The Movie Whore Dumbs Down

The Movie Whore needed a cinema-fix recently. My shoes had all stayed relatively free from sticking to floors. (The brewery tour reminded me of that.) Needing a fix of sticky shoes and salty popcorn, I took my alter-ego to see This Means War. I have to say, I was hoping to go see The Hunger Games, but realized after my movie-craving began that it’s not out yet! I was afraid that This Means War would be a “date movie”. Bleah. Oh well, dumb movies aren't always a bad thing.

First the good news:

1. There are some really good action sequences.
2. I laughed a lot more than I expected to. Even during some of the action sequences. I actually laughed so hard at one point that I almost choked on a Raisinet. Good reason not to get Raisinets at a movie – which I usually don’t do. I don’t know what prompted me to do it this time.

Bad news:

1. The ending is kind of saccharine, but they add a couple twists to reduce the sweetness, which is fun.
2. She picks the wrong guy, IMHO. Before you shout “Spoiler Alert!” - that is not a spoiler because you don’t know my opinion!

The Movie:

Early on during the movie, The Movie Whore nudged me saying Wow – I am Lauren! – never dating and desperately trying to prevent friends from entering me into some online dating service!...but without Lauren’s actual desire to date and with no ex that I feel a need to impress.

Then we meet Chris Pine’s character – whose incongruous name is NEVER EXPLAINED – and that crazy Whore nudged me again to correct herself: No! This is me! Skeptical of the dating scene and furiously happy in my singleness!...but without all the womanizing and scheming.

That Whore is crazy. And schizophrenic. Personally, it just took a while for me to think of Chris Pine as anyone other can Captain Kirk.

Two other points:

First a direct quote, which I almost didn’t want to quote thinking it would be a spoiler, but the only way it’s a spoiler is if you as a movie-goer are more in sync with this movie than I am. So here it is:

Lauren’s friend says to her, “Don’t choose the better guy. Choose the guy who makes you the better girl.” Wow. So true! Yes indeedy, friend; that is good advice. Personally, I look for the “light bulb moments”. There have been only a couple guys I’ve dated who provided that “light bulb moment”. You know, that moment when someone enlightens you about something either you’ve always wondered about, or never thought to wonder about. (Like Brett’s Rainbow Theory, but with facts.) I’m addicted to the lightbulb. Paradigm shifts are catnip to me. Yum.

And the second thing...

The Movie Whore is very curious: do people really try to work out their problems talking to a mirror? Lauren does that in this movie and I couldn’t help but think it was weird. Of course no one does that in a public restroom - that's a movie device, but even in your own mirror? Do you? I might discuss an issue with myself…sometimes even out loud, but not in a mirror.

Anyway, a fun flick. Probably not one I’ll purchase though.

…and not one that requires a big screen.

Something to celebrate:

Today is "Naw-Ruz" - the Baha'i and Persian New Year. Yes! Another New Years celebration! I love having a reason to break out the bubbly.

Happy New Year, dudes!