First, the family and I ventured out on a Sunday night to see Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. We did see the original back in 2021 (Paw Patrol: The Movie) and thought it was pretty cute. Having younger kiddos, I knew they would enjoy it and I was right. When this Mighty Movie came out, I have to say I was a little more excited then my kids. They did humor me and participated. In a nut shell, the Earth is going to be struck by a large meteor and it is up to the Paw Patrol to save the day! Didn’t we see this film already? Oh.. Yeah.. That one where Bruce Willis sacrifices his life to save the planet leaving Ben Affleck to comfort his fiance after her father dies a hero. Armageddon (1998). Yep! Imagine the kids version of Armageddon, and you have Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
It was cute. It is great for families with littles. The story line was perfect for the littles. There were a few things that were meant for just adults, which I appreciated. I have to say, the number of A-List Celebs that showed up on the cast for this film is impressive. It was funny watching a dog talking about their day at the spa, only to realize it was Kim Kardashian. How appropriate.
Up Coming News:
WONKA: In Theaters December 15th. I was not looking forward to this when I originally heard about the film. After seeing the trailer in theaters, I am pretty excited. I think this will be a great film for the holiday season. It is going to fill you with warmth and love and hopefully you will be eating chocolate during the film. Maybe some hot chocolate.
The Marvels: In Theaters November 10th. We are a fan of all things Marvel, so naturally we will be seeing this. Ladies of Marvel unite!
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom: In Theaters December 20th. FINALLY!! This is finally happening. I have been anticipating this release for years and I am so exited for this. I am not normally a DC fan but I really like Aquaman. I am sure it is because I love the water and in another life, I was a mermaid princess……. maybe.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: In theaters: November 17th. This is the prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy. If you are a Hunger Games fan, then you probably already read this book (or listened in my case (over a 12 hour drive)). If you have time on October 15th or 18th, select theaters are releasing the 1st installment of The Hunger Games 4-part series in preparation of this upcoming release.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: In Theaters October 27th. I will not be seeing this because I am not a scary movie person. Well.. ok. I may. At home. With the lights on. My children want to see this because they think it is going to be just like the book (great for 5th grade and younger). They have no idea that Freddy Krueger changed a kids book and made it his own. It is coming out perfectly timed for Halloween!
Happy Spooky Season Y’all!
Elizabeth
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So, what have I been watching? Welcome to Wrexham on Hulu. The FX Review: Two Hollywood stars buy Wrexham Football Club, a struggling Welsh team in a working-class town. At the time of filming, it was fall. It was chilly there and you can see the cast in their warm coats and long sleeves. This has Futbol! Yes. The original version of the worldwide game before the American’s created a new game and called it “Football”. YES! I went there!
Welcome to Wrexham, if a great docuseries that I have been enjoying since the finale of Ted Lasso. This is a true-life underdog story of a team in Wales (not England) that is trying to get better and qualify to make it into the premier league. I am not to far into the series yet, but I am enjoying watching the business side of the game. Watching two American celebs (Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) figure out how to own a Welsh Futbol Team, is interesting. I find myself rooting for the underdogs (Ryan and Rob) rather then the team (this was Ted Lasso). In Welcome to Wrexham, you learn about the fans and the members of this working class town. They are true believers of their team. They are the die-hard fans (like Cleveland Browns fans) and you really want them to succeed. There is not much interaction with the players in the docu-series, but that is ok. If you have interest in the business side, this is definitely a good series to watch.
Football - the American one. Yes. I am all in on Saturday’s. Living in South Carolina, I learned very early on that those of us from Ohio are not welcome here. I moved here from Phoenix, so I am from Phoenix. When you move to the lowcountry, you kind of have to pick your SC team. Are you a Gamecock fan or a Tiger fan? Well, thanks to my daughter Molly and my previous employer, we have adopted Clemson as our South Carolina team. However, my heart is and always will be with (Sorry Carrie) the Buckeyes! So, every Saturday, it’s football day!
Happy Fall Y’all!
