When in Rome - A Movie Review (Stay away from the End Credits!)

Steve's Take: The disappointment starts in the lofty standard implicitly promised by the movie's three main ingredients, all of which are oozing with charm: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, and the setting (Rome).  Unfortunately, as Merle mentioned, Bell and Duhamel lacked chemistry, and Rome and its elements were under-utilized. Indeed, it is hard to believe that the accessory characters (Bell's other suitors played by Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Danny DeVito) could manage to out-charm the movie's more prolific cast and romantic setting, and yet they did. Summary:  I'm still a big Kristen Bell fan, so I'll just watch her in other shows.

Merle's Take: If there is one word to sum up When in Rome, it's "underwhelming". This is one of those movies that rely on the romantic beauty of a European country to make up for the lack of character buildup and plot twists. However, even in this department, the movie fails because it only features a very short few minutes of scenes from Rome. I can forgive the movie for being predictable, as is the case for many chick flicks, but what I cannot forgive is the contrived progression of Beth (Kristen Bell) and Nick's (Josh Duhamel) relationship, and their lukewarm chemistry. None the less, the movie was passable and the other four guys (Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Danny DeVito) were novel enough, so I still managed to watch the movie until the end of the credits, which I immediately regretted thereafter. When in Rome completely fell flat on its face as soon as the credits rolled in and the cast started dancing like a bunch of crazies. Why they'd end the lackluster movie with a completely random and cringe-worthy set of dance moves is beyond me. Summary: Watch When in Rome only when it shows on TV and DO NOT watch the end credits. I beg you.

Beauty and the Briefcase Movie Review + DVD Release

Beauty and the Briefcase is a made for TV movie about a magazine writer named Lane (Hilary Duff) who does some undercover magazine work at an office filled with potential male co-workers to see if she can, indeed, find her "magic man" in the workplace. The Beauty and the Briefcase DVD is set to be released this coming February 8, 2011, so it felt like the perfect time to review this movie.

Steve's Take: Gil Junger, who brought us 10 Things I Hate About You a decade ago (has it really been that long since?), directs this original TV film and efficiently sews an internally cohesive romantic-comedy story within the 85 or so minutes of film time. The brightest spot in the film has to be Jamie Pressly who was near-perfect in her role as Kate White, Lane's boss. It is just unfortunate that that Liam character's irreverently fake Brit accent proves to be too distracting. On the whole, you get a sense that the film doesn't promise you anything but just wants you to go along with the ride. Verdict: If you like collecting films that fall within its genre, Beauty and the Briefcase is a worthwhile addition. Even if it is made for TV, it still trumps the more cheesy and cliche-ridden big screen flicks of late.

Merle's Take: Uniqueness isn't one of the strong points of Beauty and the Briefcase, as is the case with many chick flicks, but that doesn't really matter. Hilary Duff is charming as Lane - a mix of blonde humor and that distinctive trademark persona the actress brings. But what perhaps catches my attention more than anything is who she ends up with. Usually, I can tell within the first 10 minutes of a chick flick who the leading lady is going to end up with, but in this case, it felt almost like an equal toss up among her potential beaus (played by Matt Dallas, Chris Carmack, and Michael McMillian). That she ended up with the guy I chose was surely plus points for the movie. Verdict: Overall, Beauty and the Briefcase is perfect to own as a DVD. It's the kind of flick you'd like to watch when you just want a good ol' straight-forward chick flick that will leave a smile on your face.

Robin Hood: How the Man Became the Legend

"And so the legend begins."

Steve's Take: It helps to know beforehand that this 2010 film is a prequel to the Robin Hood story.  Unfortunately for me, I figured it out later in the film than I should have and it cost me some confusion during the early parts.  I still enjoyed it with popcorn in hand, while wishing for more mystique in the movie than butter grease in my popcorn. It may not rank in the lines of Ridley Scott's best work, but he does provide a mature, believable background for the mythical hero.  And solid as the scenes are, the climax failed to capture the exhilaration that comes along with the movie's genre, save perhaps for a trademark hero's speech by Russell Crowe addressed to King John and the people. Crowe provides another solid performance along with the rest of the film's quality cast, most notably Cate Blanchett (Lady Marion), Oscar Isaac (King John), William Hurt (William Marshal), and Max von Sydow (Sir Walter Loxley).  Mark Strong should have gotten more opportunities to display his acting prowess.  As it turned out, his character, Sir Godfrey, was your typical bad guy that just HAD to be placed in the movie. Verdict: Ridley Scott's take on Robin Hood provides a strong and mature foundation to the mythical legend but at the cost of chopping away some excitement and ending with a tapered climax and diminished intrigue.

Merle's Take: My Score for Robin Hood: 8.5/10 Like Steve, I was not privy to the knowledge that this was going to be the prequel of the Robin Hood story we all know. Halfway into the flick, I was wondering when Russel Crowe would start stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. In fact, the idea that this was a prequel only truly struck me when the movie ended. However, unlike Steve, I thoroughly loved the state of cluelessness I was in, and how I was able to piece everything together at the end of the movie and better understand the history behind the legendary character. The story starts with the reign of King Richard, who is brave and respectable but, unlike the King Richard's in the other Robin Hood films, has his noted flaws - he regards his citizens merely as soldiers who aid in his thirst for conquest (the kind of war leader one would expect during those times). This is the first of many instances where our common knowledge of this legend is shaken, the first of many reasons why I enjoyed this film so much. In this movie, Robin Hood (or Robin Longstride as he is known in this film) is portrayed not as an aristocrat, but as a commoner. He is rugged, but with his charms, a subtle paradox that Russel Crowe displays flawlessly. He is the son of a simple smith who was executed for vocalizing his lofty ideals about how a king must treat his people. Robin's memory of his father only resurfaces as a result of a happenstance encounter on Nottingham, where he sets out only to deliver some sad news to Sir Walter Loxley. It is in Nottingham where his life takes a drastic turn. This is where he meets and falls in love with Maid Marian (Cate Blanchett) who embodies modern feminism to a tee - ladylike but strong-hearted. This is also where he later receives a great calling to unite a people against France, as well as unite a people to rally for a better government. The whole movie was one exciting ride for me, as I felt myself rooted on my not so comfortable couch, eyes glued to the tube. It has its fair share of blazing arrows and clanking swords; not as many action scenes as one would see in a medieval war movie genre, but this is not only forgivable but commendable because this movie was able to spend more time doing what is essential - weaving a rich tapestry behind the legend. Verdict: This movie is a must-see and must be commended for its great acting and plot. Action scenes are not exemplary, but not essential to the direction of the movie.