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

COUNTRY BLUE

Gentle Readers,

I was the one who felt blue after watching today's movies.

The first, Country Strong, was fairly enjoyable for a while although I'm not a country music fan. I really like Gwyneth Paltrow, though, and she was pretty good as a country singing star fresh out of rehab -- too fresh out of rehab to go on tour.

Singer Kelly Canter and her manager husband James (Tim McGraw) are not in a good place, and I don't just mean the tour bus. James, as a manager, has no problem taking Kelly out of rehab a month early; taking her to Dallas, where she had a terrible experience, to perform; and issuing orders to her that are ultimately to his benefit. James is even poorer husband material. He's physically and emotionally unavailable, but blames Kelly's problems on everyone but himself. When he shares a brief moment of intimacy with Kelly, he quickly retreats to leave her wondering and wandering.

The conclusion of this movie is really a downer. What I guess is supposed to be a happy ending for two characters doesn't score very high on the pleasure scale because what comes immediately before it is too overwhelmingly sad. It almost completely spoils the movie.

McGraw is the only country singer in the movie, but he doesn't sing. That's fine. I don't know if he's good anyway. If you really love Paltrow or McGraw or country music, then you might want to see Country Strong, but I don't recommend it.

After getting down in the dumps with Country Strong, I watched Blue Valentine. Big mistake. I shouldn't watch two sad movies in a row.

Blue Valentine chronicles the burgeoning romance between Cindy (Michelle Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling), intercut with the tale of their disintegrating marriage. At first I had trouble figuring out what was going on, but I caught on after a bit. It just didn't grab me, although I thought Williams and Gosling gave excellent performances.

Part of the time I was bored; part of the time I was depressed.

It seems that the director used some interesting techniques, however. For example, Williams and Gosling didn't know each other well, so first they filmed the scenes when Cindy and Dean meet. Then the two actors went off and lived together for about a month and did mundane stuff like going grocery shopping and picking fights with each other. Then they came back and shot their scenes as a married couple.

If I had listened to the DVD commentary, I might have liked this movie better, but I just didn't have the energy for it after watching two sad movies.

I hope Netflix sends me something upbeat later this week. I can appreciate a sad movie when the performances blow me away or the director shoots the film in some interesting and unusual way.

But I prefer happily ever after.

Infinities of love,

Lola

SWAN TOURIST

Gentle Readers,

Before we talk movies, we must again talk followers. The lovely Mrs. Tuna from Working Woman's Guide to Dinner or If I Cook Chicken A La King One More Time I'll Kill Myself has joined our merry band of followers. I believe you will find Mrs. Tuna to be absolutely charming. I cannot resist a woman who not only writes an amusing blog but also provides a recipe. Furthermore, the recipes look pretty easy and delicious. I can't wait to try some. AND Mrs. Tuna's profile photo is that of an adorable dog. 'Nuff said.

But now, we're off to the show. I have for your consideration two movies fairly new to DVD. Let's begin with Black Swan, which is easy. Don't bother with it. Your Lola watched it for you so you needn't waste your precious time on it.

Remember when I worried that my dear Annette Bening might be cheated out of an Oscar for The Kids Are All Right? Well, Annette wasn't merely cheated. She was totally ripped off. Anybody can play a psycho paranoid delusional ballerina as Natalie Portman does in Black Swan, but not just anyone can create a sensitive and subtle portrayal as a woman whose partner has cheated on her with the sperm-donor father of their two children as Annette does in The Kids Are All Right.

I really detested Black Swan as it reached its climax and pretty much turned into a freak show. I also disliked Barbara Hershey's extremely unpleasant whining whimpering control-freak mother act.

Have you been scratching yourself again? What a disgusting habit. Get over here. Even though you are an adult and a success at what you do and I'm a failure I'm going to make up for my inadequacy by controlling you and living through you. I'm going to cut your fingernails and then when you look to the side of your bedroom while masturbating you will see me asleep in the chair! No privacy for you, bitch.

