Things haven't changed much. I mean, they have changed quite a bit, but still, being black in America is rough but especially so in 1964 Mississippi.
The FBI is called in to investigate the deaths of three young civil rights workers, two white, one black. And it is not an easy investigation, especially since no one wants them there.
Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) is originally from Mississippi, though he has since moved on but he is use to the culture and tries to get on the people's good side while Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) is younger and in charge and he tries to do everything by the book.
It isn't until a witness, the pretty and kind wife of the deputy is nearly beaten to death that Mr. Ward (so formal, always calling each other by their last names) changes his tune. They manipulate the mayor (who eventually commits suicide) to giving up the information.
Seven men were involved but naturally, they are not charged with murder because this is Mississippi and they would never be found guilty so instead they are charged with civil rights violations and do end up with jail time, not enough for the lives of three men will never breath again, but it is something.
Overall, the film is solid with Hackman (Oscar nominated) and Dafoe (no nomination) matching each other beat for beat and Frances McDormand as the deputy's wife is great leading the way for performances. The romance between Anderson and Mrs. Pell (McDermond) is underdeveloped and inappropriate to say the least.
The main problem I have with the film is the line that Anderson really likes, shamelessly stealing it from a celebrated black comedian Dick Gregory, but nevertheless it is effective, yet no credit is given to its rightful owner. And this film is painfully sad, with the FBI perhaps causing even more harm to come to the community, with constant beatings and burning down houses and churches. The best line comes at the end, when Mr. Ward says that the mayor is just as guilty as the men who pulled the trigger and maybe they all are. While they use their evil tactics for a greater good, the tactics are mean and cruel, not to mention unethical.
Though I do have problems with it, the film shows that hatred is taught from generation to generation and how difficult it is to overcome it. And it shows a depressing time in our history that will hopefully eventually be just that, history. Grade: A-
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Hoosiers (1986)
This was actually a decent sports film.
Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is hired by his life-long friend to coach high school basketball. Norman has a troubled past. He used to coach college ball but was handed down a lifetime ban for assaulting one of his own players in a scene that he can barely remember or comprehend. And his methods are controversial to say the least. Hickory High School is incredibly small, with just 64 guys in the whole school and there are only six guys on the team after one doesn't listen when Coach speaks to them and is kicked out. The star of the school isn't playing as he misses the former coach and soon, the town wants Coach Dale gone with his insistence of having the players pass the ball four times before shooting and bad attitude when it comes to refs giving fouls to his team (some justified, others not so much) and getting kicked out of the games. He very nearly loses his job but is saved by the Hail Mary, almost literally when the star, Jimmy (Maris Valainis) joins the team only if Dale will still coach, so he stays and they do start winning. Coach also tries to sober up the town drunk, Shooter (Dennis Hopper, good but not Oscar-nomination worthy), who is also the father of one of the players. Not that that lasts and he ends up drying out in a hospital.
There is also the obligatory romance between Norman and the acting principal Myra (Barbara Hershey), which ends just as you'd expect.
I do have problems with the film, none of the players (with the exception of the pastor's son) really have personalities, a major problem and when one of the players throws a punch, no further discussion or punishment is handed down, which would never fly in this day's age. But to have a woman as acting principal in 1951, that is a good move and she is a fairly strong character so all is not lost. And the basketball game scenes are well choreographed so the film at least flew by quickly. Grade: B
Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is hired by his life-long friend to coach high school basketball. Norman has a troubled past. He used to coach college ball but was handed down a lifetime ban for assaulting one of his own players in a scene that he can barely remember or comprehend. And his methods are controversial to say the least. Hickory High School is incredibly small, with just 64 guys in the whole school and there are only six guys on the team after one doesn't listen when Coach speaks to them and is kicked out. The star of the school isn't playing as he misses the former coach and soon, the town wants Coach Dale gone with his insistence of having the players pass the ball four times before shooting and bad attitude when it comes to refs giving fouls to his team (some justified, others not so much) and getting kicked out of the games. He very nearly loses his job but is saved by the Hail Mary, almost literally when the star, Jimmy (Maris Valainis) joins the team only if Dale will still coach, so he stays and they do start winning. Coach also tries to sober up the town drunk, Shooter (Dennis Hopper, good but not Oscar-nomination worthy), who is also the father of one of the players. Not that that lasts and he ends up drying out in a hospital.
There is also the obligatory romance between Norman and the acting principal Myra (Barbara Hershey), which ends just as you'd expect.
I do have problems with the film, none of the players (with the exception of the pastor's son) really have personalities, a major problem and when one of the players throws a punch, no further discussion or punishment is handed down, which would never fly in this day's age. But to have a woman as acting principal in 1951, that is a good move and she is a fairly strong character so all is not lost. And the basketball game scenes are well choreographed so the film at least flew by quickly. Grade: B
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)
This is a melancholic little film about the last days of Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) a great actress in the forties and fifties before falling by the wayside after becoming infamous for marrying her former stepson, which must make for an awkward family reunion.
But now, she is performing plays in England and is dying of cancer. She previously had radiation but not chemotherapy because she didn't want to lose her hair as without her hair, she wouldn't be able to work and everyone would know the truth.
In this film, it portrays a simple love story between Gloria and the much younger struggling actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell) who is devastated when he learns the truth. Despite the fact that she has a son older than him, the two are very happy until Gloria learns that the cancer has returned and she purposes sabotages the relationship and Peter returns to England for a role in a play. But soon, she is also in that country for a play and after she collapses (after spending all that time getting her face ready), she goes to Peter's childhood home to die. Though Peter's family is largely supportive, they absolutely believe something serious is wrong with her, more than just gas in her stomach. And they believe that her family should be told, which she finally admits. Her son arrives to take her back to New York and Peter lets her go, reluctantly. Gloria barely survives the trip. Upon arrival, she is immediately admitted into the hospital where she dies later that day.
Gloria is largely happy with her life; she no longer has a mansion but she has a delightful little trailer right on the beach. Yes, her relationship with Peter is odd though Gloria is incredibly sensitive about her age, they are nevertheless in love.
