The Way, Way Back

THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan's (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget. (c) Fox Searchlight

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language, some sexual content & brief drug material                                                                                              

Runtime:  103 min 

If you go into The Way, Way Back expecting typical Steve Carrell humor, you will be very disappointed.  In his role of Trent - Carrell plays a complete jerk - and does so quite convincingly.  You know the type - macho "has-been" - mid life crisis - sucking up to the single mom, etc... gets joy from destroying any hope of self esteem or innocence a child has left.  (Been there, done that)  I wanted to punch him 15 minutes in...

The Way Way Back starts extremely slow.  It was a little annoying to me - I was let down and just knew we were going to be being bored stiff as the story lumbered along.  What I didn't realize, until the moment it happened,was Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (who brought us the wonderful The Descendants) were letting us see watch the summer unfold through eyes of Duncan, the depressed, socially awkward teenage son of  Trent's love interest.  

Duncan, played brilliantly by the young actor, Liam James is a remarkable actor.  I predict we will be seeing great things from him.  Toni Collette nails her role as Pam, his mother.  No big surprise here - she plays the role of Mom-In-Need very, very well.  (Remember her in About A Boy?!)

 

Anyway, we - I mean Duncan - is lumbering along, being humiliated with every step he takes, until he finds himself sitting at the water park, watching the "normal kids" frolic and play.  All he wants to do is get away from the adults who are ruining his life.  Enter Owen (Sam Rockwell) -  the "Peter Pan" of the water park - the guy who never wants to grow up.  Owen immediately sees himself in Duncan (or so we assume) and decides to make Duncan his summer project.

Once Owen puffs a bit of self-esteem back into Duncan's lungs - the movie takes off - the music steps up - everything gets brighter - and you start to really, really dig this movie.

The Way, Way Back is very fun, and ends exactly as it should if only life ended like the movies.

Step back in time and remember how hard it is growing up - especially when the adults insist upon shoving their new friends and lovers into our lives, whether we want them there are not.  It does a wonderful job of reminding us all, if you see a child who looks lonely - a smile goes along way.  Taking five minutes to listen to their ramblings could mean the world to that child.  

The best moment in the movie comes towards the end, with Trent getting in Duncan's personal space demanding that he get in the car.  Owen steps in front of Duncan and looks Trent square in the eye.  I don't remember what he said.  Maybe he didn't say anything.  But Duncan knew.  And Trent knew.  Go out and be that guy.

 

 

Stuck In Love - A First Time For Many

Meet the Borgens. William Borgens is an acclaimed author who hasn't written a word since his ex-wife Erica left him 3 years ago for another man. In between spying on Erica and casual romps with his married neighbor Tricia, Bill is dealing with the complexities of raising his teenage children Samantha and Rusty. Samantha is publishing her first novel and is determined to avoid love at all costs - after all she's seen what it has done to her parents. In between hook ups, she meets "nice guy" Lou who will stop at nothing to win her over. Rusty, is an aspiring fantasy writer and Stephen King aficionado, who is on a quest to gain 'life experiences'. He falls for the beautiful, but troubled Kate and gets his first taste of love and a broken heart. A tale of family, love (lost and found), and how endings can make new beginnings. There are no rewrites in life, only second chances.  

Run Time: 97 min. Comedy/Drama  Directed By: Josh Boone

There was so many reasons to be excited about screening "Stuck In Love."  Not the least of which is it gave me my first crack at a celebrity interview.  I was given the opportunity to sit down with Liana Liberato and Patrick Schwarzenegger (yes, THAT Schawarzenegger!) , young co-stars in the movie.  

You can see the interview on Live at Five, Friday July 5, 2013, only on KQTV.  I am sure you will find them as charming as I did when I met them.  They both seem wise beyond their years and are extremely professional and driven.  It was such a pleasure to meet with them and talk about the making of "Stuck In Love".

