Re-Watch: In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

In the Good Old Summertime

In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard & Buster Keaton

Starring:

Judy Garland

Van Johnson

S.Z. Sakall

Plot:

Musical remake of 1940 “Shop Around the Corner” by Lubitch.

Review:

IMDB’s plot is pretty spot on. I’ve watched the movie many times but never right after The Shop Around the Corner and there are a lot of repeated lines. The plot is the same, Veronica, Judy Garland, is kind of mean at times as well. The big changes are that it is set in a music shop and there is singing and dancing. None of the songs are anything major but Judy Garland is singing them so they’re nice to hear.

There is also the addition of another woman in Andrew’s, Van Johnson, life. He’s the character that Jimmy Stewart played in the previous movie. She pushes Veronica to feel jealous that there is someone else possibly receiving Andrew’s attention.

I like the movie a lot, but I like The Shop Around the Corner better.

4.5/5

 

From This Moment On (The Sullivans #2) By: Bella Andre

From This Moment On

From This Moment On (The Sullivans #2) By: Bella Andre

Plot:

With FROM THIS MOMENT ON, bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you to Marcus, the second Sullivan bad boy, whose life will never be the same from the moment he meets Nicola…. For thirty-six years, Marcus Sullivan has been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings after their father died when they were children. But when the perfectly ordered future he’s planned for himself turns out to be nothing but a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all. Nicola Harding is known throughout the world by only one name – Nico – for her catchy, sensual pop songs. Only, what no one knows about the twenty-five year old singer is that her sex-kitten image is totally false. After a terrible betrayal by a man who loved fame far more than he ever loved her, she vows not to let anyone else get close enough to find out who she really is…or hurt her again. Especially not the gorgeous stranger she meets at a nightclub, even though the hunger – and the sinful promises – in his dark eyes make her want to spill all her secrets. One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But nothing goes as they plan when instead of simply tangling limbs, they find a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated. And even though they both try to fight it, growing emotions – and sizzling attraction – keep drawing them closer together. Close enough for them to wonder if stealing one more secret moment together can ever be enough?.

Review:

Really liked this one. The entire time I pictured Katy Perry as Nico. She even does an acoustic bit at her shows, so maybe Andre was picturing her too.

Love it when the responsible type has to learn to love. As long as they aren’t asked to become a someone else entirely. Marcus was still the same at the end of the book but learned that love was worth some sacrifices. Like airline miles and work hours. Love is totally worth those.

4/5

Re-Watch The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Shop Around the Corner

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Starring:

Margaret Sullavan

James Stewart

Frank Morgan

Plot:

Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand one another, without realizing that they’re falling in love through the post as each other’s anonymous pen pal.

Review:

This is one of my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies. He plays a store clerk that has come to a point in his life where he wants a little bit more out of his life. So naturally he answers a personal ad in the paper.

One thing leads to another and he falls in love with the girl he writes to, evidently the idea of it being a dude doesn’t enter his mind. Such a trusting time. When he finally gets to meet her, he’s nervous that she’s going to be fugly, then he finds out it’s the woman he works with and hates.

Since it’s Jimmy Stewart and he’s not a total dick, though I’m not sure if anyone’s a total dick, he ends up wooing her as himself and not just through letters. It’s beautiful.

I do think Margaret Sullavan’s character is a bit of a bitch at times. There are also some dark moments, attempted suicide and infidelity, though, not from Jimmy or Margaret. It’s a great story and a nice look at depression era sensibilities.

5/5

The Look of Love (The Sullivans #1) By: Bella Andre

the look of love

The Look of Love (The Sullivans #1) By: Bella Andre

Plot:

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he? As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is–until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love–and protect–her, but will she let him? Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her–and every sinfully sweet caress–as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart. (love story, contemporary romance, alpha males, heroes, sexy romance, bad boys, falling in love)

Review:

This is the start of my romance book marathon. Every Wednesday and Saturday this month I’m going to post a review on a romance book.

I’ve heard of Bella Andre, you can’t move in certain circles without having heard of her, but I’ve only ever read one of her books. Since it was before I started writing reviews I’m not sure why I gave Love Me two stars.

Anyway, I really enjoy series that follow a family so I’ve been meaning to try her Sullivans series for a while. I was not disappointed. Chase and Chloe have great chemistry and even though Chloe was in an abusive relationship she doesn’t come off as weak. Slightly repressed, but not weak. She is a great heroine and Chase is almost too good to be true.

I ended up doing a thirty day free trial on Kindle Unlimited just so that I could read the next in this series because after just one book I’m hooked. I have to know what happens next in this family.

4/5

Re-watch: Groundhog Day (1993)

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day (1993)

Director:

Harold Ramis

Starring:

Bill Murray

Andie MacDowell

Chris Elliot

Plot:

A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.

Review:

This is the start of my romance movie marathon for the month. It’s not a conventional romance, but it’s there! I promise. Plus there’s the added bonus of Groundhog Day being February 2nd and it’s the 3rd.

I’ve watched Groundhog Day many, many times. It’s not the normal Bill Murray comedy, but it has it’s comedy elements. From what I’ve read Murray wanted the movie to be more serious than it was, but Ramis wanted more of a comedy. Even with the tug of war going on in the background I think it’s an excellent film.

Phil, Bill Murray, is an arrogant, self-absorbed, weatherman at the start of the film. After thousands of repeated days he discovers that way down deep inside he’s not a bad guy. It took him a while, but after he slept with all available attractive women, ate and smoked whatever he wanted, killed himself a few different ways, he got around to self-improvement. Probably exactly what I would do too, minus the killing myself. Maybe.

Unlike 12 Days of Christmas I really think that Phil probably stuck with the new and improved version of himself. After that much time, stuck in the same place, learning so many new skills, and obtaining so much knowledge, I think he would have to be changed to his core.

I like the fact that he pursued Rita, Andie MacDowell, so persistently and she always shot him down. It wasn’t until he “found” himself that she really did anything with him romantically. I know he sort of melded himself to be the man she wanted but along the way I think (hope) he started doing it for himself.

If you’ve somehow managed to live your life without seeing this movie it’s time to change that.

5/5