BuzzSugar

Ensemble Romantic Comedies - Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:30:48 -0800

I couldn't help but let out a groan yesterday when I heard the news that Lionsgate is in the process of adapting pregnancy guide What to Expect When You're Expecting into a romantic comedy. The film will follow seven couples as they prep for parenthood, and I'm willing to bet the the majority of those onscreen parents-to-be will be big budget actors.

It's no secret that the ensemble romantic comedy is getting more popular every year - we had He's Just Not That Into You, and Valentine's Day will hit theaters in a few weeks. I'm kind of divided on the whole genre, though I'll always have a soft spot for Love Actually. Where do you stand - love 'em or leave 'em?

What's Your Favorite Storyline in Love Actually?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:15:07 -0800

A recent Love Actually-based Buzz Brainteaser prompted a few of you to share in the comments which of the movie's many storylines are your favorites. So, I figured it was time for a poll.

I'm having a hard time deciding, personally. I cry each and every time (every time!) Aurelia says "Just in cases," and who can resist Colin Firth? But the storyline with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman's characters gets me right in the feelings, too. I also love Laura Linney's character, Sarah, and I may or may not have a habit of fast-forwarding to the scene that features a shirtless Karl (Rodrigo Santoro).

So many to choose from! Which is your favorite?

Source

Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:30:47 -0800

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music, and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! When Mark appears at Juliet's door in Love Actually, he tells Juliet to say there are "carol singers" at the door and he plays music on his portable stereo to simulate these "carol singers." What song plays on the stereo while Mark makes his presentation to Juliet?

Holiday Video Clip: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" from Love Actually

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:28:06 -0800

For the last post on the Friday before Christmas, it seems only fitting to go out with a rockin' and heartwarming video clip from Love Actually. This is one of my top five favorite scenes from the film, when Joanna sings "All I Want for Christmas Is You," and she points to Sam . . . before pointing to everyone else! Sigh. This movie just gets me right in the feelings.

I hope you like this part of the movie, too. To end your week with some holiday spirit from Love Actually, read more

Source

Why I Love ... Chiwetel Ejiofor

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 11:10:13 -0700

While on the topic of Children of Men, which comes out on DVD today, I thought I'd pay homage to an actor I love: Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays Luke. Though his character is technically a bad guy, Ejiofor's speech toward the end - delivered between rounds of bullets he aimlessly sprays out a window - makes me soften toward Luke, thinking maybe he's just trying to survive like everyone else.

There is something friendly and trustworthy about the British actor, who I first noticed in Love Actually as Peter, the husband of Keira Knightley's character. But it was when I saw Kinky Boots that I really fell in love. In the quirky comedy, Ejiofor plays drag queen Lola, who co-creates a line of supportive yet fabulous drag queen footwear. For more on why I love Ejiofor, read more

In a role that could have easily crossed over into caricature, Ejiofor keeps it real in Kinky, deftly alternating between Chaka Khan-esque diva and warm, smart businessman.

In addition to these films, Ejiofor's credits include Amistad, Inside Man, and Serenity. His sensitive demeanor might stem from a tragedy he experienced as a child: According to IMDB, the actor was in a car accident at age 11 with his father. He survived, but his father did not. Whatever the reason, I find this man mesmerizing. Thankfully, it looks like I'm not the only one with a Ejiofor crush: He has several more projects in the works. Until I can check those out, I'll watch Kinky Boots a few more times, and I suggest you do the same.

Source

Awesome Opening Title Sequences

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:00:55 -0800

I recently came across this list of the top 10 opening title sequences in movies, compiled by laboratory101.com. Granted, many of them are truly awesome: I have a particular fondness for the opening scenes of Snatch. Yet, I couldn't help noticing that they are basically all crime, horror, or gangster movies: Casino, Dawn of the Dead, Fight Club, Seven, etc. It got me thinking: Aren't there good opening sequences to movies that aren't violent?

Here are some of my picks for really well-done or entertaining opening sequences. What others can you think of?

Love Actually
I know I’ve said this before, but the footage of real people greeting each other at the airport is as heartwarming as a Kodak commercial, and even more so because it’s real.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
One of my all-time favorite films, Drop Dead Gorgeous opens with the promotional video for the Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant, featuring "last year's host," Adam West. I particularly enjoy the programmed robot voice inserting "beautiful Mount Rose, Minnesota" to personalize the video.

