REVIEW: THE KING OF KONG - A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS

I don't believe we've ever reviewed a documentary on this site as one of our movie dates, but there's always a first time for everything.

Unfortunately, Wifey doesn't subscribe to that same philosophy so yours truly was flying solo once again when it came time to watch and review this one.

Let me just start by saying that I have a new personal favorite flick in my Top 10! This one was excellent!

It's called The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters and it's a story about a middle school science teacher named Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion Billy Mitchell.

I honestly don't remember how I learned about this incredible epic, but I do remember that it was the trailer that really got my attention. Watch it for yourself and let me know if it has the same pull on you.

Here's the trailer:

HUBBY'S REVIEW

Within the first 10 minutes of this one I hit the pause button. The reason? I needed to know if I was actually wacthing a real-life documentary or not because the first few minutes had the distinct feeling as if I were watching a mock-u-mentary akin to TV's The Office.

After a quick Google search, I soon realized that I was going to be treating myself to one of the most unique and mesmerizing stories I had ever seen - this was a real story, about real people, real places, and real events!

That's what makes this film so compelling. The video game subculture is definitely unique (no shocker there), but the story of these two men - and average middle-class school teacher and a charismatic, arrogant business owner - competing for the title of the Best Donkey Kong Player in the World was captivating.

The entire thing has a Rocky feel to it because Steve Wiebe is definitely the clear underdog who just wants to make his mark upon this world. Even his own moving backstory is told brilliantly to get the audience to sympathize with him and, ultimately, to root for him.

Yet, the most amazing part of this documentary is watching Billy Mitchell's fall from grace because he doesn't handle it with grace at all. In fact, he's comes across as a real jerk for many reasons.

The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. There's more drama in this small documentary than in most serious Oscar contenders. A marriage is on the line, integrity is tested, and friendships falter - all in the name of a video game called Donkey Kong.

Do yourself a favor and rent this one today. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.

I'm giving it 4 Ben & Jerry's ice creams out of 5.

REVIEW: SEMI-PRO

Next up was the newest feature film starring Will Ferrell. This time it was Semi-Pro, a movie that was shot in Los Angeles near Dodger Stadium (in the gym of the Los Angeles City Fire Department Training Center), in Detroit and in Flint, MI.

This movie is Ferrell's homage to the wild, afro-picked splendor of the short-lived American Basketball Association that thrived in the seventies before the rise of the NBA. Though the Flint Tropics are a fictional team, the real ABA was every bit as wacky, unhinged, and, yes, entertaining as Semi-Pro itself.

Without giving too much away just yet, it's is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

As a sure sign that Armageddon is upon us (or is it that I'm just getting old at the ripe young age of only 29?) this was another Will Ferrell movie that I didn't care for.

What is going on in this world? I feel out of sorts because this is becoming a trend with me. Personally, I feel like things started going downhill after Old School.

Sure, there are some funny moments and a handful of witty one-liners, but I only laughed out loud 2-3 times through this entire film. I expect more from one of Hollywood's best and brightest comedic actors.

Without ruining it for people, one of those "laugh-out-loud" moments for me was when Ferrell's character got into a fight with the referee. Classic! Hilarious!

Stephen Silver from The Trend said it best when he wrote, "Aside from the 'fro and his sport of choice, Jackie Moon is really no different whatsoever from Ricky Bobby, or whatever Ferrell's character's name was in Blades of Glory."

I'll give this one only 2 Ben & Jerry's ice creams out of 5. Will - please make an Old-School caliber film again.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX RETIRES

Joaquin Phoenix, who turned 34 years old just yesterday, stunned E! Online reporter Jason Kennedy with the announcement that he would be retiring from acting.

The two-time Oscar nominee stated this on the red carpet at a Monday benefit for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, a charity founded by Paul Newman.

Phoenix said that "Two Lovers," his upcoming romantic drama with Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw, will be his final on-screen role.

Phoenix is apparently giving up acting to pursue music, a passion of his since he learned to play guitar to play the role of Johnny Cash in 2005's "Walk the Line."

According to Billboard, Phoenix is working on an album with Tim Burgess, frontman for the UK group The Charlatans. Burgess said, "Once he learnt guitar he found that he had quite a lot of demons inside himself that he wanted to expel through music."

Loved the guy in both Gladiator and Signs and it's too bad we won't get to see more of an actor whom I felt was just coming into his own with his best work still ahead of him.

I must say that I'm extremely shocked by this news. It's a bold and brave decision especially in Hollywood, but Our Movie Date wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Joaquin Phoenix Shocks With Retirement Announcement

REVIEW: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

Great! Yet, ANOTHER film based on a novel, and a historical fiction novel at that! I'll admit that this was our sentiment going in to this movie date.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical fiction novel written by British author Philippa Gregory, based on the life of 16th-century aristocrat Mary Boleyn. Reviews were mixed; some said it was a brilliantly claustrophobic look at the palace life in Tudor England, while others weren't convinced. Either way, it has enjoyed phenomenal success and popularity since its publication in 2002 and has spawned five sequels not to mention this feature film.

Ultimately, though it features some extravagant and entertaining moments, The Other Boleyn Girl feels more like a soap opera than historical drama.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

During my research, I learned that A ninety-minute television drama based on the novel was broadcast by the BBC in 2003. It had a relatively low production budget and was filmed using modern camera techniques, with much of the script improvised.

In contrast, on the Bonus Disc that comes with this movie (the 2008 feature film adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, and Eric Bana as Henry VIII) screenwriter Peter Morgan discusses the dilemma he faced in adapting Philippa Gregory's 600-plus-page novel for the screen. He ultimately decided to use it merely as a broad guideline for his script, which Gregory felt perfectly captured the essence of her book, although many plot elements were eliminated, diminished, or changed. Among the more notable deviations in the film, Mary's marriage to William Stafford, a major part of the book, is mentioned only in a note just before the closing credits, Anne and George decide against committing incest, and there are no overt references to George's homosexuality.

