DVDelicious Archives

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Wanderlust

By Bob on September 19, 2012 5:24 AM | Read More

Wanderlust is a wacky fish-out-of-water comedy where cultures don't just clash - they collide. It shoots snarky one-liners at every target in the Big City rat race and, more often than not, hits the mark with laugh-your-ass-off results.

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Tanner Hall

By Bob on September 6, 2012 4:10 AM | Read More

Coming-of-age movies are the sturdy four-door sedan of American cinema - you know just what you're going to get when you slide behind the wheel. That's why it's refreshing to see a new coming-of-age film like Tanner Hall deliver the goods while providing just enough off-road excitement to keep it interesting.

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The Sitter

By Bob on August 30, 2012 4:43 AM | Read More

The Sitter is one of those movies that try ever-so-mightily to be funny in a Hangover sort of way. It's got plenty of wacky characters, an unbelievable premise and a fish-out-of-water plot. What could possibly go wrong?

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Angels Crest

By Bob on August 16, 2012 4:09 AM | Read More

Angels Crest, the new mystery thriller from Magnolia Pictures, is a gripping drama that tries hard to be something it's not. It tries to be a great slice of life thriller, but instead it gets swallowed up by the plot holes that dot this movie like so much cinematic Swiss Cheese.

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Young Adult

By Bob on August 2, 2012 5:48 AM | Read More

Young Adult is a twisted tale of unrequited love. It's funny and quirky with an edge so sharp it draws blood. If you're thinking, "Yeah that sounds like something Bob would like," you can skip ahead to the trailer and tell all your Twitter friends to move it to the top of their Netflix queues.

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Tower Heist

By Bob on July 19, 2012 3:42 AM | Read More

We have a saying in Texas that applies very well to Tower Heist, the new comedy-action-thriller from Brett Ratner (Rush Hour): "He's all hat and no cattle." It's a Texan's way of calling bullshit on somebody who pretends to be something he's not. Tower Heist pretends to be a hilarious buddy comedy. But lift up that 10-gallon hat and all you see are a couple of jokes; a wildly implausible plot; some veteran actors phoning it in and over-the-top product placement.

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What's Your Number?

By Bob on July 5, 2012 4:38 AM | Read More

What's Your Number has one of those funny-because-it-only-exists-in-romantic-comedy plots: the number of lovers you have determines your chances of ever being happily married. Fewer than 20, you're OK. More than 20, then your chances of finding true happiness drop lower than the interest rate on my IRA.

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Martha Marcy May Marlene

By Bob on June 21, 2012 4:51 AM | Read More

The term "psychological thriller" is tossed around a lot these days and is often misused. That's not the case with Martha Marcy May Marlene. This thriller is a taught, edge-of-your-seat drama that puts you on the knife edge of suspense and holds you captive for 102 minutes of paranoid fun.

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Friends with Benefits

By Bob on June 7, 2012 6:12 AM | Read More

Friends with Benefits is the latest entry in the new breed of rom-coms - romantic, funny and raunchy (in a romantic and funny way). Here at Boomer Brief HQ, it's achieved a rarefied status reserved for only a handful of films: edgy enough for me / sweet enough for Charlotte. We both loved it.

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Drive

By Bob on May 24, 2012 1:18 AM | Read More

Drive, the new thriller from Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn is classic film noir masquerading as a hip indie action film. It's high-octane fun that literally growls with excitement, purrs with intrigue and tears up the screen with hang-on-to-your-seat thrills.

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The Descendants

By Bob on May 10, 2012 4:16 AM | Read More

There's an early scene in Alexander Payne's The Descendants where Matt, the disheveled dad played by George Clooney, confesses that he's the "backup parent," the "understudy". It's a confession that telegraphs all you need to know about the fragile father. He's a fish out of water gasping for breath.

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The Iron Lady

By Bob on April 26, 2012 2:37 AM | Read More

It's easy to see why Meryl Streep was awarded an Oscar for her performance in The Iron Lady. She's absolutely dead-on brilliant in her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the story is ripped-from-the-headlines real.

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I Don't Know How She Does It

By Bob on April 12, 2012 4:26 AM | Read More

I Don't Know How She Does It is a lighter-than-air romantic comedy that answers the age-old question: whatever happened to Carrie on Sex and the City? Answer: she moved to Boston, had two kids, became an investment analyst, married a hapless architect and made this predictable, but oh-so-watchable movie.