Speaking of which:

Stuck In Love is a hopeful little movie.  You find yourself really REALLY cheering for the characters as they find their way through the mess that is their lives.  It does a great job of reminding us that no one's family is perfect - even though they may appear otherwise. First time director Josh Boone is a master at taking us all through the same experiences, yet letting us travel in different characters' footsteps.  Dad (Greg Kinnear) is waiting patiently for his ex-wife (Jennifer Connelly) to come to her senses, yet he shows us he is only human with his daily "appointment" with his married neighbor (Kristen Bell,  adorable as always).

We sidestep through the mine-field that is first time love with son Rusty (Nat Wolff).    Just as we start to feel that sweet memory of our own first love, the roller coaster takes a sharp turn as we see love through the very jaded eyes of daughter Samantha (Lily Collins).  And just as I LOVED Logan Lerman in "Perks", I adored him in this movie as Lou - the person I was rooting for the most.

The soundtrack was great, which included this 

It all  feels very authentic, like peeping through the windows of any home in America.  You will fall in love with the Borgens, at least one of them.  You will especially want the romance of Rusty and Kate (played beautifully by Liana Liberato) to weather the storm.  You will be proud of the adults who step in to to help these young lovers.  

The Borgens are very passionate people who in the end, do things that will surprise you.  And make you want for more.

The best line of the movie?  "A writer is the sum of your experiences.  Go get you some."

I think that is what made me love this movie so much - it makes you feel like it is okay to take chances - it is okay to hang on to hope as long as you want to.  It's your story after all, isn't it?

The Heat - or rather A Luke-warm Girl Cop Movie

Uptight FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) and foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) couldn't be more incompatible. But when they join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies. From Paul Feig, director of "Bridesmaids." (c) Fox

Rated R for pervasive language, strong crude content and some violence

Run Time: 1 hr. 57 min. Comedy Directed By:Paul Feig

I will admit, I was pretty stoked to see The Heat. Just like the rest of America, I fell in love with Sandra Bullock the minute she was blindsided after her 2009 Oscar win. And who doesn't love the comic timing of Melissa McCarthy?

What could possibly go wrong, right? Unfortunately, it turns out, many, many things...

I probably set myself up by seeing This Is The End a couple of weeks ago because seeing that movie set my comedic expectations at a whole new level. I doubt any movie will ever stack up to that one. Or maybe I couldn't get past the annoying audience laughter during The Heat . They literally laughed after every single punch line. I couldn't tell if I was in a movie theater or watching reruns of Three's Company. Have I mentioned before how much I dislike laugh tracks?

Don't get me wrong, there are a few laughs. The bar scene was pretty funny and Bullock and McCarthy have great chemistry. But I kept thinking to myself "haven't I seen this before?" 

Sandra Bullock plays a socially awkward nerdy girl who doesn't realize how beautiful she really is...(see Miss Congeniality & Miss Congeniality 2 and Two Weeks Notice and so on and so forth)

It was disappointing, but not a total waste of time. I still had fun and I was still entertained. And hey, not everyone agrees with me. I heard the Movie Critic ahead of me say "that was the funniest movie I have seen in a very, very long time. I had tears running down my face." 

Whhhhhhaaaattt? Yep - we were in the same theater.

Just keep the James Franco apocalyptic thriller comedies coming, thanks!

This Is The End - Opens Today!

If you do only one thing this weekend (or tonight for that matter) - let it be this:  you MUST see "This Is The End".  As I tweeted Tuesday night, I laughed more while watching this movie than I have laughed in the past two years.  Raunchy.  Stupid.  Hysterical.

The comedy This Is The End follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption. (c) Sony  (courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes)

 Mommy Note:  This film is rated R for a reason (MPAA:  Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence).  That is an understatement.  This one is NOT for the tweens.

 I give you "This Is The End":

"This is one of the most tasteless, ridiculous and funniest comedies of the 21st century.”

