Bear Rock Cafe

Visit Date: 8/14/09
Location: Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA

The Bear Rock Cafe is a relatively small cafe that is very similar to Panera Bread. The food was quite tasty and the menu has a good variety. I had a you-pick-two combination of half a sandwich and a baked potato. The potato was a nice change to the standard offerings, but I could have used a larger half sandwich. All of the dishes chosen by the group were pretty tasty. This isn't a place I have to go all the time, but it was a nice change.

10 words or less: Like Panera without the bakery.

Project Runway

View Date: 8/20/09

Designers: Ra'mon, Logan, Johnny, Gordana, Malvin, Carol Hannah, Qristal, Shirin, Nicolas, Mitchell, Christopher, Ari, Althea, Irina, Louise, Epperson

Tonight is the start of the new season, and the series not only movie to a new network (Lifetime), but also moved the setting from New York to LA. The first challenge started at the red carpet of the Emmy awards. The first challenge was to create a red carpet look that demonstrates innovation and represents who they are as a designer. The designers were not to limit themselves only to the Emmys, but could choose a red carpet for any award show. Not only was the challenge for bragging rights, but the winner also wins immunity for the next challenge.

Several designers really struggled, and at least one was due to the measurements being incorrect on the model card. Some very interesting fashions came down the runway, in addition to some absolutely stunning pieces and some that made me want to wretch. I do agree with much of what the judges said and understand most of their choices.

Johnny and Ra'mon were safe, and Christopher won and scored immunity for the next challenge. This was really impressive, considering he does not have the education of the others. Qristal was safe from the bottom three, so it came down to Ari and Mitchell. Mitchell was saved, even though he presented a completely unwearable sheer design. That left Ari to be eliminated, based on a very odd silver creation and her babbling explanation of her idea.

10 words or less: I'm glad it's back, and surprising already.

Project Runway: All-Stars

View Date: 8/20/09

Designers: Jeffrey Sebelia, Daniel Vosovic, Korto Momolu, Uli Herzner, Chris March, Mychael Knight, Sweet P Vaughn, Santino Rice

Challenge: The designers were given their challenge while having a champagne toast with Heidi and Tim. They were required to create a mini collection of three looks that represent who they are today. One of the looks must be red carpet worthy, and the designers have a budget of $1200 to work with and 45 minutes to shop. The next twist from Tim Gunn was that the red carpet look was to be designed for Nicole Kidman's upcoming movie premiere.

I must say, Santino may be more obnoxious this time around than he was originally.

Tim then announced a dinner celebration for the designers the night before the runway show, but then found some more time for them to work the next day. Turns out, the designers got an extra day to work, but they also needed to make another look. The designers were given the task to create a look using the items surrounding them in the dining room. That way, they don't forget how to create designs from unusual materials. However, 25% of the new look could come from fabrics from their previous looks.

Santino's collection was very much him. Lots of sparkle, almost everything fitting like a very tight glove. Mychael's collection was quite varied, but included many bright colors and textural design.

Uli's collection showed a very different style than what she showed us previously, not using any very bright prints and having a lot more structure. Korto used striking colors and unique shapes. Chris's designs were rather dark and used the same fabric in all of his pieces except his restaurant piece. They were probably the weakest of the night. Daniel's collection was nothing like the others, with a very athletic feel but some very poorly fitted clothes. Jeffrey used some great style techniques and fabrics for his dresses, but also showed an absolutely horrific pantsuit. Sweet P used a muted color scheme for her very feminine collection.

Mychael, Santino, Uli, and Jeffrey had the lowest scores and were dismissed first. Amazingly, Chris survived to the top four, which was a surprise even to him. The judges really liked his sportswear look, and complemented him on maturing. Daniel was commended for his red carpet look as well as his use of separates. The judges had nothing but good things to say for Korto. She continued to do what she does best: dress women to look their absolute best. Sweet P's outfits were noted to be very her, although some did look homemade.

The top two comes down to Korto and Daniel. Korto should win, but Daniel's pieces were very nice. Of course, that meant Daniel won, and Korto was delegated to second yet again. I think it might be that Korto is so incredibly consistent. Other designers have the night of their lives during a final round against her, so even though her clothes are consistently better and more well made, the other designer surprises the judges and wins.

10 words or less: Congratulations Daniel, but Korto was totally robbed.

Top Chef: Masters (Bravo)

View Date: 8/19/09

Chefs: Hubert Keller, Rick Bayless, and Michael Ciarello

Final Challenge: The chefs need to create a series of dishes based on their lifetimes. The first dish should be based on their first food memory. The second dish should be based on what made them decide to become a chef. The third dish should be based on what they experienced when opening their first restaurant, and the fourth dish was to be based on where their cooking was going in the future. The guest judges for the final meal were Tom, Padme, Gail, and the five previous winners of Top Chef.

One thing that is nice about this season is that the chefs all seem to get along pretty well in the kitchen. I think that is partially due to the fact that they are competing for charity. While they want to do the best for their causes, losing doesn't mean that they won't be able to open a restaurant, etc. Another aspect is that they all have a mutual respect for each other, and can playfully banter because of that respect.

The chefs were thrown a surprise, but it was a very good one for a change. They received video messages of support from their sous-chefs, then the sous-chefs walked into the kitchen to help. This was obviously a great treat for these guys, especially because they don't do much of their own prep work anymore. We also got to see pictures of the chefs from the past, such as when they opened their first restaurants. I must say, all of the chefs look much better now. Like a fine wine, they have improved with age.

Based on the tasters' comments, all of the chefs cooked fantastic spreads that really showed who they were. One thing that must be said about the Masters: they definitely know who they are as chefs. I really like Tom's comment that this meal, with 12 dishes to taste, was an “embarrassment of riches”.

I think the main problem I had with this version of Top Chef was the first few weeks. When they brought in 4 new chefs each week, you couldn't really get to know who they were. But in the masters round, once we got down to 6, the structure of the show changed to be more like the original series, and I started to like it much better. I got to learn a lot more about the chefs, and really started to connect with them.

Rick got 4.5 stars from the diners. Hubert received 4 stars, and Michael got 4.5 stars. From the critics, Michael received 4.5 stars, 3.5 stars, and 4.5 stars, for a grand total of 17 stars. Hubert received 4.5 stars, 4 stars, and 4 stars from the critics, for a total of 16.5 stars. Rick received from the critics 4.5 stars, 4.5 stars, and 4.5 stars. Rick won the entire competition with 18 stars. Each charity received money from the sponsor Lexus for the chef making it to the finale, in addition to the money previously won.

