Larry Crowne

The closing night gala of ScreenSingapore 2011 on Saturday was the premiere of Larry Crowne, graced by the actor, writer and director, Tom Hanks himself. He certainly added much of the glitz and glam to the week-long celebration.

Larry Crowne, with an E, is a middle-age man who goes back to college after he loses his job as he is unable to advance in his career without a college degree. He signs up for a college education and rediscovers himself from his scoot gang. At the Communications 217 - Art of Communications, he meets Mercedes Tainot (Julia Robert), and they fall in love.

The movie brings you through the crisis of of a man losing his job but yet still finds hope and joy from the other simple things in his life. You realize the importance of being practical and coming to terms with some tough decisions which will help you to survive.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fairy clouds. While you see the struggle of a Larry (mid-life crisis) and how he positively manages it. What I find lacking is the onscreen chemistry between Hanks and Roberts. I saw some sparks but no firework. I wonder could it be that the story was edited or shortened as there latter part of the movie seems rather fast-forward.



A little extra (photos posted by Channel News Asia):
Tom Hanks at the red carpet of ScreenSingapore and taking the escalator to Shaw 1 at Isetan Scott, and the little actor from Jesus Henry Christ.

Jesus Henry Christ

Last evening premiere was Jesus Henry Christ.

This is a coming of age movie that shares the story of a little genius, Henry James Hermin. He is a test-tube baby, oops! I meant he is conceived in a petri-dish as his mother Patricia corrects. Patricia is the only girl in her family of 4 boys and has tragically lost her mother on her 10th birthday. In her growing years, she strongly advocates for change and finally conceives Henry as a single mother. As Henry approaches his 10th birthday, he questions who and where is his father and soon starts on journey to locate him. Along the way, he finds his biological father and half-sister.

The movie is great! There are many little things in life which we should always be grateful of, such as the love of family, the joy of children, the pain of growing up. The movie portrays a little bit of everything which we will in one way or another experience them. No matter how tough, we always look for that rainbow at the end of it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 fairy clouds. The true joy of life is really letting go of whatever gripes you have in life, embrace it and grow with it. Life is short and full of the unexpected. Learn from Henry and her sister, Audrey.

Mr Popper's Penguins

The first of the gala movie premieres I attended on Wednesday evening was Mr Popper's Penguins. I had missed the second one, Super 8, due to an unfortunate event.

Mr Popper's Penguin movie is quite different from the storybook. In the movie, Tom is a successful and kniving property salesman who will do anything to close the deal. His personal life is however a flop; he is divorced with 2 kids. It is when he inherited some penguins sent by his late father, that he begins to understand what love is and opens his heart up to his children and ex-wife.

The storyline is simple and wholesome for the sole purpose of pure family entertainment. Quite unfortunately, I did not feel for the movie. I do admit that the penguins are cute and endearing. Beyond that, I saw no other saving grace for this movie.

Rating: 3 out of 4 fairy clouds. An overly simplistic plot which is crafted out of a typical movie template. Even if it is opened during Christmas, the magical touch is still seriously lacking. It should still be great for families with young preschoolers.