Ghost Town (2008)

This film had an unusual, but unexpectedly nice combination of elements. It is a PG-13 romantic comedy directed by David Koepp, and features Ricky Gervais (whom I enjoyed so well in the British TV series The Office). In Ghost Town he is Bertram Pincus; a cantankerous dentist who prefers to keep company with himself rather than with others. So when he dies unexpectedly for seven minutes and discovers upon waking that he can see dead people and is expected to help them, he is especially perturbed.

I must say that Sixth Sense is one of my favorite films, and the jabs at it here were particularly funny to me for that reason, but the "romantic" part of this movie's genre comes in when Greg Kinnear's character, Frank, does not become discouraged by Pincus and his wish to be left alone. A particularly pesky ghost, Frank very badly wants to see the new man that his widow, Gwen has fallen for be chased off, and then a new, much more suitable man be paired up with her in the old one's place. Bertram Pincus finds himself expected to play matchmaker, but goes along with the whole thing in hopes that he can win Gwen, played by Tea Leoni, for himself. The complex and awkward scenes that ensue are pure hilarity.

While Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus is not so different from Ricky Gervais as David Brent from The Office, and though Ghost Town is a little like a lot of different films that have already done similar things, the combination of his acting and this script is a good one. So, in conclusion, I recommend you see Ghost Town if you are up for a little twist on the old been-there-done-that romantic comedy, and especially if you are unfamiliar with Ricky Gervais, though you find dry, British wit humorous. I know it does the trick for me!

-Dani

Up (2009)

Torn between Year One, The Hangover, and Drag Me to Hell at the movies last night, my friends and I finally decided on the movie Up- which surprisingly proved to be a great choice!

Up chronicles the adventure of a 78-year-old balloon salesman named Carl. Carl and his wife Ellie possess adventurous spirits, and both share a lifelong dream of traveling to South America to live next to Paradise Falls. After Ellie passes away, Carl is forced to move to a retirement home. But before they can take him away, Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies off to visit the wilds of South America.

Not long after being airborne, Carl discovers a stowaway on board his house. Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer is along for the ride as the two of them develop an unlikely friendship and journey toward fulfilling Carl’s dream.

While Wall-E still remains my favorite Disney/Pixar film, Up is as unique and well done. I especially loved the sequence near the beginning of the film that illustrated major events in Carl and Ellie’s life as they aged-such as getting married, attempting to have children, and the changes they made to their home throughout the years. This was done at a fast pace and set to music, with no dialogue. This particular scene reminded me a great deal of Wall-E, in that a story can be told with little to no dialogue and still be unique, understood, and inspiring.

The characters in Up are both loveable and hilarious. This is definitely a humorous movie with witty dialogue, but it also has its sad, moving moments too. Rated PG and directed by Pete Docter, (writer of Wall-E and director of Monsters, Inc.) Up is not just a movie for kids. Both adults and children will be impressed and entertained by this unique story. I don’t know how much longer it will be available in theaters, but be sure to see it on DVD when it is released. You won’t be disappointed.

-Lindsay

Gran Torino (2009)

First things first, I loved this film. The plot is not one that can easily fit into any clearly defined genre and has a little bit of something for everyone, no matter what their taste in movie style. Clint Eastwood, as both director and lead actor will blow you away with this story of life, death, and the choices that we all have to make in between those points.

Our main man, Clint, plays Walt Kowalski; an elderly Korean war vet who is experiencing the recent loss of his wife and the distance that has always existed between himself and his family. His prejudices are many, and he seems absolutely careless about revealing both them, and the disgust he seems to have about the fact that the nice Detroit, MI neighborhood he enjoyed with his wife has slowly over the years become the home of immigrants and their families. Needless to say, he is not on the best of terms with the Hmong neighbors that he shares a property line with. We see this tension established from one of the first scenes, where they are having a baby shower while Walt's family gathers to grieve after the funeral of his wife.

The story begins to swirl around Walt's 1972 Gran Torino, a car he treasures above all else, and a car that the local Vietnamese gang dares Walt's young Hmong neighbor, Thao, to steal as initiation into their fold. Sweet, shy Thao fumbles this quite thoroughly, but the pressure is still on him to leave the house he lives in with his grandmother, mother and sister, and to take to the streets with the gang. Annoyed with the whole affair, Walt eventually becomes involved. Through the persistence of Thao's sister, Sue, the two families begin to make amends and Walt seems to forgive Thao for his transgressions, just as his late wife's priest has been urging Walt to do with his life and the past that haunts him.

This story is both dark and unexpectedly funny, with a very deep and meaningful message. It is impossible to not be moved in some way by it, and so I urge you to seek out this film! For those that think it will not be up their alley, I say to them: you may be surprised.

Dani