Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

It just came out on DVD today, and it is fa-bu-lous.  So original and funny and violent and sweet with fantastic special effects and superb acting. I've gotta say, the premis didn't appeal to me at all; I only watched it for my son, but premis, schmemis, it was great!  And the movie doesn't have a chauvinistic bone in its, urm, celluloid---the girls get their faces punched in every bit as much as the guys.  (It even kind of, sort of ties in with this blog as it features Anna Kendrick , my pick to play Jen in the Three Daves movie.)   This is one case where the trailer doesn't do the film justice, but here it is anyhow. I'm sure it does a better job than my gushing:  Do yourself a favor and rent "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World, ney, buy it. It's bound to be a cult classic.

Yes, yes, I know, it's been a while. I could give you a million and one excuses, but the truth is...I've been dragging my feet on this one. I've had trouble coming up with that quintessential 2010 Big D. The problem could be that I simply don't see enough current movies to know who's out there. Or it could be that there's no one today that's good enough to play perfect, marvelous D. Or it could be—and I think this one is most likely—that my 1980s pick is just so D that no one else will do. Let's take a look at our boy from the book, shall we? He's good-looking: She was looking past Big D’s Greek letters. The way she figured it, any guy who could unabashedly strut around in a form-fitting blue and red polyester jumpsuit—and look good doing it—was worth further examination. Sweet: D kissed Jen on the cheek and murmured quietly into her ear, “Thanks for coming today. I’ll call you tomorrow.” And yes, sometimes goofy: Jen snapped her atte...

Imagine my excitement when, while I waited for Sherlock Holmes to start, a preview came on for a movie that takes place in 1986.  Not only does my novel begin in that very year, but the movie stars John Cusack!  We're talking about Walter 'Gib' Gibson here.  You know, from The Sure Thing (1985).  Gib was my first unattainable crush; I named a Teddy Bear after him and everything.  So I happily crunched my popcorn and bounced in my seat at the very prospect of seeing my Giblet back in the 80s.   Imagine my dismay as the preview played on.  The kitschy retro beginning caused me to willing overlook the weak opening scene with the four guys spending a lame night in.  And I even chuckled a bit at the thought of a hot tub time machine---hey, it was funny the way Craig Robinson looked directly into the camera after he said it---but as a steady stream of inanity spewed forth, my heart dropped, and all hope drained from me when Rod Corddry uttered, "Twi...