Movie Review: Ghost of Girlfriend's Past

In a spoof off of Charles Dicken's classic, "A Christmas Carol," director Mark waters does a good job reenacting the parts of the play taking a single, selfish bachelor through his life and seeing how he belittled women.

Connor Meade (played by Matthew McConaughey) a famous photographer and well known "player" gets an invite to his younger brother's wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. There, he runs into one of the bridesmaids and long lost one night stand Jenny(played by Jennifer Garner). Connor thinks he is still on his "A-Game" until Jenny turns him down hard leaving him quite confused since no one resists Connor Meade.

That first night staying in the old Newport mansion, Connor gets paid a visit by his dead uncle (played by Michael Douglas). He gets taken from different scenes of his life every since he started dating. He was shown the numerous girls that he hurt in the past, present, and future.

Along the way, Connor realizes that he still has feelings for Jenny and is determined to make things right with her considering he did carry a picture of her in his wallet from when she was very little. That part was a tad creepy. However, Jenny can't seem to get over the man that Connor has now grown to be and it will take more than one night for him to gain back her respect.

Ultimately, the two fall back in love which was easily seen coming a mile away. The movie was not exciting to say the least. However, it did teach males a valuable lesson - that's if they were paying close attention. In a portion of the movie after Jenny and Connor sleep together, all Jenny wants to do is be held afterward.

To all the males, that is something so crucial to know about females. I thought that having the director include that portion in the movie was very interesting. However, that makes me wonder- is he gay? that leaves much to my imagination. Just that one scene gave men a flashing red sign of what some women really want from a relationship and that is to be held and nothing more.

The role of Connor could have been played by someone else other than McConaughey. I could have seen Matt Dillon in this role instead. The character seemed unlike any role that McConaughey is usually seen playing. It was more of the complete opposite of his role in "The Wedding Planner." The "bad boy" act doesn't work for Matthew McConaughey with his whole southern accent and charm.

The acting by both Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey really were not their best which is probably why it was not a smash hit at the box offices. Although Jennifer Garner was placed in her typical "good girl next door" roles that she usually gets hired for, this character suited her well and so did the overall movie. However, Matthew McConaughey would be suited much better in another film like "Fool's Gold" where he can be care free, adventurous, and shirtless.

Overall, I thought the movie was mediocre. I probably wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone unless they wanted to watch a "how to guide" on what to do and what not to do to women considering that there were some helpful tips on how to treat a female with respect. Other than that, I watched it once and didn't get much fulfillment. But it's an okay movie to see if there's nothing else better to watch.

"The Odd Couple" Theatre Review

"The Odd Couple" by Neil Simon was a successful Broadway play in 1965 and continues to bring in much revenue many years later. This play is the perfect example of two completely opposite bachelors who have recently been left by their wives. The macho, newly divorced New Yorker man, Oscar Madison(played by Fred Sullivan, Jr.) meshes well with sensitive, newly single Felix Ungar (played by Brian McEleney).

The play starts off with a group of guys sitting at a poker table in Oscar's apartment contemplating where their friend Felix is who never happens to miss a game. The stage has clothes thrown all over the floor and left over plates with food stuck to them. The poker players are typical beer drinking, smoking men who you would find at a bar.

Felix makes his entrance to the stage beside himself giving the guys the impression that he can't be left alone. Oscar feels guilty and very alone not having his ex wife and kids there, so he invites Felix to stay with him for a bit until Felix becomes mentally stable.

Once Felix moves in, Oscar's home is turned upside down. Since Oscar lives in a chaotic mess with disorganization everywhere in site, Felix can't help but not want to clean. Felix and Oscar's friendship turns into an old married couple's relationship. Felix acts as the complaining wife and Oscar as the careless, loveless husband who is just staying in the marriage because there's nowhere else to turn to at this point in age.

Brian McEleney does an outstanding job portraying this uptight character and makes the play much more comedic. Although his character is overly sensitive and annoying, you can't help but feel bad for him.

Fred Sullivan Jr. does great playing the role of Oscar. The character reminded me of "Archie Bunker" minus having Edith as his wife from "All in the Family" which made the play all more enjoyable for me.

Oscar eventually gets fed up with not going out on the town that he arranges a date for Felix and himself with two sisters, Gwendolyn Pigeon (played by Phyllis Kay) and Cecily Pigeon (played by Nance Williamson)from another room in the apartment building. These women act obnoxious and stupid with loud laughter and seem to cry about every issue. They become intrigued by Felix's vulnerable side and begin to favor him over Oscar.

The disastrous date starts and ends quickly when Felix starts reminiscing about Frances. The combination of serious/sensitive emotions mixed with dry humor is great! The acting by Brian McEleney combines great with the acting of Fred Sullivan Jr. whose sarcasm never seems to fail throughout the play.

The play as a whole did a great job keeping the audience laughing and made each person in the theater feel like they were in Oscar's living room with the gang. Although I was hoping to see Felix reconcile with his wife, the play ended on an odd note with Felix simply leaving Oscar's apartment and the rest of the guys playing poker as they did at the beginning of the play.

"The Odd Couple" is a play that I would certainly recommend to anyone. It's just as good as going to see a comedy at the cinema, maybe even better because it's done live. The play was a great experience and changed my outlook that I had before hand of going to see a play at a theater.