Leslie C. Halpern's Blog

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

According to the Associated Press, on Christmas night 29-year-old James Joseph Cialella of Philadelphia, shot a man inside a Regal Cinemas auditorium because the man’s family was too noisy. Police said that Cialella told the family to be quiet, threw popcorn at the man’s son, then confronted them. When the father stood, Cialella reportedly shot him with a .380-caliber handgun. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, playing at the time, quickly turned into “The Curious Case of Movie Mayhem.”

Some moviegoers believe that their individual film-going experience takes precedence over everyone else’s enjoyment, while others merely use the darkness as an excuse for obnoxious behavior. Both men exhibited a selfishness that predominates today: Watching movies at the cinema is a community experience. That means, you have to endure some occasional talking, chair kicking, popcorn munching, and shushing. It also means that you should strive not to be the person (or family) contributing to the mayhem with your own talking, kicking, munching, or shushing.

To help keep movie theater violence restricted to on-screen depictions instead of off-screen re-enactments, I offer these suggestions for mutual tolerance:

• Remove noisy children from the auditorium immediately, and don’t talk during the movie except in soft whispers.
• Turn off cell phones and anything else that makes noise or lights up.
• Don’t wear hats to movies, lean to one side, or sit on the edge of your seat – all of which block the view of the person behind you. If you’re over six feet tall or 250 pounds, then sit near the back for the same reason.
• When you’re seated next to rude people, move to a different seat, if possible. If the auditorium is full and a polite “shush” doesn’t work, then complain to management immediately. Never take matters into your own hands by confronting other patrons.

And if you can’t behave, then stay home!

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

• inform people that 9/11 first responders without healthcare benefits are sick and dying;

• prompt investigations into the lack of funding provided to suffering 9/11 first responders;

• raise money for Citara’s treatment;

• and fund research on health issues related to 9/11.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

• Oliver Stone
• Set against a backdrop of bloated, drunken, incompetent, scheming, and corrupt Republicans, a squeaky clean Democrat rises to save the American people.
• Rating: R (for language and disturbing images)

• Forest Whitaker
• The story of the first African-American family to preside in The White House, with particular focus on the two first daughters.
• Rating: PG (for some language)

• Rob Minkoff
• This animated version of the Barack Obama story concerns a cute black rabbit that magically changes animals, people, and situations just by wiggling his very large ears.
• Rating: G

• Kevin Smith
• A comic reflection on Barack Obama’s early slacker days in high school before he aspired to greatness.
• Rating: R (for some drug use)

• Spike Lee
• From a crowd of angry young African-American men unable to keep their promises emerges promise-keeping Barack Obama, committed to doing the right thing.
• Rating: R (for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language, and violence)

• Steven Spielberg
• A big-budget, star-studded blockbuster loaded with special effects and gentle humor that captures the excitement of two years on the campaign trail.
• Rated PG-13 (for some language and intense scenes)

• Nora Ephron
• A clever, tear-jerking love story between two young attorneys who endure failures and successes before falling in love and becoming the President and First Lady.
• Rated PG-13 (for some sexual references)

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Good Luck Chuck (2007)

• Director: Mark Helfrich
• Stars: Dane Cook, Jessica Alba

Knocked Up (2007)

• Director: Judd Apatow
• Stars: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl

Mr. Woodcock (2007)

• Director: Craig Gillespie
• Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon

Superbad (2007)

• Director: Greg Mottola
• Stars: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

• Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
• Stars: Ben Stiller, Malin Akerman

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

• Director: Jake Kasdan
• Stars: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer

Wedding Crashers (2005)

• Director: David Dobkin
• Stars: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn

You Don’t Mess With the Zohan (2008)

• Director: Dennis Dugan
• Stars: Adam Sandler, Emmanuelle Chriqui

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

• Woman Sues for 50-Pound Weight Gain at Movie Theater: Hot Dogs, Nachos, and Buttered Popcorn to Blame.

• Man Sticks Theater With Teeth-Whitening Bill: Says Coffee and Sodas at the Movies Stained His Teeth.

• Class Action Group Threatens Theater Chain With Lawsuit: No One Warned Us Coffe Was Hot, They Say.

• Boy Sues to Reclaim Money for Filled Cavities: Chewy Candies Caused Me Pain and Suffering, He Says.

