Susanna Carr Blog » Movies

Hot Disney Princes … Is That an Oxymoron?

Susanna — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:01:48 +0000

Today I was asked to fill out a survey for Disney. The questions ranged from who I thought was the best dressed villain (Cruella de Vil, of course), most magical object (Genie in Aladdin), and hottest prince.

Hottest princes? As in hottest Disney prince?

These were my choices:

The Prince from Snow White

Prince Charming from Cinderella

Prince John from Robin Hood (yes, the lion voiced by Peter Ustinov)

Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty

Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid

The Beast from Beauty and the Beast

Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog

OK, I wouldn’t really call any of these “hot”. “Useless” as in the case of Prince Philip (I wouldn’t trust him with a sharp object like a sword, let alone slay any of my dragons), or “infantile” like Prince John. I was also thinking, “Which is the least embarrassing option?” and “Which one doesn’t wear tights?”

And am I the only one who thought the beast looked better before he transformed back into a man?

Also, why doesn’t the prince in Snow White have a name? In any other movie, he would have been considered unimportant and died within the first five minutes of the movie.

So which prince did I vote as hottest Disney prince?

Prince Naveen.

(Don’t judge me!)

Romantic Comedy Round-Up

Susanna — Mon, 24 May 2010 08:01:46 +0000

There have been a lot of romantic comedies out lately. I haven’t had a chance to see them all, and that might be a good thing. Hollywood has a very different idea than I do when it comes to what is romantic and what is comedic. Here’s what I’ve seen so far:

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

I didn’t see this movie when it first came out because the reviews were very harsh. I almost didn’t rent the DVD because the online review ratings were so low. But I was in the mood for a romantic comedy and decided to take a chance on it.

Hugh Grant was quintessentially Hugh Grant. Sarah Jessica Parker was Sarah Jessica Parker with toned down clothes. It’s a fish out of a water story, but I was surprised that the film dealt with some tough marital problems. Kudos to the writer and director for taking that risk.

Overall, I found this movie charming. Did You Hear About the Morgans? has some flaws, but it was much better than I had expected.

Leap Year

I swore I wasn’t going to waste my money on Leap Year because I thought it was ridiculous for a modern-day successful woman to go to such great lengths to marry her long-term boyfriend. Yet, I broke down and downloaded it at a weak moment. What can I say? I’m a rom-com junkie.

Leap Year is a basically a road trip with two people who don’t get along. It has all of the elements a traditional romantic comedy needs with a healthy kick of snark, but the story isn’t groundbreaking.

I enjoyed Matthew Goode’s performance and he had great chemistry with Amy Adams. It had funny and romantic moments, but unfortunately, it’s also forgettable.

Just Wright

I wanted to see this movie even though it looked like it was going to be formulaic. I like Queen Latifah and I like romantic comedies. It sounded like a good combination to me. I wanted to watch how a tomboyish woman (who is used to being invisible when her glamorous friend is around) wins the heart of a basketball superstar without changing a thing about her.

Just Wright is about a physical therapist falling in love with an injured pro basketball player. And that really is where the focus is on the story. Lots of basketball action and lots of physical therapy scenes. Honestly, I just wanted to see more of the heroine stuck in a world where image is everything and watch her hold her own as the hero falls for her.

Also, the ending of the story doesn’t sparkle. I know the hero and heroine are going to get together, and I want it to be special. They should put as much effort in the happily-ever-after as they do with the ‘cute meet.’ Just Wright was an okay movie, but they took the story in a direction that didn’t interest me.

The Problem with Romantic Comedy Movies

Susanna — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:20:45 +0000

The other day I was flipping through People magazine and there was an article about what was wrong with romantic comedy movies these days. This nabbed my interest more than the list of the most beautiful people because a) I question the criteria to be considered the most beautiful, b) I question the expertise of the judges, and c) I love romantic comedy movies.

I don’t remember all three problems that the article discussed, but they suggested getting rid of the cutesy meet and cutesy best friend.

Huh. I don’t think that’s the problem. If People had asked my opinion (hey, I’m sure I’m qualified just as much as the judges of the most beautiful people!), I would tell them that that a romantic comedy should:

Stop making the heroines uptight women who are constantly put in embarrassing situations and embarrassing clothes. That’s not funny. That’s stupid.
Stop writing scripts in which the heroine desperately wants to find and/or hang on to Mr. Right.
Enough of the running to the airport scenes. It’s way overdone and with the way airports are today, it find it increasingly difficult to suspend my disbelief.

Oh, and another thing. Stop telling the whole story in the movie trailer! I can’t get anybody to go see Just Wright with me because they feel like they already saw the movie!

