Mother's Day (Jennifer Aniston)

(Amazon UK link)

Another new (to us) film is ‘Mother’s Day’ which we bought for 50 pence in the UK this summer. It was made in 2016 and we had not heard of it; but three of the main actors are well-known: Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson. 

The first few scenes introduce a lot of different people, and I found myself somewhat bewildered for the first twenty minutes or so. It wasn’t clear who, if anyone, was the ‘main’ character, nor what the plot was about. It was evidently all pointing towards a celebration of the US holiday ‘Mother’s Day’ (which is in May) and that turns out to be the tentative thread connecting the various groups.

Jennifer Aniston is excellent as Sandy, a woman with two sons. She is divorced from Henry, but they’re still quite amicable… until she learns that he’s married a much younger woman. And this younger woman is surprisingly good with their sons. Her jealousy and anger are sometimes a tad exaggerated, but this film isn't intended to be taken too seriously. 

Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s nearly nine years since we first saw the film ‘Pretty Woman’. It’s considered almost a classic nowadays, and is the film that first made Julia Roberts’ name. I had forgotten that it was made as long ago as 1990, and that she was only 21 when it was produced.

Roberts plays Vivian, who is a prostitute in New York. This is not the kind of scenario that would usually draw me into a film. But although the situation is very sleazy, and Vivian’s clothes extremely revealing, there’s nothing explicit. It doesn’t seem as if she quite fits the scene: I can’t tell what kind of accent she has, but despite her clothes she comes across as rather more sophisticated than her friends.

Richard Gere is the co-star, playing a very wealthy businessman called Edward. He is divorced and has just broken from a long-term relationship, basically because he’s never available to her. And, indeed, we see him in his office, consulting with his lawyer, making deals. It turns out that he doesn’t actually trade in or make anything as such; he buys failing businesses, divides them up into smaller entities (often destroying their original aims) and then sells them at a massive profit. And he’s very good at his job.

He’s on his way to a hotel in preparation for concluding another business deal when he gets lost in the neighbourhood where Vivian works. She tries to solicit him, but he explains that he just wants directions. She offers to show him where the hotel is, at a cost… and he agrees. He even lets her drive when she starts criticising his style, and then - somewhat against his better judgement, it seems - he invites her to stay the night with him.

Edward needs an elegant woman to accompany him to some business dinners, and suggests Vivienne might like to stay longer, and fulfil this role… after which she has to buy elegant and expensive clothes (on his credit card), and learn which fork to use for each course….

The story is essentially a modern take on ‘My Fair Lady’ (which of course is based on the classic ‘Pygmalion’). And it works very well. The script is good, and Julia Roberts is excellent. She gradually learns to like being surrounded by luxury - and also to be much too fond of Edward. There’s some humour, some poignancy, and a slightly overdone (but entirely satisfying) fairytale-style ending.

We weren’t so impressed with Richard Gere, however. As a businessman in a suit he is mostly believable - incisive, hard-hearted, determined to make as much money as he can, irrelevant of anyone else’s preferences. However his expression rarely changes - he has a kind of slightly amused look on his face all the time, no matter who he’s speaking to, and while it’s easy to see why he is attracted to Vivienne, it’s not obvious at all that he is. Unsurprisingly his heart begins to soften a little, but neither his voice nor his face change, and it’s a bit hard to believe in his transformation.

Still, he proves to be an unexpectedly talented pianist.

On the other hand, we absolutely loved Hector Elizondo as the hotel manager Barney; he was the perfect mixture of formal and friendly. He follows the rules but acknowledges that some of his best clients sometimes break them. Some of the best scenes involve him, often with Vivien too.

It was revealing to see the attitude of some people to young women in Vivian’s profession - and how a credit card can get pretty much anything, at least in the world in which Edward lives. The amount of money he earns - and pays - seems astronomical, and that’s thinking about today’s money in a film that’s now thirty years old.

