POPSUGAR Entertainment

What to Rent: New DVD Tuesday

POPSUGAR Entertainment — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:30:00 PST

If you need a little break from award season's serious dramas, then today's new DVD releases should do the trick. There are three comedies in the mix here - one romantic, one screwball, and indie - so take your pick!

Life As We Know It

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel star opposite each other as Holly and Messer, acquaintances who are thrown together when they have to raise the baby their best friends leave behind after their untimely death. The opposites clash at first, but eventually attract as they go from inept singles to caring parents in this romantic comedy, which, while completely predictable, is still pretty charming. Maybe it's the heavier-than-usual subject matter that gives it a fresh angle, or the cute, clever dialogue; either way, it's perfect for the rom-com lover. DVD extras include several deleted scenes.

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Zach Galifianakis tones down his usual shtick to play Bobby, a mental patient who shows newbie Craig (Keir Gilchrist) the ropes at the mental hospital Craig has just checked into. It's a surprising departure for Galifianakis, who pulls off the serious role and keeps the movie going, even though it does get a little slow. Emma Roberts also stars as Craig's love interest, along with Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan as his parents. The DVD extras include deleted scenes, an outtakes reel, a featurette called A Look Inside It's Kind of a Funny Story, and red carpet footage from the film's premiere.

You Again

Kristen Bell leads the cast of this comedy as Marni, a twenty-something who visits home to find that her brother (the dreamy James Wolk of short-lived TV series Lone Star) is engaged to her high school rival (Odette Yustman). Mean girl antics ensue, and other very funny ladies get in on the action, like Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver (themselves high school rivals as well), plus Kristin Chenoweth and Betty White. The special features include deleted scenes, several featurettes like an Ask the Cast clip, and the Funny or Die sketch the cast filmed to promote the movie.

Romantic comedies are the refreshing confections of the movie world - light, airy, and fun (and sometimes just a little bit cheesy). Whether you love them or loathe them, Hollywood cranked out more sweet stories of love with a touch of laughs this year, some a bit better than others. What 2010 romantic comedy is your favorite?

Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2010 polls!

Box Office: Jackass 3D Catapults to Number One

POPSUGAR Entertainment — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 05:30:00 PDT

Who better than to bring down the Social Network geeks than Johnny Knoxville and his band of misfits? The majority of you were looking forward to seeing Jackass 3D in the theater and it showed in box office earnings: the film took in a staggering $50 million in its opening weekend, setting the record for highest October opening weekend ever. Fellow newcomer Red didn't even earn half that, but still got second place with $22.5 million.

Former champ The Social Network sank down to the third slot with $11 million, followed by Secretariat with $9.5 million. Katherine Heigl's Life As We Know It clung to a top five spot with $9.2 million.

Box Office: The Social Network Keeps Its Number One Status

POPSUGAR Entertainment — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:30:00 PDT

Last week's box office champ, The Social Network, managed to stay on top of the box office for the second week in a row. The Facebook flick earned $15.5 million in its second weekend out, beating new release Life as We Know It, which came in at number two with $14.6 million.

Fellow newbie Secretariat ran a decent race and grabbed the third spot with $12.6 million, while Legend of the Guardians fell to fourth place with $7 million. Debuting horror movie My Soul to Take squeaked into the top five with $6.9 million.

Life as We Know It Style: Holly Berenson

Danny Feekes — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:00:00 PDT

A trip to the pediatrician's office doesn't stop Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) from looking her best. Whether it's the silk yellow top, the multicolored scarf, the black skinny jeans, or the various gold accessories, Katherine's character simply exudes casual style. Shop for these pieces, and you'll be ready for the doctor's office or any other errands you may have to run.

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Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Watch, Pass, or Rent Movie Reviews: Life as We Know It and It's Kind of a Funny Story

POPSUGAR Entertainment — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Whether you like your comedies romantic or dark, you're bound to get at least a few laughs at the theater this weekend with new releases Life as We Know It and It's Kind of a Funny Story. To find out if you should put your money on Katherine Heigl or Zach Galifianakis, just watch!

Life as We Know It Style: Holly Berenson

Danny Feekes — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 06:00:00 PDT

Holly Berenson (as played by Katherine Heigl) might look shocked in this scene from Life as We Know It, but we certainly aren't. We're not surprised at all that Berenson's work clothes are completely covetable. Luckily, it's easy to steal her style with a black blazer, white blouse, and straight-leg jeans, so do so with these items.

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Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Watch, Pass, or Rent: Life as We Know It & It's Kind of a Funny Story

PopSugarTV — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:01:00 PDT

Find out if you should check out Katherine Heigl's Life as We Know It and Zach Galifianakis's It's Kind of a Funny Story in the latest Watch, Pass, or Rent!

Life as We Know It Style: Holly Berenson

Danny Feekes — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:50:00 PDT

While working at her bakery, Fraiche, Holly Berenson (played by Katherine Heigl) looks polished and professional, but not too buttoned up. We especially love the casual color combination: the pink of her blouse and the gray of her blazer mixed with the white jeans and gold accessories. If you're digging it too, shop these similar pieces.

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Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Life as We Know It: And Baby Makes Sweet

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:30:00 PDT

Katherine Heigl has solidified her reputation as a romantic comedy actress with a track record that started out strong (Knocked Up) but has hit a few bumps throughout her career (Killers). With Life as We Know It, Heigl is staying within her preferred film genre, and it's one of the better films on her resume.

As Holly, Heigl is the polar opposite of Messer (Josh Duhamel), a mutual friend of her friends Alison and Peter (Christina Hendricks and Hayes MacArthur). Like most of Heigl's characters, she's a Type A control freak while he's a slacking playboy. They clash on their first date and keep their distance from one another, until tragedy strikes and Alison and Peter die in a car crash. They leave their 1-year-old daughter, Sophie, behind, with her custody in the hands of Holly and Messer. Anyone can figure out what happens to Holly and Messer's relationship as they bond over raising a baby together, but thanks to a script full of heartfelt moments and clever dialogue, it's a pleasant journey.

To find out why I enjoyed Life as We Know It, just

Duhamel and Heigl have decent chemistry, but their unexpected situation makes them more appealing. As cute, inexperienced parents, Duhamel is irresistible wearing a Baby Bjorn and singing Radiohead to Sophie, while Heigl mines her maternal instincts for a side of Holly that's softer than her usual characters. And the baby in question? The actress (rather, triplet actresses Alexis, Brynn, and Brooke Clagett) should get recognition as one of the most adorable babies the screen has ever seen.

The movie is wise to include a crop of funny friends like Melissa McCarthy and Human Giant's Rob Huebel, and one of the funniest performances comes from I Love You Man's Sarah Burns as a frank social worker. These supporting characters provide the bulk of the humor, taking some of the heavy lifting off the leads. And they need the help, considering some of the lame materiel Duhamel and Heigl are given, like the wholly unnecessary poop joke you've no doubt seen in the trailer by now.

The film's flaws are typical of a romantic comedy that's trying to get you to focus on the romance and nothing else. Specifically, it glides a bit too quickly over the loss of Sophie's parents. When Holly and Messer are supposed to be bereaved, the movie is busy exaggerating their odd-couple conflicts (though there is a brief, well-acted sequence by Heigl when she first learns of her friends' death). But flaws in romantic comedy are as predictable as a musical montage where the characters grow and fall in love, so it's easy to forgive. Life as We Know It does what it's designed for - it reassures you with its love story. It's just a bonus that you also fall in love with a sweet family unit.