I’m shifting down my gear (as I have somethings other than writing reviews creeping up on me from all eight directions). I have been taken to the task of writing reviews almost as close as an (unhealthy) obsession for the last couple of years. So therefore, while I’m still going to write a full-length review on recent releases, I’d relegate to only writing a small few words on other ‘non-recent’ releases that I deemed held not quite significant in value.
The Accidental Husband (2008)
with Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Colin Firth.
Meet Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) a popular radio persona, book author on the subject of Love (she just released a new book called “Real Love”). Dejectedly defensive on the subject of love, if you asked me, she gives advices that would ended up breaking people’s relationships. At least that is true for Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) a fireman very much in love with Sofia and set for a marriage until Sofia called Dr.Emma on her radio show and called off the wedding. Understandably devastated, Patrick planned a little payback (via the ingenious young Indian youngster) on Dr.Emma who was engaged to perfect (and of course, boring) Richard Bratton (Colin Firth). Of course, this little payback went a bit too far.
An old school romance flick, this film offers nothing new to the genre. Put this woman, rather successful, with a man, who also rather successful, who would never be seen without tie and suit, never forgets a thing, and knows the difference between picket fence white and gold white. In other word, boring. Then there’s this man, rough, wears sweatpants on a formal dinner party, plays soccer, and impulsive. You know how this film ends. The woman would never settle for a man who was almost the exact mirror of hers. Watch and forget. Or don’t. You won’t missed a thing. (** / ****)
Fred Claus (2007)
with Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz, and Elizabeth Banks.
Taking the origin of Santa Claus, Nick (Paul Giamatti) and Fred (Vince Vaughn) are siblings. Fred, the older brother was ever under the shadow of his saintly little brother. His parents are prouder with Nick who eventually become Santa Claus and this affects Fred who lives in a Chicago, dated Wanda (Rachel Weisz) and begrudging his brother and wishes that his brother was never born. However, he was in need of money and had to turn into his brother for a loan. Santa agrees but only if Fred helps during Christmas preparation. Meanwhile, some board of directors who controls Christmas are threatened to shuts North Pole permanently.
Not too familiar with the subject of this film, I don’t see anything special from it. For some odd reasons, I’ve always pleased to see Vince Vaughn but as he was the title character, I’d felt absolutely nothing toward his character. Not sympathetic, and not as anti-hero as the film would’ve expected from its audience. And, nothing against Ms.Rachel Weisz, but for me, it is more believable to see Vince Vaughn woo-ing Elizabeth Banks than her.
It is also interesting to note, that during the sequence where the North Pole directing the reindeers to send Christmas presents around the world, there’s a map that briefly shows Indonesia, with most of its area dotted red which given the scene’s context, signifies that these areas has received a visit from the Father of Christmas. Interesting. Oh, and the Sibling Anonymous meeting is quite hilarious (*1/2 / ****)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan appears in both film.