I’m catching up on movies starting this weekend so to tide everyone over, I’m reviewing a product I’ve been using for a few weeks and absolutely love!

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

How much it costs: $6.99

Where you can buy it: Neutrogena.com, CVS, Target, Walgreens

What I like about it: I wear a lot of make up. I have layers of foundation, SPF, primers, etc. on my face, and I always had a difficult time finding cleansers that actually removed the make up without leaving a tint on my towels. I hate the feeling of my face not being clean and with a lot of expensive facial make up removers (including Clinique), that’s how I felt. I love how light and foamy this feels against my skin. I apply it to my dry face and it immediately removes the makeup while I massage it in the skin. I don’t even need to let it sit for very long on there, and it just washes right off. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and oil-free so it’s good for sensitive skin types like me. My face really feels clean after using this (thank goodness!)

What I don’t like about it: Honestly, not that much. The only annoying thing was that each retailer adjusts the price on this a little bit, so while it’s $6.99 at Neutrogena.com and Walgreens, some stores sell it for up to $8 because, well, they can. But really, that’s the only downfall I’ve seen.

Final verdict: If you’re looking for a good make up remover that doesn’t break the bank, I recommend this.

Do you have trouble getting all of your make up off at night? What are you using?

And after the Inception brain teaser last week, I kept it light with a little animated fun. Let’s take a closer look

Movie: Despicable Me

Rating: PG

Release date: July 9, 2010

Everyday Adventures grade: B

Summary: Gru (Steve Carell) is an evil superhero with some serious mommy issues. Seriously, she’s a b*tch. And now he’s off to maintain his evil superhero street cred and outsmart Vector (Jason Segal) the young, new guy on the block. Along with doing this, he adopt three little girls to help him beat Vector and maybe have a softening of his cold heart in the process.

My thoughts: Overall, I did like this movie, even if I mostly wanted to see it for the scene in the trailers where the little girl squeezes the unicorn and screams, “it’s so fluffy!” I mean, oh my god that just melts my bitter heart. I want to give her and that unicorn a non-creepy squeeze! What I liked about this, which I also liked in Shrek, was that there was some adult humor. Sure, it’s masked and dry but you can laugh at parts even if your kids don’t. Let’s be honest, some kids movies suck, so having something in it for the adults, is perfect. And makes me more likely to pay attention during the entire movie.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if i was digging Steve Carell’s accent but it grew on me and fit for his character. He was an odd mix of a few Addam’s Family characters but that was fine. Of course, the three little girls stole the show, especially the youngest, who seriously still makes me want to adopt her myself. Could they be any cuter? And the somewhat misleading yellow henchmen, who have been the main figures in the movie’s ads, were pretty funny and adorable too. Ugh, why is everything so adorable?

The Vector character served his purpose but I found his voice more annoying than anything else. Let’s hope he’s not back in the sequel, which is due in 2013, according to IMDB.com. Wow that was fast.

But the part I also like about the kids movies, which was in Shrek as well, is the heart. Sure, the movie’s storyline is all over the place and slightly rushed and pared down due to time, fine, but there is a moment where the emotion between Gru and the girls is really genuine and it even made someone as cold as me cry a bit in theater. So those tears really brought the move together for me.

Damn you animation.

Verdict: If it’s hot and you need some free AC, check it out. And try NOT to squeeze the little girl and the yellow mignons.

Do you like animated movies? What are your favorites?

The buzz around Inception for months has been “what is this movie about?” That was a red flag for me. How could NO ONE know what this is about except for those close to it? But after I saw a few tweets from friends that saw a sneak peek (jealous!) earlier this week, they loved it. And the reviews so far have been great too.

So I was a good girl, avoided all articles and went to see it tonight. And let me say this. Wow.

Movie: Inception

Rating: PG-13

Release date: July 16, 2010

Everyday Adventures grade: A+

Summary: Seriously, I’m not going to ruin this for you. I will just say this: Leo and friends play some mind games.

My thoughts: Holy sh*tballs this movie was amazing. Blew my mind. No joke. I’ve only give one other movie an A+ review (The Young Victoria, love) and this absolutely warranted that rating. Christopher Nolan is an amazing director who knows how to shoot a beautiful movie and command the best out of his performers. He did this in Memento and The Dark Knight where he got stellar performances out of Guy Pierce and Heath Ledger respectively and he does it again here.

Really, the movie is so visually beautiful that you can get lost in it. Scenes that rotate between slow motion and fast pace keep you on your toes and really soak in the awe of how it was filmed. I’m MORE than curious how a few of the scenes were shot because it was unbelievable to imagine. Nolan is a great storyteller too, bending your mind while tugging at your heartstrings and making characters righteous but flawed and morally questionable but good inside.

