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Up and The Hangover Have a Photo Finish at the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:30:16 PDT

Adults flocked to see The Hangover over the weekend, helping the comedy earn an estimated $43.3 million. However, it wasn't quite enough to bump Pixar's family-friendly movie, Up, out of the top spot with its estimated $44.2 million. Despite coming in second place, The Hangover's debut far exceeded expectations and is "the third best opening ever for an R-rated comedy."

Meanwhile, Will Ferrell's Land of the Lost is being called the first "bomb" of the Summer. The adventure flick, which received pretty bad reviews, came in at No. 3 with only $19.5 million over the weekend.

Nia Vardalos's romantic comedy My Life in Ruins also debuted this weekend, coming in at No. 9.

Up image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures and The Hangover photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Preview For My Life in Ruins Is Long, Kinda Boring

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:00:26 PDT

First off, this strange little trailer thing with subtitles is freakishly long (over four minutes!) and feels longer. This does not bode well for the comedy from My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Nia Vardalos.

When last we heard about My Life in Ruins, it was because Vardalos became the first filmmaker to be allowed to shoot inside the Acropolis. I was totally excited for this movie at that time. Now? Not so much.

From the trailer I'm guessing that - not unlike My Big Fat Greek Wedding - our protagonist learns how to love herself, loosen up and be confident, and from there everything falls into place for her. But the getting-there part looks ridiculously boring. When the majority of laughs come from Rachel Dratch's supporting character, we're in trouble.

Frankly, I am so disappointed! I really wanted Vardalos to have a big hit with this movie but she just isn't very engaging in the preview. Maybe there will be a better, official trailer before (if?) My Life in Ruins opens in theaters (the date of which is unknown). To check it out for yourself,

Update: The video was removed from YouTube, but it looks like you can still view the preview here.

Source

Nia Vardalos: First Person to Film at Acropolis

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:30:00 PDT

Nia Vardalos, of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame, is apparently a beloved treasure in Greece. So great is her pull that she was granted permission to film her next romantic comedy My Life in Ruins at the 2,500-year-old Acropolis at Athens, a first-time event for the ancient site.

While acquiring this permission entailed plenty of schmoozing on Vardalos' part, her popularity in Greece certainly didn't hurt. According to the Reuters article, "One of the most important factors was that Nia is beloved in Greece. She is a daughter of Greece and represents a positive representation of what being Greek is," said Michelle Chydzik, a producer on the film.

There are, of course, restrictions to the filming, including:

They get exactly one day to shoot at the ancient ruins.
No one can eat or drink at the site.
No hanging lights off columns.
No faking any of the sites, even with a fake background or column. "If you are standing at the Temple of the Oracle, you have to say it is the Temple of the Oracle. You can't cheat it even in the location. You can't walk 50 feet away and say that that's the temple," Chydzik said.
Because tourism is very important to the country, no site or road may be closed or restricted on account of the filming.

The government also requested some changes be made to the script, particularly for a part when two characters are drinking beer on the ruins' premises. This moment was rewritten because alcohol is not permitted.

She hasn't had a ton of success since My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but I think of Vardalos as the little indie filmmaker that could. Seriously, how cool is she?

Source and source

7 Money Mistakes Women Often Make

LearnVest — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:15:55 PDT

We all make mistakes - we're all human after all. LearnVest shares some of the common money mistakes that women often make so readers will learn not to make them, too.

Some of us handle our money flawlessly, perfectly, brilliantly, all of the time.

But most of us don't.

Most of us make mistakes here and there. We make some mistakes more than others, because of our personalities, or our upbringing . . . or sometimes even our gender.

It's ridiculous, but true.

We've heard it firsthand - from our readers. In fact, we went through hundreds of reader submissions and found examples of the most common stories that cross our desks every day.

Let's be clear: Not all women make these mistakes. Not all men avoid them. But in our experience, these are a few female financial problem areas that can lead to major debt and lots of stress.

