The Man Who Knew Too Little, 1997

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Alfred Molina--Bill Murray



Director: Jon Amiel (Entrapment)

Stars: Bill Murray, Peter Gallagher, Joanne Whalley, Alfred Molina




It's his birthday, and Wallace (Murray) heads to London to visit his brother James, who unfortunately, is busy that night, so he sends his brother on a unique London experience for a few hours.  He gets him tickets for the "Theatre of Life", where you don't even have to learn your lines, and you can be an actor for a night in a thrilling plot!

James drops Wallace off at a phone booth where the "Theatre of Life" will begin, and Wallace gets  a mysterious call for "Spenser," giving him an address and instructions.  Wallace goes along with the evening, not knowing that he's in on an assassination plot, and that call was not from the "Theatre of Life!"

Obviously, this is a spy comedy of mistaken identity, and it truly is funny how it keeps going on.  It's not the cleanest, though not that dirty.  If you're in the mood for a spy comedy, you'll like it.

Chocolat, 2000

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Johnny Depp--Alfred Molina




Director: Lasse Hallstrom (An Unfinished Life, Something to Talk About)

Stars: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina





When Vianne (Binoche) and her daughter move into the village and open a chocolatery during Lent, the good Catholics in the village are a little upset.  And things don't get any better when a group of gypsies sails down the river and decides to stay a while.

Don't watch during Lent, and go buy some delicious chocolate to eat while watching!  I love this movie!  It's not the cleanest, just as a warning- there is a little bit of sex, and some language, but overall, it's sweet and funny.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2005

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Helena Bonham-Carter --- Johnny Depp


Director: Tim Burton (Batman Forever, Edward Scissorhands)

Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Freddie Highmore, Christopher Lee, David Kelly





Charlie Bucket (Highmore) finds one of the golden tickets inside a chocolate Wonka Bar and goes on a tour of Wonka's Chocolate factory with 5 other lucky children.  They all get to see just how strange the mysterious Mr. Wonka really is.

I'm not a fan of Tim Burton and his strange films, but this one is kinda cute.  The Oompa Loompas are weird, but funny.

The King's Speech, 2010

THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!
Guy Pearce--Helena Bonham-Carter


Director: Tom Hooper

Stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham-Carter, Guy Pearce





LOVE IT!

In the days before World War II, when radio broadcasts were carrying voices across nations and the world, a stammering prince (Firth) turns to a speech therapist (Rush) for help overcoming his speech problem.  And when his brother the king abdicates to marry a divorced woman, he is next in line for the  throne.

I don't want to say much because it's so wonderful you have to see it for yourself.  I will only say one thing: it is rated R for language, which is actually kind of funny, because throughout the course the speech therapy, they find that Bertie (Firth) doesn't stutter when he swears.  So at 2 or 3 points in the film, he is just swearing up a storm.  It's funny!

Gidget, 1959

Director: Paul Wendkos


Stars: Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson






Francie (Dee) heads to the beach for the summer and convinces Moondoggie (Darren) to teach her how to surf.

It's a bit silly, and definitely a summer movie, and the way they make it look like they're actually surfing is, of course, old school, and therefore, hilarious!  WOrth watching if you're in "summer movie" mood.

If A Man Answers, 1962

Director: Henry Levin




Stars: Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Stefanie Powers, Cesar Romero








Chantel (Dee) marries photographer Eugene (Darin), and, following her mother's advice, she attempts to train her new husband as if he were a dog.  When he catches on, a battle of the sexes ensues.

I love discovering silly comedies from the 50's and 60's.  This one was cute, and not too silly.  I had never seen anything with Sandra Dee before, and I thought she was funny.