There were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming and didn’t fully understand, but I went along for the ride and am glad I did because it was worth it.

And the cast here is stellar. Baby face Leo is really becoming a solid leading man. He’s shown this in his last few movies, including the Departed, Blood Diamond and Shutter Island, but here he is strong, handsome (hey there pretty man in the tie) and tortured. Ellen Page and Jordan Gordon-Levitt also move into more leading woman/man roles, ditching the indie hipster looks for GQ-inspired matureness. And on Joseph, I do NOT mind. Both were really strong in this movie as well. There were also great smaller roles by Michael Caine and Tom Beringer too.

I don’t want to give too much away because I’m really looking forward to hearing what others thought of it as well but this was a really great, challenging, confusing and awe-inspiring movie.

Verdict: Um, I think it’s pretty clear I loved it. Go see it!

What did you think?

Not sure what your theater experience was like but Amy and I got to ours 90 minutes before the movie and barely got seats together. The people next to us had been in the theater since 10 a.m. that MORNING to get seats. That’s insane.

If you would like to dish spoilers in the comment section, please just leave a note before you dish so people can pass over if they would like.

Movie: Eclipse

Rating: PG-13

Release date: June 30, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Bella (Kristen Stewart) can’t choose between Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) so she strings both along while they fight to see who can do a better job of protecting her and ultimately win her heart. Edward presses Bella to marry him (can’t a guy give her some space please?) and Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) assembles a vampire army to descend on Forks and Bella for revenge. I swear, I don’t know what this girl has that makes men and women go after her, but bottle that sh*t up.

My thoughts: As promised, this is a spoiler-free review so there are some things I won’t discuss here. But then again, I’m sure 95% of you have read the books so I’m sure I’m not ruining everything :)

Overall, I didn’t think this was too bad. New Moon was my favorite of the books and after a diasterous first movie (really, it was bad), the previous movie really exceeded my expectations, so I was curious if this would sustain my interest. Fortunately, it did.

Unfortunately, it was not a complete home run. Here are some of the things I liked and didn’t like.

Like:

• Taylor Lautner  (and his naked torso)- Yes, his abs are still hot and now that Jacob is in love with Bella and tortured, his character continues to steal the movie. Also, ALL the girls in my theater went bananas whenever he was on screen. Good taste!
• Billy Burke (Bella’s dad) – I really love this character and I loved him more after this movie. Such sweet father/daughter moments and great one-liners. I can’t wait to see more of him in Breaking Dawn
• Jacob/Bella kiss – It was hot. Really hot and my cold, dead heart fluttered a bit, only to be inevitably crushed (that I didn’t like)
• Special effects - The effects, especially with the vampires and wolf pack, continue to be better and more “realistic” than the previous movies. New Moon stepped it up and Eclipse definitely maintained that calibur
• Bella – Sure, she’s still whiny and annoying, but she is more sure of herself and her character seems stronger than she ever came across in the books (in my opinion). It’s nice to see her grow part of “a pair”

Didn’t Like:

• Bryce Dallas Howard - Her role is small in this but I just didn’t dig her as much as Rachelle LeFevre. Recasts in the middle of a series can work (Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight) but Bryce didn’t cut it for me. She didn’t have that ruthless nature that Rachelle did
• Tent scene – Before you tar and feather me I need to say that I should re-read this part of the book and then adjust this if necessary. It just wasn’t hot for me at all. Maybe I envisioned it differently from the book but it was anti-climatic
• Kristen Stewart’s wig – She wore one in this movie because of the tragic Joan Jett cut she got and it could not have been MORE obvious that it was a wig and a bad one (remember Jacob’s from the original movie?) Poor Bella had helmet hair the entire time and I could not stop staring at the hairline. Seriously.
• Makeup inconsistency – I can admit that RPatz is an attractive man, but his pale vampire makeup was very inconsistent. He was pale in one scene and almost normal flesh-tone in the next. Yes, it did make him hotter but I just wish it would have been more consistent for him and all of the Cullens. They look totally different now, but not in a completely bad way
• Lighting - Again, this is not major but the big scene on the top of the mountain was supposed to be snowy and cold but you could see sunlight from the set coming in the back and it just looked really…fake
• Bree Tanner - I don’t remember the character too much from the book but given the recent release of Bree’s own short book, she got a lot of screen time she might not normally have had. And it wasn’t even memorable. Disappointing

Verdict: If you’ve read the books, it’s worthwhile to see but be prepared for some cheesy stuff, which I’m sure you know :) I’m still glad I saw it and recommend it!

How about everyone else? Did you see it? What did you like or dislike about it?

