Bridgett M's Reviews

The day of the Oscars seemed like a good time to review this movie, as Steve Martin is my favorite Academy Awards host--though I'm really looking forward to Conan hosting. If you are someone who also tends to enjoy Steve Martin's unique sense of humor, I highly recommend this comedy, which he wrote. Martin stars as Bobby Bowfinger, an aspiring filmmaker who has assembled a ragtag group of dreamers and schemers with the hopes of making a movie with a major star and finally receiving a FedEx-delivered envelope. It is ridiculous and funny, and I think it is one of the only times when the same actor (in this case Eddie Murphy) playing multiple roles actually works.
Review Date: 3/2/2025

At the time of this review, there are 5 SwapaDVD members wishing for The 'Burbs widescreen DVD, while 1 copy is available of this widescreen set which also includes The Money Pit--the better movie of the two in my opinion. I own this set and have always felt it is a nice combo. Tom Hanks is a great dramatic actor, but I like his comedies best.

For me, The 'Burbs is somewhat of a guilty pleasure. I don't really think it's that good of a movie, though I can relate to wondering about the neighbors, but I like it anyway. I've watched The Money Pit many, many times beginning in childhood (I have been watching The 'Burbs since childhood also, so I don't favor The Money Pit because of that), and I always enjoy it. It has wonderful lines and physical comedy. The line "Two weeks" is one to which I still refer. Shelley Long's performance only makes the movie better. I hope one of The 'Burbs wishers sees this and takes a chance on The Money Pit as well.
Review Date: 4/26/2023

Don't judge this dramedy movie by its cover art. It has a fair share of crude and stupid humor, but that is nicely balanced by good writing and heart. Tim Lippe, played by Ed Helms, is a sweet and naïve insurance agent from Brown Valley, Wisconsin. He attends his first insurance conference in the metropolis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is exposed to some of the seedy underbelly of the insurance industry and life. When it's done well, I love seeing a group of misfits band together, and Cedar Rapids is a prime example of this.

Dean "Dean-Z" Ziegler: "You're freaking out, your world is crumbling — it's your first ASMI. I get it. Welcome to the jungle, Timbo."
Review Date: 3/3/2024

This movie is somewhat hard to find, and I'm glad I finally watched it. Surprisingly enough, it was directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy (Stillwater, Spotlight, The Visitor, The Station Agent...). While it's not in the same league as those movies I just mentioned, it is a good Sandler role and better than most reviews indicated it would be. The best way I can describe it is a twist on a body swapping movie, though no actual swapping occurs. All in all, I think anything that gets people thinking about what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes is a good thing, though in this case he's just experiencing looking like someone else. It has some clever and nice moments, held my interest and is about the perfect length, around 100 minutes.
Review Date: 10/29/2021

This movie is somewhat hard to find, and I'm glad I finally watched it. Surprisingly enough, it was directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy (Stillwater, Spotlight, The Visitor, The Station Agent...). While it's not in the same league as those movies I just mentioned, it is a good Sandler role and better than most reviews indicated it would be. The best way I can describe it is a twist on a body swapping movie, though no actual swapping occurs. All in all, I think anything that gets people thinking about what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes is a good thing, though in this case he's just experiencing looking like someone else. It has some clever and nice moments, held my interest and is about the perfect length, around 100 minutes.
Review Date: 12/23/2021

Enough Said is a great dramedy by Nicole Holofcener, one of my favorite writer-directors. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini were perfectly cast here. I highly recommend it for those who like indie films.
Review Date: 9/20/2021

Enough Said is a great dramedy by Nicole Holofcener, one of my favorite writer-directors. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini were perfectly cast here. I highly recommend it for those who like indie films.
Review Date: 9/20/2021

Though I mostly watch half-hour comedies, Felicity is a rare hourlong drama I enjoy a lot. It's also a rare series I feel I could watch continuously. I have a soft spot in my heart for its characters and cast. I find it to be very comforting, and I'm sure it helps that it came out soon after I completed college.

It has some moments of comedy (mostly intentional, some not), but is a drama. I'm a sap, and will often find myself watching it with tears streaming down my face. If you like My So-Called Life, I think you will enjoy Felicity as well.

Lastly, if you are a fan of Bill Lawrence's series, I've noticed some connections between his shows' and Felicity's casts: Ian Gomez (Cougar Town), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Bob Clendenin (Cougar Town, Bad Monkey), Keri Russell (guest star Scrubs), Scott Foley (guest star Cougar Town) and possibly others I've forgotten. Anyway, just another reason to love Felicity!
Review Date: 2/20/2025

The movie Grosse Pointe Blank is like the HBO show Barry, but about 20 years earlier, much funnier and there's a high school reunion. I like Barry, but I love Grosse Pointe Blank. It has a great soundtrack, hilarious script and some excellent performances. I could watch it often, and I prefer to watch it rather than attending a high school reunion.

