moossaboossa

I love this show. I went through the entire first season in under two days. I love it because it takes a candid, unabashed look at the lives of four young women who are struggling with reality; and it does so in a that way not many television shows are able to. This is the first program I've seen that is able to humorously, albeit seriously, depict a specific scenario without being crude or unrealistic or shy.

I'm well aware that as twenty-something-year olds its very easy to believe that every problem encountered (however small) is the worst imaginable when you're fresh out of college, drowning in responsibilities and generally overcome with anxiety. The first episode begins with Hannah (one of the central characters) being told by her parents that they will no longer financially support her. The concept is pretty conceivable to many who have been financially independent since the day they received their diploma, but to Hannah, it's crushing news. As is her lack of a job. Her "hookup's" non-committal stance. Her being thirteen pounds overweight. Every problem she has is worthy of a meltdown while the people around her think its only worthy of a sarcastic "world's tiniest violin". But her problems do matter, as do all the other problems that the other central characters (Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna) are forced to dealt with. And I think Lena Dunham really does this justice. Because she's not omitting, for the sake of pleasing a wider audience, the awkward sex scenes or messed up interviews or bitch fights between friends; she's being upfront and saying "Welcome to the real New York- not the glamorous Sex and The City".

All of what I said above, I must add, I felt before I IMDb'd it and found that if I'd bothered to read the credits I would have seen Lena Dunham (who plays a central character) is incredible. As she not only acts in this show, but she also created it, writes and directs the episodes! She's a one man show and she's only 26. I think she's a rare talent and will no doubt become an important figure in modern television/cinema production.

So watch it!

Stripping aside, this movie was actually quite serious; not to mention realistic. I agree that based on the trailer my previous sentence seems rather unlikely, as I too expected an irrelevant plot and a lot of booty. What I got from "Magic Mike" instead was a lot of story...and yeah, a lot of flesh.

The movie centres around Mike (Channing Tatum), an "entrepreneur" who's ambition in life is to open a custom-made furniture business. Mike is "Magic Mike" the stripper by night, and Michael Lane- the contractor and eager loan candidate by day. While working as a contractor Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer) a penniless nineteen year old who lost his football scholarship after assaulting his coach. One night, after Adam successfully (and unknowingly) recruits women as customers for Mike's strip show, Mike introduces Adam to the world of stripping.

This is all very romantic and, on the surface, rather mundane. Based on my previous description it's essentially a slightly more sexed up rendition of "The Blind side"; but it's the little things that did it for me. I loved how ironic it was that while Mike was frequently sleeping with a psychologist and behavioral analyst; it was actually Adam's sister who calls him out on his behavior and whom he feels comfortable confiding in. I loved the contrast between Adam: who became so blinded by the spotlight to realize his own decline into drugs, alcohol and danger- and Mike: who finally shed light onto his own unhappiness with his job and apparent disinterest in continuing it. It was a clever movie with a lot of meaning; a sister's concern for her brother, a stripper's comfort yet eternal dissatisfaction with their job; the world behind "show business" and the hot, sweaty bodies (namely of Channing Tatum- that man can move!).

Don't get me wrong, there's lots of fun to be found in this movie. Just look out for the glimpses beneath the surface, as I do think they deserve recognition.

I think this show is either directed at teenagers, those who aren't far from their teenage years or those who are particularly reminiscent of their teenage years; simply because it can't be taken too realistically.

"Jane by design" details the life of a sixteen year old girl who is mistaken as an adult, and is given the opportunity to live both the life of a normal teenager and the life of a successful career woman. She doesn't pay rent but she earns a respectable salary, she doesn't have bills so she uses her money for clothes- it's essentially the best of both worlds. This show centres around a daydream that most high school "outcasts" have had at one point; that of being given the opportunity to break free from the mold and prove to every popular kid that even the outcasts matter.

This show can't be taken too literally. It is very surreal (as a situation such as Jane's would never go unnoticed), perhaps a little stereotyped and generally tailor made for the modern day teenager. It has Iphones, heels and a Katy Perry soundtrack- so if Gossip girl or 90210 simply aren't to your liking, this probably won't be either. But as a teenage girl, I find it adds much needed sustenance to my own daydreams and perhaps a little bit of healthy positivism to my outlook on life.