I kept the movie seeing light this weekend and went with another comedy, but this time, unlike Killers, it was legitimately funny. Let’s take a look!

Movie: Get Him to the Greek

Rating: R

Release date: June 11, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) is a huge rock star/train wreck (like Britney 2 years ago) and record company lackey (like Audrina used to be), Aaron (Jonah Hill) has one job, to get him to the Greek Theater in LA for a show. What could go wrong? Nothing. Everything.

My thoughts: Not bad/a little long/pretty funny. Not a bad combo. I liked the Aldous character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall because he was a raunchy guy with a good heart buried below tattoos and likely syphilis. It’s nice to see him again here in a bigger role but sometimes, the drama, sex and “woe is me” stuff wears on you. But I will say this, he is really entertaining on stage.

Jonah Hill is great in this too, playing the Tom Hanks-like good guy lead astray, a nice departure to the loser pot head characters he’s played in Knocked Up. It’s funny too that he was also in Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Russell Brand but doesn’t reprise that role here.

No, the scene stealer here really is Sean Combs. Diddy killed it. Sure, he was a little psycho and needed his mouth washed out with soap but some of his lines were hilarious. Including one with a cameo guest about being “gangster” that had me almost crying laughing. Killed it.

The guest cameos are great too and fortunately Katy Perry wasn’t one of them.

Judd Apatow was one of the producers on this movie and you can see (as with all of his films) that this laggers on a little too long and has about 10-15 minutes of footage that could easily be removed. But it’s not something that ruins this overall because it’s still funny.

Verdict: Go see it but make it a day movie, no need for evening prices.

What did you guys think?

So when I saw the trailer for Killers, I snipped, saying it could be a bad Mr. & Mrs. Smith remake, only actors that sizzle much less than Brangelina did on screen.

Yet, thanks to a cement mixer on my street, I fled to the theater and found myself seeing…Killers. Let’s see if I was wrong.

Movie: Killers

Rating: PG-13

Release date: June 4, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B-

Summary: It’s not exactly boy meets girl when Spencer (Ashton Kutcher) and Jenn (Katherine Heigl) meet in Nice, France, while she’s on vacation and he’s….well…not a consultant. More of a spy. Now he’s on the straight and narrow until he gets roped into some spy-related drama and Jenn realizes her dream man isn’t who she thought he was (are they ever?)

My thoughts: First, this was not as bad as I thought it would be. Much like SATC 2, my expectations were low. It’s not as similar to Mr. & Mrs. Smith as I thought it would be, but it doesn’t have a defined story arc either. I’ll get to that. For me, Ashton and Katherine don’t totally work as a couple. Yes, they have witty banter and funny one-liners, but somehow, believing they’re married and happy rather than driving each other crazy, is a bit of a stretch. So is the belief that Ashton is a spy gone good. He does look insanely hot in this movie, with perfectly tailored outfits that show off his nicely trimmed body (big thanks to the director too for the numerous shirtless scenes, THANK YOU), but the vulnerability and belief that he’s trapped in this spy life, falls flat.

Heigl, who I loved in Knocked Up and love/hated on Greys, is….okay. Her outfits are to die for (seriously, I want her character’s entire closet), but her shrilly, shreiky voice grates on you and suddenly you’re covering your ears before she even starts talking. She’s not awful, but not really developed either.

There are two plot points that aren’t in trailers that caught me by surprise and one works more than the other. In fact, the second one is so left-field that it I was shocked by its introduction and resolution and then the end of the movie. I was even scratching my head when the credits started, thinking, did I miss something?

That’s not a good sign. But there are good minor roles by Rob Riggle, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara and even a cameo by Usher! What? Awesome.

Verdict: Rentable but if you want a good movie about being married to a spy, with REAL chemistry, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a better example.

Did you see any movies this weekend? Are you a fan of Katherine Heigl or Ashton Kutcher?

Similar to the Simpsons, you can reference just about any dating moment back to an SATC episode and when the show went off the air, it was an event in our household.

And then HBO/Michael Patrick King made the series into movies. *crickets chirping*. I was critical of the first movie because I wasn’t a huge fan of the storyline (and how long it played out on screen) and the insane product, prominent product placement. I work in communications so I get why that is important but I don’t need to be beaten over the head with it. Seriously, I’m not dumb.

Now a second movie has been released and after some bad initial buzz on Twitter, I treated to a pre-noon matinee to see if it was as bad as I feared.

Movie: Sex and the City 2

Rating: R

Release date: May 27, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: C

Summary: It’s two years after the end of the first movie and Carrie/Big (Sarah Jessica Parker/Chris Noth) are having martial growing pains (after two years? Jesus), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is having trouble at home with her girls, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon)….yeah nothing really new with her and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is dealing with menopause. Remember when this show used to be good?

