Shrek Forever After (2010)

Shrek Forever After (2010)

5/10

Starring

Mike Myers

Eddie Murphy

Cameron Diaz

Antonio Banderas

Julie Andrews

 

 

Directed by Mike Mitchell

This fourth movie takes a better swing at the Shrek franchise than Shrek the Third. While it’s not as much fun as the first or second films, it still had its moments.
I didn’t laugh as much as I did watching the first two films, but I was intrigued by the new dimension the story took. The plot isn’t groundbreaking—we’ve seen this kind of storyline before: a character grows tired of their life, wishes for something different, and only then realizes they didn’t appreciate what they had until it was gone.

That said, the writers made smarter choices here than in Shrek the Third. In Shrek 2, we were introduced to a bunch of new characters, but their screen time was limited. The focus remained on Shrek and Fiona. Similarly, this film shifts the focus back to Shrek and Fiona, but it still lacks a truly compelling villain.

In Shrek 2, the Fairy Godmother stood out as a foe. Her motives—trying to secure the best for her son—were relatable and gave the conflict depth. From her perspective, her actions even made sense. By contrast, the villain here, Rumpelstiltskin, has a much simpler, clichéd goal: he just wants to rule.

The movie begins with a flashback to Fiona’s parents moments before Shrek saved her in the first movie. They’re about to sign their kingdom away to Rumpelstiltskin, who promises to save Fiona with his magic. Just as they’re about to finalize the deal, a guard interrupts with news that Fiona has already been rescued.

Fast-forward to the present, and we see Shrek struggling with the pressures of fatherhood and his new life as a local celebrity. Frustrated at his children’s birthday party, he wanders off and encounters Rumpelstiltskin, who pretends to be trapped under a carriage. Spotting Shrek’s vulnerability, Rumpelstiltskin tricks him into signing a contract. Shrek trades away one day from his past in exchange for a single day where everything goes back to how it used to be.

At first, Shrek enjoys the change, but he soon discovers that Rumpelstiltskin has tricked him. The day Rumpelstiltskin took was a pivotal one, erasing everything Shrek had accomplished. As a result, Shrek’s friendships with Donkey and Puss never happened, he never rescued Fiona, and his children don’t exist. Devastated, Shrek teams up with Donkey—after convincing him they were friends in another life—to find a way to undo the contract. Together, they must stop Rumpelstiltskin, who has since taken over as king of Far Far Away.

The only area where this film surpasses the first two is in animation quality.

Shrek the Third (2007)

Shrek the Third (2007)

3/10

Starring

Mike Myers

Eddie Murphy

Cameron Diaz

Antonio Banderas

Rupert Everett

Jennifer Saunders

Julie Andrews

 

Directed by Chris Miller

This is what happens when you drag a story out longer than you should. Shrek the Third (or Shrek 3) lacked everything—except the characters—that made the first two movies such classic fun. The animation wasn’t funny, the adventure wasn’t interesting, and Charming was far too simplistic to be a compelling villain. Everything about the plot felt wrong, and every path they took to the ending was a dead-end for humor. Unlike the first two movies (Shrek and Shrek 2), where I laughed along with the fun, this one didn’t even make me smile. It just left me frowning in disappointment.

They tried to add a fatherhood dynamic to the story by giving Shrek the challenge of caring for someone younger and inexperienced in life. To achieve this, they completely mishandled the supporting cast. Donkey was full of words but had no jokes or quirky comments that landed. Puss had all the charm drained out of him, leaving little reason to care about what he said. And the princesses? They were reduced to tired stereotypes, sitting around waiting for their princes to rescue them.

If you’re like me and going through the Shrek movies, you’ve probably reached the same conclusion I did: no wonder I couldn’t remember anything about this one. Ladies and gentlemen, it was that bad.

The setup had potential. Fiona’s parents are incapacitated—the king of Far Far Away is gravely ill, and his wife remains at his side. Shrek and Fiona are temporarily ruling in their place, which seemed like an exciting new dynamic to explore: Shrek and Fiona dealing with everyday life as rulers, away from their beloved swamp. Unfortunately, the writers must’ve thought that idea wouldn’t work because what they went with instead definitely didn’t work.

