Movie #408 - Liar Liar

Liar Liar

1997 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 26 min
Director: Tom Shadyac
Starring: Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Carey Elwes, Jennifer Tilly, Swoosie Kurtz, Cheri Oteri

I'm glad we finally added this one to the Wall.  It's always been a favorite Carrey film of mine, because he gets to be both wacky and serious, all in one movie.  Sometimes all Carrey crazy is too much for me, so the balance gives this one more appeal to me.  And the little kid is pretty cute too.

In other news, Maura Tierney is the most famous alumnae of my high school. So that's pretty cool.  I learned that somewhere around the time that this movie came out.  We had the same English teacher. Weird.

Back to the movie... what better person to not be able to lie for a day than a lawyer? Right? I think the best sequence is in that courtroom, all the blue pen bit and the office quick-fire insults are also lots of fun.  But trying to turn the truth into something ambiguous is a tall order and it's scripted perfectly in that courtroom scene (you know, after he beats himself up in the bathroom then voluntarily stays to finish the hearing. Poor guy.)

And it's got a nice warm fuzzy ending for the hopeless romantics out there.  All around, lots of fun.

Movie #140 - Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions
Columbia TriStar
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 37 min
Director: Roger Kumble
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Joshua Jackson, Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Tara Reid

Ah, twisted rich kids and their sex games.  Based on the French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, but with teenagers, this movie could have easily turned into a parody.  Thanks to its cast, however, the weird and complicated "bet" between two step-siblings actually works. It seems a bit excessive, but what else is there to do when you're rich, lazy, and oh-so-sexy?

Reese Witherspoon is adorable, even more so than her adult self just because of how petite and cute she is.  Actually, I think this is where she got together with Ryan Phillippe.  And a pre-American Pie, pre-plastic surgery nightmare Tara Reid is also pretty cute.

So this movie is weird, but it works. And, damn it, it's actually pretty sexy.

Movie #100 - Bubble Boy

Bubble Boy
Touchstone Pictures
2001 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Blair Hayes
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Swoosie Kurtz, Marley Shelton, Danny Trejo, Fabio, Zach Galifianakis

Let this movie stand as proof that Fabio can do more than pose for romance novel covers and peddle un-butter via TV.  He can also lead cults and strike the fear of God into innocent, brain-washed followers... right?

As stupid as this movie is, it still remains one of my goofy favorites.  Honestly, it just makes me laugh, even if I'm in a bad mood.  Jake Gyllenhaal is supremely adorable, even trapped inside that bubble, and Swoosie Kurtz is spot-on overcontrolling, battle axe mother.  In addition to Fabio, there are lots of other great cameos and a whole cast of wacky characters that make this movie fun.  Even the 'bad guy' is fun to laugh at.

Don't watch this for its intellectual content; just watch it when you need a good laugh.

Oh and by the way, Zack Galifinakis is in it... before The Hangover, he was a tiny bit-part actor.  See if you can find him :)