Hello, My Name is Doris

Starring: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Elizabeth Reaser, Tyne Daly

Year: 2015

I love this movie! Every time I watch this movie, I smile. It warms my heart and feeds my soul.

For those of you not familiar with "Hello, My Name is Doris" (which I have to say, isn't the most catchiest of titles), it's about a shy, quiet, quirky, pretty much invisible older woman (Sally Field), who one day sets her eyes on a much younger, and may I add handsome with a smile that lights up a room, man in an elevator (Max Greenfield). From that moment on, she is mesmerized by him. Infatuated by him. And it's not until after she attends a self-help seminar; that inspiration, confidence and strength take over her mind and body and she decides to pursue him.

Doris is an older woman who has sadly missed out on living her own life due to unfortunate circumstances. But now, later in life, discovers what it feels like to want something and actually have the courage to go for it. To discover experiences she missed out on. An eagerness to get her life finally started.

But there is also another side to Doris. A sensitive, more delicate side. She is a hoarder. And it seems that every item piled high in every space in her home, holds special meaning. Each item a reminder of special moments and people from her past that she can't let go of.

Sally Field is so unbelievably believable in every scene. She is lovable through and through. And Max Greenfield, well let's just say, you can definitely see how he caught her eye and melted her heart.

It's a movie about first chances - no matter how old you are. How it's never too late for new experiences. And a reminder to all of us, that no matter how old a person appears, there is a much younger version inside, with feelings, love and compassion.

While this movie is funny, charming and witty, it also tugs at the heartstrings and makes you just want to hug Doris and cheer her on!

It's not your typical rom-com. But I promise, it will make you smile. And wish only good things for Doris.

Favourite Lines:

*I'm Possible.

*You're a baller Doris.

*Sometimes people throw away really nice things.

*Fear is just another 4-letter word that begins with F.

*There are seven days of the week and someday isn't one of them.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.

Sabrina

Starring: Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear

Year: 1995

No, this is not the movie version of "Sabrina the Witch" as my son thought. Lol.

You know how there are certain movies that you watch a million times, can visual the scenes with your eyes closed and have pretty much every line memorized? And then there are those that you watch once, maybe twice and then forget about? Well, Sabrina is definitely in the watch once and then forget about category. It's an "oldbie" (oldie but newbie).

And I gotta say, I can see why it was a "watch maybe twice" movie. For me. While I love the storyline (a remake of the original starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden) and I adore Greg Kinnear (you will soon find a pattern here 😉), I am not a big fan of Harrison Ford. Ya sure, he was perfect for his Indiana Jones role and his Han Solo role in Star Wars. But personally for me, Harrison Ford isn't leading man material in a romantic role. And although I did remember how the movie ends, which boy Sabrina ends up with, I still found myself constantly wishing that I didn't remember after all. And sure, maybe at the beginning Linus (Ford) is supposed to seem like an unlikely match, but honestly, I didn't see much of a change to make me cheer for their happily-ever-after at the end.

It's an ugly duckling-turns-to-swan story. It's a Cinderella-like story. It's a shy innocent girl crushing on a bad boy/ladies' man story. It's charming. Romantic. Sweet. Funny. And definitely worth watching on a cozy Sunday afternoon. Julia Ormond is perfect - which would be a hard shoe to fill after Audrey Hepburn. And Greg Kinnear is his usual easy-breezy, loving, crooked smile, fun guy - that you can't help but love, even if he is up to no good! I just wish Harrison Ford did something more for me. I just wish Harrison Ford swept me off my feet like all princes should in a fairy-tale.

Favourite Lines:

*More isn't always better Linus. Sometimes it's just more.

*I love him. I just don't know what to do with him.

*It was a lie....but then it was a dream.

*You're the world's only living heart donor.

*Paris is always a good idea.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.

13 going on 30

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer

Year: 2004

This movie takes me back to 2004 - the year I met my new neighbour (she moved to Canada from England) - and we decided to go to see our first (of so so SO many) movie together. 13 going on 30. Prior to going to the movie we read the reviews. One of the reviews said that anyone who even thinks about seeing this movie has limited braincells and if you actually do see it, you will leave with even less braincells. Well we decided to take our chance, and honestly must have left with zero braincells, because we loved it and wanted to see it again!

While yes, the premise is unrealistic/fantasy-like, it is fun, refreshing, cute. On Jenna's (Garner) thirteenth birthday, she wishes to be thirty, flirty and thriving. And when she wakes up the next day she finds herself thirty, flirty and thriving. But she's just not sure how she actually got there. She decides the only way to find any answers of her past or how she became the woman she is now, is to find Matty (Ruffalo), her best friend from childhood. And so the story begins.

What amazes me is how the casting person/people found thirteen year old versions of Jennifer Garner and Judy Greer. You'd almost think they filmed those scenes when Jennifer and Judy were actually thirteen!

The soundtrack is so fun. Especially if you grew up listening to, or are a fan of, music from the 80's - The Go-Go's, Rick Springfield, Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, Pat Benatar to name a few.

Added tidbit: Whenever I watch a movie with Mark Ruffalo I smile. Only because I can imagine he is a kind, humble person. I was in Toronto one year attending the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). It was mid afternoon and I was shopping the streets of Yorkville. I was coming out of a store and noticed a huge crowd gathering outside of a hotel. I then noticed Greg Kinnear (yes yum! right??!!), Dennis Quaid and Lily Collins walking out of the hotel. No wonder the crowd! But then I also noticed a guy walking toward the crowd - dark curly hair, in a white t-shirt, faded jeans, a couple shopping bags in his hands - with the biggest smile on his face. It was Mark Ruffalo. The crowd was so busy watching Greg, Dennis and Lily climb into their waiting limos, they didn't even notice Mark nonchalantly making his way through the crowd - totally unnoticed. And at that moment, I fell in love. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled beyond thrilled to see Greg Kinnear in real life, but there was just something so endearing about Mark. So beautiful. So nice; just watching this A-List celebrity walking through the crowd as if he was a fan himself.

I don't care what that one particular critic said, this movie is lovely. It's about second chances - or not so much about second chances, but moreso about doing it right the first time. It's about not forgetting the little kid inside of us. It's about appreciating those special people in our lives and not ever thinking we are better than them. 13 going on 30 may not be TIFF worthy, but it sure is worth watching. And be ready to sing out loud and/or move that body. Dare you to be still during the "Thriller" scene. 😉

Lines:

*Arrivederci - Au revoir

*you just can't turn back time

*Eminem's on the phone, he wants an answer now. Umm. Plain. Peanut? Plain!

*I saw his thingy!

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.