Yuck! Took me back to the old days when I was a ballerina and people always hung out in my room while I masturbated. We ballerinas get no respect and no privacy. Thank God I gave up the world of dance in favor of blogging.

Pleasantly, our second movie turned out to be a light comedy that I enjoyed immensely. I don't think The Tourist was a big success critically or commercially, but I loved it and I recommend it highly. Although it's a light comedy, don't turn off your brain. It has all sorts of interesting twists and turns and lovely scenery, including my husband-to-be, Johnny Depp.

Angelina Jolie is as beautiful as ever. How many kids does that woman have now? They certainly don't keep her from looking great.

I'll tell you the beginning of the plot, but I can't say too much because it's very important to let the movie unfold naturally. Johnny Depp plays a -- guess what? -- tourist named Frank Tupelo who teaches at a community college. Then he meets a beautiful woman on a train, and she is played by the ravishing Angelina.

Before Frank Tupelo knows what bit his balls he's involved in intrigue and chases and a little violence, but it's all good, Mama. It's fun and not frightening. Johnny and Angelina don't have quite the chemistry that Angelina and her beloved Brad had in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (love that movie), but Johnny and Angelina still work well together. Johnny can't help it if he's not Brad. Actually, I like Johnny better. Johnny and I have THE BEST chemistry in the world. He just doesn't know it yet.

But I really like The Tourist. It's a great DVD to watch when you want to relax but not be so relaxed that you have nothing to think about and no plot to follow.

Now I bid you a fond farewell, but not without saying welcome, welcome, welcome, Mrs. Tuna.

Infinities of love,

Lola

SPEECH FIGHTER

Gentle Readers,

I have two movies for your viewing pleasure and amazement. Both are excellent.

The first is The Fighter, starring Marky Mark (he'll always be Marky Mark to me even though I never knew what he did other than model undies for Calvin Klein). Based on a true story, Marky Mark plays Micky, a boxer who is getting down to his last chance. Micky tells his drug-addict and formerly successful boxer brother Dicky, played by Christian Bale, that he can't train Micky anymore because Micky really wants to succeed.

Micky and Dicky come from a big Boston Irish Catholic family and they have a metric fuck ton of sisters. This Bitch Pack is led by their mother, played by Melissa Leo. The movie is dramatic and moving and exciting, and the Bitch Pack -- who might be tougher than their boxer brothers -- cracks me up. I love Melissa Leo with her too tight pants and helmet hair leading the crowd.

So what will happen? Will blood prove thicker than water and will Micky take Dicky back? Watch and learn.

The Fighter was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture and Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won well-deserved best supporting actor Oscars. After I watched the DVD of this movie, I thought, Wow, this is so good, how was it beaten?

Then I watched The King's Speech and I knew why it KO'd The Fighter. What a cast. My beloved Colin Firth was so incredibly good as Prince Bertie who becomes King George VI and fights his stammer with the help of his beloved wife, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). My beloved Colin won best actor and Bonham Carter and Rush, who were nominated for Best Supporting actors in their roles, were as worthy of wins as Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. I really don't know how the voters decided.

So both movies have great acting, involve a family struggle, have a battle, though of different sorts, and are moving while also having moments of hilarity.

I think what put The King's Speech on top is the way director Tom Hooper shot it. Technically, it's quite interesting and the technical aspects add to the strength of the film. My beloved Colin Firth is 6'3", while Bertie was a rather small man, very slight. Hooper often shoots Firth from above to diminish him, not only in size, but to diminish him as a person. He looks very small and tense and worried and not at all kingly.

In one shot, Bertie and Elizabeth are sitting together on a couch. Elizabeth sits up, sits forward on the couch, while Bertie sits back, huddled down. Hooper also quite often shoots Bertie so he's in one side of the frame and the rest of the frame is a blank wall -- negative space. The wall suggests the blankness of Bertie's life and his feelings of uselessness and fear. Bertie IS a blank wall until his speech starts to improve.

Wow, two great movies and they are available on DVD now. Be sure to listen to the commentary on The King's Speech. It's quite interesting.

