Hollywood Ending (2002)

This is not nearly as bad as most of the Flixster reviews claim it is. It's a light, fluffy, and pleasantly uplifting comedy in typical Woody Allen style... which means I liked it a lot. :) Some great moments in here. It's also significantly less cynical than many of his other movies (although cynicism is fun too). Overall, a very enjoyable watch. 4 stars.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Definitely one of his better movies. It's more hopeful than Manhattan and warmer than Annie Hall. The characters are all fascinating and it's satisfying to see it all somehow turn out in the end. I liked seeing how the individual stories connected. Everyone had a story that got to be told. Very good movie. 4 stars.

Big Daddy (1999)

Slightly spoiler ahead, although why anyone would care about this movie enough to worry about spoilers is beyond me. Yeah, everyone knows my stance on Adam Sandler. We should hang him from a tree and beat himuntil he repents of all the horrible things he has wrought. This movie is SLIGHTLY less horrible than Mr. Deeds - less of a cruel streak and more of a simple "Well, that's not even close to being funny." Plus, we're supposed to feel sympathy for this guy? I was rooting the entire time for the kid to go to someone else. (Hoorah for that ending.) As an older sister, I did not chuckle warmly at the antics throughout the movie, but kept going, "Uh! Well, that's just obnoxious." Urgh. Adam Sandler has still done nothing to change my mind about his worth as a celebrity. 0.5 stars.

The Gold Rush (1925)

While I wasn't blown away by this at any point, there were enough laughs to keep me smiling throughout. Sometimes the simplest gags are the best. I'm not a Chaplin fan overall, but this is a pretty good film overall. 3 stars.

Hairspray (2007)

Pure delight. I'm a big fan of the movie and show, and this was a nearly-perfect adaptation of it. (Amanda Bynes was my one gripe - she portrays far too much confidence to play Penny. I missed that awkward character... I always sympathize with her.) This movie may not have the most substance of any movie out there, but it's certainly one of the best feel-good flicks I've seen in awhile. You can't help but come out of this with a smile on your face. Special "Yay" goes to James Marsden, who was absolutely perfect in his tiny role. Goodness, can that guy sing! 4.5 stars.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

I didn't expect to enjoy this nearly as much as I did. Indie comedy/dramas are all the same, right? Quirky cast of characters, usually a road trip involved... Except this one was both genuinely funny and genuinely touching. The characters were quirky but their quirks did not overpower them. The ending scene at the pageant should have been cheesy and lame, but somehow it worked... a satisfying ending. Overall, a very good movie with great performances from the whole cast. Definitely worth watching. 4 stars.

The Green Mile (1999)

This story was well-told and remained fascinating up until a half hour from the end, when it suddenly turned and ran off in a completely different direction. The ending five minutes made me giggle out loud, which I suspect wasn't the response they'd have hoped for. It didn't feel in tune with the rest of the movie at all. It was quite disappointing, because I liked the rest of the movie up until then. 3 stars.