Review #45 - Something Borrowed

Release Date: May 6, 2011
Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)
Director: Luke Greenfield

Logline: Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiance. (IMDb)

Comedy, Romance. 112 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

Is it just me or is Something Borrowed always playing on TV? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was scrolling through the channel guide and didn’t see it listed somewhere. This has resulted in it becoming a sort of fixture of background noise in my house. Cleaning out the fridge? I bet Something Borrowed is playing on W, I’ll put that on. Painting my nails? Something Borrowed is on TBS, the perfect companion. Need something to do while I eat an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos? I’ll switch over to the French network – an educational way to view Something Borrowed!

If you’re thinking that all of this leads up to a grand declaration of love for this movie, you thought wrong. I HATE this movie. So much. Why do I keep watching it? I have no idea. I just can’t say no – it’s like some kind of form of self torture.

The characters aren't likable and the dialogue is far from charming but the real reason I can't stand this movie is because why would anyone pick Dex (Colin Egglesfield) when they could have Ethan (John Krasinski)? This is just too big of a plot hole to ignore and it makes me rage every time I think about. Although I generally try to avoid judging a movie solely on a plot decision I don't agree with, I can't help myself with this one. On the other hand, Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is boring as hell so her and Dex probably deserve each other.

If you're still upset about the ending of Pretty in Pink, skip this one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie take on so many sterotypical traits that they become caricatures. Rachel is the modest, meek girl who lives to take care of everyone else. Darcy (Kate Hudson) is the bitchy life of the party who is too self absorbed to have any kind of depth. Claire (Ashley Williams) is the crazy single girl who will stop at nothing to get her man.

Unfortunately, these one dimensional women are also defined by their relationship to men. Their value goes up when they have a significant other which makes having/keeping a boyfriend the most important goal in their lives. Lifelong friendships are tossed aside, honesty is completely disregarded, and lying is considered an absolute essential - all in the name of finding love.

We are tricked into thinking this movie is about a woman finding her voice and fighting for what she wants. In reality, it's about women being horrible to each other while using manipulation and deceit to get what they want. And what is it that our 'hero' is rewarded with? The opportunity to pick up dry cleaning for her basic bitch boyfriend. What a dream come true.

Sisterhood Moment: I'll admit that the choreographed dance to Push It is everything I've ever believed in. It's magical. 

Rating: 1 dropped pencil

IMDb - Something Borrowed (5.9)

Wikipedia - Something Borrowed

Rotten Tomatoes - Something Borrowed  (15%)

Review #43: The Debt

Release Date: August 31st, 2011
Writer: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, and Peter Straughan
Director: John Madden

Logline: In 1965, three Mossad agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the agents share come back to haunt them. (IMDb)
Thriller, 113 minutes
Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review
I love a good spy movie. There aren't nearly enough of them. Give me Jason Bourne over Captain America any day.

The Debt is an American/British remake of an Israeli film. The adaptation was written by the action film duo of Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class, Kickass) and spy film writer Peter Straughn (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) The director John Madden has a few Oscar films under his belt, including Shakespeare in Love.

The reason I'm outlining all that information is to explain why I has such high hopes before I watched this film. When you bring together a stellar list of experienced hit-makers, you do so expecting a hit. Maybe The Debt was a success; it made it's budget back, and put Dame Helen Mirren on the poster for an action film. I'm not sure it lived up to all of my many expectations.

Sold as a tangled web of deception around a CIA operation that happened during the Cold War, The Debt has a narrative that shows what happened in the 1960's and the fallout many years later. Agent Rachel Singer, portrayed as Jessica Chastain in the 1960's and as Helen Mirren in the 1990's, was part of a three man operation to capture and bring to justice a Nazi war criminal.

Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington in The Debt

The first half of the movie brings the audience on several spy missions that are beautifully shot and executed. There is a nail biting sequence during which the CIA operatives pose as ambulance drivers to extract their target, with the real ambulance on the way, only moments behind. Many action movies rely on technology to keep a sequence interesting, or the counting clock of a man set to watch out for the team. John Madden plays into the fear of the unknown in The Debt, reminding the audience that there is no fall back, that time is ticking and there is no way of knowing if or when the agents will be found out.

The weakness of the film, is of course the very narrative structure by which it is framed. The characters have been introduced as old men and women, so there is a bit lost in watching their younger selves in dangerous situations. We know they make it out alive. Ironically, I found the second half of the film, taking place 30 years later, to be the slowest part. While the characters are more interesting and complex, with secrets to cover up and uncertain allegiances, the action significantly drops off.

Helen Mirren in The Debt

I'm not sure I can place The Debt in the list of spy movies I really love. While there are some great scene of tense action, and gut wrenching suspense, the story itself falls off the map. With characters who swap actors, and motives that become muddled, I didn't get suspense all the way though the film.

Portrayal of Women: Before going into the movie I had a fleeting thought "how nice that they put a woman in the spy movie," for now. While she appeared to portray an important character in the trailers, I had a suspicion that her role would be undercut by some stereotypical trope.

I'm pleased to say Rachel Singer's character wasn't used as a love interest or reward, and she wasn't incompetent. She wasn't a cold, manipulative villainess either. At no point was she heroically saved by a man. Rachel Singer fought her own fights, and was the most valuable part of the CIA's mission. Her character was used for her vulnerability, and perhaps earned sympathy for being considered weaker, but I don't think that detracts from her capabilities as a woman. Her character captivated the audience, and ultimately controlled the story.

Sisterhood Moment: Rachel Singer recaps the events of the past through the book her daughter wrote about her. What a fantastic little tag to a movie about spy's, deception, and lies. Rachel Singer might be a lot of unsavory things, but she's also a mother and a hero to her child.

Rating: 3 Jason Bournes out of 5 franchises

IMDb - The Debt (6.9)
Wikipedia - The Debt
Rotten Tomatoes - The Debt (77%)

Review #34: Nanny McPhee & Nanny McPhee Returns

Release Date: January 27th, 2006 & August 20th, 2011
Writer: Emma Thompson
Director: Kirk Jones & Susanna White

Logline: Emma Thompson stars as a governess who uses magic to rein in the behavior of seven ne'er-do-well children in her charge. (Source IMDb) Family, comedy, fantasy. 97 min. & 109 min.
Bechdel Test: Both films passed all 3 tests.

Review
One part Matilda, one part Mary Poppins, and one part Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and you have a recipe for Nanny McPhee. No wonder this Emma Thompson vehicle has been such a success world wide. Not being part of the generation that grew on Nanny McPhee I cannot say whether the franchise has the same staying power as those inspirational films, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were many more McPhee's to come.

The story of both films is essentially the same, but focused on different families. In both, a single parent (Colin Firth in the first, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the second) are overrun by their out of control children. Their families and livelyhood is threatened and they are in desperate need of help. Nanny McPhee arrives in a puff of smoke announcing that

"When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go." 

Obviously children attempt to sabotage their new nanny, but Nanny McPhee uses her magic to give them a taste of their own medicine. As the kids lie in bed faking sick to avoid their chores for the day, she makes sure they are unable to leave their beds and take the foul tasting remedy. Silly kids, tricks are for... Nanny McPhee.

Kids are going to love any movie that doesn't speak down to children, despite the morality lessons contained. The universe is bright and textured with the wacky off-kilter look of a cartoon. There's plenty silly British wit, sight and sound gags, and a kids movie staple: slapstick comedy. It's a classic kind of kids movie.

For the parents however, these films are less than desirable. Nanny McPhee is a film that will be exhausting on repeat. The linear, step-by-step story is rigidly mechanical, and there's only so many times you can laugh at barnyard animals. If you're going to put it on for the kids, leave the room and maybe have a drink or two. Adults watching this recipe for success will weep from boredom.

Portrayal of Women: Both films feature strong supporting female characters, but in different ways.

