"Bedtime Stories" not a bad family flick

Filled with raining gumballs, a treadmill friendly guinea pig, and of course a booger monster, Happy Madison's Bedtime Stories is a ride through a world of imagination.

As one of Adam Sandler's better productions, this film truly inspires children to dip into a world of pretend.

Skeeter, played by Sandler, works as a handyman around what was once, his father's hotel. His father, was forced to sell it when Skeeter was just a boy, but left the new buyer, Barry Nottingham, played by Richard Griffiths, with one request.

Someday, Skeeter be allowed to run the hotel. With Nottingham's word, the hotel was his.

The years pass by and Skeeter finds himself being passed over time and time again for management positions. Finally, while watching his estranged niece and nephew, Skeeter realizes that there still is a little magic left in the world.

The bedtime stories he shares with the children become reality. It appears his luck has changed.

This movie is a great family flick. Some may be disappointed that there could be just a bit more emphasis on the stories themselves, and more magical events. The first colorful and magical event is when it starts raining gumballs. This is the perfect idea of a bedtime story through the eyes of a child.

However, the "magical" events following, seem small in comparison, and lack that glint of childhood sparkle. They belong to the world of adult magic and mystique. For example, they are more career and romance oriented, than a shower of raining gumballs.

More kid magic would have been a great asset to this film. I wanted to see more color and magical creatures. Director, Adam Shankman, could have benefited from getting his hands dirty and incorporating more of the goofy, crazy, messy, gritty, and comical stuff that resides in the imagination of kids everywhere.

All in all, "Bedtime Stories" is classic proof that happy endings still exist, no princess needed, in everyday life. It would be a great rental for family movie night once it hits the shelve of your neighborhood movie store.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

To see the trailer click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSlZmA3dAS8

“Marley & Me” is a holiday treat for audiences

“Marley & Me” is a light, family comedy based on the columns and best-selling novels of John Grogan, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist. The full name of the novel, “Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog,” briefly and beautifully summarizes what both the book and the film are about.

Marley, named after Bob Marley, is a boisterous, fun-loving Labrador retriever who John buys to placate his wife Jenny after the b-word pops up in their marriage (baby, in case you were wondering). Initially dubbed as a clearance puppy, the Grogans quickly learn that Marley is more than a handful.

The film, released on Christmas Day, spends most of its time showing all the shenanigans caused by Marley (swallowing a necklace, chasing a UPS man, attacking an obedience school trainer, chewing and urinating on many, many things), usually while dragging John behind him on a leash. The beauty of this film is that anyone who’s ever owned a pet can relate. You can fully laugh, cry, and enjoy every special moment with Marley and his family simply because most of us have been there. Despite the relentless hardships caused by Marley, it’s very clear that he is John and Jenny’s emotional constant as they struggle with work, kids and their marriage.

While Jennifer Aniston is likable and effectively carries her role as Jenny, a working journalist turned mother, it’s Owen Wilson in the role of Josh Grogan that makes this film work. His portrayal of John and his interaction with Marley is heartwarming. It’s the relationship between John and Marley that illustrates this film’s message: even though having a pet is hard work, you just can’t help loving them.



Bottom Line: “Marley & Me” is a heartwarming, family film that will make audiences laugh, cry and cheer. It’s for anyone who has ever been through the experience of owning and loving a family pet.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Next Review: Sandler's "Bedtime Stories" may appeal to children, but it lacks its promised magic.

Aging Backwards, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" mesmerizes

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Tagline: “My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances.”

Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” in theaters Dec. 25, is a stunning film about a man who is born in his 80s and ages in reverse.
Despite Benjamin's bizarre, unlikely situation, the film's story, helmed by director David Fincher of “Fight Club” and “Se7en,” is beautiful, profound and surprisingly relevant.
Though Benjamin, portrayed by Brad Pitt, experiences life differently from those around him, the issues of life, mortality and death affect him too.

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Benjamin's life may be lived backwards, but he still encounters and experiences many of the milestones and tribulations of any human life. His story is singular, but the messages and thoughts it incites are universal.
Fate can be fickle, Fincher's tale seems to say, but what we do with our time on earth is one of the few things we can control.

Though “Button” is not the epic it aspires to be, it is lifted by Pitt's subtle yet mesmerizing performance. Pitt brings charm, vulnerability, and a whimsical faith to Benjamin, making him an endearingly likable character, whose remarkable story will remain with viewers long after the final credits have rolled.

Bottom Line: An interesting storyline, beautiful sets and a poignant message are all bolstered by Pitt's masterful performance. Definitely worth seeing this holiday season.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

*For the full review, pick up the newest copy of the Collegiate, on stands Dec. 10th.