More recently-viewed movies:
The Hangover
I think this is the best Vegas movie I've ever seen. I watched it twice so Mr. Troutbend could see it, too. It's all the cliches about a batchelor party road trip to Las Vegas, with some new twists. But it was really funny, and I even forgive them bringing in the card counting Rainman sequence cliche because the rest of the movie made up for it. I highly recommend this anyone who likes Las Vegas and a mystery.


The Men Who Stare At Goats
This was an interesting movie because although some of it was set in the Middle East war, the filming locations were White Sands, New Mexico, somewhere in California, and somewhere in Costa Rica. I didn't realize New Mexico looked that much like Morocco or Iraq. It seems that people either love it or hate this movie. I guess I fall on the liked it side. I liked George Clooney in it, but not Kevin Spacey's performance, but he was playing a bad guy, so maybe that's why. If you were on an airplane where this movie was available for viewing, I think it would be fine to pass the time. Pay money to see it in the theater? I'm not as sure.

Imagine That
This is a light comedy suitable for children starring Eddie Murphy as a workaholic dad who gets to know his young daughter better. It was set in Denver, Colorado, which is rare, so I enjoyed seeing familiar landmarks. I always get a kick out of Eddie Murphy when he breaks out into his trademark funniness, of which there wasn't a lot in this movie. It's good airplane watching fare.

Away We Go
This is about a 30-year old (or so) couple living together who are having a baby and decide to settle down so they travel around the country visiting old friends to find someone to live near who can be extended family to them. The main actor is John Krasinski, who plays Jim Halpert on The Office. I don't think he does much acting because his role here looks and sounds like his role on television, but that's okay, because I like him. It's a sweet movie, and I enjoyed watching it. I wouldn't seek it out to watch again, but if it came up on TV I wouldn't change the channel. If you do see it some time, and remember what I'm telling you, keep your eye out for a little kid called Becker at the hotel in Arizona. What he says is priceless.

Extract
"Encouraged by his friend, Dean (Ben Affleck), factory owner Joel (Jason Bateman) considers escaping his problems -- an assembly-line accident, a potential lawsuit and a sexless marriage, for starters -- by taking up with the gorgeous new temp, Cindy (Mila Kunis). But does Cindy have something nefarious up her sleeve?" - Netflix

This is one of those comedy-farce movies with some interesting factory workers in small parts. The temp gal is this cute little hottie who goes around conning men into giving her money. She starts working at this guy's small factory that makes flavoring extracts for baking and the owner is hoping that General Mills will buy him out. I couldn't wait for people to get wise to the hottie, and was so glad it was sooner than later. Gene Simmons from Kiss is cast as an ambulance chasing lawyer, and he does a really good job, although it's not really acting in his case, it's just being himself.