What Happens in Vegas (2008)

Definitely competing for the worst movie of the year, What Happens in Vegas fails to meet my lowest of expectations. I never thought this movie would be good. I expected some cheap laughs. Maybe a reliving of my youth, as That 70’s show is one of my all-time favs. From the trailer, that promised a romantic comedy, it looked like Ashton Kutcher was reviving his role as Michael Kelso from That 70’s show; like Kelso grew up and was living with Carmon Diaz. In fact, there were about three Kelso moments but that was it. Overall the movie seemed to be a testament of why people hate America.

It seemed to be a mix of self absorbed, stupid people with lots of money, who are psychotically aggressive. The plot is pretty true to the trailer. Two people down on their luck go to Vegas to feel better about themselves. After a night of heavy drinking they get married. The next day the hit a jackpot which motivates them to stay married. They are ordered to stay married for six month in order to cash in. Then somehow they fall in love.

I don’t know what to say, it was really bad. Almost everything about it didn’t work. Cameron Diaz working on the floor of a stock exchange that was as believable as the reactions she was getting to the stupid way she spoke. Queen Latifah as Marriage therapist, come on, don’t these roles have to be at least somewhat believable. I did some how buy Ashton Kutcher doing nothing and hanging around the house all day.

I think what was most insulting was the idea that when one acts as a stupid over-the-hill clubber the higher one gets in life. I am not sure how old the Diaz character was suppose to be, but she looked like she was in her earlier forties. Diaz has not taken very good care of herself as she is only 36. Kutcher , 30 looks about 24 years old, so maybe they were going for the Kutcher really life senario of being married to a much older woman. It was just a little bizarre.

The movie is barely watchable. Rob Corddry is comic relief in a movie that should be a comedy, but I have been soap opera’s with better story lines. Coddry is good as always.

The movie seems to be shot mostly in the DUMBO area of Brooklyn, which my favorite area in that borough, so that was cool. I always find it funny to see people doing things in movies which you could never do in real life. There is a scene in the movie Kutcher and Corddry are hitting golf balls in a park in DUMBO. You so can’t do that.

Anyway this movie is so bad.

27 Dresses (2008)

This is really a delightful movie. Yeah, it’s chick-flick, but a really good one. 27 Dresses could have been a summer release. I am really not sure why it isn’t.

What I really like about this movie is how it is two stories, kind of like T.V. in that way, except that it is perfectly interwoven together. The first story is the underdog story. Our heroine Jane (even the name is plain), played by Katherine Heigl, is the girl who does everything for everyone else; basically she is taken advantage of by everyone in her life. She has become a wedding planner/fixer for her friends at no charge. She loves Weddings and is a big sap. (Watching this I think, I am starting to understand Women’s obsession with weddings. I think it is big dress up party with lots of planning, where the woman can be Princess for the day. If you have any thoughts on the matter, please leave a comment) While at one of her crazy New York Weddings she meets this guy, who is really annoying to her. This is the second story. There is a little Jane Austen thrown in here. So, as you guess it, he is annoying till she loves him.

James Marsden, Kevin, the guy, does a really good at playing a sensitive emotional guy who hides it over an abrasive veneer. Heigl makes her part believable giving a nebbish countenance throughout the movie. You can overlook how soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful she is and believe that she is this Cinderella type character. By the way, James Marden plays the Prince in Enchanted. The supporting cast is rounded out by Judy Greer; who looks really old; who plays Jane’s bitchy friend, and Edward Burns who plays Jane’s boss who Jane is also in love with.

The drama comes in when Jane younger sister comes in and goes after George (Burns). In the chick-flick storyline, there is “the bitch,” which is sadly Jane’s sister. The one, Jane has to stop the Wedding because of, but should Jane be with George or Kevin?

The movie works because it has a smart script and smart cast. It is another movie set New York City. Again, much of the same locations are used in this movie as they are in Enchanted, Cloverfield, and Definitely, maybe.


I think if you love Weddings, you will love this movie. It is always about Weddings and it leaves out the stressful parts. There are plenty of good puns and watch out for British humor. The title 27 Dresses are the 27 bridesmaid dress that Jane has, and are plenty of jokes about that.

I really liked this movie. I really didn’t expect to, but I did. I highly recommend it, especially if you are a girly girl : ) It’s really cute!