Flipped

Flipped (2010)
Starring: Callan McAuliffe, Madeline Carroll, and John Mahoney
Directed and Written by: Rob Reiner
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Grade: A+

This movie is ADORABLE! I love Rob Reiner's movies (Stand by Me is my favorite movie of all time) and this one is no exception. Juli Baker fell in love with Bryce Loski the moment they met, when they were little. And she is even more in love with him now. She's also convinced that he reciprocates these feelings. But, as you see Bryce's side of the story, you realize not only does he not feel the same way, he actually dislikes Juli Baker. He dislikes the way she follows him around all the time, the way she sticks up for a stupid tree, and the way she won't stop giving him eggs from her chickens. Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. All of a sudden, Bryce thinks her unusual interests are kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce's gorgeous blue eyes are as empty as the rest of him. Just when Juli almost gives up on Bryce is when he realizes he doesn't want her to give up on him. Madeline Carroll is really good as Juli, but Callan McAuliffe (who was in I Am Number Four after this movie) really makes the movie with his adorable performance as Bryce. A great new Rob Reiner classic.

I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four (2011)
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, and Dianna Agron
Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Produced by: Michael Bay
Grade: A-

Okay, I read this book. And it's AMAZING. I was pretty excited about Alex playing John (aka Number Four) but when I heard Timothy Olyphant was playing his guardian Henri, I was stoked! But I was disappointed overall in the movie. Timothy Olyphant was great, but his part was limited and they showed him to have a lot of weaknesses that he didn't have in the book. They also changed a lot of the dynamics between John and Henri. In the book, it's very much like a father/son relationship, because Henri is the only father John has ever known. But, in the movie, it seems that John is always annoyed and disrespectful to Henri, something that never happens in the book. Dianna Agron was very good as the cute and sweet Sarah, Callan McAuliffe was adorable as John's geeky friend Sam, and Theresa Palmer was the perfect choice for the tough but loyal Number Six. Overall, an enjoyable movie, especially if you haven't read the book, but it would have been even better had they not made so many changes.