My thoughts: It kills me to give this a C. I LOVED this show on HBO but I don’t like how this has manifested into film. First, it’s 2.5 hours, which is a LONG time to hear Samantha climax, Carrie whine, Charlotte screech and Miranda b*tch. Really, 22 minutes is much more tolerable. The thing with this as a movie is that all the wit, charm and zingers that happened in the show just comes off as campy. You can almost see SJP going to hit her mark and make a witty comment that makes you groan rather than giggle.

I’ve heard people say this movie doesn’t have “heart” or humor and I have to agree. Even the fashion isn’t as elegant and refined as it was on the show. I still love Patricia Fields, she’s brilliant with pairing clothing and mixing trends but it just falls flat or is so over the top you are blinded by the color and patterns.

I think the other reason I was disappointed with this is way the characters have translated to film. For example, Charlotte was always a Type-A prissy perfectionist on the show but she was never shrilly and annoying like she is in the film (the first one too). Rather than be happy that she’s finally a mom, I just want her to shut the h*ll up with her complaining and shreeking, which was prominent in the Abu Dhabi sequence.

That part also fell flat for me. It was like the Brady’s on vacation, sweeping shots of these women with couture trains behind them and possibly the most tragic outfit ever on Kim Cattrall during the camel scene. Those girls are best left in New York.

But, it was great to see Aiden again. Carrie broke my heart when she cheated on him. But even that wasn’t too rewarding for obvious reasons. Despite Aiden’s sight for sore eyes, Chris Noth still looks good and zings as Mr. Big. Yeah, there is something about him in a suit that makes me giggle.

Verdict: Wait for DVD or go to a cheapie matinee. Oh and I hope there isn’t a SATC 3. Invest in the DVDs and you’ll be so much happier than you feel walking out of that theater.

Did you see SATC? What did you think?

Update: I wanted to just clarify, I didn’t loathe or hate this movie. I was just…disappointed. I think the DVDs are better

I remember Cirque du Soleil used to have a documentary on Bravo (I think) that showed Cirque behind the scenes and how acrobats are selected and train for the shows. It was fascinating and made me want to see a show ASAP. Well, that took some time but last year, I got to see LOVE and it was just jaw-dropping. I cannot rave about it enough.

So when I was in Vegas this week, I looked into seeing another show and was able to go to Ka at the MGM Grand. And here’s my review!

Show: Ka

Location: MGM Grand

Ticket prices: $69-$150

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-

Summary: The story was a little hard to follow but it’s about two twins who are separated from the Imperial Palace and go on a journey into adulthood.

What I liked about it: Um, everything. The thing I love the most about Cirque is that it’s a full, 360 production. It attacks your senses and has you looking everywhere to see what’s happening. I was worried that I would miss something because I couldn’t whip my head around fast enough to catch everything. The costumes and makeup were amazing and the staging, martial arts and choreography were just jaw-dropping. It looked like the set was just FLOATING in the middle of the stage. I mean, that’s insane! Plus, there were in-house fireworks which made me jump and say “whoa,” out loud. I mean, it was insane. In our show, one guy was whipping around on a set piece jumping rope (what? insane) and he dropped the rope accidentally and everyone gasped. My heart was racing.

What I didn’t like about it: For me, it was a difficult story to follow so I felt like I wasn’t as engrossed in it as I could have been, but again, the overall production more than compensated for it.

Final verdict: If you’re in Vegas, definitely check it out. My roommates and I really enjoyed it.

What about you? Have you seen a Cirque show? What did you think?

Disclaimer: Cirque du Soleil provided me with complimentary tickets for the show but the opinions and review of it are all mine.

Traveling last week kept me away from the theater but now, I’m back!! Well, I’ll be more back after Vegas, but still :)

So let’s catch up on a movie kicking off summer: Iron Man 2.

Movie: Iron Man 2

Rating: PG-13

Release date: May 7, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) has outted himself at Iron Man so what’s a man to do with all this publicity and fame? Well, have a health scare, witty banter, travel to exotic locations and blow some sh*t up. Bring it on!

My thoughts: I loved the first Iron Man. It was witty, action-packed and was just flat out entertaining. And RDJ was just…hot as Tony. He’s a guy who can save the world, smooth talk you and make you laugh. Sounds like a winner.

And I really wanted to like this movie more than I did. Yes, I liked it. It was funny, sh*t was blown up and there were some great action sequences, but…it was a little cluttered.

