Tag: Flipped

Win A Copy Of FLIPPED

The new Rob Reiner film FLIPPED will be hitting shelves on NOVEMBER 23rd, and we are giving you a chance to win a copy of it on DVD.

FLIPPED is a great movie for mothers and daughters to share, and we have posted some great tips in the box below on how to make the most of your special mother-daughter date night. After all, family is important!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. *PRIZE WILL NOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND A FAMILY EVENING?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZE WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.


SYNOPSIS: Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski. Ever since she saw Bryce’s baby blues back in second grade, Juli has been smitten. Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird–after all, what kind of freak raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli’s unusual interests and pride in her family are, well, kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce’s brilliant blue eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. After all, what kind of jerk doesn’t care about other people’s feelings about chickens and trees? With Flipped, mystery author Wendelin Van Draanen has taken a break from her Sammy Keyes series, and the result is flipping fantastic. Bryce and Juli’s rants and raves about each other ring so true that teen readers will quickly identify with at least one of these hilarious feuding egos, if not both. A perfect introduction to the adolescent war between the sexes.

Review: FLIPPED

I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend a weekday afternoon than at the screening for the new Rob Reiner film, FLIPPED. I thought back over past delightful hours spent in the company of other Rob Reiner films; WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, A FEW GOOD MEN, and an all time favorite, STAND BY ME. Then as the opening credits rolled and I saw, much to my delight, that the cast included many favorite actors, namely Anthony Edwards, from “ER,” John Mahoney, from “Fraser,” and Aidan Quinn from MICHAEL COLLINS, I was glad to think that I wouldn’t be let down by such a noteworthy cast.

*Heads-up: this is a spoiler-filled review*

The film is a coming of age story for the two main characters, Bryce (played by Callan McAuliffe) and Juli (played by Madeline Carroll). Somewhat in the vein of STAND BY ME. The action starts when Bryce moves in across the street from Juli at the beginning of second grade. Juli is completely taken by this handsome little boy, and Bryce can’t wait to escape from her company, and so the conflict begins. Juli is convinced that Bryce will be her first kiss. Bryce has other thoughts; to avoid her at all costs. He goes to many lengths to thwart her. Even to pretending to like her archenemy, Sherry. The story is told first from Juli’s point of view and then the same set of events is re-told from Bryce’s. This form of storytelling is interesting the first go round, but tedious as the film continues to unfold. The majority of the action takes place when the characters are in seventh grade. So girl likes boy and girl continues to like boy until he behaves so hateful toward her and her family that it turns her off. And guess what? No, you will never guess. Ok, I know you know; once the girl loses interest the boy is interested. What a new twist!! (Said with extreme sarcasm, in case you didn’t get it.) And, this contains a spoiler; the boy wins back the girl.

The film has a lot of faults. As a viewer you never really care or like the characters. The characters are one dimensional. Bryce’s father is intolerant. His grandfather doesn’t speak to Bryce, but he offers to help Juli with her yard work and yet no one asks why. Juli’s mother is thrilled at an invitation by Bryce’s family that is ten years in coming. Why would she want this? Even though you are hearing the story from Juli and Bryce’s points of view, you never get to know these characters. Juli is in love with Bryce, why? She is a deep thinker, an individual and Bryce is superficial, just a pretty face who doesn’t want to appear different from his classmates. He goes along with what others say whether he agrees or not. But once again, we don’t know why. The conflict between the families is further shown when one day Bryce’s father looks out their front window and complains about the disarray of Juli’s family’s home. Then Bryce’s grandfather (played by John Mahoney) explains that the neighbors are renting the house and supporting a mentally retarded uncle. Not sure why this story line was introduced as it was unnecessary and disrespectful.

The film was a total bore. I couldn’t wait for FLIPPED to end. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. Stay at home, watch an old Rob Reiner film (cough THE PRINCESS BRIDE cough) and hope that the next one out will be better.

1/2 out of 5 *****