My Best Friend's Wedding

Starring: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, Philip Bosco

Year: 1997

My girlfriend messaged me last week and asked that I blog about her favourite movie. So here it is my friend. 😃

How can anyone NOT like this movie? Seriously! It's cute. It's funny. It's a love story. Two love stories, in fact. And it's got Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett!! Okay fine, yes, Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz too. But Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett!!!😍ALL are brilliant, of course.

You sure get more bang for your buck with this one. Two love stories for the price of one. There's the love story between Julianne (Roberts) and Michael (Mulroney). And the love story between Michael and Kimmy (Diaz).

Julianne and Michael are best friends. They dated for a month years ago but that never worked out. Which suits Julianne just fine, because being best friends is far more easier and less complicated without the love stuff. Being a bit of a commitment phobe, the best friend role suits her just fine. That is, until she finds out that Michael is engaged to Kimmy (Diaz) and about to get married. At first, she gets all mama-bear and protective of him, but then she soon realizes that she actually loves him. That she actually wants the love stuff. That she wants to marry him. And she's got four days to break up the happy couple and make him choose her.

Favourite Scenes: #1 Restaurant scene in the Crab House, when George (Everett) sings "I Say a Little Prayer" and gets the whole restaurant going #2 Julianne's speech and her gift #3 When Julianne is sitting at the table at the wedding and George phones her #4 The fireworks when they drive off, after the wedding #5 When Julianne and Michael take a riverboat cruise through Chicago - and they go under the bridge and Julianne has the opportunity to tell Michael she loves him. Which scene only took one take btw, because the timing for coming out from under the bridge was perfect. And it really is!

Fun Facts: #1 The preview audience loved Rupert Everett so much, they added more scenes for him. #2 When George slaps Kimmy on the butt, it was actually a spontaneous act by Everett and with Diaz not expecting it and having such a natural reaction, they kept it in the scene. #3 Ages of the actors - which I always find fascinating - Julia 28, Dermot 32; Rupert 37; Cameron 23. So young! #4 Paul Giamatti plays a small role as Richard the bellman. He's 30. Looks 18.

My Best Friend's Wedding is a true classic. It's got everything. Humour, romance, emotion. It's got you trying to decide, right up to the end, which girl you actually want Michael to end up with. The story is great, cast strong, soundtrack fun. I can totally see why this movie is my friend's favourite. 😊

Favourite Lines:

*If you love someone, you say it. You say it right then out loud. Otherwise, the moment just passes you by.

*Hey! I'm Jules' fiancee, George! Just stopped by for a little preconjugal visit, if you catch my drift.

*The misery! The exquisite tragedy! The Susan Hayward of it all!

*Choose me. Marry me. Let me make you happy.

*He's got you on a pedestal and me in his arms.

*Maybe there won't be marriage, maybe there won't be sex, but by God there will be dancing.

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

Love, Rosie

Starring: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Christian Cooke, Suki Waterhouse, Jaime Winstone

Year: 2014

Years ago I came across an author that I soon learned to adore. Cecelia Ahern. And one of her books was Rosie Dunne. (She also wrote P.S. I Love You) When I found out that they were making a movie based on Rosie Dunne, I was thrilled. But, as so often happens, the movie was different than the book. Why do they do that?? I never understand that. But nevertheless, the movie did not disappoint. I loved it! And still do.

Rosie (Collins) and Alex (Claflin) have been best friends since they were five years old. Inseparable. Always sharing their night-time dreams. And even though Alex's dreams are always strange and weird, Rosie always understands them. Alex loves that about her. That is one of their strongest bonds.

On Rosie's eighteenth birthday, after a few too many tequila shots, Rosie and Alex kiss. Rosie doesn't remember it. Alex does. But never tells her. It's obvious they both have feelings for one another. Just not brave enough to tell the other. Time passes and their lives become more complicated. Facing unexpected challenges, over the years, like pregnancies, love affairs, marriage, divorce. They are soul mates - no question. Just, sadly, missing opportunities along the way.

Fun Facts: #1 While mostly filmed in Dublin, Ireland; the Harvard scene is actually University of Toronto & the airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport. Yay 🇨🇦! #2 Lily Collins is the daughter of musician Phil Collins. #3 Sam Claflin's dog's name is Rosie. Which is a fun fact in itself - I just can't confirm if he named her after the movie. I'd like to think he did. #4 Filming the pool scene, it was very cold outside. They could see the steam rising from the pool and knew the water would be warm. Once they finally shot the scene in the water, they didn't want to come out. #5 They didn't use any stage sets while filming this movie - all locations are real buildings and spaces.

Love, Rosie is a romantic comedy that is cute, charming, touching. A feel good movie. Yes, it has some emotional bits (won't deny that) but so many lovely, sweet and happy moments too.

The message I get from this movie is that we are all on the right path. The path we are supposed to be on. And no matter the twists and turns along the way, we will eventually find ourselves exactly where we are meant to be. We just need to trust, have faith and, as in Rosie and Alex's case, have a bit of patience too.

Favourite Lines:

*No matter where you are or what you're doing or who you're with, I will always, honestly, truly, completely, love you.

*It's so great having you as a friend. Whenever something goes wrong in my life, all I've got to do is look at yours and it puts everything into perspective.

*There's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. So, keep chasing those dreams.

*You deserve someone who loves you with every beat of his heart.

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

Catch and Release

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Timothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis

Year: 2006

This definitely is not a romantic comedy. More of a drama with romance and some funny bits. But I do like it.

The movie begins at Gray's (Garner) fiancee's funeral. Ya sorry. A bit of a downer to start but better than knowing him first and then he dies, right? After Grady's (fiancee) death, Gray finds herself alone again and trying to move forward - which she slowly does with the help of Grady's besties Dennis (Jaeger), Sam (Smith) and Fritz (Olyphant). She adores Dennis and Sam. But Fritz. He's a bit of a mystery to her. She can't seem to see what Grady ever really liked about him. And if losing a fiancee isn't enough of a struggle, Gray discovers that Grady had some secrets too. The biggest of them all.....he has a son. As Gray tries to process this shocking truth, and learns more about the man she thought she knew, she also slowly discovers that Fritz isn't the man she thought she knew either.

It's really a movie about three guys trying to be supportive and care for their lost friend's fiancee. Trying to navigate through their own grief and find comfort in each other. It's about hurt and pain and learning to let go. And even though you never really see Grady, his presence is felt. He seems to be a big part of the movie without even being there.

Favourite Scenes: #1 When Gray and Fritz kiss at the Peace Garden. Such a great kissing scene; even though she slaps him, not once, but "almost" three times right before it. I suppose it builds passion. And there is definitely passion! #2 When Gray announces to the table of friends, all the things Grady never knew about her.

Fun Facts: #1 This is the second movie with Jennifer Garner where one of her opposite character's name is Mattie. The first film is 13 Going On 30, where her BFF (Mark Ruffalo) is named Mattie. #2 Jennifer was pregnant while filming this movie #3 When Fritz is referring to his mother's maiden name, Gideon, it's actually Timothy Olyphant's mother's maiden name. #4 Filmed in Boulder, Colorado and Vancouver, British Columbia. I'm Canadian so kinda proud of that! 😊

Favourite Lines:

*What's your favourite colour? Gray.

*I'm a grown-ass woman. I don't need you to Hollywood me home.

*My girlfriends and I used to have a rule that we wouldn't sleep with a guy until we knew his mother's maiden name.

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