Tony is joined again by Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and his best buddy Rhodie (Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard) but now we meet Tony’s new nemesis’s Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) and Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell, whose character name still makes me think of Dr. Horrible). Add in a bit of ScarJo sassiness and well, we have a pretty big cast. A big cast where’s difficult to ensure everyone gets screen time and a full character arc, cough ScarJo.

RDJ is still charming as Tony but Pepper has been reduced to a screeching assistant/love interest/CEO, but I love Gwenie so I’ll let it slide. Don Cheadle is entertaining as Rhodie 2.0 but there was something about Terrence Howard that made that character jump. I am a big Sam Rockwell fan (even if Moon was a little weird) and he’s mildly evil as Justin, but all I could stare at was the self tanner line on his hands. I have no idea if that was intentional, honestly.

Jon Favreau is a great director and a good cameo actor too. I’m looking forward to seeing more of his work, but I hope in Iron Man 3, they simplify the story, cast and get back to the humor a bit more. But if RDJ can keep flexing those arms, I’ll buy that movie ticket any day.

What did you think about Iron Man? Did you like the original or sequel more?

And since I’m just back from vacation, I had to write up a product I used during my trip and loved. SPF and sunscreen is a must for me and my super sensitive skin but I hate wearing beach sunscreen when I’m not at the beach because it’s greasy. So I’m bad about wearing it on my non-beach time, which means I tend to get sunburned a little bit more than I should.

Until now!

CVS Ultra Dry Sheer Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

How much it costs: $7.99

Where you can buy it: CVS, CVS.com

What I like about it: It’s very light and spreads generously on the skin. Plus, being so light, it absorbs easily and  really leaves the skin feeling soft. I always felt with regular sunscreen that it didn’t moisturize as well but this does  both and really left my skin feeling nice. I also didn’t feel like I needed to re-apply right away and that even with  sweat, it didn’t run down or off my skin easily. Which is nice. Also, it does really give a nice SPF protection with no  chemical scent. I only got sun where I didn’t apply this and the rest stayed protected, despite long hours in the hot  sun. Plus, it sells in a 3oz tube so you can put it with your quart-size carry on toiletries. Oh and it’s light enough to  apply on your face too.

What I don’t like about it: Because it absorbed so easily, I had to immediately start spreading it once I put it on so be ready to move fast! That’s not a very bad thing but made certain parts of my arms more protected than others :)

Final verdict: Love. I plan to get more from the upcoming Vegas trip for Bloggers in Sin City and carry it with me.

Are you an SPF addict?

Sometimes, you just want to turn your brain off and have a laugh. That means it’s time for a romantic comedy!

And TC is likely going to be mad when I reads I went to see this without her, but when it’s lousy outside, your options of affordable entertainment are slim.

Let’s take a closer look.

Movie: The Back-up Plan

Rating: PG-13

Release date: April 23, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) is a single woman living in Manhattan and after years of dating Mr. Right-Nows, she’s ready to forge ahead with motherhood sans man. And of course, as soon as she’s inseminated, she meets Mr. Right (Alex O’Loughlin). Does that actually happen?

My thoughts: In case you didn’t know, JLo is back and looks amazing after having twins. I know this because I got to see plenty of gratuitous shots of her flat abs (b*tch!), ample bosom and smoking hot curves during the 90 minute movie. Thanks JLo.

Overall, this was pretty good. Sure, it falls into Manhattan rom com stereotypes: gorgeous apartment (that normally she could never afford), endless fabulous wardrobe, endless hot friends that go to all the hot spots and everyday person job that likely doesn’t pay to withstand her insanely awesome lifestyle. Yes, there are cheesy lines, yes, JLo overacts at parts and bats her eyelashes and has sex goddess Barbarella hair that is perfect coiffed at every second, BUT there was actual heart and substance behind this that kept me interested, and *gasp* I related to.

Instead of JLo giving up her career to find love, she is already accomplished and went after her non-corporate dream to have a better life balance. She is persistent and knows what she wants and goes to get it without relying on a guy in her life. She also has trust issues with men, always waiting for the next one to leave her and avoiding emotional attachment to help mitigate the sadness when they do leave. Um, did JLo read my diaries?

It was nice to see this kind of character development for female rom com characters because most of them are the opposite, sacrificing their career ambitions for a guy. And because a lot of JLo’s character issues are similar to mine (minus the baby part), I felt like I could connect with her and even nodded along when she misbehaved, etc.

On the cosmetic side, the man candy from Alex O’Loughlin in this movie is pretty insane. He’s slightly damaged, smoking hot, loves cheese (WIN!) and works on a farm shirtless. Um…where you been all my life? I hope to see him in more movies coming up because abs and pecks like that should not go to waste.

