Because I Said So

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:42 Long
A Preview by:
The Dude on the Right

Because I Said So
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Piper Perabo, Lauren Graham
MPAA Rated: PG-13
Released By: Universal Pictures
Directed By: Michael Lehmann

Okay, I know this is totally a chick-flick, and I’m a Mandy Moore and Piper Perabo fan, but so far the only reason I have to legitimize my going to see it is because there doesn’t seem to be any other movies I really want to see that opens the same weekend. I can see myself in the theater right now, with about 20 dudettes, all of them looking at me funny.

The things I have to do to review movies sometimes.

That’s it for this preview! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Tangled

MPAA Rated – PG
It’s 1:40 Long
A Review by:
The Dude on the Right

Tangled
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: The voices of: Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi
MPAA Rated: PG
Released By: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Kiddie Movie: Not too young, but definite girls.
Date Movie: Mom and Dad can watch it nicely with the kids.
Gratuitous Sex: There is some love, but it’s Disney-safe.
Gratuitous Violence: Cartoon.
Action: Some chasing and scenes of peril.
Laughs: Nothing gut-busting, but cute enough.
Memorable Scene: Nothing was super-special.
Memorable Quote: Nothing really.
Cool things about the Blu-ray? Other than the picture looking cool, and the DVD copy for on-the-go, it’s pretty much a movie for the movie. The “making of” segment might be cute for the kids, but the other extras seem to be thrown on there for the sake of having extras.

As I was watching “Tangled,” it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, Disney is starting to shift the vision of a Princess to the modern times, and I’m thinking it’s a smart thing. I will explain this a little more at the end of this review, but let’s get to the story first.

“Tangled” tells a tale loosely based on the “Rapunzel” story from the Brothers Grimm. Gone is the family that gives their baby to Dame Gothel and in its place is a Princess with magic hair, being kidnapped by Mother Gothel. It seems Mother Gothel, years ago, found a plant that, when she sang to it, would keep her young, but now that the power was transferred to Rapunzel through the Queen drinking flower broth and giving birth to Rapunzel, it seems the magic power is now in Rapunzel’s hair.

Okay, so Mom Gothel kidnaps Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) and keeps her in a tower for her selfish self, but Rapunzel is getting older, wanting to explore the world, and Mom keeps her at bay by convincing her the world is a bad place. Enter a dude who is far from a Prince, namely Flynn (voiced by Zachary Levi), who finds Rapunzel while on the run after stealing the Princess’ tiara from the castle. And so, yup, adventure ensues as Rapunzel convinces Flynn to take her out of the tower and to the town to see the flying lights, Flynn obliges so that she’ll give him the tiara back, and wouldn’t you know it, our happy couple falls in love.

It’s a nice story, you pretty much know how things will end up, after all it is a Disney movie, but what is great about “Tangled” is that it is smartly written, and rather than just being a princessy Princess, Rapunzel has spunk, yet at times is still just a girl at heart, and the movie does a fantastic job of showing this. Sure, she wants to be pretty, but Rapunzel’s not afraid to get her feet wet or wield a wicked frying pan.

Probably okay for younger boys (they’ll like the Flynn and horse characters), and the girls will relate and love Rapunzel, so I say it’s nice to see Disney taking what could have just been a generic Princess character and turn her into a girl that today’s youngins can relate to.

With that it’s 4 stars out of 5 for “Tangled.” I enjoyed it, it’s a movie I think most can enjoy, and if Disney can keep with this trend of movie I think it might have a future in keeping the Princess motif, but making her a 2010 kind of girl.

As far as the Blu-ray and DVD, I almost hate to say it but you’re pretty much getting this version for the movie, with a smattering of extras. The deleted scenes were pretty much better off cut, sure, you could probably sing along to the extended songs, and the alternate openings were better as alternates. The “Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale” is nice enough, probably better for the kids with the banter of Zachary and Mandy, but for me, loving the technical aspects of making films like this, the funniest part was the scene with the women trying to decide the best looking characature for Flynn.

Get the Blu-ray because it looks good, and just enjoy the movie as a smart movie that moves the concept of the Princess nicely into the 2010’s.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Chasing Liberty

MPAA Rated – PG-13
It’s 1:41 Long
A Review by:
The Dude on the Right

Chasing Liberty
Movie Stats & Links
Starring: Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra, Mark Harmon
MPAA Rated: PG-13
Released By: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 2004
Kiddie Movie: It’s mostly middle to late teen content.
Date Movie: It’s a dudette flick, but he might like watching Mandy.
Gratuitous Sex: Mandy gets naked, but we don’t see it.
Gratuitous Violence: Nah.
Action: There’s some chase scenes.
Laughs: Quite a few, actually.
Memorable Scene: When our heroes are in Venice it’s pretty fun.
Memorable Quote: Nothing stands out.
Directed By: Andy Cadiff

Maybe I’m just older and not hip with the times, and granted she’s of age, but when, if ever, would a daughter complain to her father than no one’s ever going to be able to get to third base with her? As a movie geared for the teen crowd, that scene in “Chasing Liberty” I just found a little odd. The rest of the movie, although farfetched, did have its cute moments and is what it is. Let’s go…

Mandy Moore plays Anna Foster. Like many late teen girls, she’s searching for her individuality. There’s only one problem: She’s the President of the United States’ daughter. Out on a date for her is not a simple task as a huge contingent of Secret Service personnel follows her wherever she goes. This comes to a head in the films opening scene, resulting in her confronting her father (played very well by Mark Harmon) about her lack of sex life. She’s pissed, her dad understands, and they agree that when they visit Prague, only two Secret Service people will be assigned to her when she goes to an opera with the daughter of the French Ambassador’s daughter, Gabrielle (Beatrice Rosen). When the opera turns out to be a rock concert, the Pres sends out the army of agents to protect his little girl. She’s at the club, spots the various agents, and Gabrielle hatches a plan so she can get away. Running out of the club, she spots a dude on a motor scooter, asks him to help her get away, and she’s off and running. The dude, it turns out is Ben Calder (Matthew Goode), and he’s got a secret.

Well, she doesn’t tell him who she really is, he doesn’t tell her who he really is, and now their off traipsing the European countryside and Anna wants to make her way to Berlin’s Love Festival, or as her dad calls it, an orgy. Oh yea, dad is totally against her going to the festival, and, oh yea, Anna and Ben fall in love, all the while staying one step ahead of the two agents assigned to watch them, Weiss (Jeremy Piven) and Morales (Annabella Sciorra).

So, “Chasing Liberty” is generic teen dudette fair, with a nice love story and a hunky guy. It does touch on some more adult issues, like who knew Anna was a virgin, and the issue of trying to find yourself living under the way to watchful eyes of your parents. Mandy Moore does a good job of taking you through the emotions of any older teen being a little rebellious, falling in love, and having her heart broken, and Matthew Goode does well in his predicament keeping his secret from Anna yet still, obviously, falling in love.

For the teen girls, they’ll probably enjoy the movie, though then demand a few concessions from their parents. Hey, if it’s good enough for the President’s daughter, going to the Love Festival should be good enough for them, too. Just remind your daughter that Anna is eighteen years old. It’s 3 stars out of 5 for “Chasing Liberty.”

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!