-Richard Roeper 

Richard said it best.    I mean how could they fail, check out this cast:

	James Franco	as ...	James Franco
	Jonah Hill	as ...	Jonah Hill
	Seth Rogen	as...	Seth Rogen
	Jay Baruchel	as...	Jay Baruchel
	Danny McBride	as	Danny McBride
	Craig Robinson	as...	Craig Robinson
	Michael Cera	as...	Michael Cera
	Emma Watson	as...	Emma Watson

 Yes - you read that right.  All these comedic actors play themselves.  Or as Seth Rogan has pointed out in promotional interviews - a "version" of themselves.  

I really don't know what else to say - nothing I say will do it justice.  The trailer doesn't even do it justice.  This movie is flat out hysterical from start to finish.  And trust me - you will LOVE when you see who plays Danny McBride's ummm....dog.....I couldn't even believe my eyes.

Leave your taste at the ticket booth and enjoy the ride.

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The Purge - aka - Really Now? Come on...

"In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide." (Courtesy IMDB)

The Purge - Rated R for strong disturbing violence and some language - 85 min

Here's the trailer: 

"Henry" Creepiness Factor  +10  

 

Tony Oller as the "Purge Leader" is as creepy as they come.  He delivers a smile that will send chills down your spine, and I’m not talking about the good kind of chills. On top of that, they throw in blonde haired, blue eyed girls skipping while they bludgeon people. It all adds up to what I imagine  the Manson Family’s home videos might have looked like.

Creepy as it may be, the film has many problems, the least of which is the Sandin family, whose patriarch father, played by Ethan Hawke, is the top sales guy for a multi-million dollar security company.  I wasn’t sold on his character because he can't even stop their teenage daughter from sneaking in her boyfriend.  An entire community has entrusted him with their safety, which isn’t very believable, if you ask me.

I kept finding holes in the film I couldm't ignore. Like, why are there homes with multi-million dollar security systems, but not one camera inside? I won't spoil the outcome by telling you what happens when a 4 wheel drive pickup is attached to the front door with a log-chain.  (You guessed it).

The other thing that fell short? Saying The Purge happens in 2022.  That is only nine years from now. I don’t think so.

I took my 17 year old daughter Miss Tawni to the screening, and our conversations following the movie were very thought provoking:



·                     Why so much anger aimed at "the black guy?"
·                     Did you notice he was a Veteran?
·                     Why didn't they have a backup generator?
·                     Why wouldn't they all stick together?
·                     What would you do the very first Purge? 

This movie is the closest I will get to voluntarily seeing a horror movie.  I will not see Saw or The Ring or anything of that nature. They are just not something I enjoy.  I only went to this one so I can review it on KQ2’s Live at Five segment.

Do I recommend it?  Not sure.  It was fun and action packed. I would give it credit for the scare factors too, especially since I had to cover my eyes more than once. Was it believable?  No way.  But I will tell you that the audience had fun watching because there were cheers and laughs throughout the show. Any movie that can engages its viewers is doing something right. Do I think it was a great movie? Not really.

This reviewer summarized my thoughts pretty accurately.  I will leave you with his words:

"A clever set-up, well-executed interior-shot action, and just enough goofy thematic exploration to throw ideas at you without asking you to take a single damn one of them as serious subject matter – it’s tense, crazy, and gloriously stupid. And I mean that as a compliment." ~ Brian Tallerico - HollywoodChicago.com

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Weekend Shenanigans - Touring Missouri Wine Country

What a gorgeous weekend in Missouri!  Is it ok that I started my Shenanigans on Thursday?
LJE and I have been together for almost 10 years, and on Thursday night we FINALLY had actual pictures taken (not snapshots on a waterproof camera, etc.)  We were SOOO lucky to be photographed by the wonderfully talented Jessica Santo from www.pouphotography.com.....

 

Peace of You Photography is located in Kansas City, Missouri.  Jessica is another of my talented daughters.  She is currently cooking (that's what Reese says) our 8th grand-baby...

