Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

One Line Description: A down on his luck 20-something has to fight his crush’s 7 exes, video game-style, in order to win her.

This movie seemed geared towards geeks. The little popup bubbles, some of which come and go so fast they are easy to miss, are a nice touch. This story is based on a comic book, but since I never read it, I don’t know how true it is. The first 30 minutes of this movie was great. I thought the execution of the concept was great and I was highly entertained. The middle of this movie really drags though. The battles with the exes get repetitive and it’s easy to stop caring after the first couple. The ending offered some redemption, but overall I was disappointed.

Adaptation (2002)

One Line Description: A lonely screenwriter trying to adapt a book about flowers goes through a serious of bizarre situations with his twin brother.

This is a weird one. There is no doubt about that. Chris Cooper does what he does, play borderline psychotic characters to perfection. The rest of the cast does a good job in their roles, but the constant jumping back in forth in time get’s annoying. It’s unquestionably different and certainly takes a bizarre turn in the later half, but still managed to keep me interested enough to finish it. I can’t see myself ever watching this one again though.

The Perfect Game (2009)

One Line Description: Based on the a real group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico in the 1950s, who become the first non-US team to win the Little League World Series.

This story is tailor-made for a movie, and it’s unclear exactly how much of it was “Hollywood” and how much of it was real. Undoubtedly, some of the misfortune they suffer had to have been added for dramatic effect. No matter though, it was a great movie. The enthusiasm the kids show was great, and the story of how much they had to go through to make it to the games was nothing short of amazing. The integration of original video clips was done very well too. Definitely your typical David vs. Goliath sports movie, but totally worth your time.

The Company Men (2010)

One Line Description: Three executives experience the affects of corporate downsizing, each reacting in their own way.

All-star cast of Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Costner, Maria Bello and Craig T. Nelson. Affleck has become the ultimate hit-or-miss actor for me at this point, and this was a hit. He does an excellent job of portraying how someone in his shoes would likely react to losing their job, and then coming to terms with what’s next. The way that Affleck, Cooper and Jones all cope differently is remarkable. Maria Bello quietly thrives as a bad-news-breaking HR person, and Kevin Costner is solid in a supporting role. When it’s all said and done though, it seems like Jones stole the show. The way he is forced to watch his friends get axed really puts his life into perspective. Excellent movie and definitely the best movie I first watched in 2012 so far.

Necessary Roughness (1991)

One Line Description: A fictional Texas university us forced to fill their team with walk-ons and castoffs as a result of NCAA violations.

I don’t even know where to start…Clearly a recognizable cast, Scott Bakula, Hector Elizondo, Robert Loggia, Larry Miller, Sindbad, Rob Schneider and Jason Bateman. Also, a prototypical early 90′s movie with the right amount of cheesiness to make it memorable. Pick your favorite, supermodel Kathy Ireland as the team’s kicker, the game against the prison team comprised of real-life athletes Dick Butkus, Earl Campbell, Roger Craigh, Tony Dorsett, Evander Holyfieldm Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Jim Kelly, Jerry Rice and Herschel Walker or the ridiculous manner in which this team plays. As my podcast co-host Chris says, this is a “fun” movie, but I wouldn’t expect much. It’s not all that funny, but has it’s moments.