April Blog Challenge (I stole it from Cole)

This morning I went to check out one of the funniest bloggers around, Cole Garrett at Dry Humor Daily, and although he's on his honeymoon right now (congrats Cole!) he prepared some posts ahead of time.  He joined a blog challenge (he will give more details upon his arrival home).  This is how it works, according to Cole:  You "have to post every Monday through Saturday in the month of April, 26 total.  Each post has to be about one of the letters of the alphabet.  Other than that, the possibilities are endless.  You could talk about celebrities A to Z, or dinosaurs A to Z.  Just whatever."
 

I don't know about you guys, but I think this is an excellent idea!  I guess you can randomly pick subjects, people, animals, whatever, but my PLAN is to talk about either a celebrity or film that I LOVE for every letter of the alphabet (it might get tricky around Q, X and Z).  I may, however, decide to just go way out in left field and on P day talk about pickles.  I'm crazy like that.  That's why my friends call me Whiskers.    Since Cole didn't give the official name of this challenge, I'm going to pick one, since I'm fantabulous like that.

Ahem, drum roll please...

April's A-to-tha-Zizzle

I know, it's awesome.

Anyhoo, on to the challenge:

A is for America's Sweethearts (film)

Starring Julia Roberts, John Cusack, Billy Crystal and Catherine Zeta-Jones, with Seth Green, Christopher Walken and Hank Azaria also playing small but important parts.

Publicist Lee Phillips has been given an impossible job:  make America's former favorite couple - Gwen and Eddie - appear to be restoring their public love affair, despite the fact that they absolutely hate each other.  With the help of Gwen's sister Kiki, Lee manages to get the two to agree to stay at the same resort for the press junket, and begins trying to make them appear to be rekindling their romance while at the same time keeping both of them happy.  Not the easiest job, but he's up for it.

Seth Green plays Lee's replacement/assistant, the terribly inept publicist trying to learn the ropes from the best guy in the business.  Christopher Walken is the kooky director of Eddie and Gwen's new film, Time After Time.  Hank Azaria is HILARIOUS as Gwen's lover, the wannabe actor with a lisp. 

This film is surprisingly not well-known.  It's been one of my favorites since it first came out.  Every time I've been able to talk a friend into watching it, it becomes a favorite of theirs as well.  Seriously, check it out.  You'll thank me later!

Today's program has been brought to you by the letter A. 

Movie Delight Monday: They're better than you think they are!

I always share precious gems with you guys, but today I want to promote a few films from the 80s and 90s that have no street cred but are awesome in their own rights.  I'm talking about the movies you rarely admit to liking, but secretly love.  You know what I'm talking about!

Mannequin:  On the Move

Yeah, the first one was great.  Yeah Kim Cattrall and Andrew McCarthy are awesome, blahbety blah blah.  Personally, I prefer the sequel.  Kristy Swanson and William Ragsdale are so freakin' cute as Jessie and Jason, and Meshach Taylor is much funnier this time around.

Back in medieval times, Jessie is planning to run away with Prince William, her true love.  His mother, the Queen, gets evil sorceror guy to put a spell on a necklace to turn Jessie into a mannequin for 1,000 years - or until she finds a new true love.  Flash to present-day 1980s, and Jason is a decendant of Prince William who just got a job at a mall.  As luck would have it, Jessie the mannequin is being transported to that same mall on a tour.  Jason removes the necklace and - voila! - Jessie the mannequin is now Jessie the real girl.  She immediately falls in love with Jason, and of course he thinks he's going crazy.  Jason's coworker Hollywood Montrose (Taylor) is the only one who believes him.  The evil sorceror's great-great-great-great-whatever-grandson is also after Jessie, and hilarity ensues.  Seriously, it's great.

Granted, the storyline is total cheese, but that's the basis of it's appeal.  Who doesn't like some outlandish fairytale-turned-modern-day romance?

Hiding Out

Most people know Jon Cryer as either "that guy from Charlie Sheen's show" or as Duckie from Pretty in Pink.  I, however, was first introduced to this adorable dweeb in little-known Hiding Out.

Cryer plays Wall Street broker Andrew who, after having to go into hiding from the mob, pretends to be a high school student at his younger cousin's school.  Then unknown Annabeth Gish also stars, along with Keith Coogan.  Andrew's alter-ego Maxwell Hauser accidentally ends up as the most popular guy in school and gains the attention of beautiful Ryan (Gish). Andrew goes back and forth from terrified guy to king of the school.  It's a really fun movie to watch!

 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

I've personally caught several friends with copies of this dvd after having previously heard them deny ever even watching it.  I've also heard multiple people quote this film without realizing it's a giveaway of their guilty pleasure.  ("I'm on top of that, Rose!")

Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) is psyched that her mom is going to Australia for the entire summer - leaving Sue Ellen to a summer of sun and fun, parent-free.  Unfortunately the day mom leaves Sue Ellen and her four younger siblings find out mom hired a - gulp - BABYSITTER.  Sue Ellen is pissed, but mom feels it's necessary.  Enter sweet old lady, who seems like a pushover....until mom is gone.  Suddenly sweet old lady turns into evil old lady with a whistle.  Sue Ellen decides to tell the old broad how things are going to be, only to find she had died.

Instead of calling mom - or the police - they kids decide to take the body to a funeral home, then just take care of themselves for the summer.  Unfortunately they forgot to get the money mom left them out of evil old lady's pocket before they dropped her off at the funeral home.  Sue Ellen is forced to get a job to support everyone.  So much for a sun-filled summer of fun...

and it only gets better.



If you've been unfortunate enough to never have watched these, please rent them now.  I know Netflix will have them.  They have everything.

Do you have any favorites that you think should get more credit?  Please let me know, and I'll be sure to watch them! I might even cover them in a Movie Delight Monday post!