Monday at the Movies: Sick and Delirious

Monday's Movie is hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie.

In my heavily medicated flu-haze last week, I took full advantage of my subscription to HBO. Or rather, it took advantage of me, considering I watched a couple of movies I probably would have avoided had I not been too weak and exhausted to move from my spot on the couch. I thought I would offer you a brief look at how I whittled away my time in my sick bed (or couch, as the case may be) in between my many naps.


Fred Claus (Comedy - 2007, rated PG; directed by David Dobkin; written by Dan Fogelman & Jessie Nelson) ~ Watching a Christmas-themed movie the week before Halloween seems a bit odd, I suppose, but who am I to argue with HBO's movie line-up? Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) is the older and often forgotten brother of the famous Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). All his life, Fred has lived in his brother's shadow. Is it any wonder than that he's turned into a bit of a Scrooge? Down on his luck, Fred visits his brother in the North Pole as the final preparations for Christmas Eve are being put into place. An efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) with a grudge is in town to determine whether this will be Santa's last Christmas or not. This was a fun family flick with a few sentimental moments and a sleigh full of laughs. I like Vince Vaughn in just about every role he plays and he didn't disappoint in this one. Rating: 4 Bags of Popcorn (Very Good)


Me, Myself & Irene (Comedy - 2000, rated R; written and directed by Bobby Farrelly & Peter Farrelly) ~ A slapstick comedy about a Rhode Island State Trooper (Jim Carrey) who is used to letting people walk all over him. One day he reaches a breaking point, and his personality splits in two, releasing his meaner and less inhibited side. As he struggles to get that under control, he is assigned to accompany a fugitive (Renée Zellweger) to New York. That quickly turns into more than anyone bargained for when they both end up on the run from corrupt law enforcement officials. I am pretty sure I have seen this movie before, and, if I remember right, I didn't like it much then either. My sense of humor tends not to run in the direction of this type of movie. I just don't find watching people getting beat up in the name of comedy all that funny. Nor do I always care for Jim Carrey's over the top comedy acting (I really liked him in Liar, Liar, however). I did not fall asleep during it, so I suppose that must mean something. Rating: 1 Bag of Popcorn (Poor)


Lost and Delirious (Drama - 2001, rated R; directed by Lea Pool; novel written by Susan Swan & screenplay by Judith Thompson) ~ A heart-wrenching movie about young love, betrayal and the search for self. Sent off to boarding school after the death of her mother, Mary (Mischa Barton), is assigned to room with two older girls, Paulie (Piper Perabo) and Tori (Jessica Paré). Mary quickly discovers that Tori and Paulie are more than just friends. When Tori's sister finds the two lovebirds in a compromising position, Tori begins to do damage control, including spurning her friend Paulie and taking up with a boy from a neighboring boy's school. Paulie is devastated and her life begins to spiral downward as a result. Mary is caught between the two friends while at the same time struggling with her own issues of feeling abandoned by her father. Lost and Delirious was a sad movie and my heart ached for the three girls. Although I am usually very understanding about why a book or movie is ended a certain way, I wasn't too keen on the ending in this case. Rating: 3 Bags of Popcorn (Good)


Baby's Day Out (Comedy - 1994, rated PG; directed by Patrick Read Johnson; written by John Hughes) - Kidnapped by the world's three most inept villains (Joe Mantegna, Joe Pantoliano & Brian Haley), Baby Bink (Adam Robert Worton & Jacob Joseph Worton) foils his captors at every turn, leading them on quite an adventure. This is one of those movies that requires your total suspension of disbelief as the crawling infant wanders by himself into a cab for a cab ride, across busy streets, into the zoo, and all over a construction site. The kidnappers bumble their way along, often ending up with not-so-serious injuries that would have led to permanent deformities and possible death in reality. The Worton brothers were adorable as Baby Bink. I can only imagine how a new mother might feel, seeing an infant in some of those tight spots. Yikes! Did I like it? It had its moments. I just wish I could have gotten past how no one noticed this little guy as he scooted on all fours right by them. Rating: 2 Bags of Popcorn (Fair)


Miracle on 34th Street (Drama - 1994, rated: PG; directed by Les Mayfield; written by Valentine Davies, George Seaton & John Hughes) ~ Mara Wilson plays little Susan Walker, daughter of Dorey (Elizabeth Perkins) a successful businesswoman who works for a major department store. Susan, like her mother, does not believe in magic, much less Santa Claus. With the help of a neighbor (Dylan McDermott) and Kris Kringle himself (Richard Attenborough), all that is about to change. While this remake of an old holiday favorite will never live up to the original in my estimation, it is still a great family film, and a story I never grow tired of seeing every year. Rating: 4.5 Bags of Popcorn (Very Good +)

Have you seen any movies lately?

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The Monday Movie Meme is brought to you by The Bumbles.

This week's movie topic is all about Mobsters ...

This weekend we saw lots of Trick Or Treaters dressed as Superheroes, Star Wars characters, Hobos, Fairies, Thomas the Train and even a few ghouls. But we never saw any mobsters. Maybe that is because it is tough to fashion a Tommy Gun out of a shoebox. But one thing is for sure, if a mobster rang our bell looking for a treat we would oblige ASAP. We've seen enough of their movies to know the kind of tricks they dole out. Share on your blog mafia movies that left their mark with you and then link back to The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

Eastern Promises (2007) ~ A suspenseful and complex movie about the Russian mob. Viggo Mortenson was outstanding in his role as Nikolai, divided between loyalty to his mob family and doing the right thing.


Road to Perdition (2002) ~ There was not much I did not like about this movie. It is about a son and father, about sin and redemption, as well as crime and punishment. Tom Hanks and Paul Newman are forces to be reckoned with in this film.


Pulp Fiction (1994) ~ I actually did not like Pulp Fiction the first time I saw it. However, when my husband made me watch it a second time, I could definitely see the appeal. It's extra violent and a bit silly at times, sure, but it is definitely memorable, not to mention one of those movies I just can't help but stop and watch whenever it is on.

What is your favorite mobster movie?

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