IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY IS RATED PG-13

"It's Kind Of A Funny Story" is a quirky, thoughtful, subtle emotional dramedy that will spark an examination of one's own life and perceptions. Filled with quiet emotion and a more subdued sense of humor, this slice of life story will remind the viewer that sometimes when you help someone else you actually end up helping yourself.

Watching this film, one is also faced with the realization of how necessary it is to be vulnerable in this life at times in order to truly connect with others, and how that vulnerability can help us to heal. "If you don't open up—you're never going to heal," Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) says.

Galifianakis shines in a darker, more dramatic role than the usual outlandish comedic characters he generally portrays. Keir Gilchrist, "Cool Craig"—leading the cast of eccentric characters—gives a raw, honest performance that is very relatable.

Throughout the film, Bobby offers unsolicited (yet, wise) advice to Craig on the importance of living a life filled with meaning. "You can't live your life in fear. What I would give to be you for a day, Craig," Bobby says. "I would do so much. I would just live . . . like it meant something."

Eventually Bobby's advice begins to resonate with Craig and he shares this newly-found knowledge with others. "I know it's lame, but skip anyway," Craig says. "Live."

"It's Kind Of A Funny Story" is a look at how we choose to deal with our problems, fears, and issues, and how we come to a place of peace and acceptance about ourselves—regardless of our imperfections and shortcomings. This "funny story" is a must see, and will surely bring a smile to your face.

BURIED "BLURB"

BURIED IS RATED R

RYAN REYNOLDS TOTALLY ROCKS and BURIED could quite possibly be the BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!!!! It is a BRILLIANT piece of filmmaking that is a touch better than Psycho. Hitchcock would be proud. It is a claustrophobic, fear-induced emotional ride that will leave you breathless...

UP IN THE AIR "BLURB"

UP IN THE AIR IS RATED R

WONDERFUL MOVIE!!!! :) :) :) :) I laughed. I cried. I got a little angry. I left crying AND smiling. Yes, it has bleak, sad, and reality-based moments. But, it is also funny, sweet, touching, and hopeful. I believe the determining factor regarding each viewer's final opinion of this movie will be their life/world view.

MESSAGE OF THE MOVIE: Life may not always go as planned, or your way, but that doesn't mean goodness cannot be found within disappointment. Also, connecting with one another is what life is all about. Life is not a solo journey.

See it. Decide for yourself...

"Life's better with company. Everybody needs a copilot."

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER "BLURB"

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER IS RATED PG-13

Excellent movie!! :) :) I loved it so much I saw it twice back to back opening day. :) :) It's a quirky, fun flick that is funny, heart-wrenching, honest, and inspiring. You will certainly leave smiling and feeling uplifted. You will go on a journey with Tom as he experiences love, heartbreak, and the excitement associated with rediscovering passions and dreams. The style of the film is refreshing and engaging. (500) Days of Summer is a movie with heart that shouldn't be missed.

AMELIA

http://www.theacornonline.com/movies/review-Amelia.html

AMELIA IS RATED PG

Considering how many celebrities there are in the world posing as role models—it’s wonderful when a film reminds us of someone we can truly admire.

Directed by Mira Nair and starring Hilary Swank, "Amelia" examines the life and loves of Amelia Earhart—the iconic aviation figure who has been clouded in mystery and intrigue since her disappearance several decades ago.

Although the story may be subdued, not soaring as high as one might hope, it remains a captivating tale that will provoke one’s mind (introducing for many an extraordinary woman in history). Perhaps after viewing the film, one might even be motivated to take action and reach new heights in their own life. Possibly flying higher than ever deemed possible.

Amelia (the woman and the movie) may have a few flaws (who doesn’t really?), but both are worthy of recognition. She is a feisty, fascinating female with an adventurous spirit who classifies herself as “a vagabond of the air.” She never lets anyone tell her that something can’t be done and believes that pursuing one’s passion is the only way to live. Swank captures the essence of Earhart, bringing to life the legendary aviatrix.

Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, commanding (but not piloting) a crew in 1928. This flight brings notoriety and endorsement deals encouraged by her publisher, and later husband, George Putnam (Richard Gere). Feeling like a fraud, she would rather “face a watery grave” than let that be her only legacy.

Eventually she flies solo over the Atlantic, proving that a woman is fully capable of such an accomplishment. During her final flight in 1937 (a journey intercut throughout the film) she attempts to circumnavigate the globe. During that flight she vanishes and her fate remains unknown.

Amelia Earhart is a true heroine. She is a brave soul and someone that every individual—especially young girls and women everywhere—can be inspired by in regard to pursuing passion and following one’s dreams.

“If I listened to everyone who said it was impossible —I’d never be flying,” she said. “Don’t ever let anyone turn you around.”

WHIP IT

http://www.theacornonline.com/movies/review-whipit.html

WHIP IT IS RATED PG-13

Sports movies focusing on women are few and far between. And not since A League of Their Own has a female-centric sports story captured our hearts and inspired women to reach for their dreams.