10 words or less: Congratulations for all of the charities.

Burned

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Completed: 8/14/09

This book is about a teenage Mormon who undergoes a crisis of faith. She has always been a good, obedient daughter, the oldest child in a very large (and ever expanding) family. Her father is very controlling, and hides behind the tenets of his faith to justify his mentality. He is also an alcoholic and physically abusive, yet no one will stop him because he, as the male in a Mormon household, has complete authority. Abuse is a common occurrence in these families, according to this book, as the head of household needs to keep his family in line.

After getting into trouble on several occasions, the head of the local church suggests she be sent away to be rehabilitated. The family decides she must go because the mother is pregnant again, this time with a boy. She moves in with a relative, and finds caring and understanding that she had never before experienced at home. Unfortunately, as fiction is wont to do, nothing can ever stay wonderful, and disaster soon strikes.

This was the first book by Ms. Hopkins that I read. She is a poet, and her work is entirely in verse. At the beginning of the book, it was a little awkward to read because I haven't read a great amount of poetry since high school. But once I remembered how to read it, I really got into the story. It was nice that the words were not confined to the standard novel format, in that they could be shaped to represent the story being expressed on that particular page. The book was also approximately 550 pages, but it read much faster in that the verse accounted for only a few sentences per page.

10 words or less: Am currently reading all of her other fiction.

Top Chef

View Date: 8/19/09

Tonight is the first episode of the sixth season of Top Chef, based in Las Vegas this year. There are award winners, executive chefs, and even a pair of brothers featured this season. To put it mildly, I am really glad to have the original series back.

Chefs: Kevin Gillespie, Preeti Mistry, Ron Duprat, Eve Aronoff, Mattin Noblia, Eli Kirstchen, Ash Fulk, Jesse Sandlin, Jennifer Zavala, Jennifer Carroll, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio, Mike Isabella, Ashley Merriman, Laurine Wickett, Hector Santiago, Robin Leventhal

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs split into teams of 4 to compete in the Mise en Place challenge. I did think the showgirls showing up in the middle of the kitchen. Robin picked a gold chip, which spared her from competing as well as gave her immunity in the elimination challenge. They got to use ingredients that are very popular in Vegas for the relay, rather than the standard items used in seasons past. The relay tonight consists of shucking 15 clams, peel 30 prawns, clean 5 lobsters, and break down 2 chops. The blue team won the challenge, but the individual members then have to compete in a cook-off for $15,000. Robin was given the opportunity to trade in her immunity to compete for the money, but she chose not to. The chefs had to make a dish in 30 minutes using the ingredient they competed with in the relay. The winner was Jen's clam ceviche.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to create a dish based on a vice they have. They had to compete against the other members of their relay team. Robin got to choose which team she competed with/against, and she chose the blue team. The judges, thankfully, are Tom, Gail, Padme, and the guest judge Wolfgang Puck. The best dishes were Mike (not the brother), Jennifer (the blond), Ron, and Kevin. Kevin's arctic char dish won overall. The worst dishes of the night were Hector (who deep-fried a steak), Eve (bland sauce and poorly cooked seafood), Jen (clunky rellenos), and Jesse (overcooked chicken breast). The overall least favorite dish of the night was Jen's chili relleno.

10 words or less: Looking forward to a great season.

Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter

View Date: 8/13/09

This DVD contained two short films. One was based on the comic within the graphic novel of Watchmen, Tales of the Black Freighter. The other was based on Hollis Mason's autobiography featured in the book.

I understand why these segments could not be included in the main film. They would have added an extra hour of footage, and the comic isn't really essential to the story. The movie did help me understand the place in the story for the pirate story, but it still wasn't my favorite part. The autobiography section would have been very helpful for those who had not read the book. It gave a good background of the original group of Watchmen, and basically explained who they were and why they did what they were doing. If they had been able to work even parts of this into the main movie, it would have made for a more enjoyable viewing experience for those who were not already fans.

10 words or less: Some parts would have really added to the main movie.

Watchmen

View Date: 8/13/09

Watchmen is the movie adaptation of the eponymous graphic novel by Alan Moore. It is an alternate reality story in which costumed heroes exist and reap a vigilante justice throughout the country. The heroes are now retired due to a bill being passed by congress and mostly protecting their identities. However, someone is going around killing costumed heroes, and a group reunite to try to discover the plot.

Thankfully, I had read the book well prior to seeing this movie. I had a basic understanding of the story, which allowed me to connect the dots of points that were left out. Other people watching with me had not read the book and were quite lost throughout. This movie was also really long, which I did not realize the first night I tried watching this. At almost three hours, it took me two different sittings to watch.

That said, this review is not all negative. The movie itself was stunning visually. They did take many scenes directly from the book, providing them in action form rather than shot by shot. It did hold to the story as well as possible. I am grateful that I did not see it shortly after reading, because that way I could enjoy it for the movie it was rather than find the flaws that I know had to be there. With this being based on the graphic novel on which a movie could never be based, according to many reviews and critics, I thought it was a very well made adaptation.

10 words or less: Really long and somewhat hard to follow.

The State

View Date: 8/8/09

The State was an MTV sketch comedy program of the 1990s. Some people consider it one of the most influential sketch comedy shows of all time. It is similar to other sketch comedy shows, in that the same actors play several different parts throughout each program, and reprise favorite characters from week to week.

I never watched this when it was airing, mainly because I didn't have cable. It is now available on DVD, and I have enjoyed it immensely. It is truly amazing just how many familiar faces you see, even if you don't know the names. Reno 911 showcases many of the original State actors, but they have also written, directed, and starred in so many other movies I've seen, many of which I've reviewed here. I will watch this again, and enjoy the actors' other works.

10 words or less: Tape on your face!

Resurrecting the Champ

View Date: 8/10/09

This movie, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett, is about a journalist who is down on his luck and can't get out from his father's shadow. He is a sports reporter, and meets a former champion boxer, now homeless, on his way home from a fight. The journalist continues to meet with the boxer and uncovers his story. He winds up submitting the story in a publication not the one he currently works for. Unfortunately, there are problems with the story that must then be paid for.