Personally, I came away from it all pleasantly surprised and actually wanting to learn more about this time period and these people who left their mark upon history. In that sense, it's EXACTLY the way Heather Huntington of ReelzChannel.com described it when she wrote, "A run-of-the-mill costume drama that made me think more about running home and Wikipedia-ing the characters than investing in the story before me." That's a little stronger than my feelings about the movie, but you get the point.

I also think it was the perfect cast for this type of story and for these types of characters. It was nice to see Natalie Portman in something other than Star Wars.

Thank the Lord that we no longer live in a time when women are traded and used like cattle; objects for man's lust. Wait, my mistake. Look at how short we've come in 500 years. Sad.

As period pieces and adaptations go, I will give this one a 3 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's ice creams.

REVIEW: AWAKE

Finally, I get to see a movie starring Hayden Christensen that doesn't involve Sith Lords, the Jedi, or the Force.

In all seriousness, I've seen him in other non-Star Wars related roles and he's actually a pretty good actor. Wifey was very eager to see him along with a recognizable cast in the film Awake while I was just sort of ho-hum about the whole thing.

Awake has an interesting premise and it's an unsettling thriller that highlights a deeply troubling medical problem. "Anesthetic awareness" is a rare but dangerously prevalent condition that affects nearly 30,000 individuals a year, in which patients who have been put under anesthesia before surgery remain paralyzed while still being aware of their present situation.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Finally! A movie that didn't stink or feel like a complete waste of time! Ironically, this was a movie that didn't really get me all fired up from the movie trailers.

Then again, it's outlandish, preposterous, contrived, and an implausible thriller which happens to be fun if you ignore the fact that it's outlandish, preposterous, contrived and implausible.

So, what's the deal then? Why did I like this and come away happy about the movie date? Perhaps is was merely due to the simple fact that it was an ORIGINAL CONCEPT and, yes, there were a volley of plot twists that'll have you slapping your head in disbelief, but I didn't see many of them coming and I didn't think they were too far-fetched.

I also thought the film had a nice pace to it. When we reached the end of the story I looked at Wifey and said, "Wow! That was surprisingly pretty entertaining and good! It wasn't too long either."

Awake feels like an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode unfolding in slow motion, with each new revelation only coming a reel or two after viewers have guessed it. Crazy, but fun!

I give it 2.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Typically, we'll shy away from any kind of movie that we hear/read is anti-American.

Wifey and I love this great nation of ours and are patriotic so when a film comes along that we feel unfairly characterizes our beloved country and casts it in a negative light for the world to see we simply won't waste our time with it.

In The Valley Of Elah was a film that came highly recommended even if we were a little hesistant given what little bit we already knew about it's storyline.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I was fascinated to learn of the Biblical connection to this movie. The valley gets it name from the Elah Tree, a type of oak or Terebinth Tree. This large and old Elah Tree still remains in the valley, reminding visitors of the day when trees proliferated in the Shephelah.

The best view of the valley is from the commanding hilltop of Azekah. This strategic city was wisely fortified by Rehoboam, and it was one of the last cities to fall to the Babylonians in the invasion of Judah in 586 B.C.

The valley below - the Valley of Elah - is the location of the epic battle between David and Goliath.

Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman wrote it best, "In the Valley of Elah, the first film Paul Haggis has written and directed since Crash, is exactly the sort of movie America needs right now — a lacerating, bone-deep inquiry into the war in Iraq, one that struggles to find meaning in the very chaos of that conflict. It's no secret that those of us who have never been in a war have probably ingested much of what we 'know' of the experience of combat from the movies. In the Valley of Elah isn't a combat film per se, but its dramatic power is rooted in the violent mystery of battle — in the awe and anxiety and, yes, the curiosity we feel when we imagine our soldiers in a place like Iraq and think, What is it that defines this war? This particular hell? The film is actually a Stateside murder mystery."

In that sense, it is an engrossing murder mystery, but also an in-your-face anti-war, anti-American statement. Political commentary aside, it also features a mesmerizing performance from Tommy Lee Jones.

I should also mention that I took issue with Jones' character describing to another character the story of David and Goliath. In essence, he goes on and on about how the Bible is all allegorical and a book of nothing but metaphors and good stories that could teach a lesson. There is absolutely no truth to them whatsoever especially not when it comes to the story about a young shepherd boy killing a fearsome giant.

Just looking at that within the context of the story (setting - both cultural, geographic, political), and in relationship to the type of character that was uttering such nonsense, it didn't seem plausible since most rugged men and women like Jones' character that I know in that part of the country (military families no less) all have a firm foundation and faith in Jesus Christ and His Word in the Holy Bible.

So, again, if realism is what they were after, they failed miserably there and I guess decided that it was an acceptable ommission in order to perpetuate the anti-war, anti-American theme of the movie. This is where things became transparent for me.

Regardless of which side of the political fence one sits on, In the Valley of Elah's power can't be denied and the strong acting must be appreciated.

Jones makes the father's pride, determination, stubbornness, patriotism, and love extremely, utterly believable, sympathetic, and involving. He produces a stiff ex-soldier whose clipped speech and manner hide a seething mass of apprehension and guilt. His low-key turn as a man forced to question everything from the kind of father he was to the nature of the country he fought for is moving.

Even so, I gave it 1.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5. It just didn't impact me like it did for others.

REVIEW: THE HEARTBREAK KID

Ah, Ben Stiller. There are probably only three comedic actors who I would go see at the theater no matter what kind of role they were starring in - Jim Carey, Will Ferrell, and the aforementioned Mr. Ben Stiller.

It's been awhile since one of our movie dates gave us the chance to laugh out loud and just relax. Up until we watched The Heartbreak Kid we were working on a steady diet of chick-flicks and manly-movies.

The Farrelly Brothers add their trademark bounty of bodily functions to this remake of Elaine May's 1972 comedy.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Aren't there any good movies being made anymore? What is this world coming to when a guy like Ben Stiller can't even deliver the laughs in a comedy?

Maybe it's just me, but this was another bust of a flick. The previews included everything that was hilarious about this one and that makes sitting through the rest of the film torturous.

Despite some amiable performances, The Heartbreak Kid is neither as daring nor as funny as the Farrelly Brothers' earlier films.

