BuzzSugar

Two Straight-to-DVD Romances, One Long Night

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:30:43 PST

Sometimes movies go straight to DVD and you can kind of guess why (sidenote: thank you, Molly, for watching Blonde Ambition so I don't have to!). But then there are those sweet-looking films with some big names - Alec Baldwin, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Sarah Michelle Prinze - that pique my curiosity. What could be so bad about movies like Suburban Girl and I Could Never Be Your Woman that they went straight to DVD? Well, in honor of Valentine's Day, I popped in these straight-to-DVD romances to find out just that.

The Description:
"Neophyte editor Brett Eisenberg (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is paying her dues in New York's publishing world when she attracts Archie Knox (Alec Baldwin), an aging industry luminary. Soon, their romance is complicated by real-life pressures, including Archie's alcoholism and Brett's dying father."
The Good:
Some of you may recall The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a collection of short stories by Melissa Bank that became a huge hit in 1999, and Suburban Girl is based on two of the stories in that book. They did well to maintain most of the protagonist's character (now named Brett): her wise-beyond-her-years maturity, her immense (and proud) knowledge of literature. If nothing else, it's refreshing to see a main female character in a romantic comedy (I guess this is a comedy?) who is not a bumbling fool. She's like a heroine for any bookish girl who loves Dante and leather pants all at the same time. She's not altogether humorless, either - my writer's heart melted upon hearing Brett gush, "Don't you just love alliteration?"

To find out "The Bad" and my take on the other romantic DVD,

The Bad:
With the exception of endearing quips like those, the dialogue is shockingly bad. For this alone, I can see why Suburban Girl was not theatrically released. Some people have also criticized the relationship between Brett and Archie, claiming Sarah Michele Gellar and Alec Baldwin have zero chemistry, though I don't share this opinion. Their relationship is supposed to feel awkward at times, seeing as Archie is nearly the same age as Brett's dad. Sure, there are moments when their interactions feel forced, and they beat the whole "stop treating me like your daughter!" thing over our heads ad nauseum. But I was more or less okay with it.
Bottom line:
I completely understand why this film went straight to DVD but it's not without its charms, and I fervently hope to see characters like Brett on the big screen someday. Also, the movie's soundtrack could make those of similarly billed "chick flicks" weep with shame. It's cute enough if you're a huge fan of these actors.

I Could Never Be Your Woman
The Description:
"Just as Rosie (Pfeiffer) strikes up a romance with a handsome younger man (Paul Rudd), her daughter Izzie (Saorise Ronan) falls in love for the first time - and Mother Nature (Tracey Ullman) can't resist the temptation to meddle."
The Good:
Pfeiffer and Rudd are surprisingly cute together - to the point where I deeply wished the movie were solely about their relationship. Instead, there are a dozen different things smushed into this one film, and it all gets muddled and (especially in the scenes featuring an ethereal-looking Tracey Ullman as "Mother Nature") super weird. There are vague strains of female empowerment and some commentary on the culture of plastic surgery and degradation of women's bodies in Hollywood, but it all gets diluted amidst the rest of the storylines. Still, on some level, I appreciate the attempt to shed light on a culture in which little girls make their Barbies ridicule each others' bodies.
The Bad:
There's a romantic story involving Pfeiffer's character as The Hot Older Woman (at 40) and Rudd's character as The Funny Younger Man (at 29). But then there's the daughter's coming-of-age stuff and her own shrieky problems with boys at school. And there's Rosie's career troubles and her struggles with self-image within Hollywood. Finally, topping off this messy pile is the smart-mouthed Mother Nature who comes around to criticize Rosie's every move. It's just perplexing, and while there are some funny lines - and Rudd is as adorable as you've ever seen him - it's not actually a fun movie.
Bottom line:
The actors are great, but they can't save this overloaded, bizarre and not especially pleasurable story.

Recast Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Win a Prize!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:29:58 PST

Every other Wednesday on BuzzSugar, I post a Recast challenge, where I ask you to choose new actors for a classic TV show or movie. The reader who submits the best cast wins a BuzzSugar t-shirt!

Sarah Michelle Gellar - er, Prinze - may be a grown-up glamorous lady in big-screen movies now, but once upon a time she was the teenage vampire ass-kicker Buffy on beloved series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you could recast that show with new actors, who could fill SMP's shoes?

What about other characters, like Xander, Willow, Giles and Spike? If you so desire, you could also recast other players who came and went, like Cordelia, Angel, Dawn and Anya, though these characters are not necessary for the recast.

Leave your entry in the comment section below, and I'll pick one winner to feature Tuesday, Jan. 22, complete with a "new" cast photo. To see a list of characters to recast and a photo of the BuzzSugar t-shirt,

Characters to recast:
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Prinze)
Xander (Nicholas Brendon)
Willow (Alyson Hannigan)
Giles (Anthony Head)
Spike (James Marsters)

The BuzzSugar t-shirt

Sarah Michelle Gellar Gets Back to Work With Baby Charlotte on Her Hip!