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The Ides of March

By Bob on March 29, 2012 1:10 AM | Read More

Politics is the only blood sport I enjoy. There's nothing better than two, or in the case of the primaries - 5, or even 8 - candidates matching wits with each other. George Clooney's, The Ides of March, perfectly captures the blood-sport world of politics with a style, humor and intelligence wrapped up in a story that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.

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My Week with Marilyn

By Bob on March 15, 2012 5:43 AM | Read More

Marilyn Monroe is arguably one of the most iconic figures of the 20^th Century. Director Simon Curtis', My Week with Marilyn, pulls back the curtain on the Hollywood legend to reveal the Marilyn known only to her inner circle. It's a captivating behind-the-scenes story told with humor and heart that keeps your eyes glued to the screen until the credits roll.

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50/50

By Bob on March 1, 2012 4:51 AM | Read More

If you know anything at all about 50/50, you probably know that it's a movie about cancer. What you probably DON'T know is that it's also laugh-your-ass-off funny, based on a true story and has more Oscar-worthy performances than you can count.

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Catch .44

By Bob on February 16, 2012 5:09 AM | Read More

Straight- to-DVD movies are a lot like Forrest Gump's famous line about life being like a box of chocolates, "you never know what you're gonna get". Catch .44, the new film by director, Aaron Harvey, is the cinematic definition of that Gumpism - for a full 93 minutes, you never know what you're gonna get.

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The Chateau Meroux

By Bob on February 2, 2012 2:20 AM | Read More

The first thing you need to know about The Chateau Meroux is that Charlotte liked it. For those who think my taste in movies ~~sucks~~ is questionable, you can stop reading now - move The Chateau Meroux to the top of your Netflix queue - and click back to the boot sale at Zappos.com.

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Sarah's Key

By Bob on January 19, 2012 4:18 AM | Read More

Sarah's Key, is a powerful new film by French director, Gilles Paquet-Brenner. It's an emotional rollercoaster that fans of Schindler's List, The Reader and The Pianist will embrace and never forget. Yes, it's that good.

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13

By Bob on January 5, 2012 5:33 AM | Read More

13, the new film by director Gela Babluani, is the cinematic equivalent of the steer-wrestling event at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It's loud, dirty and blink-your-eye-and-you-missed-it fast. It's also a lot of fun to watch - at a distance.

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Father of Invention

By Bob on December 22, 2011 1:50 AM | Read More

Father of Invention, the new film starring Kevin Spacey and directed by Trent Cooper is likely to be overlooked by a lot of people. It's not rated "R," isn't set on a distant planet and doesn't contain one car chase. If you're looking for slightly romantic comedy that's about screw-ups, mistakes and redemption, then do yourself a favor and go see it. You won't be disappointed.

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Submarine

By Bob on December 8, 2011 4:57 AM | Read More

Let's face it. Coming of age movies fall into one of two categories: 1) It's all about the sex (American Pie series or anything with the words Wet, Hot or Summer in the title) or, it's all about the journey (Say Anything, Sure Thing). Submarine, the new independent film from Michael Ayoade, establishes a new category for this genre, because it too is all about the journey -- but it goes deeper and reveals more.

Boomer Box Office

A Little Help

By Bob on November 24, 2011 5:38 AM | Read More

A Little Help, is one of those nice, slice-of-life indie films that are easily overlooked. That's a shame really, because this one sneaks up on you with a wit and charm that shouldn't be missed.

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Beautiful Boy

By Bob on November 10, 2011 1:37 AM | Read More

Beautiful Boy is one of those ripped-from-the-headlines movies that will haunt you for days after you see it. Maria Bello and Michael Sheen turn in two powerful performances as a couple forced to deal with the aftermath of a mass shooting committed by their one and only son, Sam.

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Jack Goes Boating

By Bob on October 27, 2011 4:22 AM | Read More

Jack Goes Boating is one of those movies you probably overlooked. I know it took a while to surface in our Netflix queue, but I'm glad it bubbled to the top. Charlotte normally doesn't like "quirky" movies, but she fell in love with Jack and its character-driven love story. That's such high praise I wouldn't be surprised to see the line CHARLOTTE LOVED IT start turning up in ads for this movie. Remember, you read it here first.

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RED

By Bob on October 13, 2011 3:59 AM | Read More

RED doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's an in-your-face thrill ride of a movie with laughs, bullets and more explosions than the Farm Film Report (honk if you're an SCTV fan).