Most jokes land with a thud - particularly the gross-out gags, which nearly 10 years after Mary now just feel played out.

If The Heartbreak Kid doesn't go totally wrong, its big problem is that it doesn't really go anywhere. It just sort of lies there.

If you watch this film, don’t expect much and you may not be too disappointed. Now there’s a ringing endorsement for ya!

I give it 1 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: I AM LEGEND

Will Smith in another apocalyptic film? Sign me up! I can't remember the last time I was this excited about one of our movie dates.

Wait, on second thought, let me rephrase that...ANY time spent with Wifey is exciting and I look forward to each and every one of those moments.

I knew going in that I Am Legend was a remake (Will Smith joins the ranks of Vincent Price in 1964's The Last Man On Earth and Charlton Heston in 1971's Omega Man) as the star of an adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, and I also knew from the trailer that I was going to like this one. See it for yourself.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Major letdown. I'm so disappointed.

I thought for sure this was going to be a fun and entertaining ride, but instead it was nothing more than a lazy attempt to get my hard-earned dollars.

The biggest complaint I have? How the heck does a movie star like Will Smith sign off and agree to a role where he will be up against LAUGHABLE and COMPLETELY FAKE looking CGI Zombies? You'd think the star of Independence Day would know better.

I know what you're thinking, "Come on Hubby. You mean to tell me that the ENTIRE movie hinges on whether or not computer animation looks believable enough?" Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying. It becomes such a distraction and makes the whole thing feel awful - it's painful to sit through and watch.

The monsters are routine CGI creations, crudely animated and unconvincing. In a film of such visual majesty and surprisingly weighty drama, they present an unfortunate and needless distraction.

I'll admith that I Am Legend overcomes questionable special effects and succeeds largely on the strength of Will Smith's mesmerizing performance.

With I Am Legend, Will Smith has accomplished what Tom Hanks did back in 2000 - effectively star in a movie that involves very little interaction with other human counterparts.

Still, Director Francis Lawrence lowers his game by resorting to cheap scares, the absence of which is pretty much all that saved his only other feature, 2005’s Constantine, from being completely laughable.

I was VERY DISAPPOINTED and so I'm only giving this 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: WE OWN THE NIGHT

What could be better than a cop movie that offers a bunch of A-List actors and the age-old story of good brother versus bad brother set within a family of cops type of environment?

We Own The Night appeared to be that type of film; the kind you would compare any future family-cop-drama to. The question is whether or not it could live up to the hype and lofty expectations.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

What do Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Joaquin Phoenix, and Eva Mendes have in common? They're all great actors in just a so-so movie.

Chalk this one up as nother movie that disappointed me. I must say that Hollywood is getting great at delivering a drop-dead awesome movie trailer. Unfortunately, the main feature never quite seems to measure up to that standard. It's a roller coaster, mainly because a good scene is typically followed by a bad one.

To sum it up, this film has bland characters, clichéd dialogue and rickety plotting and that ensures that We Own The Night never lives up to its potential. It was terribly written and just such a waste of great actors.

It's also worth mentioning that on my notes I wrote, "JP: Should get the 'Best Mumbler' Oscar" so that just added to my frustration with this one.

Although We Own the Night is never as suspenseful as it wants to be and can be a little formulaic, it never comes close to being boring, and that's something you can't say too often about movies these days.

So, for that very reason alone I'll still give it a 2.25 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: RATATOUILLE

Another kid flick, Ratatouille was another movie that we originally picked out for the kids only to find that we wanted to sit down and invest the time to watch it ourselves from beginning to end.

Of course, this is the latest installment from the brilliant people from Pixar and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I really, really liked this one. Pixar succeeds again with Ratatouille, a stunningly animated film with fast pacing, memorable characters, and overall good humor.

The computer animation was fantastic, but more impressive was the original storyline complete with interesting characters. I would even go so far as to say Ratatouille is an instant classic.

The unlikely dreamer at the center of the film's story is Remy, a Parisian rat with a natural talent for gourmet cooking. His keen sense of smell makes him valuable at sniffing out rat poison but Remy, inspired by deceased five-star chef Auguste Gusteau's teaching that "anyone can cook," wants more out of life.

Circumstances lead him directly to Gusteau's former restaurant, where he becomes a friend and partner to gangly garbage boy Alfredo Linguini. With Remy's help, Alfredo defies the doubts of Gusteau's current owner, the greedy and jealous Skinner, to become a star chef. And, in the process, wins the romantic attention of his lovely colleague Colette.

Animation long ago lost its reputation as simply "kids' stuff," but any hold-outs should be instantly converted by Ratatouille's effortless all ages appeal.

I really hope they make a sequel! I give it 3.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: WE ARE MARSHALL

We rounded our the testosterone series of movie dates with a sports flick We Are Marshall and I was very eager to check this one out.

Being the sports fanatic that I am I'm always looking for the next best epic to add to my list of All-Time-Greatest-Sports-Movies-Ever and this one looked like it had some potential of stealing one of the Top 3 spots (currently held by Hoosiers, Field of Dreams, and Slap Shot) after seeing the trailer.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Most sports movies are based on real people, real teams, and real events. This one was no exception. What this "sports movie" had going for it that many of the others didn't was that it told the story of one of the worst collegiate sports tragedies to ever occur in ths country.

We get to see the real meaning of "community" when Marshall University - its faculty, coaches, students, and parents - fight to find common ground and a way back to a life worth living after a tragedy threatens to destroy all that is pure and good about life in general.

Despite the unique side to this drama, I have to mention that I think this is also the reason why this film fails to become a great one. Matthew McConaughey almost runs We Are Marshall to the end zone, but can't stop it from taking the easy, feel-good route in memorializing this historic event in American sports. Instead of We Are Marshall, the film could have easily been titled Inspirational Sports Drama.

A real-life tragedy such as this requires more depth and authenticity, though. In its rush to be inspiring, some things are never explained, and that keeps us at arm’s length emotionally.

Thus, I give this one 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: THE HITMAN

You know that we're not big fans of movies based on novels or comic books. Creating a film based on a video game is a whole different animal - one that should be extinct!

