Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Two of Many Out This Week

I cannot believe, after all the movie I see, that there are about 5 movies coming out that I haven't seen in ONE week.  OMG!!  Well, I'm going to have to get back into action.  I've been behind with Blockbuster, too.

At any rate, "Nick and Norah" comes at a time when teen sexual activity in film has taken an upswing.  Yeh, yeh, there's sex in almost EVERY film.  But, I'm talking like "Sex Drive" that just came out recently.  Yet, Nick and Norah takes a higher road to sweet romance with just the discussion of promiscuity ---- versus naked bottoms of all sizes going to town with handcuffs.  My rating:  $7.00 (1.-10.). 

Nerdy-cool (if that's possible) Michael Cera (Juno) returns to another awkward interpersonal relationship movie.  He's totally obsessed with beautiful Tris  (Alexis Dziena from 2005 show "Invasion") who knows she's a guy magnet.  They were "a couple" for 6 months until she dumped him.  Hopelessly, he leaves long, forlorn messages on her cell wishing her "good times" as he pleads for a callback.  Pitiful.  But not as pitiful as his CD mixes that he makes her with customized covers he makes himself.  He was up to #12 as the movie starts. 

Kat Dennings, who we last saw in "House Bunny", plays Norah.  Norah's dad is a power player.  We just don't know of what kind till mid-movie.  Norah, Tris, and pal Caroline (Ari Graynor - nondescript-looking but she makes her mark in this movie) all go to the local Catholic High School.  Norah's not "cool" in the normal sense.  She's also kinda nerdy.  But daddy's reputation goes a long way.  It keeps Tris from being a complete b--ch to Norah.  First sign that cupid is in the room.....Norah's being stealing the CD's that Tris dumps in the garbage which were made by Nick.  Norah loves his choices in music.  She's never actually met Nick.

The fun starts when Norah gets boxed into a "my date is better than your date" contest at a club party one night.  Nick's band, The Jerk Offs, is playing there.  Other band mates include Aaron Yoo ('Disturbia') and Rafi Gavron ('Breaking and Entering') who are gay.  After their band is done, Norah goes up to Nick and asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend.  Awkward... Tris comes up and wonders when they got together-- 'At the same dentist'.  But the AHH! factor comes from their sweet kiss that becomes more than either expected. 

The funniest material in the movie comes from Caroline who is an alcoholic.  She can't drink without being drunk.  We older folks recognize the irresponsibility of her drinking and her example for the audience.  But, still, she's the funniest thing in the movie with the gay guys being next.  The gay friends agree to take Caroline home so Norah and Nick can have some time.  She wakes up when they stop for food, has no idea where she is, and runs out the back of their van to parts unknown.  The rest of the night (till sunrise, actually) finds all these kids chasing after Caroline-- and a band called "Where's Fluffy" (you'll have to see the movie).  

Funniest and grossest scene:  Caroline trying to call Norah from a bathroom stall at the bus station.  Her phone falls into a toilet full of brown water.  Better -- when she gasps, her gum follows!!  Best -- she dips in for the phone..... AND the gum!!!!!!  The gum as a long, long, life if you can get my drift.  There's also a scene in a gay revue...soooo good.

Norah falls for Nick first.  It takes a close call (and most of the movie) with jealous Tris, who only wants Nick when someone else has him, for Nick to see the gold in his hands. 

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote the novel.  Lorene Scafaria wrote the screenplay.  Peter Sollett directed.  It's rated PG-13 but you should really not take the younger school-age kids.  The run time is a nice 90 minutes. 

Beverly Hills Chihuahua:

There's not much to say about this film.  Truly.  If you like animal flicks where the animals have as much or more intelligence than the humans, you'll love "Beverly Hills Chihuahua".  I'm not particularly an animal-movie enthusiast.  But I have to say the writers kept up some pretty funny dialogue allowing only the hint of dragging before I get sucked back into the action.  My rating: $8.00 (1.-10.).

Jamie Lee Curtis, looking fabulous, plays Vivian.  Chloe the Chihuahua is her baby - literally.  Vivian owns a cosmetic company that is international in size.  Her home is to drool for.  At that home, Chloe has a designer wardrobe, her own pool with lounge chairs, and play dates with other wealthy dogs.  Each has her own perky personality. 

Piper Parabo plays Rachel, Viv's niece who has no responsibility to anyone except herself.  When Viv gets called out of the country on business, Rachel gets to dog sit.  She's got enough on the ball to take Chloe to Mexico for the weekend but not enough to keep her from getting out of the hotel and kidnapped.  You see, Chloe wears a particular Harry Winston diamond collar that tells people a lot more than her owner's name. 

Thirty-one year-old Columbian TV hunk, Manolo Cardona, plays Sam, the landscaper whose rough-around-the-edges Chihuahua, Papi, falls for Chloe.  He goes to Mexico to help locate Chloe. He and Rachel  as well as Chloe and Papi find that snobbishness can delay true love. 

Quickly now, Chloe gets kidnapped by dog-fighting criminals.  She meets a German shepherd named Delgado who used to be a police dog till he lost his sense of smell.  These two have a very, long, road trip as only animals can.  Chloe gets a fast education in the real world along the way. 

There are more animal voices by stars than you'll ever recognize.  Drew Barrymore is Chloe while Papi is George Lopez.  Delgado is voiced by Andy Garcia.  Other voices include Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, Placido Domingo, Edward James Olmos, Loretta Divine, Luis Guzman, and tons of others who I don't know. 

Jeffrey Bushnell (writer for "The Bernie Mac Show" and "Zoey 101") came up with the story and wrote the screenplay in collaboration with Analisa LaBianco.  Wonderful comedy director, Raja Gosnell, had the helm ("Big Momma's House"/"Home Alone 3"/'Yours, Mine, and Ours").  It's rated PG for animals in trouble that might disturb younger kids and other's with very soft hearts.  The run time is good at 90 minutes.  This is the family choice for this weekend.  I don't see much lasting damage for hearts of any age. 

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