What's Up Chuck

Chuck and family find layers of meaning in Bolt.

By Chuck Nice

I often blog about kids movies because I have children and they force me to take them to see every Pixar creation that gets green lighted. Our last viewing trek was to see Bolt starring John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. Of course these movies are morally heavy handed and with good reason - they're trying to teach children a lesson. The lessons are always universally acceptable, as not to be offensive. It's hard to disapprove of someone telling your child to believe in her self or not to lie or cheat or steal, unless you're a grifter who is training your offspring in the ways of the con. Hey, there's a sucker born every minute. This movie has a very simple message: If you believe that you're a super hero, then you can truly be a super hero. I rather think that if you can shoot laser beams from your eyes and fly, then you're truly a super hero but what do I know? Bolt is a dog that is unaware that his life as a super dog is really a carefully orchestrated television show designed to make him think that his incredible powers are authentic, so that he might deliver a believable performance. It's kind of like the Truman Show with CGI. While under the impression that his beloved owner has been abducted by his arch villain, he leaves the protective surroundings of the television set to carry out a rescue, but instead finds that he himself may be in need of saving. I don't think I'm playing spoiler by telling you that during his journey he discovers that the true hero is the person (or dog) that rises above his limitations to triumph over any obstacle.

Continue reading "A Bolt of Inspiration" »

For Chuck, chick flicks come in all shapes and sizes.

By Chuck Nice

During the Cinematherapy interviews I occasionally ask women for their favorite chick flick, so I figured it was time for me to reveal my own. So what's my favorite chick flick? Brave Heart starring Mel Gibson. Now I know what you're thinking: How typically male of me to choose a violent, gory, and blood drenched war movie as chick flick.

Continue reading "A Chick Flick for the Brave of Heart" »

Chuck discusses the challenges of aging gracefully.

By Chuck Nice

This week our Cinematherapy movie was Death Becomes Her starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis. I watched the film with a gnawing discomfort, the source of which I couldn't quite identify. The movie is about two aging Hollywood starlets who despise one another and harbor mutual feelings of schadenfreude.  The two women are obsessed with staying young, motivated not only by vanity but also by their bitter rivalry and the need to out shine one another. Their lives are seemingly a continual preparation for a thirty year class reunion that never comes. Without each others knowledge, they both purchase a potion from a sorceress (played by Isabella Rossellini) that offers them eternal life. The only problem is that they actually become the living dead, kind of like really attractive zombies. By the way, one of the reasons I like this movie is because it's nothing more than a sexy zombie flick. In the end, as with all deals made with the devil, they would have been better off growing old gracefully. I won't spoil the end with details but it cracked me up (very bad pun).

Continue reading "Turn Back Time?" »

Exploring the mind of a stand-up comedian.

By Chuck Nice

I was scrolling through my menu of On Demand movies when my eyes were perked to see an unusual title: Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World. Being a stand-up comic I had no choice but to order the movie. It's not as if I truly wanted to see it, more like I was compelled to watch -- the way an oncologist would have to watch a show titled The Cure for Cancer. 

Continue reading "Know Your Audience" »

Chuck sounds a note of caution to all Bridezillas.

By Chuck Nice

Believe it or not I have been trying to watch the movie 27 Dresses for about a month. Why? Well some movies are tailor made for this blog; and when I see the advertisements I get excited to write about them. The movie stars Katherine Heigel (Jane), James Marsden (Kevin), Malin Akerman (Tess) and Ed Burns George), and it's your typical chick flick wedding movie with a slight twist. Jane thinks she's in love wit her boss George. She secretly admires him from afar and the more she conceals her feelings the stronger they become. She finally musters the courage to reveal her true feelings when he meets her beautiful younger sister and they fall in love and decide to get married. Jane is then called upon by her sister to plan the wedding of the man she clandestinely wants to marry. Something struck me while watching this movie: Women really want to get married.

Continue reading "The Marriage Myth" »

Chuck shares tips on keeping sex interesting in a marriage.