Marcella: "You know, when you start getting invited to your 10-year high school reunion, time is catching up."
Martin Q. Blank: "Are you talking about a sense of my own mortality or a fear of death?"
Marcella: "Well, I never really thought about it quite like that."
Martin Q. Blank: "Did you go to yours?"
Marcella: "Yes, I did. It was just as if everyone had swelled."
Review Date: 12/7/2022

Here are two of John Cusack's top-five films (I rank Grosse Pointe Blank at #2 and High Fidelity at #3) in a convenient 2-movie collection. If you have had to miss a school reunion due to COVID, you might feel better about it after watching Grosse Pointe Blank--maybe you didn't miss much. High Fidelity is an excellent romantic comedy that music geeks will especially enjoy. Both movies are pretty pitch perfect in my opinion, and they have killer soundtracks.

The rest of John Cusack's top-five films:
1. Say Anything
4. Being John Malkovich
5. Love & Mercy
Review Date: 11/14/2021

I highly recommend the hilarious sitcom Happy Endings. I have watched the entire series multiple times. The first two seasons are great, and the final/third season is very good as well--by that time, you like the characters so much that it's enjoyable even when the writing stumbles a bit.

Give it a chance, and watch at least a few episodes before deciding if it's for you. I initially gave up on it too quickly. It's not really about what happens with Alex and Dave, just about friends hanging out together constantly. It is similar to Friends, and the series pokes fun at that at least once.

At the time of this review, there is one copy posted of each of the first two seasons. If you like it a lot, I recommend getting the DVDs even if you are able to stream it, since streaming services are fickle and drop my beloved shows all the time.
Review Date: 2/16/2023

I highly recommend the hilarious sitcom Happy Endings. I have watched the entire series multiple times. The first two seasons are great, and the final/third season is very good as well--by that time, you like the characters so much that it's enjoyable even when the writing stumbles a bit.

Give it a chance, and watch at least a few episodes before deciding if it's for you. I initially gave up on it too quickly. It's not really about what happens with Alex and Dave, just about friends hanging out together constantly. It is similar to Friends, and the series pokes fun at that at least once.

At the time of this review, there is one copy posted of each of the first two seasons. If you like it a lot, I recommend getting the DVDs even if you are able to stream it, since streaming services are fickle and drop my beloved shows all the time.
Review Date: 2/16/2023

I enjoyed watching Hetty's little grey cells working on these mysteries. My favorite thing about the show is the relationships between Hetty, her husband and her young assistant, played by Dominic Monaghan (Charlie from Lost). The cases seemed to me to be a bit unusual or odd, but this isn't my typical genre. I mostly watch sitcoms, and there is some humor in this series. The character Hetty is both salty and sweet. I will definitely keep watching this show, but have only watched this first series so far.
Review Date: 8/5/2024

What do you mean, you haven't seen High Fidelity yet? I highly recommend this movie for music geeks. The more times I watch it, the better it gets. John Cusack, Jack Black and Todd Louiso could not be better. The soundtrack is excellent, of course. The book is great, too, and at the time of posting this review, is available to order from PaperBackSwap. I read the book after seeing the movie first, and was amazed at how much of the movie is directly from the book. Watch, listen and/or read and enjoy.
Review Date: 11/13/2021

I adore this movie, and at the time of this review, 1 copy is available to order. Thanksgiving no longer feels like Thanksgiving unless I watch this. It's so funny and great, though, that I could watch it anytime. The cast and writing are wonderful. If you like comedies about dysfunctional families that feel real, you need to see this. For me, this is a very rare perfect movie.
Review Date: 5/3/2022

I have watched this Irish dark comedy multiple times and still enjoy it. The cast is great. Though the movie is very violent, there is some sweetness and good comic relief also. The storylines are interconnected. If you like the movies of Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie and/or Martin McDonagh, I think you will like Intermission. At the time of posting this review, there is 1 copy available.
Review Date: 3/18/2023

This dramedy will seem as aimless as Jeff, but stick with it. It is going somewhere. I've enjoyed most of the Duplass brothers' films, but this is my favorite. I recommend it for people who tend to prefer indie movies over blockbusters. There is a spoiler for the movie Signs near the beginning; if you haven't seen that yet and want to, watch Signs first.
Review Date: 2/12/2023

