That was an excellent one.

As Good As It Gets

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

I saw this movie at the KIFF film festival in Kansas City and it was one of my favorites.I thought this was just going to be a film about wishing to be young, but was pleasantly surprised. I found myself relating to just about every character in the film and I'm only in my 20's. There are many surprises about the characters as well. The lifeguard was especially interesting. It turned out to be a great exploration of the question "what if?" many of us have asked ourselves. It also questions whether we should worry about what could have been and move forward from where we are now.Many great laughs sprinkled throughout too!

While I found this movie to be at times somewhat entertaining, I felt it lacked any sort of originality or soul. One reviewer called it "John Hughes for the 36ish crowd" which is a fairly good description, except for one thing: The reason 16 candles, pretty in pink, etc. are fun, classic movies is because they represent the actual angst-ridden, dramatic, and totally ridiculous times that is youth for most people in a way that is both easy to relate to and fun to watch. This movie, I feel just takes a bunch of older people and makes them act like teenagers as a way of "taking you back." But honestly, who still acts like they're 17 when they're in fact 36? Nobody I'd want to know or could relate to. The dialogue is neither original nor believable and the amount of things going on between this group of friends is just absurd. And the characters are just lame as well. Of course there's the wise old hippy guys who gets the hot girl in the end (by showing she's more than just a hot girl), the popular couple who haven't hashed our their real feelings all these years later, the asshole dork friend who screwed everyone over, etc. It's just so formula it's sad. But even I will partake in something so sinfully bad from time to time, so I can't say I hated it, but I really don't understand all the praise it's getting thus far. It's a good effort, but the end result lacks anything really worth watching if you're over the age of 15.

Caught this movie at the St. Louis International Film Festival, and loved it! The cast was great with Eric Stolz giving the best performance in my opinion. The movie starts the day after a big blow out party. Our core group of friends are facing the task of cleaning up the house and revisiting all the highlights from the night before. I'm sure it may hit home with people in their mid thirties - am I where (or with whom) I should be? What would my life have been like if past events happened differently? In the end we realize that sometimes you have to revisit the past in order to appreciate your present and move on to your future. The director was at the festival and was great with the Q&A after the screening. I hope this movie will get picked up for a wider release. Good Luck!

I saw this movie last night at the St. Louis International Film Festival. It was a great film from a terrific idea. Writer/director Sarah Kelly was on hand to answer questions. She said she wanted to make a sort-of follow up to The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, to see what happens to those kids 20 years later, and based it on an actual party that she had. In the movie, there is a lot of angst and longing for high school, along with hilarious lines, fashions and outstanding music. The stars are great - I usually think William Mapother is a bit creepy (even before his character on Lost) but he's really good in this role. It made me laugh a lot, tear up once, miss high school, miss my brother, miss my friends and want to dance. Please go see it, wherever you have the chance. It's a great movie for the Gen X crowd, and everyone else.