Well, season five has started. I don't know if I have any extra predictions for this season, so far.
Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Tony Gillingham (Tom Cullen) are almost engaged though she has high hopes for her potential second marriage, wanting it to be as happy as her first. Also desperate for the marriage to work, Tony offers to have a weekend by themselves wanting her to also be his lover before the two marry so they know everything about each other first. Mary is considering the offer. She's probably take it.
Edith (Laura Carmichael) is still visiting her secret love child, who was unfortunately given the name Marigold. Marigold is doing well living with the Drewes, though Edith is still somewhat depressed and Gregson is still nowhere to be found. My prediction? He's probably dead. I also don't think that Edith will be able to keep an acceptable distance from little Marigold.
Branson (Allen Leech) is still overseeing the land but is still having doubts and is sort of considering pursuing a relationship with the teacher Miss Bunting (Daisy Lewis) though her opinions largely clash with Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Branson is hesitant to go against Robert's wishes. Speaking of Robert, he is not appointed to be on the veterans committee and Carson (Jim Carter) is appointed instead and takes the position.
As for the servants, we finally find out part of Baxter's (Raquel Cassidy's) dirty little secret. She's a thief though who knows what she did with the jewels. And Moseley (Kevin Doyle) attempts to dye his hair though that ends badly.
Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is actually friends with Jimmy (Ed Speleers) who is sleeping with his former mistress (Anna Chancellor). And because of a sudden fire, which starts in Edith's room, Robert discovers that his footman is sleeping with his former boss and is disgusted.
The fire manages not to damage much and at least Mary's first though once hearing of the fire is of her son, George, whom she spends little time with. Earlier, she even admitted that she loved Tony in her own cold, unfeeling sort of way. But the future of Downton depends solely on little George, that will all be his one day.
Though I am largely over this show, believing they dragged it out too long and have too much time between seasons, this was not a bad way to start the season as so much could so easily go wrong and lives will be forever changed. The acting is still great and dialogue snappy, not to mention the flawless sets and costumes. I just feel that the best days of Downton are long gone, just as it could be with society changing right before everyone's eyes. Grade: B+
Monday, January 5, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Wild
If you've ever doubted that Reese Witherspoon is a good actress, this film will forever prove you wrong.
Reese Witherspoon is literally a one-woman show as Cheryl Strayed in this film. She is a damaged woman, suffering greatly from the unexpected death of her beloved mother, Bobbi (Laura Dern). Bobbi was diagnosed with cancer and died just one month later, when the doctor said that she could expect roughly a year. Her son, Leif (Keene McRae), never even got to say good-bye. After Bobbi's death, Cheryl turned to having casual sex with anything that moved, humping guys in broad daylight in alleys behind the diner where she worked. And then the heroin use started and, not surprisingly, her marriage to the kind Paul (Thomas Sadowski) was completely eroded. To turn her life around, she starts walking the 1,200 mile trek of the Pacific Crest Trail, starting in the desert near the Mexican border.
Her journey is perilous and lonely, not to mention dangerous. She nearly runs out of water because a water tank is dry. She is nearly raped by a creepy hunter who sneaks up on her when she is starting to make camp, plus her hiking boots fall off a cliff because she was stupid and placed one too close to the edge. Luckily, she was able to get new ones, thank goodness. Despite everything, she has incredible strength and manages to finish, curing herself of all the ills that troubled her life before. She managed to turn her life around and become the woman her mother raised her to be, just as Witherspoon's narration described.
Witherspoon's performance is magnificent, from struggling to lift her heavy backpack, stuffed with food, tents and supplies, everything she would need to survive along the journey, though she didn't read some instructions as she has the wrong fuel needed for her portable stove. And, despite being more than a decade older than her character, Witherspoon still looks fairly realistic as the young college student and waitress. She deserves every nomination she receives, if not the award itself.
