Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in "Freaky Friday"
courtesy of Universal Home Videos

"Jamie Lee Freaks Out"

Jamie Lee Curtis freaks out in her new film, now on video, "Freaky Friday." In this movie she plays the proper mother of two, one of which is a teenage girl (Lindsay Lohan). Both she and her daughter thinks the others life is just too easy. But then through a Chinese fortune cookie they get their souls switched into the other's body.

Now the fun begins. Mom is trapped in her daughter's body and vice versa. Curtis and Lohan do an excellent job of making this convincing, and the film is fun from start to finish. It is much more convincing than in the earlier movie of the same name which starred Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster.

The weak spot in the movie is Mark Harmon who plays Curtis' boyfriend. He is dull as can be in the role. In the past he has been a pretty good actor but not in this film. Still don't let him deter you from watching it. Overall it is one of the better family films of the year.

If you are a NASCAR fan you are going to want to watch "NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2003 Year In Review"; Tony Stewart: Smoke", and "Collector's Edition: A Decade At the Brickyard." These three videos highlight the preparation for and actual races on the NASCAR circuit.

You also get an up close and personal look at Tony Snow, the reigning champion driver on that circuit as well as interviews with other drivers and crew members. And finally you get the history and story of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which any true devotee of racing will want to see. It's all there and more when you take these three videos home.

Rob Reiner is at his best when he is telling stories of romance - at least he was when he directed "When Harry Met Sally." His latest movie, now on video, is "Alex & Emma" which stars Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson. You couldn't ask for two better lead actors but you could ask for a lot better movie.

Its not that the movie is horrible; it just isn't very good. Wilson plays a blocked writer who needs to get a book finished. He hires Hudson to take down his thoughts. As he tells her the stories, she makes suggestions. The audience gets to see the stories on the screen with Wilson in the hero's role and Hudson in a variety of other roles.

It sounds like a cute idea but nothing ever clicks. This is a movie that should have worked that doesn't. "Alex & Emma" are a match made in boredom.

When a group of French criminals try to make a heist in America things go bad very quickly. That is the premise of "Crime Spree," a movie on video that stars Gerard Depardieu, Harvey Keitel and Johnny Hallyday. One of the main problems is that they attempt to rob a Mafia Don in Chicago. Not a good thing, or a smart thing, to do.

This crime and comedy caper is full of fun from and excitement start to finish. And when you have stars of the caliber of the three leads, you know it is going to be top notch in the acting department. You will have a ball watching what all goes on in this "Crime Spree."

Finally you can also watch "I Capture the Castle" which is a story about 1930's England. It is written by the author of "101 Dalmations" and is as different from that story as day to night. This movie is a romance and features Henry Thomas. He is the actor who played Elliott in "E. T."

The movie will capture your heart as it follows the lives of two sisters, one is the dominant one in everything and the other is the one who follows behind. But in the end you will be surprised at who captures the castle.

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 Jackie K. Cooper

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