Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

So we just went to see this movie last night. I must admit - I had pretty high hopes. The trailer was hilarious, and...well. It's all about raining food and stuff. Which is awesome. And a concept kids have dreamt up for hundreds of years.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller) tells the story of Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader of SNL fame). Flint is an inventor with big dreams. So far he's managed to invent spray-on shoes, mutated rat-birds and so on. But - well, he sort of sucks at inventing. Until he invents the FLDSMFDR, which converts water into food. Which, for his little town in the middle of the Atlantic stuck eating sardines all day (I won't ruin it for you), is pretty darn good news.

Based on the beloved children's book written by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett, this movie kept us all laughing. We went with a 6 year old, 9 year old and 10 year old and they all loved it. The animation is engaging, the characters are fun and the food...oh the food. I was starving when I left and that was after I just downed about 1000 peanut M&M's. There is one scene in particular where it snows ice cream and the kids are all making snow angels face down...gorgeous. This was one of those unique kid's movies that I actually really liked. It helped that it brought back some old talents like James Caan and Mr. T as voice-overs.

Take your kids to see this one. The message is solid - though about as subtle as a tonne of bricks - the dialogue is quick and the scenery is edible.

Best Movies To Watch For Fall

News Flash - there's nothing playing at the movies. Nothing I really want to see at any rate. District 9 looks good and there are a tonne of choices at the TIFF, but sadly, I couldn't make it. George Clooney is there too - did you know? I could have stalked him a little. A lifelong dream of mine.

So instead of checking out new movies - which I will eventually do, I swear - I've made a little list of movies you need to watch every fall. Fall is the best time to watch movies, if you ask me. The air is brisk, your tan is fading. The kids are back at school so you might even get a chance to sneak a movie in while they're gone - not that I ever do that. No, I'm usually working hard on this very website. Really.

Best Pick For Girls on a Sunny Day...You've Got Mail (1998). Directed by Nora Ephron. So here's why it's good. Tom Hanks. My favourite leading man in the fall...he's just so solid, so dependable. Like a good Irish Fisherman knit sweater. Meg Ryan is pretty but not threateningly so. Her apartment is cute and well decorated...New York looks homey and welcoming. I could watch this movie on mute and enjoy it. Although the dialogue isn't too shabby either. I know - it's an obvious choice. But when you're making a roast beef on Sunday and you feel like watching a little something while you peel potatoes and stir gravy - this is it. I swear.

Best Pick For Girls on Rainy Days When They Feel Like Crap - Pride And Prejudice (2005) Directed by Joe Wright. Just because...well, you never know. He might be out there. Really. Mr. Darcy could be out there. And HE wouldn't forget to call after you've left him 17 messages. I don't care what anyone says - I liked this version. I particlary liked Claudia Blakey, who played Charlotte Lucas. Adorable.

Best Pick For Guys - Braveheart (1995) Directed by Mel Gibson, starring Mel Gibson. It always looks like Fall in Scotland, for one thing. It's a long movie. Too long for attention spans in summer, what with all the midriff baring going on outdoors. Plus..it's just cool. Lots of blood. Male bonding and freedom and kilts. I asked a fair few fellas and this was their vote.

Another notable mention for guys - Good Will Hunting (2997) Directed by Gus Van Sant. The guys all seem to really like this movie. I think it's because they all secretly want to be Matt Damon or, if worse comes to worse, Ben Affleck.

Best Picks For Kids - Monster House (2006) Directed by Gil Kenan. I'm never sure why this movie didn't get more attention. It's spooky and funny and weird and wonderful. A house that comes alive...two pre-pubescent boys left with a lazy miserable babysitter voiced by Maggie Gyllenhal. Loved it. My boys loved it. We watch it every year...along with It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and - oddly - Hocus Pocus (1993). I don't know if this last one is a nostalgia pick or not. I'm sure there are millions of better movies out there. But where else are you going to see Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker playing witch sisters, hmm?

And of course...the Best Football Movie Pick For My Sons. Rudy (1993) Directed by David Anspaugh. Along with Braveheart, one of the only movies I've ever seen where men almost universally break down in tears. Notre Dame, The Fighting Irish. Sean Astin before he became the Fat Hobbit. A great classic to be watched every year as the season hits up. Preferrably with a bowl of chili.

Sit back. Eat too much. and enjoy.

An Oldie But Goodie...The Princess Bride

We've all seen this movie, I bet. It's from 1987, after all. I think I may have still had a mullett the first time I watched this. I know I was defintely still in love with Corey Hart at this point. So this movie is old news, right?

Maybe. Or maybe this is a timeless, classic fable that needs to be revisited. The Princess Bride was directed by Rob Reiner - whose other great movies include Stand By Me and Sleepless in Seattle (I'm going to be fair here and not point out any of his serious flops) - and written by William Goldman (he also wrote the screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).

The premise is beautifully simple - Buttercup (Robin Wright before she added the Penn) loves a farmboy named Wesley (Carey Elwes, Men In Tights). Wesley takes off for the high seas to make his fortune...and his ship is attacked by the Dread Pirate Robert. He is assumed dead.

Buttercup, who I'm guessing is the most beautiful maiden in the land and who has a really awesome wardrobe, is set to marry the Prince (Chris Sarandon). She is kidnapped by ruffians...which brings me to one of the best attributes of this movie - Andre The Giant. Playing a sweet, kind lump of a man whose stuck in his job as a Brute. And even better...he's an aspiring rhyming poet.

OK - we all know the story and I don't want to give too much away just in case you don't. Suffice it to say Buttercup needs some rescuing, and maybe someone is still around to do it (hint hint).

I love the way the story is told - a young boy is stuck at home in his sick bed (Fred Savage) and his Grandfather (Peter Falk) comes over to read him a story. A story he doesn't want to hear from a Grandfather he doesn't really want to see. Their story is quietly tender and sweet.

The dialogue is fresh, even a little smart-alecky. The scenery is perfectly unreal. And every character is a fairy tale unto themselves.

Watch this movie with your kids. Rediscover it. You won't regret it.