The plot may not be much and it told in a non-linear timeline but the film is nevertheless captivating with brilliant performances, tangible chemistry and an interesting life bursting to fill the screens make this film excellent. Gloria certainly had an interesting life and that could have filled several more films in addition to this one. I wonder when Annette will ever win her Oscar as she turns in good performance after good performance. Gloria was fortunate enough to win an Oscar (I'll argue for the wrong film), I just hope Annette will be as fortunate. Grade: B+
But now, she is performing plays in England and is dying of cancer. She previously had radiation but not chemotherapy because she didn't want to lose her hair as without her hair, she wouldn't be able to work and everyone would know the truth.
In this film, it portrays a simple love story between Gloria and the much younger struggling actor Peter Turner (Jamie Bell) who is devastated when he learns the truth. Despite the fact that she has a son older than him, the two are very happy until Gloria learns that the cancer has returned and she purposes sabotages the relationship and Peter returns to England for a role in a play. But soon, she is also in that country for a play and after she collapses (after spending all that time getting her face ready), she goes to Peter's childhood home to die. Though Peter's family is largely supportive, they absolutely believe something serious is wrong with her, more than just gas in her stomach. And they believe that her family should be told, which she finally admits. Her son arrives to take her back to New York and Peter lets her go, reluctantly. Gloria barely survives the trip. Upon arrival, she is immediately admitted into the hospital where she dies later that day.
Gloria is largely happy with her life; she no longer has a mansion but she has a delightful little trailer right on the beach. Yes, her relationship with Peter is odd though Gloria is incredibly sensitive about her age, they are nevertheless in love.
The plot may not be much and it told in a non-linear timeline but the film is nevertheless captivating with brilliant performances, tangible chemistry and an interesting life bursting to fill the screens make this film excellent. Gloria certainly had an interesting life and that could have filled several more films in addition to this one. I wonder when Annette will ever win her Oscar as she turns in good performance after good performance. Gloria was fortunate enough to win an Oscar (I'll argue for the wrong film), I just hope Annette will be as fortunate. Grade: B+
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Tully (2018)
This film is all a lie. It is perceived to be one thing one it is actually another.
Marlo (Charlize Theron, brilliant) is very stressed out, with two young children, including a 'quirky' son, when the word that likely should be used is Asperber's or Autism. He throws a fit when the main parking lot is full. Things only get worse when the new baby is born. Mia is utterly adorable but cries constantly adding to the constant exhaustion Marlo feels. And her husband is basically useless. Sure, Drew (Ron Livingstone) isn't an alcoholic asshole and he does work hard, but he doesn't do much with the kids. Until the end, you only see him help with the kids once. Marlo's brother, Craig (Mark Duplass) does try to help by gifting her a night nanny which she feels is something extravagant and ridiculous but eventually she gives in, as the school informs that her son is no longer welcome.
Enter Tully (Mackenzie Davis) and things start to improve as Marlo is finally getting the sleep she needs and the house is cleaner, cupcakes are made for the kids' school. She and Tully form a good friendship, although then Tully's job is over and she needs to go though Marlo is devastated.
The problem is, that is a lie. Tully never appears. It is a figment of Marlo's mind (a younger version of herself); in reality, she is suffering from severe postpartum depression and severe exhaustion, falling asleep behind the wheel while driving and nearly dying. The sad and devastating part, her husband didn't even notice.
Sure, things get better and the elephant in the room is never discussed but I don't know how a marriage can rebuild after that. I would feel crushed and betrayed if my husband paid so little attention to my needs. Equally as unacceptable is the fact that the school and various doctors seemed unable to diagnose Jonah with what is clearly the problem.
That being said, Theron is excellent and Davis is great and this film shows how stressful, lonely and depressing life as a new parent can be. She is up every few hours to feed the baby, change the baby and lull her to sleep again while her husband sleeps like a log. The house is realistically messy and their lives chaotic, which is not often seen.
The only thing that should have tipped me off to Tully being fake is that when Marlo describes Drew as the bench on a carousel, Tully says he sounds really nice, when he just seems like a lump to me. So, I wonder what else I've missed. Grade: B
Marlo (Charlize Theron, brilliant) is very stressed out, with two young children, including a 'quirky' son, when the word that likely should be used is Asperber's or Autism. He throws a fit when the main parking lot is full. Things only get worse when the new baby is born. Mia is utterly adorable but cries constantly adding to the constant exhaustion Marlo feels. And her husband is basically useless. Sure, Drew (Ron Livingstone) isn't an alcoholic asshole and he does work hard, but he doesn't do much with the kids. Until the end, you only see him help with the kids once. Marlo's brother, Craig (Mark Duplass) does try to help by gifting her a night nanny which she feels is something extravagant and ridiculous but eventually she gives in, as the school informs that her son is no longer welcome.
Enter Tully (Mackenzie Davis) and things start to improve as Marlo is finally getting the sleep she needs and the house is cleaner, cupcakes are made for the kids' school. She and Tully form a good friendship, although then Tully's job is over and she needs to go though Marlo is devastated.
The problem is, that is a lie. Tully never appears. It is a figment of Marlo's mind (a younger version of herself); in reality, she is suffering from severe postpartum depression and severe exhaustion, falling asleep behind the wheel while driving and nearly dying. The sad and devastating part, her husband didn't even notice.
Sure, things get better and the elephant in the room is never discussed but I don't know how a marriage can rebuild after that. I would feel crushed and betrayed if my husband paid so little attention to my needs. Equally as unacceptable is the fact that the school and various doctors seemed unable to diagnose Jonah with what is clearly the problem.
That being said, Theron is excellent and Davis is great and this film shows how stressful, lonely and depressing life as a new parent can be. She is up every few hours to feed the baby, change the baby and lull her to sleep again while her husband sleeps like a log. The house is realistically messy and their lives chaotic, which is not often seen.
The only thing that should have tipped me off to Tully being fake is that when Marlo describes Drew as the bench on a carousel, Tully says he sounds really nice, when he just seems like a lump to me. So, I wonder what else I've missed. Grade: B
Friday, May 25, 2018
Black Panther (2018)
This was probably my favorite Marvel film.
We have the classic good versus evil but with a twist. Wakanda is a cool place. There are plenty of farmers but they have a secret weapon, a powerful compound called Vibranium which means that their technology is beyond our wildest dreams and it comes in handy several times. However, the king has died, so throne is passed down to his son, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who also assumes the powers of the Black Panther. Unfortunately for T'Challa, he fails in his first mission as king, failing to murder the nasty Englishman Klaue who killed the parents of T'Challa's best friend, W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) and stole some Vibranium. He doesn't capture Klaue as Klaue is rescued by the former black ops soldier, Erik Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) who has plenty of secrets of his own. This causes W'Kabi to turn on T'Challa. And the past is never far away. T'Challa's uncle wanted to help the underprivileged to rise above their circumstances; however, most Wakandians wanted to protect their sacred world. Erik is different. The cousin of T'Challa, he defeats him but is downright nasty to his new people and starts to spread his beliefs and cause the people to rise above their governments, which would create a world-wide civil war.
