Last Man Standing...Down

Boy, I was excited about the return of Tim Allen to primetime last night on Last Man Standing. Home Improvement helped mold my sense of humor and views on situational comedy (plus a decade long crush on JTT).

Certainly, there were some hilarious lines:

                    “I’m living with LORD VOLDEMORT!”

"I don't know who that is but he sounds like a very caring father."

But, I couldn’t help feel that I’ve seen this all before. Except instead of three precocious sons, we have three high maintenance and annoying daughters. Most of the humor seems like recycled primitive man grunt jokes. The testosterone-filled humor worked on Home Improvement. We had Jill, the intelligent, take-no-crap wife, playing perfectly off Allen’s jokes. There was heart there. I found the chemistry between the leads in Last Man Standing non-existent, and nothing could balance out the non-stop barrage of low-brow, borderline-cruel jokes.

Once again, my persistent optimism has nipped me in the fanny. Though I always give a new series at least two weeks to hook my interest, I have a premonition of syndicated episodes of Home Improvement in my future.

Take Me Home Tonight!

As I’ve said, I’ll watch just about any movie regardless of genre. Last night, the hubby and I ventured into a raunchy world of 80’s nostalgia with Take Me Home Tonight. Even with the formulaic plot and characters, the movie was completely likable. The main character, Matt Franklin, is going through a classic existential quandary and post-college limbo so many feel, but often times, are afraid to admit. Perhaps that’s why I connected with his character. Why are we expected to know exactly what we want to do with our lives by 25? I’ll freely admit to anyone that I have no idea what I want to do with my “life,” as they say. During undergraduate I didn’t know, so I majored in Anthropology because the classes were interesting. What do you do with an anthropology degree my friends and family asked? WHY, you go to graduate school, of course. However, an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction doesn’t put you on a set-in-stone path either. So, I find myself, once again, floating around in my own limbo just like Matt Franklin. And guess what, that’s okay. Pulling from classic movies like American Graffiti and the slew of John Hughes films, Take Me Home Tonight, isn’t too bad.  

The Nine Lives of Chloe King

There is a surplus of supernatural and urban fantasy shows out in TV land right now. The ones I'm watching range from The Vampire Diaries to True Blood. Summertime means HBO rules. However, I stumbled upon a show on ABC Family called, The Nine Lives of Chloe King, and was intrigued. The show is based on a young adult series that, remarkably, I hadn't read. Though many of the storylines are clichéd, coming-of-age plots, the mythology within the story stands out. Chloe discovers in the pilot episode that she is part of an ancient race called the Mai. The Mai have been hunted by a secret organization for hundreds of years. To sum it up, Chloe is a super-human, cat hybrid with heightened senses, claws, and amazing agility. She is the Uniter, a prophesized leader of the Mai who has nine lives, whereas the others do not. It makes for suspenseful moments, because the audience realizes Chloe could die at any moment during each episode. The show is far from perfect, but it is refreshing to watch a show with a unique mythological base, and though I never thought I’d say it, no vampires! Tune in to ABC Family on Tuesday nights at 8 PM Central to watch The Nine Lives of Chloe King.

A Beautiful Nightmare

After a wonderful dinner filled with French Dip yumminess, a couple of my friends and I went to see Black Swan this past Monday. I had heard the buzz surrounding the Oscar nominated flick, but hadn’t gotten around to seeing it.

I was not disappointed. The story of Nina, played by Natalie Portman, weaved seamlessly with the story of Swan Lake’s tragic heroine, Odette. Nina’s descent into the darkness of Odile’s character captivated yet horrified me. The complete and utter release of self control is so dangerous, but the temptation can be so strong. We see Nina begin to unravel, and can’t help but follow her into the madness of her own psyche. Though I haven’t seen all of the nominated actresses in their roles this time around, I truly hope Portman gets the Gold Man on Sunday. The training for the movie alone puts her ahead of the pack for me. The physical transformation for the role and the mental transformation within her character deserve the recognition.

I’ll be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday to see if my favorites win. Who do want to see taking home the Oscar?

Easy A Eye Opener

I just watched Easy A. What a great twist on a classic. But, boy, it made me realize some things haven’t changed in this country. Girls, you know what I’m talking about! The double standard that guys are heroes if they hook up – while our reputations are ruined. Why is that?

Hester Prynne, the leading lady in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, shows that women can accept their past and make it part of who they are. She could have run away from the colony, ripped off the letter, and lead a relatively normal life. BUT, she wanted to make her own identity, rather than allow the people of the town to determine it for her. Instead, the scarlet letter becomes a symbol of identity for Hester. Not one of shame.

Olive, the lead character in Easy A, doesn’t actually sleep with anyone. BUT, she still triumphs over peer pressure and the constraints society places on her, just like Hester. Rumors can be as devastating as the act itself. The movie adds humor into a reality girls face every day in school. The important thing to take from both the Scarlet Letter and Easy A is you make your own happiness. As Olive said, “I think I'll lose my virginity to him. Maybe in five minutes, maybe tonight, maybe sixth months from now, or maybe on the night of our wedding. Either way, it's really none of your business.”

Every action you take has a reaction. Remember, you’re in the driver’s seat! Be safe J