Theater Worthy
Ok I have to admit, I was a skeptic. I didn't see the original movie, though I think that remakes have been getting better. I haven't had much exposure to Russell Brand. I was really worried that the comedy of this film would rely on being crude. It didn't. Russell Brand was hilarious.
The cast was great. The funny Russell Brand was joined by Helen Mirren, who I adore. Jennifer Garner also joined the cast. I guess she played her part well because I hated her character. Her comedy was in being despised. Greta Gerwig was unknown to me, but she was charming. She was a completely average girl. Her first couple of costumes were questionable. I got that she was eccentric, but she was dressing like a child from the 90's. And while she did grow up in the "Sister Sister" generation, she shouldn't still be getting fashion advice from her favorite childhood TV show. Of course Russell Brand isn't known for his looks so a charmingly average girl was the right choice to play across him.
I was also worried that Brand would be another rambling Brit that just didn't know when to shut up. Again pleasantly surprised, he may have danced on the line but he never crossed it. I never wanted to yell at him to just get on with it. This movie was a great comedy with a little sentiment added in, proving that Brand can actually act, not just throw out witty retorts. Though he is best at that.
If you like slap-stick you will really enjoy this movie. Something to watch for, when Brand is in his garage looking through his phone, Katy Perry is in his contacts list. And pay attention, because this movie has some great quotable moments. I need to watch it again just to remember all the funny things he says. Great comedy. Highly recommend it.
Rent It
I love this story. I read the book a few years back and fell in love with the sweet, unconventional love story. But a great book doesn't always translate into a great movie.
Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) is orphaned by her parents as a child. She is then sent away to a school for girls by her spiteful aunt. Her education was harsh but thorough and she gets a job as a governess. She falls in love with the master of the house, Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender).
Part of what makes this story so charming is that Jane and Rochester are two plain people that find a deeper connection. Jane had been despised her whole life, and finally someone found beauty in her. Wasikowska certainly looked plain. The design was very period and well done. It just wasn't a very flattering time period for women.
Did the movie live up to the book? Of course not. Jane Eyre is a long book. And so much happens, it would be impossible to fit it all in the movie. They did a good job of trimming it down. Unfortunately, when you cut things out, you inevitably cut out someone's favorite part. I kept waiting for the purple faced, crazed wife to come into Jane's room in the middle of the night. That was such a scary part of the book. I waited with anticipation. To my disappointment it never happened. But it was a well made film, with a great cast. I thought the love story was a little rushed. They did, however, manage to get in some great romantic lines from Rochester. And I love that they kept Jane hearing Rochester call to her across the great distance between them. It was a charming film. But I still prefer the book.