2010: The return of the intelligent rom-com?

Pictured: Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in "The Switch"


As of late, the romantic comedy has perhaps become the laziest of all genres. Gone are the days of the genuinely decent rom-coms of the 90s, the decade in which the genre arguably saw its greatest golden age thanks almost entirely to Meg Ryan. But now what do we have? Dozens upon dozens of the same thing: successful woman in her late 20s/early 30s, doesn't really know what she wants in life and is defensive about it therefore she remains single, may or may not be baby crazy. Oh and her best friend is Judy Greer.

Enter effortlessly successful man, terribly charming in a vaguely toolish way. He immediately can see right through any front of iciness our heroine has and begins calling her out on all her insecurities as soon as the first date. They will bicker and banter but ultimately realize their affection, and just when they finally approach the point where they're ready to admit their feelings, someone does something to mess it up but for some reason it's always her that ends up asking for the second chance. They end up happily ever after. If you notice, (with a few exceptions) I have just described the plot of 27 Dresses, Notting Hill, 13 Going on 30, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sweet Home Alabama, etc...

But somehow, 2010 seems to be ushering in some very promising new forays into this factory-produced genre. The first (I hope) will be 'The Switch' starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. All things considered, it does have a fairly original device when it comes to bringing the two main characters together. Plus those two could have some seriously sweet chemistry. I'm hoping for the best.

But in case that doesn't work out, here are the trailers for three upcoming romantic movies (they're really dramadies, but frankly I think those make for the best ones) that actually look pretty good. They include: 'Love and Other Drugs' starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway (which looks the most cliche of all of them but in a Jerry Maguire kind of way), 'The Romantics' starring a whole bunch of people (more of a drama, but it actually looks quite good and may prove that Malin Akerman can act) and 'How Do You Know' which stars Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd so...rom-com gold.

Follow the jump to see them!

The Kids Are All Right (and we will be, too)

Pictured (left to right): Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, Mia Wasikowska, Mark Ruffalo

Frankly, I support any film that involves an impromptu Joni Mitchell sing-a-long between Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo. If that had been the only scene I watched from this summer gem, my opinion would probably be the same as it is now. But this is not to say that was the only moment of enjoyment. “The Kids Are All Right” is a fresh, smart, and ultimately brave comedy that delights and enlightens its audiences from start to finish.

The key is that it makes its statement without actually making it. Like “The Hurt Locker” commented on the Middle East by allowing the soldiers to speak for themselves, “Kids” presents the fact that Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are a married lesbian couple as established fact, no need for further discussion. This is Mom and Mom, these are their kids, this is their life. Believe it or not, it’s a lot like yours.

Nic (Bening) is mama bear, ready to defend her cubs and mate from any intruders. Jules (Moore) is the free-spirit, the “I’m your friend” parent, though not as embarrassing as say, Phil Dunphy of “Modern Family.” Their children Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) are anywhere’s teenagers, profoundly confused and defensive when asked about it. Together they are (for all intents and purposes) a traditional American family.

Things change of course when Joni and Laser, out of pure curiosity, decide to contact their mothers’ sperm donor, Paul (Mark Ruffalo). Paul is the definition of a “cool dude” but Laser has it right when he initially characterizes him as “a little into himself.” He is their sperm donor, not their father. Through the bizarre yet very realistic triangle that emerges between the three adults, the audience begins to realize that the kids may in fact be the only ones who are all right (but still not great).

Early in the film Jules attempts to explain to Laser that “human sexuality can be very complicated” and none prove this more than her. The sexual relationship that emerges between Jules and Paul is curious but honest. As she and Nic drift father apart, she seeks Paul’s companionship as a refuge of appreciation and unbiased support. Not to mention, he is a part of her children, creating between them a connection that I think goes beyond any dictates of sexual preference.

The performances are spot on all around. Bening and Moore are tender and believable, we root for them through and through. Mark Ruffalo is the best he’s been in years thanks to a director who understands what to do with his sleepy mumble. As for the kids, Wasikowska is at her "In Treatment" best and Hutcherson can easily call this his breakthrough.

I very gladly add "The Kids Are All Right" to my list of 2010’s best (which right now has I Am Love in its #1 spot). It is emotional yet understated, clever but not full of itself. In terms of its politics, as said before, it does not preach in the slightest. It simply shows how today’s everchanging image of the “nuclear family” is still, at its core, facing the same challenges it has since the idea of the American Dream began.

"What we want vs. What's expected of us." Mad Men 4.02

"The world is so dark right now." Mad Men 4.01

Last night was the season premiere of AMC's Emmy-dominating series Mad Men. Anyone who has ever met me knows that I will never not take the opportunity to talk about this show. So here is my recap/review of episode 4.01, "Public Relations," easily one of the strongest the series has seen since its pilot season.

Side-Effects include "Sleep Crime"

(Pictured: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Leonardo DiCaprio)

(As a disclaimer, the title comes from a 30 Rock episode. Liz Lemon is taking sleeping pills before getting on a plane and reads the side-effects aloud to Jack. I literally could not stop thinking about that scene throughout this movie.)

It’s never a good sign when 15 minutes into a film, one genuinely questions whether or not one has missed at least an hour and a half of plot. I’m all for stories starting off confusing and then becoming clearer as they unfold, in fact I love those kinds of movies. But this one started out confusing, remained confusing, and ended with one of the most groan-worthy “Aha!” finales in recent cinema.

That said, I did enjoy myself while watching it and I will be the last person to say it wasn’t entertaining or visually boggling, but never once did I find myself regarding it as anything other than your typical pseudo-intellectual summer blockbuster (of which Christopher Nolan is the reigning king).


Please follow the jump for the rest

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz say 'I Do'

Normally I'm pretty good about making sure I don't post gossip or things of that nature on this blog, but this is a special occasion. Two of my favorite actors not to mention one of my favorite Hollywood couples have tied the knot. A sexy, sexy Spanish knot.

Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, who first met on the set of Bigas Luna's 1992 film 'Jamon, Jamon' (Cruz's first film at the age of 17, Bardem was 22) have married in a characteristically private ceremony at a friend's Bahamas home. People speculated for several months that the two were secretly engaged, but neither ever confirmed or denied. However, there was Bardem's rather unexpected declaration of love to Cruz at the Cannes film festival (see my report of it a few posts down). Perhaps this was his means of saying to the world, "Yep. It's happening, people."

The pair have dated since 2007 when they reunited onscreen in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." In the film, they portray a tempestuous divorced couple whose desire for one another is only matched by their urge to kill each other. In this case, here's hoping life does not imitate art.

Trailer for Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger"

Well...it's definitely a Woody Allen movie. Stylistically it seems very similar to Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I'm always conflicted by his writing because on the one hand I love love love the way he crafts dialogue, but on the other hand, he writes some of the most obnoxious and downright detestable characters in cinema. I think I am one of the few people who absolutely cannot stand either Alvy Singer OR Annie Hall, and I have never loathed a film character quite as much as Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Match Point. That said, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is one of my favorite films of the last five years and with a cast as good as the one in Stranger, I am definitely looking forward to it.