• Group of Girls Threatens Lawsuit Over Acne: Chocolate Theater Candy Ruined Our Skin!

• Man Sues Theater Over Discriminatory Concessions: Why Don’t They Serve Ethnic Food, He Accuses.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

September provides flashback films from the 1980s and DVDs of recent theatrical releases. Here are my favorites this month.

Romantic DVD Top Picks

• Jerry Maguire
• A sleazy sports agent cleans up his act and finds love.
• Director: Cameron Crowe
• Rating: R
• Release Date: September 9

• Sixteen Candles
• This coming-of-age comedy details a girl's first love.
• Director: John Hughes
• Rating: R
• Date: September 16

• Sex and the City – The Movie (Special Edition)
• Four friends from New York City struggle with their love lives.
• Director: Michael Patrick King
• Rating: R
• Release Date: September 23

Also recommended: Married Life (September 2), Made of Honor (Two-Disc Special Edition, September 16), An American in Paris (September 16).

Comedy DVD Top Picks

• The Breakfast Club (Flashback Edition)
• A mismatched group of high schoolers spend a Saturday together in detention.
• Director: John Hughes
• Rating: R
• Release Date: September 16

• Beetlejuice (Deluxe Edition)
• This dark comedy depicts a recently deceased couple trying to repossess their home.
• Director: Tim Burton
• Rating: PG
• Release Date: September 16

• Risky Business (Deluxe Edition)
• A high school senior turns his parent’s house into a brothel.
• Director: Paul Brickman
• Rating: R
• Release Date: September 16

Also recommended: Kabluey (September 16), Ultimate Comedy Collection: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin (September 30).

Action/Suspense DVD Top Picks

• The Forbidden Kingdom (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• An American teenager travels back in time to ancient China.
• Director: Rob Minkoff
• Rating: PG-13
• Release Date: September 9

• 1408
• An author researches a haunted hotel.
• Director: Mikael Hafstrom
• Rating: PG-13
• Release Date: September 16

• Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
• Lusty pirates find adventure in the Caribbean.
• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Rating: PG-13
• Release Date: September 16

Also heartily recommended: The documentary Young @ Heart (September 16), a touching look at rock-star seniors.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

I took ballet classes as a child and then later had some ballroom dancing instructions as an adult. I can’t say that dancing ever added any romance to my life. Just look at the movies, though. A solo dance usually catches a lover’s eye, and a shared dance becomes a prelude to a committed relationship.

Would Deb (Tina Majorino) ever have hooked up with the ill-mannered Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) if he hadn’t danced on stage to get his friend elected? Or would chunky high schooler Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) in Hairspray have earned status, a new admirer, or a spot on a television show if she couldn’t move to the music so well? Probably not.

Sharing a dance brings even more romantic success for cinematic hoofers. Disguised as The Mask, Stanley (Jim Carrey) literally sweeps Tina (Cameron Diaz) off her feet. In Dirty Dancing, Baby (Jennifer Grey) repeatedly dances with Johnny (Patrick Swayze) in order to perfect a routine, with each practice session becoming more and more romantic. When John (Harrison Ford) sneaks an intimate dance with Amish widow Rachel (Kelly McGillis) in the barn in the film Witness, it confirms their mutual attraction.

Although an energetic or exotic dance may entice lovers in the movies, there’s nothing like a tango for handling the more dangerous situations. In True Lies and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, free style dancing, the waltz, or a tame bear hug couldn’t have conveyed the intrigue needed for those delicious verbal jousting scenes. Shall We Dance? Although in real life, you may choose to sit this one out because of foot pain or inadequate skills, romantic leads need to keep on dancing.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

The new Luke Wilson film Henry Poole is Here could have been called “Henry Almighty” because of the many similarities between this film and the Evan Almighty/Bruce Almighty combo. Although all three movies focus on a spiritual decline in the central characters, Henry, Evan, and Bruce also suffer from romantic woes brought on by their lack of faith.

In Henry Poole is Here, Wilson stars as a disillusioned man who withdraws from the world only to find that people named Dawn and Patience won’t leave him alone. Aided in finding a new home by a chipper real estate agent (Cheryl Hines), the house turns into a holy shrine when undeniable miracles emanate from a water stain resembling Jesus Christ.

