"My Big Fat Musical Comedy"
"Connie and Carla" leads the list of entertaining movies at the video store this week. This musical comedy gives Nia Vardalos her first starring role since she became an overnight sensation with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." This time out she is teamed with Toni Collette in a story about two women who witness a murder and go on the lam to hide from the bad guys.
They arrive in California where they take refuge as performers in a "Drag Club Review." They do this by pretending to be men who dress up as women on stage. Confusing? Well if you understood it in "Victor/Victoria" you can understand it here. You also got basically the same plot in the old Tony Curtis/Jack Lemmon/Marilyn Monroe classic "Some Like It Hot."
The musical numbers in this movie are entertaining with both Vardalos and Collette showing strong singing voices, plus you get David Duchovny as a man who finds himself attracted to Vardalos character even though he thinks she is a man. Talk about gender confusion.
If you liked Vardalos in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" you will like her in this movie too. It isn't quite as funny as her first film but in this one you get the added attraction of a bevy of show tunes. "Connie and Carla" does entertain!
Interview - Nia Vardalos
On an entirely different level you can enjoy "Kill Bill 2." This follow up to the wonderful "Kill Bill 1" still has Uma Thurman as the "bride" out on a path of revenge. Her two big objectives are the characters played by Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen. After dealing with them she is ready to "kill Bill (David Carradine)."
For some reason this movie is not quite in the same league as the first installment. It is just as violent and has some of the same characters but without Lucy Liu the magic just isn't there. Uma still looks great and handles the battle scenes believably but number one is still the best of the two.
Maybe it is that long drawn out sequence where Uma's character is learning how to be a Ninja warrior. Since the days of the training of "Grasshopper" on "Kung Fu" we have seen this in movies over and over and over. Enough already, we understand how it is done.
There is still some fun in watching "Kill Bill 2" but if you are expecting a movie on the same level as the first one you are going to be disappointed.
If you are in the mood for something creepy then take home "Godsend." This film stars Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as parents of a young boy who is killed in a tragic accident. Later they are able to clone him into a new child who looks and acts just like their lost son. Robert DeNiro plays the doctor who helps them do this.
Once the boy reaches the age where he died the first time around things begin to get really creepy and dangerous. You will have to watch the movie to see how it all turns out. Just don't watch this one with all the lights out!
Another scary movie is "Taking Lives." This one stars Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke and concerns a serial killer. I am a big Angelina Jolie fan and would watch her in anything, but this one isn't one of her best although it does have some twists and turns I didn't see coming.
The weak point is Hawke who has never been one of my favorite actors. He just pulls the film down. Keifer Sutherland is also in the film and it is good to see him outside his "24" role. It is also good to see Gena Rowlands in any role, but I wish her part in this movie had been larger.
The film is now available in rated and unrated versions and the DVD has some bonus scenes, etc. So check out the added features.
On the comedy side there is a French film you might want to watch titled "Bon Voyage." This movie is chock full of good actors such as Isabel Adjani, Gerard Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen, and our own Peter Coyote.
The setting is a hotel in the south of France where a group of people head to escape the coming occupation of Paris by the Nazis. These people all have various reasons for wanting to be here and the adventures and misadventures flow freely.
Although it sounds serious in the description this is a comedy and you will have fun with it.
Hilary Duff is a favorite with kids and they flock to her films and to her concerts. In the video/DVD "This Girl Can Rock" you get a chance to look at highlights of her first concert tour, plus you get to see behind the scenes footage of Hilary recording her first album.
For Hilary Duff fans this is a must have, and the sooner the better!
For the kids there is the Disney version of "The Three Musketeers." This cartoon film stars Goofy, Donald and Mickey as the three heroes. The film is full of songs, action and adventure. And with these three guys you know there has to be comedy too.
So give the kids a taste of Alexander Dumas' classic story as Mickey, Donald and Goofy band together as musketeers to right wrongs and save the day.
Another film for the kids is "What's New Scooby Doo? Volume 3: Halloween Boos and Clues." This is a collection of four Scooby Doo episodes that all involve mysteries and chilling adventures. Once again Freddy, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby are on the trail of danger and having a great time.
Kids love these Scooby Doo stories and can watch them over and over again. I know my 4-year-old granddaughter can. There is nothing she likes better than to settle down with a Scooby Doo DVD.
Finally there is also a new "Kipper" video out. This is titled "Kipper Helps Out" and it is for the millions of Kipper fans across the country. Everyone loves this loveable hound and this video includes six of his new adventures. Make sure your little one gets this title to enjoy.
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