Bonus Movie Review not yet available on DVD – “Welcome to Mooseport”

...is a comedy starring Ray Romano and Gene Hackman. Ray plays a plumber in the town of Mooseport, Maine. Gene plays the former US President, who decides to live in Mooseport.

The story revolves around Ray’s attempt to win over his long-time girl friend after a brief falling out. To win her over, he decides to run for Mayor. Unknowingly, the town’s council asks the Former President to run for Mayor.

“Welcome to Mooseport” is a great movie. If you enjoy Ray Romano and his comedy, you will enjoy this movie. Bring your date along, you won’t go wrong with this one. It is a definite first date movie.

Movie Review – “Spy Kids 3-D”

... is another sequel to the Spy Kids story. Casts of the usual characters but add Sylvester Stallone as a crazed game maker, who seeks to rule the world. Short review for a short movie; it is 72 minutes in length. Save it for a rainy day and expect not to receive the 3-D glasses when you rent it from Blockbuster.

Movie Review – “Cold Creek Manor”

... is a drama starring Dennis Quaid and Sharen Stone. They are a married couple with two children. They live in New York but decide to get away from the city and move to the country. They find an old manor with 1200 acres and buy it well below the market.

They move in and begin to get settled in but soon find themselves tangled in the mysterious disappearance of the former owners family.

“Cold Creek Manor” is suspenseful. May not be one take a first date to, unless you want her to cuddle up next to you when things get edgy.

Movie Review – “Mona Lisa Smiles”

...is a drama starring Julia Roberts and numerous “twenty-somethings” such as Kirsetn Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Julia is a young college professor who is accepts a position at a women’s college, Wellessley.

Set in the 1950’s, the movie provides a glimpse into social moreys and traditions that supported the “women live to get married and support their husbands”. Julia breaks these barriers and introduces a greater glimpse of their potential.

“Mona Lisa Smiles” is a chick flick and first date movie. I enjoyed the acting and the storyline but as a guy, I would not make a special trip to rent this one.

Bonus Movie Review not yet available on DVD – “50 First Dates”

...is a comedy starring Adam Sadler and Drew Barrymore. Adam is a funny but likeable animal trainer / vetenarian. Drew is a junior high art teacher. They live in Hawaii and are considered locals. Adam enjoys short flings with the women tourists except when he meets Drew.

The story revolves around Drew and her memory loss from a car accident. She possesses only long term memory. Her short term memory is erased every night when she sleeps. Adam falls in love with Drew but must make her fall in love with him everyday as if it were their first date.

“50 First Dates” is a great movie. I was concerned that it would be another raunchy, slapstick, “Happy Gilmore, Waterboy" Adam Sadler movie. It is not. Bring your date along, you won’t go wrong with this one. Especially with its theme – “Everyday a man must make a woman fall in love with him as if it were the first time they met!”

Movie Review – “Duplex”

...is a comedy starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore. Ben and Drew play a young couple that decides to buy a duplex in New York. It is a great deal. Except, there is a tenant to deal with.

The movie then takes you through their misadventures as landlord and tenant. Moreover, due to rent-control issues, they cannot force her to break the lease.

“Duplex” is a funny movie that will keep you entertained. It is more a situational comedy but the plot makes it worthwhile to rent. Check it out sometime and bring your date along.

Movie Review – “Missing”

...is a movie starring Cate Blancett and Tommy Lee Jones. It is a drama set in the old west. Cate is a rancher and the mother of two daughters. Tommy Lee is her father who abandoned Cate and her mother many years before.

Cate’s family is attacked by a rouge band of Indians and Desperados. They kill her ranch hands, kidnap her oldest daughter, and head to Mexico. There they plan to sell Cate’s daughter to the highest bidder. Cate and her remaining daughter seek help from local authorities but find no help. She then seeks the aid of her father in desperation. Her father accepts her request, and together Cate, Tommy Lee, and the remaining daughter set-off on a rescue.

“Missing” is a good movie with a lot of action. Directed by Ron “Opie” Howard, I consider it a first-choice, movie rental. Watch out for some brutal Indian attacks. Else, sit back let the drama unfold.

Movie Review – “School of Rock”

...is a movie starring Jack Black as “wannabe” rock musician Dewey Finn. Kicked out of the band he started, Dewey must find work to pay his share of the rent. When opportunity offers a substitute teacher position at a fancy prep school, he quickly accepts. While “teaching” he is motivated by his students’ musical ability to start-up a new band – The School of Rock.

The movie was okay. That is, I would not buy it nor see it at the theater. Instead, I would wait till a rainy day as a second or third choice to watch. It has its moments but not enough to warrant a first-choice, movie-rental rating.

