Starbuck (2011) Absurd, funny, and touching. Starbuck is a modern day fairy tale about a man with so many children he didn’t know what to do. And no he didn’t live in a shoe, he lived in Quebec, which is almost as bad. Starbuck is the pseudonym used by the protagonist while donating man-juice to the local fertility clinic for extra money. In a weird turn of events Starbuck needed a lot of cash, and his many donations resulted in…
The Way Way Back (2013) Ever had a day that went horribly horribly wrong? How about an entire summer? In “The Way Way Back” you have a summer vacation that goes horribly horribly right. This coming-of-age story is about an awkward adolescent named Duncan who is trying to tread the churning post-divorce blended-family waters. These waters are infested with snarky teenage girls, a loving but flawed mother, her dysfunctional boyfriend, and other interesting characters. Duncan is a likable blend of anxious, shy, pensive, and…
It’s a Disaster (2012) Did you ever have a guest that just would not leave? How about six of them? Now throw in a terrorist attack, some dysfunctional friends, a divorce announcement, a little infidelity and a glockenspiel? Did I mention that it is probably the end of the world? Now you are starting to get the picture. This is a talky drama, that despite the setup, is mostly comical and fun. This should be watched in the safety of…
In case you didn’t see this before, here is my 2012 end-of-year list: Argo (2012) Bernie (2011) The Cabin in the Woods (2012) Chronicle (2012) Flight (2012) Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) Looper (2012) – My review of Looper Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Sleepwalk with Me (2012) The Sessions (2012) I will probably add reviews for most of these once I re-watch them. Sam
The tagline says it all “He’s still dead, but he’s getting warmer”. This is the first romantic comedy about the ultimate in mixed relationships: Zombie boy / Living girl. To say her dad is zombie intolerant is an understatement. He is, in classic drama movie setup, the head of the post apocalypse government and in charge of killing all zombies. I know what you’re thinking, “Is there any metaphorical meaning and substance beneath this light fluffy rom/com?” There is indeed. There are male/female analogies and a…