I know that Dumplin' came out last month, but I feel like it wouldn't be fair not to share about it here. Oh Dumplin'! I ADORED this book. ADORED IT. I was so so so excited when I heard that it was being made into a movie.
I read this back in early 2016, here is my review:
The Movie:
I absolutely loved the movie as well! I felt like it was a lot more centered on her self confidence, and her relationship with her mom than the book was, which was a nice change of pace. The book focuses a little bit more on her romantic relationships. I thought the acting was so well done Jennifer Aniston and Danielle MacDonald had great mother-daughter chemistry. It was so funny, and so heartwarming. I absolutely adored all of her fellow anti-pageant mates too. I looooved Millie, and KC could not stop cracking up over Hannah. I loved all of the Dolly stuff, again! Let's not forget my favorite, Harold Perrineau, who also played Mercutio in Romeo + Juliet. Everything was so over the top and I loved it! :) I had a lot of fun seeing this book come to life on the screen.
I know that some people liked the movie more than others, and that some were disappointed by the movie because they loved the book so much, and that others were disappointed by the book because it wasn't anything like the trailer for the movie. You are my reader friends, what did YOU think?!
For me, enough time passed in between reading and watching that I wasn't too critical about it.
I cannot wait to read Puddin' which I have heard from you guys is just as good (even better, some say!) than Dumplin'! :)
TODAY WE ARE FINALLY GETTING OUR FLOORS PUT IN AFTER THREE MONTHS OF IMPATIENCE! We are SO SO SO excited to get it finished up and move in this weekend, finally! :)
It's been a good month for book-to-movie adaptations. While these are not the only two that have come out (I'm looking at you, Crazy Rich Asians!), they were highly anticipated for me!
Plot: Juliet, a London journalist takes up correspondence with Dawsey, a citizen of Guernsey (an island off England's coast) after WWII. Guernsey was occupied by the Germans during the war, and Dawsey tells of his and his friend's book club that kept their spirits up during the war. As Juliet learns more about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society she makes the trip to Guernsey to write meet and write about this extraordinary group of people.
My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this adaptation of Guernsey. It was so atmospheric and everything about it really swept you up into the story. I thought that Lily James did a wonderful job, as did the rest of the star-studded cast. I thought that the film version might be harder to watch than the book was to read, but I thought that they handled the sad parts very well. (and they left out one part that made me particularly sad, so yay!) One of my favorite things about the story is it's focus on resilience, it translated well into the movie version.
Plot: Lara Jean writes a letter to her crush when she's ending it. She keeps them hidden in a box, but one day the letters get sent. Now, all of the boys she's loved before are coming out of the wood work. Including her sister's newly ex-boyfriend, Josh. In order to keep Josh from finding out her true feelings, she starts a fake relationship with someone else who received a letter, Peter K.
My Thoughts: This is my favorite contemporary YA series, I adore everything about it. I was a little nervous about the film adaptation, but thought it was very well handled. For one thing, I loved seeing a POC as the main character, in a movie! I loved Jenny Han's article on the topic as well. One of my favorite things about the stories is the family relationships between Lara Jean, her sisters, and their father. The movie did such a good job capturing those familial ties and sibling quirks. All of the teen swooniness and cringe-worthy moments were intact as well. I *heart* Peter K. I cannot wait for the next movies! I hope to goodness that they make them! :)
Have you seen or read either of these?! If so, what did you think? Have you seen or read Crazy Rich Asians yet?! What's your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? XO, Alexandra
Hello! I hope that you all had a great weekend! Ours was pretty productive and relaxed!
It's been a while since I have posted a movie review... as in ... like once per year... maybe... (?) but here we go!
Have you seen previews for Edge of Seventeen?
It's been compared to Clueless and Mean Girls (possibly The Breakfast Club... for those of us who remember that one ... which I say being a child of the '90's...) Well, I thought it looked kind of funny... and we felt like going to a movie... and it apparently had/s a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Wow. That's pretty good.
Anyhow, we bought tickets, and I am really glad that we went! The movie has a lot of heart, it seems "real" enough without being too depressing, or being over-the-top... and it's funny! I was really pleased with it actually!
The movie follows Darlene, a 17 year old girl with exactly one friend, a mom who loves her brother most, and her brother is Mr. Popular. When her best friend starts dating her brother... her world is turned upside down. (This doesn't sound earth shattering... ) Along the way she learns a lot about herself, she grows a lot, and makes at least one new friend.
Ok, this still doesn't sound earth shattering... but I promise, it's really good!
If you're in the mood for a coming of age movie, and want something that's rated R without being overly raunchy or violent (but still seems real)... this could be the movie for you.
Woody Harrelson plays one of Darlene's teachers, and he is just hilarious and sarcastic. I loved her interactions with him.
I also really loved Erwin, this extremely socially awkward character. He was so funny! I read an article about the actor and how he was excited to have a bigger part as a male lead being Asian. That doesn't happen a lot in the entertainment industry, so that was pretty cool! Not something I think about a ton, but I should! I always like diversity in actors and characters, and I support efforts to see bigger roles filled by minority actors of all kinds! His was such an enjoyable character in this movie, and he played the part really well. I hope to see him in more films in the future!
I would say as far as teen indie movies go... this one is a more accurate picture of what it's like. It's not rose colored, it's not TEEN PARTY MOVIE, it's just what it is. I found that pretty refreshing and real. Again, I didn't feel like I was watching a movie for teens. I also loved that the characters were so quirky! :)
Has anyone else seen this? Or is anyone else thinking about seeing this?
Other movies we've seen recently(ish)... that I did not post about....:
Bridget Jones's Baby - HILARIOUS!!
Magnificent Seven - Chris Pratt... though... he's not the most convincing cowboy (not cowboy movie connoisseur...)
Edward Scissorhands (on the big screen) - *sobs* so good!
Dr. Strange - was worried (American accent... mustache....) ... but kind of loved it!! (not usually a super hero movie person!)
Saved (on the big screen) - just as relevant/hilarious as ever (if not more)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - GO SEE IT NOW! SO SO SO SO GOOD!!
Moana - Lovely animation! Cute! :)
Other Indie Movie Night Posts: About Time, Wish I Was Here, and What If (< a KC fave). Have you seen any good movies lately? XO, Alexandra
At work I have been taking on some new administrative roles, and we have had two big meetings in the past two weeks. I have spent a lot of time and energy working on those, way out of my wheel house, and I am so glad to say... they are over! & everything went smoothly. :) HUZZAH!
So of course.... I've been thinking of this Dolly classic.
I probably don't share it a lot, but I think Dolly Parton is a national treasure. She's sassy, she's honest and real, and she knows that she shouldn't be one to judge. I know a lot of people think she's fake because she's got fake hair and fake whatever else they want to claim. But she's quick to speak her mind, and boy does she say some incredibly honest things. She knows who she is, and it doesn't matter if her hair is fake... SHE is real and she is true to herself. :)
KC and I saw that she was coming to KCMO in July... and we got tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!
So, what is more appropriate to share this week? (answer: nothing)
Also, has anyone else seen this movie?! It's incredible. I didn't even know it was a movie, but gosh it's fantastic.
Absolutely ahead of it's time in terms of women in the workforce. It's also just hilarious and delightful. So if you get a chance, queue it up for a movie night! You will laugh and laugh and laugh.
