Blended (2014)

Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
Directed by Frank Coraci

by Joshua Simpkins

Adam Sandler is known for comedies. Occasionally, he slips in a romantic comedy. Or, you could say that most of them are the same romantic comedies over and over again. Two of his previous romantic comedies have costarred Drew Barrymore. First comes The Wedding Singer (1998), then comes 50 First Dates (2004), then comes Blended (2014) in a baby carriage. Who ever thought they would see a Sandler/Barrymore Trilogy. I know I sure didn’t, but hey trilogies equal dollar signs these days. Why not?

Blended is a blend (see what I did there) of previous Adam Sandler comedies and classic chick flick, (I know, I know, its romantic comedy) clichés. You know the ones. Boy meets girl on a blind date to hooters, girl and boy end up going to Africa on a thin, far-fetched plot device, monkeys play instruments in Hooters outfits to boy and girl, Boy and girl fall in love. We’ve seen it all before. Seriously, we’ve seen it all before. Well, everything except the monkeys which I really enjoyed. Monkeys win.

Adam Sandler plays Jim, a widowed Dick's Sporting Goods manager with three daughters who goes on a disastrous blind date with Lauren (Drew Barrymore).  Lauren is the organized single mother of two boys who runs a closet organizing business called "Closet Queens".  At first, they hate each other, but after falling into a cheap trip to Africa where both of their families must "blend" they both start to see each other's good qualities.

Blended really is a blend. And, if you pay close attention you might find the hidden surprises and cameos, aka easter eggs, hidden with the film from Sandler and Barrymore's earlier films. "Hi, I'm Tom." But, slipping in a few cameos doesn't hide the fact that their is some rather lazy story telling going on. Is it a horrible film? No. But, some of it does seem a little phoned in. Hey, I've got an idea. Africa seems like a fun place, right? Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s make a movie and then everyone can go. Hurry, somebody write a script! (Sandler voice) Ahh, Let’s go!

Now, don't get me wrong. I like Adam Sandler movies. I grew up with Sandler. Literally. No, that's a lie. But, I'm the age that was his demographic. Although, I'm not sure if I still am. It just seems his past five (or 10) attempts have been an excuse for him to have fun with his friends and get paid for it. I’m not a stick in the mud, I’m all for fun. But, it’s a shame when we’ve seen him make hilarious movies, as well as, take great dramatic acting turns.

Now, should you force the boyfriend to watch this? It's probably the other way around. While on paper it appears to be a chick flick, it never really decides whether it wants to be a classic Sandler comedy, or allow us to engage emotionally with the characters. Every time things turn emotional it is quickly undermined by a gag (some really bad stereotyping going on) or a stunt. It really doesn't allow itself to stay as sweet as The Wedding Singer, or 50 First Dates.  Drew Barrymore is great as Lauren.  It is funny at times, though (Be sure not to make fun of a Mom's kid).  And, a little sweet in others.

FORCE THE BOYFRIEND:  5 out of 10 (Who's Forcing Who)

Beer Pairing Recommendation

Nothing says summer vacation more than a delicious summer ale. 

And, Blue Point makes a good one.  Some enjoy a few this summer on

while out on vacation with Adam Sandler.  Oh, he won't return your 

voicemails or emails or texts or when you drop by for a quick

visit?  Well, drink one anyway.  Stalker.

(click to read more)

War Movies For Chicks!

I’ve compiled five great “chick friendly” World War II movies. So, go ahead and take it out on the hubby or boyfriend. Who knows they may even like it.


From Here to Eternity (1953)Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, Deborah Kerr, and Montgomery Clift

And, you thought it started with Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in Pearl Harbor. Well, guess again. This is a great, great, movie and it even garnered Frankie Sinatra an Academy Award. You probably seen part of it before...you know the black and white scene with the couple rolling around on the beach at the watersedge...well, its from this movie. I've seen it numerous times...and I even read the book I liked the movie so much. This is a must see...for you and your boyfriend.




The English Patient (1996)
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth

This movie won like 300 Academy Awards (and if that doesn't mean anything to you, and sometimes it doesn't) then just take my word for it and watch it. It is what you chicks call a timeless, love story and there is lots of war so there is plenty for everyone. Very well acted and directed. If you saw it in the 90's then watch it again. If you have never seen it then watch it because I say so...and make your boytoy watch it, too.


