The Notebook

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly, Sam Shepard

Year: 2004

One. Of. The. Best! In fact, probably one of the most romantic movies ever made. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, it's perfect. I have never read the book - and while books are usually better than the movies - I really can't imagine that being the case with this one. There is nothing I would change about this movie. Not the storyline. Definitely not the cast.

Duke (Garner), an elderly patient at a nursing home, reads to another patient - a female patient - every day. He reads her the story of Noah and Allie.

The story begins in the summer of 1940, when Noah (Gosling), a poor lumber mill worker, and Allie (McAdams), an heiress, first meet. At first Allie has no interest in Noah. But Noah is persistent. He's never met anyone like Allie and believes they are meant to be together. After a bit of a set-up scam by Noah's friend (Connolly), Noah and Allie begin to date. And fall in love quite quickly; practically spending every waking moment together. That is, until Allie's parents forbid Allie to date Noah anymore because they don't approve of their relationship. Noah isn't at all what they want for Allie.

Noah overhears her parents telling Allie this and decides that perhaps their relationship won't work after all, and they break up. Although, deep down, you know that neither of them really want to. But it doesn't matter. Allie's parents have packed up and closed the summer mansion earlier than planned and are moving back home to Charleston. Taking Allie with them.

Noah writes Allie a letter every day for a year. After a year with not one response from Allie, he decides to stop. That it's time to move on. But it's hard. His life is so empty without her. Allie, in the meantime, meets wealthy and handsome Lon (Marsden) and they fall in love. And much to the delight of Allie's parents, eventually get engaged. One day while Allie is trying on wedding dresses, she sees an article in the newspaper about Noah and soon finds herself driving back to Seabrook to see him. Although a bit awkward at first, as years have passed, the fire between them slowly ignites once more. And they find the love they thought was lost forever. There's only one small issue. Allie is engaged to Lon. How can she hurt Lon? And her parents? But how can she hurt Noah again, after she just came back into his life?

Favourite Scenes: #1 When Noah and Allie are in the rowboat among the swans. #2 When Noah convinces Allie to lay in the middle of the road with him. #3 Whenever Duke is reading to the patient. #4 When Noah takes Allie to the old abandoned house.

Fun Facts: #1 Allie wasn't supposed to crash into Noah's wooden fence. It was an accident. But they kept it in the film. #2 The Notebook was the first novel Nicholas Sparks published. #3 Rachel and Ryan won the MTV Award for Best Kiss (and as they should!! wow!) #4 The Notebook is based on a true story about Nicholas Sparks' ex-wife's grandparents. #5 Ryan Gosling has blue eyes but wore brown contacts in the movie since the older Noah has brown eyes. #6 Ryan had to lose twenty pounds of muscle to play the younger version of Noah. So they filmed the older scenes of Noah and Allie first. #7 Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were considered for the lead roles. No offence, but eww! #8 Ryan and Rachel started dating in real life after filming the movie, dating from 2004 to 2007. They were sooooo good together. I think everyone was disappointed when they broke up. Or was it just me?? #9 Ryan and Rachel are both Canadian! Yay 🇨🇦!

The Notebook is the story of young love and true love. It's about a love so strong, it has you feeling joy in the happy moments; and then tearing up at the sad bits. You can't help but fall in love with Noah and Allie and becoming involved in their relationship. In their world. It leaves you sitting quiet, in your own thoughts and feelings, way after the credits have rolled.

Favourite Lines:

*I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you every day for a year. It wasn't over. It still isn't over.

*....I want you. I want all of you. Forever. Every day.

* If you're a bird, I'm a bird.

*The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more. That plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.

* I think our love can do anything we want it to.

*She made me who I am and holding her in my arms was more natural to me than my own heartbeat. *No matter what happens to us, every day spent with you is the best day of my life.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.

Father of the Bride

Starring: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, Martin Short, George Newbern, Kieran Culkin

Year: 1991

It's the year 2020. Covid across the globe. 😷 And because of this horrible pandemic, so many couples around the world have had to postpone their wedding. Did you miss going to a wedding this year? Were you invited to a wedding that had to be postponed? Were YOU supposed to get married? If you raised your hand to at least one of those questions, here is the one wedding you can attend. And be a part of from beginning to end. From the engagement announcement, the planning, right down to the vows, the throwing of the bouquet and the mess left at the end of the night. It's the one invite that you can actually R.S.V.P. to with a yes and attend! Safely. Even with a plus one, two or five! 😉

George Banks (Martin) has the perfect life, lives in the perfect house, with his perfect family. George is happy. He's content. And thrilled that his daughter Annie (Williams) is finally coming home, after studying abroad for four months. His excitement quickly fades, however, when Annie announces that she met someone in Rome and they are getting married. While George's wife Nina (Keaton) is over-the-moon excited for her daughter, George struggles with accepting that his little girl is getting married.