RELATED: Are You a Social Shopper?

Ever bailed out an ex? Indulged in a little more retail therapy than you meant to? Or woken up one day and realized you didn't know as much as you thought you did about managing your money? You just might recognize yourself.

Of course, if you don't, good for you. We're just saying, bad money snafus happen to good people. But read on: We'll show you the top seven mistakes women make - and what to do instead.

Feeling Guilty

"When we were together, I let my ex stay with me rent-free until he found an apartment, lent him my furniture and paid for every date because I had a job and he didn't. When I lost my job, he paid for my rent for a few months and bills, etc. Now that we're broken up, he wants me to pay him back for the rent he insisted on covering. I am still on unemployment and barely getting by. I feel so guilty because we didn't end up as the forever couple and while I can't (nor would I . . . ) calculate all of my assistance getting him settled in NYC, he can quite easily."

A 2011 study from Eversave.com found that 67% of women have felt guilt about a purchase. But that's not the only opportunity for guilt: There's also staying in a job you feel guilty about abandoning, giving someone money because you feel guilty about their situation and, oh, doing the opposite of what you want when it comes to working after having children because you feel guilty about being a good mom (more on that here).

This guilt effect might not be limited to finances, either. Some studies suggest that women are more inclined than men to feel any kind of guilt. And we'd argue, more likely to bail out their exes, too.

Read on for more.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:28:18 PDT

The doctors are in the lion's den on this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, and not just in the figurative sense. A lion attack gets the surgeons in a tizzy (and gives Derek and Meredith a good story to tell). Owen gets himself into even hotter water when he puts his foot in his mouth, and Teddy manages to insult a group of widows.

The biggest development of the episode is what could have been with Lexie and Mark, but without the climax, it's a bit of a dull episode. Let's break it down when you

A week has elapsed since Owen came clean to Cristina about his cheatin' ways, and Cristina has been giving him the silent treatment ever since (oh, how the tables have turned in this situation). Desperate to figure out what to do, Owen turns to Meredith assuming she's attuned to the situation, but - oops - his talk of his affair is news to Meredith. Infuriated, she's super icy toward him during surgery, and afterward she tells him that the fact that Cristina didn't tell her is a good sign. Bailey overhears the conversation and is pretty understanding, but when Owen gets home, Cristina throws her dinner in his face. Ouch.
Lexie continues to wrestle with her feelings for Mark, and this week's mania is ignited when she overhears Mark telling Derek that he might ask Julia to move in with him. (Is it just me, or does five months seem a bit soon to be taking such a big step?) Of course, Lexie wigs out and even pesters Derek for help, playing the big brother-in-law card. Derek resists initially but then softens up, telling Lexie that she still has a chance, but needs to be absolutely sure of her feelings before she ruins Mark's relationship. Of course, the episode culminates in a Lexie / Mark elevator encounter, and Lexie totally chickens out. I almost screamed at my TV at this point; after all the whining Lexie has been doing this season, now she's balking?
Teddy takes a big step and joins a grief group, but it doesn't exactly help her deal with Henry's death right away. In fact, she essentially starts bullying one of the other widows before assuring everyone that she doesn't need counseling. Of course, it's all a facade: after an elderly patient passes away while her husband is in surgery, Teddy begins to try to accept the fact that she's no different from the other widows in her group.
Worried that his relationship with Morgan is getting too . . .relationshippy, Alex asks Arizona to let him off the case. Morgan is furious, especially when Arizona presents her with a brutal decision regarding her infant son's life. Arizona applauds Alex for staying professional, but I thought Alex was being a bit harsh (though it's totally typical Alex behavior). Somehow, I still don't think this is the last we've seen of Morgan, though.

What do you think lies ahead for Owen and Cristina? It looks like next week his lady friend will be unmasked, but will his relationship be able to recover?

Women Only? Not Even Close

The Good Men Project — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:36:54 PST

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project.

