"Life's a Breeze"

 2013 * R * 1h 23m   If you're looking for a fun, laugh-out-loud comedy as only the Irish can do it, check this one out. It's a madcap adventure with a dysfunctional family. It's a story that's been done before, but I still got a kick out of it. And I loved Fionnulla Flanagan. What an excellent performance. 

One day Nan's(Flanagan) family decide to do something nice for her. They hustle her out of the house to spend the day with her granddaughter Emma (Kelly Thornton). While they're out the whole family cleans out her cluttered house and redecorate it while they're at it. When she comes home she's totally shocked. And the whole family is shocked when she reveals that the old mattress they dumped had her entire life's savings in it. To the tune of close to a million Euros!

Thus the chase begins to find the fabled mattress. At first they search all the landfills and dumps around Dublin. Then they put up a huge cash reward to find it and the entire city goes mad. It's great fun and there are a couple of plot twists you'll enjoy. There's a brilliant practical joke involving the lottery that's absolutely hilarious! I especially liked the way Nan and her granddaughter bonded. Overall, it's just a great story, well told. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Streaming for free with your library card on Hoopla.com. And to rent on Prime Video.

"Love in the Villa"

 2022 * TV-14 * 1h 54m   I watch a lot of pretty heavy-duty movies. So every once in a while I need something light and funny to view. And there's nothing like a good old-fashioned, rom-com for therapy. I put this one in my Netflix queue a while back, and I finally got around to watching it. What a pleasant surprise! Sure it was fairly predictable--show me a rom-com that isn't--but that's what made it so enjoyable. 

Julie (Kat Graham) has dreamed of visiting Verona, Italy since she was a little girl. She's a hopeless romantic and yearns to visit the home of "Romeo & Juliette." Just as she's about to embark on her trip with her boyfriend/fiancé Brandon (Raymond Ablack), he drops the bomb and says maybe they need some time apart. So she decides to make the trip by herself. When she arrives at her apartment, she discovers it's been accidentally double booked. And the "gentleman" who's already there Charlie (Tom Hopper), isn't willing to share the place. Thus begins a minor feud which snowballs into an all-out war between the couple. It's this battle that makes for some very funny moments. 

And it'll come as no surprise that the couple eventually make up. Even though their personalities clash, they have quite a bit to offer each other. I really enjoyed the movie for what it is--a simple, pleasant tale where everything works out in the end. The views of the city are worth the price of admission alone. And I thought the two leads really did have some chemistry together. I hadn't heard of either one of them, and I look forward to seeing what they each do next. 

If you're looking for the perfect date night movie, "Love in the Villa" will certainly fit the bill!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

"Come As You Are"

 2019 * Not Rated * 1h 45m  This is a remake of the Belgian film "Hasta La Vista" and if the original is as good or better than this, I'll definitely have to add it to my queue. I thought it was a touching, well-made movie about a topic that's largely overlooked by filmmakers--people with disabilities. It was one of the recommended movies on Kanopy, in celebration of Disability Month. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

A trio of guys with disabilities, Scotty, Matt, and Mo (Grant Rosenmeyer, Hadyen Szeto, and Ravi Patel) decide they need a "field trip." Scotty has done some online research and discovered there's a brothel in Montreal that caters to people with special needs. So he convinces his buddies in the facility where they live, to pool their money together, hire a van and driver, and head to the Great White North to lose their virginities. It's a road trip you won't soon forget. 

All three actors did a great job. As did their driver, Sam (Gabourey Sidibe), who's a real character. The trio sneak off in the middle of the night and head out. When their families discover they've gone missing, they alert the police who interrupt their trip. It's the confrontation that's the turning point in the movie. But let's just say the resolution is a happy one for all parties. 

If you're looking for something a bit different to watch, you definitely need to see "Come As You Are." 

4 out of 5 stars

Tons of viewing options. Streaming for free on Kanopy and Hoopla (with your library card) and Tubi. Plus Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, Prime Video, and The Roku Channel. 

"Seven Psychopaths"

 2012 * R * 1h 50m  Before we get going, I should warn you about this film. It's full of over-the-top violence, and just about the most swearing you could jam into a movie. So if either of these two things bother you, give this one a pass. However, if you're looking for a wild ride, with a crazy, unpredictable plot, and sensational acting from an all-star cast, you're in for a treat. 

Marty (Colin Farrell) is a screenwriter, struggling to write a script. He's friends with Billy (Sam Rockwell), who steals dogs and returns them to their owners for the reward money. He also has a sordid background, which I'll let you discover for yourself. They're also buds with Hans (Christopher Walken), an older gentleman who spends part of every day visiting his wife in hospital, as she undergoes cancer treatment. 

