parenting BY dummies has moved!

You will be automatically redirected to the new address. If that does not occur, visit
http://parentingbydummies.com
and update your bookmarks.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Movies for Boys and Moms

If you know Dumb Family at all, then you know that we are huge movie fans.

HUGE.

Even "back in the day", as #2 likes to say, when Dumb Dad and I were dating the theater was our main venue. Sometimes we'd even go to two in one day!

Well, double feature movie dates are a thing of the past, and these days we are lucky if we get to see a movie together once a quarter.

But, it is something we enjoy and it's also something we enjoy doing as a family (meaning mom, dad, & two older dudes, b/c #3 is a serious movie faux pas).

As part of out holiday traditions, we like to take The Dudes to see a movie, of their choosing.

Since someone has to stay home w/#3, this year I won out as the holiday-kid-movie-chaperone.

The movie of choice?

Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, of course:



Something about animated rodents singing Single Ladies was a huge turn off for Hubby and so obviously my cup of tea, that naturally I was appointed (honestly, I wanted to go to The Princess and the Frog, but the furry songbirds were The Dudes' vote).

I didn't expect much from the film, I mean how good can it really be?

There is only so much you can do with singing rodents, a record label vilian, and a corny-guy-next-door type.

And, I wasn't disappointed or surprised.

But, more importantly I didn't vomit, or reach REM.

Since my brain (in spite of my efforts to reform it) is convinced that movie theaters are the perfect places to conk out, my Movie Goodness Scale is based entirely on how awake I stay to enjoy it.

If the film is not Twi-awesome or Hangover-larious chances are good I'm going to fall into a deep sleep for the duration, fall into a deep sleep for a portion, or spend the majority of the film slamming my head into Dumb Dad's shoulder, the chick next to me, and/or the back of my chair.

If it's a film I REALLY want to see I may even use my drink as a wake-up tool by pouring it into my lap periodically. It's a strange method, but by golly it works!

As The Squeakquel was definitely not Twi-awesome or Hangover-larious I did a lot of the head slamming thing.

But. There was just enough mini-rump shakin' goin' on to keep me engaged for the majority.

And, right at the moment when I nearly boarded that sweet lulaby boat to Never Never Land, I was awoken with a high pitched rendition of Shake Your Groove Thang.

Perfect. Those screenwriters/director/whoever is in charge of that crap, knew exactly what they were doing with the song placement thingy.

Geniuses, I tell you. Geniuses!

Plus, it was 100 times better to be at the chipmunk pop-venture than to be sitting with #3 reading The 3-D Solar System Book for the gazillionth time (how's that for a Writer's Workshop inclusion?!).

I'm all for bonding over books, but now that he's memorized Saturn, Uranus, Earth, Mercury, and all the rest of 'em I think it's time to move on.

Besides everybody knows my position on outer space, and reading this book has done nothing for changing that.

Fortunately, Dumb Dad and I were not to be outdone by The Dudes in the movie department this season.

We caught a grown up film ourselves.

Thanks to the hidden babysitting talents of Bruncle (my brother, their uncle=Bruncle), we took in a romanticactionadventuremystery called Sherlock Holmes.

You've heard of it, right?

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Baby DaddyLaw, Rachel Mcadams?

I give it two thumbs up and I didn't even really fall asleep that much.

Okay, so I did find myself startling awake a couple of times near the end (and if you were sitting in front of me and were the recepient of one, or possibly two, swift kicks in the back, please forgive me), but it wasn't for lack of action or intrigue in the film.

It was my own inability to control my faculties when tired, sick, and effing freezing (why are theaters SO bloody cold?). Plus, we rarely ever go to the movies after sunset, and my proprensity for jumping off the sleep action is exactly why.

Anyway, point is, it was so not the movie's fault that I was unable to keep my wits about me for the duration. It was equal parts funny, engaging, and plot rich, okay maybe the plot was not exactly rich, but it did the trick.

My affection for the likes of Jude Law, Rachel Mcadams, and Robert Downey Jr. may have slightly tainted my review, but see it anyway if you get a chance and let me know what you think.

A trailer my dear, Watson.



So, anyway, thank you, Bruncle, for doing your thing. You have earned this week's Thursday Thank You as a result of your efforts.



Thank you and you're welcome.





Dear Bruncle, It's not everyday that I have a reason to praise you so let me just state, for the record, this is BIG. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to sacrifice your time (not that you had anywhere else to be) for Hubby and I to have a night out. There aren't many people I feel comfortable leaving The Dudes with and I'm glad we have you. The best part is that you're cheap: a Chipotle burrito and time to get on the PS3 with Hubby. And, you even did the dishes! Can't beat that. You are turning out to be quite the manny! I always knew you'd amount to something! XOXO, Dumb Mom

21 comments:

Adoption of Jane said...

We wanna Bruncle!!!