The first film features Cedric (Firth) after the unexpected death of his wife. He is distant from his kids, and has to go on a journey to connect with them. There are two maids who are women, and there is an evil future stepmother who is attempting to get Cedric's money. Cedric's Great Aunt also insists on taking one of Cedric's girls for some sort of housewife etiquette schooling. Ultimately the good woman in Cedric's life turns out to be the young maid who had been caring for the children all along.

As great as it is to see a diverse representation of women, this collection of storybook stereotypes pin women as either the virgin or the villain. I suspect Thompson followed the original book quite closely as source material.

The second film branches away from the classic roles. Instead of a single father, it's a single mother Isabel (Gyllenhaal) who's husband has gone missing in the war. She has to stand up for her family and her rights as a property owner against her less than desirable brother. The two mobsters collecting debts are women. The owner of the shop where Isabel works is played by the great Maggie Smith. I love any film that puts a twist on traditional gender roles, even if it's relatively minor. The importance of placing women in a variety of positions, like a position of power, in any children's fiction cannot be understated.

Sisterhood Moment: Maggie Gyllenhaal's scene with Ewan McGregor. Now THAT'S a fantasy for adults. Just turn that into the opening of 50 Shades of Grey. Too much?

Rating: Two annoying kids in the movie theater with a baby.

IMDb - Nanny McPhee (6.6)
IMDb - Nanny McPhee Returns (6.0)

Wikipedia - Nanny McPhee
Wikipedia - Nanny McPhee Returns

Rotten Tomatoes - Nanny McPhee (73%)

Rotten Tomatoes - Nanny McPhee Returns (76%)

Review #29: Another Earth

Release Date: January 24th, 2011
Writer: Mike Cahill, Brit Marling
Director: Mike Cahill

Logline: On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident. (Source: IMDb) Drama, Sci-fi. 92min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests

Review:
Here's a quick round up of what this movie is all about. Rhoda, a young student celebrates her acceptance to MIT as an aspiring astronomer. The night of her celebration a planet nearly identical to Earth is discovered close by. So close that an intoxicated Rhoda is staring at the sky instead of paying attention to the road. Rhoda crashes into the car of a young family. The movie deals with her yearning to visit and learn about Earth 2, and her ongoing battle to repent for the tragedy she caused. It's a fascinating examination of choices, repercussions, and what someone does when confronted with themselves.

This is difficult movie to sell to someone. It's vaguely sci-fi. It's quite depressing for a long stretch. It's a thinker about philosophy and morality. I won't say the cliche phrase "It's not for everyone" because that implies that because a movie is smart then a huge chunk of people won't be interested. I hope a lot of people are interested in this movie.

Ok, before we go overboard with the applause, it's not the best movie. The first half of the film drags. I'm not a fan of the heavy handed cinematography and overly melodramatic moments that come with many independent movies. There are long chunks were no one even speaks. On occasion it feels low budget, but it's mostly gritty and realistic.

I do really love this movie though. It far more character drama then sci-fi story. In fact the only time I tend to like sci-fi is when used in this context, as a story supporting allegory. Even though the movie is quite melancholy and single-minded, it illustrates a good evolution of character and changes are often shown, not spoken. For me, it works.

Brit Marling is fantastic and part of the reason why this movie works is because she's able to carry it. The image of Rhoda standing ocean side with the second Earth looming overhead as the ever present possibility of a different life beautifully represents the thematic intention of the movie.


Portrayal of Women: If this concept was placed in the hands of million dollar leading man, with broader thematic appeal then you might have Tom Cruise or Will Smith starring in the next summer blockbuster. Somehow I think having a female lead this movie gives it a quiet subtlety that might otherwise not have existed.

What's almost more important is Rhoda isn't a cliched character. She's not a character that exists in other movies. Even at the opening of the film, she's a regular high school girl. Getting into college, partying with her friends, smart, passionate, flirtatious. Those are not traits given to women in media without having them be exaggerated to the point of being the singular defining characteristic. She's a woman that isn't usually in movies because she's a regular woman.