Once George realizes that the wedding will take place, whether he likes it or not, he decides it's best to accept it and go with the flow. Which is NOT easy for George. It's not only about his baby girl getting married - especially to someone she barely knows. It's about trying to dislike and find flaws in the soon-to-be-son-in-law Brian (Newbern), but can't. It's about the over-the-top wedding co-ordinator Franck (Short); and the sheer cost of it all! And all of it combined, is turning George's simple, perfect life into chaos. But as the day approaches, George finds himself softening to the idea of Brian and even how much the wedding will cost. He's just not sure he will ever be ready to let his Annie go.

Favourite Scenes: #1 When George imagines a younger version of Annie announcing her engagement at the dining room table. #2 All the times when George and Annie play basketball together. #3 When George takes Brian out for a drink, after Annie calls off the wedding. #4 When George is laying in bed and has flashbacks of Annie growing up.

Fun Facts: #1 It's a Nancy Meyers film!! # 2 They cast Steve Martin as George before the screenplay was even written. Making it a lot easier to write, knowing funny man Steve Martin will play the part. #3 Diane Keaton has worked with Nancy Meyers twice. Baby Boom (1987) and Something's Gotta Give (2003) #4 Martin Short's character is based on a real person. The wedding planner who assisted in Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's wedding. #5 In the movie, George has sneakers made for Annie to wear on her wedding day. In real life, Kimberly Williams wore sneakers at her own reception, when marrying country star Brad Paisley. #6 The house is located in Pasadena. People, to this day, either go there just to see it, or propose there. #7 This movie is a remake of a 1950 film, with same name, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracey.

As in every Nancy Meyers film, I love the house. And I have loved this house since the first time I watched this movie, almost thirty years ago! Two of my houses had interior yellow walls because of this house!

It's the story of a tight-knit family, with strong family values. And with a dad every girl wishes she had. It's sweet, tender, heartwarming and funny too. Whether you've seen it once, twice or a hundred times, it's a timeless classic that will never go out of style. A movie you won't regret saying yes to.

Favourite Lines:

*You worry about her going out with the wrong kind of guys....then she gets a little older....and you worry about her meeting the right guy.

*I just kept thinking about how this was my last night in my bed, in my house. Kinda like my last night as a kid.

*...I know I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life.

*.....I suddenly realized what was happening. Annie was all grown up and leaving us. And something began to hurt.

From one movie "buff" to another....get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.

I.Q.

Starring: Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, Walter Matthau, Stephen Fry, Lou Jacobi, Joseph Maher, Gene Saks

Year: 1994

I had never seen this movie before. Had never even heard of it actually. But I haven’t found an earlier movie of Meg Ryan’s that I didn’t like, so I thought what the heck. And I was pleasantly surprised. The best way to describe this movie is “cute”.

Ed (Robbins) is a mechanic. Catherine (Ryan) is a mathematician. Ed, easy-going and romantic. Catherine, bookish and brainy. They couldn’t be more opposite.

Set in the 1950’s, Catherine and her fiancee James (Fry) are driving along when their vehicle begins to break down. Pulling into the nearest garage, Ed goes out to help them. The moment Ed sees Catherine, it’s love at first sight. For him. He feels an instant spark and believes she is the one he will marry. Catherine seems to feel something too, but ignores it. She is, after all, engaged to a brilliant professor. What more could she want? But Ed doesn't give up. He is determined to make her his.

Ed notices that Catherine left a watch behind at the garage and is thrilled to have an excuse to find her. But when he goes to her home, he doesn’t find her. Instead, he finds himself face to face with Albert Einstein (Matthau) - Catherine’s uncle. After explaining the real reason he is there, Albert instantly decides to become matchmaker and calls his old scientist cronies to help Ed get his girl. And once they meet Ed, they all agree that Ed is a far better catch and match for Catherine. And so the mischievous plotting begins.

Favourite Scenes: #1 When Ed returns the watch to Catherine, after he asks her out and she refuses. #2 When Ed is helped when writing an I.Q. test. #3 When Ed and Catherine are on Uncle Albert’s sailboat. With Uncle Albert. #4 The “wahoo” scene outside of Princeton. #5 Every time Tim Robbins smiles.

Fun Facts: #1 The close-ups of Ed’s hands when solving the wooden puzzles, are not his own, but rather the hands of enigmatologist (person who studies and writes mathematical puzzles - had to google it lol) John Chaneski. #2 This is the second movie Meg and Tim are in together. The first one was Top Gun (1986). # 3 Meg and Walter are also in another movie together. Hanging Up (2000). #4 Alan Arkin was almost cast as Albert Einstein. #5 Tim Robbins is 6’ 5”. #6. Meg Ryan is 33 years old in this movie. Tim is 36.

I.Q. is a classic romantic comedy. Maybe a bit quirky and predictable, but cute and charming too. Not heavy. Not super emotional. Not even remotely realistic. But it's light and easy to watch. With characters that make you smile. And sometimes, especially during these crazy times, that’s all we need.

Favourite Lines:

*Don’t let your brain interfere with your heart.

*I would rather be an optimist and a fool than a pessimist and right.

*I’m steering ze boat.....

*....come on! He loved it! He went Wahoo!

From one movie “buff” to another, get that popcorn popped, the lights dimmed and the movie rolling.