Also on the superficial side, a nuance I liked about this movie is that I saw JLo repeat a lot of the same outfit pieces. Normally, rom com movies have a SATC-like closet where nothing is ever repeated. It was nice to see Jenny can be just like us :)

If you’re looking for a good rom com, I highly recommend Date Night, but this is a good…back-up option. PUN!

Did you see the movie? If so, what did you think?

So I decided to take a look back at some of the worst, most painful movies I’ve ever seen. Trust me, these are hours of my life I will never get back. And that makes me sad.

Let’s take a look:

Because I Said So

I love Diane Keaton…in Annie Hall. I wanted to love the premise of this movie, meddling mom helps her youngest daughter (Mandy Moore) meet a guy but Keaton was so over the top, annoying, screeching and obnoxious that I wanted to pierce my eardrum. And the last scene of the movie sealed why this was so awful.

Stepbrothers

I know this came out when Will Ferrel could do no wrong and I loved him and John C. Reilly in Talladega Nights but this was just awful. I don’t mind gross humor but this was just gross. I laugh at anything and I barely laughed at this at all. Maybe I would like it more if I was a guy.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

The trailer for this movie lied. Flat out. What I saw in the theater previews and then saw on DVD rental for this movie were two TOTALLY different films. It was so bad, I got up and started cooking while it was playing. I could barely stand to finish it. Jeremy Piven, you did real wrong here.

Donnie Darko

I honest to god did not understand this movie. Friends adore it and my brother loved it but honestly, I just didn’t get it. It was a little dark and alternative for me and while I tried to keep an open mind, I just could not get through this. No thank you.

Rumor Has It

I had a feeling this would end up badly when Rob Reiner stepped in to direct this two weeks into shooting because the original director backed out. And I definitely know why. I love Mark Ruffalo but Jennifer Aniston in this movie…is awful. And whiney and screechy. There is one scene with Shirley MacLaine and Mena Suvari that was so awful, I put the TV on mute.

The Whole Ten Yards

Great example of a great movie (The Whole Nine Yards) that had to be made into a sequel and was made into one that was so awful, I actually fell asleep in the theater. Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis were great in the original but both are reduced to bumbling, screeching, intolerable versions of their original characters in this movie. I really hope they just did it for the cash.

What are some of the worst movies you’ve ever seen?

No joke, sometimes I pick mascara by the product name and packaging. I’m such a visual person that I respond to that well.

And on that point, I’m giving a little review of my most recent mascara purchase from Sephora: Benefits BADgal lash. Crack that whip!

Benefit BADgal lash mascara

How much it costs: $19.99

Where you can buy it: Benefit.com, Sephora, Macy’s

What I like about it: It doesn’t clump really at all, which is great. It applies evenly, easily and gives my lashes nice length. Plus, it comes in different colors, including blue, which I’m very intrigued by! I normally just wear black mascara but I would like to branch out. Plus, the mascara removes easily without flaking or looking tired after a long day.

What I don’t like about it: As I mentioned in past mascara reviews, I wish this was a little thicker. It gives great length, but not the thickness I hoped for, even though the Sephora girl said it was very comparable to DiorShow. Personally, I don’t totally see it, but I wasn’t unhappy with this purchase. After a few uses, it got easier to get great definition on the lashes. You will need a lash separator after, but fortunately, it won’t clog up the wand.

Final verdict: I’m glad I got it but will likely be going back to Diorshow, which I’ve been the happiest with to date. And the price difference isn’t enough to let my frugal nature take over.

What about you? Are you a Benefit fan? Or do you drawn to or purchase cosmetics based on the packaging and product name?

So I was eagerly waiting for Date Night to come out to see if Michael Scott and Liz Lemon would hit it off. God I hoped so because reviews were pretty mixed.

But then again A.O. Scott said he loved Hot Tub Time Machine and we severely disagreed on that so his dislike of this made me think this could be really good.

Let’s take a look if I was right.

Movie: Date Night

Rating: PG-13

Release date: April 9, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: A

Summary: After years of marriage, the Fosters are in love but in a rut (Steve Carell and Tina Fey). To give the marriage a boost, they go to dinner in New York and a case of mistaken identity takes them on an adventure that includes a shirtless Mark Wahlberg. I would gladly go down that road to run into him. Rawr.

My thoughts: I was SO relieved that I liked this after the Hot Tub Time Machine incident last weekend. PHEW! First, the chemistry between Carell and Fey is hot…and relatable. Relatable in the sense that they are like so many couples you would know who have been married for awhile and are stuck in a routine. You can see them going through the motions, almost like they’re asleep at the wheel. And hot in the sense that, well that chemistry is just leading to some hot naughty action. But again, because they play parents, I don’t want to see that because well…I don’t want to think that for people I know. Plus, Carell/Fey are more subdued than their TV characters, which was nice to see too.