When the king is on his deathbed, he names Shrek and Fiona as his successors. As expected, Shrek doesn’t want the responsibility. What I didn’t expect was the ridiculous way they wrote him out of it. The solution? A man named Arthur Pendragon, who Shrek is sent to find so Arthur can take the throne instead. This could have been an easy win for the writers—after all, we’re all familiar with King Arthur and Merlin. Instead, they rewrote the legend in the worst way. Arthur is portrayed as a loser, and Merlin as a lunatic.

Shrek sets off on a journey to find Arthur, accompanied by his two best friends. But the entire journey—both there and back—is boring and uninspired. Meanwhile, back in Far Far Away, Charming has gathered an army and is taking over the kingdom by force. He plans to make a public spectacle of defeating Shrek, so capturing Fiona and the other princesses becomes part of his leverage strategy. 

The original voice cast returned to reprise their roles, with a few new additions. While the movie was a commercial success, it flopped critically with both reviewers and audiences.

For me, the main reasons for this disaster boil down to two things. First, the story arc was terrible, making everything about Arthur’s journey to Far Far Away a snoozefest. Second, the movie gave far too much screen time to its supporting cast, distracting us from the core characters we love and depriving viewers of the entertainment they were expecting.

Shrek 2 (2004)

Shrek 2 (2004)

7/10

Starring

Mike Myers

Eddie Murphy

Cameron Diaz

Antonio Banderas

Rupert Everett

Jennifer Saunders

Julie Andrews

Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conard Vernon

The intro to Shrek 2 is one I’ll never forget. We start with a dramatic narration of a grand journey: a man sets out to rescue a princess from a castle guarded by a dragon. But when he arrives, he’s greeted not by the princess but by a gender-confused wolf who informs him that the princess he’s looking for is on her honeymoon. What an entrance!

Shrek 2 introduces new characters with a powerful voice cast to match: Rupert Everett as Prince Charming, Jennifer Saunders as the Fairy Godmother (Charming’s mother), John Cleese as Fiona’s father, and Julie Andrews as Fiona’s mother. These additions bring a new dynamic to the Shrek universe by incorporating Fiona’s family into the story. The movie explores how Fiona’s parents and the people of Far Far Away react to the unexpected reality of their princess and her husband—both showing up as ogres.

The story picks up right where the first Shrek left off, and the comedy flows seamlessly. The animation is noticeably improved, and you’ll love the addition of Puss in Boots to the male duo. The film doesn’t entirely focus on Shrek and Donkey making us laugh—it broadens the humor with new characters and situations.

The plot begins with Shrek and Fiona enjoying their married life back at the swamp, while Donkey complains about Dragon being moody. (The movie explains Dragon’s mood in a fun after-credits scene—yes, there’s a party after the movie ends!) The peace is interrupted when an army arrives, delivering a message from Fiona’s parents in Far Far Away, requesting that she visit with her prince.

Shrek, worried that Fiona’s family won’t accept their daughter as an ogre or her marriage to one, is reluctant to go. But Fiona insists. When they arrive in Far Far Away, it becomes clear there’s more at stake than just a family reunion. Fiona’s father is unhappy that Prince Charming—his original pick to save Fiona—arrived too late, allowing Shrek to claim her heart instead. Determined to “fix” things, he devises a plan involving a new character, Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas).

Puss is a fantastic addition to the cast, transforming the dynamic duo of Shrek and Donkey into a trio. With his googly eyes and charm, Puss shakes up the group dynamic and adds new layers to their adventure. Together, the three set out to save Fiona from the scheming of Charming and his mother, the Fairy Godmother.

Shrek 2 was a massive financial success and even led to Shrek the Third. It also introduced Puss in Boots, whose popularity earned him his own spin-off.

I can confidently say that Shrek 2 still holds up in 2020. You’ll enjoy every moment of it, with more gags, more hilariously out-of-sync Donkey moments, and plenty of fun for everyone.

Shrek (2001)

Shrek (2001)

7/10

Starring the voices of

Mike Myers

Eddie Murphy

Cameron Diaz

Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson

I just watched Shrek again for the first time in forever, and seeing it in 2020, I can confidently say it still holds up and is just as funny as ever.

Donkey is still hilarious, and it’s hard to imagine how Shrek would have worked without him. The dynamic between Shrek and Donkey is what makes this animation so enjoyable to watch. While the romance between Shrek and Fiona adds a heartfelt and unexpected layer to the story, it’s the dynamic duo of Shrek and Donkey that makes the movie truly memorable.

Hats off to the team behind the voice casting because Eddie Murphy was born to voice Donkey. His comedic timing and delivery elevate the character, making him unforgettable.

This was the movie that put DreamWorks on the map as a serious contender against Disney in the animation world. It spawned three sequels and a hilarious spin-off, proving its lasting impact.

The story begins with a lone ogre named Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) living peacefully in his swamp. We get a glimpse of his solitary life, which he seems to enjoy. Meanwhile, Lord Farquaad has begun rounding up magical creatures in the kingdom, and one of them, a talking Donkey, manages to escape. While running from soldiers, Donkey stumbles upon Shrek, who scares the soldiers away. Donkey is immediately taken with Shrek and talks his ear off until Shrek reluctantly lets him stay.

That night, Shrek’s peaceful life is interrupted when the magical creatures show up at his swamp, seeking refuge after being driven out of their homes. Furious, Shrek decides to confront Lord Farquaad to get his swamp back.

Farquaad, meanwhile, is on a quest to become king. To do this, he needs to marry Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz), who is trapped in a tower guarded by a dragon. Since neither he nor his soldiers are brave enough to rescue her, he decides to find a champion to do the job. Enter Shrek and Donkey. When they storm into Farquaad’s court demanding answers, Farquaad strikes a deal: if Shrek rescues Fiona and brings her back, he’ll get his swamp back.

Shrek agrees, and since Donkey refuses to leave his side, the two set off on their adventure.

The rescue itself is chaotic and far from the fairy-tale ideal Fiona was expecting. She’s baffled when her rescuer turns out to be an ogre rather than a Prince Charming. We also learn that her "true love’s kiss" is more important than it initially seems—a twist best left for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie to discover on their own.

The journey back to Farquaad is where most of the funny moments happen. Watching this magical tale twist into something completely unexpected is what makes the screenplay so brilliant and worth respecting.

Shrek set a milestone as the first-ever winner of the Best Animated Feature award at the Oscars. It was both a critical and commercial success, earning over $480 million on a $60 million budget.

Rewatching Shrek during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 reminded me how timeless it is. It still delivers the laughs, even after all these years.

A second part was done three years (2004) later, Shrek 2.

A Cinderella Story (2004)

A Cinderella Story (2004)

6/10

Starring

Hilary Duff

Jennifer Coolidge

Chad Michael Murray

Regina King

 

 

Directed by Mark Rosman

Since this movie was released, I’ve watched it more than twenty times—and the only person who knows that is my sister. I’ve always had a soft spot for this film, ever since its release. I enjoy how the plot plays out like a modern-day Cinderella story, minus the magic.

I have to be honest: this was a movie I loved but never admitted to my friends back in university. I knew they wouldn’t like it. The movie is predictable, with no unexpected twists, and some of the acting (especially from Sam’s stepmother and stepsisters) is so over-the-top it’s hard to take seriously.

Still, there’s something about how Sam (Hilary Duff) and Austin’s (Chad Michael Murray) relationship blossoms that keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s just that I’m a helpless romantic, but I find this movie easy to watch—and I’ll probably watch it again in the future.

The movie begins with eight-year-old Sam living with her widowed father, who owns a popular sports-themed diner. Her father marries Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge), a vain and selfish woman with two daughters from a previous marriage. Fiona hides her true nature from Sam and her father, but during an earthquake, Sam’s father tragically dies while trying to save Fiona and her daughters. With no will left behind (supposedly), Fiona takes over the diner and rebrands it in her creepy, over-the-top style.

Now grown, Sam works at the diner as a janitor, saving money for her dream college, while enduring daily torment from her stepfamily.

Sam has an online pen pal she calls "Nomad," who attends the same high school as her. The two confide in each other and share the dream of going to the same college. Sam’s best friend, Carter (Dan Byrd), is an outcast, while Rhonda (Regina King), the diner manager, serves as a mother figure to Sam.

Nomad proposes they meet in person at the school’s Halloween dance. Reluctant at first, Sam is persuaded by Carter to go.

This decision sparks the Cinderella transformation—and the modern Cinderella story begins.

If you take the time to analyze the plot, you’ll find plenty to criticize. The silliness of the characters, the way the plot unnecessarily complicates something as simple as a will, and the fact that Sam and Austin couldn’t recognize each other despite their masks are all points that make this movie so bad it’s good.

Over the years, the movie has developed a cult following. It was a box-office success but not a critical one. Critics panned it for being plain and generic, and none of the actors were praised as exceptional.

For me, it’s the simple, straightforward love story that keeps me coming back. I always enjoy watching Sam’s journey, knowing that everything turns out well for her in the end.

Interestingly, the movie spawned four direct-to-DVD sequels, each starring a new lead with her own Cinderella story. I haven’t seen any of them and probably never will because, for me, this is the only one that matters.

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

7/10

Starring

Josh Hartnett

Bruce Willis

Lucy Liu

Morgan Freeman

Ben Kingsley

 

Directed by Paul McGulgan

Lucky Number Slevin is a fantastic movie—one of those films you watch once and immediately feel the urge to rewatch, just to make sure you didn’t miss a thing. I loved the suspense the first time I saw it and how the movie makes you believe everything is going one way, only to completely switch directions. What’s fascinating is that the film tells you upfront this will happen when Smith/Goodkat (Bruce Willis) explains the Kansas City Shuffle. It’s all about making you look right while going left.

The writing is sharp, and the directing keeps you hooked, especially as you wonder how Slevin (Josh Hartnett) remains so calm while chaos seems to unravel around him. Oddly, the movie’s attempt to be clever didn’t sit well with critics, which I don’t understand. My only critique is that the set design felt off. From Nick’s apartment to The Boss’s office, and even the van used by the undercover officers, everything looked oddly out of place.

I remember the first time I watched this movie; I was taken aback by the sudden shift in events at the hour mark. It jolted me awake, leaving me eager to see how this twist would impact everyone involved.

The movie opens with Smith/Goodkat explaining the Kansas City Shuffle to a man waiting for his flight at the airport. During their conversation, he tells a tragic story about a man who bet money he didn’t have on a horse race, only to realize he’d put his life—and his family’s—at the mercy of the wrong people. This story sets the tone for what’s to come. Shortly after, we see Smith/Goodkat pull the Kansas City Shuffle on the man, though it’s just a demonstration for the larger shuffle he’s planning.

We then meet Slevin, who’s staying at his friend Nick’s place. Enter Lindsey (Lucy Liu), Nick’s nosy and inquisitive neighbor, who’s curious about Nick’s sudden disappearance. Slevin shares his story about arriving at Nick’s place and losing his wallet during a mugging. Lindsey proves to be sharp and clearly keeps Slevin on his toes during their interaction.

Not long after Lindsey leaves, Slevin is picked up by The Boss (Morgan Freeman), a mob leader who wants him to avenge his son’s death. The Boss believes his son was killed by a rival mob boss, The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley). Despite Slevin’s attempts to explain that he’s not Nick, The Boss insists he carry out the job to kill The Rabbi’s son, known as The Fairy.

When Slevin returns to Nick’s apartment, The Rabbi’s men come knocking. They give him 48 hours to pay back the $33,000 Nick owes, mistaking Slevin for Nick just as The Boss did.

Now, Slevin finds himself stuck between two powerful mob bosses, each with their own demands, and he must navigate this dangerous predicament to survive.

Lucky Number Slevin is a fun, tightly-paced movie with no distractions—it keeps you focused on Slevin’s life as he deals with his sudden and overwhelming predicament. It’s clever, suspenseful, and a solid watch that deserves its place as a cult favorite.

Mr. Bean (1997)

Mr. Bean (1997)

5/10

Starring

Rowan Atkinson

Peter MacNicol

Pamela Reed

 

 

Directed by Mel Smith

When this movie came out, my sister and I were so eager to see it because we were huge fans of the Mr. Bean series, with Rowan Atkinson as the iconic lead character. We had watched the TV episodes numerous times and never got tired of his slapstick comedy, delivered in short, hilarious 10–15 minute stories. Naturally, we had high expectations for this movie, which placed Mr. Bean in an American setting. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to those expectations.

The movie felt too long, and dealing with both Bean and the Langley family felt like one slapstick comedic scene too many. The second Bean movie (Mr. Bean’s Holiday), released ten years later, did a better job of balancing the focus by shifting away from Bean occasionally to explore other characters. In this first film, Rowan Atkinson had to carry the entire movie, and many of the gags were recycled from the TV series. My sister and I were already familiar with them, so the novelty was gone. Honestly, the fact that we made it to the end of the film was a miracle. After laughing initially, we got bored and started wondering when it was going to end.

The plot begins at a London art gallery where Bean works as a security guard. His well-meaning but clumsy and destructive nature makes him unpopular with his coworkers. The gallery’s managers despise him for being a slacker, but they can’t fire him because the chairman insists on keeping him employed.

When an American philanthropist purchases a painting from the gallery, someone has to deliver it to the U.S. Seizing the opportunity to get rid of him, the managers nominate Bean and craft a fake profile to send him off. Once in America, Bean stays with the Langley family and quickly turns their lives upside down with his chaotic antics. His only task is to present the painting, but he manages to turn that into a disaster as well, nearly ruining the lives of the Langleys in the process.

The movie wasn’t a critical hit, but audiences flocked to see it, making it a box office success. Still, it’s the kind of movie you can only watch once. The slapstick comedy gets tiresome quickly, and you’ll likely wish it were shorter.

I do not know if American audience are familiar with the character, but I see this movie as an attempt to break into the American household.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)

Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)

6/10

Starring

Rowan Atkinson

Emma de Caunes

Max Baldry

Willem Dafoe

 

 

Directed by Steve Benedelack

Mr. Bean’s Holiday is a standalone sequel to the 1997 Mr. Bean movie. Released ten years after the first film, the producers definitely got it right this time. It’s not that the first movie wasn’t funny, but it felt too long. The first film suffered from fatigue, as if the writers ran out of ideas and resorted to back-to-back slapstick comedy for ninety minutes. That said, it was still a financial success.

This sequel (also a financial hit) does things better. Instead of taking Bean to America, which in the first movie drained some of the British comedic charm, this film is set in Europe. Mr. Bean embarks on a holiday in France, proving that some comedies work best in an English/European setting. Like the first movie, all the key people behind the creation of Mr. Bean were involved in the production, story, writing, and screenplay. Of course, Rowan Atkinson returns to brilliantly portray the title character.

What I like most about this movie is the way the plot unfolds. There are three main storylines, each led by one of the three central characters, and they all tie together seamlessly.

First, we have Mr. Bean, who wins a holiday by train to Cannes, along with a video camera and €200 in spending money. Then, there’s Stepan (Max Baldry), a young boy Bean inadvertently “kidnaps” after asking Stepan’s father to film him doing some of his usual quirky antics on the train platform. Unfortunately, the father misses the train as a result, leaving Stepan alone onboard. The father reports his son as missing, thinking Bean has taken him.

Feeling responsible, Bean decides to look after Stepan and reunite him with his father. However, a series of mishaps leads to Bean losing track of Stepan and finding himself hitchhiking. That’s where Sabine (Emma de Caunes), an aspiring actress, enters the picture. She picks Bean up, and we learn she’s on her way to the Cannes Film Festival, where her acting debut will be screened. Along the way, they find Stepan, and the trio continues their journey to Cannes, with plenty of hilarious misadventures along the way. The ending at Cannes is a must-watch—it’s filled with chaos and humor as everything hilariously falls into place.

One of the highlights of the movie is the self-obsessed film producer Carson Clay (Willem Dafoe), who creates a film entirely focused on himself. Watching his overly pretentious movie unfold is absolutely hilarious.

This film is laugh-out-loud funny, and even in 2020, the comedy holds up remarkably well. I’ll definitely be watching it again later this week.

Johnny English (2003)

Johnny English (2003)

7/10

Starring

Rowan Atkinson

Natalie Imbruglia

Ben Miller

John Malkovich

 

 

Directed by Peter Howitt

The first Johnny English movie paved the way for its two sequels, delivering a hilarious spoof of James Bond that stands out as one of the best in the genre. The bumbling yet endearing character of Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is so socially awkward and oblivious that you can’t help but wonder how he and his team manage to succeed in their missions.

The movie also features Australian-British singer Natalie Imbruglia in the cast. It follows the typical spy spoof formula, pairing English with a far more competent partner, Angus (Ben Miller). Angus serves as the voice of reason and the anchor that keeps English from completely failing. His skills are the real reason their missions don’t go up in flames.

The comedy, both physical and situational, fits seamlessly into Rowan Atkinson’s signature style, reminiscent of his portrayal of characters like Mr. Bean. Interestingly, the character of Johnny English was inspired by a TV commercial persona, Richard Latham, also played by Atkinson—a similarly bumbling figure.

As a James Bond spoof, the movie stands out for its surprisingly strong plot. While most spoofs lean into eccentric villains and outlandish scenarios, this film balances its humor with a more grounded and calculated antagonist. The villain here is calm and collected, which contrasts brilliantly with English’s chaotic incompetence. Even the plot holes and serious elements are cleverly turned into comedic gags.

One of the film’s strengths is how it portrays English’s ineptitude without making him so awkward that he becomes irritating. Instead, he’s a character whose sheer luck and unexpected circumstances elevate him to the role of a secret agent, much to the chagrin of MI7.

Here’s how English ends up as MI7’s top agent on a mission far beyond his mental capabilities: A series of unfortunate events caused by English himself leads to the accidental deaths of nearly all of MI7’s top agents. As the only one left, English is assigned the critical mission of stopping the theft of the crown jewels at the Tower of London. It’s here that he crosses paths with Interpol agent Lorna (Natalie Imbruglia). Despite English’s presence, the jewels are stolen anyway.

With Angus’s help, English discovers how the thieves managed to steal the jewels, and their investigation leads them to Pascal Sauvage, the main villain. Joined by Lorna, the trio works to unravel Sauvage’s grand plan, which involves making himself the new King of England. As they dig deeper, they realize that Sauvage’s scheme threatens the entire country.

Stopping Sauvage proves challenging because he always seems to be one step ahead—primarily due to his intelligence and English’s silliness. The dynamic between the villain’s calculated moves and English’s clumsy antics keeps the plot entertaining while delivering plenty of laughs.

The movie was a box office success which led to the production of two sequels Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Johnny English Strikes Back (2018).

Pretty Woman (1990)

Pretty Woman (1990)

7/10

Starring

Richard Gere

Julia Roberts

Hector Elizondo

Jason Alexander

 

 

Directed by Garry Marshall

Pretty Woman is a romantic classic, and even though it’s the kind of fairy tale you’d expect from a Disney production, it’s not exactly realistic. We get a Disney-style fairy tale where the man rescues the woman from the harsh life on the streets, and she saves him in return from his own emotional struggles.

That said, Pretty Woman is one of those movies you’ll never forget seeing. It’s a classic rom-com, where the comedy hits the right notes, and the romance is so well-tuned it’ll have you going all mushy inside.

The plot revolves around a businessman, Edward (Richard Gere), who gets lost and ends up in a Red Light District. There, he meets a prostitute named Vivian (Julia Roberts), who charges him $20 to guide him to where he’s headed. Edward is struck by how Vivian carries herself, so he offers her money to be his pretend girlfriend for a week, to accompany him to various social events he needs to attend. He also gives her money to buy new clothes and look fashionable for the events.

As the week goes on, Edward falls for Vivian when he sees her all cleaned up, and a relationship begins to develop. However, they come from two very different worlds. But will Edward let that stop him? That’s what this movie explores.

With the way movies are written nowadays, with strong female heroines and messages about standing up for yourself, Pretty Woman might not age well in some of its scenes. But the romance and comedy still resonate. What makes this movie one of the top romantic films to watch, regardless of what critics say, is the acting from the leads. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere make a fantastic on-screen couple. Their portrayals of their characters will forever be etched in your mind when you watch this movie (if you haven’t already). It was this film that introduced me to Roberts.

Over the years, her numerous rom-coms from the ‘90s have become legendary films that I’ll always watch whenever I catch them on TV. Roberts won a Golden Globe for Pretty Woman, and as mentioned, she did some of her best rom-com work in the ‘90s. Two of my all-time favorites are My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) and Notting Hill (1999).

The movie was directed by the late Garry Marshall (New Year’s Eve [2011]), who did a fantastic job with his interpretation of the story. Marshall also worked with Roberts on Valentine’s Day (2010) and Mother’s Day (2016).

Pretty Woman was a massive box office success worldwide and has been adapted into a musical. It also boasts an amazing soundtrack.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

6/10

Starring

Hugh Grant

Andie MacDowell

Kristin Scott Thomas

Simon Callow

 

 

Directed by Mike Newell

Four Weddings and a Funeral is one of those movies from the '90s that became something we all talked about. It revolves around a group of friends who meet at social occasions, with a romantic storyline starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. This movie marked the first of many collaborations between Grant and screenwriter Richard Curtis and has since been tagged as one of the best comedies you can see.

The movie is filled with engaging comedic conversations, and I have to give credit to Curtis for crafting them. It’s about a group of friends all navigating the single life while attending various social events. At one wedding, Charles (Grant) meets Carrie (MacDowell), and they spend some nights together before she returns to America. They meet again at another wedding, where Charles realizes that, in the past, he hasn’t been the best boyfriend. They spend another night together, but Charles once again fails to seize the opportunity to make Carrie his.

The next time they meet is at another wedding, and this time, Charles realizes that he’s missed his chance with Carrie. Now, there’s a funeral to attend for one of his friends. At the funeral, Charles is left pondering whether he will ever find true love. After the funeral, there’s another wedding, and Charles faces a choice: go after Carrie or settle for the person he’s with.

I’m keeping this synopsis vague to avoid spoilers about who is getting married and who is being buried.

Made with a budget of about $5 million, the movie went on to be an unexpected huge success, grossing over $245 million. The production was done on a tight budget, with the cast being retained to avoid extra costs, and some extras even wore their own clothes.

The movie’s success can be credited to Curtis’s writing, Grant’s fantastic performance, and Mike Newell’s direction.

It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay (for Curtis). The movie also won Hugh Grant a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor. At the BAFTAs, it also won Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kristin Scott Thomas.

This was the film that propelled Grant to stardom (I think), and even now, the movie is still funny and easy to enjoy. I regard this as a classic that will always be funny no matter when you see it.

Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually (2003)

6/10

Starring

Alan Rickman

Bill Nighy

Colin Firth

Emma Thompson

Hugh Grant

Laura Linney

Liam Neeson

Martine McCutcheon

Rowan Atkinson

Directed by Richard Curtins

Writing a review of Love Actually is easy, but penning down the plot without giving away spoilers—that can be hard. But don’t worry, no spoilers here. Love Actually has, in many ways, become one of those movies you’ll catch on TV during Christmas. It’s beautiful, well-written, and does justice to the many stories it carries, loosely linking them together.

The movie is finely tuned. It places each story in a section of life that you can relate to, which makes the movie even more charming. The cast is perfectly suited for their roles, making the entire journey worth every minute.

The movie has about nine stories happening simultaneously, and the way Richard Curtis crafted it, it’s not hard to follow. We have Billy, a fading musician, who covers a song he dislikes. His manager, wanting to make the song a hit, promotes it heavily.

Next, there’s a story about a young woman getting married to her man, while the best man secretly harbors a huge crush on her and wishes she were his.

Another story follows Jamie, who finds out his wife is having an affair when he unexpectedly comes home early. He retreats to a secluded place and starts developing feelings for the housekeeper.

Then there’s the tale of Harry (played by the late Alan Rickman), a married man with a wandering eye. He wants to have an affair with his secretary, Mia, but his plans keep getting tangled up by a bumbling store clerk (Rowan Atkinson).

The very awkward story of the British Prime Minister and the American president both involves a crush on a lady named Natalie, who works at 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister has feelings for her, but the American president seems to think he owns everything and flirts with her.

The story of Sarah is a bit sad, as we see her life being overshadowed by her care for her mentally ill brother. But this Christmas, she decides to care for herself as well and allows a man into her heart.

The funny tale of John and Judy is about two people acting out a sex scene in a film, who end up falling for each other.

These are the main love stories in the movie, though there are other stories that didn’t hit home for me but were still funny.

The movie opens by paying homage to those who died in the 9/11 plane crashes before diving into the various love and comedic stories of people trying to get their lives together. The movie also takes some jabs at the political climate of the time.

As Richard Curtis wrote the screenplay and made his directorial debut here, the movie was a huge box office success. Although critics were divided, many audiences, including me, loved it.

I’ve seen Love Actually so many times in my life that I’ve lost count. I wonder if that’s the same for you.

Notting Hill (1999)

Notting Hill (1999)

7/10

Starring

Julia Roberts

Hugh Grant

Hugh Bonneville

Emma Chambers

Directed by Roger Michell

Julia Roberts, over the years of her acting career, has been in some of the best love stories. Notting Hill is one of them. The screenplay/script is soft, lovely, smooth sailing, and hits all the right spots with its comedy. This Rom-Com doesn’t come off as cheesy but carves out a place of its own in the world of Rom-Coms that will forever be classics. Seeing it again in 2020, the movie still holds up, and the comedy is still light and beautiful.

