Dinner With a Movie

We’ve got trouble! We eat chicken croquettes and ice cream before discussing The Music Man (1962). This film is a slice of Americana that takes us back to a more innocent time when we could be swindled out of our money with the promise of music lessons. Although there is a section after the midpoint that we could all do without, we agree that the songs are well balanced, the choreography is amazing, and the themes are timeless. Come along and be our Shipoopi as we take to the streets to sing and dance.

This week we party, eat some pizza, and get buzzed on some beers before discussing Manchester by the Sea (2016). This unconventional story makes us want Lee to be able to move on and be happy, yet it never delivers that resolution. Instead, we are left with the smallest hint of healing of an utterly broken man. The film may be full of sadness and grief, but we are always able to find comedy and light in the darkest of places.

We eat Cuban sandwiches, tostones, and beignets before discussing the movie Chef (2014). Even though the film could have used some well-measured edits, we find that the story is a meaningful tale about finding the correct balance in your life. The perfect mesh of food and fantastical family life is a joy to watch without disorganized domestic hiccups to weigh you down. The film is full of flavor, but it may leave you hungry for more main characters and fewer cameos.

We try to keep any happy accidents from happening this week as we eat cheap spaghetti, cookies, and chocolate milk then discuss Knocked Up (2007). We agree that the film handles the complexities of pregnancy and having a baby with humor and heart. The meshing of families and comparisons between established and new relationships is meaningful. Ben grows more than the baby in the film and it has a happy ending. If you haven’t watched the film, just do it already. You won’t be disappointed.

We eat pork chops, baked beans, and corn before discussing The Lovely Bones (2009). We find the transitions between the real world and in-between can be visually jarring at times. Although the story is engaging and thrilling, the full attention to detail and the passing of time is crippling. The heart of the film is the talent of its actors. The film has lovely bones, but we needed to perform an autopsy to find them.