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The Entitled

By Bob on September 29, 2011 5:59 AM | Read More

Ray Liotta and Kevin Zegers make The Entitled an unexpected surprise of a film. It's a terrific whodunit with more twists and turns than the road to Hana, Maui and some great supporting help from veteran character actors Victor Garber and Stephen McHattie.

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Meet Monica Velour

By Bob on September 15, 2011 3:30 AM | Read More

Meet Monica Velour, is a coming of age movie with a twist. Nerdy teenager living with his grandfather takes a road trip to meet his crush: a washed-up 80's porn star. If you're thinking "this is Napoleon Dynamite meets Linda Lovelace." we're pretty much on the same page.

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Winter's Bone

By Bob on September 1, 2011 5:35 AM | Read More

Winter's Bone is one of those rare motion pictures that stays with you long after the closing credits. It's a powerfully poignant movie that whispers its message in a way that is mesmerizing, terrifying and as real as tomorrow's headlines.

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Morning Glory

By Bob on August 18, 2011 1:48 AM | Read More

Morning Glory is a new breed of comedy. If you're thinking, "Hey Bob, romantic comedy is NOT a new breed of comedy." I'd smile politely and tell you that regardless of what you've seen or heard, Morning Glory is NOT a romantic comedy. Instead, it's the newest romcom hybrid that I call Curmcom (shorthand for Curmudgeon comedy).

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Cyrus

By Bob on August 4, 2011 6:12 AM | Read More

I've been a fan of John C. Reilly since Talladega Nights, so it won't surprise anyone that I was anxious for Cyrus to bubble up to the top of our Netflix queue. After seeing the trailer, I was expecting the cinematic extension of Step Brothers with elements of Walk Hard thrown in for good measure. It's like none of these. It's much, much better.

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Miral

By Bob on July 21, 2011 4:29 AM | Read More

Miral is one of those films that would be easy to overlook. It didn't receive a major studio push like the Harry Potter franchise and the subject - while topical - isn't very well understood by Americans. Director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) serves up a distinctly Palestinian view of the Arab/Israeli conflict and does it so well it is blindingly hard to ignore.

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Kill the Irishman

By Bob on July 7, 2011 1:25 AM | Read More

Kill the Irishman is a mystery. No, the story's not a whodunit, it's pretty straightforward. The real question is why such a great film was released and then disappeared into relative obscurity. It's a taught crime drama with an "A" list cast - plenty of action -- and more explosions than a July 4^th festival.

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The Company Men

By Bob on June 23, 2011 6:06 AM | Read More

The Company Men is a work of fiction, but its story is as real as this morning's headlines. It's a tale of corporate greed, company downsizing and the seemingly endless despair of finding a job. If you think that sounds depressing, you're right. But, if you think it's all this movie has going for it, you're terribly wrong. This is a wonderful film with a hopeful message and a very big heart.

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Passion Play

By Bob on June 9, 2011 5:07 AM | Read More

Passion Play, the gritty, new-age film noir from director Mitch Glazer, is an existential romp through time and space with Mickey Rourke and Bill Murray as your co-pilots. It's a mesmerizing movie that handles the heaviness of the human condition with a gossamer touch.

Boomer Box Office

Daydream Nation

By Bob on May 26, 2011 5:28 AM | Read More

Daydream Nation is a movie that will haunt you. It's a coming of age tale that avoids the sunny clichés usually associated with the genre by substituting a slightly dark, ironic story worthy of David Lynch.

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Blue Valentine

By Bob on May 12, 2011 6:49 AM | Read More

Alfred Hitchcock once described the movie watching experience as the ultimate "voyeur" activity. In his view, there was nothing better than sitting in the dark and watching a story unfold. That's exactly the feeling I had watching Blue Valentine. After spending 114 minutes with its two characters I felt as if I'd been spying on them during the defining day of their relationship.

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Dinner for Schmucks

By Bob on April 28, 2011 2:27 AM | Read More

Dinner for Schmucks is a quirky, goofball film that bounces off the comedy guardrails just enough to make you wonder if it could have been better as dark comedy or (dare I say it?) romantic comedy. It's a premise that could've gone either way. Luckily, the middle-of-the-road-comedy approach works very well and it delivers more than its share of laughs.

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The King's Speech

By Bob on April 14, 2011 5:25 AM | Read More

The King's Speech is a crown jewel of a movie that doesn't just live up to the hype - it exceeds it on every level. It's a moving and powerful story of personal triumph that's inspiring without being preachy; uplifting without being corny and engaging from the opening scene to the closing credits.

