reel: MAN UP

Title: MAN UP

Director: Ben Palmer

Writer: Tess Morris

genre: romantic-comedy

production: Studio Canal

release date: April 19, 2015 (Tribeca) / May 29, 2015 (worldwide)

running time: 88 minutes

country: United Kingdom, France

language: English

box office: $3 million

CAST

Simon Pegg as Jack

Lake Bell as Nancy Patterson / Jessica

Rory Kinnear as Sean

Ophelia Lovibond as Jessica

SYNOPSIS

Nancy Patterson (Lake Bell) is a 34-year-old bitter, unhopeful woman whose been single for several years after a bad breakup.
Jack (Simon Pegg) is a 40-year-old recent divorcee whose hopeful that he will find the right person for him. He's friend Tom set-up him up on a blind date with a 24-year-old triathlete Jessica (Ophelia Lovibond).

Some turn of events and Jack will mistake Nancy to be Jessica and their night continues on with this little white lie.

REVIEW

Simon Pegg and Lake Bell have great chemistry on-screen and this is more of a comedy than romance. I was laughing and rolling on my back the whole time. It's a feel good movie. Must watch. 

GALLERY

reel: THE LONGEST RIDE

title: THE LONGEST RIDE

genre: romance-drama

director: George Tillman, Jr

release date: April 10, 2015

distributed by: 20th Century Fox

CAST:
SCOTT EASTWOOD as Luke Collins

 

BRITT ROBERTSON as Sophia Danko

SYNOPSIS:
Luke Collins (Eastwood) is a Professional Bull Rider, genuine cowboy who owns a ranch from North Carolina. He dreams of being the top ranked bull rider of the world. This can only happen if he rides Rango (#1 bull to beat) for 8 seconds. 

Sophia Danko (Robertson) is an art major college student of Black Mountain College in North Carolina. She is awaiting a prestigious internship that can launch her career in New York.

They met when Sophia went with her sorority sister to see a bull riding competition, where she caught Luke's eyes. They exchanged numbers and went on a very romantic date by the lake. Driving back they saw an accident and helped this elderly man who asked Sophia to take his precious box back with her. 

Their romance will revolve around their differences, Luke being a country guy and Sophia a sophisticated art lover. 

REVIEW:
I love both Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood. They make a great pair. The movie does not have any slow moments. It's really watching Nicholas Sparks' book come to life (as most of his movies). Definitely one of my favorite Sparks's movies next to The Notebook, Safe Haven and The Lucky One.

FACTS: 

• Scott Eastwood is the son of actor Clint Eastwood (sans their uncanny resemblance).
• He is Taylor Swift's love interest in her music video "Wildest Dreams".

CREDITS:

Google Images and Wikipedia

reel: THE SONG (2014)

title: THE SONG

director: Richard Ramsey

genre: romance-drama-Christian

year: September 26, 2014

CAST

Alan Powell as Jed King

Ali Faulkner as Rose

Caitlin Nicol-Thomas as Shelby

Danny Vinson as Shep Jordan

Aaron Benward as David King

Kenda Benward as Bethany King

Jude Ramsey as Ray King

Gary Jenkins as Stan

Landon Marshall as Eddie

SYNOPSIS

This movie is based on the Bible's Old Testament book of Song of Songs written by Solomon, son of King David. 

Jed King (Alan Powell) is the son of a famous country singer David King (Aaron Benward). He is an aspiring singer/songwriter but is living in the shadows of his father. He married Rose (Ali Faulkner) and on their honeymoon wrote her a love song which will catapult him into stardom.  Fast forward five years later, they have a family and lives on the vineyard while Jed's successful music career takes him on the road almost all the time. He asked Rose to come with him on the road but she can't leave her ailing father. This brings a toil in their relationship.  Jed met Shelby (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas) as his front act on his tour. Soon after they will have an affair and comes all the bad vices (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, fornication). Their affair will bring turmoil to his marriage and eventually break his family.

REVIEW

I love Christian movies. There should be more Christian movies produced. It's a feel good movie even if there is drama because it hits home. The movie is realistic and show what marriage can go through if not protected and what happens when a man forgets about God and just follow his flesh or earthly desires. The movie is about hope, dreams, discontentment, mistakes, pain, forgiveness, redemption, love and grace. We all make mistakes, surely no one is perfect. 

shiata ~ ENDLESS LOVE (2014)

July 13 ~

title: ENDLESS LOVE
starring: ALEX PETTYFER and GABRIELLA WILDE
release date: February 14, 2014
theme song: PUMPIN BLOOD by NONONO

~honmei~ PENELOPE

movie title: PENELOPE
director: MARK PALANSKY
starring: CHRISTINA RICCI, JAMES McAVOY
genre: ROMANTIC - COMEDY, DRAMA
release date: 02.29.08

CAST:

• Christina Ricci as Penelope Wilhern
• James McAvoy as "Max Campion"/Johnny Martin
• Catherine O'Hara as Jessica Wilhern
• Reese Witherspoon as Annie
• Peter Dinklage as Lemon
• Richard E. Grant as Franklin Wilhern
• Simon Woods as Edward Vanderman III
• Ronni Ancona as Wanda
• Nick Frost as Max Campion
• Lenny Henry as Krull
• Nigel Havers as Edward Vanderman II
• Burn Gorman as Larry
• Russell Brand as Sam
• John Voce as Duty Cop

SYNOPSIS:
A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with "one who will love her faithfully."

Penelope (Ricci) a young woman born with a slight deformity blame it on the curse is forced to search for her "one true love" that will release her of this curse. However, these aristocratic youmg men that she meets are abhorred thus making her lose confidence. Here comes Max (McAvoy) a ruggedly handsome aristocrat befriends our Penelope and shed some light in her rather boring world.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Max's shocked handsome face upon Penelope's first meeting.
• Penelope's enchanting eye-opening transformation.
• Max and Penelope's first kiss.
• Amazingly great soundtrack ~ Sigur Ros "Hoppipola" ~ is truly enchanting.

LOWLIGHTS:

• Slow movement when Penelope is engaged to another young artistrocrat.

TO LOVE or NOT TO LOVE:
I love this movie because it's graced by McAvoy, Ricci and Witherspoon's presence ~ few of my fave Hollywood actors. The romantic, fairy-tale liked love story infused with comedy, drama and enchanting music.