Great Chocolate

Movie Review: Baby Mama

I don't feel like writing a formal review of Baby Mama right now, but I did want to share quickly what I thought!  It was so funny!  I know this movie has created a lot of buzz, as it is one of the very few movies where the two leads are both female.  But they carried it very well.  It stars Tina Fey (former writer of Saturday Night Live; currently stars on NBC's 30 Rock) as a professional woman who has decided she wants a baby, but finds she cannot conceive; and Amy Poehler (current member of Saturday Night Live) as the surrogate mother she hires to carry her child.  The ultimate odd couple, they need to learn to work together during the pregnancy for the good of the baby, with hilarious results, and not to mention a few twists and turns along the way!  Go see it if you like SNL and want a good laugh!  Actually, you don't even need to like SNL.  You'd probably still find the movie funny.

One question I tend to ask myself when evaluating a movie I have just seen is whether my parents would like it and should I recommend it to them.  So I'm thinking that will now be a regular feature of my movie reviews.

My official stance on this movie for parents: Dads may not get it.  Moms will think it's cute.  They will both find it slightly humorous.  Probably not as much as me, however (hence the comment about liking SNL).

Book Review: Where Are You Now?

Where Are You Now?Mary Higgins Clark

I have only been truly terrified once from reading a book. Granted, it's probably because I don't read books that I know will scare me. So why did I read that one? Well, it was by one of my favorite mystery/suspense novelists, Mary Higgins Clark. I had read most of her recent ones, so I decided to go back and read her earlier ones. Bad idea. It was A Cry in the Night and I would only recommend it to people who enjoy a good thriller.

All that to say, I have just finished Clark's most recent best-seller, Where Are You Now? and I must say, I was very satisfied. It was scary enough to make me jump when my dog barked into the silence while I read, but not so scary that I had nightmares afterwards. And it certainly was a page-turner. There were two nights in a row that I was up until 2 am, just unable to put the book down!

As with most of Clark's books, the story takes place in Manhattan and follows a 30-something single and professional woman trying to solve a murder. Following Clark's newest trend, it is in the first person of the main character, but then switches into third person as we follow the other story lines throughout the book. Additionally, the first person was written in present tense, and while it did convey a sense of urgency and excitement (which I'm sure was her intent), I found it slightly confusing, especially as she switched between that and past-tense third person. After reading the first few chapters, however, I soon became used to it and settled down for a good read.

Carolyn MacKenzie, a 30-something lawyer living in Manhattan, has finally come to wit's end with her brother, Mack. Mack walked out on his life 10 years previously and was never heard from again. Except, that is, on Mother's Day, when he calls his mother to assure her that he is OK and happy. Carolyn has watched her family fall apart as, year after year, Mack doesn't come home. So this Mother's Day, she vows to Mack that she will find him and make him pay. As Carolyn seeks to find out the truth, there are disappearances around Manhattan and she inadvertently leads the police to believe that Mack is the kidnapper for whom they are searching. Even though she strives to prove that Mack is innocent, she finds herself doubting that to be the case. Soon, however, Carolyn realizes her own life is in danger and she has to rely on the clues she has dug up along the way to save herself and others.

Mary Higgins Clark knows how to plant suspicion in her readers' minds for first one character then another. Early in the book, I found myself saying "Oh, I've figured it out", thinking, you know, that I'm extra-smart and she can't fool me. Several chapters later, I realized that was exactly what she wanted me to believe! I must admit to this having happened more than once through the book, and the ending gave me a thoroughly satisfying surprise.

I believe Where Are You Now? helped to break Mary Higgins Clark's recent formulaic whodunit pattern, and as I said, kept me guessing until the very end. Other than the slight confusion of the past/present tense and first/third person, the book was a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling read.

Book Review: Death of a Gentle Lady

Death of a Gentle LadyM.C. Beaton

I have just finished reading the latest book in the Hamish Macbeth series, written by M.C. Beaton. Having read the entire series, I was excited too see a new one out, and this one did not disappoint, in most regards. The book, as with all the others, is a captivating mystery and is set in the northernmost tip of Scotland.

Told from mostly Hamish's perspective, I once again fell in love with the village of Lochdubh, for its beauty and for its inhabitants. Hamish's description of the landscape always makes me want to visit the Highlands of Scotland and see the raw beauty that he is so in love with. And so adamently against leaving.

In the book, a gentlewoman, liked by everyone in the village besides Hamish, is found below the cliffs of her castle, murdered. The suspects include her family members, who were all gathered for a reunion, some visitors to Lochdubh staying at the local Tommel Castle Hotel, and even Hamish himself!! Detective Inspector Jimmy Anderson is in charge of the case, to Hamish's relief, and keeps Hamish well-informed of the goings-on. When the police arrest someone, Hamish is not satisfied and takes matters into his own hands, which lands him into even more trouble. Complicating matters is the Russian Inspector who seems to have a thing for Hamish, but also has a very tough side.