There's been some talk over, what, the last couple months, regarding ladies and their access to birth control. Or basic health care. Or abortions. Or breast exams. Really, pick any of them. Now, while I could (quite easily) get going regarding Komen's debacle with Planned Parenthood or the #issacircus of a hearing that ruined my day, that's not what I'd really like to discuss with Good Men today.

Objectifying Ryan Gosling

Of course, some of you might tell me that you don't want to hear my rants because, hey, those be lady problems and why would you rant to men about them (*please note* I did not say all of you – just… some).

And that, now that you mention it, is exactly my point.

All of these controversies, from Komen to birth control, have been overwhelmingly framed in this way: religious/moral freedom vs. women's rights. Or something along those lines. Here, the details aren't what's important –the point is the vs. women part.

X, Y, Z vs. women. Period. Just us ladies, out there all on our own. Wantin' things like breast exams and the pills. It's a woman's-issues thing, right?

Ahem. Wrong.

I am so done with these arguments being framed this way. These are not women's-only issues and rights. These are far far more than that.

Why? Well, since you asked, let me try to explain.

First, let's just pretend we're talking about birth control – namely, birth control pills, or maybe even morning after pills. For sake of simplicity, let's also narrow that into birth control only used for avoiding pregnancy – the idea that ladies be only wanting the birth control so they can be having the sex without the procreating. Forget all other arguments. For now.

I find it rather interesting that no one seems to bring up with whom all those ladies be having all the sex without the babies with. Well. Lesbians don't really worry about getting preggers all that much. So that leave . . . menfolk, or ladies born as men. And, ya know, I would hazard a guess that a great majority of that sex involving penises would be within committed, monogamous relationships. I would also hazard a guess that, in those committed, monogamous relationships, part of the reason the lady be on the pill is because she is not using condoms with her partner. Why? Because she probably trusts him and they no longer have need to worry about STIs, being in a committed, monogamous relationship. And a lot of people don't really like the whole condom thing, and will avoid when it becomes safe to do so.

Some of those relationships are probably marriages, where both would like to avoid having a kid/having more kids. Both husband and wife are being responsible to what they want and the children they can provide for.

Sure, some of the ladies who be on the pill are probably not in committed, monogamous relationships. Maybe a few of them throw caution to the wind every night. Or something. But, you know, if pregnancy is on the line, they're still engaging le sexy times with a dude. A dude who probably as into getting someone pregnant as his ladyfriend is.

Am I getting my point across? All these "X, Y, Z vs. ladies rights" conversations keep kind of saying that it's only the ladies having sex without the babiez. All by themselves. When, um, hello. Hi there. Birds and bees calling.

Yes, the women are the ones who have to take a pill as a very consistent method of engaging le sexy times without le bébéz. Men don't have that option (yet). But that doesn't mean these aren't men's issues. If you want to be having sex without procreation, this is how you do that – men and women. Both of us. Together. Doing this deed. Together. Does it matter who is swallowing (ahem) the pill?

Keep reading below.

Love Your Laptop: 8 Tips For Keeping it Healthy and Happy

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:23:02 PST

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be about giving affection to your significant other. It can be about showing your appreciation for the people and things that make your life awesome. Take your laptop, for example. Your window to the vast Internet, your laptop works really hard for you without asking much in return. Give your laptop a little TLC this Valentine's Day with these tips that will keep it happy and healthy all year long.

Clean it up - Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or a portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.
Practice proper shutdown habits - Shutting down all open programs and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport. But if you've had your laptop in a cold environment, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Protect your investment - If you're going to be lugging a laptop around, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.

Winter-Proof Your Gadgets: 6 Tips You Need to Know

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:21:48 PST

Winter is in full effect, and I don't know about you, but it's getting pretty cold in my neck of the woods. While I do travel with my gadgets quite a bit, I've learned that cold weather is not always tech-friendly. You may not realize it, but freezing temps can be just as dangerous - if not more so - to gadgets than the Summer heat since there are hidden dangers you can't see. Check out these six Winter weather tips that will help ensure your gadgets see the light of Spring this year.