Eizabeth
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Last weekend, my daughter Madilyn and I went to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Her choice. Not mine. I was hoping for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or The Inventor or Blue Beetle (despite the horrible reviews I have read). I was planning on seeing MBFGW3 when it was released for home viewing but plans changed.
Here is my review: Cute. If you saw the first two, awesome! The film picks up a few years after the last. If you don’t remember the last one, its ok. You get a recap in the beginning of the film to get all caught up.
I have to say, I enjoyed this film WAY more then I thought I would. The story was light hearted and interesting. There was some mystery going on. There was a love story line. There was a lot of IYKYK going on as well. Meaning, if you saw the first two films or are Greek, you know. Would I recommend the film for theaters? no. It was good but not movie theater worthy, in my opinion. This is a great binge worthy sequel to watch with the other two over a long weekend or a day off from work.
Do I recommend skipping it? NOPE! This is a must see for the beauty and desire to travel to Greece. When I created my box this month in celebration of World Tourism Day (Sept 27th), I was not thinking about MBFGW3. I was just thinking about how amazing films are to bring travel to so many and inspire travel. This film has me and Madilyn wanting to jump on the next plane to Athens. The quality of the film stunning. If Greece is anything close to what we saw on the big screen, we will not be disappointed.
Greece is on my list of places to travel and MBFGW3 just confirmed and supported all the reasons I want to go. Beach. Beauty. Food (not the lamb). The culture. If you have any interest in traveling to Greece, I highly recommend this film. If you are not sure if you want to go to Greece, I highly recommend this film. At times, I ignored the story line just to watch the scenery and take in the beauty of Greece.
Happy Cuddles,
Elizabeth
]]>Avast Ye, tomorrow, September 19th, is Talk like a Pirate Day. Don’t just talk the talk, go full Pirate. Dress like a Pirate. Eye Patches. Bandanas. Grab all the doubloons ye can carry.
Here are a few things you need to know.
Run a Rig = Play a joke on someone
Hornswagger = Swindle out of $$
Lad/Lass/Lassie - Child
When we were searching Amazon for San Andreas, we found “The Meg”. She deviated and decided this was a great idea. Her dad and I, being the super cool parents we are, agreed. Well, she actually loved the movie. She thought it was cheesy and silly and had just enough thrill to keep her entertained. In case you do not know, The Meg (2018) is about a Megalodon (shark) that escapes a trench 7-miles below the surface because of human error (of course). The massive shark proceeds to wreak havoc to unsuspecting beach goers and creating lots of damage. If you are looking for one step above Jaws, here you go. This is perfect for you.
My daughter decided that she liked “The Meg” so much that she wanted to see the second one! Meg 2: The Trench, was released on August 4th in theaters. Why not…. Let’s do it. I warned my now eight-year old that the shark will be bigger because we are looking at the big screen. It will be loud. It will be darker then home. She was in. Her overall impression was a “20/10”. Her review: “It was the best movie ever because the puppy didn’t die. When they went down in the trench and it was so red and there was smoke, it was really cool. There were so many Meg’s and one of them was really cool and creepy at the same time.”
Synopsis: There is not one meg. There were like 4-5. Three made it out of the trench and went on a rampage killing everything in its path. Jason Statham brought all the action packed scenes that you would expect of him. There was a lot more violence and killing in this one than the first. If you have littles, you may not want them watching. I have to say, I have to give the directors and producers a lot of credit. There were a number of scenes that gave a nod to the Jaws series, including the scene when Quint was fighting off the shark at the end of the movie. There was also a nod to Jaws 3 with the breaking of bridge and all the activities on “Fun Island”. Good Job, guys and gals!
Would I see it again... sure! It is the perfect cuddle movie at home. It has action. It has violence. It has a a few giant sharks that have seen better days. Was it worth the theater prices. Well, my tickets were free, but ultimately to have the mommy-daughter cuddle time in the theaters… totally worth it. Guess What?!?! Meg 2: the Trench, currently rentable on Amazon, is definitely a rent-worthy film.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
P.S. Spoiler: I would not be surprised if there is a 3rd.
]]>As you know, those little boxes were super cute but they were filled. I want to offer the best of the best and those little boxes we (literally) exploding at the seems. In the next month or two, you will notice a little bigger box. Don’t worry, it will still be filled with all the great additions you are used to seeing in your original box.