Still, there was something about the trailer we saw for The Hitman starring that guy from HBO's Deadwood that really grabbed us.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Garbage. Complete and total garbage. I guess we have ourselves to blame for thinking this movie adaptation of a popular video game would be any different from those before it. You know, like such masterpieces as Double Dragon, Mortal Kombat, and Super Mario Brothers.

This movie had the potential to shatter those preconceived notions, but instead it only continued the sad trend. When our story begins we are given several interesting teasers regarding the main character's background. For some strange reason, however, none of them are explored beyond merely mentioning them.

This is where the film completely fails and lost us. The action was great and the special effects were pretty cool, but so what? We can get that in almost any movie these days.

Again, the potential to tell a really neat Alias-meets-Bourne Identity story was lost on the creators.

For their laziness I give this 1 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: MICHAEL CLAYTON

I was happy that we were going to switch gears for the next few movie dates. The chick-flick was wearing on my senses and emotional well-being and it was time to return to my manly roots.

How do you do that? Simple. Just watch movies that have a lot of action and explosions and throw in some good guys and bad guys. Do that and I'm a happy camper.

First in this next wave of manly movies for date night was the film Michael Clayton starring George Clooney.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

I really enjoyed this one. Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

It was works as a smart and sophisticated thriller. Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is what is known in the legal world as a "fixer," or in the character's own pejorative version, a "janitor" who cleans up legal messes for VIPs and corporations on behalf of a prestigious New York City law firm. The story is about what happens when he is perceived to be a "mess" that needs to be "cleaned up" quickly.

The best part comes in the form of the wonderfully satisfying climax in the hotel lobby. Just wait and see! I also enjoyed how Gilroy uses visual elements to fit the overall theme like the motif of Clooney going down on the escalator at the end.

As another critic wrote, "With his chiseled good looks, dashing charm, and proven acting chops, George Clooney is the closest thing Hollywood has at the moment to an old-fashioned glamorous movie star. He's today's Cary Grant." I agree as this was one of his best performances and he already has his Oscar. This is a movie one can enjoy as much or more for its acting as for its plot.

I gave it a 4 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: BELLA

Sticking with the alternatives-to-abortion theme in recent films, next up on our list was the independent feature Bella, which saw critical acclaim.

I'm not quite sure how we learned about this one, but we remembered that we wanted to see it and it made sense to group it together with similar films like Juno and August Rush.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Truth be told, I was a little disappointed with this movie. Yes, I applaud Hollywood for making another anti-abortion film although this one I fear was hijacked by the Religious Right, which I classify myself as being a part of - to an extent - politically.

For instance, every news item I saw about this film prior to seeing it framed it as being an "abortion movie" when I felt as if that was a mischaracterization. In fact, that was just a sub-plot to the story. A better description would've been to call it "a story of redemption, forgiveness, and healing" instead.

The acting was superb though and you get to see several no-name actors and actresses give some rather moving performances.

All in all, I give this one 2 Ben & Jerry's because it did not live up to all the hype or my high expectations.

RECOMMENDED:
Eduardo Verastegui: The Man Behind Bella

REVIEW: AUGUST RUSH

What is it about chick flicks that will either make a man roll his eyes in pure disgust or have his eyes well up before he sobs like a little baby?

Our next movie date was August Rush and I have to admit that I was caught completely off guard by the little bit of water that mysteriously appeared in my eyes by the end of the movie. What was it? Where did it come from? Why was it there?

For the answers to these burning (embarrassing?) questions let's review the film.

Here's the trailer:



WIFEY'S REVIEW

I can't seem to find where I put Wifey's review so I'll just tell you that she really loved this one and gave it a 4.

HUBBY'S REVIEW

Ok, so any movie that boasts the star of Felicity and another from Lord of the Rings definitely has my attention from the beginning. Then, once you throw in a sweet little boy who reminded me of my own son a few years from now I was hooked!

Maybe it was something I ate that night or maybe it was something in the air, but whatever it was I was experiencing it in the form of strong emotions throughout this one.

I'll start by stating that I'm liking the trend in Hollywood (if 2 recent and popular movies classifies as a "trend") where every unwanted or unexpected pregnancy doesn't have to end in abortion. It may be a small victory, but it's a victory nonetheless.

In this film the Keri Russell character has a one-night stand, which is completely uncharacteristic of her. She gets pregnant and things happen. I don't want to give anything away here, but the final scene is pretty powerful!

The additional sub-plots of this movie have to do with greed and how other people (especially those you think are closest to you) can and will use you for their own benefit if they think they can. It's a sad, but realistic portrayal of life in the 21st century.

I gave this one 2.75 Ben & Jerry's out of 5 making the OMD Rating a respectable 3.375 total.

REVIEW: 21

Next up was the film 21. Our feelings entering this movie date? Great. Another casino slash gambling movie where someone makes a ton of money only to lose it all and learn some valuable lessons in the end.

Unfortunately, our pre-date analysis was spot on and that made for some REALLY boring movie-watching on this particular night.

Here's the trailer:



WIFEY'S REVIEW

Ok, my thinking about this moive was I was really going to enjoy it. the previews made it look so good and it was even promoted on Big Brother! Wow, was I totally wrong! I think the only way you would enjoy this movie is if you know your stuff about blackjack, poker, and card counting.

Hubby and I were kind of just sitting there wondering what the hell this all meant in the world of cards! Letters were numbers and numbers were letters in their little universe.

So anyways, this really smart kid goes and becomes a part of this card counting team to pay his way through Harvard Med School, and he is so good with numbers his professor needs him on his team. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda!

He makes a lot of money and then looses it all, and you would think he would stop after he loses $350,000 dollars but you're wrong! He continues ruining his life and everyone around him (see that’s what money does to people)!

I never understood the whole signal thing going on in this movie it was so obvious to us viewers, like putting their hands behind their backs = HOT TABLE (bad one) and running your fingers through your hair = GET OUT FAST (that one was ok), and then other ones - no wonder how they got caught!

Ok, and we're also supposed to think that every time that this kid would win money he would take all his winnings that he was saving for his way through college and just stash it away in the ceiling of his dorm room? Come on now! Get a bank account or even a safe deposit box!

