Stepmom

Stepmom

Columbia etc.

December 25, 1998

Drama

DVD
C-

Sarandon's and Roberts's acting helps elevate the cliches a bit.  Chris Columbus directed.

America's Sweethearts

America's Sweethearts

Columbia etc.

July 20, 2001

Romcom

DVD
C+

I saw this at the time and thought it was all right.  This time, I was most struck by the following:

• It's so weird to have the Internet a non-factor in publicity
• The "Hector" stuff is pretty racist
• Catherine Zeta-Jones is easily the best part of the movie
• Billy Crystal co-wrote a script where his character is in a lust-hate relationship with a dog, that parallels the title characters'.

Anyway, it's still watchable but yeah, mostly as a period piece.  Joe Roth directed, five years before Freedomland.

This is on a Julia Roberts "Triple" pack, but I've already rejected Mona Lisa Smile.

Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias

Tri-Star

November 22, 1989
Dramedy
DVD
C-

I've of course heard of this movie since the time but never actually watched any of it before.  Today I was more interested in the houses than the characters.  Herbert Ross directed, after Play It Again, Sam and Footloose.

Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the Enemy

20th Century Fox

February 8, 1991

Drama

DVD
D+

Roberts's acting is pretty good here, but obviously I didn't want to watch a story about an abusive marriage.  This is based on Nancy Price's novel and directed by Joseph Ruben, thirteen years before The Forgotten, which I actually liked.

Runaway Bride

Runaway Bride

Paramount etc.

July 30, 1999

Romcom

DVD
D

Gere plays such a misogynist that he even sneers at a set of adorable baby girl triplets.  Garry Marshall directed, because of course he did.

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman

Touchstone etc.

March 23, 1990

Dramedy
DVD
D+

A soulless capitalist and a woman who humps for rent money have decent chemistry, as directed by Garry Marshall.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

Open Road etc.

April 13, 2016

Comedy
DVD
C-

Cliched and predictable, but bumped up for Garry Marshall getting his sister Penny to do the opening narration.

Money Monster

Money Monster

TriStar etc.

May 13, 2016

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

An obnoxious TV host (the title character, played by Clooney) is held hostage live on the air, and I'm not clear if we're supposed to care.  Still, the little gimmicks of the cable show were cute, so this is bumped up from a D.  Jodie Foster directed.

Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile

Columbia etc.

December 19, 2003

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Marred by very unnatural, forced dialogue and delivery.  This view of 1950s Wellesley was written by two men and directed by Mike Newell, and it shows.

Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love
Sony
August 13, 2010
Drama
DVD
D+

I tuned out before the self-absorbed protagonist ate.  Bumped up a notch because I want them to make a movie about the snarky bookstore clerk who had only one line but more depth than any other character.  Based on a book, as you all know, which was adapted by director Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt (yes, Eunice on Soap).

Duplicity

Duplicity
Universal
Romance, Crime Comedy
March 20, 2009
DVD
D+

Unappealing leads playing unappealing characters, although I could kind of see how the movie could be entertaining.  Tony Gilroy wrote and directed.

Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy Theory
Warner Bros.
August 8, 1997
Drama
DVD
D+

I would've liked this movie a lot more if it had just been the cabbie (Gibson) ranting to his passengers.  Richard Donner directed.

Closer

Closer
Columbia
December 3, 2004
Romance
DVD
C-

Another movie that proves that attractive people don't automatically have chemistry with each other, although it would help if they could talk like real people instead of a stageplay.  Mike Nichols directed.