Anyhow, the thing I like about this is that there is a little of everything: humor (seriously, I was almost crying at one part), honestly (Carell/Fey’s characters having tough talks about the state of their marriage), hot men (Mark Wahlberg, HELLO!) and action. The movie rotates enough between all of these pieces that you don’t get bored and you start to feel like you’re along for the ride with them.

Plus, great cameos again in this by James Franco, Ray Liotta, Mila Kunis, Leighton Meester (Blair!) and, yes, Mark Wahlberg. I hate to keep bringing this up but holy sh*t the man eye candy in his scenes are totally worth it. His acting is good too.

Shaun Levy (Night at the Museum, The Pink Panther, What Happens in Vegas) does a nice job directing, putting Carell/Fey in actin scenes that while outlandish aren’t totally extreme and making you say, “oh come on!”

And of course, there is one really sweet moment that makes you kind of say “aww.” The man behind us even said (at a quiet moment), “god that is really beautiful.” And it was :)

Anyhow, I recommend checking this out. It’s a funny, easy movie to go see without feeling depressed as you walk out of the theater.

Plus, stay around for the credits, there is a nice little treat after the final scene.

Did you see Date Night this weekend or do you plan to see it? What did you think? Are you a Tina Fey/Steve Carell fan?

And one of the movies I missed is the Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson. I’m a huge Wes Anderson fan, I loved The Royal Tenenbaums, Darjeeling Limited and Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. He has a really creative style and I just adore it.

Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Rating: PG

Release date: Available on DVD March 23, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B

Summary: I’ll be honest, I had no idea this was a book before it was a movie. Apparently, my parents focused more on Berenstein Bears or Ramona books for me because I’ve never heard of this. But apparently, it’s a classic book. Mr. and Mrs. Fox (George Clooney and Meryl Streep) live a happy life, trying to stay on the straight and narrow, but Mr. Fox’s chicken thief background eventually gets them, their family and the animal community in some serious trouble.

My thoughts: Considering I’ve never read the book, I had no idea what to expect but this movie is pretty cute :) And no, it’s not just because it’s 90 minutes of George Clooney talking (seriously, he makes everything sound sexy). I’ll be honest, I didn’t totally follow every piece of the story but what entertained me the most was the visual element of this film. It was primarily shot using stop-motion, which means, the characters and scenes are shot as individual images and manually moved in between shots to make it look like the item is moving itself. And to see an entire feature-length film using that technique is…amazing. Visually, it just blows your mind to realize each and every movement was manually arranged and then strung together to make the movie.

I also love that Wes Anderson continues to use his regular players in this movie. Jason Schwartzman is Mr. Fox’s son, Ash, and Owen Wilson is the coach. During half of the movie, I was trying to guess who voiced each character and that was perfectly fine with me. I thought the story dragged in parts and could have been trimmed back, but it was still enjoyable.

I definitely need to watch this movie again to catch everything I missed, but it was much better than I thought, and honestly, I didn’t even know what to expect!

Disclosure: 20th Century Fox provided me with a DVD screener copy of the movie to watch and review. All opinions about the film are my own.

And there was something about the title of this movie and made me say, “oh no, I know I’m going to see this.”

Especially when it was called a mix of Back to the Future and the Hangover, two of my favorite movies. And A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips gave it a good review too, so that just sealed the fact that I had to see it. So I unconsciously walked into the AMC theater and bought a ticket.

Movie: Hot Tub Time Machine

Rating: R

Release date: Mach 26, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: C+

Summary: The title really says it all. But to break it down more, three friends (John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson) and a nephew (Clark Duke) go back in time, thanks to a hot tub, to 1986, where they have a chance to relive a key weekend that shaped their adult lives.

My thoughts: God I really wanted to love this movie. Especially after the good reviews I read ahead of time. And really, this wasn’t awful, but I just though it would be…funnier. Sure, I laughed and cringed at some gross out scenes (scenes with bathroom soap and a catheter made me cringe) but when you boil it down, it’s all about dick jokes and saying, “f*ck” as many times as possible in a sentence.

I mean, I love the word “f*ck,” but not when it’s overused just to show it’s a raunchy, dirty movie. I also love the 80s. I love 80s music and movies and the flahsback stuff was funny, mocking music and how clothes were back then, but while the movie was partially set in the 80s, it wasn’t really about it. Sure, there are great cameos by 80s character actors, Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover and William Zabka from the Karate Kid, but something just falls flat. Again, I go back to the constant d*ck jokes. At least when those are in Seth Rogen or Judd Apatow movies, they’re funny, having to watch Rob Corddry nearly give Craig Robinson a blow job…isn’t.