I would have to rate this movie a 1.5 Ben & Jerry’s.

HUBBY'S REVIEW

What she said. Seriously, this movie was awful and exactly the same as all the other casino and/or gambling films that came before it.

I could see how you might like this if you're into playing cards and hitting the shining city on the hill each week, but if you're like me and you rarely play cards let alone feel as if the best thing about casinos are the awesome buffets then do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Heck, Rounders is probably a much better movie to watch from this genre than 21! Ok, I get that this is based on a "true story" and that's supposed to make everything seem that much more intriguing and dramatic, but I didn't feel that at all.

A quick comment on Wifey's comments about the hand signals...She's absolutely right. If this is, in fact, a true story then they deserved to get caught and lose everything because they were some of the most obvious tells ever! How could you not see them and think that something strange was going on if you worked casino security?

Personally, I hate it when TV shows and movies these days treat the viewers like we're really that stupid and when they ask us to suspend too much belief at the door because after this little sequence I had a hand gesture of my own that I wanted to flash. Here's a hint: it involves only one finger.

I'm with Wifey all the way on this one. I give it 1 Ben & Jerry's making the OMD Rating 1.25 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: GONE BABY GONE

Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck's directorial debut. After watching this film I wondered aloud whether or not he should stick to directing full-time because he's much better behind the camera than in front of it.

All kidding aside, his talents are much better served in this role than giving us another Gigli, which was absolutely horendous. In his first attempt Ben was able to put together an all-star cast of talent and deliver an emotional, gut-wrenching kidnapping story that would make the made-for-TV-movie-makers over at Lifetime Television happy.

Here's the trailer:


His brother Casey Affleck is the film's lead actor, and he's a private detective that at first seems to be in way over his head regarding a local kidnapping case involving a very young child.

As a father of two young ones myself I can't even begin to tell you how much more disturbing these kinds of movies our now that I'm a dad. I can't even begin to imagine the unbearable range of emotions that a parent would go through if this were to happen to them.

The film is ripe with moral relativism and you find yourself eventually rooting for Affleck's character to do the right thing even though everything within you may be screaming for revenge and street justice. I'm glad that Ben decided to make the statement that we don't get to decide - God does - and by doing so he really succeeds in making you feel something genuine.

When was the last time a movie actually made you feel emotion? I think any "great" movie has that going for it.

Gritty realism seals the deal here for me. What began as any old kidnapping story becomes something much more visceral and intense. In the end, you admire people for sticking to the core beliefs, values, and convictions.

Out of 5 Ben & Jerry's Ice Creams I give it a 3.

RECOMMENDED:
Video Interview With Ben Affleck Talking About His Film

REVIEW: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS

Not really part of our movie date series, but a new movie we watched nonetheless and that makes it worthy of being mentioned here in my book.

Of course, I'm talking about Alvin And The Chipmunks starring Jason Lee that we DVR'd back in the Spring for the Radt tots and that we keep playing over and over and over again to this day.

Seriously, I think we've seen this about 80 times.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty good one. If the measure of how good a film is can be determined by how many times you let your kids watch it (and that's determined by your tolerance and annoyance meters) then this one is a complete success!

Sure, it has its share of bland potty humor and is a rehashed kids' movie formula, but it doesn't get on my nerves at all and I like that about it.

Funny, original, and it not only has the neat special effects, but also some catchy tunes too. I especially like how they came up with a scene that shows how the chipmunks came up with their Christmas classic that we hear each year on the radio.

I know that some people said that Jason Lee is now a "sell-out" because he's doing movies like this. Please. The guy just wants to have a successful career and what better way to do that than to star in a kids movie (one that could become an entire series I might add)?

If you want me to get really deep for a moment, I would say that this is a familiar story of exploitation and greed, mostly embodied by Ian the evil music mogul. The focus on the bad adults making their fortunes off gimmicky kids suggests an object lesson for those who persist in blaming Britney - without moral or emotional guidance, overworked and overpraised, the kids become preening, self-involved monsters.

That's a good lesson for parents everywhere.

I give this one 2.5 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's.

OMD HAS A NEW HOME!

So, what do you think of our new home, our new digs? Pretty snazzy, eh? Actually, I don't think Wifey has even seen the new site yet or even knows about it so consider yourself among the first!

What do you think? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Any suggestions? Personally, I liked this template the best out of all the ones I recently stumbled upon because it just seems to fit what we're all about quite nicely.

Contrary to popular belief, OMD has a special place in my heart since it was a little over a year ago that it launched and since it was also my first foray into the wonderful world of blogging.

I'll admit that I haven't been as committed to running this site effectively as I have towards my business website and the two others. Even so, I'm hoping that this new look will serve as a "new beginning" of sorts. Watch for new reviews to be posted very soon.

MESSAGE TO OMD FANS

To the loyal Our Movie Date followers and fans, yours truly - Hubby - would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU for your continued support in visiting this site week after week in the hopes that you will find some fresh and new material.

Obviously, we've been MIA for quite some time and I can assure you that it's been for good reason. In addition to running a new business, I've been working on two other projects - Look Up Fellowship and Red Letter Lessons - and that's taken precedence over this site.

However, now that things have reached a happy medium I'm pleased to report that we're back and ready to rock and roll! We're going to change a few things though.

For instance, while we will make every effort to publish Reviews that contain Hubby and Wifey analysis you may find that every now and then only one of us has something to say. We decided that this will help us keep things from falling behind as it become quite the challenge trying to get Wifey and I to both sit down and write out our reviews together.

We're also looking into having a custom banner made for the top of our site. Something a little more unique and eye-candy-ish.

So, once again, thank you and we hope you enjoy the new and improved Our Movie Date (OMD)!

REVIEW: The Kite Runner

As previously mentioned, Wifey left me solo this week and I thought I'd catch up on some of our movie watching. I guess you could say I got stood up on these last 2 dates.

That's ok though because this next film was subtitled. If you're new to Our Movie Date you should know that Wifey will not watch black-and-white, silent, or subtitled films - at all.