This movie was OK, but tended to drag at several places. The story was pretty good, but the acting was mediocre and I had trouble paying attention. I probably won't be watching this again, nor would I likely recommend it to others.

10 words or less: Just OK, but I won't be watching again.

Famous Dave's Barbecue

Date: 8/9/09
Location: Rte. 202, Wilmington, DE

Famous Dave's is a barbecue pit that has a wide variety of options on the menu, and even offers 5 varieties of barbecue sauce on every table.

Luckily, my husband and daughter had eaten there previously, so they were able to recommend various items to me. We agreed on the cheese potato chips for an appetizer. Prior to this arriving at our table, our waitress brought out a plate of homemade potato chips for us to sample the sauces. The cheesy chips were also homemade, with melted cheese and bacon on top.

My husband and I each got a combo platter. He got the catfish and brisket, while I got the brisket and pulled pork. Each came with two sides and corn on the cob. The cole slaw was quite tasty, but the garlic mashed potatoes were some of the best I ever had that I did not make myself. The pork was good, and my husband said the catfish was OK. The brisket, however, was the best I have ever tasted. It fell apart like pot roast, and was just as juicy. Then it was slathered in barbecue sauce, and the whole thing was simply delectable. Next time, I will probably get just a dinner of the brisket, rather than a combo platter.

I love barbecue pits, but this one surprised me with just how good it was, especially considering it is a chain. I will definitely have to go back, and I hope sooner rather than later.

10 words or less: Go for the brisket. It's sublime.

First Men in the Moon

View Date: 8/9/09

this is a classic Sci Fi flick about trips to the moon. When the first team lands on the moon in the 1960's, they discover a British flag that had been there for decades. After the mission's return and reporting of this information, a group of scientists and officials visit an elderly man who reports on a trip to the moon in 1899.

You could definitely tell this movie was made during the 60's, based mainly on the costumes and hairstyles. The graphics were pretty hokey, even for the time period. But the twist at the end was quite impressive, no matter how predictable the rest of the movie seemed.

10 words or less: Sometimes you can't beat classic Sci Fi.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Date: 8/8/09

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a large museum bordering on Fairmount Park in downtown Philadelphia. In all of the years I have lived in the Philadelphia area, this was one museum I had never made it to.

We enjoyed viewing many of the rooms, including modern art, impressionism, and contemporary art. The American art contained a huge glassware selection as well as wonderful pieces of furniture. We got to see a Warhol, a Pollock, and various works by Monet and Renoir. We had some of the most fun with the impressionist pieces, viewing them from both up close and far away. The other area we are still talking about is the section that looked like 3-year-old crayon drawings.

The Art Museum consists of more than just the main building, although this is the only one we got to. There is a Rodin garden, as well as various recastings of Rodin pieces in the main building. At some point I will need to get back to see the areas we missed.

This museum probably isn't the best for kids. My daughter was getting bored and scaring guards by dancing in the exhibit rooms. We also freaked them out quite a bit getting so close to the impressionist works. While I love exposing kids to culture of all forms, this might be best if left until they are older, say around 10.

10 words or less: Up close, lines and dots. Far away, pretty picture.

Armageddon

View Date: 8/15/09

This movie is about a group of off-shore drillers who get tapped by NASA to save the planet. They are chosen because an asteroid is hurtling toward Earth and the plan if to drill into the rock and plant a nuclear bomb. This is done to split the asteroid in two which will allow the pieces to pass past the planet without inflicting damage.

I'm sure most people have seen this movie, as it came out over a decade ago. I was able to catch it on TV on one of the movie channels, and caught it at the perfect time. I love the part when they bring the group into NASA and put them through the tests for space travel. Basically the whole part between Harry first being approached by NASA and them leaving for space is hilarious.

Love the suspense, love the humor. The actors they scored for this film are top rate, even if it was just as most were becoming big. I have probably seen this movie close to a hundred times and enjoy it every time. I'm sure I will see it much more in the future.

10 words or less: Should be on everyone's must-see list.

Julie & Julia

View Date: 8/8/09

This movie stars Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as the eponymous Julie. While feeling very down about her life after a move, Julie, with the support of her husband, decides to tackle a huge challenge: cooking all the recipes from Julia Child's most famous cookbook. She gives herself one year to complete over 500 recipes.

The movie parallels Julie's life with that of Julia Child. We first see her arriving in France with her husband's job. She becomes rather bored with the typical activities of French housewives. After discussions with her husband, she realizes that her greatest passion is food. She enrolls in a general cooking class for women, but becomes disenfranchised after the first class. She petitions the head of the school to take the more advanced class, and reluctantly is allowed in. The movie then follows her through her schooling and subsequent writing of her most famous cookbook.

This movie was everything a movie should be. It was light-hearted but also had its sentimental moments. There were challenges to overcome and obstacles to be conquered. It was essentially a comparitive biography in film form. It kept the two story lines separate, yet showed how they intertwined as well.

10 words or less: Everything a movie should be.

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising

View Date: 8/2/09

This movie is about the uber-geeks known as gamers. These are the guys (and girls) that play things like Dungeons and Dragons after working all day in comic book stores. I know that sounds very sterotypical, but it also is seen in one character in this flick.

A group of gamers get together to participate in a new game being developed by one of the group members. They keep getting stuck during the game, so the developer brings in another player which brings more life to the group than anticipated. The film then alternates between the real world and the game world with the same actors playing roles in both arenas. They proceed through the game, with all of the trials and tribulations encountered in the story.

This movie was hilarious. Just downright laugh-out-loud funny. It took a little while to get into it, but I was also really tired when I first started watching. Once I picked it up again, I couldn't rip my eyes away. This could become a very quotable film, and I will definitely remember it for quite some time. This should become a new cult classic.

10 words or less: Everything's better with pirates.

The Big Tease

View Date: 8/2/09

This movie starred Colin Fergusen as a hair stylist from Scotland that comes to LA to participate in a styling competition. Unfortunately, he misunderstood his invitation and winds up not being allowed to compete. He meets an array of people who become loyal to him in addition to the documentarian following him everywhere, and they work together to find a way in to the competition.

This movie was really bad. Part of it has to do with the fact I enjoyed Blow Dry so much just before this. However, it was bad all around. The acting was poor, even though I enjoy most of the actors. The filming was shaky due to the documentary storyline, and the whole story was weak.

10 words or less: Definitely not one of my favorite movies.

