review - Walk a Mile in My Pradas (2011)

tom arnold with nathaniel marston & tom archdeacon

RECOMMENDED
Walk a Mile in My Pradas (2011)
written by Rick Sudi Karatas & Tom Archdeacon
directed by Joey Sylvester

We can all stand a little magic in our lives this Christmas. Walk a Mile in My Pradas is just the kind of holiday film to brighten your day and put a smile on your face. It pretty much concerns a macho homophobe construction worker Tony (Nathaniel Marston) and a gay coworker on a new job site named Steve (Tom Archdeacon) who cannot get along. Through vengeful spite, each wishes that the other would switch lifestyles, and in the presence of a Christmas tree angel that blinks on and off, puf! the transformation inexplicably takes place. Suddenly Tony starts acting weird - like cooking and cruising guys in Gay bars, and Steve, to the dismay of lover Michael (Emrhys Cooper), begins to check out and fancy chicks. The film's unpredictability is somewhat in the vein of Big, where Tom Hanks' innocent wish comes true and he must face the consequences, no matter how bizarre or uncomfortable!

Growing up Catholic and realizing you're gay is a nightmare. Well, Tony's family (Dee Wallace, Mike Starr) are Italian Catholics and teacher Sister Betty (Bunny Levine) taught Tony as a boy that "gay is evil". Therein lie the roots of his intolerance. Capiche? When Tony encounters Sister Betty in the present - 20 years later - her response? "Times have changed. Get with it!" Oh, these fickle Catholics and their hypocritical devotion! This is but one example of ...Prada's topical hilarity.

Under Joey Sylvester's caring direction, the entire cast is delightful. Marston rightfully underplays his newfound weirdness, as does Archdeacon with his attraction to women. Relying on overly swishy or super macho behavior just would not work, period. Cooper adds color to Michael, who is appropriately baffled and heartbroken at his lover's sudden lack of interest. Equally confused is Tony's fiance Sarah played with restraint by Kirsten Lea. Dee Wallace hasn't been this funny since 10 as the obsessive English teacher/momma who starts mopping the floor incessantly when she even conceptualizes her son as gay. Tom Arnold is a hoot as the laid-back boss sort of caught in the middle of the sexual issue. Poker-faced Levine is a scream as Sister Betty, and kudos as well to writer Rick Karatas as friend Brian and especially to Lindsay Hollister as Laura. Overweight and out of place, she has one of the funniest lines in the movie regarding consternation with bulemia. Bruce Vilanch has a cute cameo as himself.

dee wallace with marston

Of course, there's a happy ending and everyone gets what they want - c'mon, it's Christmas! Is it possible to be lightweight, yet high on sweet? If so,

Walk a Mile in My Pradas fits the bill and makes for perfect holiday fare. It's breezy and uplifting!

4/5 stars

Walk a Mile in My Pradas was a winner in the 2011 Hoboken International Film Festival for Best Trailer and Best Supporting Actor Tom Archdeacon.

lindsay hollister & bruce vilanch

bunny levine as sister betty & rick karatas

emrhys cooper as michael

Press Screening : Walk a Mile in My Pradas

costars emrhys cooper and tom archdeacon flank me

costar and co-writer tom archdeacon

co-writer Rick Sudi Karatas

executive producer cooper selling the DVD

review above!

Special Screenings of Disney's Lion King

Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre welcomes The Lion King for the first time ever in Disney Digital 3D^™ from September 16 through October 6, 2011,The El Capitan will even provide “Kid Sized” 3D glasses for this one of a kind experience. A special live appearance by Timon is also featured at every performance.

news - The Help

(Viola Davis pictured)

This film based on the bestseller by Kathryn Stockett is causing a sensation and the Oscar buzz is that all actresses, including Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer should be nominated. Film also costars Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney, Mary Steenburgen and Cicely Tyson.

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

I happened to tune into George C. Wolfe's Nights in Rodanthe on Lifetime recently and quite by accident. I love Diane Lane, and for me, her deep emotional connection to this woman is the reason to see the film. Richard Gere is also very good as a doctor who lost a patient on the operating table. His attempt to cope and connect to his doctor son (uncredited James Franco) is at the core of the plot. Lane meets him at a North Carolina inn that she is tending for a friend, and of course, they fall in love. And I'm sure the love scenes were edited for cable, and so, I should rent the dvd to see the max. After all there's a hurricane raging outside, so there must be more than meets the eye under the sheets! Plotwise, she insists that he make a fuller commitment to face his demons head on; he does, and this ends up changing him for the better. Lane is luminous as always. What a great actress! The film does not have the impact of The Bridges of Madison County, but is still worth viewing, if not for anything other than to relish Lane's performance and view that gorgeous North Carolina beachfront scenery.

OSCAR WINNERS

go to
oscar.go.com/nominations

review - The King's Speech

Bravo, bravo, bravo to this beautifully opulent and honest look at the speech problems of the Duke of York, played so brilliantly by Colin Firth. Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush (wonderful!), Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi, Michael Gambon and Claire Bloom, this film appeals to all those - many, many - who have problems with stammering due to fear of public speaking.

What makes this true-to-life study of members of the royal family so fascinating, apart from Tom Hooper's loving eye as director, is how a layman affects their lives. Rush's character is a typical example of a learned man whose experience as speech coach is invaluable, yet he is looked down upon by the King's court because of his station and lack of credentials. When he proves his mettle, he becomes a trusted friend and ally.
Lovely script and brilliant work from everyone involved. Should pick up many awards, especially for Firth as Best Actor.
Go see it!