The rating is 15, which seems about right. There’s not a great deal of bad language, and only one real scene of violence, which is short-lived, although there are other threatened ones. And of course there’s a lot of discussion of what prostitutes do, and some scenes of intimacy, although most are implied and there’s nothing too explicit. In the slightly more prudish US censorship system it's rated R, which is equivalent to a UK 18.

It’s not, in any case, the kind of film that would be of any interest at all to most children or younger teens - or even older teens, necessarily, as Edward comes across as staid, almost middle-aged.

But for those over 18 wanting a good light romantic story, with a bit of humour, and who doesn’t mind the theme, I would recommend it highly.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Mona Lisa Smile (Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

I had never heard of the film ‘Mona Lisa Smile’. But when I saw it - at 50 cents - in a church sale, I decided to buy it. Julia Roberts is usually good value and the story sounded interesting. We watched it last night, and thought it a very good film, with plenty to think about.

The film is set in the 1950s. Roberts plays the main character, a young woman called Katherine Watson. We meet her when she is about to take up a post as lecturer in History of Art at a very conservative all-girls American university. She’s a little nervous, but this has been her dream for a long time - partly because she hopes to introduce some new ideas to the students.

There are quite a number of characters, but the most important students soon emerge with their different personalities. Betty, who is soon to be married, is very condescending. Her parents are wealthy, and care for appearances above everything else. Her friend Joan would quite like to study law, but is more interested in getting married. And in those days having a career was not compatible with marriage, in most cases.

Then there’s Giselle, who is somewhat promiscuous but also very kind-hearted, and there’s Connie who’s rather insecure. These four girls are some of the first to answer questions in Katherine’s first lecture, and they share an apartment. Katherine lives in a house with the elocution and poise lecturer, Nancy, who seems to spend her spare time in front of the television.

It’s an interesting setup. Katherine is at first treated with scorn by the students, who have read all their course text books and know all the ‘answers’. It appears at first that there is nothing left to teach. So Katherine introduces some new ideas - modern art, and questions where the girls have to think for themselves, and decide what it is that makes something ‘art’.

Unfortunately, in doing this she comes up against the authorities, who want her to stick to the syllabus - after all, the girls are just biding their time until they can get married….

Julia Roberts is great as Katherine. She’s her usual self, looking very young, as this film was made in 2003. It’s never really possible to forget who she is as an actress, but it doesn’t much matter as she fits very well in this role. The younger woman who play the various students are good too, albeit rather caricatured.

It all feels very old-fashioned, which isn’t surprising as it’s set seventy years ago. Some of the customs of the university seem extremely strict and sexist; perhaps US colleges really were like that in the 1950s. I gather there were some ‘goofs’ and inconsistencies, but they don’t deter from the story,, which is, in essence about someone trying to make a difference, only to realise that perhaps not everyone wants to be changed.

Rated 12A in the UK, PG-13 in the US. There isn’t anything explicit, although there are lots of innuendoes and implications. There’s some bad language, but not an excessive amount, and no violence or gore. However I can’t imagine that this film would be of any interest to children anyway.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Mystic Pizza (Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor)

(Amazon UK link)

We knew we had watched the film ‘Mystic Pizza’ nearly ten years ago, but neither of us had the faintest recollection of the story, or any of the characters. We wanted something lightweight so it seemed like a good idea to watch it again.

The story is about three very different young women who all work at a pizza parlour in a small American town called Mystic. Kat (Annabeth Gish) is a very likeable character. She’s kind, highly intelligent, and gets along very well with children. She works hard in several jobs, as she’s saving up to go to Yale University.

Kat’s sister Daisy (Julia Roberts) is different in almost every respect. She’s flighty, hot-tempered, and seems to have few, if any ethics. She treats men as disposable commodities, and keeps landing her sister with extra hours at the pizza parlour.

Then there’s JoJo (Lili Taylor), whom we first meet when she’s about to get married to Bill (Vincent D’Onofrio)… until she realises exactly what she is promising. She doesn’t feel ready for quite that level of commitment.