As you can imagine that makes things difficult when you're trying to watch and review some of the greatest films of all time.

In any event, next up is The Kite Runner and it's another film based off of a novel. In this case one by Khaled Hosseini. Watch Trailer.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

I want to begin this review by saying that this was one of the best films I've ever seen and certainly one of the best I've seen all year. Maybe #1 or #2 on my list.

I really had no idea what to expect coming into things since I never read the novel or knew much about the story.

From the first few minutes, this viewer became engrossed and emotionally connected to the characters and their plight. Just trying to imagine what life must have felt like for them when their safe and secure world that they knew as children came crashing down around them as it descended into chaos was unnerving for me.

I'm going to resist the urge to make this political, but I will say that anyone who watches this movie and comes away with the same feelings they might have had about the Taliban going into it needs a serious reality check. This is the true story of what life was like under their rule from those who lived under it's menacing oppression. I'm glad we're helping to liberate the people of Afghanistan.

The film brilliantly captures the essence of self-sacrificial love on many occasions. There were many instances where I found myself wondering whether or not I would do the same thing - the right thing. I'd like to think I would, but under those extreme conditions who really knows?

Yet, the point of the story is to draw attention to a serious problem that exists in the world. Much like what Hotel Rwanda did for that nation's problems, this movie calls our attention to a part of the world that dominates our headlines still to this day.

Love. Sacrifice. Redemption. That's what this film is about and that's the spirit it so marvelously captures and exhibits for us to revel in.

I give it a perfect score - 5 Ben & Jerry's out of 5!

REVIEW: Lambs For Lions

So, Wifey and the Radt tots are camping this week with her parents and that leaves me all by my lonesome self. What to do? Watch movies of course!

Actually, it worked out quite well because the 2 movies we had left to watch here at home are 2 that I know Wifey wasn't too thrilled about.

The first was Lions For Lambs or the latest anit-American film out of Hollywood and this one was by Robert Redford. Watch Trailer.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

To be perfectly honest, this movie surprised me. It wasn't as liberal or left-leaning as I thought it was going to be given the subject matter, cast, and previews I had seen.

Even so, the whole thing just left me feeling as if I had watched the twenty-first century version of a Joseph Goebbels piece. Not in scope and grandeur mind you, but just the way it tried to come off as being a slick presentation of political commentary.

I mean, when was the last time you saw a film that starred 3 big name actors/actresses like this movie had and yet the length of the movie was barely 1 hour and 30 minutes?

Kids movies are usually only that short and adult movies (not that kind sparky!) are typically 2 hours or more these days. There's a substance to them. Not in this case.

I guess some people might argue that there's only so much you can argue about when it comes to contemporary politics and the War on Terror. I would disagree and would've opted for a little more character development and a deeper storyline, but instead we're given big Hollywood names who simply fulfilled a role of Mouthpiece A, Mouthpiece B, and Mouthpiece C that spewed the same old garbage we get any evening on the nightly news.

Talk about being typecast! This movie did nothing to break stereotypes and everything to enforce them. You had the right-wing, neo-con, Republican hawk in Tom Cruise's character whose only concern is himself and his political career. You have the liberal news reporter character in Meryl Streep who is torn between what's right (read her liberal perspective) and what's right (read Republican). You have a university professor in Robert Redford's character who is able to mold a vulnerable young student's mind in his own hands and subtlely influence them in one direction or another.

Like I said, the whole thing felt too contrived to me and although I appreciated that I could actually watch it (stomach it) because it wasn't "too political" it did end up feeling like I wasted 1 hour and 30 minutes and that it was nothing more than a LONG political ad.

I give it 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.

REVIEW: Dan In Real Life

Our next review is of the movie Dan In Real Life starring Steve Carell of The Office fame. It's your typical "love-triangle-romantic-entanglement" story with a few twists. Watch Trailer.

WIFEY'S REVIEW

This movie was a good one. It was hard to take Steve Carell serious, for all you who know him in The Office. It takes place when Dan Burns finds himself in a book store looking for some kind of book when a woman walks by and asks him for help. He takes one look at her and falls head over heels for her.

Seeing that Dan is a single father of 3 girls ever since his wife died leaving him to raise these young ladies on his own with no female help there's a strong emotional element to this film.

Dan takes Marie out to get coffee and it seems as though they hit it off just perfect and all of a sudden she gets a phone call and has to go. They exchange numbers and go there separate ways.

Dan goes to a family function at this parent's house and comes to find out that his brother was bringing his new girlfriend to dinner. Low and behold it's Marie! Now Dan has to bring himself to forget her seeing she's with his brother.

It's a very funny way how they try not to know each other, but the odds keeping bringing them closer and closer to one another until the inevitable completely hooks them in.

They finally have to tell everyone that they are falling for each other and in doing so they break the other brother's heart. It all works out in the end (how you'll have to see for yourself!). This movie is a must see in my book.

I give it 3 Ben & Jerry's out of 5.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

Before I get started with my review I just want everyone to know that I gave Wifey some lip service tonight and told her that her reviews need to get back to telling what she liked and didn't like - more analyzing from her end instead of just re-telling the story because that's what worked so well for her in the beginning.

I'm sure she just loves me airing our dirty laundry like this in public!

I'll start my review by saying that I liked that Steve Carell took a bit of a departure from his wacky roles we usually see him in. There was a serious and endearing side to him in this movie that the viewer instantly connects with.

It's your typical "forbidden love" type of story except this one felt much more mature if that makes any sense. These were adults dealing with a love-at-first-sight circumstance, but once they realized that pursuing that love would break someone else's heart they knew that they had to do the right thing as you'd like to think that mature adults would do in their case.

It was also uncomfortable to watch at times. I mean, the only thing more uncomfortable than watching Steve Carell's character fall in love with his brother's girlfriend was if it was his brother's wife (his sister-in-law). Wait, scratch that! I thought of something more uncomfortable! His character falling in love with his mom's best friend or his "aunt" from his youth or, wait, how about his step-sister or something? Geesh!

Despite that fact, it was quite a heart-warming film actually and he played his role perfectly showing a lot of range and depth as an actor.

