Movie Review: Table 19 (2017)

Movie Review: ****Table 19

This movie really got me thinking.  This movie is mostly about two relationships.  One is a relationship struggling in getting off the ground, and the other one that is struggling after many years of falling out of love.  I liked watching both relationships develop.  Eloise (Anna Kendrick) was intended to be the maid of honor at her friend’s wedding.  However she is now out of favor after the bride’s brother, Teddy (Wyatt Russell) has dumped her for a new girl who is the maid of honor.  As such she goes from table 2 to table 19.  At table 19 is a couple who run a restaurant the Kepps (Lisa Kudrow and Craig Robinson) where the bride’s father frequents, a man who stole from the father and ended up in jail, Walter (Stephen Merchant), the bride’s nannie, Jo (June Squibb) and a young man, Renzo (Tony Revolori) who is rather awkward.  They are at the outcast table, in a way.  However they form a relationship, and even step out for a time, when Eloise crashes into the cake and it ends up all over all of them.  The share a joint, and start opening up about their lives.  This includes discovering that Eloise is pregnant, and the Jo is dying of cancer.  Lots of twists and turns, and great conversation.

I dislike that this movie has too many people falling down.  This is not slap stick.  It also shows the butt of Walter’s roommate twice.  (Once was too much.)  This rather odd group muddles through, and they even seem to grow as a result of the night.  I enjoyed this.  I find that I really enjoy Anna Kendrick as an actress.  

Musical Movie Review: *** Pitch Perfect (2012)

This would be considered a modern day musical.  Two freshmen join college a'capella groups, Beca (Anna Kendrick) and Jesse (Skyler Astin;) Beca a women's group and Jesse a men's group. They compete in campus, regional and national competitions.  There is a healthy rivalry between the two groups.  The girls group has never won, perhaps because their is prejudice against girls, but mostly because they lack someone who can sing the low notes.  Of course with both groups there are diva type leaders, but the leaders grow and change as the year progresses.  And then of course our two freshmen fall in love, but at least on the women's side romance with the other group is forbidden.  This movie is great on the music side, and pretty lame on the plot side.

Movie Review: ****^Into the Woods 2014

This is a movie I would very much enjoy owning to watch again from time to time.  It of course is the Stephen Sondheim musical.  (Also James Lapine who did the screenplay.) The set is dark, as the woods are dark.  Meryl Streep portrays the witch.  She is hard to recognize before she regains her youth.  This is really a good cast.  Johnny Depp has a cameo as the wolf.  The Baker is played by James Corden, his wife by Emily Blunt.  Cinderella is played by Anna Kendrick.  Jack and Red Riding Hood are Daniel Huttlestone and Lilla Crawford.  I enjoyed the music, and the acting and the story more than I thought I would.  Kids did the first act in middle school, and the second act is where things get more depressing and the Giant's wife starts killing people.  However this was even entertaining and well presented. 
I have a favorite song, 'Children Will Listen."  My only regret is the Baker was providing dialogue over the song, and the song was soft and hard to hear.  SO here are the lyrics in their entirety:

Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.

Guide them along the way,
Children will glisten.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.

Careful before you say,
"Listen to me."
Children will listen.

Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free.

Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...

Careful the tale you tell.
That is the spell.
Children will listen...

Chris Pine portrays one prince, who turns out to be charming but not sincere, and Cinderella leaves him.   The other prince (Billy Magnussen) ends up with Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy.)  He turns out to be both charming and sincere.
I must admit I stayed for all the credits as wanted to listen to the orchestration.  I noted not all of the actors sang their songs; but most did.
Very well done Disney.