All three grow up a little in the course of this film. Kat falls in love, although she knows she should be careful as the guy is married. Daisy starts dating someone from an entirely different walk of life, and starts to see herself differently. And Jojo has to work out what she really feels about Bill after an argument where he throws some home truths in her face.

Much of the story is set in the pizza parlour, which is presided over by the Italian Leona (Conchata Ferrell). People travel a long way for her pizza, which is made to a secret recipe that she refuses to divulge to anyone.

It’s a well-made light-hearted film, contrasting the three girls quite cleverly. Daisy and Kat inevitably have some arguments, but are fond of each other deep down. There are one or two poignant scenes, and a few places where we chuckled. We both recalled one or two incidents from the film, but nothing much about the storyline, possibly because it’s not particularly deep - three girls have relationships with three guys, with different levels of success.

And yet the whole is quite engaging, and made an excellent light evening’s viewing. While we watched, we could believe in this small town and each person’s problems. The minor characters are fairly typecast, but somehow it doesn’t matter too much. It was made in 1988, so inevitably it’s somewhat dated; but that also isn’t a problem.

Rated 15, which seems about right. There’s a fair amount of bad language, though mostly used in appropriate situations. There’s a lot of talk about sex too; no nudity or explicit bedroom scenes, but plenty of innuendoes and implications.

Recommended in a low-key way to anyone who likes light-hearted rom-com films.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s almost ten years since we saw the romantic comedy film ‘Runaway Bride’, and we had pretty much forgotten the storyline. So it was a good one to choose for an evening in when we were both quite tired.

Richard Gere plays a journalist called Ike. He writes a regular column in a newspaper, which is usually somewhat negative about women. He usually leaves it to the last moment. He’s trying to find something new when he gets chatting to someone in a bar. This stranger tells him about a young woman called Maggie, in his home town, who has run away - he claims - from seven potential bridegrooms, leaving them at the altar.

So Ike writes his article without checking for accuracy, and the newspaper is sued. He loses his job, but someone else suggests he go and meet Maggie and find out the truth.

Maggie (Julia Roberts) has only, in fact, run away from three marriages. She is now engaged to a sports coach called Bob. He thinks she has been panicking so he has been helping her with guided visualisation and deep breathing. Ike meets Maggie’s friends, and interviews her former fiances, and gets to know her family… she initially dislikes him intensely, but gradually realises that he’s a nice guy.

Inevitably there’s an attraction… but she’s engaged to Bob, and convinced he is the one for her. And her wedding is just a few days away. The venue is booked, caterers arranged, and a large guest list invited. Ike realises that Maggie is something of a laughing-stock in the town, and that she’s also quite insecure.

There’s a lot of humour in this film, which is cleverly scripted, and has some nicely choreographed incidents too. There’s also a more poignant side, as we begin to see the people Maggie has hurt; we also see something of why she is so afraid of commitment. We hadn’t remembered any of the detail, so could not recall whether or not she eventually goes through with a wedding, and (if so) to whom.

It’s very well-made; there’s great chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and some good (albeit caricatured) support from Maggie’s friends and family. It’s rated PG, which is rare and refreshing in this kind of film, made in 1999. There’s no nudity, no overt intimacy, and only scene including minor violence. Even the language is very mild. While the storyline is unlikely to be of interest to a child, there’s nothing inappropriate for younger viewers.

Definitely recommended for a light evening’s viewing.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Steel Magnolias (Julia Roberts, Sally Field)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s nearly ten years since we watched the film ‘Steel Magnolias’, and we had both forgotten what it was about. However my husband remembered the first scene as soon as we saw it: a man shooting birds out of a tree while preparations for a large wedding are going on around him. I had no memory of that, but as the film progressed I recalled the climax to the story, and also quickly grasped the general theme.

