I saw Ghost Town today - first time in a while that I've actually seen a movie in a theatre (though I still didn't end up paying full price) and it was charming.  Completely predictable, definitely cheesy, and it is after all a general theme that we've seen done SO many times (and, really, no one can do it better than It's A Wonderful Life)... BUT the movie was endearing.  It never tried to pass itself off as anything more than a feel good, witty and sarcastic (unsurprising given the Ricky Gervais + Greg Kinnear pairing), romantic comedy.

Honestly though, Kinnear and Gervais (did you catch him on Jon Stewart?!  BRILLIANT*  Speaking of TDS, Asif Mandvi has a role in Ghost Town!  Michelle and I squeed a little when he came on the screen) MADE this movie.  They were flawless - dry and mean and sympathetic and witty all at once. 

The movie was perfect for a lazy Friday afternoon.

And it was surprisingly moving.  I teared up twice and would defy anyone with even half a heart not to during those two scenes.

We definitely walked out of the theatre with smiles on our faces.  Though, I do think our enjoyment of the movie was helped by the fact that there were a grand total of 10 people in the theatre with us and no one (us included) was afraid to actually laugh out loud.  OH MAN.  The guy sitting a few rows behind us had the BEST laugh I've ever heard.  It was hysterical just on its own. 

Next week we're going to see The Duchess.  I figure that's a movie that needs to be seen on the big screen - I mean c'mon!  Ralph Fiennes?  Dominic Cooper?  Yeah.  That's worthy of a 50ft screen.   (Though, I'm worried about all the horrid reviews its gotten)  Our other choice is Burn After Reading, which I do want to see, but it doesn't seem important to see it in theatres.  There's also The Visitor, which is playing at Carlton.  Argh!  Why are all these movies released at once?!

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The Swell Season show is tomorrow and you can all probably guess how I excited I am!  I hope we get a good crowd.  And in a dream set list we'd get Red Chord, Fitz, Hallelujah, Fogtown, and this new one - Back Broke (I'm guessing I'd be pushing it a bit too far to ask for a Mic Christopher cover?)
* Did you know that there are over 1000 kinds of bats in existence?  Or that they all fly left when exiting a cave?  Or that starfish don't have brains?  Or that you can lead a cow up stairs but not down (no opposable knees, I think)  Well, you would if you had seen that fantastic interview.