Away We Go (2009)
IMDB synopsis: A couple who is expecting their first child travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover “home” on their own terms for the first time.
Best parts: Soundtrack, adorable cast, touching story
Worst parts: It’s a bit twee, I guess
Ratings
Plot: I think the story of a couple trying to find their own home on the eve of their child’s birth is so cute. I love the couples and stories that they come across. Plus, this movie is hilarious. That being said, it isn’t a groundbreaking or hugely important story. (7/10)
Cast/Acting: Maya Rudolph is beautiful and hilarious, as usual, in this movie. John Krasinski was perfect as the cute bumbling boyfriend. Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Allison Janney also make appreances. (8/10)
Personal Rating: This is one of my all time favorite movies! (5/5)
Special Effects/Costume and Makeup: Maya Rudolph looks super pregnant, and I love her outfits. I also loved John Krasinski’s costumes, he looked so adorable the entire time. (2/2.5)
Soundtrack: I love this entire soundtrack so much. Very indie and folksy. (2.5/2.5)
Total rating: 4.08/5 stars
Baby Mama (2008)
IMDB synopsis: A successful, single businesswoman who dreams of having a baby discovers she is infertile and hires a working class woman to be her unlikely surrogate.
Best parts: Tina Fey, interesting plot twist, laughed out loud a few times
Worst parts: Angie’s character was a little too much, and I hate Dax Shepard’s face
Ratings
Plot: Woman needs to have a baby ASAP plot was been done a lot recently. The writing was funny though, and the characters were likable. (7/10)
Cast/Acting: Tina Fey is always great, and her an Poehler’s chemistry is amazing. Dax Shepard was funny even though his character was annoying, and his face in annoying. Romany Malco’s character was a hilarious supporting role. As was Steven Martin’s. (7/10)
Personal Rating: I had no interest in this movie at first, but it was funny and cute. I liked that the plot wasn’t totally predictable, and I love pretty much anything involving Tina Fey. (4/5)
Special Effects/Costume and Makeup: Fake pregnancy belly was realistic, although Angie’s face probably should have gotten chubbier. Fey’s character was dresses just as you would expect. (2/2.5)
Soundtrack: Music was current, trendy. (2/2.5)
Total rating: 3.6/5 stars
Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
IMDB synopsis: A middle-aged husband’s life changes dramatically when his wife asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a new-found friend Jacob, learning to pick up girls at bars.
Best parts: Hilarious! Not at all your typical romantic comedy.
Worst parts: Not really any, except it could have been a little shorter
Ratings
Plot: Usually romantic comedies are about getting the girl, but this one is about Cal getting over the girl. It was fun and fresh, even thought the ending was totally expected. Kind of. Also, the entire son in love with the babysitter plot line was hilarious. (8/10)
Cast/Acting: All star cast! Steve Carell plays our main character, Cal, who is super awkward and gets left by his wife. Perfect role for Carell, even though he may be starting to be type cast. Ryan Gosling plays his sexy, mysterious friend Jacob. The perfect role for Gosling. Emma Stone is lovely. Julianne Moore isn’t my favorite, but she did the job as an insensitive wife. Great cast, fun dynamic characters you actually care about. (9/10)
Personal Rating: From the trailer, I expect this to be a movie along the lines of “Valentine’s Day” with a bunch of random love stories. That is not the case. This movie was hilarious and touching, and while the ending was still predictable, it was not at all what I expect from a romcom. I’d like to own this movie. (5/5)
Special Effects/Costume and Makeup: Ryan Gosling was impeccably dressed. Cal’s character was dressed slummy and sad just like he should have been. Emma Stone was supee cute as well. (2/2.5)
Soundtrack: Soundtrack was eh. (1.5/2.5)
Total rating: 4.25/5 stars
One Day (2011)
IMDB synopsis: After spending the night together on the night of their college graduation Dexter and Em are shown each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives. They are sometimes together, sometimes not, on that day.
Best parts: The day after their first night together, their kiss in Paris, the line “I love you, Dex, so much. I just don’t like you anymore.”
Worst parts: Prepare to cry.
Ratings
Plot: The movie shows the relationship of two close friends but only show July 15 of every year for twenty years. This movie is a book adaptation is it’s not an original idea, but I loved it anyway. (9/10)
Cast/Acting: I love the character Em, but I think another actress could have portrayed her better than Anne Hathaway. Jim Sturgess was perfect as Dex, though. (7/10)
Personal Rating: I loved the movie, but it shattered my heart so much that I resent it. BLOCKBUSTER SAID IT WAS A ROMANTIC COMEDY. (4/5)
Special Effects/Costume and Makeup: The costumes were remarkable. Every year their clothes and hair matched perfectly to the times, from to 80’s to current times. (2.5/5)
Soundtrack: Same as above. The music fit the time period for each scene, and added a lot. (2/2.5)
Total rating: 4.0/5 stars
Rating System:
Plot (__/10)
Cast/Acting (__/10)
My Personal Opinion (__/5)
Special Effects/Costume and Makeup (__/2.5)
Soundtrack (__/2.5)