It’s good that I remembered roughly what was going on, as I had a very hard time, at first, tuning into the strong accents from the American South. Julia Roberts is the main character, Shelby. She’s quite young (this film was made in 1989) and it’s her wedding that’s going to happen the following day. We quickly learn that she and her fiancé Jackson (Dylan McDermott) have had an argument and she said she wouldn’t marry him. But they make up… although she clearly has some reservations.

However Shelby’s mother M’Lynn (Sally Field) is, in my view, the star of this film. We first see her fussing about everything being perfect for the wedding, and then being overprotective of her daughter. But then gradually we discover why. She has an extremely expressive face, and while I didn’t agree with everything she said or did, I could empathise with her strongly - all the more towards the end, during and after the climax of the film. I had forgotten when this occurred, and what situation prompted it, but knew how it ended.

M’Lynn and Shelby live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. And the theme of the story is the strong supportive nature of these people, particularly six very different women (with names so strange that I didn’t know what they were until I looked up the cast list on iMDB to check for the actors). Dolly Parton is superb as Truvy, the town’s hairdresser and beautician. She gossips, and flirts, but feels things deeply and is very caring.

We meet her near the start of the film interviewing a young and nervous girl called Annelle (Daryl Hannah) who desperately needs a job. Annelle is a bit of a strange character and had the accent that was most difficult to understand. I never entirely believed in her.

The other two main characters are two older women: Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) and Ouiser (Shirley Maclaine). These two have a love-hate relationship and provide a lot of the comedy in the film. Ouiser is grumpy most of the time (often with reason) and Clairee likes to stir…

The main story, which begins with the day before Shelby and Jackson’s wedding, takes place over the course of a little over a year. Emotions run high at times, but are interspersed with plenty of light relief and a great deal of warmth. Yet there’s a depth to this film and the incident towards the end, which shocked me the first time I saw it, seemed inevitable this time. And it’s very well done, as is the aftermath.

All in all, we thought it a well-made film, a better than average ‘rom com’. The rating is PG; there are some sex references but nothing explicit, and no violence - even the bird-shooting is done with blanks. I don’t recall much ‘strong’ language although there are plenty of mild expletives. However it’s unlikely to appeal to anyone below the age of about twelve.

According to one of the 'extras', this film was inspired by a true story.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Wonder (Jacob Tremblay)

(Amazon UK link)

Sometimes, when I add something to my wishlist after an Amazon recommendation, it turns out to be a good choice. Sometimes acceptable, sometimes very good. And just occasionally we find a film that is outstanding. Based on a novel (which I had not heard of) ‘Wonder’ comes in the last category. It’s one of the best films we have seen for a long time.

I expect the film was recommended to me because I have given good ratings to other films with Julia Roberts in it. But it’s not Julia Roberts who stars in this. She plays an excellent supporting role as a mother of a child with severe facial disfigurement. But the child himself, Augie, is the star of this wonderful story. Played by the young Canadian actor Jacob Tremblay, Augie is a ten-year-old boy who was born with a severe genetic condition.

Over the years, we learn, Augie has been in hospital many times undergoing different surgeries. His sight and hearing have been restored, and a great deal of plastic surgery means that his face, while unusual, is not unpleasant or difficult to look at. He has been homeschooled so far, but his parents feel that he should go to ‘Middle School’ for fifth grade.

Augie finds his face embarrassing and usually goes about wearing a space helmet. But the school principal and staff do all they can to help him adjust. He is very bright, particularly gifted in science. But one boy in his year verbally bullies him, and at first Augie is either ignored or shunned. He finds his first few days miserable, but gradually children get to know the real person inside. He’s kind, helpful, and has a great sense of humour…

There are other stories in this film too. The second part of the film features Augie’s older sister Via (Izabela Vidovik). She’s a likeable girl who has evidently felt neglected, sometimes unloved, as her parents focus all their attention on her brother. She knows it’s not his fault, and she understands. She just wishes she could talk to her parents and spend time with them. Then her best friend stops speaking to her too, and life looks grim until she’s invited to the school drama club…

It’s a film about the importance of looking beyond appearance, about honesty and friendship, and about unconditional love. There are some very poignant moments as well as some amusing scenes; the pace is excellent and we found ourselves engrossed in the story, barely noticing Augie’s different appearance after the first few scenes. And towards the end I found myself moved to tears in an emotive conclusion to the film.

