your uncle molests collies

Average rating: 8.25

The More the Merrier (1943) - "It's World War II and there is a severe housing shortage everywhere—especially in Washington, D.C., where Connie Milligan rents an apartment. Believing it to be her patriotic duty, Connie offers to sublet half of her apartment, fully expecting a suitable female tenant. What she gets instead is mischievous, middle-aged Benjamin Dingle. Dingle talks her into subletting to him, and then promptly sublets half of his half to young, irreverent Joe Carter—creating a situation tailor-made for comedy and romance. "
length: 1 hour, 44 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it's been too long since I've seen it!

    previously reviewed here and watched again a month later, here
IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 100% Audience: 81%
my IMDB: 10/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "'I'm sorry, mister, but I prefer sharing my apartment with a lady.'

    'That's fine; so would I.'"

directed by: George Stevens

my notes: clever, witty, politically astute, shaded by the reality of war, this is also one of the most romantic films I have ever seen. There is a scene on a sidewalk, and then the stoop of a building, that is enough to make me swoon. And I've never seen a piece of luggage so packed with sweet, delicious woo.

    Charles Coburn is genial but grumpy, surprisingly smart, and sly as Mr. Dingle. Jean Arthur (Connie) is a tiny sprite, dances divinely, and has such a way with complex dialog. And Joel McCrea... tall, handsome, quick-witted and self-deprecating, dry and ironic. Mmmmm. He gives Joe Carter life. 

Academy Award winner: Best Supporting Actor—Coburn 

Academy Award nominee: 

• Best Picture 

• Best Actress—Arthur 

• Best Director—Stevens 

• Best Writing, Original Story—Frank Ross, Robert Russell 

• Best Writing, Screenplay—Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Frank Ross, Robert Russell
overall: most highly recommended

 

Caddyshack (1980) - "Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), a teen down on his luck, works as a caddy at the snob-infested Bushwood Country Club to raise money for his college education. In an attempt to gain votes for a college scholarship reserved for caddies, Noonan volunteers to caddy for a prominent and influential club member (Ted Knight). Meanwhile, Danny struggles to prepare for the high pressure Caddy Day golf tournament while absorbing New Age advice from wealthy golf guru Ty Webb (Chevy Chase)."
length: 1 hour, 38 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it's a guaranteed mood-boost

    previously reviewed here, and mentioned another dozen times...
IMDB: 7.2/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 73% Audience: 87%
my IMDB: 8/10

AFI: 100 Years…100 Laughs (2000) #71 

    10 Top 10 (2008) Sports #7

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'Where'd it go?'

    'Right in the lumberyard.'" 

directed by: Harold Ramis

my notes: it's not supposed to be great cinema, just a good time. Chevy Chase is marvelous in this persona, believably and attractively loosey-goosey. Ted Knight had such a delightful presence, a way with the supercilious and over-the-top. Rodney Dangerfield (never my choice) was so unabashed and brave! It's one big funny, silly, ridiculous laugh. 

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I disagree.

overall: always recommended

Wrath of Man (2021) - "Having barely passed the qualification exam, taciturn, inscrutable, and physically intimidating Patrick Hill (just called "H") starts working for Fortico Security, an armoured vehicle company specialising in guarding and transporting millions of dollars across Los Angeles. But, in this business, nobodies like H are the prey and not the predators, and before long, armed-to-the-teeth assailants try to rob his truck, only to die at his hands with pinpoint accuracy, in a flawlessly orchestrated ballet of bullets and death. Indeed, there is more to H than meets the eye, making Fortico's instant hero someone you don't want to mess with. Whose side is he on?"
length: 1 hour, 59 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: I've seen a lot of martial arts and historicals lately, and wanted a more standard action film 

    previously reviewed here
IMDB: 7.1/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 68% Audience: 90%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R (sometimes I don't even bother verifying)

notable quote: "'What you want us to do?'

    'You can do whatever the fuck you like.'"

directed by: Guy Ritchie

my notes: bleak, black, dark. My favorite of Jason Statham's films are about revenge and redemption. They revolve around the heart at the center of a storm. This one is different. It's not about a heart, though it's not empty space, either. Hard to understand, harder to describe, this is an engrossing, fascinating movie. H is a deep, chilling cat. His colleagues at the armored car company are a little silly, very competitive, clearly scared and hiding it, and also bitter as Hell. My favorites of the cast, besides Statham: Eddie Marsan (mild, smart Terry), Gerald Tyler (small-role/big impression Armourer), Darrell D'Silva (unique Mike), and Babs Olusanmokun (frightened but cheeky Moggy). And Andy Garcia (Mr. King).

    The RogerEbert.com review is here, which I found funny (and accurate). 

[H's] cell phone’s ring tone is a sample from Wagner’s "Ride of the Valkyries", and there’s zero indication that H picked it because he thought it was funny. He looks like a guy who laughed four times in the 1990s and decided it wasn’t for him.

overall:  recommended

Wasabi (2001) - "Jean Reno stars as Hubert Fiorentini, a gruff, world-weary French police detective whose life takes an unexpected turn when he’s summoned to Japan for the reading of his former lover’s will. There, he learns that she has died under mysterious circumstances—and that he has a spirited teenage daughter he never knew existed. As Hubert tries to connect with her amid Tokyo’s chaotic energy, he’s drawn into a web of corruption and intrigue tied to her mother’s past, blending sharp action, fish-out-of-water comedy, and moments of surprising tenderness."
length: 1 hour, 34 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it's been ages since I've seen it, and I was surprised to realize I hadn't reviewed it
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 44% Audience: 69%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'Does 'Takanawa' mean anything to you?'

    'Yes, of course!'

    'You will find him inside ... lying down. He and a few of his men were trying a holdup, so I had to ... dissuade them.'"

directed by: Gérard Krawczyk

my notes:  Wasabi is silly, stylized, violent chaos, and I love it. Jean Reno is baleful, world-weary Hubert, a cop with a serious anger management issue. This is revealed through his dramatically excessive punching and creative weaponry. See, e.g., the exquisite golf club scene (below). 

    I was charmed by Ryôko Hirosue as Yumi. She excels at a wide range of emotional work; the scene at the crematorium is brilliantly subtle. I also liked Michel Muller as Momo, a classic Reno sidekick with excellent timing and expression.

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I strongly disagree—even though it is hilariously written.

It is a thriller trapped inside a pop comedy set in Japan, and gives Reno a chirpy young co-star who bounces around him like a puppy on visiting day at the drunk tank. She plays his daughter, and he’s supposed to like her, but sometimes he looks like he hopes she will turn into an aspirin. 

overall:  happily recommended

 

 

[the title quotation is from Caddyshack]