Movie Info:
Writer: Peter Barsocchini
Director: Kenny Ortega
Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Alyson Reed, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr., Bart Johnson, Ryne Sanborn, Socorro Herrera, Matt Prokop
Rating: G
Studio: Walt Disney Video

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: October 24, 2008
DVD Release Date: February 17, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

The sequels to any movie are never quite as good as the original. That’s true for nearly every movie I’ve seen, except perhaps The Godfather. After surprising myself by liking High School Musical and it’s sequel, High School Musical 2, I was ready to check out High School Musical 3: Senior Year. I had heard some of the rather catchy songs while watching the Disney Channel with my son and nephew, so I knew, if nothing else, the music would be good.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year is a decent movie. That being said, you shouldn’t expect it to live up to enchantment of the first movie. This is a rather sad film, merely because the characters your kids know and love are moving on. It’s no longer about High School. The main characters are all headed to college. The creators of High School Musical are trying to suck more money out of the franchise as they make the fourth movie in the series, but I can bet loyal fans of the original movie will not be as thrilled with this future installment. The majority of the main cast, who have delighted audiences of all ages through three films, have made it all but clear that they will not be returning.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year is good merely because it is the last hurrah for Troy, Gabriella and the gang. The best part of the movie is the songs and the choreography. The story isn’t as fun as the past movies, but it is pertinent to the closing of this trilogy of films. This movie is a pleasure film. By that, I mean that it was merely written because audiences know and loves these characters. That’s why I feel this plot is the weakest, thus far, in this franchise. Still, it’s clear the actors continue to give it their all as they prepare to say goodbye to their fans and the roles they made famous.

Don’t get me wrong, I would watch High School Musical 3: Senior Year again. The primary audience this franchise is geared towards, children, tweens and teens will love it. I don’t know if they’ll be as crazy for it as they were about the first movie, but they’ll love it none the less. The entire set of High School Musical movies are something that parents can enjoy watching with their kids. While the plot isn’t as enthralling as the previous movies, there is an obvious plot. The actors are excellent performers, talented singers, and great dancers. Even if this film didn’t seem to have as much spice as the original, a lot of work still went into making it.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

Movie Info:
Writer: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman
Director: Wayne Wang
Cast: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Giancarlo Esposito, Alicia Witt, Gérard Depardieu, Jane Adams, Michael Estime, Susan Kellermann, Jascha Washington
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
DVD Release Date:December 30, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

My movie styles vary quite a bit. While my favorite genres tend to be horror and drama, I occasionally watch chick friendly movies. My mother is a lover of all things chick. She also loves Queen Latifah. From the minute she first saw commercials for the movie Last Holiday, she asked me if I could get a copy of it for review. After I reviewed it, the movie would then become hers.

Well, I couldn’t get Last Holiday in standard edition. She ended up watching it on television and stored it on her DVR. Well, that is until I did the next best thing. I was able to get her Last Holiday in Blu Ray. She told me I’d love the movie and while it wasn’t on my list of high priority movies to watch, I happened to catch it while it was on television.

I have to say I didn’t hate this movie. In fact, I thought it was pretty good. I don’t always like the chick-friendly movies, but I do like Queen Latifah. I’ve also been a fan of LL Cool J for years. What more could I want in a lighthearted comedy? That being said, what I believe makes this movie is the acting. The comedic timing of the cast, especially Queen Latifah, is a major part of why this movie so enjoyable. A lesser cast would have made this movie trite and humorless.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: Andrew Niccol
Director: Peter Weir
Cast: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Holland Taylor, Natascha McElhone, Noah Emmerich, Peter Krause
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

Release Info:
DVD Release Date:December 30, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

I’m really not a fan of Jim Carrey. Sure, I like a few of his movies, but as an actor, I’m really not super excited when he comes out with a new movie. I’m not one of his fan boys nor have I ever been. While Jim Carrey seems to be a one trick pony, in the vast majority of the films that he’s been in, occasionally, there comes a movie where he actually proves he just might know how to act. The Truman Show is one of those movies.

I didn’t want to see this movie initially. I had seen Ace Ventura, and while I found the movie stupid-funny, I thought Jim Carrey was kind of dumb. My oldest nephew is only six and a half years younger than me. As you might have guessed, he was a huge Jim Carrey fan. I don’t know if he still is, but he was when he was a kid.

My nephew and niece would visit our house for a month, every summer. My brother would often go to Cedar Point with them and I ended up having to go to the movies with them, instead. I know that totally wasn’t a fair shake, but I got over it. Being the nice uncle I am, I let them pick the movie, even if I knew I was going to regret it. That is how I ended up seeing Titanic at the theater, four times in one summer! All I remember is how huge that boat looked. I also remember sneaking my niece into a movie that was rated R. I think there was some partial nudity in it or something (it probably would be rated PG-13, these days). Since I was over 18 and her “guardian” at the time, we got to go in, no sweat!

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

Movie Info:
Writer: Diane English
Director: Diane English
Cast: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, India Ennenga, Natasha Alam, Ana Gasteyer
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Warner Bros.

Release Info:
DVD Release Date:December 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $26.99

I’m the type of guy who can’t stand chick flicks. Well, unless they are well written and feature Meg Ryan. Looking back at the “chick flicks” I’m able to tolerate watching, nearly all of them have Meg Ryan in them. My mother in law loves Meg Ryan. So, I’ve seen many of her chick-friendly movies. I admit it. When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and even You’ve Got Mail are watchable. I’ve seen all of these movies more than once.

As a genre though, I’m just not into the chick movies. I’ll watch them occasionally with my girlfriend, just to be a nice and caring boyfriend. Of course, I don’t expect to like the movies. I’m just glad my girlfriend, Ashtyn, seems to like drama, action, and horror movies a lot more than she does chick flicks. We tend to agree on our assessment of most films, so I can expect that she won’t want me to watch any Cameron Diaz movies. It’s just not her style.

When I was told I had to review a movie called The Women I didn’t know what to think. The title alone just screams chick flick. Then I heard about the cast. Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher and Cloris Leachman all have parts in this. Meg Ryan was the first name I heard. I like Meg Ryan, but she has had some real doozies! I was hoping this was more of a When Harry Met Sally then it was a French Kiss.

When I heard Annette Benning was in this, I had hope. She isn’t really the big chick flick type. Her roles are usually more dignified. Adding in Eva Mendes and Jada Pinkett Smith could definitely spice this movie up, and while Debra Messing definitely does the chick flick thing, she was fabulous in Will and Grace. So, with the right cast, she could be not so chick flick-y.

Add in some Candace Bergen, a woman I’ve enjoyed watching, ever since she made fun of Dan Quayle on Murphy Brown (and perhaps even before then), Bette Midler (what’s not to love about the magnificent Bette?), Cloris Leachman (who is just a hoot – dating back to her Young Frankenstein days), and Carrie Fisher. Sure Carrie isn’t dressed up with Cinnamon buns. She doesn’t have a semi-automatic weapon she’s using as she chases down her ex. She does play quite the sleazy reporter/writer though, and those dark and nasty roles she plays are always fun.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.