Children of Men

View Date: 7/31/09

This movie is of the end-of-the-world genre, in that humanity has not had a child born in over 18 years. No one has been able to determine the cause of the infertility. Clive Owen's character, after surviving a bombing at his local coffee shop, gets kidnapped by his ex-wife. She asks for his help by getting papers for a girl to leave England, which is the only non-destroyed country left in the world.

As it turns out, the persons for whom the papers are intended is a young pregnant refugee who will be sent to a concentration camp if discovered. The radical group trying to protect her believes that the government will take her baby and use it for their own gain. However, their intentions are not very noble, either. He then works to save her and protect the soon-to-be youngest person on the planet.

This was a very dark drama, really gritty in appearance and subject manner. I thought it was a really intriguing concept for this genre, and not one I had encountered before. While I did enjoy this movie, I can't overwhelmingly exclaim that this movie was great. I think that may be due more to the film type than the movie itself. I thought this was very well made, and perfectly suited to the subject matter.

10 words or less: Subject matter was handled very well.

Top Chef: Masters (Bravo)

View Date: 8/12/09

Chefs: Anita Lo, Michael Chiarello, Rick Bayless, and Hubert Keller

Quickfire Challenge: For the final quickfire challenge of the season, they resurrected the blindfolded taste test. Out of 20, Hubert got 5 correct, Rick got 6 right, Anita got 6 correct also, and Michael got 7 right.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs need to cook a buffet meal for 200 people. This time, they get to pick 3 souz chefs from former contestants after briefly interviewing them (2 minutes each). Michael, having won the quickfire challenge, got first pick. The picks were as follows:

Michael: Fabio, CJ, Brian*

Anita: Jamie*, Dale, Ilan

Rick: Richard, Alex, Betty*

Hubert: Elia, Antonia, Spike*

Of course, there is always a twist. In the middle of cooking on challenge day, one of the souz chefs need to be cut from each team. The former contestant indicated by the * shows the person eliminated from each team.

Rick and Hubert had the two highest scores tonight, so they will be moving on to the final challenge. Hubert won with almost perfect numbers from the judges in addition to a very high score from the tasters, which is good because he had the lowest score coming off of the quickfire challenge. Michael just barely squeaked by, so Anita was eliminated. She ran into quite a few problems during the elimination challenge, so this is not very surprising.

10 words or less: Next week is the finale. Yay!

Beautiful

View Date: 7/31/09

This movie, starring Minnie Driver and Joey Lauren Adams, is about a woman who has been trying all her life to compete in the Miss American Miss Pageant. One of the rules of the pageant is that the woman cannot be married nor have a child. So inevitably, she becomes pregnant. A deal is struck between her and her best friend that the best friend would raise the child as her own.

Several years down the line, all three are living together, and the only one working was the best friend. Unfortunately, she winds up in jail after a misunderstanding at her place of employment and it falls to the beauty queen to fill the role of mother. Things are very rocky, but of course things go well at the end.

I thought this was much funnier and cuter than I expected. I don’t know if I’d watch it again, but I’ll probably remember it for quite some time.

10 words or less: Cute movie with a good cast.

The Southern Vampire / Sookie Stackhouse Series

Author: Charlaine Harris

Includes:
Dead Until Dark- Completed 6/23/09
Living Dead in Dallas- Completed 7/8/09
Club Dead- Completed 7/9/09
Dead to the World- Completed 8/4/09
Dead as a Doornail- Completed 8/5/09
Definitely Dead- Completed 8/7/09
All Together Dead- Completed 8/10/09
From Dead to Worse- Completed 8/11/09
Dead and Gone- Completed 8/12/09

I realize I have already written on several of these books, but I have 6 more to write so I decided to group them all together.

This series, by Charlaine Harris, is the basis for the HBO series True Blood. It is about a young waitress, Sookie Stackhouse, who has the unusual gift of telepathy. She struggled with this situation all her life until she meets a vampire, Bill Compton. As the story progresses, she learns that there are other supernatural creatures in this world, and forms personal relationships with many in her area.

Her talent helps her in many ways. She has used it to help friends and family, keep herself out of as much danger as possible, and even rescued people after a disaster. Unfortunately, her gift as well as her relationships with her supernatural friends has made her a target for violence and even several assassination attempts.

So far in the series, we have encountered vampires, shape-shifters, were-animals including werewolves, fairies, witches, and demons. We have also seen various attacks and battles, including: humans vs. vampires, Fellowship of the Sun vs. vampires and vice versa, werewolf packmaster trials, witch vs. vampire/werewolf and retaliation, vampire vs. vampire, werewolf vs. werewolf, and faerie vs. human. Yet Sookie, Bill, Eric, Pam, and Sam lived to tell about it.

I have loved reading this series. It really drew me in, and I haven’t been able to put the books down since. Unfortunately, I will now have to wait until May to read the next one. The characters are enjoyable, because they are generally good creatures but have their flaws as well. I find myself laughing out loud and cheering at various parts of each book, and there is plenty of action available. While some of the situations have been predictable, and some of the predicaments Sookie encounters could have been prevented, the last book really surprised me.

Sookie is absolutely a doll to read about. She started out as a relatively naïve Southern girl, but her experiences have taught her much about the world. People in her town who have shunned her in the past due to her unusual ways have come to trust and rely on her abilities, no matter how grudgingly. She has always been headstrong and opinionated, and stands up to people or creatures that others wouldn’t dare to defy. Yet that is what endears her to many of the supernatural beings she encounters. She has been deceived and tricked, but she manages to keep living despite the cards being stacked against her.

Now, I have always loved vampire stories. I devoured Ann Rice and the Twilight series. But I believe I enjoyed these books even more. The humor really sets this series apart, and the stories are page turners. I wouldn’t say these were the most thought-provoking books I’ve ever read, but I certainly enjoyed them immensely.

10 words or less: Vampire lovers: Read these. You won’t be disappointed.

Quofum

Author: Alan Dean Foster
Completed Date: 7/31/09

This book is a continuation of the Commonwealth series of books by Alan Dean Foster. They provide additional stories that take place in the same universe as his most popular characters, Pip and Flinx. While they have their own series, they do not make an appearance in this book. However, this book is supposed to be crucial to the final book in the Pip and Flinx series.

