Movie Review 2: Hating the Protagonist

Saw Lakeview Terrace last week with some friends. Not my idea. I wanted to watch Daddy's Hands (gotta love this trailer); but someone thought it would be creepy. What?!
Anyway, my opinion about LVT is that it's crappy and not worth the time it spent to order it on Amazon's Video on Demand service. I think it had some promise: Cop (played by a Kobe Bryant hating Sam Jackson) gets all uppity because an interracial couple moves in next door. I think that's a pretty good premise; I'm kind of intrigued by the idea of what happens when those who are supposed to protect become the ones you need protection from. Who watches the watchers and all that.
But the writers, director, producers, or God knows who else took that interesting premise and allowed a camel to shit on it six times. First, the interracial couple is so unlikable as sickingly cute yuppie boneheads that I was kind of rooting for Sam the whole time. Now, that could have been an interesting plot point: Rooting for the bad guy because the good guys are nauseating. But, no, that was not what the movie wanted for us. (I know; I asked the movie). Instead, they made Sam's character go from a controlling dad who takes his responsibilities a little too seriously to a lunatic who creates his own demise after the white neighbor tricks him in, essentially, a "Your Momma" call-out. Ridiculous.
This movie exemplifies something I'm noticing in movies, TV shows and literature lately: What's up with protagonists being total abhorrent slags? But there's no wink-wink, nudge-nudge from the creator to indicate to the audience that (s)he thinks the protagonist is an asshole, too, so the whole time you're consuming this media you're thinking, "F! Does whoever created this think this person is cool? UGH!" Maybe (very likely, in fact) there is a wink-wink that I'm too slow to pick up on. Anyone with me on this? C'mon people, write back! Contribute!

WATCH THIS SHOW.

Glee is AWESOME.

Movie Review: Tripp, Why Didn't We Make our Friends Perform a Talent Show in our Honor Before our Wedding?

I love movies! Love 'em! We haven't watched many lately, what with a baby up at all hours; so I'm psyched we've been able to watch a few recently.
We recently saw Rachel Getting Married, a flick about recovering addict, Kym, coming home for her sister, Rachel's, wedding. Really good movie, highly recommend it. I had my doubts about her ahead of time, but Anne Hathaway doesn't suffer from Kerri Russell syndrome (pretty yet terrible actress): She's very convincing as a self-loathing/centered addict. Great story, absolutely LOVED the Dad despite (or, maybe, because of) his enabling of Kym, and thought casting a militant African overlord lookalike as the husband-to-be was an interesting and unconventional choice.
HOWEVER. Now we enter what I call the "What the Hell. . .?" Segment:
+What the hell was up with the the dozens of circus folk friends moving into Kym and Rachels' parent’s house a month before the wedding to prepare the house for the festivities?
+What the hell was up with the talent show friends and family put on the night before the wedding (one "act" involved a guy standing on stage directing half the audience to repeat, "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. . ." while the other half repeated, "Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. . ." in a trance-like monotone)?
+What the HELL was up with the, literally (well, maybe not, but close to literally) hour of footage of people dancing, singing, rocking out, etc. with NO dialogue?
+And, finally, this one's for Tripp, who was thoroughly bothered by this: What the hell is up with white people pretending to be Indian? (Rachel and her bridesmaids wore saris to the wedding.)
Thoughts, people?

Girls Rock!

Last year I went to Rock and Roll Camp and learned to play the drums. Well, not really; but the wonderful, talented, supportive staff tried their best. It was F-ing amazing--one of the best things I've ever done. The ladies' rock camp helps fund the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls, a program that provides girls of all income levels a chance to rock out and be their awesome selves. Last night, we watched the documentary about R&RC4G called Girls Rock! The movie is so great--I can't recommend it enough. Check out this trailer featuring Palace, one of the most adorable rock and roll pixies you'll ever meet.
Full trailer here!

Jane Delivers. . .

Babies! Congratulations, Jane and Todd!

Tooth!

When's my kid gonna get some teeth? The poor thing's been in pain and has been biting everything from the cat to the coasters for weeks.
In marginally related news, THIS MOVIE LOOKS CRAZY!

Lost in Emotion

As Lisa Lisa said, "Kaysara, Kaysara" (which Tripp recently informed me translates to "Que sera, Que sera"). Whatever it means, Lisa Lisa, I FEEL lost in emotion. Having a kid has made me VERY sensitive to media that involves anything remotely bad happening to a kid. Just got "Doubt" in from Netflix, totally wanted to see it when it came to theaters. . .now absolutely cannot, WILL NOT watch it because of the subject matter. We started watching "Rachel Getting Married" (don't miss my upcoming review, tentatively titled "Tripp, Why Didn't We Force Our Loved Ones to Have a Talent Show in Our Honor Before Our Wedding?") last night. Freaking heck, people! Did anyone know Anne Hathaway's character accidentally killed her brother when he was a kid?! Where was THAT in the preview? Threw me into a quiet crying jag, and then I couldn't watch "Family Guy" because they did a play on "Stand By Me," and THAT reminded me of the real "Stand By Me" and how the main character's brother had died and how sad the family felt. WHAT THE HELL?
I get it. I have a kid, I'm in love with my kid and anything that starts to touch the part of my brain in which I even consider my kid feeling pain or my life without my kid is just too much for me to handle right now. Has anyone else felt this way about anyone? Or anything? (I'm sure Tripp has nightmares about his PlayStation being console-napped.)

Throwing Up Sucks!

That's all.

Brandon, You So Crazy

Brandon, from "True Life: I'm Addicted to Porn". Jezebel.com summarizes his life as follows: "He's 26, unemployed, and lives with his grandma. He watches porn 5 - 10 hours a day, visits an adult video shop called Spanky's on a "daily basis," and admits that porn keeps him detached from women, because it allows him to enjoy women without having to deal with their real-life drama." Amen, brother.

Don't worry. He turns it around by the end of the episode. If you come across this, give it a look. If only for one of Brandon's opening lines: "I love watching porn while smoking cigars. It's so luxurious."

Yuck

Despite his seemingly normal taste buds, Henry can't get enough of Beech Nut's Apples 'N Chicken. The ingredient list: Apples, ground chicken, water. Ugh.
Trying to imagine his reaction when he tries some of the world's best foods. The first thing that comes to mind is Cinnamon Toast Crunch. How classy.