 If you go to see How to Be Single, expecting a comedy… you will be sadly disappointed. I’m giving it a B-. Alice (played by Dakota Johnson) has never been alone. She’s always gone from one relationship to another. She asks her boyfriend for a “break” so that she can experience living alone in New York City. At her first day of work, she meets Robin, a free spirit (played by Rebel Wilson) who shows her how to be single and love it.
How to Be Single tells the story of a bar owner, a girl who thinks she’s beaten the dating sites, a widower with a young daughter, Alice, Robin, Alice’s ex, and Alice’s sister. Each person is single for a reason and comes at being alone in a different way. The movie itself tells you that watching “Sex in the City” for dating advice is stupid and this movie comes off as a spin-off of Carrie’s life. Rebel Wilson is the only bright light in this movie and we see so much of her wit in the previews.
One thing that is obvious throughout the movie is that to be single you must drink a lot and sleep around. I must have missed that message, but maybe that’s a part of the living in the big city.
Throughout the movie Alice questions the choices she’s made. Did she do the right thing? All this whining makes the movie a bit of a downer. We all second guess our choices, wish we’d done something different…but suck it up sweetie! Learn and move on. Dakota Johnson is my husband’s latest crush and in this movie, she looks so much like her mom, right down to the puzzled look on her face during most of her scenes. Produced by Drew Barrymore, even that star power couldn’t make it better.
This is more of a movie for girls and their girlfriends, rather than a date night. Nothing to ruin the dating mood than a movie that questions being in a relationship. After all, relationships are supposed to make you stronger, being alone isn’t the only way to do that. Just remember that Rebel is the highlight and you won’t be disappointed.
 Snarky and not appropriate for children, Deadpool is a hit…right in the face, stomach, balls…I give it an A. When cancer leaves mercenary, Wade with no time left, he opts for a strange experiment to cure him but it does more than stop the cancer. It turns him invincible and hideously disfigured.
Raunchiness abounds in this story where Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the audience as well as makes fun of everything and anything, including his previous movie-X-Men: Origins Wolverine. While the storyline is predictable, bad guy goes after Wade’s girlfriend after Wade seeks revenge on the bad guy “Francis” who disfigured him, the movie entertains.
Unlike Hail, Caesar, Deadpool knows exactly what type of movie it is, even if Wade doesn’t want to be a hero. And while it’s an action movie, it’s also a romance and comedy. Ryan Reynolds delivers the one-liners with conviction. I couldn’t see anyone else in this lead. I can’t wait to see the cut scenes that they didn’t use!
Deadpool ties into the X-Men world and features two X-Men: Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead. They want to have Deadpool join the X-Men and behave, but Deadpool is all about his own agenda, which has nothing to do with educating the younger generation unless it’s about sex and swear words.
Remember that this movie is not for young children. It is rated R for a good reason (nudity, swear words, etc.). Deadpool isn’t a true hero but an anti-hero and he lets it all hang out, literally. Like many Marvel movies, be sure to watch for the Stan Lee cameo and stay until the very, very end (after the credits) for special scenes that hint at the sequel.
 Reminiscent of the movies of old and with a cast of big name stars, Hail Caesar missed the mark. I’m giving it a C.
Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood fixer, must clean up after the stars and solve problems for Capital Pictures. He’s a cross between a thug and a babysitter. Played by Josh Brolin, Eddie has a lot on his plate, from a new job offer to a missing star.
Written and directed by the Coen brothers, Hail Caesar is a comedy, musical and drama which may be a part of the problem. The movie isn’t even sure what it is, which leaves the audience confused as well. It’s as if parts are just shoved together but don’t really have any meaning.
The star power in this movie is amazing, from George Clooney to Scarlett Johansson. But even with all these stars, the movie falls apart. It’s as if the Coen brothers are trying to tell too many stories, rather than one. The movie jumps from a song and dance number to Communism, from a country crooner to the confessional. And just when you think the storyline is going somewhere, the movie drops that part and moves onto another character.
If you are looking for a great movie about Hollywood, catch Singing in the Rain and leave Hail Caesar for when it comes to TV.
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Melissa KeirIt's all about the movies... Archives
April 2019
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Photo used under Creative Commons from emilyemilyxx