I too will give it 3 Ben & Jerry's out of 5 making the official Our Movie Date rating for this film a 3.

REVIEW: Shrek The Third

On behalf of Wifey and myself please allow us to apologize to our faithful fans for including reviews of the G-Rated variety.

Unfortunately, when you have two small children under the age of 3 you tend to use your free time watching movies with them ("Family Movie Night") so we thought it was only right that we include our reviews of those films here as well.

Without further adieu I present to you the Our Movie Date review of Shrek The Third.

Watch Trailer.


WIFEY'S REVIEW

So, I came to this conclusion: SEQUELS SHOULD NOT BE MADE! The first one was really good, the second one was ok, and the third one was LAME!

Ok, it was cute that they had little Shreks, but that was the last 10 minutes of the movie and before then it was Shrek and Dragon was trying to find the next person or ogre to be the king.

Same storyline as the other two and they have to fight off the bad fairytale people again and prove there strength. They find this really dorky kid and he now has to be the king, but getting back to the castle would be the challenge for the three of them. They have to battle prince charming and his people.

In the meantime, Princess Fiona gets herself into a lot of trouble while trying to help out Shrek, which she shouldn’t be doing because all those jumps and matrix like stunts while in her first trimester and good for her or her baby! We woman who have been there can say that with confidence.

So, to make a long, drawn out description short...they fight the prince charming and the new kid takes over the castle and claims his reign. I have to say it was cute to see all the princesses once again. After all this drama was over, Pricess Fiona finally pops out these really cute little shreklets.

Only 2 out of 5 Ben & Jerry’s for me.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

Obviously, this was just an excuse to squeeze as much money out of a film franchise as possible. I mean, even the trailers for this movie (one we saw dozens of times because it was part of another one of our kids' favorite movies) misrepresented what the story was about.

Wifey and I thought it would be funny to watch Shrek and Fiona play mommy and daddy to these dirty little monsters, but instead the babies weren't part of the story until the very end.

Hmmm...I wonder if Shrek 4 will be the movie that tells the parenting story exclusively? No, couldn't be, could it?

Now that I think of it, the Shrek Christmas special (Shrek The Halls) that debuted this past winter was more entertaining, funny, and original than this entire installment was and it was only 45 minutes long!

Like and old friend, it was good to see the regular characters again although there wasn't really any new material or originality as there was in the first two films.

Sadly, only 1.5 Ben & Jerry's for me for this dying franchise. That's makes the official Our Movie Date rating a whopping 1.75!

REVIEW: Juno

A film about teenage pregnancy is typically not something we would rent especially when we could find similar made-for-tv-movies on the Lifetime Network.

However, given the reviews of the movie Juno, what promised to be an entertaining cast, and the Oscar buzz from this past year regarding Best Original Screenplay all seemed to indicate that this one could be a winner.

Watch Trailer.

WIFEY'S REVIEW

This movie I thought was going to be good seeing it had a couple of the people from Arrested Development, but boy was I wrong! Ok, here’s the gist on what this movie was about…

Juno (Ellen Page) gets pregnant from Paulie (Michael Cera) and she chooses to keep the baby and find a good home for the little bundle of joy. In the meantime, Paulie’s mother hates her and doesn’t want her son to have anything to do with Juno. Your classic drama and tension filled movie.

Ok, so the Juno character is supposed to be 16 in this film although the way she talks it’s like she’s 30! I hate that it wasn’t realistic at all then again I never got pregnant at 16 in today's world. Juno’s father and stepmom didn’t even seem like they were mad or even concerned about her being pregnant.

Juno goes through the paper to find parents for her baby (who just randomly picks from a paper???) so she finds this really nice couple (or you think they are) and Juno goes to meet them for the first time and it was really akward seeing that.

There she was with her father and the new couple and a lawyer. The new dad Mark (Jason Bateman) was not even interested about this at all he was totally in lala land and the wife Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) was so excited.

Juno picks them and goes to see them throughout her pregnancy, but while going there Mark seems to be hitting on Juno. So gross to me seeing how much older he is to her in this role. She looks at it as he’s being nice until he springs the news on her (now you don’t think I would give away exactly how that happens do you???).

Overall, I thought this movie was very lame and I have to say it did have a happy ending, which made up for the whole beginning part of it.

Still, only 1.5 Ben & Jerry's ice creams out of 5 for me.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

Here's the thing. I'm always skeptical and hesitant to watch anything Hollywood puts out that has to do with pregnancy or parenting. Being a father of two little ones myself, I've gotten more than a little annoyed by the constant message that kids are a burden and that they should be treated as nothing more than pets and accessories.

Sadly, however, that's the world we live in these days. When young kids think it's "cool" and fashionable to have a baby bump and a child without getting married first there's a problem. I realize that life happens, but why is it that Hollywood always elects to tell the negative, sad, abnormally abhorrent story instead of the positive, happy, and uplifting ones?

Ok, I'm done now.

I agree with Wifey that despite the subject matter (and from what we knew about the film heading into it) I was excited to see this funny cast in action. Too bad it was too smart for it's own good within the first 2 minutes through to the end!

If you thought Dawson's Creek was bad with all the brainy, sophisticated, eloquent teenagers running around then you haven't seen this yet! The Juno character was ridiculously over-the-top with the vocab she used when talking to friends and family. Even her best friend who was typecast as the "dumb-goofy-sidekick-buddy" talked using words many 16-year-olds have never even read or heard of.

Aside from that, I was surprised that teenage pregnancy wasn't glorified and that it was toned down quite a bit. The way they handled the relationship between mom-to-be and dad-to-be I felt was accurate and spot on to how teenagers would handle themselves in that situation.

Without giving anything away (and I'm sure many of you already know the basic premise and storyline), it was also refreshing to see a popular mainstream film about an unexpected pregnancy end with the parents giving the child up for adoption rather than get rid of their "problem" by having an abortion or leaving the baby in a dumpster.

Personally, I did not share in the same "buzz" as others did so I give it 2 Ben & Jerry's out of 5 bringing the offical Our Movie Date Rating to 1.75 Ben & Jerry's.