The acting is excellent; Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson make believable parents, and some of the most amusing exchanges are between Augie and his dad. The school staff, particularly the head and Augie’s form teacher, are entirely believable, and the classmates too in their reactions and behaviour.

The rating is PG, which seems about right to me. There are a couple of quite intense scenes with some fighting, although it’s fairly tame and nobody is seriously injured. There’s no ‘strong’ language, and no scenes of intimacy, though there are some childish slang terms and some kissing.

We were slightly disappointed that there was no 'extra' documentary about the making of the film; there was just one brief one about the music (something which was good, but we barely noticed it). However there are some short YouTube films available explaining - for instance - how Jacob Tremblay was made up each day to look like Augie.

All in all, we loved this film and would recommend it highly to anyone, including children of about eight or nine and upwards.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

My Best Friend's Wedding (Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

We were given the DVD of ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ for Christmas eleven years ago, after I had put it on my wishlist. I didn’t have any idea what it was about, but Amazon recommended it and the reviews were mostly positive. We watched it in January 2009, and last night decided it was time to see it again.

With a gap of almost eleven years, we had almost entirely forgotten what the film was about. Julia Roberts stars as Julianne, a woman in her twenties who works for a very likeable gay boss called George (Rupert Everett). Out of the blue, she gets a phone call from her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney). She was just thinking about him, realising that they had made a jokey promise to marry each other if neither was wed by the time they were 28 - and that date is fast approaching.

However, Michael is ringing to tell Julianne that he is about to get married to someone else. She’s younger than he is, and he’s quite nervous about it and would like his best friend to be there. Julianne realises that she loves him herself, with more than just the affection of close friends. So she flies to the wedding, purportedly to support him and make friends with the beautiful Kimberley (Cameron Diaz) - but hoping to steal Michael for herself.

It’s not the usual storyline, but it’s very well done. Julianne is really quite unpleasant in some of her methods; she tells herself she’s doing them both a favour, that Kimberley is really too young for Michael and won’t deal with his jet-setting lifestyle. She succeeds in making them both increasingly tense, and while much of it’s amusing, I felt almost uncomfortable at times. I could not remember how the film ended; but by the time it was half-way through I was rooting for Kimberley.

Although some of Julianne’s ideas are quite nasty, the film is tinged with humour. There are some clever pieces of dialogue, some great choreography, and a scene where the two women get into a fight… surrounded by other women, cheering them on. It’s not a deep film, and there wasn’t anything much to ponder at the end; but I thought it an enjoyable, relaxing piece of escapism.

One scene that came back to me, as it developed, was the final one - it would be a spoiler to say what happens, but it gave a positive slant to what might have been a bittersweet conclusion.

The rating is 12 (PG-13 in the US) and I’d say that’s about right. There are inevitable sexual references, and one instance of very strong language, but nothing explicit. There are a few shots of people in scanty clothing or underwear, but no nudity, even partial. There’s no real violence, and I would be happy to show this to teenagers of around fourteen or fifteen, if they were interested in this kind of film.

My husband liked it too, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the light romantic comedy genre.

For more information about this film, and a brief trailer, see My Best Friend's Wedding at the IMDb site.

Review copyright 2019 Sue's DVD Reviews

Notting Hill (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

The last time we watched ‘Notting Hill’ (and, indeed, the first time as we had not previously seen it) was in 2007. I vaguely remembered liking it, but nothing at all about the story. So we decided to watch it again last night.

Hugh Grant - rather a young looking Hugh Grant, as this was made in 1999, when he was under 40 - plays William Thacker, a bookshop owner in London. It’s a perfect role for him. William is quiet, likeable, and far too honest to make a good salesman. Indeed, his bookshop (which only sells travel books) is gradually going more and more into debt.

