Determined To Succeed

There are times, my friends, I honestly don’t know what to write for my blog. My mind is a complete blank.  Zip. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. I start the day today with an empty page that is just staring back at me, knocking on the screen and saying “hey you. Yeah, you. Get to typing already.” I even look to my crunchy (extra sugary) cup of joe from Dunkin’ Donuts to wake me up and give me inspiration but it doesn’t (especially because today’s cup is “off” and doesn’t taste so good).

I’ll start by updating you on how I did yesterday playing tour guide in Philadelphia. I was so sure I would be eating a ton while out and about enjoying the sights of Philly – the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, National Constitution Center, Art Museum and Old City. But thanks to some excellent will (Bill) power and lots of walking I ended up not eating cheesesteak after cheesesteak, which is awesome. I even lost a pound in the process.

It’s especially awesome because, true to form, it’s Friday and I am stressing a bit about the weekend. I know I shouldn’t, especially since I’ve been much better about recognizing that sometimes it’s this stress that actually causes me to overeat. So I head into this weekend better than I have the past few. I am now in day three of my Coke detox, which is good, and I only had one soft drink all of yesterday – my can of TAB. Yes, TAB. That TAB. Do you guys know how much crap I got for that in e-mails yesterday? I feel like such a throwback. Not “yabba-dabba-do” throwback but close.

Anywho…I have also been stressing lots lately in light of gaining some pounds back. I think constantly about what I’ve been eating – “should I have this?” and “can I have that?”, particularly if I am out with friends. Grrrrr. It’s all about choices, I know. But sometimes those choices seem constant and the constant bombardment of them gets my mind into a frazzled “I’m really sick of this” state.  I am human, and I get sick of having to walk away from the stuff I know is bad and calorie-filled but tastes so damned good. I love me my beef fried rice, my strawberry ice-cream, a really nasty burger and my ice-cold Coca-Cola. I start wishing I could eat like Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep did in “Defending Your Life,” with no consequence at all to the waistline or weight. I just get fed up, tired and my brain starts meltdown with all the thoughts running through it.

So I guess starting my mind with a blank slate today is kind of good. My mind is cleared like the clouds that cleared away to reveal the sun here in southern New Jersey. And with this clearer mind I can focus on tasks and choices as they come up instead of worrying about a ton of things at one time before they are even presented – like worrying about what to eat, when and where.  Do you guys obsess about eating like this? It may not happen often but it does for me on occasion.

Thankfully. My mind is clear as a bell this morning. A liberty Bell that is…

Maybe it was all that Coke I was drinking?

It’s Not Complicated to Like “It’s Complicated” – Three Buckets of Popcorn out of Four

Have you ever wandered through an art gallery and wondered why beautiful works of art can sometimes have such generic and silly names. Like “fruit in bowl,” or something like that. Well, the same is true in Hollywood when it comes time to name their “works of art,” the movies.

I want the job at studios to come up with these generic, middle-of-the-road but resonant titles for films. Take for example the ones that pop immediately into my brain:

“Something’s Gotta Give”

“As Good As It Gets”

“Anywhere But Here”

“Nobody’s Fool”

“Where The Heart Is”

All of these are examples of titles ripped from the headlines of life, clichés and catch phrases we use around the water-cooler. Hence why they are called upon to be movie titles. Easy recognition of the basic plot (or feel) of the film.

Now we have “It’s Complicated,” a film that is way better than its title-us genericus.

During her son’s college graduation, Jane (Meryl Streep) hooks up with her ex-husband, Jake (the hilarious Alec Baldwin), who’s married to a younger, yet higher-maintenance woman (Lake Bell). During the process of being her ex’s mistress Jane also finds herself attracted to her architect, Adam (Steve Martin).

Movies like this are so easy. You know what you’re getting as soon as you see the previews. Hell, even the poster alludes to the hilarity that ensues during Streep’s relationship with Baldwin (who is sure to be Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor in this role). But any film that knows what it is and doesn’t try to be more is OK in my book, no matter what genre it rests. This movie is no exception. Light-hearted romantic comedy – check. Likeable, attractive stars – check. Obligatory set-ups for hilarious situations – check. Mid-point conflict – check. Resolution – check.

See, no surprises. The charm of this film lies in its cast. Streep is so easy to like and she is radiant in the role of Jane. Baldwin is awesome and Jake and Steve Martin in this film reminds me why I like him as a performer. He has a great ability to be way over the top or as low key/forgettable as he needs to be – a sign of a good actor. And he is very charming as a divorced man getting his dating legs back with Jane. But the one who almost steals the movie is “The Office’s” John Krasinski as Streep’s son-in-law. His delivery of lines and looks given the actions around him is priceless.

Is this film high art? No. It’s cheesy Hollywood-y “rom-com” but it’s actually worth the price of admission, especially for a light break on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

And like I said sometimes bland titles lead to some pretty enjoyable works of art.

Rated R for some drug content and sexuality

Runtime: 120 min

Meryl Streep     …         Jane

Steve Martin     …         Adam

Alec Baldwin    …         Jake

John Krasinski   …         Harley

Lake Bell          …         Agness

Mary Kay Place            …         Joanne

Rita Wilson       …         Trisha