Beach Reads and Drew Barrymore at Gunpoint
Last night, at gunpoint, my mother and I forced my dad to watch Music & Lyrics with us on cable.
Okay, that's not true. I don't own a gun. But he hates Drew Barrymore (she's not my fave either) and so it was, as he puts it, "under duress" that we watched it. He had to make that known to us. He also had to tell us it was "contrived."
But my mom loves Hugh Grant. As for me, I had seen the movie before with daughter #2 and I knew what I was getting. I.e., for what it is, I laughed.
And THAT is the beauty of Beach Reads. People often disparage beach reads, commercial fiction, light reading and B-movies. Like being entertained is a BAD thing. And sometimes I love a deep, heavy book. If you look at my bookshelves, it is full of tomes on physics, Buddhism, scientific discoveries, biographies, etc. Not a beach read in the bunch. Which isn't to say that I don't like them. Sometimes, I just want to curl up with something I know the ending to. That I know will let me laugh (like the movie). I like to know what I am getting.
Thoughts?
E
Okay, that's not true. I don't own a gun. But he hates Drew Barrymore (she's not my fave either) and so it was, as he puts it, "under duress" that we watched it. He had to make that known to us. He also had to tell us it was "contrived."
But my mom loves Hugh Grant. As for me, I had seen the movie before with daughter #2 and I knew what I was getting. I.e., for what it is, I laughed.
And THAT is the beauty of Beach Reads. People often disparage beach reads, commercial fiction, light reading and B-movies. Like being entertained is a BAD thing. And sometimes I love a deep, heavy book. If you look at my bookshelves, it is full of tomes on physics, Buddhism, scientific discoveries, biographies, etc. Not a beach read in the bunch. Which isn't to say that I don't like them. Sometimes, I just want to curl up with something I know the ending to. That I know will let me laugh (like the movie). I like to know what I am getting.
Thoughts?
E
Labels: beach reads, light reading, movies
posted by Erica Orloff at 8:59 AM
9 Comments:
Music & Lyrics made me laugh! I love how Grant is able to laugh at himself.
I don't know if I've ever done a beach read. Never at the beach, that's for sure. But a purely 'for pleasure' read spent sorting through during the lazy months of summer? Hmm... I never sit during the day and just read a book. I may have to attempt that!
I tagged you on my blog. It's a meme thing that's going around. Read my blog for instructions.
http://www.dustedbywhimsy.blogspot.com
Hi Michele:
Well, I don't "beach" read either. I do curl up in my bed at night (I have a glorious pillow-top king size) and read, though.
I also read in the doctor's waiting room and anyplace else where I would consider it a pain to be waiting.
E
I liked Music & Lyrics because it showed the torture that writers put themselves through to wrangle words into something meaningful and beautiful. And also, something that will help pay the rent.
It also showed how much people just love to be entertained. Even when Hugh's character is performing under a gazebo at a theme park, he made all those women so happy. He brought them back to their youth even with their husbands and children smirking behind them.
I watched Don Juan de Marco last night and ohh wee, that Johnny Depp was just delicious. He is such a great actor and because he's been in so many popcorn flicks, his abilities are so easily dismissed. But seeing him hold his own with Brando, that convinced me he is a natural born actor.
Best,
Mary
Hi Mary:
I agree. As a writer, it was a pretty accurate reflection of the angst and the struggle to find just the right word. It also showed how difficult collaboration is. How when it's right, it's magic.
E
Beach reads and movies like M&L are my staple diet. It stems from when I worked in academia and spent so much time researching and reading very heavy stuff!!
I love books and movies like that - pure escapism. And even though I don't work in a university any more I haven't changed my taste!
Oh, and I love reality TV too.
sara:
I like really deep movies--and foreign flicks. But then I also love my escape fare--they just make me HAPPY! Like Love Actually. ADORED it and waycj it several times a year when I need a lift.
E
I loved Music & Lyrics. It definitely made me feel good, after watching it!
He did have a point about the contrived bit. The whole big problem of artistic integrity didn't feel true to me. The plot came totally unhinged for me, but the actors and the comedy almost hid that problem. Almost.
spy:
Like some "feel good" books or movies . . . you give up, I think, some reality, for the sake of it all working in the big picture.
E
Ahhhhh... don't get me on Love Actually.... best movie ever......
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