The Caucasian Report - "Crazy, Stupid, Love." (2011)

~One Night Stand Leads to Love Unplanned~
After watching the trailer for this movie, I said to myself, “That doesn’t even look good.” It appeared like another hopelessly cheesy romantic comedy. So why did I decide to go see it? Well, I thought that there was a chance that my first impression was wrong or that the trailer was misleading. The cast (Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling) was also pretty convincing. When I left the theater, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. If you are if-y about seeing this movie like I was, then I say see it because you will be pleasantly surprised.

The movie starts off with a middle-aged man named Cal (Carell) who finds out that his wife, Emily (Moore), wants a divorce. Devastated, he moves out and starts going to a local bar where he meets Jacob (Gosling), a seasoned womanizer. Jacob takes Cal under his wing and proceeds to give him all the “tricks of the trade.” Cal attempts to pick up women night after night to no avail, and is shocked once it finally works. Soon thereafter Jacob meets a girl, Hannah (Stone), that he is interested in getting to know outside of the bedroom. Finding himself in uncharted territory, Jacob now turns to Cal for advice on relationships. During all of this, Cal’s babysitter, Jessica (Tipton), falls in love with him, despite the fact that she is only a teenager. To make things even more complicated, Cal’s son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), falls in love with Jessica. Tensions and hormones rise between characters, making the rest of the movie pretty crazy and, at times, stupid.

Some romantic comedies go way overboard on emotional content, making them more characteristic of a chick flick, and others lean so far on the comedy side that they shouldn’t even be labeled as a “romcom.” However, this film balanced legitimate humor and heart-felt fuzzies in such a way that is characteristic of a reputable romantic comedy. For that reason, I would not put this film in the “cheesy” category like I thought I would. Also, the fact that there were so many love stories going on simultaneously really keeps you engaged, and it is done in such a way that is not too hard to follow everything that’s going on. Gosling’s performance stood out as it was basically the exact opposite of roles I am used to seeing him in (i.e. “The Notebook”), and it was an impressive transformation. I was also impressed with the twist that happens towards the end. When you watch it, you will know what I’m referring to. I was absolutely not expecting it, and I know most people in my audience weren’t either as I heard several gasps. If you saw it coming then let me know because I want to give you a high five. This movie is like watching different colors of paint drying at once, and realizing that the colors complement each other perfectly.


By WhiteChick

The Minority Report - "Despicable Me" (2010)

"Despicable Me" is despicably cute. There is no way to escape this fact about the movie. It bathes itself in this fact. It knows it’s adorable and takes advantage of it like a little kitten in the pound looking to be adopted. If this movie really was a kitten in the pound waiting to be adopted and you suddenly met eyes with this adorable little fluff ball, you would fall in love instantly. This is the exact effect this movie had on me. I fell hard for the cute comedy and quirky attributes that drive this film. Even though it is a cute film, it also has its flaws. As with its humor, as some jokes may miss the intended audience. There are some moments that fall flat. Also, Steve Carell as the voice of the lead never truly feels like he is an evil genius. With these issues aside, this movie was the perfect kids (and, let’s face it, all ages) movie.

The story is about Gru (voiced by Steve Carell). Gru is a super, evil genius that is a tad past his prime. Well, Gru gets this great idea to steal the moon. To steal the moon, he needs the aid of the crazy gadgets that he uses as if nothing in everyday occurrences. He also has an army of crazy, little, yellow, jelly bean looking minions that help in boosting the comic relief, and help a crazy old inventor (voiced by Russel Brand). Things hit a snag in his plan fast, and Gru then acquires the possession of three little orphan girls by the names of Margo, Edith, and Agnes. This is a cute little movie that is all about Gru discovering his true self as a villain, son, and a dad.

This movie was entertaining, and it was impossible not to smile. Try as you might to not show off that you have an inner child, it will shine through in this movie. I even found myself fighting off tears (Hey guys, it’s okay to show off your sensitive side here and there. The chicks love it.). This movie is nowhere near profound or really endearing, yet it has tons of charm something a lot of movies this day and age lack. Also, its unique art style was highly appreciated and flowed well with its extremely polished animation. This movie is like watching a 5 year old paint an adorable (yet piss poor) painting of her family—it may not be the best, but you will still hang it on your fridge.

By V-Dawg

The Minority Report - "Date Night" (2010)

“When he says vagina, he means your face.”
This movie, like many Steve Carell movies, I expected to be full of attempts at comedy and a big failure overall. To my surprise, it was quite enjoyable and, indeed, quite good. Steve Carell and Tina Fey seem to be a match made in comedy heaven. It appears as though they feed off of each other, and their marriage in the movie seems legitimate and believable. Without missing a beat, the story manages to develop the two main characters as a typical married couple. Their personalities complement each other and their charisma is undeniable. The plot leads one through a voyage of discovery from the perspective of the couple. Their interactions are comedic, but also touching. In attempting to get out of their predicament, they discover more about who they are in their marriage.

The plot centers around a tax professional named Phil Foster (Steve Carell) and a real estate agent named Claire Foster (Tina Fey). They have two kids of their own and participate in activities which include book club and a date night every Friday, where they go to the same restaurant, order the same food, and have the same discourses every time. When they find out that one of the married couples with whom they are friends with is getting a divorce, they seek to reignite the spark in their relationship. Deciding to go to a fancy restaurant in New York, they delve upon an insane adventure that will eventually lead them to discover whether they are headed on the same path as their friends or not.

Very enjoyable plot points and situations are readily found in this movie, and the action is steadily maintained. Even though the dialogue is not deep or meaningful in the least (it is a comedy after all), it never gets old witnessing the two get placed in one strange and often awkward situation after another. Overall, this movie was highly enjoyable and packed full of laughs (except for the younglings). It is a little bit like watching paint dry…that is, if the paint is awkward and is married to even more awkward paint.

By Kulguy