Of course I had problems with the film. One is that Cheryl becomes pregnant during her addiction and casual sex stage, but doesn't have the baby. Whether she has the abortion or just had a miscarriage is unclear, though she would eventually get married and have two children with her husband. (She and Paul get divorced, big surprise there.) I also wish the ending would have showed all the good that happened to Cheryl, not just have her tell us what happened. And, to the nit-picky parts. In one of the first scenes, just as Cheryl is starting out on the trail, her watch and bracelet switch wrists between edits, bothering me to no end. Also, the fuel can she kicked away because it was no good, makes a return appearance, even after she buys the proper fuel. Sure, she could have gone to pick it up, but we never see the good fuel can again. I know I'm crazy nit-picky as the vast majority of the film was incredibly gritty and realistic with fairly authentic sets as Cheryl hiked the trail in 1995. The scenery is incredible and the cinematography breathtaking, but it is the little details that need to be great.
Though it is disturbing to see a woman let others treat her so horribly, Cheryl makes a true difference in her life and that must mean something; she made her life matter. And that does mean something, not just to her, but to the audience as well. Grade: A-
Reese Witherspoon is literally a one-woman show as Cheryl Strayed in this film. She is a damaged woman, suffering greatly from the unexpected death of her beloved mother, Bobbi (Laura Dern). Bobbi was diagnosed with cancer and died just one month later, when the doctor said that she could expect roughly a year. Her son, Leif (Keene McRae), never even got to say good-bye. After Bobbi's death, Cheryl turned to having casual sex with anything that moved, humping guys in broad daylight in alleys behind the diner where she worked. And then the heroin use started and, not surprisingly, her marriage to the kind Paul (Thomas Sadowski) was completely eroded. To turn her life around, she starts walking the 1,200 mile trek of the Pacific Crest Trail, starting in the desert near the Mexican border.
Her journey is perilous and lonely, not to mention dangerous. She nearly runs out of water because a water tank is dry. She is nearly raped by a creepy hunter who sneaks up on her when she is starting to make camp, plus her hiking boots fall off a cliff because she was stupid and placed one too close to the edge. Luckily, she was able to get new ones, thank goodness. Despite everything, she has incredible strength and manages to finish, curing herself of all the ills that troubled her life before. She managed to turn her life around and become the woman her mother raised her to be, just as Witherspoon's narration described.
Witherspoon's performance is magnificent, from struggling to lift her heavy backpack, stuffed with food, tents and supplies, everything she would need to survive along the journey, though she didn't read some instructions as she has the wrong fuel needed for her portable stove. And, despite being more than a decade older than her character, Witherspoon still looks fairly realistic as the young college student and waitress. She deserves every nomination she receives, if not the award itself.
Of course I had problems with the film. One is that Cheryl becomes pregnant during her addiction and casual sex stage, but doesn't have the baby. Whether she has the abortion or just had a miscarriage is unclear, though she would eventually get married and have two children with her husband. (She and Paul get divorced, big surprise there.) I also wish the ending would have showed all the good that happened to Cheryl, not just have her tell us what happened. And, to the nit-picky parts. In one of the first scenes, just as Cheryl is starting out on the trail, her watch and bracelet switch wrists between edits, bothering me to no end. Also, the fuel can she kicked away because it was no good, makes a return appearance, even after she buys the proper fuel. Sure, she could have gone to pick it up, but we never see the good fuel can again. I know I'm crazy nit-picky as the vast majority of the film was incredibly gritty and realistic with fairly authentic sets as Cheryl hiked the trail in 1995. The scenery is incredible and the cinematography breathtaking, but it is the little details that need to be great.
Though it is disturbing to see a woman let others treat her so horribly, Cheryl makes a true difference in her life and that must mean something; she made her life matter. And that does mean something, not just to her, but to the audience as well. Grade: A-
Friday, January 2, 2015
Into the Woods
This film was interesting.
There are a ton of characters and they interconnect in odd ways. The Baker and his wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt) must gather together an odd sort of ingredients to appease the Witch (Meryl Streep) so they can have a baby. They get the milky white cow from Jack (Daniel Huddlestone), the blood-red cape from Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), the golden locks from Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) and, after some persuading the golden glass slipper from Cinderella (Anna Kendrick). The other characters have their own battles: Cinderella must break away from her nasty stepmother and evil stepsisters (Christine Baranski, Lucy Punch and Tammy Blanchard), and decide to settle down with her prince (Chris Pine), instead of running away as she has done for all three nights of the ball, Little Red must face down her demon of the Wolf (Johnny Depp) and deliver bread to Grandma, the Princes must find either Cinderella or Rapunzel and the Witch just wants her youth back. Jack wants his cow back and his mother (Tracey Ullmann) wants money.
