Movie Club part VII

Here are some flicks I've seen lately that were definitely interesting that may have been off the radar for a few of you (all 2.3 of you).

Outsourced: This is the 2006 movie that spawned the NBC sitcom about an American running a call center in India. Not a good commercial. I've never watched the TV show, but the movie found its way into my instant queue on Netflix and I loved it. I was half expecting a major hate festival on American companies that export jobs overseas, but it was really about the manager and his transformation during his time in India. Tons of awkward laughs and cultural insight. Check it out if you have not already.

Love Happens: This flick is recent starring J. Aniston and A. Eckhart. I thought it was a typical date movie that was going to stink, but it has a horribly misleading title. This is a film about grieving, lying and hypocrisy. The protagonist is a motivational speaker/Ph.D who lost his wife and now helps grieving people feel "A-okay!" Only problem is he doesn't drink his own kool-aid. It was interesting to watch someone try to do something good and actually help people, but can't seem to live or accept what he is teaching. It reminded me a lot of how awkward it can feel to try and share the Gospel with people when you don't feel happy about your own life. Interesting character to hate and root for at the same time. Or am I just talking about myself?

GATOR TURNS 2: Quick note. Never start a birthday off with just a doughnut in the morning and some presents. They will be overwhelmed, and crash big time. This kid spent 10 mins with his face in the floor of the foyer at church trying to win an Oscar with his weeping. Nevertheless, Mr. Adorable fought back to enjoy his party with friends and family and added "go" to his vocabulary. Aaaah! Uh-oh and go. The only 3 words you need to lead a simple and profound life.  

Uh-Oh!

FACT: Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) is a myth. Don't believe me? Go to this awesome webiste with FACTS in the name. http://facts-1.com/spontaneoushumancombustion.htm. But is SMC (Spontaneous Microwave Combustion) possible? I think so.

A few moons ago, I woke up to the smell of something burning, but could find no smoke, no flame. After shoveling the walks, I came in and the Boss declared the microwave was "melting." ???? I went over to it and it was indeed so hot the plastic was beginning to warp, oil was leaking, and it was very hot to the touch everywhere. SMC was about to destroy me and my family. So I unplugged the unit and Boss called the Sears guy, who declared without hesitation that the microwave was indeed in the first stages of SMC and there was no hope to fix it.

So after 16 years of ruthlessly nuking others, the nuker became the nuked.

We picked up a new microwave at Home Depot and I heartily refused their install cost of $99 declaring it was an easy job for a man with no mechanical aptitude and a pregnant woman. First lesson learned, never volunteer a pregnant woman to do something she is not inclined to do.

During the removal of SMC, we could not get it off the back bracket after removing the top screws. We turned our backs in frustration for a moment and BAM! SMC fell onto the glass halogen stove-top with an ear-splitting crash. Gator (nearly 2 years old), who isn't much for words knew exactly what to say. He stood up on his chair and shouted "UH-OH!" Once I started swearing, he began repeating UH-OH! Second lesson: don't cuss in front of their kids. They know its wrong.

Many thanks to Shawn, who graciously spent 3 hours on a Saturday helping me install the new machine while taking extra pains not to damage the exposed stove-top. Lesson three: ALWAYS PAY THE INSTALL FEE AND SAVE YOURSELF TIME, TEARS AND DIGNITY.

I hope none of you will ever know the horrors of SMC.

SB XLV

SB XLV was a great game, but as many of you may have guessed this was the highlight of my night:



I can identify with this kid. On numerous occasions I tried to move things with the force, but had no success. I remember hanging from a tree branch outside, in the middle of winter trying to get my fake lightsaber to fly into my hand (like Luke on Hoth with the Hoth beast). All that happened was me falling out of the tree.

I told my family to root for Green Bay since I'm sick of the Steelers recent success. As usual, I had my traditional "little smokies" among some nachos, wings, stuffed shrooms and Cinna-bon cupcakes from THE BAKERY BOX. I didn't feel like eating this morning.

It amazes me how much unnecessary pomp and circumstance has gotten into this broadcast. Just one year, I'd like to see a minimalist Super Bowl... Broadcasters wearing plain black suites and ties, no fireworks or special video introductions, local marching band at half-time, 15 minute pre-game show and 5 minutes to present the trophy after the game. Commericals would be unwatchable not treated as mini-film festival. IT WOULD BE PURE FOOTBALL.

But the ratings would stink, money would be lost and so the American greed and glamour machine gives us yesterday's spectacle... For a mere $800 to $10,000 per seat, only to look at the giant TV screen instead of the field below. Ouch. Those folks just got sucker punched by Jerry Jones. Especially the folks watching outside in the cold. Go find a friend with a TV and keep your money.

Here are some classic ads from years gone by. I espeically liked the 1984 Mac ad.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/03/the-7-best-super-bowl-commercials-ever-aired-videos/