I love John Cusack but he channels Lloyd Dobler yet again here and doesn’t seem to ever find a long coat or aviator hat he doesn’t love. Okay. Rob Corddry is actually pretty funny here and the most outlandish of the group and it’s nice to finally see Craig Robinson do more than he’s allowed on The Office. To me, the best in the group was Clark Duke, playing Cusack’s nephew. He’s a mix of Michael Cera and Jonah Hill but much more adorable. Let’s hope he doesn’t fall into the typcast both of the other actors have to date.

My recommendation: rent it. And stay out of the hot tub :)

Yay!

First off, apologies on taking so long to post this but the wait is over. I loved all the comments to this post and hearing about your summer “must have” items. Flip flops was definitely a popular one, and I totally agree with you!

So here we go. The winner is……………

Nora from Walking with Nora!

Woooo! Congratulations.

Please email me at myeverydayadventures@gmail.com with your address and we’ll get your gift card on its way to you!

You can still enter Macy’s Fashion Director $500 giveaway on its Fashion Director site, all you have to do is put an outfit together. Easy peasy.

Here’s the latest outfit I put together too:

Thank you to everyone who entered!!

1. It was TC’s turn to pick the movie for this weekend
2. I want to make sure I see 3D movies before the theaters increase ticket prices (b*tches)

So without further ado, here we go!

Movie: Alice in Wonderland

Rating: PG

Release date: March 5, 2010

Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+

Summary: Load up on the LSD because we’re going back to Wonderland with Alice (Mia Wasikowska) heading back to the magical land 13 years after her first trip to defeat the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and restore order with the help of the Hatter (Johnny Depp) and her magical forest friends.

My thoughts: No joke, I was totes surprised that I liked this movie as much as I did. I remember watching the Alice in Wonderland cartoon as a kid and thinking…BORING. Who dreams this sh*t up? But as a semi-mature adult who loves film and storytelling, I gave it another chance. And I’m SO glad I did because it was really good, but definitely not appropriate for small kids. There were a few scenes in 3D with fights and the eye that made me cringe.

Visually, it’s stunning, especially in 3D. The CGI blends well with the actors movements and Burton creates a vivid, bright Wonderland that has been raved by the Jabberwocky and Red Queen’s reign. 3D is becoming really popular right now with films, but I think this stands on its own without that effect. In fact, I would say only 20 percent of the movie really requires 3D, which is still impressive, but at $3 more a ticket, you aren’t missing anything serious.

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are both great (even if Depp somehow channels Jack Sparrow a bit) but Mia Wasikowska as Alice really stole the movie for me. Her mix of doe-eyed innocence and rebellion really hit me and made me want to say, “f*ck yeah, you go girl!” Plus, her costumes are amazing. I even commented to TC that her couture dresses are TDF (to die for) in just about every scene. Tickle me jealous, I want to know who made those! Anne Hathaway was also good as the White Queen but (this may sound tacky), I could not look past the white wig and dark eyebrows/lips. BAD!

But along with Burton’s brilliant cinematography, he also really got me on his direction. For a minute, I had a Baz Luhrman/Moulin Rouge flash but Burton mixes laughs with serious emotion, any you find yourself really latching on to Alice and following her on the adventure.

I’m sure just about everyone has seen this already, but if not, check it out. On the big screen, it is pretty awesome to watch.

Have you seen it? What did you think? I’ve heard mixed reviews from friends who thought it was too hyped up.

So while I’m working on that, I’m strictly checking out the spring fashions online (for now) and putting together cute outfits and accessories in my head.

I’ve used Polyvore before to put some cute outfits together but found it to be a bit overwhelming and some pieces I used in my outfits I know I could never afford in real life. Then, I got an email about a similar site that isn’t as overwhelming and has items I can afford. I’m listening! It’s Macy’s Fashion Director Web site, where you can create your own outfit from some of the seasons hottest trends and enter to win a $500 Macy’s gift card.

That would easily help my closet get ready for spring and get me excited to get back in shape :)

I spent about an hour on this site the other night putting together two cute outfits, one with my first summer stable, a dress and a day/night outfit with pants and a fun top. I loved a lot of the choices on the site and I’ll be going to check a few out in person too.

Here are my designs:

And to help my blog readers get ready for spring and get those creative outfit juices flowing, I have one $50 Macy’s gift card to give away!

Here’s how you enter:

• Leave a comment with your ultimate summer clothing must-have (please also leave a valid email address too)
• For an extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway (please leave a link to the tweet in the comments)
• For two extra entries: Mention and link to the giveaway on your blog (please leave a link to your post in the comments)

The giveaway is open from now until 10 p.m. CT, Monday, March 29.

Good luck!