Fun, jolly movie with poignant moments
923562
Fun, jolly movie with poignant moments!  Not what I expected (an explanation of how the lunchbox system works) but interesting...
2867125
Wonderful little movie that touches the heart. The final scene sums up the entire film...and that beautiful poem overlaying it - Wow!
More complex but not overplayed is the fact that Depardieu's character struggled with self esteem issues stemming from the learning difficulties he had as a child; completely avoidable if the people in his life (the bullying teacher) and his mother would have shown an ounce of understanding and patience. In fact he was significantly intelligent and good with words, which he expressed beautifully in one scene after making love w/his very sweet girlfriend. But he himself is flustered when certain processes of learning are put in front of him. (I could really relate to this!)  You get why his muh younger and very pretty girlfriend is in love with him and you get why he falters as his buddies at the local tavern poke fun at his expense. When he begins taking an interest in reading, it's through hearing Margueritte as they share a park bench and go through various literature over time. He still lives at home (on the property in a trailer out back) with his beastly Mom, whose health is now failing but flash backs of their lives and his childhood provide a glimpse into their stormy relationship, and this: for a brief moment after a man she was dating slaps her son, she went after him with a pitchfork. Momentarily, even if Depardieu (the child) didn't understand it, the viewer gets to see it and as she is not a lovable character, feel just a little bit more for her than before. See the movie if you like films that aren't too heavy but with the right amount of substance and heart and of course if you enjoy foreign films like I do (assuming you don't speak French) this one is very good.
2836141
Delightful movie with heart tugging moments that not only pulled at my daughter's heart but mine as well.
199262
Great  movie  Can get a little graphic.  However, lighthearted
2819613
"Anita and Me" was a fun yet poignant movie which explores the themes of coming-of-age and integration. Set in the 70s, the story centers on 12-year-old Meena Kumar (played brilliantly by Chandeep Uppal), a Punjabi girl who lives in a small town somewhere in the Midlands, England in the 70s. Her parents are Indian migrants who have worked hard to achieve a reasonable standard of life, yet find it a challenge to integrate themselves into English society, preferring the company of those who share their culture. Meena on the other hand, yearns to be blonde, eat Western food, and become a published writer for Jackie magazine.

When Meena meets her new neighbor Anita (Anna Brewster), a slim, blonde teenage girl, Meena is determined to gain her confidence and become her friend, even if Anita's friendship might cause Meena to do things against her better judgement. Anita is the polar opposite of Meena - she comes from a broken family as opposed to Meena's stable, loving family; Anita is not studious nor highly literate; and, Anita sees sex as a means to an end and as a way to cope with her own bleak life. I found it hard to accept Meena's infatuation with Anita because Anita is not a likable person - she is spiteful and can be incredibly mean. Perhaps it is Anita's carefree, wanton approach to life and her freedom to do as she wishes, something which is denied Meena by her overprotective parents. But even here I found some inconsistencies. As protective as Meena's parents are, they allow her to go about on her own at all times of the day and night, something which is not satisfactorily explained in the movie. The scenes with the Indian relatives and friends is fun to watch, but these characters appear stereotypical without much character development.

In spite of these flaws, I gave the movie four stars because the lead actress did an excellent job portraying the adolescent angst of a young immigrant trying to fit into a society which for the time was incredibly racist. The scenes where Meena is hoping to catch the eye of a Caucasian boy and instead loses out to an obese Caucasian girl are painful to watch, yet shows with some degree of realism, how things were back then. This is a bittersweet coming-of-age drama which might appeal to fans of the genre.
4577325
A great variation on It's a Wonderful Life--it's not as good but it's a fun Christmas movie that makes you count your blessings.
2953283
I really liked this movie, even though I was bawling for half of it.  The characters were all memorable, their interactions all felt rich and purposeful, and the ending, though kind of predictable, was satisfying and actually kind of funny, as it all hinged on a cat coming back into the house.
2177306
Although Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" deserves its place among the pantheon of Christmas movies, this comparative confection from 1954 still deserves special mention. Granted the plot, what there is of one, is rather thin, it is splashy good fun directed by the dependably versatile Michael Curtiz with several Irving Berlin standards and four superb variety performers in their prime. As much as Capra's film is an annual tradition, it is really this film that I look forward to the most of all the holiday classics.

The storyline focuses on two former soldiers, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, both song-and-dance men who become best friends when Davis saves Wallace from a falling building during WWII. After years of post-war success on Broadway and the nightclub circuit, they become reconnected with their gruff but lovable former army commander, General Waverly. The general now owns a Vermont ski lodge, but he is treading water financially since there is no snow as Christmas approaches. As it turns out, the Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy, are playing the lodge during the holidays, and of course, romantic entanglements ensue all the way through the big finale when all four star in a show that they hope will save the general's lodge.

