17 Again (Bur Steers, 2009)It's silly and predictable but Zac Efron totally sold this one for me. It was funny and fun and it's exactly what I want from a movie like this.
Grade: B
Funny People (Judd Apatow, 2009)This started off looking so promising. The opening credits with the prank calls and all the archive stuff was a lot of fun to watch. I also really liked whatever little we get to see about the life of a comedian, the interactions in a comedy club and so on. But then the movie really completely fell apart for me. All the stuff once we get to Marin County was just such a mess. Both Adam Sandler and Leslie Mann's turn into characters that I had no sympathy for and they just got on my nerves. But the third act is the real trainwreck here. The parts that I think are meant to be funny aren't funny at all and I guess some stuff is
supposed to feel poignant and that doesn't work either. Plus, the film just goes on and on and on. Eh, I enjoyed the cameos though and the film could've used more Aubrey Plaza in it. I was happy/surprised to find out that Jason Schwartzman was in this movie but then he never quite fits in and looks like he walked in from another movie altogether. Worst offence though is that it really should've been funnier.
Grade: C
Up In the Air (Jason Reitman, 2009)The best part of the film is the chemistry between Farmiga and Clooney and I really liked the way the film treats their relationship especially early on. Overall, I enjoyed the first half - all smooth and charming and fun (just like Clooney) but then we get to the wedding which I guess is supposed to be a transformational moment but it just felt terribly contrived and badly written to me. Anna Kendrick is pretty great but ends up being little more than a plot device especially in the second half. Still, pretty enjoyable especially because the cast is so immensely watchable.
Grade: B
An Education (Lone Scherfig, 2009)Ugh, this one is easily the worst offender in the series. It's just so bland and predictable and self-righteous and oh yeah, boring! Just like Peter Sarsgaard's character.
I could never quite understand why everyone in the film is supposed to find him so charming and irresistable. Olivia Williams and Emma Thompson are woefully underutilized and it's inexplicable to me why neither of them is able to articulate why they think education and a career in teaching is rewarding and fulfilling. Seriously? Mulligan's performance is solid but Molina was easily the best part of the film for me. He was the only character I felt any sympathy for. Oh and the other boy who likes Mulligan and comes to her birthday party is pretty great too despite having very little to work with.
Grade: C-