Ghost Town (2008)

A handsomely witty film that will make you laugh out loud while gently tugging at your heart.

David Koepp (Secret Window, Stir of Echoes) bring us this hauntingly enjoyable tale of a wannabe playboy, New York smooth talker named Frank (Greg Kinnear, Baby Mama, Little Miss Sunshine) who finds himself recently deceased after an unfortunate air conditioner accident. He teams up with a frumpy, lost soul from the land of the living, a dentist by the name of Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais, Night at The Museum) who recently was revived from a near death experience during a routine procedure at a local hospital. Now with the ability to see the dead, and being annoyed at every turn by them, Dr. Pincus is hounded by Frank with a request to break up his widow Gwen's (Téa Leoni, Fun with Dick and Jane , bad Boys) marriage to her new beau. In doing so, Bertram finds himself stuck in a supernatural love triangle.

I started off the night watching Management, but the audio was eff'd on my copy, so I reluctantly picked up this film... and glad I did. This was definitely one of those heart warming, feel good movies where you really connected with the main characters and really hoped for the best. I'm not even a Ricky Gervais fan, I actually hate the office, but in this film, his timing and delivery were just, a bit of perfection. The scene where he is being wheeled down the hall in the hospital, and the conversation with the surgeon (Kristen Wiig, SNL, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) had me cracking up long after the scene had passed. With all the laughs it delivers, it's bound to draw a tear or two from the romantic types. It's a really good mash-up, really earning the title of "Romantic Comedy." I definitely recommend this for your next date night.

7.0/10

Rated: PG-13
102 mins

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)

Simply a shameless twist to a timeless Dickens classic, stripped of its meat and left to entertain the hounds with nothing but a loose plot, and looser morals.

Mark Waters (Just Like Heaven, Freaky Friday) directs the story of Conner Mead (Matthew McConaughey, Fool's Gold, Failure to Launch), a pretentious man’s man, lover of all, love of none. He’s a highly sought after and respected celebrity photographer, known almost as much for his sexual prowess as his shutter skills. On a trip back to his Uncle's (Michael Douglas) mansion for his little brother’s wedding, he tries to spread his contagion of anti-love and marriage amongst the crowd, even giving his brother his keys to make the escape. Ending the night in a drunken stupor, he’s visited by his diseased Uncle who informs him he’ll be visited by three ghosts representing his past, present and future girlfriends, to show him the error of his mega-bachelor ways and show him what he’s been missing his whole life, Jenny (Jennifer Garner, Juno, Elektra). The supporting cast (Breckin Meyer, Emma Stone) ride Conner the whole way while he considers the warnings brought before him as he tries to run from his past.

Maybe you women aren’t getting tired of it, but I sure am. Surely Matt's got more substance than this and can peg roles outside of being the biggest dick in the world that seems to be a woman magnet *cough* Fool's Gold and Failure to Launch *cough*, but he does it well, and studios know he sells. Too bad Jennifer Garner looked like crap in this movie comparatively. The movie itself, less than stellar acting and juvenile humor aside, I could have done without it. The only character I actually liked from the whole movie was Emma Stone (Zombieland, Superbad), she’s great. Funny, spunky, spot on. The movie was just soulless I guess is was I’m really getting at. It hoped to bank off of the classic Scrooge-isms, and really, it tried hard. Just wasn’t for me I guess, but I really could see plenty of you McConaughey chick flick fans will love every bit of it. It does get rather sappy, but you’d have to believe someone like the character could really change like that to even consider shedding a tear.

6.1/10

Rated: PG-13
100 mins

The Proposal (2009)

“Here comes the bribe,” err… bride. An old story, a modern day reality for some, is retold in this funny fling through relationship morality and what it can do to those involved, especially when fake endearment becomes true love.

Ahhh the age old adage, a sham wedding to reap the benefits. That’s the underlying tone to the Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses) directed romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock (All About Steve, Miss Congeniality) and Ryan Reynolds (Waiting…, Van Wilder). Margaret Tate is a workaholic, go-getting editor for a NYC publisher. To some a goddess, to most… Satan herself. Her assistant Andrew wants to be in her shoes, and will do whatever it takes to get there, even if it means committing a federal felony to ensure his boss doesn’t get deported because it isn’t just about her job, it’s his too. Margaret hatches a seat of the pants scheme to marry Andrew, stay in the US, and keep her job. What she doesn’t foresee is that what starts off as a fickle business arrangement turns into underlying attraction and an ultimately hilarious relationship.

The Proposal never really grabbed me in the previews, and it seemed like just another chick flick. But the movie really is funny; it just happens to be targeted at women and young couples. I loved Bullocks overpowering demeanor, she was in complete control, but was relieved to see deep down she was beautifully vulnerable and in need of something missing inside. Reynolds' straight faced humor cracked me up time and time again. The supporting players, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, and the fabulously funny Betty White, really pull it all together. The ending is blatantly predictable, but even though you know it’s coming, it’s hard not to feel the strong sentiment and courage behind her words. See it with your special someone and share a laugh.

7.7/10

Rated: PG-13
108 mins