Man Up

   So because I'm a sucker for these types of films I've watched this one a few times. Yeah I think finding true love is a complete load of bull crap but for some reason I keep watching these types of movies. This just happens to be, for me, a little bit better than most. It has two leads that feel like regular, flawed people, it has a setting that is a place I'd love to go (London), and aside from a couple of flaws I find it to be fairly rewatchable.

   Nancy (Lake Bell) is a 34 year old woman who is tired of the rat race of dating, while Jack (Simon Pegg) is a 40 year old divorcee who is set up on a blind date but who he meets is not who he expected. Nancy ends up being mistaken for his blind date Jessica and she goes with it. As the night goes on they get to know each other some until Jack finds out the truth. They try to part ways but they run into Jack's ex and she decides to help make him look good in front of her. As the night goes on they both realize something just might be sparking between them.

   I concede that a lot of the movie is just paint-by-numbers romantic comedy cliches, but the characters and their interactions help make the movie work for me. The only thing that I didn't care for is the super creepy former high school guy who knows Nancy, and the regular tied up in a bow happy ending. I personally would have opted for something a bit more low key that shows they have a chance at a relationship but didn't make it feel like a fairy-tale ending. I think at the very least if you enjoy Simon Pegg you'd enjoy this one.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

   Flashback to 2001. That was the year the first movie came out. I was 21 at the time, I had only barely heard of the Harry Potter books but I enjoy watching movies. So when I saw that the first film was being released and that it was packed full of actors I've heard of and directed by Chris Columbus I knew I'd go give it a try. Once I saw that film I was hooked. I immediately went out and bought the first 3 books in paperback and devoured them. 

   As I read through the first story I realized because of its relative short length that the film adaptation was pretty much spot on, and just very little was left out. Even so, the book was just as enjoyable, even though I knew it wasn't exactly aimed at my age group, it kept me interested, it fleshed out this world really well, and made me want to read those other 2 I bought.

   Young Harry Potter has been living with his mean Aunt and Uncle for 11 years, having not remembered the fateful night in which the darkest wizard ever known killed his family and attempted to kill him. Once he learns the truth he is introduced, along with us, to a magical world beyond the normal world of muggles (non-magic folk). He is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry finding out that his name is well known throughout the magic community as "the boy who lived". 

   Making new friends, and a few enemies Harry ends up being someone who naturally wants to do the right thing even if that means breaking a few rules to figure out who is trying to steal the so-called sorcerer's stone (philosopher's stone outside the US). We as readers are along for the ride trying to figure out a mystery while learning about this wondrous world of magic. Since a lot of what we know is being told from Harry's point of view it makes you feel like you are there learning and experiencing all these things with him. 

   This series was so much fun to read it had become the one series I have read the most; I am currently starting yet another re-read. It helped make lots of people old and young read more which is a good thing and the books got longer and more adult themed so you can grow up with the series even if you are already grown. If you have never read the series you should start right here at the beginning. If you are not hooked by the time you finish this book then you needn't bother with the rest.