Rocket Science.

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 101 minutes

Genre: Indie, Comedy, Drama

When my friend took me to see this film, I didn’t know anything about this movie. I’m really glad he took me to see this because I left the theater with one of those happy, satisfied feelings that makes it hard to stop smiling.

This film is about Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson), a stuttering outsider, dealing with his life after his parents separate. When Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick), the star of the debate squad, recruits him to the team to be her partner, Hal must overcome his stuttering problem. He also has to deal with falling in love with Ginny. At the same time that Hal is starting his debate career, his mom begins to date a new man and along with this comes his annoying son. On top of this, Hal constantly has to deal with his older brother, Earl (Vincent Piazza), who is a kleptomaniac. With all these troubles, it’s no surprise that Hal would be frustrated.

This film combines the elements of high school to make it an easy to relate to film. Most normal kids have obstacles, whether it be a stutter or something else, to overcome to figure out who they are. I’ve never been a great speaker, so imagine having doing that with a stutter is terrifying.

Some of my favorite scenes in this Rocket Science were when Hal was trying different methods to overcome is stutter. When Hal’s advisor tells him to try using an accent to stop the stutter, the result is awkward and hilarious. But by far my favorite scene in the movie is when Hal tries to stop stutter by singing his case to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. You can’t help but crack a smile and laugh at that original idea.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys indie comedies or anyone who is/was a debater. My sister is in debate and she really enjoyed all the small debate related details put in by the director, who is a former debater. But even if you aren’t a debater, you’ll still enjoy this one.

Netflix Page for Rocket Science.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: R

Runtime: 88 minutes

Genre: Indie, Comedy, Romantic Comedy

I can’t remember where I heard about this movie, but I’m glad I put it in my queue. This movie turned out to be one of the most original romantic comedies I’ve ever seen…and it’s actually funny.

When Zia(Patrick Fugit) decides to commit suicide(by cutting his wrists as the title suggests) after his girlfriend Desiree breaks up with him, he ends up in another world of despotism and sorrow, one populated by everyone else who has committed suicide. When Zia hears that Desiree(Leslie Bibb) has also committed suicide and is now a part of this universe, he goes on a mission to track her down with a Russian musician named Eugene (this character is based on Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello). When on their journey, they pick up Mikal(Shannyn Sossamon), a hitchhiker who is searching for the people in charge because she says doesn’t belong in this world. Tom Waits and Will Arnett also stars in this film.

This movie ended up being one of the most charming films I’ve seen in a while. I love the idea of a world where all people who committed suicide go because I never contemplated anything like that before. The way it was executed was great, too. Some of my favorite things were just the subtle, quirky little jokes. For starters, when Zia first arrives in the post-suicide world, he finds work at Kamikaze Pizza. One of my favorite lines in the film was "I'm not going out tonight. It just makes me depressed." "So, what you gonna do? Kill yourself?"

The music in Wristcutters was great. They use Gogol Bordello’s music as the character Eugene’s band’s music. They’re great and if you have never listened to them (Gogol Bordello’s music also appears in Everything Is Illuminated as well), I recommend that you check them out.

If you have any interest in dark comedy, I would definitely check this one out. The film manages to be original, funny, and deliver.

Netflix Page for Wristcutters: A Love Story

Waitress.

My Rating
(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 104 minutes
Genre: Indie, Romantic Comedy, Drama

A word to the wise: don’t watch this film when you’re hungry. You’ll be craving pie by the end of it. Waitress really is the definition of a chick flick. At times, this film will make you crack up, other times you’ll just want to go “Awww,” and other times you’ll want to cry.

Waitress is a cute little story about Jenna(Keri Russel), a waitress at Joe’s Pie Diner. She works there with her quirky friends Becky(Cheryl Hines) and Dawn(Adrienne Shelly). Jenna’s one passion is pie, and she expresses her life through them. One day, she finds she is pregnant with her obsessive jackass of a husband Earl. Now she has to figure out what to do.
However, I had a few problems with this movie. I thought the fake southern accents were pretty bad and hard to listen to for over an hour and a half. The plot of this movie is really unrealistic, too.

But there were good things too. There were a lot of “aww” moments in the movie as well as hilarious moments. And that’s what makes a good romantic comedy I suppose. For me, the scenes between Jenna and her doctor were both hilarious and aww moments. As a bonus the pies in this movie looked absolutely delectable(they have recipes online here).

Overall, I’d say that if you’re craving a girl-power romantic comedy, this would definitely satisfy your craving (was that meant as a bad pie pun? Either way, sorry!).

Netflix Page for Waitress

Son of Rambow.

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 96 minutes

Genre: Indie, Comedy

I wasn’t quite sure what to think about this movie when I put it in my queue. Well, I’m glad I did because this turned out to be one of the most heartwarming movies I’ve seen in a long time. And it’s hilarious to boot!

Will, a highly imaginative young boy, is the center of the film. He belongs to a strict religion that does not allow him to watch TV. Instead, he thinks up wild stories and draws them. Will, despite his religion, attends a public school, but is not supposed to make friends with any of the other children. One day, while in the hall while his classmates watch a film, he meets fellow student and troublemaker Lee. Lee tricks Will into being a stuntman in a film he is making for a contest. When Will is at Lee’s house, he accidentally sees Rambo: First Blood. The movie takes over his imagination, and while filming Lee’s movie, acts out his idea and he becomes the son of Rambo.

So I thought this would be one of those films about two boys “from different sides of the tracks” who become unlikely friends. However, that’s not what it is at all; it’s so much more than that. Sure, it’s a story about friendship, but it makes you feel like a kid again. As I watched this film, it brought me back to the games I played then and how fun I thought they were. The comedy in this movie might be a little juvenile for some, but if you can connect back with your childhood, you will understand the comedy in the film. One of my favorite funny moments was when the French boy Didier stepped off of the bus.

This movie just isn’t comedy, though. It’s a truly touching film. And yeah, my eyes got a little watery. So?

I was surprised to hear that Son of Rambow received a PG-13 rating for “some violence and reckless behavior.” However, ignore the PG-13 rating and watch it with your kids; this would be a great film for a family movie night.

Netflix Page for Son of Rambow