Naturally, eventually with the help of his sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), the General (Danai Gurira), who doesn't like wigs, and his love, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who wants to be an ambassador of goodwill, T'Challa defeats his cousin and Erik passes up the opportunity for T'Challa to save him, not wishing to spend the rest of his life in servitude.
And yes, there are great scenes both during and after the credits.
This film is completely solid, with a seamless, layered plot with brilliant cinematography by one of the most talented in the business, Rachel Morrison and Ryan Cooger is a superb director. The score is great and the characters aren't one dimensional though there are plenty of them and the actors are great. It is nice seeing Martin Freeman being used as almost comic relief and share a scene with Stan Lee and seeing Andy Serkis in the flesh. I will actually gladly watch this film again, which is rare for me to say about an action film. It was slick and modern and great. Grade: A-
We have the classic good versus evil but with a twist. Wakanda is a cool place. There are plenty of farmers but they have a secret weapon, a powerful compound called Vibranium which means that their technology is beyond our wildest dreams and it comes in handy several times. However, the king has died, so throne is passed down to his son, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who also assumes the powers of the Black Panther. Unfortunately for T'Challa, he fails in his first mission as king, failing to murder the nasty Englishman Klaue who killed the parents of T'Challa's best friend, W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) and stole some Vibranium. He doesn't capture Klaue as Klaue is rescued by the former black ops soldier, Erik Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) who has plenty of secrets of his own. This causes W'Kabi to turn on T'Challa. And the past is never far away. T'Challa's uncle wanted to help the underprivileged to rise above their circumstances; however, most Wakandians wanted to protect their sacred world. Erik is different. The cousin of T'Challa, he defeats him but is downright nasty to his new people and starts to spread his beliefs and cause the people to rise above their governments, which would create a world-wide civil war.
Naturally, eventually with the help of his sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), the General (Danai Gurira), who doesn't like wigs, and his love, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who wants to be an ambassador of goodwill, T'Challa defeats his cousin and Erik passes up the opportunity for T'Challa to save him, not wishing to spend the rest of his life in servitude.
And yes, there are great scenes both during and after the credits.
This film is completely solid, with a seamless, layered plot with brilliant cinematography by one of the most talented in the business, Rachel Morrison and Ryan Cooger is a superb director. The score is great and the characters aren't one dimensional though there are plenty of them and the actors are great. It is nice seeing Martin Freeman being used as almost comic relief and share a scene with Stan Lee and seeing Andy Serkis in the flesh. I will actually gladly watch this film again, which is rare for me to say about an action film. It was slick and modern and great. Grade: A-
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
The Middle: A Heck of a Ride
Well, it has come, the series finale. It wasn't that funny and there were some moments that weren't great but overall, it was so touching and tied up all the loose ends.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) has just announced that he's decided to take the job in Denver and Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is devastated and reaches into her nightstand for her cookies. But by morning, all is fine. She wishes him congratulations but there is a catch; he still needs to tell his siblings. Sue (Eden Sher) is devastated while Brick (Atticus Shaffer) immediately starts measuring out the room so he can create a reading nook. And then he misjudges the space and shoves a book shelf in the door frame and there it stays.
So they leave. Sue finally gets her moment with Axl in the back of the car. Brick is determined not to have the middle seat so he camps out in a window seat for the whole night, reading. While Sue has been crying a lot, Brick is showing no emotion. But he is devastated as the whole room has always reeked of Axl's smelly socks. He doesn't know what his room without Axl in it. Goodbyes are hard for Axl and it is probably hardest to say goodbye to Sue so they finally have their moment. And Sue states that she loves being the middle child; she is both an older sister and a younger sister. Three is the perfect number.
There is also the touching moment when Axl has a trivia contest between Sue and Brick over who will get his car as out in Denver he will have a fancy company car. When asked what he got Sue for her twenty-first birthday, she proclaims nothing but he corrects her, she gets his car and she is thrilled. It was probably the nicest thing he ever did for Sue. Brick is not left empty-handed; he gets Brick's palm tree. And Mike gets in on this, giving Axl Big Mike's (John Cullen's) old watch with the longitude and latitude engraved on the back so he can always find his way home.
And then it is time to leave and many are there to see him off, neighbors mostly and Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) who promises to visit him in July.
The car ride is typical Heck family tradition, using up too much data and deciding what sort of body Sue's dead head will go on. Axl is fine with having his head attached to a horse's body after his death. And Mike (Neil Flynn) has started a new death napkin though Frankie didn't know anything about it.
Now to the plot line that was super sweet but I also had problems with it. Sean (Beau Wirick) is going through security as he is flying off to Ghana for the summer but he is stopped as the snowglobe is discovered with a touching note from Sue so he leaves and starts pounding on the Heck house door only to find out that they left for Denver. I don't know how he catches up to them when they were more than a hour ahead of him but he does and he and Sue have their moment. Their relationship has been full of misunderstandings. Sean loves that Sue is watching sunshine as she is always happy. They make out and declare their love for each other. Which is sweet and inevitable and I knew that it would be the finding of the snow globe that would make him realize but I just don't buy that he was able to catch up with the Heck family car.
Frankie finally gets emotional when Axl says that it will be fine to just take him off the family plan and forces Mike to pull over and starts to cry and Sue brings out the blue bag. That's right the blue bag finally made it into the car and then Sue just leaves it on the side of the road. Frankie declares that she will not be a part of taking her son thousands of miles away as she's not okay with it. The cell phone company has a family plan for a reason so they are all tied together. They need to make the moments count. But this how things are supposed to be, eras are supposed to end.
Then, everything ties up. Axl does return to Orson and Mike and Frankie get their just rewards when he and Lexie have three boys all exactly like him, leaving their dirty socks all around the house. Brick also becomes famous, writing a series of books that involve a bookish boy who gets sucked into a microfiche machine and travels through time and he's also married and we can assume that it's Cindy (Casey Burke). Sue and Sean break-up, get back together and break-up again before getting married with Reverend Tim Tom (Paul Hipp) officiating. So Sue finally becomes a Donohue. As for the Heck house, tons of things never get fixed but for all the things they didn't have, they also had a lot. And it ends with Brick whispering the middle, how touching.