4 Lettre Words said...

The boys LOVE Alvin...and I like (okay, LOVE) RD Jr.! Both are on our list.

Kmama said...

Ooh, I need me a bruncle!!!

Glad you got a night out. I was laughing because even though you liked them movie, you were still falling asleep!!

Amethystmoon said...

We had date morning, ($5 movies before noon, I want the date not the expense) and we saw Sherlock Holmes! I liked it, a lot! and not ust because of the sexiness of the leading men. It was really good! I bought the soundtrack, too.

lsnellings said...

Aren't Bruncles the best!! Mine lives too far away to actually be of any use, but he still rocks when he is around!

Claremont First Ward said...

I've been wanting to see Sherlock Holmes. Alvin and the Chipmonks? Not so much. :)

Maggie S said...

Sherlock was great. No brain work required. We don't go to many movies. Because of the cold(I have been led to believe I was the only one who was uncomfortable).

Have dodged Squeakquel, up to now. It is getting bad reviews from kids' peers.(Yea!)

Is it Thursday already?...Let's hear it for Bruncle. We got a Funcle. Or is it a Trifluncle? Anyway...Thanks for sharing yours.

Jennifer said...

Ok wait. He did the dishes?! You go to go the movies AND come home to a clean kitchen FOR FREE!!!!!! If Bruncle needs a free place to sleep I've got a couch with his name on it in TX. Just sayin'.

Kiki said...

the grandparents took lil' D to see the Chipmunks. my fil fell asleep and my mil kept my kid in-line. he did actually sit thru the whole movie and got up to dance at the end. why can't he sit at home and watch a movie? or just sit still at home? i won't be seeing Sherlock until video. the critics have not been kind. i also don't like Jude Law. have a great day and take care.

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I took The Boy to see the Squeakuel on opening day. We got stuck in the FIRST ROW, at the end of the row.

My neck complained for two days.

And I think I have fallen asleep in every kid-themed movie I've been to in the past 30 years.

Except this one. Hard to sleep when your neck is bent at such a strange angle.

Oh, and the little kid beside me kept poking me with his elbow.

At least The Boy didn't have to nudge me and tell me to stop snoring.

Unknown said...

Can I rent the Bruncle?
How does he feel about watching 2 autistic children who still require diaper changes?
Yeah, I didn't think so.

Thankfully I try to get at least 1 if not 2 movies in every other weekend when the boys are at their dad's house.

I love me some movie therapy!

Anonymous said...

I took my boys to see Alvin and thought it was good (even though I didn't see the first one and had no clue what was going on). Sherlock Holmes is on my list!

Ms. Wanda said...

Love this post:) Movies are limited at my house to once a year, because that's all we can afford and this year we saw Avitar in 3D!!! It was awesome and I didn't go to sleep:) Thanks for the reviews loved them, they were much better then the ones from those stuffy critics that I try not to listen to:)
I want a Brundle too!!!!

Ms. Wanda

KMServino said...

Love the new header picture!

Also I will admit, I loved the first chipmunks movie, I thought it was cute and can't wait to see the 2nd one.

Miss Dot said...

A Bruncle, huh? And he cleans the dishes, too? Is he limited to just childcare or if I lend him our PS3 while we got out for a night will he stay and vacuum too...?

Anonymous said...

You trust your brother to watch your boys?! How do you get over the fact you've seen your brother do incredibly stupid things when he was younger?

Alicia said...

awwww!! bruncle looks so much like you!! what a cute family you have! and we have a bruncle of sorts around here too....we exchange dinners for nights out all the time, its a friggin deal!! btw- i thought of you the other day when i saw my friends year book from HS that i signed....alicia timberlake! booya.

Anonymous said...

Stopping by from SITS. I love your blog. Even the title is hilarious!

Unknown said...

Oh. My. Gosh. Bruncle is the cutest thing ever! I adore him. If I wasn't married I would totally ask you to give him my number : ) He looks like he was the best babysitter on the planet!

We loved the Alvin and the Chipmuks movie too! We went last weekend!

thehecticeclecticgirl said...

the camp guy and I were not thrilled about having to see Alvin with our boys either, but i agree with you that it actually didn't suck! would not choose to see it again, though... sherlock holmes is on my list, but we may catch it on video...

glad you were able to have a night out - i love those!

AdriansCrazyLife said...

I love your manny! We are seriously short in the Bruncle dept around here. Wasn't Sherlock Holmes great. I just loved that one. The Squeequal, not so much. Couldn't drag me to that one with a mack truck, but I am jonesing to see the Princess & the Frog. That's the downside of only having boys!

Giving away two copies of the movie Extract starring Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. Contest ends 4/2/10.
Related Posts with Thumbnails

Show Some Love

Vote for my blog parenting BY dummies on Mom Blog Network


Vote for my blog parentingBYdummies on Mom Blog Network
My site was nominated for Best Parenting Blog!
RuffleButt Logo


HalfButtonHPM

the mom blogs