One day Billy swipes a Shih Tzu, the beloved pet of a notorious and ruthless gangster Charlie (Woody Harrelson). This is where things get crazy. He'll do whatever it takes to get his dog back. And Woody does a great job playing an insane mobster. The plot takes so many twists and turns, it's hard to keep up. But hang on to your hats, kiddies--it's a wild ride you won't soon forget!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com and Hoopla.com. And to rent on Prime Video.

"Who Invited Charlie?"

 2022 * NR * 1h 32m  On the surface, it's a laugh-out-loud comedy, filled with drinking and pot-smoking antics, led by Adam Pally. He reminds me a little of the late, great John Belushi. He's funny, crazy, and has that infectious mantic quality Belushi had. But this film goes a bit deeper than that, and I found it to be a solid, touching look at family life and dysfunction. 

The story revolves around a New York couple and their son. Rosie (Jordan Brewster) and Phil (Reid Scott)  and their son Max (Peter Dager) decide to leave the city and spend time at their summer home in the Hamptons. The film takes place during the beginning of the pandemic, which I thought was a bit annoying. Get used to it folks, I think we're going to see a lot more of them in the near future. The couple has some problems to work out, and their son is incredibly shy. The one day Charlie (Pally) shows up, unannounced. He's a total wild man, sucking down booze and smoking pot all day. 

At first the family is on edge, but eventually things begin to click. It's implied that several years ago, Phil stole an idea that Charlie had and ran with it--and ended up making a pile of dough from it. But  Charlie doesn't begrudge him for doing it. And while he's there, he gets the couple to try to work out things.He  also helps Max come out of his shell. I had a feeling that it was going to turn into an "Animal House" crazy film, but I thought it went a lot deeper than that. It was an overall solid flick. 

4 out of 5 stars

It's streaming for free on Kanopy with your library card. And to rent on Prime Video. 

"The Sun at Midnight"

2016 * R * 1h 33m  I love indie flicks like this. It's a slow-moving drama that's set in the Arctic Circle in Canada. As you'd expect, the scenery is absolutely stunning. The story is a simple one. And the acting is quite good. 

Lia (Devery Jacobs) is sent up north to spend time with her  Gwich'in  grandmother. Her mother passed away and her father feels he just can't handle her. Lia is a jaded city girl and soon gets bored with life in the sleepy Arctic community. She longs for the city and soon runs away. Lia has no idea how to survive in the wilderness and when she runs into Alfred (Duane Howard), a First Nation older gentleman, he takes her under his wing. He's a hunter in search of a legendary caribou herd that hasn't been seen in a while. The two form a special friendship and he's a philosopher and shares his knowledge freely. He's very low keyed, and when he philosophizes, he reminds me a little of Chief Dan George if you remember him. He's almost Buddha-like in his approach to life. 

While searching for the herd, Alfred is severely injured after being mauled by a bear.  It's at this point where Lia rises to the occasion. She has to act quickly or Alfred could die. The outcome was fairly predictable, but I enjoyed it none the less. It's just a great little flick almost no one has ever heard of. 

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Hoopla.com (with your library card) and Tubi. Also on Plex, and to rent on Prime Video. 

"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"

 2011 * PG-13 * 1h 47m  When I see a film with a goofy title like "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" I almost always jump on it. And nine times out of ten, I'm richly rewarded. This movie is no exception. I have no idea why I'd never heard of t before, especially considering the all-star roster of actors in it. 

Here's the story. When things start to go badly in Afghanistan for the English, they need a feel good story to distract the increasingly war-weary public. The Prime Minister's press secratary Patricia Maxwell (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas) latches onto an obscure story about a ultra-rich Yemeni, Sheik Muhammed (Amr Waked) who wants to introduce salmon to a dammed up river in his country. She gets a fishery expert Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) involved in the project. He knows the project is absolutely absurd, yet he's forced to head up the mission, Dame Thomas is hilarious--she's an intelligent, foul-mouthed woman who's always conniving to get what she wants. 

Harriet (Emily Blunt) is tasked with assisting the good doctor, and it's no surprise that even though he's married, and she has a boyfriend, a romance is in the offing. The story is well written and takes a number of unexpected plot twists and turns. I thought this was a delightful, slightly offbeat rom/com that had a lot of soul. Everyone turned in a great performance, and ultimately created a warm-hearted film well worth your time. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free with your library card on Kanopy.com and Hoopla.com. Also on Paramount+ and to rent on Prime Video.