Tag Archives: comedy

Bullies in the Headlights – Matthew Buckley

“Bullies in the Headlights” is the sequel to Matthew Buckley’s first LDS comedy novel, “Chickens in the Headlights.” “Bullies” doesn’t have much to do with chickens, although they are mentioned briefly at the beginning of the book. Rather, this time around we’re following the Buckley boys as they team up against the Hagbarts, a family of noisy, obnoxious, mean kids who reminded me somewhat of the Herdsmans from “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Matthew is, of course, the main character. He wakes up with dread on his first day of school, recalling how, at the end of the school year, … Continue reading →

Blast from the Past (1999)

I really enjoyed the movie “Blast from the Past.” Brendan Fraser plays Adam, a young man whose parents are a little on the odd side. The year is 1962 and they’ve been watching the news reports on the Cuban Missile Crisis on television. They’ve got a bomb shelter all ready to go, and when an airplane crashes in their yard, they think they’re being bombed and head for cover. They close an airlock on the shelter, believing that they have been irradiated, and they plan to stay underground until all the nuclear rays have dissipated. Adam’s mother (Sissy Spacek) was … Continue reading →

Hairspray (2007)

I didn’t have the faintest idea what to expect going into “Hairspray.” I knew it was a comedy and I had heard rumors that John Travolta was in it and wore a dress, but I wasn’t expecting what I got. He wasn’t just in a dress – he was in a dress, fat suit, wig, and full makeup, portraying Edna Turnblad, mother of the main character. Her name is Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonksi) and she’s a little on the portly side. That doesn’t keep her from bustin’ a move at every chance – she loves to dance and is pretty … Continue reading →

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

I watched “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” on the recommendation of a friend, and I really enjoyed it. The only way I could get my hands on it was to buy a used copy at Blockbuster, and I’m glad I forked over the money. It’s a keeper. Jonathan Taylor Thomas plays Jake Wilkinson, a college freshman who hasn’t spent Christmas at home since his mom died. The memories are just too painful for him, especially when his dad remarried not even a year after his mother’s passing. He’s become cynical and manipulative, not wanting to think about anyone but himself. … Continue reading →

Straight Talk (1992)

In the comedy “Straight Talk,” Dolly Parton stars as Shirlee Kenyon, a woman who’s seen some hard times and learned her lessons from them. When her live-in boyfriend announces that he really doesn’t have any intentions of getting married, she realizes that she can do a lot better. Quitting her job as a dance instructor, she packs up and comes to Chicago, where she hits the pavement. But finding a job in the big city isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Pausing to collect her thoughts on a bridge one day, she digs in her purse and … Continue reading →

Sister Act II: Back in the Habit (2003)

When Deloris van Cartier left the convent to return to her life in Las Vegas at the end of “Sister Act,” she thought her days in black and white were over. But in “Sister Act II,” she discovers she was wrong. The nuns from St. Catherine’s have taken teaching positions at St. Francis, a crumbling school in a despairing community. The sisters badly want to help these teenagers find their places in life and to have a chance at success, but all of the kids are world-weary and can’t see a way to accomplish their dreams. They’re running the nuns … Continue reading →

The Awful Truth (1937)

The Oscar-winning film “The Awful Truth,” starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, is a remarkable film in many ways. First, much of it was unscripted. The director was an eccentric sort of personality who believed in doing things spur of the moment, so much of what you see on the screen was ad-libbed by Grant and Dunne, who do a superb job. Second, while this was not Grant’s first film, it was the one in which he hits upon that “Cary Grant” persona we are so familiar with today. It’s also downright hysterical. Cary Grant plays Jerry Warriner, a bit … Continue reading →

The Prince and Me (2004)

Julia Stiles stars in “The Prince and Me” as Paige, a pre-med student at the University of Wisconsin. She’s concentrating diligently on her studies and doesn’t have time for a relationship. Meanwhile, Prince Edvard of Denmark (Luke Mably) is setting the castle on its ear. He’s a wild child, not ready to slow down and embrace the role that is his. He loves fast cars, fast women, and combining the two is his idea of a good time. While watching TV one day, Edvard, also known as Eddie, sees a T-shirt contest being held at the University of Wisconsin. Mistakenly … Continue reading →

Sister Act (1992)

Whoopi Goldberg stars in “Sister Act,” a hysterical movie about showgirls, nuns, and what happens when they meet up. Dolores van Cartier (Goldberg) has been singing in a nightclub owned by her boyfriend, who is a gangster, unbeknownst to her. When she goes back to his office after her performance one night, she witnesses a mob hit and runs for her life. She testifies to the police, but her boyfriend is looking for her and she has to go into hiding to save her life. Lt. Souther, the officer in charge of her case, arranges for her to stay in … Continue reading →

The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has fully accepted his role as Santa Claus and loves every minute of it. He works well with the elves, he has a good command of the magic that has been given him, and he looks forward to Christmas every year. His son Charlie still comes to the North Pole and helps him out, but this year, Charlie’s having some issues and has ended up on the naughty list. To make matters worse, there’s a slight problem. There’s a Mrs. clause in the Santa contract. Scott has to get married by midnight on Christmas Eve or … Continue reading →