Inside this issue...
You Might be a Chocoholic If...Hi <<First Name>>, You Might Be a Chocoholic if...
You can taste the difference between Hershey’s Kisses and Hershey’s Chocolate bars. You can smell the difference between white, milk and dark chocolate. You know the percentage of cocoa solids in semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate.
Fortunately for chocoholics, this Saturday is Valentine’s Day. It’s heralded by the arrival of chocolate in all shapes, sizes and flavor combinations. Even everyday chocolates are wrapped in red, pink, and gold to honor the occasion.
I think it’s also a great time to offer romantic movies, but looking at the theater marquee, those are few and far between. A couple of films like Bride Wars and New in Town have romance in them, but it’s not really the main theme. He’s Just Not That Into You is labeled a romantic comedy, but it’s really a cultural anthropology lesson about dating in the new millennium.
So what’s a person to watch? If you want a story about true love and marriage, I recommend Fireproof. It’s not a romantic comedy, but seriously tackles the topic with some humor woven in to lighten the mood. If you’re in the mood for some fluff, I recommend Confessions of a Shopaholic (in theaters Friday, Feb. 13). Some critics say with our troubled economy this is the wrong time to release a film about extravagant spending and consumer debt. I think it’s a great reminder that we reap the consequences of the choices we make.
Whatever you watch this weekend, enjoy it with some chocolate and someone special.
From the screening room,
Angela Walker
ChristianMovieNews.com
Industry Interview
Jemma McKenzie-Brown: High School Musical 3's Newest Wildcat Disney's newest Wildcat, an import from England named Jemma McKenzie-Brown, talks about school, Sharpay, and becoming a star. Hi Jemma! How does it feel to star in "High School Musical 3?"
It feels amazing! This has been a dream come true. High School Musical 3 is my first movie and I can’t think of a better place to start. It’s been so much fun and such a cool experience to work at the real East High where the first two films were shot. The auditions must have been tough… What did they ask you to do?
The auditions were really, really hard! We had to dance, sing and act – and you had to show you were good at all three. We got given the script from the film for the acting part of the audition – and that was when I discovered my character gets to speak to Sharpay! I was so excited. [ Read more... ]
High School Musical 3 Out on DVDby Angela Walker Those perky and squeaky-clean Wildcats are back for their senior year at East High, and director Kenny Ortega made it a grand and gloriously spectacular one. Disney is pulling out all the stops with its release of a 3-disc Deluxe Extended Edition, which features a longer film than was shown in theaters last fall. [ Read more... ]
Bride Wars: It's a Losing Battleby Angela Walker Just how important is a woman’s wedding day, and how far is she willing to go to make it perfect? Kate Hudson (Liv) and Anne Hathaway (Emma) demonstrate that a truly desperate bride will go a lot further than common sense and common decency dictate. [ Read more... ]
Actor Corbin Bernsen Writes Faith-Based Filmby Borys Kit - The Hollywood Reporter Actor Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law, Psych, The Astronaut Farmer) has formed Team Cherokee Prods. to make independent films for targeted audiences. First up for Cherokee will be the feature film Rust, a co-production in association with Kipling Film Productions and Mission Pictures. Bernsen wrote the faith-based feature and will direct and star as well.
Production is set to begin next month in Kipling, Saskatchewan. The rural farming community of about 1,100 also put up most of the financing. [ Read more... ]
Come What May on DVD March 17
The burgeoning trend of small Christian films making large impact continues with COME WHAT MAY, a smart new story from Advent Film Group, made with the help of some 40 home schoolers and Patrick Henry College (PHC) in Virginia. COME WHAT MAY releases nationally on DVD on March 17. [ Read more... ]
Movies for Valentine's Day
Looking for a conversation-starter or an inspirational love story? Look no further than these top selections.
Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic
by Jeff Walls
In theaters Friday, February 13
 Rebecca Bloomwood believes in "magic cards" that have filled her closet with a rainbow of clothing; name brands only, of course. Unfortunately, she has an ever-growing mound of debt: more than $16,000 worth.
Ironically, Rebecca winds up at a savings magazine and thanks to her ambitious young boss and a couple of clever articles, she becomes a popular spokesperson for the financial industry. Now, if only she can stay two steps ahead of the debt collector. Adorable Shopper
First things first, Isla Fisher is adorable in the lead, even if her characters’ shopping urges can drive a guy like me crazy. She demonstrates some very good comic timing and a talent for physical comedy that often reminded me of a young Meg Ryan. She is teamed up with Hugh Dancy as her boss/love interest Luke Brandon. I’ve liked Dancy in other films like The Jane Austin Book Club and Evening and felt he was adequate here, but he never quite gets beyond the same handsome and charming love interest that you find in all these kinds of movies (see James Marsden in 27 Dresses).
Also, as charming as Fisher is, I never really believed that Luke would fall for her and the love story really feels very rushed.
The rest of the cast felt underwhelming as well and it seemed as if many talented comedic performers were pretty much wasted in minimal supporting roles
In this economy, I really thought this movie could have been a much more interesting parable. It is hinted at early in the film when Luke gives Rebecca her first lesson in the difference between cost and worth, but instead of really following up that idea in a clever way, the movie devolves into a rather formulaic and predictable romantic comedy.
Rating
Confessions of a Shopaholic is rated PG for “some mild language and thematic elements.” I hardly noticed anything of note in terms of language and I’d say overall this was a pretty clean movie.
[Read the complete review... ]
|