By Chuck Nice

I couldn't sleep the other night and I found myself watching a movie that should have been an effective tranquilizer, but I somehow stayed with it to the bitter end. Its title is Trust the Man, starring David Duchony, and Julianne Moore; oh yea, Maggie Gyllenhaal also stars but for purposes of this blog she doesn't matter. The story revolves around the struggles faced by couples who have been involved in long standing relationships, and the dynamics that challenge and dissolve the glue of those unions. The only plot details that I will consider is the marriage of Tom (Duchovny) & Rebecca (Moore), who have two children and have settled into a comfortable and successful New York existence. Tom is a 40 year old hypersexual stay-at home dad who relinquished a successful-yet-unrewarding career for the pleasures of child rearing. Rebecca is a Broadway star who is focused on her career and family, and has neither the time nor the necessary energy to indulge her husband's carnal desires. Their relationship is the classic cliché of a husband who is constantly begging for sex and a wife who gives nothing but denials in return. Their relationship is strained when Tom cheats on Rebecca with the parent of one of his children's classmates who seduces him while the kids go on play dates. 

Continue reading "Sour Grapes?" »

Chuck discusses the relationship between art and commerce in Music & Lyrics.

By Chuck Nice

My daughter often forces me to sit and watch a movie that she's certain that I will love; "C'mon Daddy, you've gotta see it, it is sooo good, I know you'll love it." What she doesn't know is that she's more often wrong than right. What I do love is the moments we spend together, so I feign excitement, plop down on the couch and paste a smile on my face worthy of a job on a cruise ship. The latest submission for my viewing pleasure was Music & Lyrics, starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore; and I'll admit that I liked it... not a lot, more in the way that I like passing gas - it feels good when its done and it's better that no one is around to know that it happened. I know you're probably thinking, Wow, two Hugh Grant movies in a row. Maybe Chuck's got a little man crush on Mr. Grant. Well, although I find him terribly charming, I reserve those deeper feelings for Mr. George Clooney.

Continue reading "Selling Out" »

Chuck applauds the role reversal in Two Weeks Notice

By Chuck Nice

I've never purported to be a truly sensitive man. I'm more of a dichotomy than anything else: I'm just as comfortable shopping for shoes, as I am kicking back with a beer and watching a football game with my boys. That's why I find it oddly amusing that I have to watch chick flicks in order to do Cinematherapy. You see, I don't like chick flicks. I find them a little boring and emotionally manipulative - and if I want to be emotionally manipulated I'll call my mother, she's the best.

Continue reading "Who's Rescuing Whom? " »

Chuck wonders if acting is the ultimate "Fool's Gold."

By Chuck Nice

I just recently moved into a new home -- by "new" I mean a self-renovated 1917 relic that has sucked the life out me-- but I'm settling in and working on a blood transfusion. Moving serves as a spring board for renewal; you rummage through all of your belongings asking yourself things like "Should I keep that beret that I wore for Halloween c. 1998? We had such a good time at that party."  The answer: Take a picture of it and toss it like a bad relationship - which for me means letting go, fretting incessantly, going back, realizing you made a mistake by doing so and then finally letting go. So as I suffered through this agonizing process with all of my belongings, I came across a DVD that I hadn't watched: Fool's Gold starring Kate Hudson and a shirtless Matthew McConaughey. Rather than just throwing it out I decided to watch it. I now know why they call it Fool's Gold, because if you're in search of cinematic treasure, this film will make you feel like a damned fool; but I'm sure women must have enjoyed Matthew McConaughey's undulating pecs (I'm not jealous at all).   

Continue reading "Treasure Hunting" »

Chuck goes to the movies and shares his family code.

A few weeks ago Cinematherapy promoted the movie Brideshead Revisted starring: Matthew Goode (Charles Ryder), Ben Whishaw (Sebastian Flyte), Hayley Atwell (Julia Flyte) and Emma Thompson (Lady Marchmain). Since we advertised the film I thought I should check out the movie. It's strikingly beautiful, filled with stunning shots of the English countryside, Venice, and the Quads of Oxford. At first glance the film appears to be a frilly chick flick with all of the trappings like great costumes and romantic drama (of the highest order); the gay man within me was jumping with delight.

Continue reading "Revisiting Brideshead Revisited" »