Sisterhood Moment: I love the way news about the second Earth was presented. Rhoda isn't a special scientist or military expert, she watches the news with her parents. In one news broadcast the US governments attempts to contact the second Earth. It's a haunting scene with genuine guttural reactions from the characters. And a woman was the chosen representative. Go Earth!

Rating: 4 planets out of the solar system

IMDb - Another Earth (7.0)
Wikipedia - Another Earth
Rotten Tomatoes - Another Earth (63%)

Review #27: We Bought A Zoo

Release Date: December 23, 2011
Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna, Cameron Crowe (Novel by Benjamin Mee)
Director: Cameron Crowe

Logline: Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. (Source: IMDb)
Bechdel Test: Passed all 3 tests

Review

There's a moment in the beginning of this film that my blogess sister Alyssa will agree with me is basically the start of a horror film. The young girl, Rosie, falls in love with the peacocks at the zoo they are visiting (and as the title later spoils, they buy) and begins feeding them. Daddy Damon runs up thinking his kid is lost, and sees her feeding the birds. I cringed so much. Those peacocks might peck out her eyes! Ahh!!!

This is a family movie, so that obviously did not happen. I think we have a healthy appreciation for wild animals and respect their power and privacy.

There's something that actually works about this movie, and that's acknowledging the awkward moments that happen. Unfortunately I think that's what also stops it from being a memorable film as there's no unique twist to undercut those moments. When Benjamin proudly proclaims "We are adventurers!" he gets strange looks and then immediately moves on. Taking away the cheese of making that an authentic statement gives this film a modern feel, but not going the extra mile to give a memorable response is where the film fails.

As the moody, dramatic posters will tell you, this is a more romantic view of working with animals compared to the typical madcap wacky family movie this could easily be. I can't think of another family movie that includes a monkey who doesn't throw poop or intentionally trick the main character into falling on their face. There are consequences to letting snakes out of their box, and that consequence is going around to pick up snakes, not finding one in your bed with a snake like it's a hilarious joke.

Perhaps that's the benefit and downfall of an autobiography. The past is romanticized. The protagonist is without flaw. The motivations of other people are lost. Because that's what people do. When someone is a real person, not a character, and they make an action that you don't understand, there is no going back to strengthen their characterization, that's just life. Sometimes it's nice to see that set in a movie. At other points it becomes tedious.

And now, I would like to have a one on one with Cameron Crowe. Thank you for casting Patrick Fugit again and putting a monkey on his shoulder for the entirety of the film. That boy is just adorable. It would have been nice for him to have some lines, but nbd. One other thing, if your movie is titled We Bought a Zoo don't make the audience wait 20 minutes before you buy a zoo. It's not like those 20 minutes were used to build surprise or intrigue, because we knew it was coming. Thanks buddy!  

Portrayal of Women: I like that Scarlett Johansson's character Kelly is the lead zookeeper. It's nice to see a capable intelligent woman portrayed in a movie, particularly a field that requires a healthy scientific knowledge, and a lot of manual labor. It's nice that she has a purpose in the movie beyond just being the love interest and reward. On the other hand, Kelly's younger cousin Lily has no role in the film other than to be Dylan's love interest. She shows up and makes him good again through movie magic. Besides the young child Rosie, the only other woman in the movie is Carla, who is arbitrarily vindictive and evil trying to turn people against Benjamin for literally no reason whatsoever. What an eyeroll. You win some, you lose some.

Sisterhood Moment: On opening day Kelly gives little Rosie a french braid to go with her new adorable zoo keeper uniform. What a role model.

Rating: 3 tigers and a peacock out of all the Jason Bourne movies.

IMDb - We Bought A Zoo (7.1)
Wikipedia - We Bought A Zoo
Rotten Tomatoes - We Bought A Zoo (66%)

Review #23: I Don't Know How She Does It

More like "I Don't Know How This Was Made Into A Movie" amirite???

Release Date: September 16th, 2011
Director: Douglas McGrath
Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna (Based on the novel by Allison Pearson)

Logline: There is no story here to summarize. A family-woman goes to her job. (Source: My bitterness)
Bechdel Test: Passed.


Review

I started watching this movie and within 5 minutes started debating whether I needed to keep watching it.

Fortunately for you readers I felt I owed it to woman-kind to represent a voice that says this is not acceptable as female driven cinema, let alone any cinema. Some kid with a dream of making movies, just put down their camera because this horrible film got made.

Here's a synopsis: Kate, Sarah Jessica Parker, is a married mother of 2 who works full time at an investment bank. She has to travel for her job and her famjam doesn't like it. She gets a career boost, which means working for long hours quite intimately with her boss, Pierce Brosnan. She does a good job at that, and reinforces her priority to her family. The end.

For real. There's no romantic push and pull between her husband and boss, even though there should have been. She is given a lot of grief at the beginning for being a working mom, and at the end she's still being given grief for being a working mom. She isn't a neglectful parent and learns to become a good one, she is the exact same person throughout. She isn't a frazzled mom who learns to let go of the minor issues, she is an immaculate MarthaStewart-mom who doesn't change. I don't understand the point. This is a story about a character who is supposed to be overwhelmed, but isn't, and doesn't learn to get balance anything because she makes no changes to her life.

To place blame, the writing is atrocious. There are montages every 20 minutes because there isn't enough interesting action worth watching. There is a bizarre stylistic choice to include talking heads for only two of the characters, even though this is in now way a documentary style film. What's more bizarre is that those two characters who provide much unneeded commentary are characters that otherwise wouldn't exist in the movie without those fake interviews. Busy Philipps' character Wendy is given an elaborate introduction for being the mom that SJP envies, but she's never seen or heard from again in the film. To reinforce this once again, it's not like SJP's character is overwhelmed with mommyhood, and Wendy provides a foil. She just makes strange limp jokes to the camera. I can hardly even say where there would be a beginning, middle, and ending to this, making me wonder if it even qualifies to be a film.

There's something that fundamentally bothers me about the main character of Kate. She's successful in business, and has a pleasant family, both clear goals of hers. She is beyond capable as a mother, holding a HUGE party for her kid, and making pancakes every morning. Her only insecurities are unspoken judgements from other adults, which are some combination of not important or nonexistent.

Let's assume that these insecurities are intended to be the point of the film, her fatal flaw if you will. First, it's insulting to cast the Sex and the City icon in that role. She's an actress that effortlessly MAKES working mom's insecure by her simple existence. Second, the character make's it clear that she doesn't give a damn about the judgements of others, over and over. She has baby spit-up or pancake batter on the lapel of her blazer, and proudly struts into a meeting.

So what's her flaw? There's an argument for the guilt she feels by working but that's not what this movie is about, she doesn't act on that guilt. She doesn't communicate with her husband, and doesn't ever successfully resolve issues. She harbours resentment and doesn't have any outlet for stressors, and is still stressed by the end. Kate idolizes a 1950's view of womanhood, and the only change she has made at the end of the film is that she accepts her unhappiness and decides not to change anything.

What a tremendous waste of time. If a movie is going to set up a premise like pitting working against raising kids at home, then at least have the wherewithal to make a decision about it. This film refuses to pick a side, illustrating that her push and pull at the beginning by wanting both will remain the push and pull she feels at the end by keeping both. It's absurdly condescending to present women this way.

Here's why this bothers me so much. This movie exemplifies the kind of movies that are marketed towards women. It's the quintessential modern chick flick: A model-esque super serious female lead who deals with having a job and a family, with vague romance and no substantial comedy. Every stereotype you can think of, from women hating other women, to male bosses crossing a romantic line, to hating the in-laws. It's a movie as bland as oatmeal and I'm sure there are some guys in the industry who greenlit this thinking it's what women want. What perhaps they don't realize is women have been living with the conflicting expectations society has for them for their whole lives and aren't interested in this sort of tepid presentation of opinionless hodgepodge.

Portrayal of Women: As baby-makers. As being incapable of doing the job of men. "Oh my god, what am I going to do with the kids while I wait for the baby sitter to show up?" Get out of here.

Sisterhood Moment: This movie has the warm fuzzies of a porcupine hug. I'm done.

0/5 stars

IMDb - I Don't Know How She Does It (4.8)
Wikipedia - I Don't Know How She Does It
Rotten Tomatoes - I Don't Know How She Does It (17%)

Review #19: What's Your Number?

Release Date: September 30th, 2011
Writer: Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden
Director: Mark Mylod

Logline: A woman looks back at the past twenty men she's had relationships with in her life and wonders if one of them might be her one true love. (Source IMDb)
Romantic Comedy, 106 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.

Review

I actually kind of like this movie. What's Your Number? is a romantic comedy about a woman, Ally, who tries to track down all her previous romantic partners to avoiding raising her "number".

One of the biggest failings of RomComs in recent years, is that they have to be bland to be relatable, and if the lead is female then she needs to take everything in her life super seriously. The saving grace here is that Anna Faris is such a talented comedian that she makes everything funnier and genuine. She's an actress who isn't afraid of finding the faults in a character and exploiting them for comedy.

The very important topic being tackled by this movie is how many sexual partners is too many? Ok, it doesn't actually discuss the topic in any critical or serious way, but it does present a good role model. There seems to be an intention of expressing that it doesn't matter how many sexual partners a man or a woman has had, that it doesn't imply something about their morals or characters it's just how people live their life. The conflict comes from the fact that Ally feels overwhelming social pressure, particularly from her girlfriends and family, to settle down and change her ways. There are some conflicting messages here, because the driving force in this movie is that she gets slut-shamed, and when (obvious spoiler) she settles down at the end it's to be with one person monogamously. The intention, I think, was meant to be more progressive and liberating. Ally is not troubled, or full of regret. She seems to have the same frustrations with relationships that we all have. Colin the "decent guy" says no one should care what someones "number" is, and that's the message they are trying to push. Sometimes it's like movies are made to be entertaining and fun and not to teach america a lesson about their judgements of women in society.

Lets go back to me liking this film. One of my favorite parts about What's Your Number? is the terrific cast. Chris Evans gets to flex his acting muscles instead of just his muscles muscles. I mean, he doesn't exactly throw down like Daniel Day Lewis, but he isn't the stiff bore that his role could easily be interpreted as. Okay, it's not a great acting job but boy is he handsome. Joel McHale is a douchebag, and show's off his butt. Everyone loves butts. Ari Graynor is super underrated. Eliza Coupe has some great lines. Cue the "awws" because this is role #2 for Anna Faris and her husband Chris Pratt. I am particularly fond of the endless number of cameo's by fantastic actors playing Ally's former lovers.

For all the ditzy dumb moments, I really love this movie. There's family and friends, there's drama, there's super sweet fantasy dates, it's a nice piece of feel good fluff. Sure, it might be predictable, and desperate for jokes, and probably should have been edited down, but this is a nice little romance film. There is something endearing about the vulnerability of friendship as opposed to just dating all the time. Instead of going to fancy restaurants, Ally and Colin visit the local Deli. Plus, you know you want to watch a movie that uses "He recognized my vagina!" as a major plot point.

Portrayal of Women: There was a good range of Ally being laid back, her sister being uptight, their friends being a good variety of women. The biggest eyeroll I think I've ever experienced when watching a movie, however occurs when Ally tries to google her ex's. In a montage. With upbeat pop music. While she speaks out loud, drinking wine. Apparently she's also never used a computer before! Teehee. EDIT THIS SHIT OUT, MOVIES. GOD. Girls can use computers, and we stalk all our ex's so don't pretend that its some revelation.

Sisterhood Moment: A few years later, Kristen Wiig stole the opening scene of What's Your Number? for the opening scene in Bridesmaids. In both, our leading lady is sleeping with a douchebag, and they sneak out of bed in the morning to put on makeup. They are both an inspiration to us all.

Rating: All of Chris Evans arm muscles. All of them. Sigh.

IMDb - What's Your Number (6.0)
Wikipedia - What's Your Number
Rotten Tomatoes - What's Your Number (23%)

Review #10: Country Strong

Country Strong

Release Date: January 7th, 2011
Writer: Shana Feste

Director: Shana Feste

Logline: A rising country-music songwriter works with a fallen star to work their way fame, causing romantic complications along the way. (Source: IMDb) Music/Drama. 117 minutes.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.

Review

I should preface this by saying I'm not a fan of country music in the slightest, but I tried not to let that dissuade me from enjoying this movie. A story is a story, right?

The problem with Country Strong is not the 'country,' it's the long overblown dramatic script.

This movie is about a country music superstar Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her shaky emotional journey with fame, alcoholism, an unhappy marriage, and a miscarriage. She is thrown out of rehab by her evil husband and manager, James Canter (Tim McGraw) in order to go on a comback tour with her new boyfriend Beau (Garrett Hedlund) and a growing new star Chiles (Leighton Meester) as her opening acts.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong

The thing that surprised me most about Country Strong was the quality of acting. Paltrow was on point as someone in the midst of a meltdown. She's not just "crazy," she's traumatized and affected by the media storm around her. No surprise, Meester was charming in her role, adding a dimension to her character even though that character was paper thin to begin with. Adorable Garrett Hedlund was as great as he always it, but surprise of the century for me was that Tim McGraw can act! And he's the only character that doesn't sing in the movie! Honestly, this was a great cast.

The rest of the movie is not of the same quality. I get the sense that this film was written with the intention of winning awards. It's heavy handed with drama with absolutely no reprieve. The unnecessarily long piece hammers home the unhappiness of the main character to the point where there is no light at the end of the tunnel. It tries so hard to make cliches seem real, that you might start believing the cliches are a red herring, that the movie will take an unexpected turn. Unfortunately it does not, and it become the most drearily predictable film. I felt awkward continuing to watch and pretending not to know what would happen, when it was laid out so obviously. Combined with the unnecessary length, this was almost unbearable.

Garrett Hedlund Leighton Meester in Country Strong

I also was a little bit frustrated by the flat nature of the story. Kelly was still reeling from this one big event in her life, but what about before that? Country music is typically known for being birthed from pain and struggle. In this case there are three individuals in country music and none of them have a survivor back story. Even Taylor Swift was teased in school and had a unrequited love. Give the audience something, they know country music and they can smell a fake.

This movie distinctly earned a big SKIP, which really should be a surprise to no one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie are as cliched as the men. They are all preoccupied with their relationships with one another, and they are all paper thin. 

One could analyze the cliches, like the jaded older alcoholic and the young, innocent, naive girl. They are not really constructive, unique characters that maybe set back the portrayal of gender 30 years, but that's a difficult argument to make when the husband is a money grubbing evil guy, and the other guy is a white knight who cares so much but just can't save the princess. They're all cartoon characters, equally as thin and equally as unoriginal. 

Sisterhood moment: This movie passes the Bechdel test with one scene, with the Superstar visiting the Up-And-Comer and giving her showbiz advice like "wear heels everywhere" and "don't wear satin on stage" despite their rocky relationship. That's sisterhood. That's also super good advice. Satin never looks good photographed. 

There's also a scene where Gwyneth's character is getting ready to go on stage and hair dresser is randomly poking at her scalp with a comb. 10 seconds later her hair is beautifully styled in big country curls. That's the real dream.

Rating: 2/5

IMDb - Country Strong (6.3)
Wikipedia - Country Strong
Rotten Tomatoes - Country Strong (22%)