Valentine’s Day movie

Susanna — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:01:20 +0000

I went to see Valentine’s Day and I liked it. In full disclosure, Garry Marshall is one of my favorite directors (even though he can’t edit ruthlessly and he populates his movies with casts of thousands.) But I can forgive those faults because overall he offers an entertaining story. There were also a few twists I didn’t see coming! In fact I could hear and feel the surprise from other people in the theater, so I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who missed the clues.

Now on with my expectations of a romantic comedy:

Was it funny? It made me smile and laugh, but there weren’t any places where I was laughing hard.

Was it romantic? Yes, some of the couples had sweeter storylines than others. There were a few storylines where I wished they would just move on to the next couple.

Did it say anything new or different about relationships? Yes, it did. It showed what Valentine’s Day meant to people who are at different points of their lives or relationships.

Valentine’s Day is between a 2.25 to a 2.5 out of 3 in my Romantic Comedy Meter. I recommend seeing it!

The 25 Worst Romantic Comedies

Susanna — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:01:14 +0000

Entertainment Weekly just listed The 25 Worst Romantic Comedies. I’m not sure how these movies were judged. I do know that I’m a fan of romantic comedies but I haven’t heard of some of these movies. Maybe I’m not as much of a fan as I thought I was!

In fact, I’ve only seen 4 movies on this list. Alex and Emma reminded me of Audrey Hepburn’s Paris When it Sizzles. They were both bad movies. Who’s that Girl is supposedly a remake of Bringing Up Baby, but it didn’t anywhere close to that. Maybe Hollywood should refrain from remakes.

I don’t think All About Steve was a romantic comedy as much as it was a woman finding her place in the world, and I’m trying to remember what provoked me to see The Beautician and The Beast in the first place.

Is a romantic comedy you absolutely hated on this list?

25. Rumor Has It (2005) starring Jennifer Aniston

24. Blind Date (1987) starring Kim Basinger and Bruce Willis

23. Simply Irresistible (1999) starring Sarah Michelle Gellar

22. Employee of the Month (2006) starring Jessica Simpson, Dax Shepard and Dane Cook

21. Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) starring Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore

20. Alex & Emma (2003) starring Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson

19. Haunted Honeymoon (1986) starring Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder

18. Two of a Kind (1983) starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

17. Who’s That Girl (1987) starring Madonna and Griffin Dunne

16. Over Her Dead Body (2008) starring Eva Longoria

15. Down to You (2000) starring Julia Stiles and Freddie Prinze Jr.

14. My Boss’s Daughter (2003) starring Tara Reid and Ashton Kutcher

13. Say It Isn’t So (2001) starring Chris Klein and Heather Graham

12. I Love Trouble (1994) starring Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte

11. Good Luck Chuck (2007) starring Jessica Alba and Dane Cook

10. All About Steve (2009) starring Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper

9. Summer Catch (2001) starring Jessica Biel and Freddie Prinze Jr

8. Because I Said So (2007) starring Diane Keaton

7. Mannequin: On the Move (1991) starring Kristy Swanson

6. Dirty Love (2005) starring Jenny McCarthy

5. The Beautician and the Beast (1997) starring Fran Drescher and Timothy Dalton

4. Mr. Wrong (1996) starring Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Pullman

3. From Justin to Kelly (2003) starring Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini

2. The Hottie and the Nottie (2008) starring Paris Hilton

1. Gigli (2003) starring Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

When in Rome

Susanna — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:51:25 +0000

I just came back from seeing When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. I hadn’t seen the commercials for this film, but I got the basic idea that it was about an anti-romance woman who steals coins from the fountain of love. The men who had tossed the coins are under a love spell and pursue her. The result is a light and silly movie (that was barely set in Rome!)

Was it funny? Yeah, it has some physical comedy (finally, the guy is the klutz!), some very funny moments, and some over-the-top ridiculousness. Most of the humor came from the weirdoes who were following the woman.

Was it romantic? Not really–although Josh Duhamel came across as adorable. I hope to see him in more romantic comedies.

Did it say anything new or different about relationships? Absolutely not. I think the whole point was that risk is a part of passion. This is something I’ve seen in many romantic comedies.

When in Rome is 1 out of 3 in my Romantic Comedy Meter. My opinion? Wait for it to come out on TV.

Romantic Movie of the Week: Jerry Maguire

Susanna — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:12:53 +0000

Jerry Maguire, a sports agent, has a change of heart in the way he does business. His colleagues think it’s more like a nervous breakdown. When he writes his idealized mission statement and gives everyone in the office a copy, Jerry gets fired. The only people who believe in him is Rod, his only client, and Dorothy, a woman who is infatuated with him.