Thank you for being a Founding Member!
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
]]>When I was in 7th grade, my class participated in a pen pal program. For all y’all young folk out there, pen pals were people of the same age/grade that you were matched up with. The two of you wrote letters back and forth to each other. This was before email. Before text messages. We wrote letters with paper and pen. I usually sent Lisa Frank Stickers to my her. Oddly enough, we wrote about love. We wrote about our first boyfriends. We shared the events of what ever relationship we were in and who we had crushes on. So, I guess the films got it right.
Here are a few of my favorite films where writing letters were an essential part of the plot.
Letters to Juliet (2010). - Set in “Fair Verona”, an American Journalist, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), finds a letter from 1957 that was left for Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, Juliet. After writing back, Sophie sets off on an adventure around Italy looking for the authors long lost love from 50 years before. Why do I love this movie? It is just a cute story. Usually these stories contain letter writing between the lovers. This does not. No letters were ever exchanged between the couple in 1957 and the American sets the process in motion to (spoiler) bring the two back together. While this is a fictional film, there really are secretaries of Juliet based in the city of Verona, ready to answer the many messages of those who have lost loves or are lost in love.
Dear John (2010). - Amanda Seyfried is also the lead actress in this one. A young couple meets on the Outer Banks of North Carolina one summer while Savannah (Seyfried) is home for summer break and John (Channing Tatum) is on leave from the Military. They have an instant connection after John performs a heroic act to help Savannah. They part ways at the end of summer and write letters back and forth to keep their relationship growing. I won’t spoil the ending for you.
The Lake House (2006). - A lonely doctor and a frustrated architect meet though exceptional circumstances. Through (hand written) letters, you learn about the lives of each character and watch them fall in love. However, they have some extraordinary circumstances that prevent them from meeting. This couple proves that love can withstand the test of time (literally).
You’ve Got Mail (1998). - This is a CLASSIC!! While the above movies used paper and pen to write letters back and forth, this film used modern technology (AOL) to connect two people. Kathleen (Meg Ryan) and Joe (Tom Hanks) are enemies living in NYC. Joe’s company ends up putting Kathleen’s out of business. While understandably upset with Joe, Kathleen develops a relationship with a man she has never met through email and instant messenger. Only at the end does she realize that the man she has fallen in love with is the same man that she is supposed to hate.
P.S. I Love You (2007). - I have a love-hate relationship with this film. I love it because the story and the journey this woman takes to learn about her recently departed husband is just amazing. This man is so sweet and sends her on the trip of a lifetime to discover where he is from, meet his family and have all the experiences he never got to share with her. All the while, leaving her letters in various locations along her journey that share his memories of each location with her. I hate this movie for all the reasons I just stated. She has to take this journey without the love of her life. Don’t worry… there is a happy ending. When you watch it… you let me know. Did you love it or hate it?
BTW…my pen pal and I are still great friends. We will be friends for 30 years this coming February.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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In support and celebration of this fabulous day, I wanted to review a few of my favorite pooch-prominent films (dogs in a main or supporting role).
Marley and Me (2008). – you cannot celebrate National Dog Day without Marley and Me. I love this film because it shows the love hate relationship between a dog and his owner (s). Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston are a great team of dog owners. This little rom-com is great for all dog lovers. Tip: When watching, don’t forget the tissues, though.
Scooby-Doo (2002). – This is a remake of the classic cartoon and it was done so well. The entire cast did an amazing job portraying their cartoon characters. I was a little shocked how well Matthew Lillard was able to make Shaggy come to “real-life”, .Additionally, I am always here for a Freddie Prinze, Jr. + Sarah Michelle Gellar combo film. Since, I Know What You Did Last Summer, I am all about this real-life couples in films. Binge watching? Here is the sequel: Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004).
Air Bud (1997). – This is a fun movie for the whole family. Air Bud is a stray pup with amazing basketball skills. After meeting a boy and being taken in to him home, the family soon realizes that Air Bud would be a great addition to the school’s basketball team. If you love this movie, don’t worry. There are a few additions to this original that you can find on Netflix and Amazon.
