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alecRomComGuy
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Reviews
Something's Gotta Give (2003)
Laughs, Charm and Beauty Abound
Something's Gotta Give (2003) needs to be on any serious RomCom fan's top 10 list of all-time classic RomComs. Its THAT good! Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Private Benjamin, It's Complicated) it has a bit of a Neil Simon feel with lots of laughs, sparks and charm. Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton deliver some of their most memorable performances EVER, while Amanda Peet and Keanu Reeves (as a heartthrob ER doctor with designs on .... somebody) deliver strong supporting performances. The scenes at the house and the beaches will make you fall in love with Long Island.
SHE is a divorced NYC playwright with a gorgeous home on the beach in the Hamptons. She and her friend decide to go spend the weekend at the beach house only to find that her 30 year-old daughter has ALSO decided to come out to the beach house with her boyfriend the same weekend. Oh, and the boyfriend is 63! And he's a gross, sexist, playboy who's never been married or dated anyone for more than a few weeks. HE, is a serial entrepreneur and serial philanderer. He NEVER settles down and dates women half his age. The four decide to try and spend the weekend at the house together (like civilized adults). Unfortunately, a certain playboy develops chest pains and needs to go to the ER. Enter hunky doctor Reeves. Who is supposed to be with whom? Can a mature, successful woman who doesn't need MEN soften a bit and let someone into her heart? Can an old tiger (playboy) change his stripes and fall in love? With a woman older than 30?
Something's Gotta Give was a ground-breaker when it came out because it featured "older" adults as stars in a big-budget RomCom. 20th Century Fox reportedly declined to make the film, citing that the leads were too old. But getting a few "nos" never stopped Nancy Meyers before and Columbia, Warner and and Waverly were rewarded with a big hit! YES, older adults can be vibrant, revelant, successful, and sexy! Laughs, charm and beauty abound in this hilarious, and romance-filled RomCom. It all begins with excellent writing from a GREAT writer/director then is filled out with Oscar-winning actors nailing it - and obviously having a lot of fun along the way.
The 27-Hour Day (2021)
The 27-Hour Day - Record Serve Wine and Enjoy!
Hallmark is nothing if not a 1920/30s style movie studio machine. They have a formula that works and they STICK to it! They sign actors and writers that fit the machine to long-term contracts and they crank out the product the people want. The Hallmark Channel is one of the only TV channels left that actually makes money year after year. If you observe carefully, you'll notice that Hallmark has different teams of actors and writers/directors that could possibly be broken out into A, B and C teams - the "A-team" projects will get more of the actors that are the bigger "box office" draws and get larger production budgets. That takes us to the recent Hallmark movie, The 27-Hour Day, which is a fairly typical "A-Team" Hallmark. The movie stars one of the biggest male Hallmark stars right now, Andrew W. Walker, as well as newer female leads Autumn Reeser and beautiful, talented Rhiannon Fish (who has played the female lead in other Hallmarks such as Love on the Wings of Eagles) and Brenda Crichlow who's a Hollywood star as well as frequent Hallmark star.
SHE is a NYC workaholic who runs a time-saving blog for women. She's at spin class at 5am and still working at midnight. Her career is amazing but her personal life not so much. When an industry leader (Brenda Crichlow) with the power to propel her career even further tells her she needs work-life balance, she finally listens and books a week at a "no-devices allowed" lodge in Montana (shot in British Columbia). HE is a tall and chiseled western/ranch dude. He and his family run said resort. He loves animals (was going to be a vet) he takes life slow but also wants his resort to grow and succeed. Both need to find some life balance and maybe learn from each other. Watch for an "untypical" Hallmark kiss!
Is The 27-Hour Day a formulaic Hallmark? Of COURSE it is! The RomCom Guy says RELAX, Hallmarks need to be rated on their own quality scale. This one is above average. The wardrobe choices are very good (lots of nice tops for the ladies) the scenery is actually quite stunning, while the acting and writing is decent. I say record, serve wine and enjoy!