Infinities of love,

Lola

EXIT SUPERMAN

Gentle Readers,

I offer two very good documentaries for your viewing interest and pleasure this long weekend -- at least I hope you get the day off on Monday.

The first is Waiting for Superman. You will definitely want to see this if you have children in public school, but it should be of interest to everyone because we all pay taxes to support our failing schools. Waiting for Superman explores how and why the school system is broken and how it can be repaired. Superman blames the teachers' unions, who insist that all teachers be treated the same; thus, no extra pay for exceptionally good work and the opportunity to darn near get away with murder.

The most striking sequence was about a school superintendent, I think it was in Milwaukee, who saw footage filmed by a student with a camera in his book bag (it wasn't clear to me if the superintendent asked the student to carry the camera). The film showed students shooting craps in the back of the classroom, teachers reading newspapers, and a teacher placing a student's head in what was kindly referred to as a "soiled toilet." The superintendent fired the teachers immediately, only to be forced to rehire them in a year and give them a year of back pay. Herein lies the power of the unions.

The film also examines the success of some charter and magnet schools. Fixing schools can be as simple as hiring an enthusiastic, good principal, who, in turn, hires enthusiastic, good teachers. All in all, a very interesting movie and I recommend it highly.

The second movie, which is definitely more quirky, is called Exit Through The Gift Shop. It's about street art and especially a man named Thierry Guetta who loved to film everything he saw. He started looking into the world of street art, which some people dismiss as graffiti (though it can be far more interesting), and some street artists let him follow them around and film him, with Thierry giving them the idea he was making a documentary about them. Thierry was even allowed to follow elusive and secretive British street artist Banksy, whose face and voice are obscured in the movie.

Eventually, though, it became apparent that Thierry didn't know what he was doing. He came up with a worthless documentary that was a montage of images with noise, so Banksy sent Thierry out to be a street artist and Banksy took over the movie. What happens next is so amazing that you just have to watch the movie for yourself to believe it. I'm not sure it really happened, or if someone created art and treated it as a documentary. Definitely something to research, Mr. Brainwash.

Anyway, Exit Through The Gift Shop has the highest Lola Seal of Approval.

Happy Viewing!

Infinities of love,

Lola

THE RILEYS WELCOME INCEPTION

Gentle Readers,

I recommend for your viewing interest and pleasure: Welcome to the Rileys.

Doug (James Gandolfini) and Lois (Melissa Leo) Riley have been married for 30 years. They live in the same house, but they have not been together since their 15-year-old daughter died in a car accident eight years earlier. Then Doug goes to a convention in New Orleans and meets 16-year-old stripper and prostitute Mallory (Kristen Stewart).  Doug piques Mallory's interest by refusing her offer of a lap dance or sex. He just wants to take care of her and make her life better. He's so intent on his mission that he calls Lois and says he's not returning home.

So, Lois, who hasn't left her house in God only knows how long, gets the car out of the garage in a rather interesting and amusing fashion and drives to New Orleans to find Doug. At first, she is reluctant to help a girl who so obviously could become a replacement for their daughter, but she soon gets on board and offers Mallory tender loving care. The Rileys are a team for the first time in so long.

However, Mallory is "nobody's little girl." Can the Rileys help Mallory?

Not gonna tell you. Watch if for yourself. It's worth it. It's charming and subtle and not overly sentimental. It really could have fallen into the maudlin trap and didn't do it.

The performances are lovely. Kristen Stewart looks appropriately skanky, though the young girl lurks inside. Melissa Leo is all motherly concern, and James Gandolfini is a revelation. I'm so accustomed to thinking of him as none other than Tony Soprano (love, love, love that show), but he manages to inhabit Doug Riley. I found his somewhat southern, hick accent a bit disconcerting though, perhaps in part because I expect to hear the Joisey boy come out and perhaps in part because he's supposed to be from Indianapolis. I once lived near Indianapolis and although I heard a few hick accents in small towns, they weren't common and I don't recall anyone having a southern accent.