This dramedy will seem as aimless as Jeff, but stick with it. It is going somewhere. I've enjoyed most of the Duplass brothers' films, but this is my favorite. I recommend it for people who tend to prefer indie movies over blockbusters. There is a spoiler for the movie Signs near the beginning; if you haven't seen that yet and want to, watch Signs first.
Review Date: 2/12/2023

This dramedy will seem as aimless as Jeff, but stick with it. It is going somewhere. I've enjoyed most of the Duplass brothers' films, but this is my favorite. I recommend it for people who tend to prefer indie movies over blockbusters. There is a spoiler for the movie Signs near the beginning; if you haven't seen that yet and want to, watch Signs first.
Review Date: 2/12/2023

This dramedy will seem as aimless as Jeff, but stick with it. It is going somewhere. I've enjoyed most of the Duplass brothers' films, but this is my favorite. I recommend it for people who tend to prefer indie movies over blockbusters. There is a spoiler for the movie Signs near the beginning; if you haven't seen that yet and want to, watch Signs first.
Review Date: 2/12/2023

This is one of my favorite movies as well as my favorite Michael Keaton role. I think it belongs in everyone's collection for when you have 91 minutes and want to laugh a lot. There are so many great lines and memorable scenes. I have enjoyed it since I was about the age of the two older children.
Review Date: 11/27/2022

This is a good, London-set drama about an unexpected friendship. The movie is very slow moving, and I think could have been improved with some additional editing and/or faster pacing (but I think that about most movies). It felt like a play. I'm glad I watched it and would watch it again years later, but it didn't qualify as a keeper for me. Everyone is different, and I'm sure there are many members who would love it. At the time of this review, 1 copy is available while another edition has 3 members wishing for it.
Review Date: 2/23/2025

Every kid and every adult-who-never-really-grew-up should have some version of this movie, the original and the best of all the Muppet movies, in their collection. It is great and has wonderful songs and cameos.

Kermit: "Where did you learn to drive?"
Fozzie: "I took a correspondence course."
Review Date: 10/22/2022

This wintry romantic comedy is a guilty pleasure for me, but I still feel compelled to share the joy of it with others. It's a pretty typical romantic comedy (which is why I feel guilty liking it), but it's unique in that a lot of the movie is set in a food manufacturing plant. There is more going on than just romance. Of course it helps that I am a lifelong Minnesotan and am somewhat familiar with New Ulm, where much of the movie takes place--though it was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Harry Connick, Jr. is charming as he almost always is; I assume he could be the opposite of charming if a role called for that, but it would be a big stretch. Renée Zellweger is believable also. If you're looking for a mildly entertaining romantic comedy that you don't have to think about, give New In Town a try.
Review Date: 2/19/2023

This wintry romantic comedy is a guilty pleasure for me, but I still feel compelled to share the joy of it with others. It's a pretty typical romantic comedy (which is why I feel guilty liking it), but it's unique in that a lot of the movie is set in a food manufacturing plant. There is more going on than just romance. Of course it helps that I am a lifelong Minnesotan and am somewhat familiar with New Ulm, where much of the movie takes place--though it was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Harry Connick, Jr. is charming as he almost always is; I assume he could be the opposite of charming if a role called for that, but it would be a big stretch. Renée Zellweger is believable also. If you're looking for a mildly entertaining romantic comedy that you don't have to think about, give New In Town a try.
Review Date: 2/19/2023

This wintry romantic comedy is a guilty pleasure for me, but I still feel compelled to share the joy of it with others. It's a pretty typical romantic comedy (which is why I feel guilty liking it), but it's unique in that a lot of the movie is set in a food manufacturing plant. There is more going on than just romance. Of course it helps that I am a lifelong Minnesotan and am somewhat familiar with New Ulm, where much of the movie takes place--though it was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Harry Connick, Jr. is charming as he almost always is; I assume he could be the opposite of charming if a role called for that, but it would be a big stretch. Renée Zellweger is believable also. If you're looking for a mildly entertaining romantic comedy that you don't have to think about, give New In Town a try.
Review Date: 2/19/2023

If you like shows like Workaholics and Broad City, you will probably enjoy The Night Before. It's not for everyone, and you need to find lowbrow humor funny to like it. It's similar to other movies Seth Rogen has been in--a continuing stoner-growing-up theme--but I enjoyed it more than most of his other movies. It benefits from a fun cast as well as Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies and The Wackness) directing and on the writing team. Michael Shannon always gives a great performance. It's not quite on par with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which I try to watch every year, but I added it to my collection last year--thanks, SwapaDVD!--and look forward to watching it again this year. I recommend this movie for Seth Rogen fans and those who were children in the '80s or '90s (there are some good references that relate to those decades) or are younger than that.
Review Date: 12/3/2022