This book has a science team going off to explore a newly-discovered planet that tends to pop in and out of existence on the Commonwealth's maps. Once they get past their first obstacle of actually finding the planet, they discover an ecosystem that has never been seen anywhere else in the universe. Things go from unusual to horrific when a murderer is discovered in their midst. They are left abandoned with no means of transportation or communication.

I can see why this is said to be crucial to the final book in the Pip and Flinx series. However, I was rather disappointed with this book. It was a really slow book until the last 50 pages, which actually started to move a bit faster. The last 15 pages were where all of the key action happened. Then it just ended. It practically felt like it ended in the middle of a sentence, even though it was a complete paragraph. In fact, I was so upset with how it ended that I tossed the book away from me right after completion so I wouldn't have to hold it any more.

Hopefully this will truly be the lead up to the final book like it is being hyped to be. If not, I will be very upset.

10 words or less: Better be worth it.

Sydney White

View Date: 7/30/09

This movie is about a girl who goes off to college and tries to join her deceased mother's sorority. However, the head of the sorority, who also essentially runs the school through fear, is an absolute bitch who wants to destroy Sydney for fun. Sydney then meets up with a group of geeky guys who live in a ramshackle house that the mean girl wants to take over for her own good.

The movie is based on the story of Snow White, but this time it is Sydney White and the 7 Geeks. She helps them fix up their house, get dates, and get more respect around campus. She teaches them how to socialize, while endearing herself to the entire school. As she works her way up the school's social ladder, the bitch, representing the evil queen, plots her demise and takes down everyone she has to to achieve her goals. This being a comedy, it has the expected ending.

This was not my first time seeing it, but I really enjoyed this film. I loved how it paralleled with Snow White. The geeks were fantastic, and the bitch was really evil. Amanda Bynes is a beautiful actress and played the part of Syndey perfectly. She has that girl-next-door quality that endears her to just about everyone, which is why she is so believable in this part. I highly recommend this film to everyone, as it has enough humor of different kinds that all ages will find it amusing.

10 words or less: Snow White with geeks. Priceless.

How I Got Into College

View Date: 7/28/09

This 80's coming-of-age movie told the tale of a mediocre student who's only goal is to follow his high school crush to college. However, he has never talked to her, and does not have the credentials to get into college.

On the other side of things, the admissions board at a small Pennsylvania college is going through changes, and is running the risk of being overtaken by an asshole. The members with higher levels of authority are focused solely on numbers and money. However, the majority of members would like to see quality students enrolled, even if they require scholarships to attend.

The two factions, students and board, meet when the main character's crush decides she wants to attend the Pennsylvania school. We then see the turmoil of applying to college, the waiting to receive the letter, and all of the other stresses involved with senior year of high school.

I thought this was a cute movie that follows the standard teen comedies of the 1980's without most of the standard actors from that time. Don't get me wrong, there were some recognizable faces, but not the most common ones. The main character was an exciting breath of fresh air.

10 words or less: Cute, light teenage comedy.

Dan in Real Life

View Date: 7/28/09

This movie stars Steve Carrell as a widowed father of three girls who is a very overprotective father. On a trip to a family gathering, he unknowlingly meets his brother' new girlfriend, played by Juliet Binoche. Many well-known actors star as family members, including Dianne Weist and Dane Cook. As common in movies, trouble ensues when Dan falls in love with with his brother's girlfriend.

This was a rather unusual role for both Carrell and Cook. While both had funny moments, neither were over-the-top hilarious, as is the norm. The best part of the movie in general was probably Dan's interaction with his daughters, especially when he is pronounced 'a murderer of love'.

I generally enjoyed this movie, but was a littlehrown off at how not really funny it was. In fact, most of the movie was rather depressing. If emotionally stressed or down, I would avoid this movie until in a better state.

10 words or less: Steve Carrell in a rather serious role.

SYTYCD

View Date: 8/6/09

Tonight's episode is the final elimination of Season 5, where we get to find out who has been voted America's Favorite Dancer. Like last night's performance episode, they were in the Kodak Theater. Cat looked absolutely radiant tonight, perfect for a finale. The dancers performed many of the favorite routines of the season of the various judges and choreographers. All of the choreographers featured this season were present, with seven judges on the panel.

They started off with The Wiz group number that had the entire top 20 dancers. Another phenomenal performance of this number, which I loved when it originally aired. The work with the picture frame was exquisite, although I was a little startled when the costumes reminded me more of The Lion King than The Wiz.

Recaps galore tonight, all the way back to the auditions. They showed the best and most heartbreaking moments of the season from the auditions through last night's episode. They had a thorough recap of the first half of the finale to make sure we remembered why we voted the way we did.

First up is Adam Shankman's favorite routine. He chose a Tabitha and Napoleon number from the first episode featuring Jeanine and Phillip. As Adam said, this routine started jeanine's rise to the top, and featured the fan favorite Phillip. I think this routine is even better tonight, and shows just how much Jeanine has grown throughout the competition. Additionally, Phillip didn't look nervous, which was a very pleasant change.

Next we got to see Nigel's favorite dance, Brandon and Janette's Argentine Tango. The passion was just as incredible this time around. It looks like these two were made to do that dance.

Debbie Allen was up next. Her favorite routine was Asuka and Vitolio's Waltz. I wasn't a huge fan of this number the first time around, but that may have been due to the notion that I thought these two dancers should be eliminated. Looking at it again, I probably still wouldn't have picked it as one of the best numbers of the year, but it was rather pretty.

Mary Murphy's favorite number was Travis's contemporary routine as danced by Jeanine and Jason. Travis should be nominated for an Emmy for this next year. And she just keeps getting better and better. And they received the first standing ovation of the night from the judges. They even revisited the infamous kiss at the end, made more emotionally charged with Jeanine's confession last night.

Next judge up was Mia Michaels. She picked a surprising number in a samba by Max and Kayla from the first episode. I really thought she would pick the breast cancer number, which she still may later if given the chance. Kayla did and still does look exceptionally hot in this routine, and Max was always a fantastic partner.

We got to see highlights of a special night out for the final four. The lucky group got to see the first screening of Fame starring the former SYTYCD participant Kherington Payne and judge Debbie Allen.

Debbie then picked another favorite number, a group dance choreographed by Dimitri, Tabitha and Napoleon. The top 16 dancers participated in this smoldering fusion number with both hip-hop and Latin ballroom elements. Love the water bit for the girls, and some of the moves for the guys were almost too risque for television.