To see the next three, read more

Little Miss Sunshine
A fantastic introduction to each of the family members, starting with Olive carefully studying Miss America footage.

The Wedding Singer
Adam Sandler sings "You Spin Me Right Round" while wedding guests enjoy themselves.

Legally Blonde
Yes, that's right, Legally Blonde. It may not be the most life-changing of films, but I find this first sequence silly and entertaining: images of stereotypical sorority life intermingled with shots of Elle getting ready for her date, all to the tune of "Perfect Day." Note the bottle of blonde hair dye on Elle's vanity table!

Movie Night: Holiday-ish Films

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 22:58:22 -0800

So many movies, so little time. Thankfully, BuzzSugar is here to help you sort through them all! Each week, we'll choose a theme for a Movie Night and feature three must-see movies in keeping with that theme. This week's theme: holiday-ish films.

There are two types of holiday films. The ones, like Deck the Halls, that are entirely driven by holiday-based plots, and movies like The Holiday, where the action just happens to unfold over a holiday backdrop. Here are three of my favorite holiday-ish films that are fun to watch this time of year.

Love Actually

Nothing puts the warmth and cheer of the season into your heart quite like a film all about love in its various forms. Love Actually brings us many love-centric storylines at once: There are the coworkers awkwardly courting, the little boy whose world revolves around his beautiful classmate, the new marriage threatening to become a love triangle, and the old marriage starting to show cracks in its foundation. The wonderful cast (Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightly, and Laura Linney, to name just a few) is stellar enough to make the movie truly enjoyable, and it's even more fun to see how the stories intersect. And if you're anything like me, the real footage of people greeting loved ones at the airport in itself will be enough to get you all misty-eyed.

To see the rest, read more

Beautiful Girls

In Beautiful Girls, the holidays are the perfect time for Willie Conway (Timothy Hutton) to go back to his hometown, introduce his soon-to-be-fiancee, Tracy (Annabeth Gish), to his father and brother, reconnect with old buddies, and reevaluate his life. The movie explores the idea of growing up, making sacrifices to live the life you want to live, and learning to be content with what you have. Willie's in a very mature relationship with a nice woman and lives in New York City, while his old buddies stuck around their old hometown. He befriends precocious 13-year-old Marty (Natalie Portman) next door, a fast-talking, dry-witted mini-adult who develops a crush on Willie. It's a highly realistic and funny film about the old problem of wanting what we can't have, and coming to terms with adulthood. Added bonus: Rosie O'Donnell goes on an absolutely classic tirade about women's magazines, men and relationships. Priceless.

While You Were Sleeping

Yes, the idea of someone fooling an entire family into thinking that she is their comatose son's fiancee is far-fetched. Yes, it requires some serious suspension of disbelief, and yes, the characters in said family are caricatures. Still, it's all worth it for this sweet, familiar comedy of mistaken identity. Basically, Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves the life of a man named Peter (played by Peter Gallagher), though he is knocked into a coma in the process. When she goes to see him in the hospital, his family assumes she is his fiancee and she chooses not to correct them. She ends up spending holiday time with the quirky clan, quickly falling under their warm, charming spell. Before long, she realizes she is in love with her "fiance's" cute brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), which of course sets up an awkward situation, especially when Peter wakes up.

Source, Source, and Source

jhilly123's Favorite Romantic Comedies

Buzz Community — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:30:51 -0700

This post comes from BuzzSugar Community user jhilly123, who submitted her post to the Movie Lists group.

My favorite category! I was actually going to tackle this topic earlier, but hadn't gotten around to doing it. These are just ones that come immediately to my mind and I may think of ones later that I'd forgotten (which is usually the case). Even if the endings are usually predictable, rom-coms always make me laugh and are great movies to watch when you want to relax.

Love Actually: One of my favorite movies ever, Richard Curtis (the director) is a genius. The stories and characters intertwine really well, and you feel satisfied (if that's possible) after seeing it. I've probably watched it 100 times already.
Bridget Jones' Diary: How could this not be on the list? It was on my other list as my onscreen favorite couple, but Renee is so hilarious as Bridget Jones.

Miss Congeniality: I think Sandra Bullock's the romantic comedy Queen-many of her movies are my favorites, she just knows how to make people laugh. Plus I love Benjamin Bratt and Michael Caine.
Two Weeks Notice: See what I mean? And Hugh Grant is the King of romantic comedies-I love this film and the New York vibe I get from watching it. Plus the banter between the two is really cute.