Keep them out of the trunk - Keep your laptops, cell phones, and tablets out of the trunk for extended periods during cold days to prevent damage to screens and to keep your hard drive from freezing.
If you must trunk it, keep it bundled up - If you absolutely must leave your gear in your car in freezing temps, wrap it up in layers - like a jacket or sweater - to keep it warm. You can also find laptop warmers (which are specifically made for laptops) to keep them from getting icy if you live in cold conditions.
Turn them off - Letting your laptop or tablet remain in sleep mode may keep it warmer (since it is still working), but it also increases your chances of damage if you're on the move. Be sure to power down all the way to keep your data safe.
Warm up before booting up - If your machine is on the cold side, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Carry a charger - Cold weather sucks the life out of your batteries, so be sure to carry extra chargers in your car for emergencies.
Watch out for sensitive screens - Cold weather makes a smartphone screen extra sensitive, so be sure to keep it close to your bod if you're out in the snow, or consider a warm accessory - like a smartphone wallet, sock, or sleeve - to keep it cozy.

Group Therapy: Are Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties Really Harmless?

Tres Community — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:05:57 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I don't like the idea of bachelor/ette parties. I don't like the idea of my fiance getting drunk and getting lap dances and the possibility of it leading to sex. For a bachelorette party, I don't much fancy getting a male stripper, a guy dancing around just doesn't do it for me. I also don't like the thought process behind it, better have fun now because your life is over. I don't want to forbid my fiance to have a party but I don't want anything to happen. But I know his friends and I know they'll get strippers and do something stupid. I also know I can be a bit insecure. What do you think, are bachelor/ette parties harmless fun, or can they ruin a relationship? Also are you OK with your guy going to strip clubs?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

4 Reasons I Want Justin Long's New Girl Character Over For Thanksgiving Dinner

Rose Curiel — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:30:40 PST

Justin Long began his three-episode arc on New Girl this week as Paul, the music teacher and co-worker who joins Jess and her roommates for Thanksgiving dinner. Jess also has a huge crush on the guy, and I can't say I blame her; not only is Paul adorable, but he's also an awesome guest who would spice up any real-life Thanksgiving dinner with his quirky but charming ways. Check out the top four reasons I'd like Paul to make a guest appearance at my Thanksgiving dinner.

He provides musical entertainment. Paul not only performs in the Thanksgiving musical (playing the riveting role of a gourd) at the school where he and Jess work, but he also shows up at dinner armed with a violin. He's also willing to sing at the drop of a hat, joining Jess in one of her impromptu songs as soon as he walks through the door. If there's a better way to distract from the inevitable family tensions that arise at the dinner table, I'd like to hear it.
He knows how to hold his liquor. You won't have to worry about Paul overindulging in alcohol and making a drunken fool of himself - or your guests - at your Thanksgiving feast. He cuts himself off after two pumpkin ales, even though he's not even remotely tipsy. (Side note: How cute is it that his drink of choice is pumpkin ale?) Though he'll offer to run out to the store to pick up food for you, he makes the responsible choice of choosing not to get behind the wheel while doing it.
He values family. Jess invites Paul over for Thanksgiving dinner because the woman he usually spends the holiday with - his grandmother - has recently passed away. That doesn't stop Paul from talking about his Nana and how much she meant to him, reminiscing about how they used to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade together, and even pulling up a picture of her on his iPhone. But Paul's not self-centered; he'll take the time to ask you about your grandparents too, like he does with Winston.
He has a contingency plan when dinner is ruined. Jess and her friends have to ditch Thanksgiving dinner after they destroy their turkey by trying to defrost it in the dryer, and then they find an unappetizing surprise at their neighbor's place. But good ol' Paul pulls through by bringing them foot-long turkey subs. Could he be any sweeter?

What did you guys think of Paul? Would you set aside a place setting for him at your table?

Photo courtesy of Fox