THE BAD MOTHER'S RUNAWAYS

Gentle Readers,

I have two movies that I hope will pique your viewing interest.

The first is a little British flick called The Bad Mother's Handbook. Karen (Catherine Tate) is going nuts taking care of her aging mother Nan (Anne Reid) and her teenage daughter Charlie (Holly Grainger). Karen wants desperately to go to Paris, but then Nan falls and injures herself and and Karen learns Charlie is making the same mistake Karen made -- she's pregnant, in high school, and unmarried.

Karen become increasingly angry that her mum and daughter have ruined her escape to Paris, but then the birth certificate she's been waiting for in order to get her passport finally arrives and she learns she was adopted. Learning the truth about her parentage brings about a complete change in her attitude and Nan, Karen, and Charlie all find themselves in the family way, assisted by Daniel (Robert Pattinson), who has a crush on Charlie.

Charlie Cooper: [shouts] I want some proper drugs! not some pointless sodding breathmask if no one takes any sodding notice of it! 
Daniel Gale: The baby is premature. They aren't going to give you any pethidine. Sorry. 
Charlie Cooper: [shouts] Urg. You're so bloody sensible. I want someone irresponsible! Mum where the hell are you!


The movie is by turns, touching and hilarious, as you can see from the quotation above. 


The second movie is The Runaways about the first all-girl rock band The Runaways. Joan Jett was a founding member and is an executive producer of the movie, based on lead singer Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel. Cherie joined the band when she was a mere 15 years old and was out before she was 18, a victim of too much rock and roll lifestyle. 


Kristen Stewart plays the young Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning is the waifish cherry bomb Cherie Currie. I have no memory of the group although they enjoyed some popularity when I was a young teen. They were probably too interesting and unusual for us Topekans.


I'm glad I'm now aware of The Runaways and I want to hear more of their music. I recommend the movie. We're talkin' early grrrrl power here, but the film is definitely not for the kiddies.

Tammy: My brother says guys don't like girls who are tough. He says guys like girls to be soft and flirty.
Joan Jett: He would say that, he's a pussy.
Tammy: He does spend a lot of time doing his bangs. 

I don't know if you want to bother listening to the DVD commentary by Joan Jett, Kristen Stewart, and Dakota Fanning. None of them seemed to know what to say.

But watch these movies. Go on. Go away now and watch.

Infinities of love,

Lola