Jerry tries to practice his new beliefs and struggles with disappointments and setbacks. Everyone thinks he’s a loser in an industry that only cares about winners. While Jerry wishes he never wrote the memo that suggests sports agents should worry more about their clients than money, Dorothy caught a glimpse of Jerry’s authentic self in that memo. She wants him to follow his ideals, and is willing to be there every step of the way. But while she loves Jerry, is he taking advantage of her loyalty?

Jerry Maguire has two or three famous romantic quotes, and this movie is #100 on AFI’s list of 100 Greatest Love Stories. I think is a good film, a heartwarming story, but I don’t know if I’d put it on my personal list of best romantic movies.

Is this one of your favorite romantic movies?

Pygmalion stories

Susanna — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:54:46 +0000

If you’ve read some of my work, you probably picked up on the fact that I enjoy transformation or makeover stories. I’m not really sure what it is about this storyline that appeals to me, but if there’s a movie with a Pygmalion theme, I am so there.

Last night I watched Educating Rita, starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine. If you haven’t seen it, let me warn you that this is not a romantic comedy. It’s about a hairdresser who is assigned a disenchanted tutor to get her ready for an examination to get into college. Witty dialogue, wonderful storytelling and amazing actors. Most of the people I know don’t like this movie, but I adore it. In fact, when I first saw in years ago it influenced me to go to college when I was dead set against stepping back into a school.

Another Pygmalion-theme movie that I love is Miss Congeniality. (I also adore the sequel!) Once again, Michael Caine is in this movie, along with Sandra Bullock. It’s about an unkempt FBI agent going undercover at a beauty pageant as a contestant. I love what both movies say about the standard of beauty and friendship among women. If you love romantic comedies, you really, really need to see this one. In fact, make it a double feature and watch the sequel.

Strangely, I’m not so thrilled with My Fair Lady, even though it stars Audrey Hepburn. I don’t know if it’s because the movie is too long, or because I’m not a fan of Rex Harrison. It could be that I think Eliza Doolittle could do so much better than Professor Higgins. I hear there are plans for a remake and it will be interesting to see if they give the story an update.

The Ugly Truth

Susanna — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:15:17 +0000

When I watch a romantic comedy, I expect three things: It should make me laugh, it should be romantic, and it should offer a new or different point of view about relationships.

I didn’t see The Ugly Truth when it was in theaters, mainly because I had heard it wasn’t worth the price of a ticket. The commercials didn’t appeal to me, either. Yet when someone like me is looking for a romantic comedy, there aren’t that many choices. This week I picked up The Ugly Truth and hoped to be entertained.

First, let me just say that it’s not that bad. I wasn’t impressed, but I wasn’t falling asleep, either. Second, if you hate “battle of the sexes” storylines, you’re going to hate The Ugly Truth. If you’re looking for an updated Doris Day/Rock Hudson movie with raunchier language and situations, then you should probably give The Ugly Truth a try.

But does this movie meet my criteria for a romantic comedy? Did it make me laugh or smile? Not really. My sense of humor is different.

Was it romantic? Yes, there were moments that Gerard Butler’s character said or did something that warmed my heart.

Did it offer a new or different point of view about relationships? I’m going to go with yes on this one. The guy had a strong point of view. Doesn’t mean I agreed with it, but it was something I don’t usually see in romantic comedies.

Huh. The Ugly Truth meets two of my three criteria. Imagine that!

What did you think of the movie?

Romantic Movie of the Week: Vertigo

Susanna — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:52 +0000

Vertigo, a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is considered one of the top 20 greatest romantic movies of all times. At least, that’s what the American Film Institute feels, placing it at #18. I hadn’t seen the movie, but I knew it was about the darker side, or rather flip side, of love. Voyeurism. Betrayal. Sickness. Obsession.

I’m all for the happy ending, but I decided to give Vertigo a try. If it’s that high on the list, it must be good. At least, that’s my way of thinking. Vertigo was okay, but maybe I heard about the twist somewhere because I wasn’t surprised with the plot. It’s not my favorite Hitchcock movie. I prefer Rear Window, which also starred James Stewart. That movie had suspense but it also had a happier, satisfying ending. Vertigo has the main character spiraling into madness because of a woman.

And I guess that is why Vertigo is so high on the AFI’s list for Greatest American Love Stories. The love between James Stewart and Kim Novak changes them, and not for the better. It damages them. In the end, it destroys them.

Which makes me wonder, does the destruction make Vertigo a tragic love story, or simply a tragedy?