Isn't she just darling?  (Lucy Wynn - expected to arrive Mid July)

Friday night Jay and I took off on the Harley for a weekend of Wine in picturesque Hermann, MO....

You know what they say, if you don't like the weather in Missouri, wait a few hours.  So of course, this happened....

We were very thankful to see this abandoned gas station - we dried off and got back on the road. 


We finally reached our destination.  We stayed at the lovely Patty Kerr's Cottage.  www.pattykerr.com ($125 a night and includes an AMAZING breakfast delivered to your door at 8:45 am)....

Then we relaxed at The Bank.  (Is this not the most beautiful Rumchata Martini you have ever seen?)

Later that afternoon, I found this beautiful rosebush.  I tried my photography skills - what do you think? LJE picked a rose for me, saying "Lisa, will you accept this rose?"  He did.  He really did.  He will deny it. But it's true.

Now on to the winery tour - we traveled by trolley....





First stop, Stone Hill Winery.....

My favorite wine at Stone Hill - Vignoles..... 

Next stop, Adam Puchta Winery (one of my favorites).  This is LJE enjoying his weekend, deep in thought...

My favorite wine at Adam Puchta Winery is The Cat's Meow (as seen in the picture).


Moving on....we landed at Oak Glenn Winery.  This was our TOP PICK.  It is a beautiful winery overlooking the Missouri River.  We stayed the rest of the day....



My favorite wine at Oak Glenn was Moonbeam Melody.  It had a wonderful Pineapple Bouquet (yes, I am such a wine snob).  If I win the lottery, I will have a case delivered to all my followers.

As I browsed a gift shop at one of the wineries, I came across a coffee-table book entitled "Wines of Missouri".  There inside the pages was a picture of my favorite Vintner, a very young Kraig Keeseman working at Pirtle Winery in Weston, MO.  Kraig now owns Windy Wine Company - as you all know - my favorite winery of all time.  (www.windywine.com)

Heading home on Monday was not as fun as we would have liked.  Imagine my surprise when Jay pulled off the highway right into the Les Bourgeois parking lot in Rocheport, Missouri.  How lucky am I?  The best wine there - Jacquesse Kikn Berry.  Yumm-o. (Yes I had one sample.  But I was not driving the Harley so this is A-ok)

After a brief rainstorm, we got back on the road and ended up at a fireworks/gas station (yes, im Missouri it is not uncommon to find gas stations that also sell fireworks.  I never thought this was a bad combination until I typed it..now I am questioning the brains behind this combo)...

Not nearly as romantic, and they didn't sell wine - but at least we had company!

I met a biker at this stop, his name is Chuck and he and his buddies were returning from their Memorial Ride to the Wall (memorialride.com).  I thanked him for his service to our country.  God placed the the perfect person in front of me in a rainstorm.  We all need to keep things in perspective.

Have a Wine-derful week!

(We do not drink and drive the bike.  All wine and other beverages were consumed while walking or on the trolley. <3 <3)

My Very First Freebie - Win a Free Copy of Les Miserables!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin - I guess you need to do this too.

Well, my daughter (Jen over at Thatiswhatsheread.blogspot.com) is MUCH TOO BUSY redecorating her life to help me figure out why I only have three followers...so I am going to try and help myself (as usual) <Insert Feel-Sorry-For-Mom Vibe here>.

Last year, my favorite movie was Les Miserables.  So I am going to share this little gem with one lucky follower.  (Not Eddie, just a new DVD)

Yes, I know this may not be the "official trailer", but the thumbnail has that cute little Eddie Redmayne and I just couldn't help myself.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Take THAT Jenni Ferdanley!!

 I hope this works - please feel free to comment helpful hints and well wishes - my goal is to get 10 followers!!!

PS - yes I see there is a wierd Rafflecopter comment right beside little Eddie.  I don't know how to get rid of it.

Thanks for helping!!