Madeleine the Movie Maven

On DVD: Little Miss Sunshine brightens any day

Screenwriter: Michael Arndt

Having a bad day? Bad week? Watch Little Miss Sunshine. I guarantee you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer for what has become one of my favorite movies of 2006. (And if you’re having a bad year – already – well, I suggest you call off work and watch it twice.)

Little Olive (Abigail Breslin, who played Mel Gibson’s daughter in Signs) caught the beauty pageant bug while visiting her out-of-town cousins. Now she dreams of taking that famous stroll down “runway lane” as a beauty pageant queen. As luck would have it, the winner of the regional pageant Olive participated in had to forfeit. As runner-up, Olive gets the chance to compete in the state competition.

Olive and her out-of-sync family – comprised of her motivational speaker father, Richard (Greg Kinnear); frazzled but supportive mom, Sheryl (Toni Collette); mute-by-choice brother, Dwayne (Paul Dano); suicidal, homosexual uncle, Frank (Steve Carell); and out-spoken paternal Grandpa (the one and only Alan Arkin), who also happens to be her choreographer – travel in their VW van to help Olive fulfill her dream and end up getting to know each other a little better in the process.

What I liked: Every single minute of this award-winning film! The acting is outstanding, the writing is believable and brilliant, and the story is simple yet highly enjoyable.

What I didn’t: Not a darn thing.

Madeleine says: Add it to your collection

What do you say?

On DVD: Get away from it all with Danny Deckchair

Screenwriter: Jeff Balsmeyer

This is a charming romantic comedy about how a change of scenery can change your life – for the better.

Danny Morgan (Rhys Ifans, of Notting Hill fame), cement truck driver and all-around good guy, was a restless dreamer who possessed what his live-in girlfriend, Trudy (Justine Clarke), described as “crazy ideas.” Ideas that you and I would call brainstorms conceived by an imaginative child.

Things are looking up for Trudy’s real estate career when local anchorman/heartthrob Sandy Upman (Rhys Muldoon) hires her to find him a house. Trudy gets stars in her eyes and considers dumping working class Danny, whom she now considers to be one of the “little people” (socio-economically speaking).

Meanwhile, with their vacation plans postponed (thanks to Trudy), Danny goes stir crazy while hanging around the house and ends up overhearing how Trudy really feels about him. Heartbroken, Danny looks for a way to improve his status to save his failing relationship with Trudy.

After running into a high school classmate who is now a successful entrepreneur, Danny plans to unveil his latest “crazy idea” – piloting his deckchair like a hot air balloon – during the “barby” (Australian for “cookout”) he and Trudy are throwing at their house.

Danny gets more than he bargained for when the chair takes flight, and a thunderstorm – and Fate – whisk him away to the land of Clarence, where he meets meter maid Glenda Lake (Miranda Otto, The Lord of the Rings II and III). Will Danny discover his true calling, and his true love, in this quaint town? Will he become one of the “big people?” Ah-ah-ahhh… Not so fast. I don’t give away endings. You’ll have to take the journey to find out!

What I liked: As a hopeless romantic, I found this Aussie film to be delightful and entertaining. Good acting. Funny script. Observant movie-watchers may notice the movie tipping its hat to The Wizard of Oz.

What I didn’t: Can’t think of anything.

Madeleine says: Worth full rental price.

What do you say?

On DVD: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Screenwriter: Shane Black, based in part on Brett Halliday’s novel, “Bodies Are Where You Find Them.”

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is fun fun. And witty witty. And nutty nutty. And I loved every frame of it!

It’s been said that the book is always better than the movie. In this case, I’d bet it would come out even. This fast-paced, perfectly cast, modern-day detective story has so much action and twists and turns and dead bodies and witty repartee, I don’t know where to begin my review. Except to say that I hope to be able to write a screenplay as good as this someday.

In 2005, writer/director Shane Black, the creator of the Lethal Weapon franchise, gave us this clever dime store novel spoof for our viewing pleasure. It stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Harry Lockhart, a petty thief turned aspiring actor, and his temporary partner-in-solving-crime Val Kilmer as Perry Van Shrike a.k.a. “Gay Perry,” a private investigator based in L.A. who was hired to teach Harry the ropes for an upcoming role. Or was he…?

It all starts in typical detective story fashion – the shadowy figures in a dark New York City alley, who turn out to be Harry and his cohort running from the scene of a crime… the dame in L.A., struggling actress Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), who turns out to be Harry’s secret love from high school and the sister of… the other dame, who hires the homosexual private investigator (Perry) to follow Harlan Dexter (Corbin Bernsen), because she was told Dexter's her natural father… the reluctant partners (Perry and Harry) who think they’re in for an easy night of surveillance but end up smack dab in the middle of a multiple murder mystery… you know, typical Phillip Marlowe stuff.

If it sounds a little confusing, never fear – Harry will guide you through his four days of crime-fighting hell with the wit of Nick Charles and the keen eye of Sherlock Holmes. Well, sort of.

What I liked: Everything, especially the witty repartee between Harry and Perry, and Harry and Harmony. Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer give some of their best performances in years, and they make a great, uh, dynamic…duo. Well, let’s just say they have great chemistry. Wait, let me rephrase… Ummm, to put it simply… Oh, just watch it and you’ll see what I mean!

What I didn’t: The “Gag Reel” in the special features section wasn’t that funny.

Madeleine says: Add it to your collection! Immediately. If not sooner. And Mr. Black, wherever you are, I hope you’re working on a sequel.

What do you say?

Stranger Than Fiction is no stranger to real laughs

Screenwriter: Zach Helm

This is a movie review about a charming film called Stranger Than Fiction. While some other movies are busy regurgitating canned humor and thin plotlines to get guffaws, STF delivers a well-crafted, imaginative and heartwarming tale about Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) who wakes up one morning to discover he has a second inner voice.

This voice, which narrates his life in a way that only he can hear, belongs to bestselling novelist Karen “Kay” Eiffel (Emma Thompson), who’s struggling to find the perfect ending to her latest tragic novel. In a strange twist of fate, Harold’s regimented life as an IRS agent becomes intertwined with Kay’s writing, and the voice reveals that certain events have been set in motion that would lead to Harold’s imminent and untimely death.

As if Harold didn’t have enough problems. He has just met the love of his life, an anti-government bakery owner named Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal) whom he is required to audit. Spurred on by his new found (albeit unrequited) love, Harold refuses to succumb to the voice’s prediction. Being the deliberate left-brainer that he is, he seeks advice from literary professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) to prevent his demise and reinstate new meaning into his life.

What I liked: This is one of the best films I’ve seen this year; great cast/acting… this is my favorite Will Farrell performance; witty script; the website is also very cool

What I didn’t: Can’t think of anything

Madeleine says: Worth full price

What do you say?