But it was the first place I heard children call their grandparents Maaaa (like the sound a sheep makes) - Mah and Paaaaa-Pah. I will disown any grandchild who attempts to call me Maaaa-Mah. I am not a hillbilly.

But would the Riley welcome Inception? I can't say for sure, but to my surprise, I liked it. I usually don't care for the science fiction/fantasy/thriller thing, but this one is stylish.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) invades the dreams of corporate titans to steal their deepest secrets. At first I felt confused by when are they dreaming and when are they not dreaming, but I gradually caught on to the plot.

DiCaprio was pretty good, but I thought Ellen Page was a little too earnest and clever as the earnest and clever student who learns to work with Dom Cobb with very little explanation of what he does. And Marion Cotillard as Dom's deceased wife was a little too trembly and fragile, but having a dead wife to jump in and stir things up works pretty well.

I think Inception is worth a try.

Happy Viewing!

Infinities of love,

Lola

DOGGIE, DO

Gentle Readers,

TGIF!

All right. Let's get down to business. I have two potential DVDs for your viewing pleasure this weekend.

The first is called Year of the Dog, and it stars Molly Shannon as Peggy, but this is not the silly, wildly funny Molly Shannon of Saturday Night Live. This is Molly Shannon sweetly amusing and then Molly Shannon in mourning.

Peggy's dog Pencil is her beloved companion, and when he dies, her life falls apart. She grieves, tries adopting a difficult dog, falls in love with a person (gasp!), becomes a vegan, gets involved in animal rights, takes in far more dogs than she can handle -- and her life spins out of control, until she puts a leash on it.

Peggy: If you all didn't think I was crazy, I'm sure you will now. How do I explain the things I've said and done? How do I explain the person I've become? I know I've disappointed everyone and I'm sorry for that. I wish I was a more articulate person. I believe life is magical. It is so precious. And there are so many kinds of love in this life. So many things to love. The love for a husband or a wife, a boyfriend or girlfriend. The love for children. The love for yourself. And even material things. This is my love. It is mine. And it fills me and defines me. And it compels me on.

When Peggy knows what she truly wants, when she finds her love, she is transformed. I was quite impressed by this movie.

The second DVD for your consideration is Heavy Petting, starring Malin Akerman as Daphne and Brendan Hines as Charlie. If these two are successful thespians, I don't know anything about it. I'd never heard of them before, but they're cute as can be, and so is this movie.

I admit that while watching about the first 10 or 15 minutes, I thought, I'll have to give this movie a negative review. It's stupid and raunchy and it sucks. But when Charlie changes his tune about Daphne's dog Baby Doll and moves from hatred to love, I changed my tune too. As Charlie and Baby Doll become the best of friends, the movie becomes adorable. I especially enjoyed a sequence when Charlie took Baby Doll shopping and watched her model various outfits as if he were taking a girlfriend or wife shopping.

But when Daphne realizes how much Charlie likes Baby Doll, she worries that Charlie doesn't care for her the way he does for the doggie. How will they work it out? I can't tell you; it would spoil the movie. But I also recommend this movie if you want a really light comedy and you can put up with a little bit of moronic movie making at the beginning.

Year of the Dog will lead to your interest, enjoyment, sadness -- it may even lead you to think about making some changes in your life. Heavy Petting will chase your cares away.

Infinities of love,

Lola

DOG AND KNIGHT

Gentle Readers,

I watched two recently released on DVD movies available for your possible enjoyment -- or not.

The first movie is A Dog Year, starring Jeff Bridges. Although this is an HBO production, it wasn't too well done. I wonder if there was so much in the book by Jon Katz that somebody had trouble turning it into a screenplay.

It began pretty well. Jeff Bridges plays Katz himself, to whom I could relate: back problems, spouse departed, depressed, loves dogs. Katz takes in a border collie named Devon who has been abused. Devon's early antics, while frustrating for Katz, are pretty funny. If nothing else, I hope this movie convinces people that border collies are not for just anybody. People want these dogs because they are the most intelligent canines, but these are working dogs who need a job to do, preferably herding something, usually sheep. If they don't have jobs, they can become neurotic and quite difficult to handle.

