Leap Year ~ Romantic Comedy DVD Movie Review

The first thing that needs to be admitted is the "Leap Year" starring the effervescent Amy Adams is quite predictable.  When the love of her life does not propose as expected, she determinedly follows him abroad to Ireland, where he is at a professional conference. There she intends to propose to him, as it is leap year, when an old tradition gives girls the chance to make the proposal on this one day every four years. Her travel plans go awry, stranding her many miles short of her destination and in the company of a gentle Irishman willing to help her obtain her objective in time. Of course there are various misadventures that cause these to bond so what will happen when she reaches her beau and he unexpectedly proposes to her first?! Well, despite its inherent predictability, this is a fun excursion, enlivened by the charm of Amy Adams. Surprisingly, during the reluctant bonding process between the two travellers there are many genuinely funny moments. Besides, a guy with a car called Daisy and a girl with a bag called Louis must have a lot in common...

Big Trouble ~ Comedy DVD Movie Review

Sadly, the release of this truly funny comedy suffered from extremely bad timing. As "Big Trouble" came out at the time of the September 11 bombings and as the story contained a bomb that ended up on a plane, so as to cause no offence, this was quickly shoved away in a dark corner until it could eventually be quietly issued on dvd.

Tim Allen is a divorced father in Miami who meets discontented housewife Rene Russo due to a water pistol tagging game of their teenage children. Stanley Tucci is her very objectionable husband who hitman Dennis Farina is sent to rub out. The only surprising thing is that it is at the instigation of the Mob and not his long suffering wife! The children's game interrupts the hit and police officers Janeane Garafolo and Patrick Warburton are sent to investigate. Bemused bystander Jason Lee becomes involved when not too bright thug Tom Sizemore decides to rob the hit target, and if this sounds complicated, it is, but well worth it!

The great cast does a superb job filling out their characters in this genuinely laugh out loud story. One of the many many bright moments is when officer Garafolo finds Florida hating Farina in possession of a rifle at the airport. She is intent on catching the thug who is somewhere inside with his bomb, so she just removes the bolt and returns the rifle, leaving him to muse "Well, Miami sucks. But the cops are kinda nice..."

Many threads following these characters blend together in a perfectly funny story that loses no humour no matter how many times it is watched. Highly Highly Recommended. Oh, and watch out for the goats and the 'gator fans!

Stardust ~ Fantasy DVD Movie Review

"Stardust" is based on a book by Neil Gaiman and is one of those rare occurrences when the film is actually better than the source material. This film version story of a star knocked from the heavens by a last act of dying king is an amazing tale, starring Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfieffer and Robert De Niro. It is somewhat slow to start, but this gives a solid introduction to the characters. Therefore once the pace picks up, this relentlessly enthralling story that threads together the lives of this fallen star, a love sick youth, witches, princes and air pirates does not disappoint. The characters are finely detailed, even those hunting the star for more nefarious reasons. The youth plans to take the star to the girl of his dreams back home, in order to fulfill a promise so they can wed. The witches desire to kill her to then absorb the immortal life giving magical powers from her heart. The fratricidal princes at first are just following the apparently unrelated quest instigated by their royal father, and as for the air pirates... Well, you just have to find out for yourself!
Every person I have shared this movie with has been totally impressed, and they have immediately bought it for themselves to enjoy over and over. Of all my 'favourite' movies, this one is the perfect star!