Into William’s shop one day walks the American film star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). They converse briefly and she buys a book. He does not expect to see her again, but then manages to bump into her on his way back from collecting some drinks from a coffee shop. This sparks a tentative kind of friendship, with William becoming more and more incoherent and Anna intrigued, despite herself.

It’s a character-based film, a couple of hours long but well-paced and enjoyable throughout. William has a mixed bunch of friends, and a quirky young sister called Honey (Emma Chambers - basically playing the same kind of character as her Alice in ‘Vicar of Dibley’). His flat-mate is a rather coarse Welshman called Spike (Rhys Ifans) who provides an amusing contrast to William’s somewhat caricatured self-deprecating Englishman.

The film is a good study in culture clash, and characterisation in general. When William and his friends go around the table talking about who is the saddest, Anna - despite her fame and wealth - is able to point out that her life is no happier than theirs. There are different attitudes to publicity too, which come to a head in one scene which I did remember when it happened, as journalists and photographers converge to try to capture a new story.

There’s a nice blend of humour and poignancy in this film, and an ongoing tension as we wonder whether or not the two main character will get together. I honestly didn’t remember the outcome, but thought it extremely well done. Some of the characters are stereotyped, but others are entirely believable. I particularly liked William’s best friend Max (Tim McInnerny) and his disabled wife (Gina McKee).

The UK rating for ‘Notting Hill’ is 15, which seems a tad on the high side; the US, usually stricter, rates this as PG-13, which feels more appropriate to me. There is an inevitable bedroom scene but it’s tastefully done, with all the action offstage, and plenty of bed coverings afterwards. There are discussions of intimacies in varying forms, and one or two obscenities, but nothing that the average ten-year-old would not have heard already.

However, I can’t imagine it being of the slightest interest to anyone under the age of about fifteen anyway, so perhaps it’s immaterial. To see details, check the parents’ guide link in the imDb ‘Notting Hill’ guide.

Overall, I thought it a wonderful film. I felt uplifted and relaxed at the end. Definitely in the ‘feel-good’ category, and I hope not to leave it so long before watching it again.

Review copyright 2019 Sue's DVD Reviews

Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

Years ago someone suggested I might like the film 'Pretty Woman'. I didn't really know anything about it, but like Julia Roberts as an actress, and so it went on our wishlist. And sat on our unwatched-DVD-shelf for probably a couple of years before we decided to see it earlier this week.

What an incredible film it is! It's basically the story of a somewhat ruthless American millionaire businessman who stops to ask for directions in a backstreet, and ends up paying for the services of a prostitute for a week. Which sounds extremely sordid.. but isn't. In fact it's rather less sordid than the 1960s film 'Never on Sunday', which is only rated PG in the UK, and not at all in the US.

By contrast, 'Pretty Woman', which likewise implies 'adult' content, is rated 15 in the UK and an even stricter R (18) in the US. Yet there are no explicit scenes, no full-frontal nudity, almost no violence (certainly nothing gory), and surprisingly little bad language. Had we been the censors, we would have opted for '12' (or PG-13) on both.

As for the film itself - Richard Gere stars as the wealthy Edward, but was in my view one of the weaker characters. He's not bad - but his character didn't seem much different from that of the journalist in Runaway Bride.  He's quite likeable, but I never found him entirely believable either as a cutthroat businessman, or as someone likely to hire a prostitute - though he does express reservations for a while.

However,  Julia Roberts as Vivian is absolutely incredible. She totally makes this film, and apparently it's a significant role in terms of turning her into a star. I'm not surprised. When we first meet her on the streets, it was difficult even to recognise her.  Then the changes in her as she enjoys a life of luxury for a week are gradual but realistic.. and while the ending is perhaps a little surreal, it's eminently satisfying.

We thought that Hector Elizondo as the discreet hotel manager Barney was also excellent. His expressions were exactly right, his attitude to Vivien refreshing, and he was responsible for several lightly humorous moments in this film which we greatly appreciated.