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Inception

By Bob on March 31, 2011 5:11 AM | Read More

Inception, is one of those WTF movies that strains even the wildest imagination. Academy Awards aside, this is a spell-binding, acid trip of a film where special effects rule the screen and the plot is muddier than the Brazos River after a spring rain.

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New British DVDs

By Bob on March 17, 2011 7:03 AM | Read More

Acorn Media has just released a couple of timeless classics from its British film library that will have you reminiscing about the good ol' days - when secret agents smoked, drank and shot up your 12" TV - and British scoundrels, were, well, British scoundrels. If you like your action from the Austin Powers side of the Atlantic, you'll love these two gems.

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Going the Distance

By Bob on February 17, 2011 6:38 AM | Read More

Going the Distance, the latest romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, is a wildly predictable story of two geographically challenged hipsters who struggle to make a long-distance relationship work. If you feel you've seen this all before you aren't experiencing Déjà vu - you HAVE.

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Cemetery Junction

By Bob on January 6, 2011 6:27 AM | Read More

Cemetery Junction, the latest film by Brit wit Ricky Gervais is a movie Baby Boomers will love. Of course, any film with a soundtrack that includes Mott the Hoople's glam-rock classic All the Young Dudes is bound to get any Boomer's attention and this coming-of-age tale doesn't disappoint.

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The Ghost Writer

By Bob on December 23, 2010 6:08 AM | Read More

The Ghost Writer is one of those movies you probably overlooked in 2010. I know it never appeared on my radar screen until I ran across it in my Netflix queue a couple of weeks ago. If it hadn't appeared I might just have missed one of the best films of the year. Yeah, it's that good.

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Chloe

By Bob on November 25, 2010 6:06 AM | Read More

Chloe is a movie that pretends to be something it's not. Its greatest deception is that it pretends to be good, when you know it's probably going to leave you feeling queasy and unsatisfied - kinda like the all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet at Pancho's.

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Me & Orson Welles

By Bob on October 14, 2010 6:33 AM | Read More

I have a deep and abiding fondness for the genius of Orson Welles. A scratchy black and white print of his legendary Citizen Kane is the backdrop to my university romance with Charlotte. So it didn't take much effort for me to add Me & Orson Welles to my Netflix queue.

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Paul McCartney Really is Dead

By Bob on October 1, 2010 6:49 AM | Read More

The first thing you learn when you enter the blogosphere is that the world is filled with folks who love a good conspiracy. I have friends like that. Hell, I once shared an office with a guy who was a pallbearer for Lee Harvey Oswald and who knew more about the Kennedy assassination than the Warren Commission.

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Pirate Radio

By Bob on September 2, 2010 6:16 AM | Read More

It's only fitting that Pirate Radio have an Arrrrrrrrgh rating. Sorry maties, couldn't resist. But what's a movie about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll without the, you know, S. E. X.?

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Couples Retreat

By Bob on August 19, 2010 6:19 AM | Read More

You know those movies where the trailer is hilarious and the movie, well, not so much? Yeah, Couples Retreat is kinda like that.

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Crazy Heart

By Bob on August 5, 2010 6:37 AM | Read More

Crazy Heart is an insurgent movie. It has a stealth and quiet strength that sneaks up on you and then sucker punches your heart with powerful performances and a killer soundtrack. It's one lethal sumbitch.

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It's Complicated

By Bob on August 1, 2010 9:15 AM | Read More

Now that I've seen It's Complicated I officially forgive Meryl Streep for Mama Mia! Because, as bad as that movie was (c'mon you know it was a stinker) It's Complicated is that GOOD.

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Did You Hear About the Morgans?

By Bob on July 8, 2010 6:29 AM | Read More

If you're a fan of fish-out-of-water stories there's a chance Did You Hear About the Morgans? will lure you in with its charm. Heck, it's got sweet little Sarah Jessica Parker and heartthrob Hugh Grant in the leads.

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Up in the Air

By Bob on July 1, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

As anyone who travels for a living will tell you, Up in the Air doesn't just capture the world of the business traveler. It nails it. Or, as Dan Jenkins might say, "It's dead solid perfect."

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An Education

By Bob on June 10, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

Every once in a while you run across a jewel box of a movie - something small, rare and easy on the eyes. If you're in a hurry my Boomer friends, that's my three-word review of An Education. It's a gem.

