Happy New Year

What? It's not a sequel to Valentine's Day? 

Let's be honest here. There was absolutely NO reason to make this movie. Well, maybe one: money. During a viewing of this excruciatingly painful melo-dramedy, one will find absolutely no artistic value, underlying message, or actual creative backbone. This film is just an excuse to slap a couple of famous face in front of the same camera, within the same period of time. You know what that's called on the set of a good movie? Bad casting. 

I can't believe someone made the same mistakes that were made just a year or two ago! When I first saw the poster, I thought "Is this a  parody?". But then I saw who was directing this prick of a film. 

Garry Marshall: Probably the single most desperate man in America. I am convinced that his last and final wish (let's be honest, he's not exactly in his twenties) is to meet as many famous people as he can; and what does that leave the helpless moviegoers with? The atrocities that were (and still are) Valentine's Day and New Years Eve. 

Looking for a fun holiday film to put a spring in your step, and a sparkle in your smile? Then spend your ten bucks elsewhere, because this movie is not worth the dough. 

The whole thing is a jumbled mess of popular actresses of today, and a few familiar faces that we all know. Then of course your Ashton Kutcher and your Jessica Biel who insist upon us that "Yes look, we're still famous! We promise!" 

Well I don't need it. I don't need it, and I encourage everyone to stray far away from this badly written, far-fetched, soap cushion of a love story that sincerely wants to be literally everything that it's not. It's a drama for people who don't like dramas, a comedy for people who don't like comedies, and a romance for people who don't like romance. Not worth a second of your time.

I admit I didn't see New Year's Eve in a theater, where I might have resented spending the money. I saw it on TV and for what it was - a holiday movie, I thought it was cute.

Okay, I'm a sap. I've read the reviews here. I didn't find the story lines a jumble at all. This is a feel-good film with expected endings and so what? I for one do not want to be made miserable around the holidays when I'm already sad because so much of my family is gone.

There were also complaints about the cast - too many stars. So what? All-star casts have been around since 1931. Hillary Swank, Zach Efron, Robert de Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Bon Jovi, Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Carla Gugino, Seth Meyers, and Sofia Vergara.

The film is episodic, about happenings in New York City on New Year's Eve: Swank is responsible for getting the ball to drop at midnight; de Niro is a dying man who wants to go on the hospital roof to see the ball drop; two couples want to have their babies at midnight and win $25,000; Katherine Heigl comes face to face with Bon Jovi, who dumped her the year before; Michelle Pfeiffer is a secretary who leaves her job and asks Zach Efron to fulfill her bucket list; Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher are stuck in an elevator; etc.

"New Year's Eve" is an old-fashioned film, the kind you would see in the '50s. It's not Citizen Kane and it's not supposed to be. It seems to me that many people on IMDb are incredible snobs, sorry, and don't understand simple entertainment and taking a movie for what it is instead of what it isn't. You didn't know George Bailey would come out okay in "It's a Wonderful Life"? You didn't know they'd pull off honoring the general in "White Christmas"? I'm not sure what the problem is. I want predictable around the holidays. For those of you who wanted the ball to blow up and kill everyone at the end of the movie, you'll need to watch something else.

Why does everyone have to look at every movie with an oh so critical and cynical eye?

This is a great seasonal movie to go and take your family (I did yesterday) in amongst all the pre-Christmas madness and just sit down,take a load off,relax,smile and enjoy... Sure it's no Citizen Kane..but it never purported to be!

It's a nice feel-good movie

so go and take off the cynical glasses and enjoy..we wouldn't enjoy half of great Christmas movies if we all took this jaded view of movies!

Director Garry Marshall delivers what Hollywood thinks is the new chick flick formula. Take a holiday, add a whole bunch of stars, and put them in separate plot lines that are related in the least important ways. This one is set on New Year's Eve in New York city. Kim (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the concerned single mother of Hailey (Abigail Breslin) who wants to kiss the boy at midnight. Chef Laura (Katherine Heigl) is cooking a corporate New year's Eve party, and her ex Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) is singing at the party. Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) quits her job and asks Paul (Zac Efron) to help fulfill her resolutions.

I could keep go on for a half dozen more plot lines. There is one where Randy (Ashton Kutcher) who gets stuck in an elevator with Elise (Lea Michele). At least they seem to have some chemistry. This is not a good movie. It's a sad day when this calculated series of movies continues. This is a formula that deserves to die.

I rather enjoy the odd ensemble comedy such as this film, I somewhat enjoyed Valentines Day and I really enjoyed He's Just Not That Into You, but what those film had but this doesn't is a fewer amount of plot lines. There's just too much going on in this film, far too many characters, as soon as I found myself interested in one plot its segment would end, you can never get really attached to one set of characters.

For me the best storyline was the Michelle Pfieffer and Zefron plot, it was really the only one with a bit of substance, I actually think a full movie of that story would be great, also the Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers plot was rather funny thanks to the highly underrated Ms Biel. This movie is entertaining enough I suppose but it's also lacking any real great laugh out loud moments, the only time I laughed was when Jessica Biel was in labour, she could do some great comedy if given the chance.

Lea Michele manages to bring her great screen charisma to the big screen, she is very fun to watch and her rendition of Aude Lang Syne was lovely and a nice way to end the movie.

If this movie had about four or five less stories happening this movie would have been much better, it's not horrible by any standards but it's not excellent either, also this may sound mean but Sofia Vergara is possibly the most annoying actress alive, at least they didn't put a decent actress in the most annoying role in the film. I mean it's worth paying to see the excellent dance scene between Zefron and Pfieffer over the end credits.

OK, but basically it's exactly the same as Valentines Day but with more actors and a lot less substance.

Enjoy. Maybe.