Movie #269 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
2005 - Rated PG - 1 hr 49 min
Director: Garth Jennings
Starring: Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis, Anna Chancellor, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Thomas Lennon, John Malkovich, Richard Griffiths

A movie based on a book series filled with high-profile cameos by British actors? It's not Harry Potter but it is another excuse to enjoy Alan Rickman's unparalleled dry humor.

I've never read the Hitchhiker series by Douglas Adams, but I've heard from those that have that this movie is a good representation of his witty space tale.  Earth gets destroyed and a man in his bathrobe sets out on a journey with some weird aliens, the president of the universe, and a depressed robot.  It's fun to watch the cameos pop up and Martin Freeman is delightful, as always.  Lots of fun all around, with a really original premise, and some cool visual effects.  Now, I just need to read those books.

Movie #178 - Elf

Elf
2003 - Rated PG - 1 hr 37 min
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Will Ferrell, Edward Asner, Bob Newhart, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage

Smiling may be my favorite, but this movie comes close.  It could so easily have been too much, but it's a perfect balance of real and fiction, belief and skepticism, with a side of maple syrup.

What makes this movie work, though, is Will Ferrell's utter committment to the role.  He buys into it completely, which makes it easier for us to get lost in the story of Buddy the Elf and his journey to New York City.  A half-assed performance wouldn't do the trick, and would have made the whole movie fall flat.  Thankfully, he's so excellent at this kind of thing, you half expect to be able to talk to narwals.

So even though Christmas is over, I still took much joy in being able to watch this one again.  Of all the elves in all the movies out there, Buddy is my favorite, hands down.

Movie #11 - (500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer
Fox Searchlight Pictures
2009 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 35 min
Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend

This is probably my favorite "relationship" Indy flick since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Except this movie has Zooey Deschanel, who is amazing. Love her.

So this movie also has an interesting structure, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's story jumping back and forth within the 500 days that he was in love (or obsessed) with Summer Finn (Deschanel). He's the clean-cut, love-sick puppy guy and she's the off-beat, living and loving life girl who can't be tied down. A classic story of unrequited love with a twist: the presentation.

Gordon-Levitt does a good job of being whiney without getting on your nerves and Deschanel isn't so quirky you can't connect to her. Both characters have their own journeys, and this movie tells the story of the intersection of those stories and how it sends them both in opposite directions.

But as the narrator warns you in the beginning, this isn't a love story. It's more of what I call a "life movie" or a character piece that picks up and leaves off abruptly. I think most people will enjoy it for its realism and the characters.