The Lucky One

The Lucky One (2012)
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, and Blythe Danner
Based on the novel by: Nicholas Sparks
Directed by: Scott Hicks
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Grade: A+

I loved the book that this movie was based on. And this movie was another great adaptation of a novel. U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive - a photograph he found of a woman he doesn't even know. Discovering her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job offered by her mother (Danner) at her family-run kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm. This was Efron's best performance in a movie yet and Schilling was extremely believable as a lonely single mother. Now, I just have to wait a year for Sparks' next novel, Safe Haven, to be turned into a movie (with Josh Duhamel...yay!)

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve (2011)
Starring: Too many people to count
Directed by: Garry Marshall
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Grade: A

This is one of those ensemble movies and the "sequel" to Valentine's Day. This movie was good but it had SO many people in it that a lot of the characters didn't get the focus they should have gotten (especially Josh Duhamel). Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron are Ingrid and Paul, a lonely record company worker and the young courier who delivers to her office. She receives tickets to the hottest party in town and promises them to Paul if he will help make all of her New Year's resolutions from last year come true. Paul's roommate is Randy (Ashton Kutcher), who hates New Year's Eve. He gets stuck in the elevator with Elise (Lea Michele), who is a backup singer for Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi). While Randy and Elise bond in the elevator, Jensen is trying to win back the heart of Laura (Katherine Heigl), whom he left before their wedding. She is catering the party that seems to connect everyone together (as these movies do). After his friends wedding and on his way to the party is Sam (Josh Duhamel), the son of the record company owner. After being in a car accident, he is forced to catch a ride into the city in an RV with the priest. While in the car, he tells the family the story of last New Year's Eve and the woman he met. The mysterious woman told him to meet her in the exact spot at the same time next New Year's, if he was still interested. Stan Harris (Robert De Nero) is dying in the hospital with only his doctor (Cary Elwes) and nurse (Halle Berry) to take care of him. He isn't interested in treatment or his family being contacted. He just wants to see the ball drop. Tess (Jessica Biel) and Griffin (Seth Meyers) Byrne are having a baby, which they decide has to be born that night because of a cash prize (which may or may not be $25,000) being offered to the first baby born in the New Year. The happiest night of their lives turns into a competition with another couple to win the money. Kim (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her daughter Hailey (Abigail Breslin) always spend the holidays together. But, for the first year, Hailey wants to spend New Year's Eve with her new crush (Jake T. Austin), kissing at midnight. When Kim won't let her do that, she leaves anyway, forcing Kim to chase after her. Finally, Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank) is the manager of the Times Square Alliance and in charge of making sure the ball drops. This is made difficult by a short in the ball, causing it not only to not light up all the way but not rise into the air. Now, she has to figure out how to fix the problem before it gets even more out of hand. Overall, good idea. I just think there was too many people and that took away from the stories that were really good. They should have just kept Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele, and Sarah Jessica Parker and Abigail Breslin and it would have been a much better movie. Plus, the blooper reel at the end is one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Instead of three pictures as usual, I'll put one of each pairing, because I couldn't pick the best.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Josh Duhamel
Directed by: Michael Bay
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Grade: A++

I loved the first Transformers movie and hated the second (it was awful). But, when the trailer for this one came out, it looked so good I decided to go ahead and see it. And I'm so glad I did. This movie was so great, I'd say it even outdid the first one. Shia is great, as always. And Rosie was actually much more likable as Carly, Sam's new girlfriend, than Megan Fox as his old one. And a major awesome bit, they used the song Iridescent by Linkin Park, which is one of my favorite songs (also used in the epic YouTube video Katniss and Rue). Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) is having trouble adjusting to his new life of no excitement, no recognition, and no Bumblebee. Even his girlfriend Carly (Huntington-Whiteley) has a glamourous new job working for Dylan (Patrick Dempsey), a really rich guy that collects cars. Sam soon learns that the Decepticons are, yet again, trying to take over Earth (You'd think they would have learned by now...) and the Autobots have to defeat them again. Like many Michael Bay movies, the story isn't all there. But good characters and epic fight scenes more than make up for it. (The scene in the office building, which is, like, 20 minutes long, is especially awesome.)

Ramona and Beezus

Ramona and Beezus (2010)
Starring: Joey King, Selena Gomez, and Bridget Moynahan
Directed by: Elizabeth Allen
Based on the books by: Beverly Cleary
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Grade: A+

I loved these books when I was little. Beezus and Ramona was my favorite. (I always had more in common with Beezus than Ramona). This movie is magical. And wonderful. And adorable. And any other adjective like that you can think of. Ramona Quimby (King) is, of course, the mischievous little girl from the books and this movie follows her misadventures more than how they affect Beezus, although Selena is in it quite a bit. Joey King is adorable; a perfect match for Ramona. She perfectly captures Ramona's adventurous spirit. Selena is great as Beezus, the exasperated but loving sister (I still have more in common with Beezus...just sayin...). Other standouts are Ginnifer Goodwin (ahh! favorite actress!) as Ramona's Aunt B, Josh Duhamel as Ramona's neighbor Hobart, Bridgit Moynahan and John Corbett as Ramona's loving parents, and Hutch Dano as the adorable Henry Huggins. Overall, an adorable and heartwarming family comedy about a sweet little girl just trying to "find her way in the world".

Life As We Know It

Life As We Know It (2010)
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, and Josh Lucas
Directed by: Greg Berlanti
Tagline: A comedy about taking one step at a time.
Grade: A

This was another movie I didn't really want to see. But Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel were adorable. They star as Holly and Messer, who were once set up on a date by their best friends, but they didn't get along at all and they haven't ever since then. But, when their best friends suddenly die and leave Holly and Messer custody of their baby, the two have to work together to raise the baby depending on them.