I saw This Is 40 this morning and...I found it kind of scattered and messy and I spent too much time wanting to shake the shit out of the leads to really like it, but some of the moments between the main couple were really small and warm and lovely, and the performances were generally solid, and a couple seriously hard laughs in there.

I missed some of the trailers--it's possible that Melissa McCarthy was in even more movies, but JESUS FUCK. Her I'm-unhinged-spouting-threats lady continues to crack my shit up, and she has me for at least one of her upcoming flicks. Which is to say--there are no scenes after the credits, but don't leave right away, because there is a MM outtake or two during them.

Basically, this is the first Apatow movie since The 40 Year Old Virgin that I've seen, and it's clear that casting is a big deal with his movies for me, because Rudd makes a fair amount better, and I'm a Leslie Mann fan too. I didn't like it as much as 40YOV, but I would not change the channel off it on cable if I stumbled on it again.

The two jokes that had me laughing really really hard: What's the difference between a gay beard and a straight beard? The smell. (not even vaguely mature, but with the context, and delivery, and...yeah), and the question in an interview between a Jewish publication and the musician "What makes this album different from all other ablums?" I know--it's obvious and cheap. And apparently the rest of the theatre thought it cheap. I kinda brayed. But I was alone.

First of all, before Les Mis, I got a commercial for a Mark Burnett-produced series of THE BIBLE. Apparently, just the whole Bible. Because, why not?

Les Mis: I liked it a lot. Cried a lot. But it also makes me miss the musical, because I felt like the music was very much subordinated to the movie part of it. Which it should be, but now I need to pick a recording of the show and listen to it to get my music fix.

I thought it was really nice that Colm what's his name, original Valjean, was in it, especially when they brought him back at the end. Man, that ending just kills me, even more than the deaths at the barricade.

People-wise, I thought almost everyone was quite good. Russell Crowe was easily the weakest link. Amanda Seyfried's voice was kind of thin, with a really fast vibrato, but kudos to her for hitting those freaking high notes. And I thought Hugh Jackman did overall a great job in a really vocally difficult role. He had no real chance on "Bring Him Home", though, because that's one of those iconic performances that will be forever identified with another actor. They should either have taken it down a few keys or have him sing it in falsetto, because the belting didn't work.

because the

Indeed not. I concur with the rest of your evaluation, Dana. I was pleasantly surprised by Amanda Seyfreid, although yeah, the vibrato was a surprise.

I saw Zero Dark Thirty this morning. It was really good, and I had no idea there were so many familiar faces in it! It didn't feel as long as it was; it was engaging and compelling for every minute, which I always appreciate. I like that the story was filtered through one woman's monomaniacal quest to find bin Laden. It was definitely hard to watch at times, but it doesn't glorify anything that happened.

I like Zero Dark Thirty too. And I actually yelled "BARROWMAN!" when he appeared on the screen. I think he only had like 2 lines though. But still! I don't get many chances to yell Barrowman!

I think my one big complaint with Les Miz was the attention to detail regarding teeth.

I dunno if it was because I was in the first row being regaled in full force with the plethora of varying degrees of rot in the actors mouths, but at times I had a hard time trying to find a place to fix my eyes.

I think it was the beginning of Stars that I really started to enjoy Rusty as Javert (even if the end sent me to clutching my ears).

Did anyone else in the theatre yell Barrowman?

I'm trying to compile a list of mainstream female buddy cop movies. Primarily non-comedic, but I've extended it to comedy to include The Heat (there was a time where I would have hoped Bullock would have played that role straight, but McCarthy's not going to, and I'm nowhere near tired of her schitck, so..bring it on) because my list is really really short.

We had the neighbors over tonight to watch Les Miz (DVD screener FTW) and I realized that since I first fell in love with this musical around age 11, I both love it unreservedly and can't help but mock it mercilessly for its earnestness. Every viewing is like an MST3K love letter to the show.

(For example, the scene where the army is approaching the barricade and the captain shouts "Who's there?" and Enjolras yells back "French Revolution!" I have twice now - on DVD in my living room, not in a theater - responded "French Revolution who?" out loud without really meaning to. And then I write Enjolras + Jess 4EVAH in my head and draw little hearts around it.)

Jessica, you made me laugh so hard I coughed.

Did anyone else in the theatre yell Barrowman?

Hah! I watched it at home with 4 other people. (Screener FTW) They just looked at me oddly.

Thankfully I also got to watch Les Miz at home too because I was a sobbing mess.