I don’t know if other people have the same problem I have, but I sometimes get Reese Witherspoon and Kirsten Dundst mixed up. I don’t get confused when I see a photo of either of them. The mixup happens when recalling movies they may have done. I know the Reese Witherspoon has had memorable roles in Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Highway, and the recent Walk the Line. I know Kirsten Dundst is known for the Spider-man movies, Jumanji, and Bring It On. Come to think of it, maybe I don’t have a problem recalling what roles they have done. I think I just may have had a blonde moment or I’m not sure how to start a review for two of their movies Farrah and I just watched on DVD.
The first movie is the light romantic comedy featuring Reese W. called Just Like Heaven. The //Netflix summary is:
Shortly after David Abbott (Mark Ruffalo) moves into his new San Francisco digs, he has an unwelcome visitor on his hands: winsome Elizabeth Martinson (Reese Witherspoon), who asserts that the apartment is hers — and promptly vanishes. When she starts appearing and disappearing at will, David thinks she’s a ghost, while Elizabeth is convinced she’s alive. Their quest for the truth ultimately leads to love in this spectral romantic comedy.
What I liked about the movie: Reese Witherspoon did a fine job as the career driven, yet lovable, doctor. I also liked the fact the story was set in San Francisco, though it didn’t really play any major role in the film expect some shots of the Golden Gate Bridge.
What I didn’t like: Mark Ruffalo isn’t romantic lead material. I think he’s more suited for dramatic roles. He reminds me of Vincent D’Onofrio, who isn’t romantic lead material as well, though he is a very fine actor.
The story follows the romantic comedy formula to the “t”. How can you have a romance when one of the character’s is dead? Well, you’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
For Elizabethtown, the //Netflix summary goes:
Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) is fired after causing his shoe company to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. To make matters worse, he’s also dumped by his girlfriend (Jessica Biel). On the verge of ending it all, Drew gets a new lease on life when he returns to his family’s small Kentucky hometown after his father dies. Along the way, he meets a flight attendant (Kirsten Dunst) with whom he falls in love. Cameron Crowe directs.
What I liked about the movie: The actors are very likable, with good supporting roles for Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon. You can recognize Cameron Crowe’s words, who has a good ear for dialog, coming out of the actors’ mouths. He captures a portion of America I’ve never personally experienced, and one that Orlando Bloom’s Drew hasn’t either, and manages to make the discovery a shared experience. I enjoyed the road trip portion of the movie. The music is on par with other Crowe movies. He writes so well, though….
What I didn’t like: …some of the editing in the movie I didn’t like. I understood, as I was watching the movie, that there was more to background on why the shoe failed and was recalled. This bugged me throughout the movie, even though I understand the specific fact of why it failed wasn’t important as much as the failure itself. There also didn’t seem to be enough development in some characters, such as Jessica Biel’s as the girlfriend, and development in relationships, such as between Orlando Bloom’s Drew and his mother played by Susan Sarandon.
Just Like Heaven: ** (out of five)
Elizabethtown: ***1/2