All of this seems rather incidental to the musical numbers showcased in the then-revolutionary widescreen process called VistaVision. The most relaxed of actors during this era, Bing Crosby plays Wallace with his natural lan, and he croons the classic title tune early on and leads the group sing of the same song at the end. In contrast, Danny Kaye plays Davis with his mercurial style intact, though compared to his other films of the period, he is relatively subdued here. With her smoky, silken vocal skills on display, Rosemary Clooney plays Betty, Wallace's love interest, with aplomb and complements Crosby easily on "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)". She also delivers a nice torchy Berlin tune with "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me" despite some silly man-choreography.

I have to say the most impressive performer of the quartet is Vera-Ellen, a phenomenal dancer who was the equal of Astaire and Kelly at her peak. She makes even Kaye look good in their musical duets - "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" and the amusing Martha Graham riff, "Choreography". However, her best numbers are with dancer John Brascia - the elaborate "Mandy" number where her pliable, slender frame seems to be everywhere on the screen, and the brief rehearsal number, "Abraham", where she and Brascia snap, pop, clap, kick and swing with unerring military precision. It's worth noting that her singing is dubbed by vocalist Trudy Stevens, which is pointed out by Clooney on the less-than-informative audio commentary track in the DVD package. Much better is the 16-minute retrospective interview with Clooney where her natural sense of humor emerges.

There are other numbers worth mentioning in the movie - the duet, "Sisters", done first straight by the women and later by the men as a comedy routine in half-drag (Kaye steals this bit handily with his over-the-top clowning); the foursome on the vintage Berlin "Snow" and "Gee, I Wish I was Back in the Army"; and of course, the title tune at the end. Way over on the sidelines, Dean Jagger lends his warm dignity to the role of the retired general, and Mary Wickes plays Emma the housekeeper in her typically sarcastic manner. Special mention needs to be given to Loyal Griggs's vibrant Technicolor cinematography, which makes the entire movie look appropriately like a bright red candy box, and the print transfer in the DVD almost fully captures the original visual quality. This is undemanding entertainment and a dependable holiday classic that feels like a favorite well-worn blanket.
2315610
Unfortunately, this movie never played at the theater in my home town, but fortunately, I managed to buy it on DVD.  I first heard of this movie while perusing Roger Ebert's reviews, and his review interested me in seeing it, but it didn't play here, and I forgot about it agin until I luckily ran across the title on Amazons new and future releases, and recognized the title.
The movie is both a very funny comedy, and a sweet budding romance story, smoothly blended together.  My sister and I watched it together one afternoon, and then watched it again the following day, enjoying it as much both times, and I plan on rewatching it many more times.  The first time we watched it, my sister was playing around on the computer when I first put the movie in, but by the time the first few minutes had played, the computer was forgotten and she was as absorbed as I was.
The beginning scenes are splendid, where we first begin to get an inkling of Megan's(the main character) true interest, which isn't her boyfriend.  Then, when her intervention is staged, and her introduction into the group at True Directions began, we could hardly stop laughing.  Stereotypes abound in the movie, but they never take theirselves too seriously, and add to the general feel of the movie.
Still, if the romance hadn't developed as smoothly as it did, the comedy would all be for naught.  Fortunately, the two main characters play well off each other, and keep the movie alive.  If the two actresses hadn't been able to generate some onscreen chemistry, and actually have been able to make it seem as if it were possible for the two of them to fall in love, the movie wouldn't have succeeded.  They did manage to look as if they were falling in love, and enjoying themselves, so for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One last thing, something my sister said that kind of tied up the whole experience for me.  The first time that Megan and Graham started kissing, she made this comment, "You know, even though the thought of two girls kissing seems king of gross, the two of them make a really nice looking couple."  I have to agree with her, they did at that.
I hope you enjoy the movie as much as we did.
1277008
An enjoyable, wholesome movie that offers several good reminders of how to treat people, especially as Christians.
2559093
Ah, Frank Capra! You gotta love the guy! Remember "It's a Wonderful Life," which you probably saw on TV every year during Christmas? Well, here's another, at least as good. And it also stars Jimmie Stewart, along with Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold and Spring Byington. It's quite a romp.

Jimmie Stewart is the capitalist's son, and set to become the President of a new, bigger than ever monopoly his father is putting together. The only hold-out in his buying up an entire neighborhood to tear it down for a factory is the kooky Sycamore family. Now, the Sycamores have exactly what I've always wanted: a sort of communal home where everyone does what they like to do, and manages to make enough money doing it to get by. Sort of a precursor to the Hippie communes of my youth. Or what we wanted to be, anyway.

The complication is that Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur) and the boss's son are in love. Alice is his secretary, whom his snooty mother discovers him kissing when she visits his office unexpectedly. Alice takes him home to meet her family, who are basically certifiably crazy by most standards. In fact, she's the only one who seems sane at first, although gradually you may come to realize that only the people in that house are sane, and the rest of the world is crazy.

I won't spoil it for you, because you will laugh yourself silly at all the crazy things that happen on the way to humanizing Jimmy Stewart's father, and even give hope to make a human out of his mother (the Russian ballet teacher may be able to loosen her up, it seems).

