The Five-Year Engagement

Mini Review

http://www.thefiveyearengagementmovie.com/

The Five-Year Engagement tells the story of Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) who's initial engagement gets put back due to Violet getting a new job out of state, meaning the couple have to move house. Their nuptials get further delayed by Tom's inability to find a suitable job in their new surroundings and inevitably friends and family beat them to the aisle. Will Tom and Violet ever make it to the wedding they have waited so long for?

I've always liked Emily Blunt and enjoy Jason Segel immensely in How I Met Your Mother, I just don't ever seem to warm to him on film. But the film intrigued me with it's promise (from the producer of Bridesmaids) and by the pairing of it's leads so I wanted to see it. 

Whilst it was quite funny in places I can't say that I laughed an awful lot and it definitely didn't stick in my mind as much as Bridesmaids did. Segel and Blunt did have a comedic chemistry and seemed very comfortable with each other but I didn't really buy the two of them as a couple. Which is kinda necessary in a romantic comedy.

I wouldn't recommend for a cinema outing (especially if you don't get to go that often) but once it's out on DVD you certainly wouldn't go wrong if you were looking for an easy watch comedy on a cosy night in. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 10th July 2012

UK Release Date - 22nd June 2012

Cast Overview:

Jason Segel ~ Tom Soloman

Emily Blunt ~ Violet Barnes

Chris Pratt ~ Alex Eilhauer

Alison Brie ~ Suzie Barnes-Eilhauer

Rhys Ifans ~ Winton Childs

Director ~ Nicholas Stoller

Writer ~ Jason Segel (Screenplay) and Nicholas Stoller (Screenplay)

The Muppets

Mini Blog

http://www.disney.co.uk/muppets/

While I have never been a huge Muppets fan I had been looking forward to their new big screen outing ever since the Orange advert changed to the Muppets version. I have never before loved and looked forward to an Orange advert as I loved and looked forward to the Muppets Orange advert. I am still a little bit gutted that it's no longer on.

I went to see the film with two of my friends who are big Muppets fans. One of them owns a Kermit and a Pepe of her own and even dreams about Pepe being her pet. So 'big Muppets fans' doesn't really cover it.

But if I'm honest, whilst I enjoyed the film, it didn't really live up to the promise shown in the Orange advert. There wasn't enough Pepe for one. He was one of the key players in the Orange ad, but he only had one scene in the movie.

And although I appreciate that this wasn't the Pepe show, I found Walter and the Moopets to be quite annoying. And as a lot of the film focused on them I found this made it drag somewhat. The moments that were old school Muppet madness were wonderful however and made up a lot for some of the more mis-guided moments.

The clip I have chosen below is one of the songs in the film 'Man or Muppet' which won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Although musicals are one of my least favourite genres I did like the songs featured in The Muppets, and this song especially made me smile. Mostly for Jim Parsons' (The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon) cameo as Walter's alter ego. 

I think Muppet fans of any age will enjoy this installment, just don't expect too much from it. 6.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 16th February 2012

UK Release Date - 10th February 2012

Cast Overview:

Jason Segel ~ Gary

Amy Adams ~ Mary

Chris Cooper ~ Tex Richman

Rashida Jones ~ Veronica Martin

Director ~ James Bobin

Writer ~ Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller

Based on Disney's Muppet properties and characters by Jim Henson