But when Devon proves to be too much for Katz, the movie turns into a series of whys. Why does Katz give his yellow Lab to his daughter? Why does Katz move to a farm? Why did Katz's wife leave? What is wrong with Katz's back? Why does Katz obediently "take his anger out on the hay" by pitchforking it around when the dog trainer tells him to do so? Shouldn't he say, "Lady, listen, I have a really bad back"?

Most importantly, why does Katz build a little tiny pen where Devon runs in non-stop circles because he is the Energizer Bunny of dogs when they are on a 42-acre farm?

Why is Katz doing what he does at the end of the movie? (Of course I won't tell you what he's doing in case you want to see the movie.)

Perhaps I would understand this movie if I read the book, and I just might do that. I liked Soul of a Dog, by Katz, who now owns Bedlam Farm, which he seems to have turned into quite the industry, churning out books, and I believe he found a new wife who churns out crafts.

I don't really recommend A Dog Year unless you want to see how funny poor Devon is when he chases a car, catches it, and rides on top while the driver and his passenger wonder why a weird old man is running behind their car yelling STOP!

However, I can happily recommend Knight and Day, starring Tom Cruise as Roy Miller and Cameron Diaz as June Havens. The cast also includes Paul Dano in a supporting role. He is in one of my faves, Little Miss Sunshine.

I confess that when I started watching this movie last night that it seemed ridiculous and I couldn't stand the sound of Cameron Diaz's giggle after about ten minutes. So I turned it off and read and then I went to bed and read and then I went to sleep, and when I woke up, Knight and Day was a much brighter place.

Tom Cruise manages to be goofily funny and Cameron Diaz goes along for the ride very nicely. Roy Miller is a secret agent man who runs around shooting people and blowing things up, but it's not gross and graphic. It's amusing. And when things take a turn for the worse, Knight and Day only gets more interesting.

Which agent is the good guy and which is the bad guy? What's going on with the battery? Will Roy and June end up together?

Happily, all questions are answered and the movie has a happy ending.

I've been pretty peeved with Tom Sanctimonious Cruise for a while, and after watching this movie, I'm not quite as irritated with him. Shorty is still pretty hot and looks goooooood without a shirt.

I think I'll end on that happy note.

Infinities of love,

Lola

QUIRKY RELATIONSHIP MOVIES

Gentle Readers,

I present for your enjoyment two movies about relationships. I call them quirky because "quirky movies" is a search term that draws readers.

First movie for your consideration: The Special Relationship, an HBO movie now on DVD. It's about the so-called special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, a relationship that apparently is highly valued by other countries. Sometimes I think we should be grateful anybody puts up with us.

More specifically, the movie is about the way the relationship is fostered through Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Blair is played by Michael Sheen, who was also Tony Blair in The Queen and looks more like Tony Blair than Tony Blair. Dennis Quaid portrays Bill Clinton. Quaid is a bit long in the tooth to play Clinton yet pulls it off admirably.

The film begins with Blair about to be elected P.M. and desiring the special relationship with the U.S. and then learning that Clinton is not all he's cracked up to be. Blair is also presented as believing that Clinton's behavior during Lewinsky Business should be a private matter, while Blair's wife Cherie is appalled by Mr. Can't Keep His Pants Zipped Up. Interesting.

As our movie concludes,  Clinton is leaving office, while Blair remains prime minister and begins a new friendship with the late, great George W. Bush. Sigh. How I do miss having such an object of hilarity as our president.

I liked this movie more than I thought I would. HBO produces some excellent movies, and if you have any interest in politics whatsoever, and you should, you will probably enjoy The Special Relationship and learn something from it.

The second movie is laugh out loud funny but quite naughty: Going The Distance, about Drew Barrymore (Erin) and Justin Long (Garrett) trying to have a long-distance relationship. I must stop here to mention that Justin Long has a very nice muscular butt. I like a man with a nice butt.