Overall, this was a solid episode and I liked how it was both epic and intimate and did glimpse into the children's futures as I have always been interested in seeing what sort of people they would become. They all became amazing people and hopefully happy people.
It was truly so touching to see Axl finally give Sue a present she deserved and karma really can be a bitch. And Frankie appreciated all the little things her house had to offer.
Throughout its run, this show has always shown light on the little people in the world, the ones who are overshadowed by the talented and proves that niceness just isn't a trait that gets the credit it deserved. But at least the Hecks were nice. It may not have always come from the right place or been given willingly but it was there. And that should not be forgotten. I will forever miss the Hecks. Grade: A- (episode); A- (season) and A- (series)
Side Notes:
-For a special Axl breakfast, Frankie says that she will pop whatever he wants into the microwave.
-Axl also puts cheese up Sue's nose while she's asleep.
-I wonder if Axl ever learns how to tie a tie.
-Axl still needs to learn his month order and learn how to count to ten in Spanish.
-Mike and Frankie are such good members of Frugal Hoosiers Miser status that they are almost at tightwad status.
-Vaseline on teeth sounds disgusting.
-Brick was embraced despite being a happy accident.
-Axl's favorite sandwich is cereal on white bread, gross.
-Weird Ashely (Katlin Mastrandrea) also makes an appearance, declaring that it is not goodbye but see you soon.
-Frankie is offended that Mike didn't include her on the watch gift to Axl as they are a unit.
-The street peaches have bees in it and they end up throwing out onto the street.
-Mike really should get his hearing checked.
-Brick is hating watching the Planet Nowhere movie while Sue prefers videos are dogs surfing backwards.
-While Sue and Sean make out, Axl covers his eyes.
-The snow globe breaks, but it served its purpose as it got Sue and Sean together.
-There was an accident at the quarry last month and Mike didn't tell Frankie about it and she's not happy.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) has just announced that he's decided to take the job in Denver and Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is devastated and reaches into her nightstand for her cookies. But by morning, all is fine. She wishes him congratulations but there is a catch; he still needs to tell his siblings. Sue (Eden Sher) is devastated while Brick (Atticus Shaffer) immediately starts measuring out the room so he can create a reading nook. And then he misjudges the space and shoves a book shelf in the door frame and there it stays.
So they leave. Sue finally gets her moment with Axl in the back of the car. Brick is determined not to have the middle seat so he camps out in a window seat for the whole night, reading. While Sue has been crying a lot, Brick is showing no emotion. But he is devastated as the whole room has always reeked of Axl's smelly socks. He doesn't know what his room without Axl in it. Goodbyes are hard for Axl and it is probably hardest to say goodbye to Sue so they finally have their moment. And Sue states that she loves being the middle child; she is both an older sister and a younger sister. Three is the perfect number.
There is also the touching moment when Axl has a trivia contest between Sue and Brick over who will get his car as out in Denver he will have a fancy company car. When asked what he got Sue for her twenty-first birthday, she proclaims nothing but he corrects her, she gets his car and she is thrilled. It was probably the nicest thing he ever did for Sue. Brick is not left empty-handed; he gets Brick's palm tree. And Mike gets in on this, giving Axl Big Mike's (John Cullen's) old watch with the longitude and latitude engraved on the back so he can always find his way home.
And then it is time to leave and many are there to see him off, neighbors mostly and Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) who promises to visit him in July.
The car ride is typical Heck family tradition, using up too much data and deciding what sort of body Sue's dead head will go on. Axl is fine with having his head attached to a horse's body after his death. And Mike (Neil Flynn) has started a new death napkin though Frankie didn't know anything about it.
Now to the plot line that was super sweet but I also had problems with it. Sean (Beau Wirick) is going through security as he is flying off to Ghana for the summer but he is stopped as the snowglobe is discovered with a touching note from Sue so he leaves and starts pounding on the Heck house door only to find out that they left for Denver. I don't know how he catches up to them when they were more than a hour ahead of him but he does and he and Sue have their moment. Their relationship has been full of misunderstandings. Sean loves that Sue is watching sunshine as she is always happy. They make out and declare their love for each other. Which is sweet and inevitable and I knew that it would be the finding of the snow globe that would make him realize but I just don't buy that he was able to catch up with the Heck family car.
Frankie finally gets emotional when Axl says that it will be fine to just take him off the family plan and forces Mike to pull over and starts to cry and Sue brings out the blue bag. That's right the blue bag finally made it into the car and then Sue just leaves it on the side of the road. Frankie declares that she will not be a part of taking her son thousands of miles away as she's not okay with it. The cell phone company has a family plan for a reason so they are all tied together. They need to make the moments count. But this how things are supposed to be, eras are supposed to end.
Then, everything ties up. Axl does return to Orson and Mike and Frankie get their just rewards when he and Lexie have three boys all exactly like him, leaving their dirty socks all around the house. Brick also becomes famous, writing a series of books that involve a bookish boy who gets sucked into a microfiche machine and travels through time and he's also married and we can assume that it's Cindy (Casey Burke). Sue and Sean break-up, get back together and break-up again before getting married with Reverend Tim Tom (Paul Hipp) officiating. So Sue finally becomes a Donohue. As for the Heck house, tons of things never get fixed but for all the things they didn't have, they also had a lot. And it ends with Brick whispering the middle, how touching.
Overall, this was a solid episode and I liked how it was both epic and intimate and did glimpse into the children's futures as I have always been interested in seeing what sort of people they would become. They all became amazing people and hopefully happy people.
It was truly so touching to see Axl finally give Sue a present she deserved and karma really can be a bitch. And Frankie appreciated all the little things her house had to offer.
Throughout its run, this show has always shown light on the little people in the world, the ones who are overshadowed by the talented and proves that niceness just isn't a trait that gets the credit it deserved. But at least the Hecks were nice. It may not have always come from the right place or been given willingly but it was there. And that should not be forgotten. I will forever miss the Hecks. Grade: A- (episode); A- (season) and A- (series)
Side Notes:
-For a special Axl breakfast, Frankie says that she will pop whatever he wants into the microwave.
-Axl also puts cheese up Sue's nose while she's asleep.