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2012

By Bob on May 27, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

Man, I love the future. I can't wait for 2012. Do you know what happens in the year 2012? Cell phones work everywhere. Dude, I'm serious. You get terrific reception in the air, land, sea, airplanes, the middle of effing NOWHERE. One more thing about the year 2012 - it's the year the planet BLOWS UP.

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The Informant!

By Bob on May 13, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

I have a confession. After spending 108 minutes with this movie I STILL don't know what it's about.

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The Men Who Stare At Goats

By Bob on April 29, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

If you think the title of The Men Who Stare at Goats is confusing, just wait'll you see the movie. Don't get me wrong, I love quirky. I celebrate quirky. I have quirky in my DVD library and on my Netflix Instant Queue. But this movie commits the one unpardonable sin of quirky: "Thy Shall Not Be Boring".

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Big Fan

By Bob on April 15, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

I'm a BIG FAN of Big Fan. The film is the directorial debut of screenwriter Robert Siegel (The Wrestler) and it's one that grabs you from the opening scene and keeps you hooked all the way to the WTF ending.

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Julie & Julia

By Bob on April 1, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

The first thing you should know about Julie & Julia is that it's the movie that made blogging famous. The "Julie" in Julie & Julia is Julie Powell, the legendary blogger who turned her online experience into a best-selling book and Academy Award-nominated movie. She's the patron saint of the blogosphere. Let us now pause and show reverence.

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The Invention of Lying

By Bob on March 18, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

The first time I ordered a martini a friend reminded me the cocktail was an "acquired taste". That's Ricky Gervais in a nutshell. He's dry. Straight up. And often intoxicatingly funny. The same is true for his latest movie, The Invention of Lying.

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A Perfect Getaway

By Bob on March 4, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

Two pairs of lovers are having the "perfect" Hawaiian vacation until they discover that psychopaths are murdering tourists. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

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(500) Days of Summer

By Bob on February 18, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

The movie promo pretty much tells you all you need to know: "You should know up front, this is not a love story". It's simple. Direct. And about as close to truth in advertising as you're ever going to get.

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Whip It

By Bob on February 4, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page have two things in common: 1) They're both past the point of getting by just on being "cute," and; 2) See point #1.

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"Moon"

By Cole on January 5, 2010 6:00 AM | Read More

Hippies saw it in the night sky, but couldn't grasp it. Pink Floyd set up a base camp, but abandoned the mission. Now decades later and miles above our heads, director Duncan Jones has found the coordinates of self-discovery in his debut film. Destination: "Moon."

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"Inglourious Basterds"

By Cole on December 17, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

Quentin Tarantino has long endured the criticisms -- juvenile, amoral, historical fetishist, cultural tourist -- but with "Inglourious Basterds", the writer-director wears his barbs like Medals of Honor.

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The Ugly Truth

By Bob on December 2, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

The Ugly Truth isn't so pretty. It's probably because I've seen this story a thousand times before. I'll explain. I'm thinking the pitch for this romantic comedy went something like this:

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Taken

By Bob on November 18, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

OK, did I miss something, or is it just me? Does anyone else know Liam Neeson is a badass?

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Bride Wars

By Bob on November 4, 2009 6:05 AM | Read More

Bride Wars might have been funnier if it had been fought with real guns.

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop

By Bob on October 21, 2009 6:15 AM | Read More

I have a confession to make. In my college years I actually worked in one of the largest malls in Texas. It's not something I'm proud of, but it did leave me with a yearning to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

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New in Town

By Bob on October 5, 2009 1:52 PM | Read More

There isn't anything "new" about New in Town. That's its fatal charm and fatal flaw.

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Synechdoche, New York

By Bob on September 9, 2009 12:24 PM | Read More

By Cole Hill Nothing is simple for Charlie Kaufman. His films are worlds where, quite literally, anything can, and often does happen.

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Confessions of a Shopaholic

By Bob on August 25, 2009 1:01 PM | Read More

You need to know this right from the start: Charlotte LOVED this movie. Me? Not so much.

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Last Chance Harvey

By Bob on August 17, 2009 11:16 AM | Read More

Last Chance Harvey is a movie that starts out going nowhere and ends there 93 minutes later.

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Slumdog Millionaire

By Bob on July 25, 2009 10:21 AM | Read More

By Cole Garner Hill Nothing, not even flesh-eating zombies, scares Danny Boyle.

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Grey Gardens

By Bob on July 11, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

If you ever wondered what Charles Dickens might have written had he made it to the 20^th Century, all you need to do is watch Grey Gardens.

