We know that you are all live busy lives; it explains why you never call us anymore. And while we understand that everyone is hustlin’ and bustlin’ all over town, just trying to make a livin’, we know that you also want to catch a flick on the weekends. On top of that, we know that since your time is valuable, you don’t want to waste it on another cinematic turd. Therefore, we’ve created the “Weekend Movie Cheat Sheet” to help you make those snap decisions. Need a date movie? A popcorn flick? A thriller? We’ve got you covered — and we’ve got you in and out faster than you can say “Hey, those Film School Rejects really know what they are talkin’ about…”
What type of movie are you looking for?
A Date Movie…
We recommend: Leatherheads
Why: This one is such a tough call, as there aren’t any really solid date movies out in theaters at the moment. As well, this one is being marketed as a movie about football. But don’t let the poster fool you, this is unequivocally a date movie, it only uses football as a backdrop. George Clooney and Renee Zellweger hit the screen and deliver solid performances, good enough at least, to satisfy your obligatory pre-sex-turndown ritual of dinner and a movie. As well, it is missable enough that you won’t be too disappointed if, for some reason, your sweetie decides that he/she wants to neck through the whole thing.
A Thriller…
We recommend: The Ruins
Why: Yes, we are passing on Prom Night with a vengeance. As our own Robert Fure mentioned earlier in the week as part of his Boiling Point column, it is sad to see that Hollywood has moved on from remaking classic horror flicks to remaking not-so-classic flicks as well. Prom Night falls into the latter category, as one of those movies that should have been left in the 80s. The Ruins, on the other hand, delivers some serious skin-crawling terror in a fairly fresh manner. And, for what its worth, Laura Ramsey is very hot, even when she is all bloodied up.
A Popcorn Movie…
We recommend: 21
Why: Audiences have picked this one as top of the class for two straight weeks and there is certainly a reason why. It is heavy on a kickin’ soundtrack, a sexy cast and not so heavy on plot, making 21 an easy choice if you are looking to head out for 2 hours of relatively mindless entertainment. Combining the glitz and glamour of Vegas with the panache of a low-rate Ocean’s 11 (or Ocean’s 6 in this case), this one will easily satisfy your need for sexy young college students ripping off the man.
A Family Flick…
We recommend: Horton Hears a Who
Why: At this point you have probably figured out that there isn’t much in the way of a good movie hitting theaters this Friday, therefore we are forced to recommend some films that have been out a while. And while Nim’s Island did hit theaters more recently than Horton Hears a Who, it just wasn’t that well received, either by critics or audiences. Therefore, we have no choice but to stick with the Whorific animated adventure that has already claimed $133 million at the box office. Our next choice would be Nim’s Island, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
A Take-a-Chance Flick…
We recommend: Smart People
Why: This is our most fun “cheat sheet” category because it allows us to recommend something that you might not have thought of on your own. No offense, but some films just don’t reach the mainstream audience, even though they deserve nothing less. This is where we would have put Juno back when it was only in 500 theaters, and look what happened there. Oh, and speaking of Juno, Smart People is one of those movies that reminds us of 2007’s little indie that could. Not just because it stars Ellen Page, but because it combines an incredibly smart screenplay (pun intended) with some great performances from a top-notch cast (that includes Page, Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker and the incomparable Thomas Hayden Church). If you are looking to take a risk this weekend, Smart People is a great bet.
So there you have it, the quick and easy way to go to make all of your movie-related decisions this weekend. Check back every Friday morning for more of the Weekend Movie Cheat Sheet. We’ll see you at the movies…