To see the rest of jhilly123's list, just read more.

The Wedding Date: Although I've read the book (and the entire story is different, minus the plot), I love this version and I find Dermot Mulroney so hot. Plus it takes place in England, and I'm obsessed with all things British.
You've Got Mail: I love Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks' collaborations!
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Another great romantic comedy. Don't you love Kate's yellow dress?
When Harry Met Sally: Classic right? Well Meg Ryan is really good in romantic comedies and it does answer the question as to whether or not men and women can be friends!
27 Dresses: This just came out more recently, but I love Katherine and James' banter throughout the film. Benny and the Jets!
13 Going On 30: I've always been a fan of Jennifer Garner and I love the premise behind the film. Plus Mark Ruffalo is really cute in the film.

Here's my list! Let me know what you think.

We want to read your movie lists, any movie lists in our BuzzSugar Community group. Click here to read more about how to be featured on BuzzSugar!

Greenberg: A Harsh Look Under a Magnifying Glass

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:30:00 -0700

It always feels slightly off when a comic actor takes on a serious role. Not that Ben Stiller hasn't proven his flexibility with fare like Reality Bites or Friends & Neighbors, but never before has he seemed so straight-faced, vulnerable, and well, depressing, as he does in Noah Baumbach's latest Greenberg. In fact, it took a few scenes for me to settle in to Stiller as Roger, a 40-year old with severe social and mental anxiety. His face is tired, there's no sense of a smirk - even Stiller's gray hair is on display (Derek Zoolander would not be pleased).

The film follows Roger as he returns from a recent institutional visit (due to a nervous breakdown) to house-sit for his brother Phillip (Chris Messina). He spends his days writing angry letters to Starbucks and Mayor Bloomberg, and looks on as neighbors play in the backyard pool, afraid of human contact. The only lifeline Roger actually makes is the family's personal assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig) and their German shepherd.

Almost immediately, Florence and Roger hop into a bumbling courtship. Roger seems drawn to her mid-twenties youth; Florence, in turn, is grappling with quarterlife uncertainty about life, and in Roger she sees someone much older who hasn't figured it all out either. It seems feasible that they'd get together, but not quite as likely that she'd put up with him. Basically, Roger is a very unlikeable guy, and like most Baumbach movies, his human flaws are both intriguing - and painful - to watch.

To see what I mean, read more.

Through interactions with his ex Beth (Baumbach's wife and muse Jennifer Jason Leigh) and longtime friend Ivan (a great Rhys Ifans), we learn that Roger has always been motivated by selfish reasons. In his earlier days, he had a band with Ivan, which he single-handedly ruined after refusing to agree to a contract. As such, Roger still doesn't want to commit to anything. It's an issue which is further brought to light as Florence suggests that he be her boyfriend. He handles the situation by doing what any self-involved person might - he snaps at her. Not once, but many times. Unable to hang around Florence or people his own age, Roger instead turns to his niece's teenage friends, doing coke like it's the eighties and rambling on about olden days. Will he ever get a reality check?

Oh, it comes. But not quite with the clearly-defined resolution that you might hope for.

Stiller is great in the role, portraying Roger with a subtle touch. But perhaps his performance is overshadowed by just how much you want to shake Roger. Instead, I'd argue that the film actually belongs to Gerwig. How refreshing to watch an actress who looks and acts like a regular woman, and as Florence, she evokes that somewhat-needy, twenty-something girl that we all know and love despite her questionable choices. Florence is the heart of the film, and as such, she keeps it from completely succumbing to the doldrums. Be warned though, there are no laughs or real sweetness here. You'll likely find yourself feeling mixed about Roger and the film, because frankly, they're both downers. But as character self-examination goes, Greenberg still makes for an interesting study.

If you'd like to review a movie you've seen recently, check out the Movie Reviews Group in community. I may even feature your critique on the site!

Photos courtesy of Focus Features

Reese Witherspoon to Turn Pioneer Woman

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:30:00 -0700

Reese Witherspoon is going country: the actress is attached to star in the movie adaptation of the popular blog The Pioneer Woman.

The Pioneer Woman chronicles the life of Ree Drummond, a city-loving woman who found love and a new home in the unfamiliar territory of Oklahoma. The blog is ripe with romantic comedy potential, so I actually think this will fare better than last year's blog-to-big-screen entrant, Julie and Julia (aside from Meryl as Julia, of course).

And I certainly prefer Reese as a romantic lead; what about you?