Just when I thought things worked out way too easily, things take a devastating turn for the worst, the Giant is back and she wants blood as Jack chopped down the first giant beanstalk, killing her husband. The Bakers are able to gather all the supplies they need so the Witch is able to drink the potion to turn her young again. She immediately becomes pregnant, nine months pregnant no less, giving birth in time for Cinderella's wedding which causes the weirdest look ever to briefly cross her face because earlier Baker's wife declared that she needed the slipper so she could have a baby.
The odd assortment of people must band together to defeat the giant, but lives are lost along the way: Jack's mother is the first to go. Then, the Baker and his wife separate so they can find Jack quicker but the wife stumbles upon Cinderella's Prince so is not as charming as he appears: the two have a hot make-out session before she falls off a cliff to her death and Cinderella (who can talk to birds) hears of Prince's straying from her. He only liked the chase. Once he caught her, he was bored. Who knows what happens to him.
In the end, the Baker, Cinderella, Little Red and Jack form a sort of family unit to defeat the Giant and then, with lingering advice from his wife, the Baker starts telling the story to his infant son, inheriting the orphaned Jack and Little Red as his other children with Cinderella to be either his wife or housekeeper. Though the two do not hook up, it would make sense that they end up together but who knows what will happen.
I have several issues with the film. First of all, Johnny Depp's song as the wolf when he wants to eat Little Red for dinner is just disgusting and then Rapunzel and her Prince (Billy Magnussen) don't get enough screen time and they are probably the only ones with the actual happy ending. Also, the Baker cutting the eaten Little Red and her grandmother out of the Wolf is just odd. And the whole Cinderella's Prince cheating on her with the Baker's wife was upsetting. And the Witch's sudden odd death was interesting also.
However, most of the acting was top-notch and the songs were mostly good and all the actors could sing which is wonderful. The sets were great and costumes and make-up were all good and it is interesting to see how the fairy tales interconnect and how a band of misfits can defeat the Giant and yes, the Baker can overcome his own troubled past. His father abandoned him and he almost abandoned his own son before changing his mind, but nothing can be taken away from this film but at least the journey was fascinating. Grade: B+
There are a ton of characters and they interconnect in odd ways. The Baker and his wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt) must gather together an odd sort of ingredients to appease the Witch (Meryl Streep) so they can have a baby. They get the milky white cow from Jack (Daniel Huddlestone), the blood-red cape from Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), the golden locks from Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) and, after some persuading the golden glass slipper from Cinderella (Anna Kendrick). The other characters have their own battles: Cinderella must break away from her nasty stepmother and evil stepsisters (Christine Baranski, Lucy Punch and Tammy Blanchard), and decide to settle down with her prince (Chris Pine), instead of running away as she has done for all three nights of the ball, Little Red must face down her demon of the Wolf (Johnny Depp) and deliver bread to Grandma, the Princes must find either Cinderella or Rapunzel and the Witch just wants her youth back. Jack wants his cow back and his mother (Tracey Ullmann) wants money.
Just when I thought things worked out way too easily, things take a devastating turn for the worst, the Giant is back and she wants blood as Jack chopped down the first giant beanstalk, killing her husband. The Bakers are able to gather all the supplies they need so the Witch is able to drink the potion to turn her young again. She immediately becomes pregnant, nine months pregnant no less, giving birth in time for Cinderella's wedding which causes the weirdest look ever to briefly cross her face because earlier Baker's wife declared that she needed the slipper so she could have a baby.
The odd assortment of people must band together to defeat the giant, but lives are lost along the way: Jack's mother is the first to go. Then, the Baker and his wife separate so they can find Jack quicker but the wife stumbles upon Cinderella's Prince so is not as charming as he appears: the two have a hot make-out session before she falls off a cliff to her death and Cinderella (who can talk to birds) hears of Prince's straying from her. He only liked the chase. Once he caught her, he was bored. Who knows what happens to him.