Christina Applegate plays Erin's sister. She hilariously suffers cleaning up after Erin and Garrett's sexcapades.

Going The Distance ultimately becomes tough going for Erin and Garrett (one in San Francisco, one in New York). I'm not going to tell you if they end up together, but I will tell you something that made me really happy: Erin doesn't give up everything she's worked for to be with Garrett. After seeing one too many holiday movies in which a woman whacks her head and comes to realizing she's a mom with little kids instead of a high-powered exec and when she has the chance to return to her old life she discovers she would rather have her adorably obnoxious children and lout of a husband -- Oh Save Me Jesus. I was about ready to pull an Elvis and shoot the TV.

So, I was extremely happy that Erin gets a good job and doesn't give it up, except in very funny ways in bed.

Drew Barrymore looked and acted a little more mature in this movie, and I liked it -- almost as much as I liked Justin Long's butt and the sex scene on the dining room table.

Let's close on that happy note.

Infinities of love,

Lola

***WOMEN: WE SHALL OVERCOME Stats Alert: U.K. -- South Korea bypassed you by two hits on New Year's Day, but then you caught up again on January 2nd. Watch out United Kingdom or South Korea will whip your bums and have more Lola knowledge than you do. Whoo hoo!

QUIRKY CHARMING MOVIES

Gentle Readers,

I present two quirky, charming movies for your viewing pleasure.

First -- In Paper Heart, part scripted and part documentary, Charlyne Yi explores the nature of love while acting out a relationship with her then-sweetheart Michael Cera, so we have courtship within a relationship and a movie within a documentary, or perhaps a documentary within a movie. Yi co-wrote and co-produced. Along the way, Yi interviews the likes of Seth Rogen on the subject of love, and when she says she doesn't think she's capable of loving someone, he assures her that her love glass is half full.

Charlyne Yi is one of those people who just can't help being amusing and interesting. I first noticed her when she played the stoned girlfriend in Knocked Up, which I think is absolutely hilarious. Michael Cera, of course, was great as George Michael Bluth in the under-watched TV series Arrested Development and was then equally great in Juno.

So Charlyne Yi + Michael Cera =  2(Quirky + Charming)

Second -- In The Answer Man, Jeff Daniels plays Arlen Faber who wrote a book called Me and God 20 years ago and became a spiritual iconic figure. So, naturally he goes into hiding to avoid the people who want to worship him and question him because they believe he can talk to God, and he turns into a really crotchety reclusive turd. But then he meets beautiful single mother Elizabeth, played by Lauren Graham, and change is set in motion.

I enjoy when this movie makes fun of New Agieness. For example, Arlen Faber has a back spasm, which he in a really New Age fashion chooses not to accept. Ha! He ends up on the floor unable to move and has to crawl to the chiropractor. I've made the point before that I'm sick of people blaming people who get sick for being sick, and apparently somebody agrees with me.

Jeff Daniels is good at playing the pompous ass, which he proved in The Squid and The Whale, and Lauren Graham is so wonderful that in my heart I still believe I am Lorelai Gilmore. The thing about Arlen Faber, though, is that you can see why Elizabeth would fall for him. He can be quite endearing and he's really nice to her little boy, Alex.

Alex: My mom says that meat is poisonous and can kill you. 
Arlen Faber: And I say, if that's not the best hamburger you've ever had, I'll change my name to Denise and run into the sea. 

Thus, Jeff Daniels + Lauren Graham = 2(Quirky + Charming + I Love Everything Lauren Graham Does)

Lauren Graham is now on the TV series Parenthood, but I still think of her as Lorelai. What's her character's name on Parenthood? I don't know. As far as I'm concerned it's Lorelai. And the daughter she has on Parenthood? Favorite Young Woman and I call her Bizarro Rory.

And so, Gentle Readers, two more movies that have the Lola Seal of Approval.

Infinities of love,

Lola