We got a guest performance by SYTYCD Australia winner choreographed by Sonya. In that one piece, she showed a lot more versitility than most ballerinas, and received only the second standing ovation by the judges.

Lil' C picked the Jai Ho Bollywood number, all the way. This was the one performed by Jason and Caitlin. Tonight's version didn't seem to have as much energy as the original.

The top four dancers were then invited out onto the stage for the first elimination of the evening. The person in fourth place after last night's votes was Kayla, which was a bit of a surprise. She was always a judges' and choreographers' favorite. I would have probably placed her in third tonight, even though she was my least favorite of the four. She was a better dancer than Evan, but the judges' comments from last night may have backfired.

Adam Shankman's next selection was the butt dance, choreographed by Mia Michaels and performed by Randi and Evan. It wasn't as surprising or shocking as the first time, but still and excellent performance and garnered another standing ovation from the judges.

Mary Murphy chose last night's Paso Doble with Jeanine and Brandon. I really can't get enough of this routine. The music is such an interesting selection for this style. I actually had just watched it again immediately prior to the finale. Yet no matter how many times I see it, it is breathtakingly powerful. And Louis van Amstel is having a great night.

Another person to be eliminated, and this time it was Evan in third place. I think this is totally appropriate, and the winner will be one of the two best dancers from this season, not just one of the favorite dancers. I love Evan's style and charisma. He should go far, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets offers from Broadway very soon.

Another favorite moment of Nigel's was when Mary admitted to using Botox. The dance, however, was Mia Michael's addiction routine featuring Kayla and Kupono. This was almost a frightening routine, with Kupono playing a very malevolent drug and Kayla being a struggling addict. I think I saw the addict's struggle even better this time, and this one will probably be nominated for awards next year as well.

The Rage Boys Crew guest performed next. These are young boys who perform hip-hop. I may not have remembered their name, but I definitely remembered their dancing.

Tyce DiOrio's favorite routine of the season was a Doriana Sanchez routine featuring Janette and Brandon. Janette finally seems like she's having some fun tonight (and that could be knowing that Kayla won't win). This routine was very memorable to me as the first disco routine on this show that I actually really liked.

The final favorite routine was the choice of Mia Michaels, and was the obvious last dance pick. Of course, it is the breast cancer routine performed by Melissa and Ade. No other pairing could have performed this dance as well, and their trust in each other has never been more obsious. Melissa flew higher, Ade provided the power and support, and they have never looked better.

The top eight dancers performed their group number from A Chorus Line. I'm running out of words to describe just how good the dancing is tonight. This version was just a bit different, because the judges came out dressed similarly to the dancers and strutted their stuff. Some of them made you realize how good they really are, how much they truly stand out, how sharp their movements are, and thus why they push their dancers so hard. Usually the routines in the in the finale recaps just aren't as good as when the dancers were performing to stay in the competition. I have to disagree with that tonight. Almost every routine was sharper, if possible.

Finally, America's Favorite Dancer was revealed, but not before the standard recap of highlights for each dancer. They both truly deserve to be there, and have proven themselves throughout the season. The biggest vote in SYTYCD's history was Jeanine. She truly improved throughout the competition, not just dominated from the beginning. Her personality really played a hand in her popularity, and even cracked jokes through her happy tears. Just a tad surprising with how great Brandon is, to the point where even she was surprised.

10 words or less: Can't wait for September 9 for the next season.

Nights in Rodanthe

View Date: 7/27/09

This film stars Diane Lane and Richard Gere as adults who come together at a bed and breakfast in North Carolina. She is tending the inn for her best friend, while he is the only guest. As they are the only two staying at in the large house, and it is quite far away from all other people, they get to know each other. Eventually, they truly connect during a hurricane. The two stay in touch through letters even after they go their separate ways, their love deepening with time. There is an unfortunate twist at the end.

This movie is based on a Nicholas Sparks book, and this was the first adaptation I saw from one of his works. I didn't realize just how gut-wrenching it would be. I was absolutely sobbing for the last half hour. I thought the movie could have been a lot better. Actually, I expected a lot more from this movie after seeing the trailers and really wanted to see it. It definitely did not live up to my expectations. I will not be seeing this again.

10 words or less: Not a good movie for these wonderful actors.

Stardust

View Date: 7/26/09

This movie is a fantasy made for children about a fallen star who is hunted by witches who want to kill her and eat her heart in order to be young and beautiful once again. Meanwhile, a young man goes searching for the fallen star to win the heart of his love. The young man finds the fallen star first, in the form of a beautiful young woman who happens to be quite feisty.

The two then proceed on a journey across the countryside so he can go and show her to the girl who's heart he is trying to win. On the way, they run into trouble with witches, pirates, and others. In the end, there are epic battles, hearts won and lost, and families formed.

This was a really good movie. The actors involved include Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro, and Claire Danes. The bad guys were very bad, the good guys were good, and yet there were characters whose morals were ambiguous. Some of the funniest parts included the scenes with the pirates (mostly due to DeNiro's character), and the princes battling each other. If for nothing else, see this movie for the pirates. But I highly recommend this film for all ages. Parts may be too scary for the very young, but this is an outstanding children's film that parents will enjoy too.

10 words or less: DeNiro as a gay pirate. Enough said.

Top Chef: Masters (Bravo)

View Date: 8/5/09

Chefs: Michael Chiarello, Art Smith, Anita Lo, Hubert Keller, Rick Bayless

Quickfire Challenge: The challenge today is all about burgers. The chefs need to create a gormet burger with a side dish. The judges for this challenge include former contestant Spike (who also owns a burger joint), Morgan Spurlock the documentarian, and the owner of the a DC burger joint beloved by the first lady. Michael and Rick tied with 4 stars a piece.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to prepare a vegan lunch for actress Zooey Deschanel and her friends following her dietary restrictions. As mentioned above, she is a vegan, but is also gluten intolerant and does not eat soy. Each chef is responsible for one course, which the chefs get to divide amongst themselves. Michael Chiarello won this challenge with a quinoa pasta dish that opened the eyes of the vegans present. The chef eliminated today was Art Smith due to a poor showing on a vegan dessert.

10 words or less: Beautiful cooking, but looking forward to Masters being over.

Definitely, Maybe

View Date: 7/25/09

This movie stars Ryan Reynolds as a divorcing man who tells the story to his daughter of how he and her mother got together. However, he changes the names and even some of the facts of the story because he won't tell her outright, but she can try to guess. This story-telling episode begins because the elementary school taught sex ed, and his daughter started asking very pointed questions.