I have to admit that it took me until the following morning to realise that the story is, essentially, that of Pygmalion - or the better-known 'My Fair Lady', set in 1990s Los Angeles... I assume that the title 'Pretty Lady', which out of context is rather feeble, was deliberately intended as a connection to the musical.

Overall, the pace is great, the story powerful and the directing works very well. I found this film totally engrossing once I got into it, and am only sorry we didn't see it sooner!

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

Mystic Pizza (Annabel Gish, Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor)

(Amazon UK link)

From time to time I check to see what DVDs Amazon will 'recommend to me, and add a few of the ones that appeal to my wishlist. 'Mystic Pizza' was one such film which I was given recently. Evidently a light 'chick-flick', so ideal for curling up on the couch with my husband one chilly January evening.

It’s set in the 1980s. Jojo (Lili Taylor) has cold feet during her wedding, calling it off and devastating her fiancé. Jojo and her two friends Daisy (Julia Roberts) and Kat (Annabeth Gish) – who are sisters – work at the pizza parlour in a small town called Mystic in the USA. Jojo still loves her boyfriend, but is very scared of long-term commitment.

Despite being sisters, Daisy is wild and sexy while Kat is sensible and sweet…they could hardly be more different. Kat is hoping to go to university soon, so working very hour she can to earn money. She starts a babysitting job and, to her horror, finds herself falling in love with the (married) father. Daisy, meanwhile, wants to have as much fun as possible but falls for someone much wealthier than she is, and starts to question her own worth.

So, the story is about these three young women with their stories intertwined, learning about life and love, and gradually maturing as they reach decisions. All three girls, despite being so different superficially, find themselves wondering in similar ways about the future of relationships they’re in. Inevitably, too, they cherish their friendship.

Oh, and there's the pizza place, which apparently is a real shop in a real small town in the USA. There's also an ongoing thread about the pizzas produced, and the people who eat them, and the secret ingredients that make it what it is.

There’s not really a whole lot of plot, and in a way it's all rather predictable. However, the film was nicely done, with some amusing moments, and great rapport between the three friends. The rating is 15 in the UK, and R (18) in the more prudish USA. No violence or horror, but some sexual references and low-key scenes, and a bit of bad language here and there.

Not too deep, but enjoyable while it lasts; good for a Saturday evening in. Just like pizza, really.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

Steel Magnolias (Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis)

(Amazon UK link)

From time to time I put a DVD on my wishlist due to the recommendation of friends, only to find Amazon recommending several more that I have not heard of, in similar genre or featuring one of the same actors or actresses. 'Steel Magnolias' was one of them. A quick browse of the blurb and reviews persuaded me that it would be my kind of film.

This story is about six rather different women in the US South, who live in the same neighbourhood and who regularly see each other at the beauty parlour. The parlour owner, with the unlikely name of Truvy, is very well played by Dolly Parton. Indeed, one of the quirks of this movie is that all the main women have slightly odd names, the least unusual being Shelby (played by Julia Roberts).

As the story starts, Shelby is preparing to be married, with her household in an uproar. She and her mother, naturally enough, find themselves at the beauty parlour discussing it, and it’s not long before we learn that Shelby is diabetic.

The blurb on the back of the DVD case says that this is the ‘funniest movie ever to make you cry’. I consider that to be serious hyperbole there since I neither laughed nor cried while watching it. Still, it is undoubtedly moving in places, and the characters (once I had got used to the strong accents and the bizarre scenario of a beauty parlour) really very likeable. There were a few amusing moments, too.

I was less impressed by a tragedy which I should probably have foreseen, but which I didn’t quite believe would happen in the context of a fairly light mildly humorous film. Still, it works well and was overall an engaging movie. The interactions between the women are mostly believable, and the story surprisingly thought-provoking for something that was really a 'chick-flick'. I felt quite involved with the story and the people, and was sorry when it ended.