The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
Directed by George Stevens
Starring Shelley Winters, Millie Perkins, Ed Wynn, Lou Jacobi, and Diane Baker

Like me you were probably forced to read this book in school. And, even at the time you knew that this was an important book. You might have even got to watch the movie in class and give your English teacher a break. Watch it again, and this time, pay attention to the scene in which the Frank family is about to be discovered by the Nazis. It doesn't get more emotional or suspenseful then that. Is this necesarilly a chick flick? Probably not...but it was written by a chick and it is very, very good.



Notorious (1946)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains

I am a huge, huge, huge Alfred Hitchcock fan. I think his films are the reason I even like movies to begin with. Few directors have been able to blend art and commerce so nicely. The Birds is one of my all-time favorite films...why might you ask?...well, one reason is that it really isnt about birds...there are birds attacking people...but...I'm getting off topic. This film is one of Hitchcock's best and at it's heart is many chick flick elements...the relationship between Grant and Bergman to say the least...plus, there are Nazis...look out for the macguffin...you tell me what it is.



Racing with the Moon (1984)
Directed by Richard Benjamin
Starring Sean Penn, Nic Cage, and Elizabeth McGovern

This movies stars Sean Penn and Nic Cage and I bet you haven't even heard of it. I came across it a couple of years ago and wondered how the hell I had never heard of it. I went out and found it on DVD and fell in love with. It took me mulitple viewings much thought before I finally admitted to myself that, at it's core, this film is very much a chick flick. It takes place in 1943 and Sean and Nic are like many other American boys ready to go off and fight in the war...Sean meets Elizabeth...and well...watch the movie. It's great. I highly recommend it if you liked "The Notebook".

No Strings Attached (2011)

Directed by Ivan Reitman
Starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline with Jake M. Johnson, Cary Elwes, and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges

by Joshua Simpkins

I was a little unsure of what this movie would be about. Maybe, it is some surreal hyper-realistic nihilistic science fiction film, set sometime in the apocalyptic future. It couldn’t be a chick flick. Not with Natalie Portman starring in it. Wait, she was in a chick flick. Remember, that one about heart and Walmart? So, maybe it is a chick flick after all. It does have Ashton Kutcher, in it as well. Or, Ashton Doucher, as I like to call him. Which should make it some wild ride!

Looks like the studios battled it out to have two chick flicks about friends being promiscuous hit theaters about the same time.(see Friend with Benefits). I mean this is a real high profile concept that people just couldn’t wait to see. Let’s get a couple of annoying actors to play the male leads and we have box office gold. Right? Wrong. If either of these movies made any money I would really be surprised. But, this one has Natalie Portman, so Star Wars Prequel fans…eat your heart out!

No Strings Attached is about Emma and Adam, played by Natalie and Doucher. They meet long ago at summer camp. He is a sort-of everyman, who just so happens to have a famous TV actor father (played brilliantly by Kevin Kline) and she is a weird, super-smart nerd. Their paths cross at numerous times throughout their lifetime until they both end up living and working in Los Angeles. Emma is a doctor, and Adam is an aspiring screenwriter/ assistant working on a “Glee” like television show. One day, Adam finds out his Dad is dating his ex-girlfriend, that in fact, they are in love, and has a breakdown. He gets drunk and ends up at Emma’s. At some point, because of his issues and her emotional unavailability, they decide to sleep together with no strings attached. Hence, the title of the movie.

Maybe, Asthon Doucher isn’t that bad of an actor after all. By the end, of the movie I kind of believe he is an everyday-sort-of nice guy. This is pretty hard for him to pull off, considering, we all know what a D-bag he really is. I found myself actually rooting for him. Natalie was pretty good as well. Although, I found it strange that she was even in this movie. I also found it odd how frivolously she had sexual encounters. I mean this is no way for a space princess to act! Luke and Leia are your children for goodness sakes! Then again, she did roll around in some field with Hayden Christensen, so, what do I know?

There are also some great supporting characters, and some pretty funny lines. Kevin Kline is excellent as Adam’s famous actor, drug-using Dad. Jake M. Johnson is also pretty great as his longtime buddy. Ludacris (I’m sorry…Chris Bridges) is in this as well for some reason. That in itself is actually…well…Ludacris.

The movie is directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Stripes) so it holds together pretty nicely, and is funnier than I would have suspected.

FORCE THE BOYFRIEND: 6 out of 10 (For some funny asides, and it has a male lead)

Beer Pairing Recommendation

Because it has Stars War Princess Natalie and its about white people

For more on the beer, click here
For more on the chick flick, visit IMDB 

COUGAR CLUB - AT FIRST SIGHT (1999)

Welcome to the first Cougar Club. Basically, this is old chick flicks that you may (or may not) have seen in the past. The Chick Flicks that still got it. For those of you out there that are not familiar with the term "cougar", dictionary.com defines the word as this;


noun, plural -gars, ( especially collectively ) -gar.
a large, tawny cat, Felis concolor, of North and South America: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in some areas.

While cougars are endangered in some areas they have been seen in Southern California, New York, and Florida plus many other urban areas. They may not be as endangered as suggested by the definition (See, SATC 2, for an example).



The first selection for the Cougar Club is the Val Kilmer vehicle, "At First Sight" (1999) co-starring Mira Sorvino, and directed by Irwin Winkler. It is the story of Amy Benic (Mira Sorvino), a New York architect who meets a very good masseuse, Virgil, while vacationing at a resort. They fall in love and Amy convinces Virgil to undergo radical eye surgery which may help him be able to regain his vision.



Losely based on a true story, this movie does have moments that make it quite good, although it does have it's weak points. Kilmer is somehow believable as a blindman, even though it feels at times he is channelling his inner Jim Morrison. Mira Sorvino is in one of her better roles since winning the Academy Award for "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995). Irwin Winkler is more of a producer than director but, the direction isn't bad.

Watching this movie again, I did find it enjoyable. It was more well-crafted then most chick flicks. I mean with a tagline like, "Only Love Can Bring You To Your Senses", how could it not be enjoyable. This is the type of "chick flick" that feels a little more real than, "The Switch". So I say give it a try.

Has it aged gracefully like a fine wine? I don't know. The coat that Kilmer is wearing throughout the movie (see poster) looks like something I would have scowered through thrift stores and garage sales for in 1999, but today. Who knows. I do think the movie still holds up well. Kilmer and Sorvino didnt hold up as well. Kilmer has aged and put on some weight and Sorvino has all but disappeared. Don't think it would play as well today if it was made with Fatty Kilmer. Just my thoughts.

"Science gave him his sight, She gave him vision"

It's Complicated (2009)

Directed by Nancy Meyer  
Starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin

by Tim Rousseau

Having struck a seedy back alley deal with the missus, I found myself sitting down in the theater to watch "It's Complicated." This is the newest film modern menopause cinema has to offer and who better to bring it to us than Nancy Meyer, the poster girl of the movement. With her last outing "Something's Got to Give", I was surprised by the humor and relieved by its wit. By the end of the movie I was sold into wanting for these characters. Not the case with this one. The setting is similar, beautiful home and countryside, swap east coast for west coast, everyone walks around eating pastries and drinking white wine. Money doesn't seem to be a problem. In fact, there aren't really any problems with these people.......and that's when things get COMPLICATED.

Meryl Streep is the cougar with the heart of gold and Alec Baldwin is the douche bag, absent, full of sh!t father who somehow isn't responsible for any selfish thing he does. Steve Martin is the nice guy doormat. Well, you can see where I'm going with this, it's time for a fifty-something love triangle! They've been divorced for 10 years. He's remarried to the mistress, she's lonely but oh so brave and independent. They screw, she feels guilty, he doesn't. All sorts of hijinks ensue, and all the while she's kinda sorta dating Steve Martin. Most of the screen time is dedicated to Alec Baldwin bullshitting his way into Meryl Streep's granny panties and it only gets thicker and more absurd. Ladies, imagine your man laying in bed with you on a Sunday morning trying to get some nookie. You know, just laying it on thicker and thicker till you just give it up to shut him up. Well, there's 2 hours worth of it here, just in case you ever wanted to know how divorcee's get down.

This may sound like the ranting of an angry boyfriend forced to watch a chick flick, and well... it is...but it's also the voice of someone trying to reach out. I want to like these films, comrades, I do but the chick flick is a subtle art. When done properly it will persuade and move the male to see more Romcoms, even oddly looking forward to the next one. Characters are everything and this one didn't have any that I even cared about. I have a feeling this film is more realistic than I want to admit. About divorce, about growing older, about re-discovering social rites in a world that has changed. Maybe I judge it too harshly. It wasn't a bad movie by any stretch. There was even a funny marijuana sequence involving Steve Martin being, well, Steve Martin which unlike Alec Baldwin's schtick will never get old.

FORCE THE BOYFRIEND: 6 out of 10 (men will like this more than they think but will grow tired of Alec Baldwin)

Beer Pairing Recommendation
It was so complicated I couldn't chose a specific beer...much like Meryl had a hard time picking a man

For more on this chick flick, visit IMDB