As a film buff, it kills me to say that I’m NOT a huge Woody Allen fan, that is until a few years ago when I saw his 2005 movie Match Point with Scarlett Johanssen and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. That is one of my favorite movies because it was perfectly acted and such a compelling script that it wiped out all stereotypes I had about Woody Allen’s movies. Sure, the follow ups, such as Cassandra’s Dream and Vicky Christina Barcelona haven’t been as strong for me, but after the buzz about Midnight in Paris, I was game to check it out. Let’s take a closer look.

Movie: Midnight in Paris

Rating: PG-13

Release date: May 20, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Americans Gil and Inez (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) are in Paris on a “freeloading vacation” with her family as he continues to work on his first book. Gil dreams of Paris in the 20s while Inez harps and then one night, he is magically transported back to 1920s Paris, where he gets to meet his writing idols and wonder if the grass is really greener in this idealized time.

My thoughts: This pains me a bit, but after hearing all of the buzz about this movie, I thought it would be a bit…better. I didn’t hate it but had a little higher expectations. First, the scenery is stunning. You see the main Paris sights but Allen also takes you to non descript places off the beaten path, which I love, and let’s you feel more like you’re with Gil, wandering the streets and seeing the subtle beauty others may miss. And I know the “time travel” element is a bit out there, but by the time Allen wraps it up in a little bow, I was already a little bored.

Owen Wilson does a great job in this movie as the California boy idealist Gil. He is really pitch perfect for this role but as the main character with lots of dialogue, wild gesturing and waxing poetic on the 20s, he gets to be a bit much. His idealism does start to make him seem naive, but he really starts to redeem himself after his revelation about his idealism. And Rachel McAdams is perfect yet insanely awful as a character to watch. She is harpy, rude, bitter and biting as his fiance and really, half of the movie I was almost hoping one of them would cheat so they wouldn’t get married. I mean, how these people are in love is truly difficult to believe.

The movie also has a strong supporting cast as Gil’s 1920s idols, including Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Adrian Brody as Dali and Marian Cotillard as Picasso’s mistress and object of Gil’s affection (thank goodness.) But all of these characters and actors are underused, basically as a cameo (as if to say, HEY! We got Adrian Brody and he’s Dali! Why not?), with the exception of a few. And the parade of literary and art masters from this time parade through but outside of a name dropping, the real purpose and impact they have for Gil is lacking.

But the redeeming part of this movie for me (minus the travel porn shots) is the theme Allen leads you to at the movie’s “climax,” which is, idolizing about another time or place is to help you ignore the trouble in your present and current situation. Once we finally hit that theme, the movie came together for me more and stopped to make me think, rather than just wonder what was going on in the movie.

I know, I feel like I should have liked this more. Maybe I’ll have to rent it again and see if it hits home for me more.

Verdict: If you’re a Woody Allen fan, see it, otherwise, you can pass. See Match Point instead!

Summer is one of my favorite times to see movies. Why? I get free AC when it’s sweltering outside and this is usually prime movie release time so I have plenty of options to entertain me. And one summer release I was really looking forward to is Super 8 by one of my favorite director/producers, JJ Abrams. Ever since I saw a teaser trailer for this movie last year, I was hooked. Let’s take a closer look.

Movie: Super 8

Rating: PG-13

Release date: June 10, 2011

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: It’s 1979 (great year!) and four friends are making a horror movie on a Super 8 camera, until they happen to stumble upon a train derailment while shooting one night…and that derailment happens to set off a chain of events around a valuable piece of government property that escapes. You know, no big deal.

My thoughts: The best way to describe this movie is – E.T. meets Cloverfield meets War of the Worlds. Sounds random but considering its the brainchild collaboration of JJ Abrams and Spielberg, it is pretty accurate. And as a huge JJ Abrams fan, I had very high expectations for this. I like Abrams because he is smart at storytelling, direction and getting great, real performances out of non-big name stars (they’re just like us!) I am still a Spielberg fan too but my interest in him has waned a bit since his more recent projects focus more on childhood nostalgia and (at times) overly touchy feely moments that don’t always add to a story. I don’t dislike him, but he just isn’t speaking to me as much right now. So where I could have been lost in a movie centered around the late 1970s and both men’s nostaliga for Super 8 cameras, Abrams appeals to the current generation with action, smart dialogue and direction.

The only reason this got an A- as opposed to A is that one insanely hammy scene near the end just killed the momentum for me, so I had to take a few points off.

And let me say this, holy crap there were some intense scenes. I don’t want to give any spoilers or too much away about the “thing” that escapes from the government but I will say that TC and I both screamed at parts and hid behind our hands because the tension and action was that intense. Abrams has a great way of weaving in action and monsters without being too gorey or graphic and how they are integrated within the real-life actors does seem realistic and not too “green screened.”

Acting wise, the kids are the main stars of the show, sort of like a Goonies bunch, with lots of yelling and insulting each other but deep friendship underneath. The main character, Joe, is perfect as wide eyed kid who evolves from quiet and reserved to a leader in his group. After the recent death of his mother, the result of the train derailment allows his character to grow and evolve, which many of his friends don’t, but that’s not a big deal.

And as a massive “Friday Night Lights” fan, it was great to see my dreamboat Kyle Chandler (aka Coach Taylor) in a leading role too, although we don’t see as much of him as I’d like. But his quiet pain and conflict as Joe’s dad (and recent widower) is very reminiscent of the great and subtle work he did on FNL. Plus, in uniform, RAWR!

I loved Abrams movie Cloverfield and hope that after seeing this similar monster movie, more people will check it out.

Verdict: Go see it in theaters. Like Cloverfield, you will lose a lot when it’s on TV, but the story and action itself is totally worth it.

What did you see this weekend?