4 out of 5 stars
starring J. Lo, Alex O’Loughlin, Eric Christian Olsen, Anthony Anderson and Michaela Watkins.
The Back-Up Plan comes out on Bul-Ray and DVD today. If you have been a loyal reader then you probably know both my initial reaction and how much I love the leading man, Alex O’Loughlin. In case you live under a rock, this is the plot in a nutshell: Aging single woman gets artificially inseminated and then meets the man of her dreams. What will she do?
I thought, here comes an extra cheesy slice of the Jennifer Lopez filmography. I actually enjoy a good (or bad) romantic comedy more than the next person. I did think this sounded quite ridiculous though (like the recently released Jennifer Aniston joke that I’ve been hearing about for 2 years).
The crazy thing was, as quality rom-coms go, this was way up there with The Wedding Planner. It’s actually funny and realistic (as far as something with this premise could be). I was really only hoping for an excuse to ogle Alex O’Loughlin (which I received, in spades), but his character actually had a personality. You know that usually a movie like this has the secondary character be quite bland or perfect, but he was not. Even the potential plot holes were explained (how can she afford that outfit?). BTW-This movie is in love with New York. If you’ve ever been there you may want to go back after viewing it.
There were a few, puhlease, do not go there moments but for the most part I definitely recommend this film.
Verdict: If you like Jennifer Lopez’s romantic comedies Rent/Buy this.
Yes, I’m a week late on this but it turns out that the only things that came out last week were vampire trash and M. Night Shyamalan’s wet dream so it’s nothing I would have highlighted anyway.
Grease-7/08 (Limited)
You know Grease. As a child it’s that really awesome movie with the fun singing and a hot, young John Travolta. As an adult it’s not quite the same. This is a re-release sing along. Apparently they think it will go over with today’s teens because of their love of High School Musical and Glee (yuck! on both counts). I saw Grease on the big screen during the 1998 re-release. Oh, who am I kidding? If we were actually getting it here I’d go see it again. Side Note: Musical teachers love to have kids perform songs from this but change the words because they are “offensive” (okay, pussy wagon is a bit offensive for 11 year olds but changing art is fucked up). My sister encountered this as a pre-teen in show choir. It was also spoofed on an episode of SNL hosted by Christopher Walken.
Predators-7/09
Predators is another one of these movies that is a sequel/remake/reimagining thing. I’m sure you know by now that Predators are some freaky ass aliens. I’ve seen some of the Predator movies and I’m not a big fan. They’re okay but I’m not going out of my way to see them. I really don’t get the commercials/trailers for this that try to avoid showing the Predator. It’s not like a whole new character we’ve never seen. C’mon on. The film stars Adrien Brody (yum), Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo and Topher Grace (who I haven’t seen in any ads?). It was directed by Nimrod Antal who also did Armored and Vacancy (ugh).
The Kids Are All Right-7/09
The plot is that the daughter of a lesbian couple wants to find her dad (I mean sperm donor). This looks like the type needlessly dramatic movie I usually avoid except Annette Bening is playing one of the moms. I just think she is a fantastic actress. So I will eventually rent it. Julianne Moore is the other mom. Of course she’s a good actress but I feel like so many of her flicks are hit or miss. Mark Ruffalo is the sperm donor. I used to ogle him but this is not an oglable (invented word) role. The daughter is Mia Wasikowska who recently played Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice-7/16
This is a Disney flick that should appeal to the 13 year old boys out there. Nic Cage plays a sorcerer who takes Jay Baruchel under his wing as his apprentice and they fight a bunch of CGI generated dangers. This is obviously a part of some contract Cage has with Disney that probably includes The National Treasure movies. You know, he needs the money. It looks okay but major things about this movie bother me. In any other movie like this the main “boy” would be in his teens. Baruchel is 28. If I were casting it I would have picked someone who was 16 or 17. Then you have Alfred Molina playing a villain. Molina doesn’t scare me at all. I didn’t understand when they put him in Spider-Man 2 and I don’t get it here either. When he comes out in his elaborate costumes trying to strike fear into one’s heart I feel like he should be stepping onto a stage to lip synch a song. Yes, he looks like a big drag queen. I like drag queens but they don’t scare me. As usual, Nic Cage is somehow hot despite his strange hair.
Inception-7/16
This is the 2nd really cool looking mind bending flick from Leonardo DiCaprio this year. The film is about people who go into your dreams and steal your secrets. It looks deliciously trippy. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Kem Watanbe, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine and Lukas Hass are also in the cast. Even the promo they are doing for the flick is killer. Go here to watch the trailer.