Notting Hill is every young man’s fantasy—falling in love with a beautiful movie star and having her love you back. I like the way the movie doesn’t make Julia Roberts' character, Anna, perfect. She was not flawless, nor was she an over-the-top diva. Similarly, Hugh Grant's character, Will, wasn’t perfect either—he had his quirks too.

The plot has Anna, a popular film actress, walk into a bookstore owned by divorcee Will in Notting Hill. Their first meeting wasn’t spectacular, and when Will accidentally spills a drink on Anna, she follows him home to get cleaned up (his home was nearby). She impulsively kisses him, then asks him to meet her at her hotel. There, Will is mistaken for the press and ends up having to interview her, which is funny. It’s at this point they agree to go out, as Anna asks to be Will’s date to his sister's birthday. Will’s family is blown away by meeting Anna for the first time and learning that she is a popular actress.

Their secret relationship soon becomes known to the press, and Anna freaks out. Her behavior toward Will at that time was totally uncalled for, putting them in an awkward situation, leaving us as viewers wondering how they will patch things up.

I have to give the director credit for bringing this amazing screenplay to life in the most well-crafted way. But the majority of the credit should go to the man who wrote the amazing script—Richard Curtis. He is the BAFTA- and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of the Rom-Com Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), which also starred Grant as the leading man. He also wrote Mr. Bean (1997), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), and its 2004 sequel The Edge of Reason. I can’t forget his directorial debut in the 2003 movie Love Actually, which he also penned.

Not to forget the musical score and movie soundtrack, Notting Hill has one of the coolest soundtrack albums you could buy.

Like a lot of Curtis's Rom-Coms, this movie was a box office success. It’s seen by critics and audiences as a masterpiece, and you’ll enjoy watching it anytime. The film received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Actor for Grant, and Best Actress for Roberts.

Book Club (2018)

Book Club (2018)

6/10

Starring

Diane Keaton

Jane Fonda

Candice Bergen

Mary Steenburgen

Directed by Bill Holderman

Book Club is not one of the coolest movies to see. In fact, I feel the script was somewhat cagey, avoiding anything that could have turned out creepy. The veteran actresses had their work cut out for them in bringing this not-so-lively script to life, and I have to admit that they did. Writer and director Bill Holderman’s decision not to swing hard on this script wasn't the best for me. He could have added some unexpected creepiness for the comedy, which I feel would have worked. Instead, he kept the movie clean and simple, and the veteran actresses had to do the heavy lifting to make it good enough to watch.

All praise goes to the ladies who took the bull by the horns in this movie. They all looked stunning and moved about confidently onscreen. They’ve been in the business long enough to know what works and what doesn’t, and they gave us all the right elements to make the movie fun to watch in the end.

Book Club is a nice movie with an amazing cast of four cool ladies. The oldest at the time of release was Jane Fonda (80), who plays Vivian, a woman who runs her own company. She’s rich, successful, and has sex with whomever she wants. The downside is she’s afraid of commitment. Alongside Fonda, we have Diane Keaton (72), who plays Diane, a widow whose husband died a year before. She’s left to navigate life on her own, with two grown daughters who have families of their own. Diane has allowed her daughters to control her life. Then there’s Candice Bergen (72), who plays Sharon, a federal judge who is divorced and has stayed away from all sexual relationships for eighteen years. Last but not least is Mary Steenburgen (65), who plays Carol. She’s the only one still married, and she and her husband are going through a rough patch sexually.

The four women, whose ages in the movie are not mentioned (or maybe I missed it), have bonded over the years and formed a book club. Things change in their lives when the book they’re assigned to read is Fifty Shades of Grey. The BDSM-themed book awakens something inside all of them. At this point, I liked how the movie didn’t become overwhelmingly creepy, but I did expect some creepiness. I thought that was a comedic door waiting to be opened, which, like I said earlier, the director didn’t dare venture through. Although something was awakened in them, it wasn’t to go do some weird sexual thing—it was more about breaking free from their slumps and doing something daring.

The acting from the four ladies is magnificent, and for more than five decades, these women have been onscreen giving us fantastic performances one after another. Their performances here are worth all the praise. The movie was a huge box office hit, making over $104 million on a $14 million budget.

I like the way the movie coasts to the end and makes you want to be daring in life now—and to continue being daring even as you reach the ripe, graceful age of the ladies.