Monday, February 2, 2009

It's theatre time - YOU Magazine - The News International


It's theatre time

Want to take a respite from action/thriller movies? Take your kids to a family movie like Marley & Me or plan a trip with your girl friend to watch Bride Wars to a theater near you...


Compiled by Waqas Hassan Sharif

DATED:[27-JANUARY-2009]

Bride Wars

The stress of preparing for a wedding can bring out the worst in the bride to be so just imagine how much more taxing it would be if the biggest competition to your perfect day was your best friend? That's the dilemm faced by the lifelong friends and alpha brides Liv (Hudson, 'Fool's Gold') and Emma (Anne Hathaway) in the entertaining comedy 'Bride Wars'.

Bride Wars deviates from the usual wedding-flick routine of maids of honour who should be the bride (or groom). And even though the catfighting goes over the top, the notion that a passionate female friendship can turn ugly in a heartbeat is, sadly, realistic. Women friends have a sharp sense of one another's soft underbelly, and what we love about our best girlfriends can easily be turned into ammunition following a betrayal. We know how to hurt one another.

The story is slight, and a little sitcom-predictable: Hudson and Hathaway play two childhood BFFs, raised in Jersey and living in Manhattan. Both women have spent their lives dreaming of a June wedding at the Plaza. After finding an engagement ring, Liv begins planning for her big day but Emma actually gets a proposal from her boyfriend first, setting the stage for the two to battle over who gets married at the luxurious Plaza Hotel since their weddings were erroneously scheduled for the same day.

The comedy is all about these bazooka-brained brides and their holy right to treat a wedding as more important than, you know, marriage. The whole thing goes by quickly and painlessly, providing a few laughs, some decent lines and the requisite hard-core, high-fashion details - the sort of vicarious window-shopping that movies like this need to deliver as regularly as punch lines.

Hudson doesn't shy away too far from the romantic comedy genre and gives her typically dependable performance, but Hathaway is the real treat here. Hathaway has proven to be one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. Her role here is a stark departure from the serious drama as she gets to cut loose and have fun.

Hudson and Hathaway make for a great comedic pair and will keep you laughing all the way down the aisle. All in all, it's a good girlfriend movie and a decent date-night picture. It won't change your life, of course.

*The film will be shown @ Cineplex cinemas soon.

Marley & Me

Some movies capture your heart from start to finish. Such a film is 'Marley & Me' which is based on the book by John Grogan. This true tale is about the building of a family, the challenges of parenthood, and most of all, about the role dogs play in our lives.

Directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada and several Sex And The City episodes), 'Marley & Me' is a relatable and entertaining film that laughs knowingly at one dog's mischief-making and the owners growing accustomed to him. "The story is about the highs and lows of being young and in love and encountering the challenges of marriage. It also deals with the dreams that get sacrificed for the joys of children, and about the challenges of balancing career and family," says the director.

In 'Marley & Me' newlyweds John and Jennifer Grogan (Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston) welcome a cuddly bundle of joy into their home only to discover that it's more than they can handle. The feisty puppy that grows into an untamed dog named Marley wrecks their house but wins their hearts.

Dog lovers everywhere cannot miss this film. "Marley & Me" tells the story of not only man's best friend, but of a dog becoming a member of the family and sharing memories with all that will last a life time. The deft touch with which it addresses spouses' and parents' professional and personal trade-offs proves this to be a more substantial and poignant picture than expected for what appears to be merely a cute dog movie. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston gave amazing performances.

'Marley & Me' may not be quite up there with Steve Martin's 1989 movie Parenthood, but in exploring the notion that marriage, children and the pressures of a career make for hard but joyous work, it's a refreshing return to comedies that deal with something other than dating. 'Marley & Me' is a family film that will have you laughing and crying in equal parts. Children who are not overly sensitive will enjoy the movie even in the final sad moments.

* The film is being shown @ Cineplex cinemas

No comments: