Movie Review by Kristin: IRREPLACEABLE YOU

IMG_1668Holy crap.

I admit that I can be a bit emotional at times during shows like This Is Us and movies like Love, Simon. None, however, have made me ugly cry quite like this one.

SYNOPSIS: Recently engaged couple Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) find their dreams for the future shattered when she receives a terminal-cancer diagnosis. Abbie copes with the news by attending a support group, and by trying to plan the details of Sam’s life after she’s gone — which includes finding him a new partner.

IRREPLACEABLE YOU is a bit predictable in the sense that the main characters, Abbie and Sam, discover her diagnosis so early in the film, but the way it’s handled is heartbreaking and lovely all at the same time. I also feel like it was a bit sugar-coated because we never saw Abbie get extremely sick the way that we know cancer can play out — but I’m kind of thankful for that. We know what’s happening, we don’t necessarily have to witness every detail. In that respect, I also think it’s very telling that you’re able to be so emotionally invested in this couple despite not seeing the very worst of this horrible disease. It says a lot about the actors in each scene.

The performances by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Michiel Huisman were very sweet and raw. You really felt the love they had for each other, which made the outcome even more beautiful and heartbreaking. With that being said, even though the ending is predictable, watching it play out in such a way had me hooked. It was also fun to see Christopher Walken play a friend to Abbie throughout the film and, ultimately, being the person who made her look at her life differently.

My only complaint is that we didn’t get enough scenes with Kate McKinnon in them! Aside from that, this was a great little movie. One of the moments that really got me was when Abbie tells Sam that she thought planning his future would hurt less than her accepting that she won’t be around to see it. UGHHHHHHH. If you like the odd concoction of sad, romantic and funny movies, I definitely recommend this one.

Side note: I absolutely loved Sam’s dimples in the movie, and I was absolutely SHOOK to discover that he played Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones! Yes, the one that hooked up with Khaleesi and got dumped! Funny what a pair of glasses and a shave could do!

Movie Review: BEAUTY & THE BEAST #beourguest

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Hello, everyone! I’m happy to report that I traveled back to my childhood today for two hours and have safely returned to adulthood in one piece!

I admit that I was a bit nervous going into this live-action version of Beauty & the Beast because it was always my favorite Disney movie. Not to mention the back and forth chatter on whether or not Emma Watson could pull off the role of Belle AND the “news” that Josh Gad’s character, LeFou, was homosexual (SIDE NOTE: Kudos for including this aspect in the film tastefully. Everyone should’ve known that LeFou was homosexual in the original, but I’m glad the folks who created this live-action update didn’t leave it out to please those who are afraid of PEOPLE based on sexual preference.)

With that being said, I thought this version of the film was fantastic! It stayed true to it’s original form, save for a few minor updates: feminism and diversity! There were also a few new songs included here that explained a bit more of the connection between Belle and the Beast. Some viewers were not fans of Emma Watson’s singing, but I thought she did a great job! It’s not written anywhere that every singing actress has to sound like Adele, but I thought Watson did a great job and really lived up to the expectations.

The visual quality here was stunning as well. In some parts the visual effects were lacking just a tiny bit, but the rest of the movie made up for what it lacked in certain areas. It was such a colorful, lively film that shows a strong-minded young woman making her own choices and not sitting around waiting for things to happen to her. Belle is kind, well-read and respectful to all around her…which is something that we should all be teaching our daughters, our nieces and granddaughters. Never fear, young boys can also learn a thing or two from this version of the film. The prince was spoiled and shallow, taught to be cold-hearted from his father at a young age and is cursed into “beast mode” until he learns a lesson in humility.

So take a chance on this film and take your family on a trip down memory lane!

 

Genre: Family, Fantasy, Musical
Length: 2 h 9 min
Rating: PG
Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Hattie Morahan, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Audra McDonald, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Website: disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017
Twitter: twitter.com/beourguest
Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

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