Who doesn't love a good '80s movie? The shoulder pads, the hair bands, the abnormally large cell phones — many Hollywood films have tried to recreate the feeling of the era through film, including this week's release Take Me Home Tonight. The film's cast already had fun re-enacting classic '80s film scenes, but it got me thinking about other films that pay tribute to the beloved decade. Here are 10 of the most memorable!
Now that we've dished on my favorite movies of the decade, let's narrow things down a little. 2009 brought another glorious 12 months of movie-watching. As usual, it wasn't all Oscar contenders, but here are my 10 personal favorites of the year.
You guys already weighed in on the couple with the hottest sexual tension on TV but now let's take it to the big leagues — love on film. Some couples were built to last while others fizzled, but there's no denying that 2009 brought a new batch of romances that made our hearts swell. Which is your favorite of 2009?
Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2009 polls!
Funny ladies of the big screen always make me happy; they can roll with the best of the boys and manage to be completely captivating doing it. This year's romantic comedies and girl-power anthems gave Hollywood's women plenty of chances to be silly, so let me know who you thought was the funniest this year. And don't stop voting there — check the rest of my Best of 2009 polls!
All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. Besides the movies below, you can also find the Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal soccer charmer Rudo y Cursi, as well as TV shows Californication: Season 2 and House: Season 5.
Adventureland
This nostalgic coming-of-age comedy stars Jesse Eisenberg and angsty starlet-du-jour Kristen Stewart as co-workers and romantic prospects in an '80s-era theme park.
I loved director Greg Mottola's tender depiction of a frustrating but hopeful time in one guy's life. It's got more heart than the director's previous effort, Superbad, but just as many laughs.
The DVD extras include deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, cast commentary, and a feature music selection that lets you select scenes by picking the soundtrack song.
Check out two other comedies out on DVD today when you read more
Wowza! The fourth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise debuted this weekend and earned an estimated $72.5 million, easily taking the No. 1 spot at the box office. Variety reports this represents one of the biggest box office surprises of the season and is the biggest April opening ever.
Monsters vs. Aliens continued to do solid business and came in second place with an estimated $33.5 million. The top five was rounded out by The Haunting in Connecticut, Knowing, and I Love You, Man in third, fourth, and fifth place respectively. Finally, a movie I really enjoyed, Adventureland, debuted at No. 6.
Did any of you see Fast and Furious? Did your theater have shaky seats?
Adventureland: Dead-End Jobs Never Looked So Fun The director of Adventureland is no stranger to the Summer comedy. His last film, Superbad, was a big hit with audiences and followed two high school buddies through one crazy night at the end of their senior year. Adventureland follows a recent college grad through one crazy Summer, so it's no surprise that the director's movies would be compared to each other.
The director of Adventureland, Greg Mottola, is no stranger to the Summer comedy. His last film, the funny (and sometimes vulgar) Superbad, was a big hit with audiences and followed two high school buddies through one crazy night at the end of their senior year. Adventureland follows a recent college grad through one crazy Summer, so it's no surprise that the director's movies would be compared to each other.
However, now that I've seen the movie I take issue with the recent ads that go something like, "If you loved Superbad you'll really love this one!" I actually think this movie has more in common with the likes of American Graffiti in terms of capturing the cultural milieu of a generation, and maybe even Juno for the warm way it approaches post-adolescent angst.
Maybe my comparisons won't sell millions of tickets but I loved this movie, and I think that in addition to laughing a lot you'll likely leave the theater in a happy haze of nostalgia. To see why, read more
It seems like ads for this little teen comedy have been everywhere I turn these days, and I can't figure out what to think of it. The trailer I saw in the theaters made me laugh out loud, but the previews on TV lately have made it seem a little dumb and cheesy. What do you think?
Adventureland follows James (Jesse Eisenberg) during his first Summer after college graduation as he works at the amusement park Adventureland. There he meets the cute Em (Kristen Stewart) and deals with some quirky bosses and co-workers (including the folks who run the park, played by the hilarious Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig).
Is this an in-theater movie for you, or a rental? Maybe you'll just wait until it's randomly on TV someday, or skip it altogether?
Image courtesy of Miramax
Ryan Reynolds didn't quite fulfill our shirtless wish just yet, but he did look quite handsome on the red carpet at the LA Adventureland premiere last night. On the other hand, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bill Hader coordinated their plaid shirts. Ryan wasn't the only one who stepped it up — fresh from filming New Moon in Vancouver, Kristen Stewart looked sexy in her minidress. Between her many ongoing projects lucky Kristen manages to keep herself surrounded with some of the most sought after — not to mention hottest — guys in Hollywood.
To see more from the premiere including Kristen Wiig, Greg Mottola and more just read more