Recommended. Rated PG in both the UK and USA. Nothing really unsuitable for young children, unless you are very strict, but I doubt if it would be of interest to anyone younger than about eleven or twelve.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere)

(Amazon UK link)

'Runaway Bride' was another Amazon recommendation, when browsing DVDs for my wishlist. Probably due to both the genre of those I had previous rated, and the actors.

I'm pleased it was recommended to me. This is not a heavy film, nor is there any thought-provoking message or deep issue. Instead, it's a light-hearted romantic comedy', probably intended mostly for woman but enjoyable for a cosy evening in for a couple too.

The story features Ike (Richard Gere), a reporter who hears about a young woman who has apparently run away, at the last minute, from several weddings. He is rather intrigued by what he reads, so researches for a while and writes an article based on what he’s heard. However, his paper receives an angry rebuttal from Maggie (Julia Roberts), the young woman in question. So Ike decides to investigate further…

The style is typical ‘rom-com’, with a fairly predictable ending, but we thought it was nicely done. Julia Roberts as Maggie is excellent, as is Richard Gere as Ike. Perhaps Maggie’s fear of commitment is somewhat overdone, and her previous boyfriends - who feature both in the present and the past - are rather caricatured. But still, there were some amusing moments, plenty of action, and a fast-paced plot.

Overall, we agreed that this was an enjoyable film which didn’t require much brainpower. Rated PG in both the UK and USA.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

My Best Friend's Wedding (Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney)

(Amazon UK link)

Browsing DVDs on Amazon, wanting to add a few to my wishlist for potential Christmas presents, I came across 'My Best Friend's Wedding'. Probably recommended to me because of the genres I tend to like - low-key romantic films with a light, perhaps humorous side - and also the cast.

Sure enough, I enjoyed it very much.

The story features Julianne (Julia Roberts), who has been ‘best friends’ with Michael (Dermot Mulroney) for nine years. She is invited to his wedding... and suddenly realises she’s in love with him.

His fiancée (Cameron Diaz) is bright, enthusiastic, and also very much in love with Michael, but Julianne determines to do all she can to break them up, figuring that all is fair in love, and that Michael and she will never be really happy without each other.

The pace is good, the script well done, although it becomes rather surreal at times. For instance there's a scene almost reminiscent of a 1960s musical when a table full of guests break into song at one point. Or there's the time when Julianne’s gay boss drops everything and flies to her rescue after a frantic phone call. There is even a spoof Bond-style car chase.

But this DVD was exactly what I needed for an evening’s relaxation with my husband. Decidedly a ‘girly’ film, but he liked it too. Julia Roberts is believable, if a little over the top at times, and the outcome was never entirely certain until the end. Recommended.

Rated 12 in the UK, PG-13 in the USA, probably due to one or two instances of bad language, and a little sexual humour.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews

Notting Hill (starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts)

(Amazon UK link)

'Notting Hill' is one of those films that Amazon kept on recommending to me. I like Hugh Grant very much as an actor, I'm growing to like Julia Roberts as an actress, and my preferred genre is the light romantic comedy films, where the humour is light rather than slapstick. So it went on my wishlist, and I received it as a gift.

What an absolutely delightful film it is, too! William - superbly cast as Hugh Grant - is a not-very-successful bookshop owner, getting along well enough when into his shop comes Anna (Julia Roberts).

Anna is a popular and beautiful actress, and William doesn't really know how to relate to her... particularly when, meeting her again, he spills something down her front.

There's not much more I can say about the plot without giving the story away. Actually, there isn't really a whole lot of plot. It's a character-based film, gently paced, with several moving moments. The chemistry between the two principals is excellent. We thought it was very well done, the tone set right from the start.

I suppose it could be summed up as a light and somewhat predictable romance story, but it's one of those that leaves the viewer warmed and inspired.

A little surprisingly 'Notting Hill' is rated 15 in the UK although there's no violence, almost no bad language, and only the subtlest of sex scenes. The US rating of PG-13 is perhaps more suitable.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews