15.8.11

So, you opt for a cosy night in with the loved one - the take away is ordered, the wine is chilling, and then you find your self faced with the impossible.

Do you play it safe and offer to sit through another 'Jason film', this being Bourne or Statham, (admittedly - we don’t mind ogling for a few hours) however, guns, gore and two hours jam packed with testosterone isn’t the best recipe for a cosy night in.

On the other hand, neither do we want the boyfriend sulking in the kitchen with a beer for a companion, if we pick one of our girly chick flicks.

When the rare occasion does arise, that we’ve been granted permission to raid the ‘girly’ section of the video store (Most likely – Valentines day or our birthday) undoubtedly were going to get a little carried away and hunt for the soppiest film we can find (After all, surely we deserve it after all those long hours watching Statham)

But if you fancy a cosy night in without the strops at the video store, I’ve put together a collection of films which will cater for your softer side and allow your boyfriend to keep his man points!

Happy dating!






What happens in Vegas (2008) Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher

When two opposites collide there is always going to be an eruption, and that is exactly what happens in Vegas.

Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) is a career driven woman, whose uptight attitude pushes everyone away from her including her fiancé. Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) is a slob. His lazy behaviour has driven him into unemployment after his boss sacked him, his boss also happens to be his father.

After a week of downs, they both individually adventure off on a trip to Las Vegas to drown their sorrows. Due to a computer error in their hotel, their paths cross, as they end up lodged in the same room.

After an initial personality clash, they decide to hit the town and forget their troubles. However they wake up to a different type of trouble. Their married.

Whilst discussing their mistake, they win three million dollars on a fruit machine. Jack put the quarter in the machine, but it was Joy’s quarter in the first place, so who would have ownership of the money if they divorce?

After taking the issue to court, the judge freezes the money until they have lived as a married couple for 6 months. After being forced to move in together, both embark on a mission to make the others life hell, in an aid to force the other out of the marriage and away from the 3 million dollars.

“A film you can watch over and over.”



Hall Pass (2011) Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis

From the directors of “There’s something about Mary”

When you catch your man eyeing up a leggy blonde, you smirk about him having a ‘one track mind’, when you catch him doing it again, you give him a slap on his wrists, however when he unconsciously eye stalks every female within a 10 mile radius, and you unearth his obsession with porn you comprehend giving him the boot.

However Maggie (Jenna Fischer) and Grace (Christina Applegate) decide to adapt a different plan after taking advice from a friend, and give their husbands a “Hall Pass” - a week away from their lives, away from their marriage, and away from any responsibility.

But what happens when you take two suburban dads, with ordinary jobs and a wardrobe full of sweaters, and put them back into the life of a single 20 year old. (Well the consequences are pretty predictable) but you’ll definitely have a laugh along the way.

Rick, Fred and their ‘posse’ of middle aged dads hit the town. Well, Applebee’s a
family restaurant at 7p.m, in search of hot young females. However with chat-up lines like “Excuse me, are you Irish? Because when I look at you, my penis is doublin’”, you can imagine the response that they receive.

Rick and Fred find them selves struggling to fit back into the life they thought they wanted, as they move from one problem to the next, including numerous rejections, attempts to get fit at the gym, and being kicked off a golf course after a few too many pot brownies.

Their wives lightly decide to take a few days off their lives, and effortlessly find them selves in a whole new life, surrounded by hunky males, and lots of accelerating opportunities.

The “Be careful what you wish for” scenario, seen in many fairytales, develops throughout

This film may not be one to watch with the family; however the crude acts, toilet humour, and nudity will defiantly appeal to the boyfriend.

“Not the best movie, but offers something different to watch with the boyfriend”




The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd

“Best Comedic Performance – (MTV Movie Awards 2006) Steve Carell”


Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is the living definition of a middle aged man still living a life with his V plates firmly in tact. Living alone, with only video games and his elderly neighbours for companionship. You could say his social life isn’t exactly steaming. His life is passing him by while he works endless hours in the stockroom of an electronic store called SmartTech. When a co-worker drops out of a poker game, he reluctantly takes the spare seat and embarks on a rare social event with his co-workers, David (Paul Rudd), Cal (Seth Rogen), and Jay (Romany Malco).



You can imagine the embarrassment when the conversation turns to sexual exploits; Andy’s awkward attempt to “fit in” rapidly grinds the conversation to a halt, as he compares the feel of a woman’s breast to a “bag of sand”. The group take pity on him, and decide that they will help him on a conquest to lose his virginity.

Needless to say, their advice doesn’t exactly fill Andy with confidence, but what other choices does he have? Watch Sex and the City? Indulge in Cosmopolitan magazine? His sparse knowledge of how to thrill a woman needs more than a few hints and tips, so he sets out with the help of his colleges on a breath taking journey to loose his V plates and find love.


“You won’t be left feeling disappointed after a date with ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’”




Knocked up (2007) Seth Rogen, Catherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel


Once upon a lifetime, most people have that one night where they loose their inhibitions and more than likely their dignity too, all in the aid for that one indulgent act of guilt free fun, or in other words a ‘one-night stand’. Whether this being a celebration of their youth, or a so called ‘mid-life crisis’, the large majority don’t accidentally stumble upon their soul mate, but simply end up denying the fact anything ever happened and gracefully move on.


However, this definitely wasn’t the simple answer when Ben met Alison. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) a lazy immature goof, who’s days consists of mainly smoking marijuana, and Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) a career minded blonde beauty, meet in a bar, and after more than a ‘few too many’, they end up sleeping together. Waking up the next morning to realise that they have absolutely nothing in common, and feeling mutually confused as to why they ended up in such a situation, they decide to go their separate ways and follow the well known tradition of ‘denying the fact anything ever happened’.


All was going smoothly in their lives, until a few weeks later, when they hit a mighty bump. A bump that is certain to stick around for longer than one night. Katherine is pregnant, and yes you guessed it, Ben is the Daddy. As expected there are many clashes, but the journey is definitely one you'll want to follow.

“Similar humour to the ’40 - Year Old Virgin’, a little too crude at times, but different to the stereotypical ‘chick flick’”

21.7.11


Here come... the Bridesmaids!


Most wedding based rom-coms usually involve Kate Hudson or Katherine Heigl in a desperate search for the ‘perfect man’, with their sweet nature and beautiful looks what’s not to love eh? I’m the first to admit that I myself am a sucker for the ‘lonely girl searches prince charming’ story line. However every now and again I feel the urge to watch a rom-com that looks past cheesy gestures, chat up lines, sloppy snogs and the stereotypical heroine. Bridesmaids’ strips back the features we’d usually expect to see whilst watching a rom-com, and presents a film which is relatable and has the ability to warm hearts.

It’s not very often we see the heroine having rampant rudey time with her play mate within the opening scenes, being rude, disorganised and frankly being a hazard to society. However, despite wanting to admit to it, we can’t help but find ourselves drawn to Annie, (Kristen Wiig) the female lead in Bridesmaids. We don’t connect because we feel sorry for her, but because we can relate to her in some way. Whether it’s because you’ve felt lost in a job, lost in a friendship, or lost in your own individuality, Annie shows real emotions towards a real life love story and the true battle of friendship through challenging times.

The film centres on a group of females who have been brought together due to the arrangement of their friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) wedding. This may sound nothing out of the ordinary; however add in a mixture of bazaar personalities, huge amounts of stress and the meltdown of the maid of honour and we have ourselves a cocktail for a great film.

When Annie finds out that she’s going to be the maid of honour at her best friends wedding she is overjoyed, however, her best friend’s happiness only highlights the sheer breakdown of her own life. Annie’s life took a U turn when her baking business, in which she invested all her money, went broke; and she was forced to work at a jewellery store just so that she could afford the rent towards her tiny bed-sit she shares with two people she has little to nothing in common with. Alongside a love life that is weaker than Bridget Jones’, Annie had well and truly hit rock bottom. 

Or at least she thought she had. Annie’s life is disturbed further when she is forced to compete for her friendship with Lillian against Lillian’s new friend Helen (Rose Byrne) an organised, beautiful, multi-lingual, miss perfect. As they fight to organise the bridesmaids’ party, the group of friend’s individual problems emerge and Annie tries to find her way back up the rock.

Wiig finally gets the lead role she deserves, after a few minor appearances over the years, including this years Paul. She has been introduced as the new face for rom-coms. The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd was the perfect casting as the very funny Mr nice guy, his charm melts the audience as his personality comes across ‘real’ and is very believable on screen. 

Melissa McCarthy, who plays the role of a man hungry, food obsessed tomboy, takes the films humour to an all new level. Her dirty banter and predatory ways would have anybody in stitches laughing. She has many memorable moments within this film and I’m sure her role in this film will be hard to forget.
From start to finish Bridesmaids’ twists any assumptions of a wedding based rom-com, and vows to change your view on a female driven comedy.

Release Date: June 22nd 2011
Certificate: 15
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Rose Byrne
Director: Paul Feig