much ado about nothing. 2012

M.  For those, like me, who love the older movie, this will take some getting used to.  Give it a chance.  Modern play with american accents.  Easy to follow.  It is a fantastic play, and is well portrayed.  3.5 stars.

My girlfriend's boyfriend #2

from the creator of sleepwalk with me, this stand-up routine / one act play is a surprisingly fun and compelling show with laugh out loud moments and heart wrenching moments throughout.  this is more than a stand-up routine, and is a very unique movie.  however, unlike my girlfriend's boyfriend number 1, previously reviewed, this has some crude humor and language and is definitely not for the whole family.

M - 3 1/2 stars
V - 3 1/2 stars

My girlfriend's boyfriend #1

M- this is a surprisingly fun, clean, and good movie filmed in Salt Lake that we enjoyed. 3 stars.

V- 3 stars.

How I Met Your Mother

M:  For hilarity, this tv show gets high marks.  For cleanliness, it gets very low marks (probably similar to Friends, from what I have seen of that show, but V says this is dirtier).  Can't really strongly recommend it for that reason.  But, it is a guilty pleasure available on Netflix.  If it wasn't quite so dirty, it could be truly legend . . . wait for it . . . dary. 3 stars

Back in the Saddle

Let's review some movies . . . .  M&V

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey

V:  Only I watched this, during laundry folding duties.  This is a little documentary about Kevin Clash the puppeteer and creator of Elmo.  I really enjoyed it.  I just love when someone has an interest, sometimes a really specific interest, and pursues it wholeheartedly, and succeeds.  (The succeeding part is a nice bonus.)  I found Kevin to be likable and his story interesting and inspiring.  I even got a little teary here and there. 3 stars

Sherlock

V:  All we have so far are three movie-length episodes.  It is Sherlock Holmes (going by the name of Sherlock Holmes) with his friend John Watson, but set in modern-day London.  Interesting and well-done! We also get to meet Moriarti at the end of the third episode - who is sufficiently creepy/effeminate.  Good sleuthing fun. 3 1/2 stars.

M.  Fantastic.  Each season is only three episodes, but each episode is essentially a short movie.  In both seasons, the first episode is great, the second is not as good, and the third will blow you away.  You can almost skip the second episodes, I don't know why.  But, the third episodes are truly aw some, and, for my money, the third episode of the second season may be the best thing I have seen on television.  This is an absolute must see.  4 stars.

The Artist

V.   Great characters.  Really really good.  Fun to watch.  Lot's of fun moments.  4 stars.

M.  Loved it.  Amazing.  Definite best picture and best actor.  I also loved the actress.  4 stars.

Midnight in Paris

V.   Charming, creative. I really enjoyed it.  4 stars.

M.  I really liked this.  Beautiful and smart.  4 stars.

My Girlfriends Boyfriend

M.  Didn't expect much from this going in, but it was actually pretty good.  Made by Therm.  2 1/2 stars.

V.  2 1/2 stars.

Hugo

V.  Artistic and pretty good.  3 stars.

M.  So disappointing.  I get it, old movies are awesome and should be preserved.  I would prefer that they made an actual awesome movie.  2 1/2 stars.

Better off Ted (Season 1)

M:  See How I Met Your Mother.  Not quite as funny, but not quite as dirty.  Still pretty funny, but still pretty dirty.  On Netflix.  2 1/2 stars


V:  Funny characters.  Funny script.  Pretty good. 2 1/2

Moneyball

M:  I was actually a bit disappointed in this movie.  I went in with high expectations, and it didn't live up.  So this guy discovered that you could build a good baseball team using statistics.  What's the real point?  The story, particularly the conclusion, was just not enough for me.  It was well acted, well filmed, and it was cool to see the baseball stadiums, but that wasn't quite enough.  Plus, what's up with the little girl singing a song that had not yet been written?  That seems like an unnecessary oversight.  On the plus side, it was pretty clean. I'm torn. This review might cost me by man card, but . . . 3 stars


V:  It kept my interest, which is saying something as far as me and sports movies goes.  I went in with low expectations, so I thought it was pretty good.  The song was a little weird.  Maybe it wasn't as popular as it is now when they were making the movie?  Spoiler alert -   I thought he (Brad Pitt's character) should totally have taken the good offer at the end.  Oh well.  I did think it was interesting. 3 stars

Downton Abby (Season One)

M:  This is an amazing tv miniseries currently on BBC and PBS.  We love the characters, the script, the filming, and everything.  In my opinion, this is a can't miss.  4 stars.


V:  And Season Two, too!  Really great.  Can't wait for season three! 4 stars.

Raising Hope (Season One)

M:  A white-trash family finds themselves raising a baby when its mother is executed as a serial killer.  This is a comedy TV show referred to us that we watched on Netflix.  A quirky and fun show.  Like many, it is crude at times.  But it is also sweet at other times.  We enjoyed it.  I really like all of the charecters, except the love interest, who kind of bugs me (which is no small concern). 3 stars


V:  Funny, creative show.  Season two? 3 stars

The Help

M:  A great book, made into a pretty good movie.  Apparently there is some controversy surrounding the book and movie, but I don't see it.  Good acting, beautiful filming, and a good message.  3 1/2 stars


V:  Viola Davis as Aibileen was fantastic, first of all.  Also, Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote was very good.  A very good movie.  I was told I might not want to read the book once I'd seen the movie, and though I had started the book, they were right.  As a story, a little too much of it revolved around a poo pie.  Nevertheless, it was a well-done movie.  I liked it. 3 stars.

Crazy Stupid Love

M:  We loves us some Steve Carell.  Though, I am not a big fan of shows with adultery, call me crazy.  Otherwise, this is pretty funny, and has some real awkward/funny scenes.  But, it is also pretty dirty.  I have mixed emotions.  2 1/2 stars


V: Hmm, long time ago.  I thought it was okay.  I really like Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling. 2 1/2 stars.

Super 8

M:  This is an enjoyable show about a group of young friends who, while filming a movie, witness an accident in which something mysterious is unleased.  Kind of the Stand by Me of alien shows.  A bit predicatble in parts, but overall, not bad. 3 stars


V: I have to admit, I was pretty tired watching this, so I may have nodded off a few times.  I think it was alright. I give it 2 1/2 stars.

Reaper

M:  A silly little TVshow that my sister referred me to about a boy that has to catch souls for the devil.  Pretty funny.  pretty crude at times.  Has what I think is perhaps my favorite portrayal of the devil ever, by Ray Wise, as a handsome, slick, funny, and but deceptively evil creep-o.  The series was canceled, so it ended abruptly and with no resolution.  Not the shows fault, but I have to dock it a bit for that because I didn't get my resolution.  2  1/2 stars.

Doc Martin

M: This is a 4 season British comedy about an elite surgeon who develops a phobia of blood, and moves to a small coastal town to become a general practice doctor. The characters are great, the scenery beautiful, and the story fun. We really enjoyed this, and recommend it. 3 1/2 stars

V: Oh, I loved Doc Martin, and I'm sad that our watching has come to an end. (And it only ended because the series did.) Doc Martin, the character, is true to his curmudgeonly self throughout. (Well-acted by Martin Clunes.) The rest of the characters are fun and endearing. Social problems, strange diseases and a tense romance - we loved our evening visits to the telly and that beautiful coastal village - we want to go to there. FYI - on Netflix it is unrated - it's probably about a TV-14 for occasional medical gore. - 3 1/2 stars