-I wonder if Axl ever learns how to tie a tie.
-Axl still needs to learn his month order and learn how to count to ten in Spanish.
-Mike and Frankie are such good members of Frugal Hoosiers Miser status that they are almost at tightwad status.
-Vaseline on teeth sounds disgusting.
-Brick was embraced despite being a happy accident.
-Axl's favorite sandwich is cereal on white bread, gross.
-Weird Ashely (Katlin Mastrandrea) also makes an appearance, declaring that it is not goodbye but see you soon.
-Frankie is offended that Mike didn't include her on the watch gift to Axl as they are a unit.
-The street peaches have bees in it and they end up throwing out onto the street.
-Mike really should get his hearing checked.
-Brick is hating watching the Planet Nowhere movie while Sue prefers videos are dogs surfing backwards.
-While Sue and Sean make out, Axl covers his eyes.
-The snow globe breaks, but it served its purpose as it got Sue and Sean together.
-There was an accident at the quarry last month and Mike didn't tell Frankie about it and she's not happy.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Rise: Season One Recap and Reaction
This show has already been cancelled which is a shame. Though deeply flawed, it was nevertheless packed with talent so I'm sad to see it go.
This is based off one of the few non-fiction books I've read since graduating college and yes, there is a major difference between the real Lou Volpe and the shows Lou Mazzuchelli. Mr. Mazzu (Josh Radnor) is straight while Volpe was a closeted gay man who came out late in life. So that's a problem done to enhance the roles of the Mazzuchelli children of which there are three. They make the son Gordy (Casey W. Johnson) an alcoholic, sixteen and already struggling with his drinking but his parents don't handle as firmly as you'd think. It takes them until episode five to pour the wine down the sinks and punish their son, simply saying that they need to know where he is at all times and this is after he left a family vacation and was found with a bottle of strong liquor in his locker.
However, family problems take the backseat to the drama club, which is different from the one I had in my own high school. Spring Awakening is a controversial show but it speaks to Mr. Mazzu. It has numerous hot-button topics including child abuse and abortion. And the citizens of Stanton (in an unnamed county in Pennsylvania) aren't too pleased so the show faces backlash from the moment it is decided that that is what will be done. And Lou is also taking over the drama department from Ms. Wolf (Rosie Perez) who has been in charge for decades. Though pissed that she lost her job to a middle-aged white man, she takes the job as co-director seriously and truly does want to help and she's also more realistic than Lou and is determined to cater to the conservative minds of Stanton. There are also the stars of the show: Robbie (Damon J. Gillespie), the football star turned leading man who has a dying mother and pressure from his father to go all the way with football; Lillet Suarez (Auli'i Cravalho) who has a single mother currently having an affair with the married football coach; Simon (Ted Sutherland) who is struggling with his own sexually while living with extremely Catholic parents and a sister with Down Syndrome; Gwen (Amy Forstyth), the coach's daughter upset that her parents are divorcing because that's not what's best for her; Michael (Ellie Desautels) who is going through the transition from female to male; Maashouse (Rarmian Newton) who runs the lights and is lost in the foster system though before the end of the season his mom is released from prison and Sasha (Erin Kommer) who doesn't have much of a role until she finds out that she's pregnant and struggling with that decision and her growing feelings toward her best friend, Michael. We don't know if she will have an abortion or keep the baby. Personally, I think it is foolish that the show added a pregnancy of a minor character in season one but I didn't write the show. I think the plot line takes time away from the main characters and the center plot when there is so much more to focus on.
In general, there is too much pairing off, especially in season one. Of course Lillet and Robbie are in love, we all saw that coming, but at least I'm rooting for that couple and Robbie is actually very sweet for a guy in general. Gordy likes Gwen though she isn't so sure and Jeremy (Sean Grandillo) likes Simon and Simon likes him though it is a struggle for Simon and Lou's middle daughter Kaitlin (Taylor Richardson) has a giant crush on Maashous (horrible name).
That is only the basic summary of character parts. This show is essentially Friday Night Lights (excellent) had a baby with Glee (good for a while). I wish there were more parts of the musical in the show because the that is the main point of the show and the musical is really something brilliant. Though Lou is forced to make some changes to appease the people who have problems with the show, he doesn't want to cave despite his job being on the line and goes back to the original version. And the school board representative appreciates it, he knows that many will be upset so he cancels the drama program; after all, cuts are needed anyway so this will be first to go.
That all being said, I really would have liked to have seen more of this show as that was done well in both of the above mentioned shows and it could have been done well here too, though now we'll never know. I hope these kids have a bright future ahead of them because they are talented enough. Grade: B+
This is based off one of the few non-fiction books I've read since graduating college and yes, there is a major difference between the real Lou Volpe and the shows Lou Mazzuchelli. Mr. Mazzu (Josh Radnor) is straight while Volpe was a closeted gay man who came out late in life. So that's a problem done to enhance the roles of the Mazzuchelli children of which there are three. They make the son Gordy (Casey W. Johnson) an alcoholic, sixteen and already struggling with his drinking but his parents don't handle as firmly as you'd think. It takes them until episode five to pour the wine down the sinks and punish their son, simply saying that they need to know where he is at all times and this is after he left a family vacation and was found with a bottle of strong liquor in his locker.
However, family problems take the backseat to the drama club, which is different from the one I had in my own high school. Spring Awakening is a controversial show but it speaks to Mr. Mazzu. It has numerous hot-button topics including child abuse and abortion. And the citizens of Stanton (in an unnamed county in Pennsylvania) aren't too pleased so the show faces backlash from the moment it is decided that that is what will be done. And Lou is also taking over the drama department from Ms. Wolf (Rosie Perez) who has been in charge for decades. Though pissed that she lost her job to a middle-aged white man, she takes the job as co-director seriously and truly does want to help and she's also more realistic than Lou and is determined to cater to the conservative minds of Stanton. There are also the stars of the show: Robbie (Damon J. Gillespie), the football star turned leading man who has a dying mother and pressure from his father to go all the way with football; Lillet Suarez (Auli'i Cravalho) who has a single mother currently having an affair with the married football coach; Simon (Ted Sutherland) who is struggling with his own sexually while living with extremely Catholic parents and a sister with Down Syndrome; Gwen (Amy Forstyth), the coach's daughter upset that her parents are divorcing because that's not what's best for her; Michael (Ellie Desautels) who is going through the transition from female to male; Maashouse (Rarmian Newton) who runs the lights and is lost in the foster system though before the end of the season his mom is released from prison and Sasha (Erin Kommer) who doesn't have much of a role until she finds out that she's pregnant and struggling with that decision and her growing feelings toward her best friend, Michael. We don't know if she will have an abortion or keep the baby. Personally, I think it is foolish that the show added a pregnancy of a minor character in season one but I didn't write the show. I think the plot line takes time away from the main characters and the center plot when there is so much more to focus on.
In general, there is too much pairing off, especially in season one. Of course Lillet and Robbie are in love, we all saw that coming, but at least I'm rooting for that couple and Robbie is actually very sweet for a guy in general. Gordy likes Gwen though she isn't so sure and Jeremy (Sean Grandillo) likes Simon and Simon likes him though it is a struggle for Simon and Lou's middle daughter Kaitlin (Taylor Richardson) has a giant crush on Maashous (horrible name).
That is only the basic summary of character parts. This show is essentially Friday Night Lights (excellent) had a baby with Glee (good for a while). I wish there were more parts of the musical in the show because the that is the main point of the show and the musical is really something brilliant. Though Lou is forced to make some changes to appease the people who have problems with the show, he doesn't want to cave despite his job being on the line and goes back to the original version. And the school board representative appreciates it, he knows that many will be upset so he cancels the drama program; after all, cuts are needed anyway so this will be first to go.
That all being said, I really would have liked to have seen more of this show as that was done well in both of the above mentioned shows and it could have been done well here too, though now we'll never know. I hope these kids have a bright future ahead of them because they are talented enough. Grade: B+
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The Middle: Split Decisions
This episode picks up right where last week's dropped off; Frankie (Patricia Heaton) discovering that Axl (Charlie McDermott) has been offered a job out in Denver. Not only that, but she learns that Mike (Neil Flynn) helped cover for him. She isn't pleased and wants him to stay close and tries to persuade him to stay, even trying to get Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) on her side, though Lexie is such a devoted girlfriend, she will support Axl in whatever decision he makes, much to Frankie's dismay, in fact, she kicks Lexie out of the house.
Sue (Eden Sher), in the meantime, is pining for Sean (Beau Wirick) who is preparing to leave for Ghana. But there is plenty unspoken between the two of them. It takes a trip to the hardware store with Mike for her to get over him. She realizes that she doesn't need a man to have a happy summer and she's right. She's prepared to embrace her independence but before, heads over to the Donohue house and as Sean isn't home, she slips the elusive snow globe into one of his bags, already packed and waiting by the door.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is having struggles of his own. His lawn chair is falling apart so he just starts ordering some online and can't stop. I wonder where all the money came from. Frankie makes him take all but his favorite over to Big Mike's house. He does but comes back and isn't empty-handed; he is back with all a huge recliner. Which is very comfortable.
In the end, Axl decides to take the job and Frankie starts crying, which is what we expected.
This was another solid episode and it is always welcome seeing Axl and Lexie together. Axl did make the right decision for him, though he does like his job but he wants to actually use his degree. And he's lucky the Denver offer gave him a whole week to figure it out. It was awkward seeing Sue depressed and it sucks when your plans fail, but you need to rise above it. Which she does. I will truly miss this family. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Brick has two friends, three if you count the bus driver.
-I wonder what sort of fast food restaurant has both egg rolls and burgers.
-Every time the Hecks drive one of their cars over fifty, they leave parts on the road.
-Sue and Sean have that super awkward hug thing before finally embracing and then he leaves.
-Mike mostly just wants his couch and remote back.
-Axl knows a lot about shower heads thanks to his current job.
-Lexie's parents do have a house in Denver but its her least favorite.
Sue (Eden Sher), in the meantime, is pining for Sean (Beau Wirick) who is preparing to leave for Ghana. But there is plenty unspoken between the two of them. It takes a trip to the hardware store with Mike for her to get over him. She realizes that she doesn't need a man to have a happy summer and she's right. She's prepared to embrace her independence but before, heads over to the Donohue house and as Sean isn't home, she slips the elusive snow globe into one of his bags, already packed and waiting by the door.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is having struggles of his own. His lawn chair is falling apart so he just starts ordering some online and can't stop. I wonder where all the money came from. Frankie makes him take all but his favorite over to Big Mike's house. He does but comes back and isn't empty-handed; he is back with all a huge recliner. Which is very comfortable.
In the end, Axl decides to take the job and Frankie starts crying, which is what we expected.
This was another solid episode and it is always welcome seeing Axl and Lexie together. Axl did make the right decision for him, though he does like his job but he wants to actually use his degree. And he's lucky the Denver offer gave him a whole week to figure it out. It was awkward seeing Sue depressed and it sucks when your plans fail, but you need to rise above it. Which she does. I will truly miss this family. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Brick has two friends, three if you count the bus driver.
-I wonder what sort of fast food restaurant has both egg rolls and burgers.
-Every time the Hecks drive one of their cars over fifty, they leave parts on the road.
-Sue and Sean have that super awkward hug thing before finally embracing and then he leaves.
-Mike mostly just wants his couch and remote back.
-Axl knows a lot about shower heads thanks to his current job.
-Lexie's parents do have a house in Denver but its her least favorite.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
The Middle: The Royal Flush
As it is nearing Mother's Day, something is bound to go wrong, in this case, the toilet in the Heck's second bathroom is clogged up, rendering it useless. And the Hecks all forgot about Mother's Day. Sue (Eden Sher) comes to the rescue. She has found the perfect plan, win a trivia contest with Brick (Atticus Shaffer) where the prize is a trip to the royal wedding. They win the first round and make it to the next round, but then Sue needs to pee at an inopportune time and she misses a Taylor Swift trivia question, she bursts out in time and answers correctly but because Brick used his phone, they are disqualified.
The more important plot line is that Axl (Charlie McDermott) has a great opportunity; his former co-worker recommends that he interviews for a job for a national company but its in Denver. Mike (Neil Flynn) supports him but they agree to keep it a secret from Frankie (Patricia Heaton) which isn't easy especially since Mike nearly spills the beans several times.
But Axl arrives home in time for Mother's Day and they decide that they will all watch and pretend to enjoy the royal wedding with her. Which they are in the process of doing when Axl gets notice that the job is his for the taking. Frankie walks in mid-conversation and the episode ends. A cliff hanger. I wonder if Axl will take the job; he probably should, it sounds like a good opportunity. I wish finding a job for me had been that easy.
This was another solid episode and just when you think the Hecks have nailed a mother's day gift for mother's day after decades of disappointment, it is ruined. She will never get the recognition she deserves. Oh well. Still, good solid performances and we're down to the wire, only three episodes left, ever. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Axl believes that he and Mike should have broken with the rest of the family years ago.
-Frankie needs to put ice cream sandwiches under her boobs because she's reached that certain age.
-Brick has finally read all of the microfiche and it leaves a hole in his life.
-Brick has a new love, coupons and has organized them by font group.
-He also has a fake ID as one of the former members of font group has low scruples and that was how money was raised but then the kid got expelled. For the record, Brick voted in the last election.
-The group name Sue and Brick use is Heck Yeah, which is just a great group trivia name, though Trivia De Haviland is also great.
-If the kids won the trip, I wonder who Frankie would have taken?
-Driving for fourteen straight hours doesn't sound healthy.
The more important plot line is that Axl (Charlie McDermott) has a great opportunity; his former co-worker recommends that he interviews for a job for a national company but its in Denver. Mike (Neil Flynn) supports him but they agree to keep it a secret from Frankie (Patricia Heaton) which isn't easy especially since Mike nearly spills the beans several times.
But Axl arrives home in time for Mother's Day and they decide that they will all watch and pretend to enjoy the royal wedding with her. Which they are in the process of doing when Axl gets notice that the job is his for the taking. Frankie walks in mid-conversation and the episode ends. A cliff hanger. I wonder if Axl will take the job; he probably should, it sounds like a good opportunity. I wish finding a job for me had been that easy.
This was another solid episode and just when you think the Hecks have nailed a mother's day gift for mother's day after decades of disappointment, it is ruined. She will never get the recognition she deserves. Oh well. Still, good solid performances and we're down to the wire, only three episodes left, ever. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Axl believes that he and Mike should have broken with the rest of the family years ago.
-Frankie needs to put ice cream sandwiches under her boobs because she's reached that certain age.
-Brick has finally read all of the microfiche and it leaves a hole in his life.
-Brick has a new love, coupons and has organized them by font group.
-He also has a fake ID as one of the former members of font group has low scruples and that was how money was raised but then the kid got expelled. For the record, Brick voted in the last election.
-The group name Sue and Brick use is Heck Yeah, which is just a great group trivia name, though Trivia De Haviland is also great.
-If the kids won the trip, I wonder who Frankie would have taken?
-Driving for fourteen straight hours doesn't sound healthy.
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Call the Midwife: Season Seven Recap and Reaction
This was, overall, a depressing season. From the very beginning, we have a new mother suffer a stroke just days after giving birth, there's a mother who is diagnosed with Huntington's Disease which does not have a cure, and a woman who would literally pick suicide over giving birth again.
Trixie (Helen George) returns to drinking after urging her lover, the dentist Christopher (Jack Hawkins) to return to his ex-wife as that is what will be good for his young daughter. Though I understand where she is coming from, I disagree. It will not be good for the child if both of her parents are deeply unhappy and his ex-wife sounds like a piece of work.
But that is far better than Barbara's (Charlotte Ritchie's) fate. She returns home with her new husband, Tom (Jack Ashton) all starry-eyed and then they kill her off by infecting her with septicemia. Why do they bring her back only to kill her off so quickly? Tom is naturally distraught, and who can blame him? This was the love of his life. I hope they don't have him get back together with Trixie, because they just won't work.
We do have a new nurse, all the way from Jamaica, Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott) and she is a welcome change but we still need to delve into her background more as well as Valerie's (Jennifer Kirby's) but there is always next season.
The Turners (Stephen McGann and Laura Main) get an au pair, only to have her written off by inducing a miscarriage on herself, which was just foolish of the show. Why would they bring on a character, in such a major role only to have her around for just two episodes? The kids don't seem to suffer without her though we rarely see the Turner baby (named Teddy) afterward.
Though this is by far the most depressing season yet, with few happy endings, it is still great performances from both series regulars and guest stars. The casting is so, so good. The editing is flawless and there is not a note out of place with the sets, costumes and hairstyles. This show is surrounded by some of the best in the business. And though the endings are not happy, the characters do the best they can with what they have. I wish I could be that optimistic with my own life. Grade: B+
Trixie (Helen George) returns to drinking after urging her lover, the dentist Christopher (Jack Hawkins) to return to his ex-wife as that is what will be good for his young daughter. Though I understand where she is coming from, I disagree. It will not be good for the child if both of her parents are deeply unhappy and his ex-wife sounds like a piece of work.
But that is far better than Barbara's (Charlotte Ritchie's) fate. She returns home with her new husband, Tom (Jack Ashton) all starry-eyed and then they kill her off by infecting her with septicemia. Why do they bring her back only to kill her off so quickly? Tom is naturally distraught, and who can blame him? This was the love of his life. I hope they don't have him get back together with Trixie, because they just won't work.
We do have a new nurse, all the way from Jamaica, Nurse Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott) and she is a welcome change but we still need to delve into her background more as well as Valerie's (Jennifer Kirby's) but there is always next season.
The Turners (Stephen McGann and Laura Main) get an au pair, only to have her written off by inducing a miscarriage on herself, which was just foolish of the show. Why would they bring on a character, in such a major role only to have her around for just two episodes? The kids don't seem to suffer without her though we rarely see the Turner baby (named Teddy) afterward.
Though this is by far the most depressing season yet, with few happy endings, it is still great performances from both series regulars and guest stars. The casting is so, so good. The editing is flawless and there is not a note out of place with the sets, costumes and hairstyles. This show is surrounded by some of the best in the business. And though the endings are not happy, the characters do the best they can with what they have. I wish I could be that optimistic with my own life. Grade: B+
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Spoiler Alert!!
To be fair, this is not my sort of film. And despite the fact that it was filled with characters, combining three film's worth of characters, the film isn't as chunky as expected.