REVIEW: Martian Child

Did you ever get excited about a Movie Trailer so much so that you made a mental note so that when that move finally came out months later you'd remember to see it? Did you follow through on that only to regret your decision afterwards and wonder what it was that got you all excited in the first place? If not, Martian Child is a perfect case study of just such a scenario.

Watch Trailer.

WIFEY'S REVIEW

Girls get out a box of tissues on this one!Ok, this one was good! Here's a breakdown…A happily married husband and wife want to have kids and all of a sudden the wife dies leaving the husband behind and so devastated, but still wanting children although not ready to get re-married so he decides to adopt.

He goes to this one agency and plays around with some of the kids, but sees/hears this one particular little boy who intrigues him in many ways. Only seeing from under a box, David (John Cusack) inquires about Dennis a.k.a. the "Martian Child" (Bobby Coleman).

David decides to give it a chance with him and he adopts Dennis. Boy did it go wrong in so many ways! He’s afraid of the light, he only comes out of his box at night, and he talks really weird, but that’s what made this movie so interesting to watch - just to see how David was going to get Dennis out of his shell.

I give it 2.5 Ben & Jerry's.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

I tend to like anything with John Cusack in it. He just always seems like a real, genuine person and the type of characters he often plays are generally the same.

That makes me wonder if he’s that type of person himself or if he choose characters who he'd like to resemble more. I'm guessing it's the former because he makes acting seem so effortless.

Ok, my John Cusack man-crush is over. Sorry about that. Not sure what just happened.

This was a gentle, light-hearted film about a boy who needs a family and a man who lost his when his wife - his lover and his best friend - passed away. Oh yeah, and the boy also thinks he’s from Mars while the man writes about Mars for a living as a full-time Novelist.

It’s about what you would expect as it pulls the heart-strings several times, but in all the cliched ways. Where I personally felt the movie failed was by not giving us more of the child’s background. I just thought that they missed out on an HUGE opportunity to really connect emotionally with the audience if they had only given specifics about what he had to endure and suffer through instead of just saying, “He had it bad because he was abandoned.” Ok, well, puppy dogs get abandoned too, but even the SPCA knows how to paint a picture and tell a story to get you to feel so sorry for the dog that you end up adopting it on the spot.

For instance, there was one moving scene where he is unpacking his suitcase. From the outset, we learn that whatever’s in there is extremely valuable to him because he refuses to let anyone help him carry it let alone touch it. We then watch him unpack the items and treat each one with extreme care. They appear to be random too, which led me to think that the audience was going to sob (myself included) once we learned where they came from and why he’s kept them for so long as well as what each one means to him personally.

Not a chance.

Therein began the first of many “let-downs” for me by the filmmakers.So, while this movie had the potential of being something great it actually left me feeling like I did after seeing I Am Sam.

If I wanted to watch a Lifetime Network made-for-TV-movie I would’ve saved my $4.00 and turned on the Dish.

2 Ben & Jerry’s out of 5 for me and that's being kind. That makes this film's official Our Movie Date score a whopping 2.25 so it's a so-so flick.

REVIEW: The Human Stain

I believe this is the very first film we've reviewed that was based on another original work. In this case, this movie was adapted from a best-selling novel of the same name that was published in 2000 by Philip Roth. Would it have the same fate as many other movies before it that attempted to capture the spirit of a great work of literary merit?

Watch Trailer.


WIFEY'S REVIEW

Were Back!!! Now we have to remember all the movies we saw in the last 2 months so sit back and enjoy all the new reviews!

Ok, for this movie, all I can say is don’t waste your night on this one. I thought it was going to be good seeing Wentworth Miller (Prison Break hottie!) is in this, but you hardly see him. Nicole Kidman's character is such a whore and the scenes she was in I felt very uncomfortable watching them with my husband (so trust me, it was bad). I like Anthony Hopkins and he was just weird in this movie.

Anyways, it’s mainly about a Coleman Silk (Anthony Hopkins) looses his wife and runs into Faunia Farley (Nicole Kidman) while she’s pursuing him she’s also trying to dodge her psycho ex husband, which it takes forever to get any answers out of her during the movie. Anthony's character is trying to get over the loss of his wife who died of a heart attack, but is so drawn to Nicole’s character.

During the movie you keep jumping back and forth in time to see how he grew up and how he met his wife. This part was ok, but overall this movie was B-A-D! I really don’t know what else to write for it. Sorry.

I give it 1.5 Ben & Jerry's Ice Creams out of 5.


HUBBY'S REVIEW

Have you ever had to watch a movie with your husband or your wife that starred an actress or an actor that you knew they “had the hots” for? I have.

His name is Wentworth Miller and he’s a stud - apparently. He looks NOTHING like me though so I’m confused about what that says about what it was that really attracted my wife to me.

Unfortunately, I think that Wifey would agree that all the good looks in the world doesn’t mean your movie (or TV show on Fox for that matter) will be a hit or even remotely entertaining.

Based on a novel by the same name, this film also starred Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman. Like most adaptations, the screen version leaves something to be desired.

Funny I used the word “desire” because that’s the single emotion that drives each character in this film. Depending on who you are and the circumstances you find yourself in, it’s this “desire” that seems to determine your specific course of action regardless of whether or not it’s the right thing to do.

In that sense, we are told to believe that “desire” is to blame for everything. We are free from personal responsibility because we all have underlying passions and “desires” that motivate us. Morality is relative in this worldview. I guess you can think of “desire” as the “human stain” that we all have to deal with.

I don’t know, for me it all just didn’t work and I highly doubt that had I read the novel prior to watching the movie it would’ve made any kind of a difference.

Gary Sinise dancing with Anthony Hopkins to the classic song “Heaven” on the porch was also very strange. Do yourself a favor and rent another movie instead.

Or, if you're like my wife, just tune into Fox on Monday nights to watch Prison Break so you can see Wentworth in all his mumbling glory. And if that doesn't work you can always stare at your Tiger Beat Magazine that has picture after picture of your favorite hottie.

1 Ben & Jerry’s for me, which brings the official Our Movie Date score for this film to 1.25 - yikes!