Movies: My Romantic Weekend.

Anna Farris and flaming weave.

While it doesn’t have any sex scenes, What’s Your Number? was still a pretty awkward movie to see with my mother. Oddly even more so than Bridesmaids, which coincidentally shares an identical opening sequence: albeit with a lot more humping. For the record the most awkward movie experience I shared with my parents is Lust/Caution which as far as I can remember had a sex scene that went for three hours.

What’s Your Number is pretty awkward all around. Some of the jokes fall flat and the film’s message— that boys can sleep around and girls can’t—while saved in the end, is still pretty gross. The scenes where the girls discuss how many flings they’ve had is painful to watch. It’s saved only by Anna Farris. If you like Farris, see this movie, if not, don’t. Chris Evans (Captain America) brings the requisite eye candy and likeability to his role, although his musician chops are doubtable, even while in underwear. Although Mum didn’t mind.

After that came Crazy, Stupid, Love. which also had no sex scenes but much “flubber”, provided by the Natalie Portman of now (i.e. in everything), Ryan Gosling. The film is directed by same pair who made the excellent I Love You Philip Morris, made years ago but only released in Oz earlier this year.

This film is the better of the pair. It does a nice job of appearing messy and true to life while still satisfying our urges for Hollywood happy endings and shopping montages.   The soundtrack, which features local (now defunct) band The Middle East, is also excellent.
           
It should also be mentioned that I was subjected to the horror that is Dreamgirls, aka “two hours of black ladies shriek-singing.”

HAPPY MONDAY!