If you like shows like Workaholics and Broad City, you will probably enjoy The Night Before. It's not for everyone, and you need to find lowbrow humor funny to like it. It's similar to other movies Seth Rogen has been in--a continuing stoner-growing-up theme--but I enjoyed it more than most of his other movies. It benefits from a fun cast as well as Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies and The Wackness) directing and on the writing team. Michael Shannon always gives a great performance. It's not quite on par with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which I try to watch every year, but I added it to my collection last year--thanks, SwapaDVD!--and look forward to watching it again this year. I recommend this movie for Seth Rogen fans and those who were children in the '80s or '90s (there are some good references that relate to those decades) or are younger than that.
Review Date: 11/18/2022

This is the only series I make a point of watching in its entirety every year, typically near the end of the year since the special ends with a Christmas party. There are only 12 30-minute episodes plus the finale special (2 parts, approximately 90 minutes total), so it is a quick watch. The cast is wonderful. The humor may not be for everyone, but I find the show to be hilarious from start to finish. Somewhat surprisingly, I think it has a lot of heart, too. This set includes everything you need to see. If you order the seasons separately, be sure to order the special as well.
Review Date: 9/25/2021

I highly recommend Once for those who like indie movies and love music. It feels very real and always breaks my heart a little. Though it is titled Once, you'll want to watch it many times. This beautiful movie and its soundtrack are two of my favorite things.
Review Date: 11/1/2021

Sure, I'll watch a scary or suspenseful movie on Halloween, and I have a few favorite Christmas movies. What I really get excited about (and I may be alone in this) is Thanksgiving DVDs. My absolute favorites I watch every year are A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Home for the Holidays, starring Holly Hunter. I've watched a lot of Thanksgiving movies once; most do not qualify for repeat viewings from me. Pieces of April and Planes, Trains & Automobiles are the other two exceptions. You probably already know how good Planes, Trains & Automobiles is, but you may have missed this indie dramedy from Peter Hedges (Ben Is Back, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Dan in Real Life). In attempting to prepare a Thanksgiving meal for her estranged family, April, played by Katie Holmes, must rely on the kindness of the neighbors in her NYC apartment building. I probably watch it at least every other year. It appears to be out of print.
Review Date: 10/10/2021

It seems all of the other versions of Some Kind of Wonderful on SwapaDVD have members wishing for them except this one, of which one copy is currently available. Here's your chance to order Some Kind of Wonderful with less waiting!

While I don't have this double feature, I have each of these movies separately, and they are among my favorites. The casts, writing (both written by John Hughes) and soundtracks are excellent. Full disclosure: They are very similar movies, with primarily the genders of the main characters reversed. I think it's safe to assume that if you already like one of these movies, you will probably like the other as well. They are '80s teen movies, so if you don't like teen movies, don't bother. If you like teen movies, these are two of the best.
Review Date: 9/13/2023

I like this series and its title characters Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme a lot. The mysteries are interesting, and the gardens they work on are beautiful. I like to think that this show inspires me to do more gardening, but it probably just inspires me to watch more episodes! A different edition of Series 1 with the episodes on 3 discs instead of 2 currently has 3 members wishing.
Review Date: 11/3/2024

This is one of my favorite movies and Wes Anderson's best. It gets better and better the more times I watch it. The ensemble cast is excellent. Gene Hackman nearly steals the movie with his fun and funny performance. If you enjoy quirky humor and movies about dysfunctional families, you can't go wrong with this one and--bonus--it's a Criterion release.
Review Date: 10/7/2021

I love this movie. It is beautiful in every way. The two lead actors are excellent. It is slow moving, but I think it's the perfect pace for telling this story. It is a very Minnesotan movie; it takes place and was filmed in my home state, it was based on a short story by a Minnesota author ("A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver), and the director/writer is from here as well. I already own it, but I'm still tempted to order another copy, just in case (just in case what, I don't know). Instead, I'll just add to the praise for how great and sweet it is.
Review Date: 11/16/2022

This is a great summer comedy with a lot of laughs and heart. It is one I intend to watch at least once per year and could easily enjoy much more often than that.
Review Date: 7/9/2021

This is a great summer comedy with a lot of laughs and heart. It is one I intend to watch at least once per year and could easily enjoy much more often than that.
Review Date: 7/10/2021

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