This was my second time seeing this movie, and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. I enjoy watching the primary actors in this movie, and Ryan Reynolds in a romantic comedy is one of my favorite things. The ladies involved were all unique and amazing in their own way. Abigail Breslin was perfect as the daughter. So basically, the casting was exactly right, with the actors fitting the characters like the pieces were written for them.

The story itself was wonderfully written and entertaining. While this is a romantic comedy, it was not as formulaic as many. The story itself kept me interested throughout, and the daughter's character was adorably precocious.

10 words or less: Enjoyable Ryan Reynolds movie with strong women.

Blow Dry

View Date: 7/25/09

This movie is about a hair styling competition in England. There are some amazing actors in this, such as Alan Rickman and Natasha Richardson. There were a few American actors in this British flick, but only one of them used a British accent throughout the film.

I found myself laughing much more than I expected while watching this. The main story line was a little weak, but the actors brought so much to it. It could have been mundane and like many other films, but the over-the-top bad guy was played to perfection, the dying mother was heartbreaking, and the relationship between the kids was uncertain. It wasn't a spook like other movies may have devolved to, but it also wasn't the serious roles that these actors are best known for.

Overall, this was a memorable movie that I will most likely watch again.

10 words or less: A lot better than I expected.

SYTYCD

View Date: 8/5/09

Tonight is the first part of the season 5 finale. In this show, Evan, Kayla, Brandon, and Jeanine will each be dancing with everyone else. They are in a much larger performance hall (the Kodak Theater) with a new set tonight to accommodate the largest live audience the show has ever had. They started out with a different opening tonight, and many of the former competitors were shown in the audience. Cat looks adorable as usual, and her hair is looking particularly great tonight (Mom- Her hair looks crappy).

The guest judge tonight is Adam Shankman, which is always a pleasure. I really like him as a judge as he is always for the dancers and gives great critiques, both good and bad.

Group routine: The group performed a Wade and Amanda Robson sports-themed number. The guys were portraying football players while the girls were the cheerleaders the guys were hitting on. The girls got to take on a dominant role in this dance with a very cute story number. It was dances spectacularly, the props were used very well, and I laughed out loud several times. Jeanine really does this kind of sexy well.

Jeanine and Evan: This couple performed a Sonia routine. Some very interesting moves were seen, including Evan jumping on Jeanine's back. I couldn't find a single thing wrong with this number, and could really see the story come through the dance. Evan is really coming on at the right time, and is really turning out to be a really good contemporary dancer. The choreography was amazing, and really showcased the dancers. Jeanine was wonderful as well.

(Mom- Evan shows how strong he has become because he can keep up with everybody. He's had that goofy clown-like persona, and he can't quite get rid of it to come forward even more. But he is winning people over because he is so damn cute.)

Brandon's solo: The powerful classical music is perfect for him. Although it did look a little frantic, his choreography was stellar and a perfect match to the music.

Kayla and Brandon: This couple performed a Tyce DiOrio routine Broadway routine from All That Jazz. It was a table routine! I just love when they use props. My eye was constantly drawn to Brandon, and I don't think it was just because of his sequined coat. Kayla was good as well, but I don't think she shined as much as him.

Jeanine's solo: Another classical music selection, this time of the Tango variety. It was a different, unique routine that really stood apart from most of the female contemporary solos. Her turns were amazing, and she showed remarkable control throughout the piece. She received a standing ovation from the judges, which always amazes me, because they are not easily moved to that.

Evan and Brandon: This duo performed a Lorieann Gibson pop-jazz number. Battle routines are usually good when it comes to the top two guys. Nice music selection with Janet Jackson's Nasty Boys. It even has an homage to Ms. Jackson's brother's Bad video. While both guys performed admirably, Brandon just gave it more. His limbs were stretched longer, his jumps were higher, and everything was just more. I agree with Adam in that Brandon won that battle. Although the bit where Mary asked Evan what the nastiest thing he had ever done was funny as hell. And Brandon's face while Cat was pinching Evan's cheeks was priceless.

Kayla and Jeanine: The girls got to perform a Mia Michaels routine. What really blows is that I have no idea what happened during it. Our local Fox station had a malfunction and we only got to see the last 15 seconds or so of the number. Evidently, according to the judges, it was a remarkable dance about the process of going through this competition, from the auditions to the finals. They evidently kept shedding clothing as a way of shedding layers to get to the finals. Nigel said that Jeanine is peaking at the right time, and I must agree. I hope they show this number again tomorrow because I'd really like to see it.

Evan's solo: Very cute, very charming, and very fun. He comes across as very sweet, and he is right that no one has seen his style on this show before. (Mom- He is this year's Twitch in a totally different way, in that he is so unique. I don't like the way they're picking on him. It is very obvious that the judges, or at least Nigel, doesn't think he should be there. I do think he should be fourth of the four of them, but they just seem to be tearing him down one time after another, and I don't think that's right in a finale. He has done everything everyone else has. Maybe not as well as they have, but he has done it.)

Kayla and Evan: This couple performed a Tony and Melanie jive number. If they hadn't said this was a jive routine, I would have thought these two were dancing in a country bar. Actually, I really like that. It was very different for this show, and I think the first time I heard country music on this program. I found it very entertaining and enjoyable. You really couldn't tell that Kayla is so much taller than Evan. I don't agree with Mary that Kayla stole the show, because I couldn't keep my eyes off Evan. I am glad that Nigel finally gave Evan a good review.

Kayla's solo: Interesting music choice for her, but not as dynamic as we have seen from others tonight. It was kind of weak, which her solos have been all season. She is an amazing dancer, but she has stayed the same all season to me.

Jeanine and Brandon: This couple performed a Louis van Amstel Paso Doble. He can definitely do the very masculine ballroom roles to perfection. They both just looked absolutely fierce out there. That was stunning, and another standing ovation for these two. The music was a wonderful and unique choice which made this routine all the more memorable. Even the lighting and camera work were perfect for the number. These dancers should be the top two tomorrow night. Neither did anything wrong tonight, and they were better than ever before. This dance earned Mary's only scream of the night. That was the perfect way to end the last competitive performance night of the season.

10 words or less: It's all about Brandon and Jeanine tonight.