Molly Goodson — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:14:00 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar and her daughter Charlotte Prinze both stayed warm in cardigans on the set of her new TV pilot, Ringer, in NYC on Thursday. SMG plays two roles, a pair of twins, on the new show, which will also star Lost alum Nestor Carbonell and Life Unexpected cutie Kristoffer Polaha. Sarah Michelle and Charlotte arrived on the East Coast last week, leaving behind their home in LA. They were home in California for SMG's husband and Charlotte's dad Freddie Prinze Jr.'s 35th birthday last week and perhaps he'll be joining his girls in the Big Apple soon.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Returns to LA With Her Little Lady Charlotte

Lauren Turner — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:02:00 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar carried Charlotte Prinze through LAX yesterday. The adorable 1-and-a-half-year-old has been on the go a lot lately as she accompanies mom SMG on her travels. They've been back and forth between LA and NYC, where SMG is filming the TV pilot Ringer. She was spotted on set just last week though it looks like they're back home for now, just in time to celebrate SMG's 34th birthday on April 14.

SMG Picks Up Soon-to-Be Big Sister Charlotte From Dance Class

Lindsay Miller — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:40:13 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar gave her daughter Charlotte Prinze a lift as she took her to ballet class on Saturday in LA. Charlotte was sporting a leotard and a cute animal-print skirt for her latest dance lesson. SMG, who is expecting her second child, has been toting Charlotte to and from the studio frequently. Earlier this month, she and Freddie Prinze Jr. spent a day at the zoo with their little one. SMG seems to be enjoying her break from work, and although it was recently announced that her series Ringer won't be renewed for a second season, she has plenty to look forward to with a new baby on the way. Meanwhile, Freddie could potentially be back on TV in the Fall, having signed on to shoot a new pilot for NBC alongside Mena Suvari.

Pregnant Sarah Michelle Gellar Has a Sunny LA Day With Charlotte

Allie Merriam — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:12:00 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar ran errands around LA with her daughter Charlotte Prinze on Saturday afternoon, including a stop by Starbucks. SMG and her husband of nearly ten years, Freddie Prinze Jr., are about to become parents for the second time. Two-and-a-half-year-old Charlotte will become a big sister later this year when Sarah Michelle and Freddie welcome another baby! Sarah Michelle will have a chance to fully focus on motherhood. Her show Ringer was just canceled by the CW after a full season's run, though the network did decide to renew other shows like Rachel Bilson's Hart of Dixie and Maggie Q's Nikita.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Steps Out in the Sunshine With Her Little Prinze

Allie Merriam — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:04:46 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar carried her daughter, Charlotte, yesterday as they ran errands together in the afternoon. SMG was back in mom mode following a philanthropic Tuesday, when she visited a local library to read Dr. Seuss to children as part of a literacy campaign. She also did interviews while surrounded by books and abruptly dismissed any possibility of revisiting her famous Buffy character in a big-screen adaptation. Sarah Michelle may, though, be on the small screen later this year if her new series, The Ringer, gets picked up by CBS.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Leaves LA With Her Precious Cargo Charlotte

Lindsay Miller — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 09:04:00 PST

Sarah Michelle Gellar departed from LAX yesterday with her daughter Charlotte on her hip. The new mother, whose iconic character Buffy recently turned 30, has been spending lots of time with her family since her daughter was born in late 2009. While she's clearly enjoying her latest role as mom, she'll also be back on the small screen soon. Sarah Michelle will be taking on an acting challenge as she plays twins in a new pilot for CBS this Fall.

Freddie Prinze Jr. Joins Charlotte and Pregnant SMG at the Zoo

Lauren Turner — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:53:00 PDT

The whole Prinze family headed to the LA Zoo for an afternoon of fun last week. Sarah Michelle, who is pregnant with her and Freddie's second child, carried a camera while he held their daughter Charlotte. The group got a ride through the park on a golf cart and checked out a few animal exhibits before stopping to take photos at a lizard statue. SMG and Charlotte have been out and about multiple times this Spring while SMG is on a break from work. She should have more time to spend close to home now that her CW series Ringer was just canceled. There's plenty on the horizon for Sarah Michelle though, with the arrival of her next baby later this year.

Celebaby Roundup!

LilSugar — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:41:52 PDT

Some of our favorite Hollywood families celebrated their leading ladies over the Mother's Day weekend. Honor and Haven Warren spent a sunny afternoon at their favorite LA park with Jessica Alba, and Charlotte Prinze joined Sarah Michelle Gellar for a stop at Starbucks. Violet and Seraphina Affleck shopped alongside Ben Affleck for something special to give Jennifer Garner while Flynn Bloom and Miranda Kerr traveled to Sydney together. Click through the slideshow to see all the photos from the weekend!