In Evan Almighty (2007), Steve Carrell stars as a newly elected congressman who promises to change the world. With the help of another chipper real estate agent (Molly Shannon as “Eve”), he moves into a new home, but has trouble adjusting. Evan loses faith in his abilities to make positive changes, and his family loses faith in him as a husband and father. When God appears and demands that Evan build an ark, his spirituality is further tested.

In Bruce Almighty (2003), Jim Carrey stars as a man unhappy with his ordinary job, ordinary relationship with his girlfriend (Jennifer Aniston as “Grace”), and ordinary life. After losing his job, cursing God, and jeopardizing his relationship with Grace, he begins a spiritual rebirth after meeting God and being given omnipotent power (on a trial basis, of course).

All three films present disgruntled men whose loss of faith affects everything in their lives, most notably their ability to love. When divine intervention gives them new hope for life, they also renew their hope for romance.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

The good news is there’s plenty of comedy on this month’s new DVD selections. The bad news is that it’s mainly seasons of television series, rather than comedy movies.

Top Comedy Picks For Movie Fans

The Three Stooges Collection (Vol. 3: 1940-1942)

• The Three Stooges star in a collection of short black-and-white comedy films in order from the years 1940-1942. This is the third installment of work from one of the most famous comedy trios of all time, with more Stooges collections on the way. (Get ready for the Farrelly Brothers’ version of The Three Stooges, scheduled for theatrical release in 2009.)
• Run Time: 396 minutes (2 discs)
• Rating: Not Rated
• Black and White 396 minutes (2 discs)
• Release Date: August 26

The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) + Digital Copy

• This 1993 darkly comic masterpiece from a story by Tim Burton tells the animated tale of the King of Halloween discovering Christmas Town. Starring the voices of Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride), Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice), and Paul Reubens (Pee-wee’s Big Adventure).
• Director: Henry Selick
• Run Time: 76 minutes
• Rated: PG
• Release Date: August 26

Top Comedy Picks For Television Fans

• Get Smart – Season 1 (released August 5)
• That Girl – Season 4 – 1970 (released August 12)
• Love Boat: Season One, Vol.2 (released August 12)
• South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season (released August 12)
• The Gossip Girl – The Complete First Season 2007 (released August 19)
• House, M.D. – Season 4 (released August 19)
• Married…with Children: The Complete Ninth Season (released August 19)
• Entourage – The Complete Fourth Season (released August 26)

In September, there will be a return of classic romantic comedy films released on DVD, so we hopeless romantics will have to be patient until then.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art recently opened “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” an exhibit devoted to the clothing of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Iron Man. With more comic book heroes flying off the pages and onto movie and television screens lately, super-powered protectors have enjoyed a resurgence in pop culture status.

It’s important to make a good impression while fighting crime. The Incredible Hulk doesn’t win fans with the rags he wears. But the costumes may be even more important when courting romantic interests. Credit the ladies (Lois Lane [Superman], Mary Jane Watson [Spider-Man], Rachel Dawes [Batman], Tina Carlyle [The Mask], Roxanne Simpson [Ghost Rider], etc.) with having good taste in clothes as well as men.

The unisex look works well for The Fantastic Four, but that’s an exception to the rule. Generally the superheroes are men who wear form-fitting clothes (like Superman’s infamous blue tights) that enhance their appearance and don’t impede their abilities to fight crime. That’s the thing about superheroes: Their super powers work no matter what they’re wearing.

Batman, however, stands alone. Not the campy television Batman, but the cooler Batman movie series initiated by director Tim Burton in 1989 that evolved over the years into director Christopher Nolan’s well-clad Dark Knight of 2008. Lacking any real super powers, other than an exceptionally bad attitude and super amounts of money, his costume and car come equipped with high-tech weaponry, fun mechanical gadgets, and lots of tough-guy style. His clothes actually make him super. His identity-concealing black leather outfit simultaneously intimidates villains while attracting ladies.

Batman dresses for success. There’s something about a well-cut black suit over a lean, muscled body that distinctly says “superhero.” Just ask The Men in Black. It’s the last suit they’ll ever wear.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Could this on-screen romantic couple be the next Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (Joe Versus the Volcano [1990], Sleepless in Seattle [1993], You’ve Got Mail [1998]) or Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (Pretty Woman [1990], Runaway Bride [1999])?

What about the next Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase?

I have to say no.

The original romantic comedy thriller Foul Play (1978), written and directed by Colin Higgins (screenwriter for Harold and Maude), stars Hawn (Kate’s mother) as a shy divorced librarian and Chase as a wisecracking San Francisco police detective. The film combines the considerable comedic talents of both actors, who re-teamed in 1980 for the romantic comedy Seems Like Old Times.

The pair not only looks cute together, but their comedy styles mesh well, making Foul Play thrilling and amusing, and Seems Like Old Times laugh-out-loud funny as we follow the antics of the crazy mismatched divorced couple.

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey first co-starred together in the cute romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and then again for the critically panned Fool’s Gold (2008). Although the team ignites a few sparks in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the cringe-inducing adventure film Fool’s Gold should have been their final effort together.

Kate’s impish grin and magnetic charm mirror Hawn’s likeable onscreen persona, and McConaughey excels in physical roles where he can take off his shirt and flex his muscles. His lazy drawl and smooth moves seem particularly ill suited to the role of Chase’s Tony Carlson, the fast-talking, bumbling West Coast cop in Foul Play.

I’d enjoy seeing Hudson and McConaughey paired with other co-stars in different films, but together they lack the chemistry of date movie stars of earlier generations. I won’t be rushing out to watch the remake.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

According to “Intelligence Report” in Parade Magazine (July 6, 2008), until recently, adjusted for inflation, movie ticket prices at the cinema cost less than they did in 1977 when the initial Star Wars, Annie Hall, and Airport 77 hit theaters. Ticket prices have been subsidized by concession stand sales, which keep the cost of admission under control.

The article quotes economist Ricard Gil of the University of California as saying that now the high price of corn is eating into those profits, and theaters likely will increase prices to make up the difference. At the same time that ticket prices are rising, theater attendance is dropping. Factors may include high prices at the theater, the increasing cost of gasoline, easy availability of DVD rentals and purchases, and high-tech home theater systems.

Actually, snuggling together at home with some hot chocolate and fresh microwave popcorn while watching romantic dramas and romantic comedies on DVD might be the perfect prescription for rekindling an ailing romance.

On the other hand, some movies must be watched on the big screen…with a crowd…and with some movie theater munchies. Comedies just aren’t as funny without a crowd laughing. Thrillers don’t carry the same weight unless the audience gasps in unison. And children’s movies? Sometimes you need to experience an auditorium filled with the screams of other people’s children to fully appreciate your own.

I’m in favor of saving money through DVD rentals and purchases (of pre-viewed recent films or discounted older films) whenever possible until the prices become more reasonable at the cinema. And when it comes to romantic films, watching at home might be the best solution even in a thriving economy.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy, there’s Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (released July 1) another installment in Perry’s consistent franchise. This one includes drama, comedy, and romance surrounding a poor, single mother (Angela Bassett) trying to raise her children in a healthy environment.

For comedy titles, you have a choice of Drillbit Taylor (July 1), Superhero Movie (July 8), and Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (July 29), although none of the three come highly recommended.

Best Bet for July DVD

This month’s best bet for romance and comedy on DVD also includes special effects, action-adventure, and a little horror (all great for inspiring hand-holding during the movie): The Mummy: 2-Disc Deluxe Edition (July 8).

• The Mummy (2-Disc Deluxe Edition)
• This revamped horror classic from 1999 contains enough comedy and romance to keep you going until August. Starring Brendan Fraser as a goofy adventurer who falls in love with a quirky librarian (Rachel Weisz), this version of The Mummy includes plenty of fun extras. The sequel, The Mummy Returns, also comes out on DVD this month, but the romantic elements are downplayed here as the story takes place years later when the couple has married and raised a precocious adolescent son.
• Director: Stephen Sommers
• Run Time: 124 minutes
• Rating: PG-13 (for adventure violence and partial nudity)

July releases include more mummies (and vampires) with The Mummy Special Edition – Universal Legacy Series (1932) [released July 8], from 2004, Van Helsing: 2-Disc Collector’s Edition (July 8), also directed by The Mummy’s Stephen Sommers, and from 1931 Vampyr: Criterion Collection (July 22).

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Striving to earn his place in the Guinness Book of World Records by beating the previous record of 117 hours of non-stop movie watching, Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, recently spent 120 hours watching 48 Bollywood films. Rules stipulate that each movie must be at least 90 minutes long and that participants can rest only 10 minutes between movies.

That’s five days of non-stop Hindi cinema, and although Sharma claims to love the movies, any genre would get tiresome after awhile.

So what kind of movies would you watch during a marathon, assuming you were limited to just one genre?

As much as I love romantic dramas, the last thing I want to do is get burned out on love. What about five straight days of suspense, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure, or animation? Although Guinness requires that a doctor be present the entire time, I’m not sure my heart could take all that excitement. Maybe try 120 hours of foreign films with subtitles, eye-opening documentaries, or highbrow art films? I’m not sure my mind could take it.

So whether old silent black-and-white comedies or silly spoofs from the 1960s through the 1980s or gross-out comedies from the 1990s and today, my marathon movie genre pick would be comedies. Mixing in a little romance, action, or mystery is fine, as long as the overall effect is comedic.

Although other genres rely on formulas that become predictable after you’ve seen a few, comedies have no such restrictions. Running gags, jokes, physical humor, irony, puns, hyperbole, satire, sarcasm – the list of ways to bring on laughs is nearly endless. Even though many comedic ploys fall short of belly laughs, 120 hours of a few intermittent chuckles sounds like a good deal to me.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Actors, filmmakers, critics, and others voted on movies that included 50 nominees per genre. Previous years have awarded “Top 10” status to comedies and love stories, but this year “romantic comedies” took up the slack. The 2008 AFI romantic comedy winners:

1. City Lights (1931) Charles Chaplin as a little tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill).

2. Annie Hall (1977) Diane Keaton as a goofy singer who falls for a neurotic comedy writer (Woody Allen).

3. The Philadelphia Story (1940) Cary Grant and James Stewart plot to ruin Katharine Hepburn’s wedding plans.

4. It Happened One Night (1934) Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable in the story of a runaway heiress who meets a reporter hungry for a story.

5. Roman Holiday (1953) Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the story of runaway princess who meets a reporter hungry for a story (in Rome).

6. When Harry Met Sally (1989) Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as two opposites who keep attracting each other over many years.

7. Adam’s Rib (1949) Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star as husband and wife lawyers who oppose each other in a court case.

8. Moonstruck (1987) Cher and Nicolas Cage in the story of a superstitious widow and a wolf-like man who fall in love.

9. Harold and Maude (1971) An aging Ruth Gordon meets the adolescent Bud Cort at a funeral and romantic sparks ignite.

10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Meg Ryan hears lonely widower Tom Hanks on a radio call-in show.

Do you have better choices for the Top 10 Romantic Comedies? Let us know.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

These DVDs (especially collector’s editions of older films) usually contain special features such as director commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes on the making of the film.

The following are my top three comedy picks for this month.

Comedies

City Slickers (Collector’s Edition)

• From 1991, this insightful comedy stars Billy Crystal, Bruno Kirby, and Daniel Stern as three friends in the throes of mid-life crises trying to solve their problems through a fantasy vacation herding cattle.
• Director: Ron Underwood
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Release Date: June 3, 2008

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show

• This year’s fun documentary of Vaughn and show biz friends Justin Long and Jon Favreau following the blossoming careers of four relatively unknown comedians on a month-long bus tour.
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Rating: R
• Release Date: June 3, 2008

Be Kind, Rewind

• Jack Black and Mos Def star as two men who try to recreate the contents in a video store after all the movies are accidentally erased.
• Director: Michel Gondry
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Release Date: June 17, 2008

Additional DVD Releases

More new comedies: Mama’s Boy (Jon Heder as a son who refuses to grow up and move out); Semi-Pro (Will Ferrell as a semi-professional basketball team owner in 1970s Flint, Michigan); Witless Protection (Larry the Cable Guy as a goofy small-town deputy who dreams of being an FBI agent).

Romantic comedies: Fool’s Gold (Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in a silly romantic comedy adventure); Definitely, Maybe (Ryan Reynolds tells his 10-year-old daughter about his past loves in this romantic comedy); and Bonneville (Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, and Kathy Bates embark on an eye-opening road trip).

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

The Three Stooges. Three Amigos. Three Men and a Baby. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Even the four Marx Brothers reduced their comedy team to three.

Three seems to be the magic number for comedy teams. In the classic movie Airplane! (1980), Captain Oveur and co-pilots Roger Murdock and Victor Basta sit around the cockpit misunderstanding directions from the control tower. Confusion about the words “over,” “roger,” and “vector” wouldn’t have been as funny with just two crew members, and might have lost its humor had the cockpit been filled with four or more pilots.

Take note that the directors of Airplane! come in a set of three: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.

One of my favorite movies, the romantic comedy The Princess Bride successfully incorporates the love triangle (Westley, Princess Buttercup, and Prince Humperdinck) and the comedy triangle (Vizzini the schemer, Inigo the swordsman, and Fezzik the giant). These three would-be criminals play off the others’ physical and intellectual attributes for laughs.

Tiny Vizzini pushes around the giant; slow-witted Fezzik sometimes outsmarts Vizzini; physically adept Inigo allows Vizzini to plan his assaults; and despite his aggressiveness, Inigo reveals a gentle sweetness toward Fezzik. These relationships between the three characters provide the perfect balance for relationship dynamics.

Films from every genre take advantage of the chemistry of the comedy triangle: Mad Money (three novice women bank robbers), Superbad (three high school boys on an adventure), and the Harry Potter series (Harry, Hermione, and Ron) are among them.

Of course, many exceptions exist to the rule of three, but the comedy triangle creates a delicate balancing act where no one character stays at the top for long because competing strengths from the other two constantly threaten to upset the triangle.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Mary loves Steve, who also loves her but is engaged to marry Fran, who loves Steve and highly respects her wedding planner Mary, who feels a similar loyalty to Fran. This plot from The Wedding Planner reveals a tangled relationship that is typical in a romantic comedy.

Two people falling in love with no obstacles lacks the essential drama and sexual tension needed to fully engage an audience. By including a third person in a love triangle, romantic dramas and comedies increase the excitement without overly complicating the plot.

On the other hand, adding four or more characters may work great in screwball comedies that play for laughs rather than romance, but complicate situations to the point of taking away from the romantic elements. Did you find it “romantic” or “comic” when Mary had four would-be suitors in There’s Something About Mary? For me, three’s the limit for romantic tension and four is the inevitable introduction of comedy.

Countless romantic movies from recent years have employed the love triangle: Made of Honor, Across the Universe, Blades of Glory, Dan in Real Life, Juno, License to Wed, The Ex, and The Princess Bride to name a few.

Unless one romantic lead has an obstacle to overcome (such as commitment phobia, different socioeconomic status, bad reputation, etc.) and the other has an ardent admirer (a fiancé, ex-lover, close friend, or other threatening love interest), the romantic relationship becomes too easy to achieve and too easy for audiences to dismiss.

Next week: The Chemistry of Comedy Triangles

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Last week I attended a media preview at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. I experienced the theme park’s newest movie/TV-related attractions, including Toy Story Mania (a midway game ride), Disney’s Block Party Bash (a street parade), Disney's Amercian Idol Attraction, and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian (an upcoming soundstage attraction).

What’s the allure of adapting movies into other forms? Why do so many films wind up as theme park attractions (Terminator 2: 3D), clothing lines (Napoleon Dynamite), Broadway shows (The Lion King), collectible toys (Star Wars), and thousands of other marketable products?

Take Disney’s Block Party Bash. This parade showcases characters from Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., A Bug’s Life, and The Incredibles. Dance and music segments highlight the characters, yet impart none of the story. With more than 114 energetic performers, a medley of upbeat songs, and vibrant costumes and floats, the experience feels like saturating yourself in the bold colors and frenetic energy of an animated cartoon.

The romantic comedy film The Wedding Singer (starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) recently became a Broadway musical. The stage show uses original songs to convey much of the plot (to compensate for the condensed story). The film adapts well to the stage because through music, characters, and costumes, audiences experience this love story in a 1980’s frame of mind regardless of stylistic changes.

Even as I write this, a cardboard standee of Johnny Depp (as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean [ironically, a movie based on a Disney theme park ride]) glares at me. When I see him, I’m instantly transported to a different time and place filled with magic and romance.

Whatever form a movie takes – from multi-million dollar attractions to $5.00 lunch boxes – its true magic is the ability to evoke emotions.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

In a deal between Lionsgate, Omnilab Media, and QED International, filming begins today in Louisiana on the biopic W., based on the love, faith, and politics of America’s 43rd president. Set for theatrical release on October 17, 2008 to coincide with fall elections, W stars Josh Brolin as George W. Bush and Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush. Oliver Stone (World Trade Center, Wall Street) said in a statement: “The impact of George W. Bush’s presidency will be felt for many years to come. Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don’t really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we’ve been allowed to see on TV.” But I wonder what W. would be like with a different director?

• With Judd Apatow: Starring Seth Rogen as George and Leslie Mann as Laura, W is an outrageous romantic comedy told through a series of humorous adventures with a strange mix of grossness and sweetness.

• With Tim Burton: Starring Johnny Depp as George and Helena Bonham Carter as Laura, W is a dark supernatural love story in which mysterious forces bring the couple together and then lead them to positions of international power.

• With Woody Allen: Starring Alan Alda as George and Diane Keaton as Laura, W is a cerebral fish-out-of-water comedy in which displaced Texans George and Laura fall in love at a bar in New York.

• With John Waters: Starring John Waters (in a cameo appearance) as George and Ricki Lake as Laura, W is the raunchy tale of how two young lovers from a trailer park in Baltimore find their way into The White House.

With Stone at the helm, however, we’ll have to wait and see how much romance and comedy make the final cut.

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Three of my top four picks are re-releases of much earlier films, with only P.S. I Love You having recently played at the theaters. So if you missed them the first time around, here’s your second chance.

Romantic Dramas

The Bridges of Madison County: Deluxe Edition

• A story (from 1995) of an enduring and forbidden love, this drama stars Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood as two people who embark on a short-term love affair in rural Iowa. The performances sizzle despite the middle-aged leads.
• Director: Clint Eastwood
• Run Time: 137 minutes
• Rating: PG-13

P.S. I Love You

• This drama stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler in a tear-jerking romance about how everlasting love continues after one’s physical life ends. Supporting cast includes Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon.
• Director: Richard LaGravenese
• Run time: 126 minutes
• Rating: PG-13

Comedies

If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium

• This 1969 farce stars Sandy Baron, Senta Berger, and Suzanne Pleshette in a comedy (with some added romance) about a group of American tourists who take a whirlwind tour with a young British tour guide (Ian McShane).
• Director: Mel Stuart
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Rating: G

Serial Mom (Collector’s Edition)

• From 1994, this dark comedy stars Kathleen Turner as a suburban mom who resorts to serial killing to get her point across to people who create obstacles in her perfect little world. Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, and Matthew Lillard co-star as her cookie-cutter family.
• Director: John Waters
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Rating: R

If you watch one from the first group followed by one from the second, you can still get your fill of "romantic comedy."

Posted by Leslie C. Halpern

Directed by Rob Reiner, written by William Goldman, and starring Cary Elwes (Westley), Robin Wright (Buttercup), and Mandy Patinkin (Inigo), this fairy tale portrays a beautiful maiden (Wright) and handsome servant (Elwes) who love each other, but are kept apart by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, including societal class, physical distance, villains, and even death. The delicious writing, perfect direction, and inspired acting have made this cult classic endure for more than 20 years. How curious that some of today’s comedies fail to be funny and some romances fail to have chemistry between the leads when The Princess Bride manages to do both so well? There’s also the sweet nature of The Princess Bride to consider. Few PG-rated love stories or comedy films get made anymore. Yet without blatant sexuality or course language, this film expresses the passionate nature of the couple’s relationship and humorous dialogue/situations. Compare The Princess Bride to today’s romantic comedy films, many of which have been quite successful at the box office and on subsequent DVD sales (indicating a huge market for gross-out humor). Take away the raunch factor in movies such as Superbad, Good Luck Chuck, Mr. Woodcock, Blades of Glory, and The Heartbreak Kid, and then ask yourself “Would they still be funny?” After many dozens of viewings, I still get goose bumps when Westley whispers, “As you wish.” I still feel sick when The Albino tortures Westley in The Pit of Despair. I still thrill to the beauty of Goldman’s dialogue. I still laugh at Inigo’s sword-fighting antics. And after all this time, I still feel disappointed that a sequel to this film never made it to the screen.