Movies Log: The Lakehouse
This ended up being a long one, so behind the cut it goes!
movies log:
Instead of watching Devil Wears Prada, I ended up seeing The Lakehouse instead. I was with friends, so that's how it went down. I can't tell you how many times I tried not to laugh out loud while watching this. I have to explain the plot first.
The plot: Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are separated by two years of time, and they communicate across time by writing letters and putting it in a mailbox in front of a lakehouse. I mean literally. Keanu is in the year 2004, he sticks his letter in the mailbox, and they cut to 2006 where Sandra opens the same mailbox and gets it, and they communicate that way back and forth. It's the only supernatural element in the movie.
It's a neat concept, I liked it. But the movie was pretty boring. It was slow, and I kept trying not to laugh. Maybe because the whole time I was thinking that Sandra and Keanu really don't know each other, so it's funny to see them angst over one another. They're writing these letters - they're charming and witty - but they're not any more deeper than chitchatting with a stranger or acquaintance. And suddenly they're falling in love with each other over it? It's more funny/ridiculous than it is romantic.
I don't know. It's harder to give an objective view on romance movies, because love is personal and people don't have the same idea of what romance is. It's easy to do excitement or mystery or action, but trying to come up with a story and saying this is romantic - well, that person really has their work cut out for them, because they're starting to nuzzle into the audience's baggage.
So, I didn't think The Lakehouse was romantic. I can't think of a lot of romance movies I like off the top of my head...I did like Down With Love and Hitch. Both of those had a lot of cat and mouse friction between the sexes; and I don't mean the "I hate you! No, I hate you!" middle school flirting, but a serious mistrust or caution between the leads, where they have to battle with each other to a conclusion. To put a song to it, it would be like The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go. That's probably what my personal tastes in rom flicks are.
In the end, we couldn't help MST3K-ing the movie as quietly as we could. Angela ending up singing "Let's Do the Time Warp Again" with modified Lakehouse lyrics...I can't remember exactly what she said but it was hilarious.
Hm, I don't usually end my reviews with a question, but I'd like to know what you guys consider a good romantic movie - that is, if all your cynicism already hasn't killed off the appreciation for it. Heh, just kidding. But really, I'm interested in hearing it.
movies log:
Instead of watching Devil Wears Prada, I ended up seeing The Lakehouse instead. I was with friends, so that's how it went down. I can't tell you how many times I tried not to laugh out loud while watching this. I have to explain the plot first.
The plot: Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are separated by two years of time, and they communicate across time by writing letters and putting it in a mailbox in front of a lakehouse. I mean literally. Keanu is in the year 2004, he sticks his letter in the mailbox, and they cut to 2006 where Sandra opens the same mailbox and gets it, and they communicate that way back and forth. It's the only supernatural element in the movie.
It's a neat concept, I liked it. But the movie was pretty boring. It was slow, and I kept trying not to laugh. Maybe because the whole time I was thinking that Sandra and Keanu really don't know each other, so it's funny to see them angst over one another. They're writing these letters - they're charming and witty - but they're not any more deeper than chitchatting with a stranger or acquaintance. And suddenly they're falling in love with each other over it? It's more funny/ridiculous than it is romantic.
I don't know. It's harder to give an objective view on romance movies, because love is personal and people don't have the same idea of what romance is. It's easy to do excitement or mystery or action, but trying to come up with a story and saying this is romantic - well, that person really has their work cut out for them, because they're starting to nuzzle into the audience's baggage.
So, I didn't think The Lakehouse was romantic. I can't think of a lot of romance movies I like off the top of my head...I did like Down With Love and Hitch. Both of those had a lot of cat and mouse friction between the sexes; and I don't mean the "I hate you! No, I hate you!" middle school flirting, but a serious mistrust or caution between the leads, where they have to battle with each other to a conclusion. To put a song to it, it would be like The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go. That's probably what my personal tastes in rom flicks are.
In the end, we couldn't help MST3K-ing the movie as quietly as we could. Angela ending up singing "Let's Do the Time Warp Again" with modified Lakehouse lyrics...I can't remember exactly what she said but it was hilarious.
Hm, I don't usually end my reviews with a question, but I'd like to know what you guys consider a good romantic movie - that is, if all your cynicism already hasn't killed off the appreciation for it. Heh, just kidding. But really, I'm interested in hearing it.