A Dog’s Purpose (2017). – This is an incredible story about the connection between a dog and his human. Through a series of twists and turns a dog keeps coming back and finding his way back to his owner. It really is an amazing story of the unimaginable but what every dog mom/dad would hope to happen.
Eight Below (2006). – It has been a minute since I have seen this film, but every timeI watch it, I love it. Eight sled dogs were left in Antarctica when their humans were forces to evacuate for their survival. The dogs work together through the brutal weather. Paul Walker’s character is fighting to get back to the dogs as soon as possible. This is a cute movie for the family. It does get a little heavy at times for littles (and not so little people). You may need a few tissues with this one.
Lady and the Tramp (1955) or (2019). – I am not biased toward the original or the live action. The live action was incredibly done. The CGI and the visual effect were amazing. This is a classic film about two dog that come together, one literally from the “wrong side of the tracks”. Through a series of heroic actions, these two find love. Fun Fact: When you go to Disney World, visit Tony’s Town Square at Magic Kingdom. The restaurant was inspired by this classic film.
Bolt (2008). – This is a cute little film about a superhero pup that learns that he is only “super” on TV. He was born and lived on a film set and was always under the impression that he was a real superhero. Through his journey, he realizes that he can be a hero without being a “super”. This is great for younger kids if you are looking for something for all ages.
There are so many others out there, these are just a few of my (and my family’s) favorites.
Happy (dog) Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings aboard American Airlines. We could watch all eight Harry Potter films. This was great because we knew that we were going to the Warner Bros. Studios outside of London to be on the set of the infamous Harry Potter films. We were there for it. My kids watched two of them, I believe, and played a few video games.
I tried to sleep on our 6 -hour flight but being that it was only 7:30pm EST, I was not exactly ready to sleep. I scrolled through the list of offerings and found a few options that sparked my interest. Remember, I must be careful about what I pick because my daughters tend to look over my shoulder to see what I am watching. With that, I tend to be a little conservative on flights.
With that, here are my reviews of a few films I watched courtesy of American Airlines, inflight entertainment:
Something from Tiffany’s: This is a cute little HelloSunshine + Amazon production. This reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas Movie (IYKYK) but on Amazon! YAY! Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Shay Mitchell did a great job in this little rom-com. Overall: staged in snow filled NYC (I amALWAYS down for anything NYC), a small mix up turns in to a very large problem. Through the film, the characters are keeping secrets and solving problems. Immediately had a character I hated and one that I loved. Just like any Hallmark movie, you can predict the ending but it is totally worth watching to see how they get there.
Blue Back: This was an interesting film (in a good way). Set in Bremer Bay, Australia, a mother/daughter duo, do their best to preserve the ocean in their local area. They are avid free divers. Spoiler: the daughter had to do her deepest free dive at 8 years old! The story line toggles between past and present-day experiences in the ocean and fighting to protect ocean life. Is this an Academy Award winner? No. It was a great film to watch once. The film was loosely base on Booker Prize nominee Tim Winton's critically acclaimed novella of the same name. Beautiful scenery. I love Australian accents so I am always down for a film made in Australia.
Inception: This is not a new one for me. I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it because of the creativity and the psychological twists this film takes. The story line is basically such that people can manipulate other’s behaviors by going into their dreams. There are layers and layers of a dream that this team of professional “dream divers” (my term, not theirs) explore to manipulate decisions and behaviors once the person wakes. There is some violence, suspense, drama, and conspiracy. Guess what… this one worn multiple awards in2010 as well.
Love Again: Ok. This one was an interesting find. I remember watching an interview with Priyanka Chopra Jonas where she was talking about a film that she was making. In one shot, they needed to do a scene where she needed to be “intimate” with another actor. She said that she was very happy that they cast her husband, Nick, because it made a very awkward scene much “comfortable”. I was not looking for this film but I am glad I found it. This was released a few months ago (May, 2023) and available on Amazon. Mira, loses her boyfriend (I would argue fiancé) to a drunk driving accident. Through the film, she recovers from heartbreak after building a new relationship with a man that has an interesting connection to the one she lost. Celine Dion plays a pretty significant role in Mira’s recovery as well. “You might think your world is ending but it won’t. You might think you need to give up, but you don’t”. …..