In the end, the Baker, Cinderella, Little Red and Jack form a sort of family unit to defeat the Giant and then, with lingering advice from his wife, the Baker starts telling the story to his infant son, inheriting the orphaned Jack and Little Red as his other children with Cinderella to be either his wife or housekeeper. Though the two do not hook up, it would make sense that they end up together but who knows what will happen.
I have several issues with the film. First of all, Johnny Depp's song as the wolf when he wants to eat Little Red for dinner is just disgusting and then Rapunzel and her Prince (Billy Magnussen) don't get enough screen time and they are probably the only ones with the actual happy ending. Also, the Baker cutting the eaten Little Red and her grandmother out of the Wolf is just odd. And the whole Cinderella's Prince cheating on her with the Baker's wife was upsetting. And the Witch's sudden odd death was interesting also.
However, most of the acting was top-notch and the songs were mostly good and all the actors could sing which is wonderful. The sets were great and costumes and make-up were all good and it is interesting to see how the fairy tales interconnect and how a band of misfits can defeat the Giant and yes, the Baker can overcome his own troubled past. His father abandoned him and he almost abandoned his own son before changing his mind, but nothing can be taken away from this film but at least the journey was fascinating. Grade: B+
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Tropic Thunder (2008)
This film is odd. That is only one word to describe it.
It is sort of a behind the scenes look at how you make a war film with a bunch of egotistical actors.
Ben Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, stars as Tugg Speedman, who is a huge action star but tried to go serious playing the mentally slow Little John in a film. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an Australian method actor who goes so deep into roles that he underwent controversial skin pigment surgery to darken his skin, deeply offending the actual African American in the film. Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) is a great character who probably doesn't have enough screen time. Jack Black and Jay Baruchel finish out the cast of actors as the cocaine-addicted Jeff Portnoy and newbie actor Kevin Sandusky, who actually does have some military background. Each is an individual and must band together out in the Vietnamese wilderness to survive against the group of actual Vietnamese drug lords.
Then, there are the executives in Hollywood. Steve Coogan is the director who steps on a fatal land mind just after leaving the men alone in the forest. Danny McBride is the special effects guy who loves fire. Nick Nolte plays the guy who writes the book the film is based on, except that the book is all a lie, he was never in Vietnam. Even better are Matthew McConaghey as Tugg's agent and Tom Cruise as the producer. Cruise is unrecognizable but great.
Sure, the film has offensive parts, including the one where Lazarus tells Tugg that the reason he didn't do well in Hollywood was because he went 'full retard' when no one else ever has. Lazarus, of course, is also very offensive playing someone who is African American when he is not, but he also finally finds himself, ripping off his wig and fake mustache and dropping the thick southern accent.
However, the film is also hilarious, and, in an odd sort of way, clever. Stiller should probably direct more because this is a good film and proves that his directing skills are better than his acting skills. Downey, Jr. did receive an Oscar nomination for this film, and though he didn't deserve to win, he still is great playing an Australian, playing an African American.
My problems with the film are slim, though it can be seen as incredibly offensive, but there are no female roles in this film and that is just a shame and some of the fake special effects, with guts spilling out of Kevin's body are just gross. Still, I will probably watch the film again. Grade: B+
It is sort of a behind the scenes look at how you make a war film with a bunch of egotistical actors.
Ben Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, stars as Tugg Speedman, who is a huge action star but tried to go serious playing the mentally slow Little John in a film. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an Australian method actor who goes so deep into roles that he underwent controversial skin pigment surgery to darken his skin, deeply offending the actual African American in the film. Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) is a great character who probably doesn't have enough screen time. Jack Black and Jay Baruchel finish out the cast of actors as the cocaine-addicted Jeff Portnoy and newbie actor Kevin Sandusky, who actually does have some military background. Each is an individual and must band together out in the Vietnamese wilderness to survive against the group of actual Vietnamese drug lords.
Then, there are the executives in Hollywood. Steve Coogan is the director who steps on a fatal land mind just after leaving the men alone in the forest. Danny McBride is the special effects guy who loves fire. Nick Nolte plays the guy who writes the book the film is based on, except that the book is all a lie, he was never in Vietnam. Even better are Matthew McConaghey as Tugg's agent and Tom Cruise as the producer. Cruise is unrecognizable but great.
Sure, the film has offensive parts, including the one where Lazarus tells Tugg that the reason he didn't do well in Hollywood was because he went 'full retard' when no one else ever has. Lazarus, of course, is also very offensive playing someone who is African American when he is not, but he also finally finds himself, ripping off his wig and fake mustache and dropping the thick southern accent.
However, the film is also hilarious, and, in an odd sort of way, clever. Stiller should probably direct more because this is a good film and proves that his directing skills are better than his acting skills. Downey, Jr. did receive an Oscar nomination for this film, and though he didn't deserve to win, he still is great playing an Australian, playing an African American.
My problems with the film are slim, though it can be seen as incredibly offensive, but there are no female roles in this film and that is just a shame and some of the fake special effects, with guts spilling out of Kevin's body are just gross. Still, I will probably watch the film again. Grade: B+
Music and Lyrics (2007)
This was actually not a bad movie. Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a former 80s singer who has long since become a has-been, without a hit for decades. Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) lives in the shadow of Sally Michaels, a fictionalized version of herself, created by her college professor, Sloan Cates (Campbell Scott). Both Sally and Sophie slept with the above mentioned college professor and still, years later, he still has this power over her. One of my main problems with the film is that she never tells him off. Sure his movie is a huge flop but Sophie never gets justice, which she undoubtedly deserved.
Sophie is hired by Alex to help him write lyrics for the most famous pop star on the planet, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) but Cora takes the good song and adds her own touch, ruining the song and when Alex does not stand up for his music, the relationship is over but of course, they get back together and Alex manages to convince Cora to go back to the original song just so he can get her back.
Sure, the plot is fairly basic, but the acting is actually decent and I don't like Hugh Grant but even he was pretty good. Barrymore is also delightful and there are fine supporting performances from Brad Garrett as Chris, Alex's managers and Kristen Johnston as Sophie's older sister who has taken over the family's weight loss business and was the biggest fan of PoP (the band Alex was a part of). Also, look for Friday Night Light's Scott Porter as the other member of PoP.
Though this was a simple rom-com, and it was funny, I didn't have many problems with it that aren't my usual problems with a rom-com. You know who is destined to be together from the beginning but at least this journey was slightly different from normal, though the male character knows he made a mistake and will do anything to correct it to win the girl back. I just wish that Barrymore would have stuck up for herself instead of having Grant fight her battle. Still, not a bad movie for New Year's Eve. Grade: B
Sophie is hired by Alex to help him write lyrics for the most famous pop star on the planet, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) but Cora takes the good song and adds her own touch, ruining the song and when Alex does not stand up for his music, the relationship is over but of course, they get back together and Alex manages to convince Cora to go back to the original song just so he can get her back.
Sure, the plot is fairly basic, but the acting is actually decent and I don't like Hugh Grant but even he was pretty good. Barrymore is also delightful and there are fine supporting performances from Brad Garrett as Chris, Alex's managers and Kristen Johnston as Sophie's older sister who has taken over the family's weight loss business and was the biggest fan of PoP (the band Alex was a part of). Also, look for Friday Night Light's Scott Porter as the other member of PoP.
Though this was a simple rom-com, and it was funny, I didn't have many problems with it that aren't my usual problems with a rom-com. You know who is destined to be together from the beginning but at least this journey was slightly different from normal, though the male character knows he made a mistake and will do anything to correct it to win the girl back. I just wish that Barrymore would have stuck up for herself instead of having Grant fight her battle. Still, not a bad movie for New Year's Eve. Grade: B
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
The Middle: The Christmas Wall
Well, is a King Moonracer (a lion with wings) a misfit toy or not? That is the question. And this leads to the first shown fight between Axl (Charlie McDermott) and Sean (Beau Wirick). Axl believes so while Sean doesn't think that he is an actual misfit toy. They get into a huge fight, first with words and then with fists, destroying some lovely blow-up decorations they are putting up for other people. They decide to lock Darrin (John Gammon) away to watch the Rudolph special and will make the final decision. Their fifteen year friendship rests on Darrin's shoulders. Yikes.
Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is having tons of trouble getting into the holiday spirit. She's sick of doing everything expected of her: writing the Christmas letter, baking cookies, putting up the tree so she's going on strike, sitting on the couch, in her underwear or pajamas, thrilled with doing nothing. Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) is horrified and can't understand her attitude, believing the world will end if she doesn't wrap her garage door as a giant Christmas present.
In the meantime, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is thrilled to discover Christmas letters from people they barely know. He reads them like a story and can't wait until next year to get the next chapter. No, seriously, he can't wait, calling the Kirkwoods to find out more details, greeting them like they were old friends, wanting to know more about Dale's soccer or Emily's engagement. However, when he tries to write a Christmas letter for the Hecks, he can't come up with anything good. The truth is horrible and he can't lie. I don't think he ever finishes the letter.
When it comes time for Darrin to make a decision, he chickens out, running outside in the snow without a coat on. In the end, he agrees that King Moonracer is a toy, Sean is okay with the solution and then they have a disagreement over if snow angels are unisex or only female, but this ends peacefully.
Mike (Neil Flynn) is having issues of his own that aren't solved as easily as Axl's. He is having trouble finding a fake Christmas tree that is complete and not pink. In the end, they settle for one that is mostly green with a pink top because Mike is driving anywhere else to get another tree. Just when Frankie is satisfied with her own decision Mike pulls the sympathy card by just telling the truth. He didn't really have decorations growing up because his mother died young and then it was just three guys who didn't really care. In fact, he didn't celebrate Christmas until he met Frankie. This forces her to get off her butt and put up decorations though she does fail to wrap the presents, leaving them in their labelled paper bags. Fortunately, the kids are happy and so is she.
Frankie finally gets behind the real meaning of Christmas, making good memories with your family and having them enjoy the holiday because the stuff you think is pointless actually isn't. It is about family togetherness.
This episode should have done just a little more with the family Christmas letter, and Sue really wasn't given much to do, though this was still a good episode and certainly another solid holiday episode for the Heck family, who always do the holidays so well and realistically. Solid acting all around and some funny lines. Brick is really given some hilarious lines as of late. Hopefully that continues. Grade: A-
-"We're getting this tree. It's 50% off."-Mike, making the decision of which tree they should get easier.
-Frankie's mom gets a mention when she sends them some fudge in the mail.
-Brick's horrible Christmas letter includes some intimate discussions between Frankie and Mike, including if Sue was going to lose it with Darrin. Also, Axl's career ended just as soon as it began. I hope not, considering he's on an athletic scholarship. And there are always issues with money.
-Mrs. Donahue believes the smell of cookies is essential in the house.
-Naturally, when Frankie takes off her pants, Axl is horrified.
-When the kids offer her a general apology, Brick swears he will try to stop licking things. That is just disgusting.
-During Darrin's viewing of Rudolph, Sue runs out to report the play-by-play to the guys asking if he can look at outside sources (allowed) or if he can rewind (first impressions only) before making the final decisions.
-It is ridiculous that Frankie needs to drive to a separate store to buy Christmas paper and bows.
-Sue bought Darrin a three-foot tall bear he really wanted. How sweet.
Frankie (Patricia Heaton) is having tons of trouble getting into the holiday spirit. She's sick of doing everything expected of her: writing the Christmas letter, baking cookies, putting up the tree so she's going on strike, sitting on the couch, in her underwear or pajamas, thrilled with doing nothing. Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) is horrified and can't understand her attitude, believing the world will end if she doesn't wrap her garage door as a giant Christmas present.
In the meantime, Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is thrilled to discover Christmas letters from people they barely know. He reads them like a story and can't wait until next year to get the next chapter. No, seriously, he can't wait, calling the Kirkwoods to find out more details, greeting them like they were old friends, wanting to know more about Dale's soccer or Emily's engagement. However, when he tries to write a Christmas letter for the Hecks, he can't come up with anything good. The truth is horrible and he can't lie. I don't think he ever finishes the letter.
When it comes time for Darrin to make a decision, he chickens out, running outside in the snow without a coat on. In the end, he agrees that King Moonracer is a toy, Sean is okay with the solution and then they have a disagreement over if snow angels are unisex or only female, but this ends peacefully.
Mike (Neil Flynn) is having issues of his own that aren't solved as easily as Axl's. He is having trouble finding a fake Christmas tree that is complete and not pink. In the end, they settle for one that is mostly green with a pink top because Mike is driving anywhere else to get another tree. Just when Frankie is satisfied with her own decision Mike pulls the sympathy card by just telling the truth. He didn't really have decorations growing up because his mother died young and then it was just three guys who didn't really care. In fact, he didn't celebrate Christmas until he met Frankie. This forces her to get off her butt and put up decorations though she does fail to wrap the presents, leaving them in their labelled paper bags. Fortunately, the kids are happy and so is she.
Frankie finally gets behind the real meaning of Christmas, making good memories with your family and having them enjoy the holiday because the stuff you think is pointless actually isn't. It is about family togetherness.
This episode should have done just a little more with the family Christmas letter, and Sue really wasn't given much to do, though this was still a good episode and certainly another solid holiday episode for the Heck family, who always do the holidays so well and realistically. Solid acting all around and some funny lines. Brick is really given some hilarious lines as of late. Hopefully that continues. Grade: A-
-"We're getting this tree. It's 50% off."-Mike, making the decision of which tree they should get easier.
-Frankie's mom gets a mention when she sends them some fudge in the mail.
-Brick's horrible Christmas letter includes some intimate discussions between Frankie and Mike, including if Sue was going to lose it with Darrin. Also, Axl's career ended just as soon as it began. I hope not, considering he's on an athletic scholarship. And there are always issues with money.
-Mrs. Donahue believes the smell of cookies is essential in the house.
-Naturally, when Frankie takes off her pants, Axl is horrified.
-When the kids offer her a general apology, Brick swears he will try to stop licking things. That is just disgusting.
-During Darrin's viewing of Rudolph, Sue runs out to report the play-by-play to the guys asking if he can look at outside sources (allowed) or if he can rewind (first impressions only) before making the final decisions.
-It is ridiculous that Frankie needs to drive to a separate store to buy Christmas paper and bows.
-Sue bought Darrin a three-foot tall bear he really wanted. How sweet.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
The Middle: The College Tour
Well, when Sue (Eden Sher) lies and starts to throw up, you're in for an interesting episode. She starts off the episode strong, waking Mike (Neil Flynn) super early so they can begin the endless weekend of college tours and at the first one, she receives tons of brochures on pow-wows and stuff like that because she believed herself to be a native american and that is what she filled out on her forms. Needless to say, she can't believe that she should have filled out Caucasian on the form. At the next college tour, she tries to overcompensate and makes it abundantly clear that she's white and is only interested in clubs for white people. I guess she is asked to leave the campus because Mike is driving in the car, muttering that it was out of their price range anyway. And then, not knowing which tray she should have picked, she drops in distress and runs away in shame and Mike just doesn't get it. Fortunately, her last college tour goes much better and she asks the great question of "If you could start out as a freshman, what would you wish you would know?" which solves the tray question, at least for that school. Along the way, they meet Maddie (Ashlee Fuss) and her super-involved father (Bil Dwyer) who is going to miss his daughter horribly. They make special daddy-pancakes and used to have tea parties, stuff like that. That forces Mike to think and he asks Sue if she wishes that he was more like Maddie's dad and she scoffs at that. She believes that Mike is the best dad in the world. I mean, why else would she have bought him a World's Greatest Dad Mug, mugs don't lie.
While Mike is busy dealing with Sue and her antics, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) gets a call from Axl (Charlie McDermott) stating that his coach is finally going to put in the game. Which does happen, only Axl manages to fumble the ball just nine seconds into his first game. Axl is humiliated and mopes around his apartment, forcing him to take advice from Frankie. It turns out he is so embarrassed because he invited Devin Levin (Gina Mantegna) to the game and that is the play she saw. Luckily, Frankie manages to actually give him some pretty good advice which he is desperate enough to take and calls her and charms her into grabbing some food to eat together. Frankie is pleased with what she has done.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) gets a crappy plot line this week, but at least we get to see some characters that we seldom see much of. He is forced to stay at home, being watched by a variety of oddballs while he is supposed to work on a school project where he must build a car that can go at least fifty feet by itself. He does, only because he has help from these people.
All-in-all, this was a pretty good episode. Mike and Sue had some sweet moments, which are always lovely and it is also touching when Axl can be charming, even if he was prodded to be charming by Frankie. Sure, it would have been lovely if Brick would get a decent plot line, but the acting is always top-notch and there some funny moments. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Brick's babysitters include the super religious Ruth (Grace Bannon), who wants a bowl of wheat and brings him some of her old toys, which are a block of wood and a rock. Chuck (Greg Cipes) is also there to watch Baby Mike and tells him that school is pointless and he left once he was told to where a shirt. Finally, Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) comes over and over glitters Brick's project car.
-Axl is disgusting as he has never cleaned his place which leads Frankie to buy cleaning supplies and label them as such.
-During their college trip, Mike and Sue stay at a variety of odd places owned by people that are distantly related to them because it is saving them money.
-Frankie foolishly cell phone tapes the fumble of Axl's which only makes things worse.
-Just when I thought we weren't going to see anymore of Devin Levin, she makes a quick appearance and mentions that she wishes Axl had some of this wit on the field.
-Frankie says that even though Mike is emotionless as an Easter island statue, she loves him anyway. And she does. Axl covers his ears, not wanting to hear how much his parents love each other.
-At least Brick didn't set the house on fire or something else crazy like that. We can be grateful for that.
While Mike is busy dealing with Sue and her antics, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) gets a call from Axl (Charlie McDermott) stating that his coach is finally going to put in the game. Which does happen, only Axl manages to fumble the ball just nine seconds into his first game. Axl is humiliated and mopes around his apartment, forcing him to take advice from Frankie. It turns out he is so embarrassed because he invited Devin Levin (Gina Mantegna) to the game and that is the play she saw. Luckily, Frankie manages to actually give him some pretty good advice which he is desperate enough to take and calls her and charms her into grabbing some food to eat together. Frankie is pleased with what she has done.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) gets a crappy plot line this week, but at least we get to see some characters that we seldom see much of. He is forced to stay at home, being watched by a variety of oddballs while he is supposed to work on a school project where he must build a car that can go at least fifty feet by itself. He does, only because he has help from these people.
All-in-all, this was a pretty good episode. Mike and Sue had some sweet moments, which are always lovely and it is also touching when Axl can be charming, even if he was prodded to be charming by Frankie. Sure, it would have been lovely if Brick would get a decent plot line, but the acting is always top-notch and there some funny moments. Grade: A
Side Notes:
-Brick's babysitters include the super religious Ruth (Grace Bannon), who wants a bowl of wheat and brings him some of her old toys, which are a block of wood and a rock. Chuck (Greg Cipes) is also there to watch Baby Mike and tells him that school is pointless and he left once he was told to where a shirt. Finally, Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) comes over and over glitters Brick's project car.
-Axl is disgusting as he has never cleaned his place which leads Frankie to buy cleaning supplies and label them as such.
-During their college trip, Mike and Sue stay at a variety of odd places owned by people that are distantly related to them because it is saving them money.
-Frankie foolishly cell phone tapes the fumble of Axl's which only makes things worse.
-Just when I thought we weren't going to see anymore of Devin Levin, she makes a quick appearance and mentions that she wishes Axl had some of this wit on the field.
-Frankie says that even though Mike is emotionless as an Easter island statue, she loves him anyway. And she does. Axl covers his ears, not wanting to hear how much his parents love each other.
-At least Brick didn't set the house on fire or something else crazy like that. We can be grateful for that.
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