(500) Days of Summer

View Date: 7/25/09

This independent romantic comedy stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel as the titled Summer. The movie jumps back and forth throughout their relationship from the first time they meet at work to their last encounter.

It is said right at the beginning at the movie that this story does not have a happy ending, and that is correct. However, it was a really nice change when it comes to this genre. That's not to say that the movie did not have a good ending, but there was a very nice twist at the end.

The jumping back and forth through the relationship gives a really good view of the course of a partnership that does not necessarily work out. It shows both the wonderful honeymoon phase, the exploratory phase, the demise, and the heartbreak. There was a musical segment that was laugh-out-loud funny, and there were parts that made me break down in tears.

I truly enjoyed this movie, no matter how gut-wrenching it was at times. I found myself laughing quite a bit, and understanding the course of the relationship quite clearly. I highly recommend this movie, but anyone that has recently gone through a break-up may want to think twice.

10 words or less: Everything an independent romantic comedy should be.

Word Wars

View Date: 7/25/09

This film is a documentary about professional Scrabble players. It focuses on approximately 4 players, while featuring others. The players come from all walks of life, some living in abject poverty while others keep day or night jobs. Yet all study for hours every day trying to memorize words in hope of winning the national championship. The movie counts down to this competition, featuring practice rounds and other tournaments along the way.

I think my favorite part was watching the folks play in Central Park, who are actually really competitive. All of the players shown compete in timed events such as chess matches. One player in Central Park refuses to play in tournaments, but has beaten nationally ranked players, yet they don't have the same egos. Some of the players are rather geeky, but others are very “normal” people who just really like to play Scrabble.

10 words or less: Interesting to watch people do what they do best.

The Darwin Awards

View Date: 7/24/09

This movie is based on the famous (or infamous) Darwin Awards, which are given to people who die doing really stupid things. The movie has a former police officer who has an incredibly blood phobia working for an insurance company. He is the ideal person for this job, because he can look at a scene and determine exactly how the deceased came to meet his end. He has studied the Darwin Awards for years, and has been trying to find a pattern in the deaths. Yet as the movie goes on, he could become one of the people he studied so diligently, as he has made many rules for himself in light of the cases he has studied.

It was an interesting take on the Darwin Awards, which I have read for many years. But this definitely wasn't what I was expecting. The acting was very stiff at times, and the story dissolved into farce at several points. By the end, the whole thing was pretty ridiculous. I won't be watching this one again, and I don't think that I'll be recommending this one either.

10 words or less: Devolved to ridiculous by the end.

SYTYCD

View Date: 7/30/09

This was the last elimination prior to the finale, where we got to learn who the four finalists were going to be. Jeanine and Brandon immediately made it into the final four, with Ade, Melissa, Kayla, and Evan needing to perform solos. Evan does perform the most entertaining solos.

Melissa was the final girl eliminated, which I was expecting. I honestly expected her to go home before this, but the breast cancer routine last week saved her. With her elimination, Kayla will be joining Jeanine in the finale.

As for the guys, this was a little more surprising with Evan joining Brandon in the finale. Evan actually seemed pretty shocked when it was announced that he was safe, but Brandon didn't really seem surprised. Honestly, I can see why Ade was sent home. He is a great dancer and a phenomenal physical specimen, but he seemed to always have at least one dance that wasn't as good as the other dances of the night. Also, he really couldn't compete when it came to the Latin ballroom dances. Additionally, Evan seemed to be really improving in the past few weeks. While he still isn't the best dancer, he was taking huge leaps and bounds forward.

However, my favorite part of the show was seeing the Emmy-nominated dances from last year. I absolutely LOVE the briefcase routine, and hope Tabitha and Napoleon win for it. While the other dances were good, in general they didn't compare to when they were performed in competition. The briefcase dance wasn't like that. I recently watched the original performance on YouTube, and noticed that there were several parts that weren't in sync, etc. This performance corrected all of those flaws and was at noticeably better than last year. The guys, particularly Marc, really grew up over the past year, and Chelsie improved by leaps and bounds by participating in Dancing With the Stars.

10 words or less: It should be a good finale.

Made of Honor

View Date: 7/23/09

This movie, starring Patrick Dempsey, is about a man and a woman that have been best friends since college. The girl goes off to Scotland for work, and brings back a fiance. In the mean time, he realizes that he is in love with her, and vows to win her away from her new beau. Unfortunately, no flaws can be found in her new guy, which makes his task much harder than originally thought.

This was a cute, harmless romantic comedy. Although it was rather formulaic, it still had some uncommon parts for this type of film. It was also quite nice seeing Kevin McKidd in a kilt. This movie did remind me of another Patrick Dempsey feature, Sweet Home Alabama, in that both guys involved in the love triangle are good guys. You can actually really cheer for both love interests, and feel bad for the guy who loses out.

10 words or less: Not bad, but not the best of its kind.

Young People Fucking (YPF)

View Date: 7/21/09

This was another independent movie by ThinkFilm Productions. I found this while searching for the actor Callum Blue and found the concept fascinating. The movie follows five couples during a single sexual encounter. The couples include the best friends, the established couple, the first date, a couple looking for a third, and the exes. It then breaks down the scenario of sex into six segments, such as foreplay, intermission, intercourse, and aftermath.

The concept for this movie was amazing. I really enjoyed how it was put together, and especially enjoyed the aftermath segments, because it was essentially the summaries I like so much at the end of other movies. This movie just further confirmed my infatuation with ThinkFilm movies, as I have also recommended this one to others.

10 words or less: Incredibly interesting concept with a good cast.

The Ten

View Date: 7/21/09

This is an independent movie based on the ten commandments. It is filled with small vignettes for each commandment using some well-known actors with a narrator/emcee going through his own problems between segments. Eventually, the narrator also appears in a commandment piece. The characters become interwoven, and finally all get together for a huge song number at the end.

I liked this movie. I thought it was a very interesting concept, and really liked the actors involved. I originally chose this movie because of Paul Rudd, but it also starred Winona Ryder, Jessica Alba, Famke Janssen, and Gretchen Mol. The song and dance number had me rolling, and I got a few chuckles out of the vignettes as well. I've liked Paul Rudd for years, and his being the narrator was wonderful. While this wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, it was a fun movie that I've recommended to several people. It was also another ThinkFilm production, which have been interesting movies to say the least.

10 words or less: Great cast in an enjoyable indie flick.