Movie Review – “Matchstick Men”

...is a movie starring Nicholas Cage as a neurotic con artist. Things must be a certain way or else he begins to get nervous. Everything seems to be working well for him until he meets his daughter, who he has not met since birth. Trying to play a good role model for his daughter, his conscience bothers him. So, he looks to better himself. Unfortunately, before he can reform himself, he must deal with misfortune and failure.

As a Nicholas Cage fan, I enjoy his movies. In “Matchstick Men”, he did not let me down. Check it out some time. It is a first date as well as a first rate movie.

Movie Review – “Runaway Jury”

...is a drama starring Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, John Cusack, and Rachel Weisz. Gene Hackman is a ruthless jury consultant for the defense, and Dustin Hoffman is a strong-willed lawyer trying to beat them. John Cusack and Rachel Weisz – co-star of the “The Mummy”, put a wrinkle in the trial by establishing control of the jury and the final verdict.

The movie does not feel as if it lasted two hours. With a strong plot and great actors, it is one to watch. It still rates as a first date movie, but guys can still remain entertained without looking like a sex-crazed, violent psychopath to their “just a friend” dates.

Movie Review – “Under the Tuscan Sun”

... is a comedy starring Diane Lane. Diane is a writer and recent divorcee. After her divorce she seeks a way to mend her broken heart. Her friends convince her to take a vacation to Tuscany, Italy to get away. The vacation becomes long term when she decides to buy a villa in Tuscany. Diane deals with living in a new country, remodeling her villa, and building a better life.

The movie has its humor mixed in with the serious. It is a first date movie and “chick flick”. If you’re divorced, watch it for support. Else, check it out when you get the chance.

Movie Review – “Intolerable Cruelty”.

... is a comedy starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. George Clooney plays a divorce lawyer who never loses a case. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a wife who marries for money.

George and Catherine first meet as a result of her divorce. George represents Catherine’s rich husband; Catherine is the distraught wife. George ends up falling for her; she continues on her greedy ways. In the end, the key to everything revolves around an iron-clad prenuptial agreement.

A good comedy but not a gut-buster. Watch it when you get a chance.

Movie Review - "The Fighting Temptations".

Movie starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. A small-town boy ends up working in NYC for an advertising agency. He later returns home to attend his aunt's funeral. She leaves him an inheritance but on one condition - her church's choir must win a gospel competition.

A fun movie to watch with enough laughs to keep things moving. Enjoyed the actors and the singing, especially with guest stars such as the O'Jays, rapper T-Bone, and Beyonce.

Good for laughs but not a belt-busting comedy.

Take Care,
- Jerry

Movie Review - "Second Hand Lions".

A movie starring Robert Duvall and Michael Caine as two quirky but wealthy, old brothers. Having lived a full and adventurous life, they opted to settle down in their native state of Texas. Wanting to be left alone, they somehow end up taking in their nephew. And, over the course of a summer they get to know one another.

I enjoyed the movie. Robert Duvall does an outstanding job of playing an old but tough guy. Michael struggles with a Texan accent but nevertheless makes his mark as the likeable brother.

Check this one out. You will enjoy their antics, get wrapped-up in the mystery of their wealth, and question the credibility of their past adventures. But, it will come together by the movie's end.

Another safe first date movie.

Take Care,
- Jerry.

Movie Review - "Le Divorce".

Watched "Le Divorce", starring Kate Hudson. Movie included cameo appearances from Cheers' Bebe Neuwirth and Mathew Modine. I like Kate Hudson but was not impressed with the movie. It was not a fault of the acting. Just the story was slow.

Two American sisters live in Paris. One is married to a Frenchman. The other is single and visiting. The married sister is going through a divorce; her husband is having an affair. The single sister, Kate Hudson, is sympathetic but is also having an affair - with her brother-in-law's uncle.

With some twists and turns, the end comes and everything seems to work out for the better. Watch if you like Kate Hudson. Else, save this one for a rainy day.

Take Care,
- Jerry.

PS: Another weekend. Getting ready to checkout "Second Hand Lions". Will keep you posted.

Movie Review - "RADIO".

I checked out the movie "RADIO" from Blockbuster over the weekend. It is a good movie that makes you feel better after watching - a definite "First Date Movie".

The main actors are Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ed Harris. Cuba plays a disabled person nicknamed Radio. Ed Harris plays a football coach.

The story revolves around the interaction between Radio and the Coach: how they meet, the support they give each other, and their eventual long-term friendship.

Note: Viewers should pay attention to the brief "snippet" at the movie's conclusion. It introduces the real Radio and Coach.

Thanks,
- Jerry

Welcome to Jerry's Review.

Our intent is to post movie reviews from recently released DVDs for your reference.

Thanks for visiting.

Sincerely,
Jerry.