As part of my French education, I try to go see one French movie per week with zero English. But this time with the holidays coming, I decided to treat myself and opted for the quality American movie: New Year's Eve or as it has been renamed for France: Happy New Year!
Like its award-winning sister movie, Valentine's Day, the premise is the same. A cast of 30 well-known celebs involved in a host of different vignettes that may or may not intertwine.
It was pretty bad. I left feeling pretty much the same as when I walked in: damp and ready for 2011 to be over.
- I think the French translation is funny. New Year's Eve to Happy New Year! I was told by my friend's French husband that it's because there is no proper way to translate "eve."
- Sarah Jessica Parker must have in her contract to always have a cameo wearing expensive and really high heels and an over-the-top designer dress. I mean honestly, let the Carrie Bradshaw character go already! She was an aspirational character ten years ago and the well-known squeal is not believable at almost-50.
- I couldn't even recognize Michelle Pheiffer. The entire time I just thought it was a mixture of Sally Fields (with a lot of work) and the Miss Geist character out of Clueless.
- Katherine Heigl should not wear clingy, spandex silver dresses from American Apparel.
- Like Gossip Girl, it always only takes people 5 minutes to get anywhere in NYC. This includes between boroughs. If only...
- There were a few funny NYC & taxi jokes (how many times have I only taken pedi-cabs during holidays because there are not taxis!) where I was the only one in the theatre who laughed.
-Robert De Niro made me cry.
I'm sure most people in America didn't go see this gem but I'd say it's worth watching on a plane.
Happy 2012!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the helpful review. My daughter mentioned a couple of times that she wanted to see this movie but we didn't have the chance while she was here. Now I'm glad that we didn't go out of our way to see it.
And "bravo" for watching French movies. I admire your determination!
One thing that we've noticed is that Francophones say "Bonne fin d'année", while Anglophones say "Happy New Year". The French wish a good ending and Americans wish a good beginning.
Happy New Year to you! Ok, so this film sucked? Good to know because I kind of wanted to see it. The poster sold me...celebs, gold, sparkles, fireworks, NY and holiday? Vendu! But now, I'll wait...I trust you. : )
ReplyDeleteI never saw Valentine's Day because I thought it would be awful but now that you write that it was award-winning (I had no idea!), I'll check it out!
As for SJP, she played a pretty dumpy business woman in The Family Stone but yeah, other than that her characters are always in couture...ah, the life.
...and please let me indulge in a side note: I hate Katherine Heigl.
Thank you.
@MK: yes, i think i even read on your blog about the idea of "wishing a good end to the year" versus "happy new year" which is why i thought renaming the movie that was even weirder!
ReplyDeletei tried to go see The Artist today - but didn't get to it (surprise!) It's getting a lot of buzz in the states so maybe this weekend!
@Ella: Oh no! My sarcasm didn't come through - Valentine's Day was also awful just like NYE/Happy New Year. BUT if it's on TV or on a plane, I'd totally watch it. Patrick Dempsey is in it and given that I still watch Grey's religiously, I heart him.
PS: The Family Stone was filmed in Pittsburgh <3 and yes she was not squeally in that - but you could tell she felt so suffocated because she couldn't!
PPS: also hate KH.
I just re-read what you wrote and it's totally sarcastic...it's me..not you! : P I've been in France too long and don't always know when something is cool or not in the States. For example, I thought LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" was a cheesy American song that was for the European market to find that it is a huge hit in the U.S as well. My radar is totally off!
ReplyDeleteRandom side bar: Did you know that The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is one of my favorite books? I used to hang with a lot of CMU folks back in my day.. : )