Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in "Bride Wars"
courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment
“Kate vs Anne”

It all comes down to this, Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson make charming frenemies in the comedy “Bride Wars.” Hathaway has a shy demeanor that grows into assertiveness while Hudson is snappy and sparkling from start to finish. This isn’t comedy on a grand scale but it is pure enjoyment for those who get into the spirit of the film.

Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) have been friends since childhood. They played dolls and dress up together and always wanted to be part of each other’s wedding. Plus the wedding had to take place at the Plaza Hotel in New York in June.

Liv grew up to be a successful attorney while Emma opted for the life of a grade school teacher. Though different in lifestyles and surroundings, their friendship has remained strong. So of course they are thrilled when they get engaged within days of each other. Their fiancées, Fletcher (Chris Pratt) and Daniel (Steve Howey), handle the female bonding without comment.

The serpent enters this garden of glee when the young women find that through a mistake the weddings have been booked at the Plaza for the same day. This means in order to be part of each other’s weddings someone will have to change their date. At first things go friendly and cooperatively but then things escalate and “bride wars” break out.

Both Hudson and Hathaway are good enough actresses to keep the fun flying and the sentiment in check – until the end. Then it is sweet time for the women and for the audience. This ends the movie on a bright note and satisfies all who attend.

Hudson shows some Goldie Hawn talent in this film. She looks great and does the physical and verbal comedy with ease. Hathaway is a more reserved actress but she throws herself into this part and makes Emma’s transition believable.

Candice Bergen, who has suddenly become the grande damme of Hollywood, plays the wedding planner. This would seem to be a fertile field for comedy but Candice plays it straight, to the detriment of the film. Bergen can be hilarious in the right role but this obviously isn’t the right role.

“Bride Wars” is just a fluffy, puffy bit of fun that will take your mind of your problems and focus them on someone else’s. Hudson and Hathaway provide you with laughs while not over complicating a semi-silly situation. Rent or buy it, then relax and enjoy it.

How’s this for a cast? Mena Suvari, Jonathon Schaech, Marcia Gay Harden and Matthew Modine star in the new movie “Sex and Lies In Sin City.” This is a film based on a true story and it is fascinating from beginning to end. It is told from many different viewpoints and all are pulled together to reach the final outcome.

Sandy Murphy (Suvari) and Ted Binion (Modine) meet in a club in Las Vegas. Murphy is a down on her luck girl while Binion is a casino owner. It doesn’t take long for Ted to convince Sandy to move in with him. This infuriates his sister Becky (Harden) who sees Sandy as a trashy opportunist.

After Sandy and Ted have been together a few years he meets Rick Tabish (Schaech) who comes to work for Ted. Later he and Sandy become lovers. While this is going on Ted’s drug habits are increasing and eventually he ends up dead. The question is whether or not he died of natural causes in relation to his drug habit, or was he murdered.

The movie does a good job of showing all angles and all viewpoints. Viewers will probably change their minds several times in the argument of guilt and innocence. In the end no one knows the truth except the parties involved.

The acting in this film is first rate. Suvari is at her very best as the sensual Sandy. She is able to project her hardness while still allowing glimpses at the softness underneath the hard exterior.

Harden is always good. She can take any role and make it breathe. Becky is only a supporting role in this drama but Harden gives her a full dimensional quality. Schaech is adequate as Tabish but he doesn’t dominate his role in the same way the other lead actors do.

Best of the group is Modine. He shows a depth of talent here that he has never before revealed. He throws himself into this role and makes it a show stopper. Each time he is on screen the movie snaps with excitement and tension.

“Sex and Lies In Sin City” is a solidly entertaining movie. Get this DVD and see some solid acting in an engrossing story.

A meeting among friends for a night of card playing turns deadly in the new DVD thriller “The Poker Club.” Jonathan Schaech stars in this film that has a certain “Hitchcockian” turn to it. When friends meet for their poker game there are more things at stake than the pot of money. These guys are betting their lives.

This is a thriller and a half. Schaech and his “poker buddies” deliver the chills in this movie about a friendly game turned deadly. You can bet it will raise the hair on the back of your neck as you wonder what is going to happen next.

Now how’s this for a job? You can be a writer of suicide notes for those who are going to end it all. Sounds kind of dumb but it is the employment title of a poet in the new DVD “The Last Word.” Title sounds ominous doesn’t it?

Wes Bentley plays the poet, Ray Romano is a potential client, and Winona Ryder is a possible love interest for Bentley’s character. Plus she is the sister of one of his last clients. Now that’s a little difficult to explain.

As you can see this is one of the most complex plots you will encounter, but at least it is a comedy. So if you like Ryder and Bentley and have been missing Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) then rent this DVD by all means.

Have you ever heard of the TV series “Life of Ryan”? Well it is a reality series that aired on MTV. Now all twenty-nine episodes of the full three seasons are available on a three disc DVD titled “Life of Ryan: The Complete Series, Seasons 1 – 3”.

Ryan Sheckler is a teenage skate-boarding champion. The series looks at his home life, his skate boarding career, and his social life as a budding teen heartthrob. It looks like he has it made but life is never that simple. So watch “Life of Ryan” and see what is real and what is not.

Jean Claude Van Damme has always been a favorite of mine. He started strong with some amazing action movies and had quite a career going for him. Then for one reason or another he began to have problems that interrupted his career and the next action hero came aong and took his place.

Now we get the unique DVD titled “JCVD” and it is a half documentary/half fictional situation that shows Van Damme can still deliver the goods and that he will always be the “muscles from Brussels.”

In “JCVD” Van Damme plays Jean Claude Van Damme. He is facing a series of misfortunes just as he has done in real life. He goes home to Brussels and there he gets caught up in a hostage situation. He becomes a negotiator and a protector, and saves the day. Go JCVD, go!
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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