Movie #334 - Just Friends

Just Friends
2005 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 36 min
Director: Roger Kumble
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein, Chris Marquette, Julie Hagerty, Fred Ewanuick, Amy Matysio

Ryan Reynolds in a fat suit is the opposite of a good thing, in case you were wondering.  It's funny, for sure, but I much prefer the post-high school version of his character. Just sayin'.

This is a cute rom-com. High school best friends attempt to address their unexplored, deeper feelings for each other after 10 years apart.  Reynolds' new music career forces him to bring along Anna Faris (an Ashlee Simpson-like rock star) and lots of classic misunderstandings and misfires occur.  Faris is fabulous, as usual, embracing her crazy character and playing some of the worst music you'll ever hear.  Julie Hagerty plays the same character she always plays, the airhead/adorable woman who's too sweet to be annoying.

Reynolds and Amy Smart are a good match, with some decent chemistry, and they keep you rooting for them.  All in all, this has the right elements to make a good entry to the rom-com category.  Fun to watch, characters you enjoy, and an ending that pays off.

Movie #249 - A Guy Thing

A Guy Thing
2003 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 41 min
Director: Chris Koch
Starring: Jason Lee, Julia Stiles, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Shawn Hatosy, David Koechner, Julie Hagerty, Thomas Lennon, Jackie Burroughs

I think this movie is really funny, but I realize that not everyone agrees with me.  I mean, Jason Lee as the romantic lead? Torn between Julia Stiles and Selma Blair?  It's unlikely, but it does afford for many hillarious moments.

From bathroom crabs to underwear bins, Jason Lee tests the solidarity of the male sex.  Will his friends back up all his lies? What about total strangers?  He doesn't mean to be "cheating" and hiding things from his fiance, but stuff just keeps happening to him, whether he wants it to or not.

Yes, it's based on an infidelity...which I'm usually not a fan of in movies.  But everyone gets their own happy ending and no feelings are hurt in the process.  That's how we know it's only a movie...

Movie #18 - Airplane!

Airplane!
Paramount Pictures
1980 - Rated PG - 1 hr 27 min
Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty

Everyone loves this movie. For the longest time, this movie was eternally on television. Chances were, if you turned on the TV and flipped channels, it would pop up somewhere. What a testament to this classic's staying power !

I'll be honest and admit that I probably don't get every reference or joke, since this movie was made just before I was born. But there are few things that I don't find funny about it, and all the major references (i.e. John Travolta's disco dancing) still work. I had forgotten how late in the movie Leslie Nielson appears, but once he's on screen I basically don't stop laughing. This guy made literal humor an artform... "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." Classic.

Anyway, this was a great way to continue my light movie fare for the day and also lots of fun to revisit. I think it was probably the first time I'd watch this the whole way through in many years.

The end of shelf one is in sight! We're two-thirds of the way there!
Only 9 movies left to go after this... I can do it!