet.  Below is the short list of the skeletons:

• Andy wants to be an actor.
• Andy, his Wife, Son, and Daughter all smoke but don't think the others know.
• Andy has another Son who is a felon in the prison where he works. His Son does not know who his Father is.
• No one else knows about the Son in prison.
• The Daughter was in college but was suspended.  She works as a Stripper.
• Andy's other Son who is in High School really likes fat women.

Bottom-line:  A lot of interesting things to play out in a movie... done really well!  Another IFC-style movie that is funny!  Check it out when you get a chance; safe first date movie.

"The Wrestler"

Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei in a movie about an aging pro wrestler way past his prime and his personal struggles in dealing with money, family, and health issues.  Mickey wrestles for a living but must give it up because of heart problems.  Marisa is an exotic dancer who befriends Mickey in his retirement.  Without a steady income, Mickey takes a job at a Supermarket but can only stand it for so long...!

 

IFC-style movie that is slow in action.  Would no recommend as a first date movie.  But, if you like independent films, you should be okay watching this one.

"The Town"

Ben Affleck directs and stars in a Cops and Robbers movie set in Boston.  Charlestown is a neighborhood in Boston known for producing bank robbers.  Ben masterminds a bank robbery that goes smoothly save for a hidden alarm triggered by the Bank Assistant Manager.  Ben sees the Manager trigger the alarm but does not tell his buddies.  Ben also notices that the Manager his an attractive woman.

 

Do rent this one when you get a chance; liked the storyline.  Moreover, Ben's interest in the Bank Assistant Manager and their interaction make it a safe first date movie!

"Social Network"

... movie with Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Interesting story of how Facebook started.  Was surprised to learn that Napster founder Sean Parker, played by Justin Timeberlake, played a pivotal role in the Company's success!

 

Good movie but would hold as a first date because both Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker started their companies because of ex-girlfriends!

"Devil"

... movie with twists and turns that keeps you guessing.  Religious myths, five people stranded in an elevator, and eventual death is the setting of this movie.  Not a big scary movie fan but in this case, actually liked storyline.  Would hold as a first date movie unless you know your date likes movies that keep you guessing!  Check it out when you get a chance!

"Dinner for Schmucks"

... comedy with Paul Rudd and Steve Carell as a Corporate Analyst trying to climb the corporate ladder and an IRS agent who preserves dead mice, respectively!  Paul has the chance to be promoted if he can find the biggest "Schmuck"" and bring him to a dinner party.  Funny moments with chuckles to be had.... Not a gut buster but enough to keep watching till the movie's end.  Hold this one as a first date movie.  Some may like this humor, others may not.... better to wait till a later date instead of the first date! 

"Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps"

.... Sequel to the 80's Hit "Wall Street" that brings back Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko -  stock trader and investment banker sent to jail for insider trading.  With no money and a daughter that wants nothing to do with him, Gordon makes do with his life.... until he meets his daughter's boyfriend played by Shia Lebouf.  A few twisting and turning of the plot with scenes of greed and deception.  Liked Josh Brolin in his role as a foil to Shia Lebouf, else the movie had an expected story book ending.

 

Safe first date movie but would hold for a later date. Did not have the same feel that Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas brought in the first movie!

"Expendables"

... action movie with a host of aging action-hero actors in a "B-Movie" storyline.  Tough to watch, ended up stopping it after thirty minutes.... Too painful to endure.  More painful to see the actors agreeing to do this movie!  Won't list the actors out of respect for their earlier movies.  Not a first date movie!

"Eat Pray Love"

... Movie with Julia Roberts as a woman trying to find herself through food, meditation, and finally love.  Based on the book written by Liz Gilbert.

 

Tread lightly when choosing this one.  Story is interesting mainly because it is about a real life person; however, it is tough to "stay attentive" at times.  Some may like it, others may not... for a first date movie though, would hold off on renting this one.  Wait till later when the two of you can sit in front of the TV for over two hours in silence.