Shortly after I plucked up my ticket for the new feature starring sexy Hugh Grant and pretty Sarah Jessica Parker, I thumbed through USA and scanned the news to pass time away until the doors at the theatre swung open.
Unfortunately, USA panned "Did You Hear About the Morgans".
But, they also hated "NINE', so their opinion blows in my estimation!
Actually, I found the "Morgans" quite enteraining - very funny - in fact.
On more than one occasion during the course of the screening, I found myself laughing out loud, such was my instinctive reaction to a smattering of the mostly hilarious dialogue sprinkled throughout the comedy..
In one scene, Parker's character - Meryl - spies a gun-toting backwoods-woman and is inclined to quip:
"Look, it's Sarah Palin."
In another well-wrtten scenario in a country restaurant there is a raft of witty banter back-and-forth between Meryl and the owner - at which point - he summarizes the problem.
"You're obviously Democrats."
Quick on the uptake, Sarah's character shoots back in defense.
"There must be a few Democrats in town."
The grandaughter retorts "fourteen".
"Thirteen. One died last month," the crotchety old man notes with a touch of glee.
There are quite a few timely jokes about PITA, Vegetarians, and City life that tend to hit the funny bone, too.
In fact, for the most part, I found the snappy humor sprinkled throughout the film right on the money.
In a nutshell, the off-beat tale is about a young couple who have separated.
In a deliberate effort to mend fences, Hugh's character invites his ex out for dinner to sift through their problems, with the ultimate aim of getting back together again.
Shortly after they exit the trendy watering hole in downtown Manhattan, an unexpected drama unfolds before their eyes.
Consequently, the troubled twosome are thrown together for a few days, in what ends up being a therapy session 24/7 which works wonders.
Sarah Jessica Parker glows in this film.
Her comedic timing - as usual - is impeccable. And, the sincerity that shines through in this characterization, underscores she's one of the finest comedic actresses in the country today (capable of admirably delivering up in dramatic scenarios, too, when a plot twist requires depth and seamless emoting).
As you gaze on Parker's pretty face up there on the silver screen,though, it may dawn on you that something is slightly different about her appearance.
A ubiquitous mole which once graced her face has vanished into thin air!
Yes, on Dave Letterman the other night, Ms. Parker admitted she went under the knife (laser?) to have the birth mark removed.
For many fans, it was unnecessary.
If anything, the slight flaw added to her charm.
In a conversation with Dave about the mole, the talented actress pointed out that one fan came up to her out-of-the-blue one day, and insisted that the little quirk of nature was her signature.
How dare she remove it !
"What about my brain, is that not my signature," she wondered aloud.to Dave who was amused by it all.
We still love 'ya Sarah, mole or not!
In his role as the estranged husband, Hugh was appealing as always, although a bit stiffer than usual (acting-wise) in some respects.
The handsome Brit still projects a hound-dog quality about him that's difficult to resist.
A few years ago our paths crossed briefly in the "Valley".
I was flipping through a couple of magazines at a newstand at Laurel Canyon and Ventura, when I half-turned and suddenly spotted Hugh at my side perusing the shelves, too.
Was it my imagination, or did Hugh actually give me the once- over, as I stood there in my tank top, blue jeans, and sneakers.
When I turned to cross at the light, Hugh ended up alongside me waiting for the signal to change, too.
Was it possible that the sexy thespian with the adorable accent was gay?
Naw!
Because he was dating ultra-sensual super-model Elizabeth Hurley - at the time - I put the delicious romantic thought out of my mind.
But, when the news about his tryst in a parked car with a streetwalker made headlines shortly thereafter, it was obvious to me at that juncture that Hugh Grant was obviously open-minded, kinky - and quite possibly - apt to play both sides of the fence.
In retrospect, an old truism appears to ring true.
"Carpe diem"
Seize the day, folks, so there aren't any regrets in the future.
After all, life is not a dress rehearsal.
