1776 (1972)

Plot: The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence.

What a fun movie! Crammed with little-known historical facts (although at moments it's hard to tell just what is fact and what is fiction), spectacular music, and great humor, this is a spectacular musical! 4.5 stars.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

One of the greatest old comedies, I can't watch this without laughing. Just the premise is hysterical. So much of the movie rests on plot, though, I can't give anything away in this review, except . . . . you have to rent it and see it, even if you don't care for old movies. 5 stars.

Big Fat Liar (2002)

Err . . . what can I say about this movie? It had a few moments, but overall it was too ridiculous for me to really like it. Also, while it tried to present the simple moral of "Don't lie," it's doubtful whether that ever comes through clearly to the main character -- did he learn the lesson? Probably not. Will he go back to his habit of lying like crazy? Yes. 1.5 stars.

All the President's Men (1976)

Oooh. Good movie. I knew virtually nothing about Watergate, but now I consider myself well-educated. :-) This movie had some of the most natural dialogue I have ever seen. Somehow it just felt real. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman were excellent together as the two reporters who broke the story. Definitely a good movie . . . especially considering it's based on a true story. Often that signals "BLAH" loud and clear, but this was a definite exception. 4.5 stars.

Cats and Dogs (2001)

This movie was hilarious! It was completely silly, didn't take itself at all seriously (which is always fun), and despite the fact that the little kid annoyed the heck outta me, it was an awesome movie. 4 stars.

Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

A strange movie, but funny, nonetheless. The contrast of her cheerful optimism contrasted with the gloom and doom of the rest of the household is hilarious, and the way she just waltzes in and fixes up their lives left me chuckling. Not as hysterically funny as I'd heard it was, but still a really good movie. 3.5 stars.

Chicken Run (2000)

This is one of my favorite Dreamworks cartoons, second only to Shrek, but Chicken Run manages to keep most of the fun humor while throwing out the cussing and crude jokes. It's genuinely funny, not a movie for only kids. My favorite movie quote of all time comes from this movie: "The most important thing is that we have to work together as a team, which means...you do everything I tell you." Great, great film. 4 stars.