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, "Whip It," not only does both, but it enters a new league all its own. It’s a fun, feisty film that reminds girls (and women) it’s okay to be different—and that it’s actually pretty cool to be a chick. But guys, don’t roll your eyes just yet. It’s not a total chick-flick. There’s also plenty of action and humor to keep your attention.

The story revolves around Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page), a social misfit forced by her well-meaning mother (Marcia Gay Harden) to enter beauty pageants. With little going on in the small town of Bodeen, Texas, Bliss is living anything but a blissful existence. Her life is going in circles, and she feels like she’s going nowhere . . . until, that is, she discovers the sport of roller derby and joins a league called the Hurl Scouts.

Soon, going in circles begins to makes sense. In her journey to find a place she fits in, Bliss learns she can create a new life for herself without completely letting go of the one she’s always known.

Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis and Jimmy Fallon round out a perfectly chosen cast. And Barrymore has brought about a real sense of camaraderie among everyone involved.

The movie’s message is clear: Other people may believe in you, but it’s only after you begin to believe in yourself that a whole new world of possibilities opens up.

Throughout the film, we are urged to embrace who we are. And that means embracing all of our imperfections, quirks and eccentricities. As the tagline says, Be Your Own Hero.

Who knows . . . you might finally discover that inner hero who’s been waiting to emerge.

BIG FAT LIAR

BIG FAT LIAR IS RATED PG

”Two friends are about to cut one Hollywood big shot down to size.”

Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf? Not Jason Shepherd (Malcolm in the Middle’s Frankie Muniz), that’s for sure. Shepherd must face hot shot Hollywood producer Marty “the Wolfman” Wolf (Paul Giamatti) when he goes on a quest to Los Angeles to retrieve his hijacked homework assignment, which was to write a 1000-word story, and prove that the blockbuster hit of the same title was his idea. In the process, he teaches Wolf a valuable lesson: what goes around comes around, so your best bet is to be nice to everyone you meet—especially in Hollywood. You just never know when your actions may come back to haunt you.

"Big Fat Liar" is a smart, sassy comedy that examines ethical issues like lying and stealing in a humorous, ironically, honest way. Shepherd and his friend Kaylee (Nickelodeon’s Amanda Bynes) travel to the City of Angels—which is anything but angelic—to hunt down his paper and the purely pompous producer who is claiming the concept as his own. People who leave this “town of dreams” many times feel battered, broken-hearted, and disillusioned compared to their starry-eyed arrival. Luckily, Shepherd has a plan, and ends up getting his Hollywood ending. Thankfully, many of the people that Wolf wronged rally around Shepherd giving him the support he needs to overcome doubt, and see his idea through. Good once again prevails and the bad guy gets what he deserves—in the movies anyway.

From the first five minutes of film we know chaos will ensue. The opening sequence shows Shepherd sharing three blatant lies with his parents, a few to the big bully on the way to school, and a huge whopper to his teacher—right in front of his entire class! The whole day ends up being one enormous lie.

If Shepherd wants to avoid the consequences of his constant need to stretch the truth, inspiration better come fast. “Making up stories seems to be your God-given talent,” a frustrated father fumes at his compulsive fabricator of a son. Just the inspiration the little liar needed to complete his assignment.

Through circumstances too complicated to go into, Shepherd ends up in Wolf’s (a.k.a. “the meanest man alive”), limousine. By accident, the tale he has transcribed is left behind, setting the whole story into motion.

“You grow up the day you have the first real laugh—at yourself,” claimed actress Ethel Barrymore. Unfortunately, Wolf is forced to laugh after he turns Shepherd’s tall tale into a movie with the typical Tinsel Town flair, and then must suffer the ramifications of his actions when he is confronted by the furious junior high schooler time and time again. At one point, Wolf ends up looking like the fourth member of The Blue Man Group after Shepherd and Kaylee pour dye into his pool. And to think, he could have avoided all of this inconvenience with one simple phone call. All Shepherd wants is for Wolf to call his father and tell him the truth so he will be trusted again. But Wolf, being the egomaniacal, stereotypical Hollywood producer-type, absolutely refuses to do a kind deed.

Shepherd is the smartest 14-year-old fibber from Michigan and Wolf is the dumbest thirtysomething fibber in Hollywood, and together they create a comedic team that will cause non-stop laughter throughout the film and along the journey toward truth. Muniz and Giamatti are a dynamic duo that play nicely off of each other. With an undertone of the Home Alone movies, Big Fat Liar will thrill children and young teens, while still managing to engage parents.

Cameos by Donald Faison (Clueless), Jaleel White (a.k.a. Steve Urkel), and Lee Majors (Colonel Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man TV series), round out the humor factor.

Taking place almost entirely on a soundstage at the Universal backlot, Big Fat Liar creatively utilizes all of the props available to make moviegoers feel as if they are right there with Shepherd and Kaylee.

Lost in the land of glitz, glamour and fame it is easy to become swept up into the hurricane of lies. But Shepherd learns that no matter what, it is important to resist any temptation to join in.

“This is Hollywood,” said Wolf, “it’s a dog-eat-dog town.” It may be. But that doesn’t mean you have to purposefully serve up your enemy at the next victory bash. After all, a little honesty goes a long way.