Rather than party with the masses in a horn-blowing, booze filled soiree at some swank hotel in the big city, your intrepid reporter worked through New Year’s eve to view and remark on two recent film releases. In other words, I spent the evening in two nearly empty theaters enjoying It’s Complicated and 2012 and saved about $100. I enjoyed the movies much more than any crazy party, taking a break in between for dinner at the Ram.

John Cusack [2012] is an amazing driver, staying half a car length ahead of an earthquake as the ground behind his vehicle crumbled and sank. Careening off a heap of crumbled concrete, Cusack’s car flies up and over a huge sink hole that is devouring the city of Los Angeles. Later in the film, he effortlessly swims into arctic waters to untangle a hose from…well, It’s Complicated. But, his 10 year old son helps him by diving under the water with a flashlight. The two survive this with no injury or reaction to the freezing waters, except their clothing gets wet. Totally believable! The film has plenty of PC messages: greenhouse gases [even though it was sun flares that caused the disaster], we got the hint, an ark to save humans and animals, the President of the United States (Danny Glover) stays on the planet to die with the people and the word “Kumbaya” was referenced once during the film. Who could have imagined 20 years ago, that a black actor would someday play the role of the President of the United States in a movie?!?

Alec Baldwin was very funny, while Steve Martin was low-key for most of It’s Complicated. Only after Martin and Meryl Streep smoke a joint before her son’s graduation party, does Martin show off that crazy side of him that we know so well. Baldwin and Streep are great as a divorced couple that get together for one last affair, only to find that it didn’t work the first time and probably wouldn’t ever. Meryl Streep varied between looking sexy and at times, very old. Alec Baldwin has definitely packed on the pounds, but guys can get away with that and Baldwin was perfect for the role of the older, fat ex-husband. I also fit that role, but am not as funny as Alec Baldwin. Besides, he had to appear naked toward the end of the film and I would have needed a butt double to stand in for me.

Happy New Year!

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