Salt-7/23
Salt is about a CIA officer (Angelina Jolie) who may or may not be a Russian spy. Do we even care anymore? I would have been all over something like this in 2000 but can you really even look at Jolie anymore without thinking about her crazy approach to mothering? I prefer the sexualcutter.
Life During Wartime-7/23
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKzHhtCTMM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKd7V7et0Xc[/youtube]
Plot from IMDB: “Friends, family, and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness, and meaning in a war-torn world riddled with comedy and pathos.” I am a fan of Todd Solondz’s films. I’m not really sure what this movie is about but I’m sure I will rent it and figure that out in the future. The cast includes Allison Janney, Paul Reubens, Ally Sheedy, Gaby Hoffman and Chris Marquette.
Dinner for Schmucks-7/30
This is the July released that I am super-psyched about. It’s a comedy about a succesful group who meet to have dinner parties and see who can invite the biggest idiot like the non-sexual version of a dogfight. The cast includes Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis, Ron Livingston and Bruce Greenwood. This is a remake of the 1998 French film The Dinner Game which I have seen a few times since my sister owns it. The Dinner Game was very funny and starred Thierry Lhermitte, whose name I wouldn’t recognize but whose face I always do. Dinner for Schmucks looks fantastic. They’ve been playing the trailer here for months but I still laugh everytime. I was a little worried that they put everything good in the trailer but I saw a commercial earlier with some other funny bits so I’m hoping it’s gonna be as awesome as I expect. It was directed by Jay Roach who did the Meet The Parents movies (ew) and The Austin Powers movies (cool). Go here to watch the trailer.
The Extra Man-7/30 (Limited)
Kevin Kline is an old, misogynistic, gigolo who speaks like an Oscar Wilde character. Paul Dano (The Girl Next Door) is the young guy who is finding himself and is fascinated with Kline. John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes co-star. I’ll be renting this when it trickles down to Blu-Ray since it’s only opening in NY & LA.
Get Low-7/30 (Limited)
Robert Duvall is a hermit who wants to throw a funeral party. It’s a funeral that you have while you are alive. It looks pretty interesting. The cast includes Billy Murray, Sissy Spacek, Gerald McRaney and Lucas Black.
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore-7/30
I would normally ignore this lame children’s sequel but I must mention how strange it is. First of all the title is an homage to the often parodied James Bond character Pussy Galore which would be weird enough. I’ve been seeing parts of the commercial though and it’s got some strange ass shit in it like a cat unzipping itself from a dog suit. Just look at the posters. I’m pretty sure if I was a little kid I would get “3D” nightmares from this. As if I wasn’t already afraid of the future from listening to the woes of the youth of America every night. If this is what little tiny kids want to watch I’m pretty sure we’re all fucked.
OP Juniors Graphic Henley Tank-Walmart, Basic Editions Canvas Shoes-Kmart, Aviators with heavy mirror-Rue 21, Route 66 Shorts-Kmart-worn on 06/11/10
This is just a fun summer look. The title is from a cheesy 90s song that brings a smile to my face when I hear it, Return of the Mack. You can click the Pop-Out Player button below to hear it on my summer mix (It’s the 1st song). When I saw that Walmart had brought back the OP surf label that I always thought was fun in the 90s but couldn’t afford (don’t fret, there were cute knock offs) I had to get a couple of things. This tank top is so fun, flattering and comfortable. I also picked up the yellow graphic top and my friend Jen bought me the teal colorblock dress in the 2nd polyvore below for my birthday. Check out the 2nd polyvore for my top picks from the OP at Walmart line. I bought the shorts on sale last fall or winter. Of course I had to pair the look with some new (yes, they are back) 90s style bobos. Back in the day I had bobos in a ton of colors to match a bunch of my outfits. When my sis, her bf and I went shopping last month I had to snag these men’s aviators for myself from Rue 21. They make me smile because they’re silly looking. I’ve been wearing them a lot. The lenses are very dark so that’s a plus. It seems like often sunglasses I pick up for the style don’t work at all. Please go HYPE my look if you are on LOOKBOOK.
“Thou Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Wife”-The Ten
Soup R Crackers on Party Down
as “I wanna dip my balls in it!” Louie on The State
as Miles on Charmed
When I was a little girl (let me enjoy this, I only get to be a little girl in flashbacks) I didn’t watch a lot of TV but I did tend to watch MTV at night. I thought it was like getting a glimpse at adults. Of course, in retrospect, it really wasn’t. It was more like a bunch of 20 somethings acting silly which can be a lot of fun. For years when I’d hear something about this show The State I remembered the title and watching sketch comedy on MTV back in the day. That’s as far as it went though. I didn’t remember the actual show at all. However it turns out I’ve been watching and enjoying the collected works of the cast (also writers) of the show for years. Recently I’ve been marathoning the show on Netflix and it’s so sarcastically hilarious. What am I getting at? This was the springboard of the fantastic Ken Marino’s career.