The usual brood of characters come into play in Death of a Gentle Lady, including the Curry sisters, the town's most prominent gossips; Angela Brodie, the doctor's wife and Hamish's pet-sitter; Willie, the obsessively clean restaurant owner; and Archie, a local fisherman who is condemned to his tight suits due to his wife's neurotic cleaning. In addition to the usual crew, there are some new characters to fit in with the current plot: the Russian Inspector, to whom Hamish referred to as looking like "Putin in drag", the family of the victim, and the villainous Detective Chief Inspector Blair, who, hating Hamish and his non-conforming ways, has a new plan for getting rid of him.

And as always, Hamish's love life comes into the story, and yet again, I was disappointed. He is propositioned several times, proposes once (and not to who you think!), and his two former lovers, Priscilla and Elspeth, both come home to Lochdubh for a visit. Will there ever be resolution here?

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was good enough to make me want to keep picking it up to read, but not so suspenseful as it made me want to stay up through the night to finish (and I've had this experience many times in the past, and am never happy with myself the next day!). The book had a good plot, as usual, but that's not what keeps me coming back to Lochdubh. For me, it is all about the lovable and flawed characters, most importantly, Hamish himself.

As Promised... "What Makes A Great Sitcom"

I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of good television. I grew up on the classics (thank you, Nick@Nite) like "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and have now progressed to watching current primetime. I do, however, have some guilty pleasures like Survivor, and have even succumbed to watching several seasons of The Bachelor. But my heart still belongs to the sitcom. I love a good sitcom, and you will know I consider it good because I can watch rerun after rerun (and my husband hates me for it). And that brings me to my first point about What Makes A Great Sitcom.

Rewatchability. Now, if I remember correctly, this term was first coined by a once great Nick@Nite (a time when "classic television" meant classic television, and not Growing Pains and Home Improvement reruns). In order for a sitcom to be great, it must have the rewatchability factor. If you don't understand what I mean, start watching Arrested Development. This show has rewatchability written all over it. I have seen each episode several times and pick up new jokes and meanings every time.

I am a big believer in "inside jokes" in a sitcom. These are phrases or character flaws that are repeated throughout the seasons and only dedicated viewers pick them up and realize they are funny. This is necessary in rewatchability. Again, in my opinion, Arrested Development was the master at this. The inside joke factor is a reason that I watch reruns of the show, and as I said, continue to pick up more and more inside jokes.

Another huge factor in a great sitcom is chemistry among the characters/actors. I think this is why Friends made it for so long. It didn't offer anything new or something we hadn't seen before. Indeed, the biggest criticism of the show is that all they do is sit around, talking and drinking coffee. But I believe that is why the show worked. These characters had such great chemistry that we loved to watch them, and almost feel like a part of it. A new show that I started watching (and continue to watch only because I love Kelsey Grammer) is Back To You. I honestly think this show could be funny, but cannot pull it off due to a lack of chemistry among the characters. I am just not buying the Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton love story.

Friends also had another factor going for it. Each of the characters had an equal and valuable role. And because of this, none of the sub-plots ever seemed boring. A major flaw with many sitcoms is when the non-main characters get their own plot lines and viewers must endure them while waiting to get to the real meat of the show. Again, (I'm sorry, Kelsey!) Back To You struggles to keep my attention through the sub-plots and I find myself even fast-forwarding at times (insert shameless Tivo plug here).

And finally, a great sitcom must have an overarching love story. Now please understand me here. Having an overarching love story does not a great sitcom make. It is the opposite. An overarching love story is the icing on the cake. It makes me full and satisfied. I can laugh and laugh, but the love story makes it complete. Frasier did it so well with Niles and Daphne (aren't they the reason we watched this show after its fifth season?). And who doesn't know about the Ross and Rachel love connection? The Office has done it superbly with Jim and Pam. Even Arrested Development had an unusual one, but nonetheless satisfying.

Rewatchability. Inside Jokes. Chemistry. Love Story. The factors that make a great sitcom. If you find yourself daring to disagree, I challenge you to leave a comment and we can discuss it further. But in the end, time will tell, as it has done with the good old classics of yesteryear.

New Series

Beginning soon, look for a new series of posts called "What Makes A Great....". These posts will be strictly my opinions on what makes something (or someone) great. However, they will be backed up with such hard facts and concrete reasoning that you will not dare to disagree. There will be a whole range of topics, from the trivial to the crucial. I imagine that this series will capture the minds of America, and before you know it, these posts (along with my profound reasoning) will be the topic of many a political debate.Come back soon for post number one of the series: What Makes a Great Sitcom!