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The Wrestler

By Bob on June 22, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

Cole Hill wrote this great review of "The Wrestler" after scoring an interview with director Darren Aronofsky. If you're never had the privilege of reading any of Cole's reviews, grab a cup of coffee and savor the rich prose. You're in for a treat.

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Role Models

By Bob on June 7, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

We've all had jobs that sucked. Maybe you have one now. All I can tell you is that there's a common bond we all share when it comes to telling, "my-job-sucked-more-than-your-job," stories.

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The Changeling

By Bob on May 9, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

I don't think there is a more talented American filmmaker than Clint Eastwood. He's the quadruple threat with an ability to write, direct, act and even score award-winning films.

DVDelicious

Doubt

By Bob on April 18, 2009 6:00 AM | Read More

I wasn't raised Catholic, but there's a part of me that identifies with the structure and solemnity of the religion. To us outsiders, it's one part theology, one part theater with a lot of repressed feelings and guilt sandwiched in between. It's fertile ground for filmmakers whether you like period pieces such as "Becket," or Monty Python's irreverent "Life of Brian".

The only similarity between "Doubt" and other religious films is that it makes you think. The minute you believe you have the plot figured out, your own doubt surfaces and you change direction.

"Doubt" isn't a "whodunit." It's a "did-he-do-it". As in did the young, hip (at least for the early 1960s) priest have his way with the African American altar boy. That's what Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) wants to know.

She's aided in her quest for the truth by the kind-of-hip but very unsteady Sister James (Amy Adams). Of course the only thing standing in their way is the irrepressible Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and the altar boy's mother Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis who goes womano-a-womano with Streep in an Oscar-nominated performance).

This is an adaptation of the brilliant Broadway play by John Patrick Shanley, so be prepared for some great dialog. Cars don't crash and tanker trucks don't explode, but Streep and Hoffman clash in a Catholic battle of the titans that will have you hanging on every syllable.

Streep uses her words like a prize fighter and lands every punch with Ali-like precision. Hoffman's Father Flynn is a worthy adversary in the squared circle. He may be bloodied, but always unbowed.

I'm no theologian, but I believe the biblical message of "doubting Thomas" is that it's OK question. In "Doubt," questioning isn't just OK, it makes for some terrific entertainment.

The Boomer Brief recommends NetFlix (www.netflix.com) for your movie rentals. The monthly rental packages start at only $4.99 - and you can cancel at any time.

DVDelicious

Rachel Getting Married

By Bob on March 25, 2009 10:56 AM | Read More

You know the difference between a severe concussion and a mild concussion? A SEVERE concussion is one that happens to you.

It's the same way with black sheep. Every family has one (or an entire flock). The only time they're mild is when they belong to someone else. When the black sheep are your problem it's a bitch. "Rachel Getting Married" let's you enjoy the mild concussion of watching another family's black sheep in action. It's film voyeurism at its very best.

Written by Jenny Lumet (yep, she's legendary director Sidney's daughter,) directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Anne Hathaway in her Academy Award nominated role, "Rachel Getting Married" literally makes you part of the wedding party. The film begins with black sheep Anne Hathaway being released from rehab and rushed home in time for the rehearsal dinner. She's the chain-smoking been-in-and-out-of-rehab sibling of Rachel who's getting ready for her big day.

It's clear from the beginning that Kym (Anne Hathaway's black sheep character) is a train wreck in progress.

While any sane family would assume the crash position in anticipation of the 12-step impact of a returning drug addict, these folks don't even buckle their seat belts.

Guess what happens. Everybody gets some bumps and bruises. A few fare even worse.

Along the way we're treated to all the (ab)normal trappings of today's weddings - from uncomfortable speeches at the rehearsal dinner to lame music at the reception. It's all here as we watch Kym connect dependent to co-dependent as only a narcissistic narco-addict can.

If you're a Boomer dad shelling out the long green on your baby's summer wedding, you might want to send your regrets to this one. It'll give you nightmares. If, however, you want to see how another family handles their trip to dysfunction junction, send in your RSVP. Rachel Getting Married is one wedding worth attending, even if you need a couple of aspirin.

The Boomer Brief recommends NetFlix (www.netflix.com) for your movie rentals. The monthly rental packages start at only $4.99 - and you can cancel at any time.

Guest Room

Diabetes-Friendly Chicken Burrito Bowl

By Laura Cipullo and Lisa Mikus, authors of Everyday Diabetes Meals

Image credit: Colin Erricson

Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.

Tips:  

If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.

If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.

Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.

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