You gotta watch this in the context of 1938, of course. Both the economic times and the sociological ones, including the servant couple played by Rochester (remember Rochester on the Jack Benny Show?) and a pretty black lady who is cook and general housekeeper and who may or may not be his wife. But it has a similar theme of friendship, and the scene you remember from "It's a Wonderful Life" where all those friends take up a collection to help Jimmie Stewart are played out here, as well. Except it's Grandpa Sycamore on the receiving end this time, when he is fined $100 for making fireworks without a license.

I'll give it five stars, in part because I enjoyed it so much, and in part because I want to make the point that it is even better than the other Stewart/Capra movie reviewed earlier.
4341522
This little gem of a movie never struck it big. It has gentle humour, with no overt vulgarity, but with just the right touch of fun, leaving you with a warm feeling all over. Victor Banerjee as Ram Das & Warren Mitchell as I Q Patel are superb, particularly the latter. The music is amazingly perfect, with little theme music for each character. The movie captures a flavour of Indian-UK mixture, in a pleasing way, without any supercilious or racial overtones. All in all, a rare gem. I wish there could have been a sequel.
1912394
Love's Labour's Lost is one of the rare Shakespearean films in which the viewer does not have to be a scholar to enjoy; it belongs in that category of movies which, like wine coolers, are sweet and a little intoxicating but not much else. The inclusion of details from old Hollywood musicals (including the clever placement of Fred Astaire's necktie-as-a-belt statement in the costuming) make it interesting to film buffs, and the giddy song and dance numbers make it pure cinematic confection. For once, Shakespeare's comedy is presented in a way that is actually hilarious.
The sugar rush can become overwhelming, however, especially at the end of the film, when events turn suddenly tragic and the feel-good tone receives rather desperate attempts to be maintained. Still, this version of Shakespeare is refreshing, especially after so many tragedies have already received film treatment. If anything, Love's Labour's Lost proves that interracial romance can exist in a movie without garning special attention, which is probably the most refreshing idea of all.
3597425
This movie is very sweet and good natured.  A lovely tale of several Aging British residents who have come to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India to retire.  The hotel they arrive at is much less than "exotic" or fabulous as it's described in the literature, but the adventures are rich and exotic in themselves.  The character of Sonny, played by Dev Patel is a wonderful young man, filled with hopes and ideals to truly create a magnificent place for the Seniors to reside.  They all start out befuddled and uncertain as to their decision to move half way around the world to this place in hot, crowded India.  But, together and individually they find out more about themselves as they explore this exotic, foreign land.  Many famous British actors are on display here including Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson, and not least Dame Judy Dench.  I found it sweet, funny and poignant.  I highly recommend it.
1416432
This is a warm, funny and sometimes sad and sometimes Dramatic movie, that you can watch over and over and not get tired of watching it.
4900929
One of my favorite films from the 30's (but I LOVE the 30's so, you know), `The Champ' is one of those teary-eyed father/son films that really knows how to tug at those heartstrings.  With sentiment that seems natural as apposed to manipulated (although there is a fair share of manipulation if you really look at it), `The Champ' is an unforgettable film that is as funny as it is touching.

You have to love that solid mix of humor and heart.

The film takes a look at a down and out, washed up boxer who goes by the title `The Champ' who is struggling to take care of his young son Dink.  They don't have much, and The Champ has quite a few vices (like alcohol for starters), but there is a genuine admiration found in Dink's eyes, and a sincere warmth of father toward son.  When Dink's mother comes back into the picture, complete with new husband, daughter and wealth, The Champ feels pressured to get back in the ring in order to provide his son with the life he deserves.

Insert waterworks.

The story is one that has been built off of for years now.  It is a model for all dramatic sports movies made today (and of yesteryear) for it is a marvelous example of sports related excitement and poignant family drama.  You can see this films influence in many related dramas today, recently in films like `Cinderella Man'.

The performances are really very well done across the board.  Some have found Irene Rich to be a little `all over the place' with her theatrical performance, but part of me found her very appropriate for the character (finding her long lost son so-to-speak).  Wallace Beery won the Oscar (shared with Frederick March) for his beautifully sincere portrayal of The Champ.  It was a truly deserved award, one that I can completely rally behind.  He expresses a somberness that really reaches to the heart of the film.  The star for me though is young Jackie Cooper.  Cooper is just brilliant here, delivering one of my favorite child performances of all time and quite frankly should have won the Oscar.  He was phenomenal here, evoking such natural emotions from us with his completely realized and genuine performance.  You believed every word and action that came from this kid.

And he wasn't even nominated!

In the end I have nothing but praise for this wonderful film.  It is a moving cinematic experience that the entire family can enjoy.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer...and yes, you will cry some more.  It is a full circle of emotional reactions that leave the audience feeling completely rewarded.
4583497
I really enjoyed this movie.
Probably, as a movie, only three stars (not bad, but not spectacular).
Four stars for enjoyment factor (Five stars for Anglophiles - which I am).
Five stars for the performances which are very good.
So... four star average.
The first two thirds is fluffy fun but the last third is where the heart of the movie really takes hold. I actually have seen this movie twice. It is not perfect movie making, but great fun, and touches on some interesting (albeit not original) ideas. It's not revolutionary, but that is fine. I like sentimental.