Heather

I’ve lost count of how many “movies based on a Nicholas Sparks novel” there are, largely because most aren’t as memorable as The Notebook. That said, I always enjoy them, and this one was no exception. It was sweet, romantic, and the two main actors had great chemistry. I also liked the children, especially Lexi. They were genuinely likable and well behaved, a nice alternative to bratty/annoying caricatures I’ve seen in other movies.

Overall, I liked this film. I can’t say it had me on the edge of my seat, but it was well acted, had a decent plot, and the filmography/setting was beautiful. A solid effort.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

I nearly turned this movie off after the first 15 minutes, mainly because the male lead (Ares) came off as such a prick. Granted, I still found the “why he acts that way” back story a little weak, but he redeemed himself enough that I was able to overlook that. It also helped that these were teenagers… emotional fuckery is easier to forgive with characters that young.

All in all, this was a beautifully emotional love story that exceeded my expectations. Ares and Raquel had great chemistry, and I really liked most of the supporting characters. Would definitely recommend!

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This movie wasn’t as dark as I expected, though I did enjoy it. Strong performances from two of my favorite actors (River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves), and damn, they looked hot. Call me shallow if you want, but for me, that was the focal point of the movie. I also liked the chemistry between them, and there were lines (especially from Keanu) that were legitimately funny.

Overall? It was a decent movie, though it feels like one I need to watch more than once to fully absorb it.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

So many of my favorite movies were released in 1992. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Last of the Mohicans, Singles, Wayne’s World, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Encino Man… I’d see them over and over, especially when they hit the dollar theater.

That’s how I ended up missing My Cousin Vinny. There were just too many other great movies to watch, and hey, I was a teenager. Christian Slater and Luke Perry were way more interesting than Joe Pesci.

Since then… I don’t know why I never got around to seeing it. It’s been 30 years (?!), and it’s been recommended by more people than I can count. I guess it just slipped through the cracks, which tends to happen with movies I don’t see right away.

Anyway, I digress. The point is, I finally watched My Cousin Vinny and I loved it. Joe Pesci was great, of course, but Marisa Tomei was brilliant. I totally understand why she won an Oscar for this movie… she was a pleasure to watch from beginning to end. I especially liked her automotive expertise, which was a nice departure from stereotypes that were all too common in the early 90s.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For 30 years, I’ve heard people rave about this movie. They go on and on about how awesome it is, only to lose their shit when I tell them I’ve never seen it.

Now that I have? I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. Yeah, it was an interesting concept and Bill Murray gave a solid performance, but it didn’t strike me as some great modern classic. It felt average for the time period/genre… not terrible, but not remarkable either.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