In closing, a big shout out to American Airlines, in-flight entertainment. I was able to see some films I never would have normally. Next time you are on a plane for a few hours, check out what they are offering.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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One of my favorite summer movies of all time is Fools Gold (2008). If you have not seen it, please give yourself 1H and 52 min to enjoy this treasure hunt. Finn, played by Matthew McConaughey, is a serial treasure hunter who is fixated on one Spanish ship. The Aurelia went missing in 1715 (true fact), carrying the Queen’s Dowry containing “emeralds, the size of your fist”. It is speculated that the the others ships were lost in the hurricane of 1715 or attacked by Pirates. However, the captain of the ship carrying the Queen’s Dowry was never discovered. Finn and Tess, played by Kate Hudson, embark on a journey to find the missing dowry and run into some interesting characters along the way.
Why you should watch it:
It is a great rainy day film. Click to see the trailer
If you love How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, this is the beach version.
Adults only: Not great for kids, (language and one “sex” scene)
This is a funny rom-com, perfect for summer.
I still have a hard time not referring to Kevin Hart as Bigg Bunny.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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We have a ton on the agenda for the trip like: the top of the Eiffel Tower, street bought crepes, the London Eye, Afternoon Tea, and the Warner Bros. studios. This is where the Harry Potter films were created. Yep! We are doing it. We are doing ALL of it.
This got me thinking about my favorite films based in Paris and London. We sat down the other night so the girls could see what London looks like (from TV). I picked my go-to-cheesy-kid-friendly film, What a Girl Wants (2003). Is it creative epicness? Nope. Not at all. It is a cute film for tween girls that shows differences between America and London while an NYC native reconnects with her royal father, and finds love (of course). Nothing to write home about but definitely a favorite of mine.
Here are a few others that I love, based in London.
Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery - Great for slap-stick comedy and cult classic
101 Dalmatians - I am going animated here because the live action is a bit intense for young kids.
Paddington - Great for families. We all really enjoyed this one.
Cruella - Did anyone else love this movie??
The Kings Speech - After playing Lord Dashwood (What a Girl Wants), Colin Firth played King George VI in this award winning drama.
Sherlock Holmes - This is a classic tale with plenty of adventure
Skyfall - Of course I need to throw a James Bond film in this list
Here are a few others that I love, based in France:
DaVinci Code - Don’t knock it. It is not the best made film but the story line is pretty great.
French Kiss - Classic Meg Ryan character. This is an oldie but goodie!
Ratatouille - Yes, it is animated but it is so good. You should also visit Paris in EPCOT and ride this attraction. It is super cute.
Les Miserables - This is classic Broadway production turned cinematic greatness.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
By the way: Passe une bonne semaine.
(This means, have a good week, in French.)
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Haunted Mansion is one of my families favorite attractions, It is a non-negotiable ride that everyone does. I usually try to only ride it once and let Steve, my in-laws, and the kids do it 2-3 times. It is a must ride every time. Naturally, we are headed to the theater tonight to see Haunted Mansion. I am super excited because it is a little more intense then the previous versions of this film.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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In true Indiana Jones fashion, it was the perfect blend of action, storytelling, and nostalgia. I was pleasantly surprise. The CGI was not over the top.The storyline was consistent with other films in the series. It was nice to see characters from previous movies, but I will admit, the random cameos were not necessary. We love Harrison Ford and I thought he did a great job bringing this character back to life.
Would I recommend? YES! Click here to watch the trailer.
If you are a die hard Indiana Jones fan, you probably already saw it.
Theater worthy? I think so. I am one for beautiful scenery and this had it.
Home cuddles? Sure. It has all the nostalgia you would hope for. It is a wonderful conclusion to the series. It would make a good home movie night. Who knows.. maybe you will see an Indiana Jones inspired box in the future.
Happy Cuddles!
Elizabeth
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If you got to be a kid again, what would you do for a day?
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