Igor -- 2008

Igor
(2008)

Rated PG for violence and some innuendo
My Rating: 4 Stars

John Cussack
John Cleese

Molly Shannon
Eddie Izzard
Jennifer Coolidge
Steve Buscemi
Sean Hayes
Jay Leno

“Do not yell at me.”

Summary:
Once upon a time the land of Malaria had been a beautiful country of sunshine, mountains, bounteousness and wealthy people. But one day, the clouds came and covered the valley, destroying their crops and leaving the inhabitants destitute. Then, King Malbert had an idea: make evil inventions to blackmail the rest of the world with.

There are two classes of people in Malaria: the evil scientists who live in their castles rent free and Igors, their hunchbacked assistants who get their degrees in slurring and “Yes Master”-ing. They are taught to obey without question and not think.

But there is one Igor (John Cussack) who has always wanted to be an evil scientist. Because he was born with a hunch, anything besides being an Igor was out of the question but he dreams anyway and secretly invents. He has moderate success: a rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) whom he made immortal. And then there is Brain (Sean Hayes), who isn't one.

“Blind orphans get everything!”

Every year, there is an Evil Science Fair, in which all evil scientists enter their latest inventions. The invention that wins is used to blackmail the rest of the world. There is one evil scientist who has won every year: Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard). With his success came his popularity with the people of Malaria and King Malbert gets worried that he will be ousted from the throne.

“Ironically, at an inch tall, you still have the biggest mouth in Malaria.”

One day, Igor's master, Dr. Glickenstein, blows himself up, leaving Igor and his two inventions to themselves. Just moments after his untimely expiration, the King arrives to talk to him. Igor tries to tell the King what happened but suddenly realizes that this might be his ticket to showing the world what he can really do in the world of inventions. He tells King Malbert that Dr. Glickenstein's invention is life.

And so, Igor's biggest, most evil invention is begun. Will it be a success?

“May I suggest... looking behind you!!! ...... It was just a suggestion.”

What I Liked:
1: The quality of this movie. Well done!
2: The humor. It's hilarious.
3: The storyline.
4: The twists. Totally kept me on the edge of my seat. :-)
5: They kept it fairly clean.
6: There is an edge on which movie producers/directors can topple from... too little and too much. They only over stepped a couple of times.
7: The romance. ;-) It was so cute.
8: The score. It ranges from very fun with a fifties sound, to lovely and dramatic... old movie sound with LotR mixed in. :-)

What I Didn't Like:
1: Jennifer Coolidge's character (s) was fairly seductive.
2: A little bit of language.
3: There were a couple of scenes that were bordering on colorful.

This is another hilarious film that I want to watch again... and again! :-) It's so well acted and the storyline flows very smoothly. Other than a couple of things, I would have given it a full 5 stars. :-)

“Uh... Canadians.”

A Cinderella Story

A Cinderella Story

(2004)

rated PG for mild elements

My Rating: 5 stars

Hilary Duff

Jennifer Coolidge

Chad Michael Murray

Dan Byrd

Regina King

Julie Gonzalo

Lin Shaye

I usually go for period films or something that has something to do with history but A Cinderella Story has got to be one of the best chick flicks of all time. When you get an actor like Hilary Duff to be the abused heroine, Jennifer Coolidge to be the evil stepmother, Chad Michael Murray to play the... Mmm. I won't give it away.

Enter the world of Sam (Hilary Duff) who lives in the attic of her stepmother's cottage that could look like a swiss chalet surrounded with the only green yard in the entire neighborhood, even though their part of CA is in the middle of a drought. Sam's father died when she was young and since he left no will, her stepmother got everything: the house, the car, the Diner. Oh yeah. The Diner. Sam's father owned the coolest diner in the valley. Employees and customers were friends and diet was a four lettered word. But when Sam's dad was killed during an earthquake, everything changed. For worse.

Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) is a horror and her two stepdaughters are just as bad. Sam is their slave, whom they blame everything on, the odd man out in school... she basically doesn't fit in anywhere. Before he died, Sam and her dad had shared a dream together: for her to go to college at Princeton. But the more Sam works towards this dream, the more Fiona works against it.

The only thing that keeps Sam going is her mysterious friend whom she chats with every day. Neither of them know who the other is, only that Sam is a girl and her friend is a guy. The more they get to know each other, the more he talks about meeting. But Sam is scared. Can anything turn out happily in her life?

What I Liked:

1: How funny this movie is.

2: How well acted it is. Perfect actors for the characters. Jennifer Coolidge and Regina King are wonderful.

3: The sappiness of it. Not often do you get a story like this that is so clean.

4: How rich it is... it's vibrant and full of color and character.

5: Lessons on judging character and being courageous.

6: Some of the score was lovely!

What I Didn't Like:

1: The girls tend to dress seductively.

2: Some crude humor... I must admit, however, that it wasn't too bad and it always completed the feel of the scene.

3: The kissing scenes... ditto #2, though. ;-)

4: Part of the score was a little... well, not my style. ;-)

But I do recommend this movie to anyone who likes clean sappiness... I love this movie. It's great entertainment. :-)

Legally Blonde (2001)

Legally Blonde

(2001)

A Marc Platt Production

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual references

My Rating: 4 stars

Reese Witherspoon

Luke Wilson

Selma Blaire

Matthew Davis

Victor Garber

Jennifer Coolidge

This movie held my attention from start to finish and it made me laugh out loud. Definitely a chick flick, complete with a sappy finale!... but with some morales upheld that make the viewer examine their own.

Enter into the world of Elle Woods, more specifically, the (dangerous!) world of gorgeous blondes. Ellie is a rich man's daughter who has never met with affliction (other than, of course, being late for her pedicure appointment) until her beloved boyfriend breaks up with her the night she expects him to propose to her. It was a horrible blow, but Elle wasn't going to be left behind. After over a week of mourning (watching romantic movies, eating half of each chocolate, dropping the remainder in the box and throwing the entire thing at the T.V. whenever the hero in the feature pronounces his love to the heroine), she decides to go to Harvard Law to show her blind, misguided ex-boyfriend that she is indeed smart and good enough for him.

Wonder of wonders, she manages to be excepted into Harvard and what she thinks is going to be simply winning back Warner Huntington III turns into a major life changing experience that leaves her feeling fulfilled as never before.

What I Liked:

1: Reese Witherspoon. It doesn't matter what role she plays, the lady in her shines through.

2: In spite of groaning over her complete blondishness, by the time you're a third through the film, you have learned to like Elle.

3: Lots and lots of very laughable humor.

4: This movie is so well directed. Bravo.

5: The lessons Elle learns are lessons that viewer learns as well. That's good acting. :-)

6: Jennifer Coolidge is one of the funniest actors ever. She adds such a wonderful flair to this movie; it wouldn't have been right without her.

7: Elle's innocence.

8: How different the cast of characters were. They were all unique and easily remembered.

9: The mystery. I love whodunits. :-)

What I Didn't Like:

1: Sexual humor could have been cut out.

2: Elle and other girls are dressed seductively for many of the scenes.

3: There was some language.

For conservative families, this film is not for you. For people who can over look the negatives and simply appreciate the superb quality of acting, directing and storyline, this film is a must see.