The plot is fairly basic, keep the bad guy from getting all the infinity stones so he can't control and bring great destruction to the planet. However, they don't do the best job. Despite the fact that there are so many more good people against Thanos (Josh Brolin), Thanos has won by the end of the film. He has all the stones, all six of them. Sure, he has some people in his side, including some nasty animals that completely destroy Wakanda, but there was no reason he should have won and the ending is just hollow. Many of the avengers and guardians turn to dust, but there is no rhyme or reason as to why some turn to dust and others remain. Spiderman (Tom Holland) is dust while Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) just stands and watches. That is what bothers me most. I need to know why some are lost and others remain.
It isn't a bad film, as humor is peppered throughout to ease the tension, and you have finally have Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Quill (Chris Pratt) declare their love for each other only to have Thanos kidnap her and eventually send her to her alleged death; however, there is no body so she's not dead until we see a body.
There will be a part two, as there should because this is not how things should end. The bad cannot win over the good because this is Hollywood, not the real world and that has its advantages. Grade: B
To be fair, this is not my sort of film. And despite the fact that it was filled with characters, combining three film's worth of characters, the film isn't as chunky as expected.
The plot is fairly basic, keep the bad guy from getting all the infinity stones so he can't control and bring great destruction to the planet. However, they don't do the best job. Despite the fact that there are so many more good people against Thanos (Josh Brolin), Thanos has won by the end of the film. He has all the stones, all six of them. Sure, he has some people in his side, including some nasty animals that completely destroy Wakanda, but there was no reason he should have won and the ending is just hollow. Many of the avengers and guardians turn to dust, but there is no rhyme or reason as to why some turn to dust and others remain. Spiderman (Tom Holland) is dust while Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) just stands and watches. That is what bothers me most. I need to know why some are lost and others remain.
It isn't a bad film, as humor is peppered throughout to ease the tension, and you have finally have Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Quill (Chris Pratt) declare their love for each other only to have Thanos kidnap her and eventually send her to her alleged death; however, there is no body so she's not dead until we see a body.
There will be a part two, as there should because this is not how things should end. The bad cannot win over the good because this is Hollywood, not the real world and that has its advantages. Grade: B
Thursday, May 3, 2018
The Middle: Great Heckspectations
How in the world does Brick (Atticus Shaffer) manage to get his driver's license without his parent's permission? Not wanting to bother Mike (Neil Flynn) and Frankie (Patricia Heaton), Sue (Eden Sher) took him instead.
They decide to punish him though they rescind it so he can go to prom. He isn't thrilled about that but his parents are insistent. He wants to use Bernie the Bookmark but Frankie persuades him to do something else. So he has this elaborate promposal and Cindy (Casey Burke) still says no; when he goes back to Bernie, she agrees. And then Frankie has this great idea to invite all of Brick's friends from his former social skills class. They come and they have all normalized. One is not a cat anymore and another eats all foods not just red food. The biggest shock is Cindy though. Her mom made her chunk her hat so we see her without it for the first time ever and she's beautiful, but her ears are cold.
They have a perfectly lovely evening at the Library instead as Brick has his own key. The library contains everything he loves: books and Cindy. And Frankie laments that she just wants him to be happy, which he is.
In the meantime, Axl (Charlie McDermott) is guilted into getting Sue a belated birthday present by Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) but he does what he normally does and puts no effort into it. His 'experience' is blindfolding Sue and leading her around odd places and letting her eat stranger's ice cream. She is mad about the whole thing as she has every right to be but then Frankie says that when she was younger, before Sue was even born and when she was a baby, Axl was super overprotective of her and would sleep with her and then when they kicked him out, he left woofy dog with her. So he does care; he just doesn't remember it but it makes Sue very happy and she feels loved by him nevertheless.
This was another decent episode though I wonder where Axl took Sue for several hours. He really has no excuse as to why he didn't get her a present or come up with any good idea of where to take her. Still, the Brick plot line was very good and I like seeing Frankie's brilliant idea to show off her kids backfire on her. That being said, if all she wants him is to be happy, then she's succeeded. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-When punishing Brick, they take away his library and chilling with Cindy privileges.
-Cindy's full name is Cynthia Violet Hornberger.
-A guy was almost buried in Brick's tuxedo.
-Brick was forced to climb a rope in gym and fell down and burned his privates but he got to stay in bed for a week afterwards to read and he enjoyed that week.
-The old TV remote is Mike's best friend. Frankie is a solid third.
-Brick struggles to pin on Cindy's flower in box.
-Sue got Axl an hour in a flight simulator and a tie for his twenty-first birthday.
They decide to punish him though they rescind it so he can go to prom. He isn't thrilled about that but his parents are insistent. He wants to use Bernie the Bookmark but Frankie persuades him to do something else. So he has this elaborate promposal and Cindy (Casey Burke) still says no; when he goes back to Bernie, she agrees. And then Frankie has this great idea to invite all of Brick's friends from his former social skills class. They come and they have all normalized. One is not a cat anymore and another eats all foods not just red food. The biggest shock is Cindy though. Her mom made her chunk her hat so we see her without it for the first time ever and she's beautiful, but her ears are cold.
They have a perfectly lovely evening at the Library instead as Brick has his own key. The library contains everything he loves: books and Cindy. And Frankie laments that she just wants him to be happy, which he is.
In the meantime, Axl (Charlie McDermott) is guilted into getting Sue a belated birthday present by Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) but he does what he normally does and puts no effort into it. His 'experience' is blindfolding Sue and leading her around odd places and letting her eat stranger's ice cream. She is mad about the whole thing as she has every right to be but then Frankie says that when she was younger, before Sue was even born and when she was a baby, Axl was super overprotective of her and would sleep with her and then when they kicked him out, he left woofy dog with her. So he does care; he just doesn't remember it but it makes Sue very happy and she feels loved by him nevertheless.
This was another decent episode though I wonder where Axl took Sue for several hours. He really has no excuse as to why he didn't get her a present or come up with any good idea of where to take her. Still, the Brick plot line was very good and I like seeing Frankie's brilliant idea to show off her kids backfire on her. That being said, if all she wants him is to be happy, then she's succeeded. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-When punishing Brick, they take away his library and chilling with Cindy privileges.
-Cindy's full name is Cynthia Violet Hornberger.
-A guy was almost buried in Brick's tuxedo.
-Brick was forced to climb a rope in gym and fell down and burned his privates but he got to stay in bed for a week afterwards to read and he enjoyed that week.
-The old TV remote is Mike's best friend. Frankie is a solid third.
-Brick struggles to pin on Cindy's flower in box.
-Sue got Axl an hour in a flight simulator and a tie for his twenty-first birthday.
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