We were young heartbreakers.

Yesterday, after celebrating Erica Dagley's birth, I went to work, stayed for an hour, and promptly headed back home in the throes of a tornado-like sickness involving exhaustion and nausea. Add to that the undying humidity that is slowly trying to kill me, and I nearly passed out on the subway platform.

The good news? I didn't pass out! And today I feel better! And yesterday I got to intermittently nap while watching movie after movie on my couch...

I frequent the film blogging site Scene Stealers, and last week one of their newest contributors, Vincent Scarpa, wrote an interesting post about the romantic comedy genre and the mostly awful offerings it's littered with. However, Scarpa actually loves romcoms and recommends two particular films that "both evidence all that a romantic comedy can achieve while also operating outside of the clichés that the modern romcom seems to attach to."

Me? I, too, love romcoms and completely agree with his first recommendation of Bridget Jones's Diary. The movie is a flat-out comedy in its own right, with a great romantic triangle storyline (though pretty much based on Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice) and Bridget Jones herself is so disastrous but likeable. Honestly, Bridget Jones is the only movie I've really liked Renee Zellweger in - and she totally deserved that Oscar nomination for it.

Happily agreeing with Scarpa on his first choice, I realized I hadn't even heard of his second nomination: Ira & Abby. And yesterday, in my couch-ridden healing process, I queued up the movie on Netflix Instant Watch (via Jesse's XBOX - I never though I would actually love a video game console!), and settled in.

I loved it! And also recommend it. Apparently it was straight-to-DVD! Jennifer Westfeldt, whose movie Kissing Jessica Stein I absolutely loved when I saw it in college (she wrote & starred in it), also wrote and stars in Ira & Abby. Oh, you may also know that Jon Hamm is her boyfriend, and has been since 1997. In fact, he has a bit part in this pre-Don Draper 2006 film. As a grungy ex-heroin addict! (Note: he's still disgustingly gorgeous.)

Here's the first thing I liked about it: you ever notice that the men in romantic comedies are usually perfect? Like, a real catch? Even if they seem like crap at first, they usually have a heart of gold? (See: Hugh Jackman's Eddie in Someone Like You). And that makes sense because women are the main audience for such movies, and you want your audience to want the guy - a miraculously perfect guy that exists no where in reality. Ira is probably the furthest from perfect dude ever in a romcom. He's so neurotic, dependent on therapy, and borderline infantile, that you kind of want to cringe at him, this supposed romantic hero.

But as a couple, Ira and Abby make sense. This isn't a movie about two people coming together by the end to live happily ever after, this is about two people who decide to be a couple and the trials and tribulations of a relationship. A will they/won't they stay together as opposed to get together. It has serious notes, for sure, and I enjoyed the push and pull of the story. Both lead characters are a little weird in their own ways, but ways that make them much more accessible in reality - they're not the flat, 2D characters usually portrayed in the genre.

I actually don't care to say much more about the film, because you should add it to your Netflix Instant Watch or buy it or what have you. It has some fabulous lines, lines that have stuck with me even today. (Also: Scarpa's review contains lots of spoilers, so don't read it before watching it! I also skipped that portion until I had seen the movie.) Has anybody else seen the movie? Thoughts?

Total calamity, the choices I have made.

Hey Jessica I was wondering if you would be willing to review the new Motion City Soundtrack cd? I'd really appreciate it, I've lost contact with all my friends who are MCS fans and would love to hear another fans take on it. If you don't want to I understand.

Thanks for having a blog that always makes me smile,

*hugs*

Lurker from Ohio
 
Hi! I'm working on a track-by-track review of My Dinosaur Life to post next Tuesday on release day! Keep an eye out for it, and leave a comment with your own thoughts! (You can even do that now if you want.)
 
I'm bummed to hear that you don't have any one to flip out with to MCS! I hope this doesn't deter you from going to shows - you should probably pass along a little MCS mix to a friend who may not have heard them! Also, one great thing about the internet is now you can find people who love a band or movie or whatever as much as you - for MCS fans I'd definitely check out the official boards on their website, and if you want some reviews from fans, I'd start with Anna on tumblr, who inspired me to write my own review! MCS fans are super awesome!
 
Can we follow you on twitter too?

MOST DEF: http://www.twitter.com/jessicaxmaria

Um, you know how I wrote about my hobbies and "researching obscure facts"? Well, I was watching the first season of Ally McBeal on DVD the other night - I got the entire series for Christmas (thanks, bro!) - and I noticed somebody Ally was gawking at in a bar was none other than Jon Hamm! And I imdb'd it, and his no-lines-character wasn't even credited. But, it's definitely him in the 1997 episode. Also, I realized the casting director's name for the episode was "Judith Weiner" and I was like, "Could she be related in any way to Matthew WEINER who created Mad Men?!?!" But after some thorough research, I came to find that Judith died a few years ago and there were no Google-able connections between Judith and Matthew. I twittered the gist of THAT, and here's the pic I grabbed while it was on pause:

Have fun following my crazy!

Haha. I too, watched "Ke$ha" on Conan. I didn't see what the big deal was. In fact, I had to change the channel midway through the song. I don't mean to bash on her, but it's just not my style of music. Although where I'm from, lots of people seem to like her a lot. So I get roasted for not liking "what's cool" lol. Is there any other artist you find depressing?

Not everybody has to like what's considered cool! Music is your own deal.

My own deal? Ke$ha was embarassing to watch. And then bringing out presents for Conan afterwards? I don't think he was into it, either. I think I would have a lot more to be depressed about if I actually listened to the radio, but in those moments where radio is all I've got, what I've heard pretty much sucks. Plus, looking at any type of iTunes or Billboard chart is no fun. In my super-humble opinion, here are some acts that make me sour: Owl City, Black Eyed Peas, Boys Like Girls, and Miley Cyrus. That's what I can think of from the top of my head.

I mean, I know music is one's own thing for the most part, but to see what the majority chooses to listen to and pay for is depressing. Especially when you're married to someone in the music industry! Of course, when you see certain acts climbing the charts and doing well - like Paramore - there's glimmers of hope. I'm hoping for the future!

(Ask away.)

Don't let the doctor in.

I have a minute!

How amazing was Galifianakis last night?! Well, he was hilarious, and he had some great guest stars. He showed us a video of himself interviewing JON HAMM (light of my life! What? Did I say that out loud? JK! Where am I?) and Galifianakis himself then brought out a friend to interview him on stage. Who? WILL ARNETT. Via Arrested Development's GOB BLUTH, he just had a baby with his wife, "Please welcome Amy Poehler's husband!" (Zach's introduction). Great surprise. Truly AWESOME.

I would say more, but how unfunny is it when people try to retell jokes from a comedy show? We were all busting up, I can assure you of that.

PS Upcoming posts(when I have time): Top Artists of the Week (ugh, Last.fm is getting really slow with their weekly updates, so I don't even know my tops for last week yet!), to include my thoughts on the new Fall Out Boy album, an interview with a not-so-popular-yet luminary of the blog scene, and my thoughts on the Golden Globe Nominees.

Also, I don't do year-end lists until way way closer to the end of the year. :)

Back to being productive!