This is my second catch-up post for weeks 13-18 (March 24 – May 4th). This one is all about the four movies I watched!
Movie: Pretty Woman (1990) Directed by Garry Marshall; Written by J. F. Lawton
Summary:
Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy released in 1990 starring Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, a vivacious and street-smart prostitute, and Richard Gere as Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman. The story follows their unlikely romance after Edward hires Vivian for a week to accompany him to social events. As they spend time together, they develop a deeper connection beyond their initial arrangement. The film explores themes of love, class differences, and personal transformation, ultimately culminating in a fairy-tale ending where love conquers social barriers.
Summary written with the help of ChatGPT when prompted “Summary of the 1990 film Pretty Woman.’”
My Thoughts:
I’m a sucker for romcoms, and I had never seen this classic before. Although romcoms are making a comeback, I think it’s hard for them to match the ones that came out during the “golden era” of romcoms (90s and 2000s). I recommend watching the following video essays if you want to learn more about romcoms!
I don’t really know what to say about this movie other than I liked it! It follows the timeless Cinderella formula. I’m not a down on my luck woman of the night, but I too would love to be swept off my feet by a handsome, ridiculously wealthy man. I anticipate this will be a new comfort watch for me.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 6/28/2024, you can watch on Hulu.
Movie: Anyone But You (2023) Directed by Will Gluck; Screenplay by Ilana Wolpert and Will Gluck
Summary:
Anyone But You is a romcom loosely based on Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Bea, a law student, and Ben have a meet cute at a coffeeshop. They spend the rest of the day and night together, but they end up parting ways due to a misunderstanding the next morning. Months later, the two are forced to see each other again when Bea’s sister and one of Ben’s best friends get engaged. In order to have the destination wedding go smoothly, the guests try to get Bea and Ben back together, and a comedy of errors ensues.
My Thoughts:
So, I said in the review above that romcoms are making a comeback. While I’m glad that we’re getting more romcoms in theaters, I wasn’t a fan of this particular romcom. I do love Glen Powell, and I think Sydney Sweeny is great in some of her projects, but this movie’s script didn’t really give them much to work with. Glen Powell gave it his darndest, and Sydney Sweeny, well…is there. Her acting is just ridiculously flat in this movie, but it’s not entirely her fault. The characters’ motivations are so unclear and it’s difficult to make sense of why they all do the things they do.
Watch this movie if you think Glen Powell and/or Sydney Sweeny are hot or if you are desperate to see a new romcom. I do think you’re better off rewatching a better, older romcom.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As 6/28/2024, you can stream on Netflix.
Movie: RRR (2022) Directed and Screenplay by S. S. Rajamouli; Story by V. Vijayendra Prasad
Summary:
RRR is a 2022 Indian epic action drama film directed by S.S. Rajamouli. Set in the 1920s, the film tells the fictionalized story of two legendary freedom fighters, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, who fought against the British Raj and the Nizam of Hyderabad, respectively. The film explores their journeys, struggles, and eventual friendship as they unite to fight against oppression and colonial rule. RRR features spectacular action sequences, powerful performances by Ram Charan and Jr. NTR in the lead roles, and showcases the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice.
Summary written with the help of ChatGPT when prompted “Summary of the 2022 film RRR.’”
My Thoughts:
This movie is *chef’s kiss* level of perfection. First of all, it’s directed by the same director as the Baahubali films. If you haven’t seen these movies, stop what you’re doing and go watch them right now. I kid…they’re each 3 hour-long epics, so you definitely need to make some time for them, but they are so worth your time! The CGI in these movies isn’t perfect, but the visuals are so, so good, and the music is incredible. To me, Baahubali is just as good or maybe even better than anything Marvel has put out.
RRR is a really entertaining historical fiction all about the fight for liberation from British rule in India. The British colonist villains are comically evil, and I’m so here for it, but the best part about this movie is the bromance between the two main characters. Just thinking about their blossoming friendship montage and their dance battle brings a tear to my eye.
I know “foreign” movies are not for everyone, but if you’ve been curious about Indian cinema, absolutely give this movie (and the Baahubali films) a watch. Yes, it’s long, but you won’t regret it! If you don’t have the patience for it, you can also just fast forward through the numerous flashbacks.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 6/28/2024, you can stream on Netflix.
Movie: Am I Ok? (2022) Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne; Written by Lauren Pomerantz
Summary:
Am I Ok? is a comedy-drama about Lucy, a 32-year-old who is dissatisfied with her dating and work life. She reaches a crisis point when she begins to explore her sexuality all while discovering that her best friend plans to move out of the country. Lucy is forced to become self-reliant and to get back to pursuing her true passions.
My Thoughts:
My roommate and I decided to watch this movie on a whim, and we were not disappointed. It’s a great movie to watch, especially right now during Pride Month. While I can’t personally relate to what it must be like to discover your true sexual identity “late” in life, I do think there are other aspects of Lucy’s story that are probably relatable to a lot of us. I’m sure many of us have times when we’re not sure if we’re on the right path in our lives. Maybe we get used to a comfortable routine, but we’re not entirely satisfied with the way things are going. You can really empathize with Lucy in that sense, and her story is a great example of how sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones to reach self-actualization. The film doesn’t end with everything being neatly tied up with a bow, but it’s comforting to see that the protagonists are on the right path in the end and on their way to great things.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 6/28/2024, you can stream on Max.
Movie: Hit Man (2023) Directed by Richard Linklater; Screenplay by Richard Linklater and Glen Powell
Summary:
College professor and part-time undercover police officer, Gary Johnson, ends up falling for a woman who solicits him as a “hitman” to kill her abusive husband.
My Thoughts:
Another movie with Glen Powell! He really is having a moment lately, and I can’t wait to see him in Twisters. Hit Man is sensual and a lot of fun, even if the film’s message is not the most ethical. It turns into a sort of Bonnie and Clyde story that asks the view to consider how far one would go in the name of love. Who am I kidding? It’s really not that deep of a story, but it’s funny and pretty entertaining. Give it a watch if you’re craving a funny thriller.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 6/28/2024, you can stream on Netflix.
References:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (June 28 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
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