I first noticed Ken Marino as nice and sexy Officer Russotelli in 2000′s 101 Ways (The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo). I happened to be surfing movies channels years ago, came across and was absorbed by it. I recently rewatched it and still enjoyed it immensely. It’s about a young female writer trying to get by. Marino plays the only normal guy in the film so I didn’t realize he was a comedic actor.
As time went by I’d see him in small roles here and there and go “Oh, it’s that hot guy” but I didn’t know his name or follow his career. One of those times was when he played one of Phoebe’s many love interests on Charmed. Yes, I was a huge Charmed fan.
I was really happy to see him in recent years opposite his The State costar Michael Ian Black on Reaper as part of a cool gay demon couple. He also really shined in The Ten. You can watch his whole part in that film by viewing the top 2 videos.
What caused me to be so enamored with him as of late though is his kick ass performance as team leader Ron Donald on Party Down. Ron Donald is always trying to be optimistic (as with his Soup R Crackers goal) but things just never seem to go his way. I really dig him in this role because I have a thing for big doofy guys. I am attracted to a lot of different men but if I had a type it would be the big dumb guy.
Obviously Marino himself is very intelligent though. He’s a writer, producer and director. Most recently he directed the season 2 finale of Party Down. There’s a lot of talk about Party Down coming to an end after this season because it’s more of a labor of love than a cash cow for the cast but I’m really hoping this doesn’t happen because it’s definitely one of the funniest shows out there right now. Marino has been very vocal in his distaste of members of the cast leaving the show and his co-star Martin Starr has also expressed worry over the show’s future on twitter. I really hope a 3rd season somehow gets made.
There is no way I could go into all of his roles. Go check out his filmography and see what appeals to you.
FUN FACTS:
Marino is married to Erica Oyama who appeared on another MTV show Undressed. They have one child.
“My big theory is that comedy is a lot like porno now: there’s something out there for everyone.”-Ken Marino
WRITE
I think we should write Ken Marino and tell him how amazing he is. He is so underrated that while putting this together I couldn’t find any fansites for him and had to get some of the pics from his own, abandoned Myspace page.
Ken Marino
Schachter Entertainment
1157 South Beverly Drive
2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90035
It’s a strange culture we live in: we’re always told Just be yourself!, yet the bestseller list is chock-full of self-help books and memoirs depicting radical change. Finding the balance between total transformation and chilling in our pajamas is difficult, but that’s why I love the blogosphere. Here, inspiration is served up one manageable bite at a time. Want to save the world? Start with vintage beachwear – the purchase benefits disaster victims. Hoping your man evolves into a sharp-dressed diaper-changer? Let’s begin with a chic- and sustainable- Dad’s day gift. Looking for your dream job? Take baby steps by revamping your work wardrobe and taking notes from inspiring entrepreneurs.
Links à la Mode: June 17th
A la Modest A Uniform Response to Chaos: Janelle Monáe
(I wrote this down a few days ago when I was upset to amuse myself. These things aren’t just random and do have a basis in reality but I’m not sure if I will be updating this post with an explanation or just let them stand for themselves.)
I liked you better before the stroke.
Hey, you’re wearing a sweater in July, are you anorexic?
I prefer Lindsay Lohan’s Edge of Seventeen cover.
It’s starting to rain, I have to go drug my dog.
I think children should be leashed in public.
To Missionaries Who Come To Your House: I’m an atheist. Please leave and never come back.
I think all drugs should be legalized.
In A Haunted House: These lights are giving me a seizure.
I really hate that I got paired with the gay guy to dissect a frog.
You soy pequito Espanol.
I can’t find these pink hot pants in my niece’s size.
I prefer government cheese to Velveeta.
Do you want something to eat? No, I plan on drinking later.
I used to write bad poetry too.
Aren’t you gonna finish that pitcher of daiquiris? It cost me $6.
Why are you hitting on me when you’re obviously gay?
You’re the guy from the bathroom.
That baby is so cute. I wish I had a baby. Me too. (in the vicinity of a friend you slept with but aren’t dating)
To A Doctor:
I demand to be fully sedated for this operation.
Fuck You.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. You can’t speak English and you just added 2+5 and held up 8 fingers.
Hi, I'm Mary. I share awesome things with the world. 
