Something old, something new, something messy, something loveable and something true. There’s a lot going on in “The Good House.”
Based on a best-selling novel, it’s now a major motion picture, and Entertainment expert Patty Spitler joined us Friday on “Life.Style.Live!” for “Patty’s Picks” to give us some insight. Here’s more from her:
First off, I love that it showcases romance for an older couple. Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline rekindle their long-ago crush. She is a Boston realtor with a perceptive eye who can spot the flaws in others but fails to see her own issues. She also loves her wine! Oh, and she loves her dogs. Her new/old boyfriend is down to earth and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him. He’s also quick-witted and somewhat withdrawn from life and love.
The script has Weaver speaking directly to the camera at times and somehow that makes you feel more a part of the proceedings. This comedy/drama has you laughing and smiling, and then suddenly you realize, older folks have flaws too.
If you’re wracking your brain right now, yes, Sigourney and Kevin have been an on-screen couple before.
This is their third pairing on a film. The other two are “Dave” (1992) and “The Ice Storm” (1997), and if you loved them then, you’ll love them now.
‘The Good House’ is rated R, but there is a bit of language and some sexual innuendo, but nothing I found offensive.
It runs for 1 hr and 43 minutes.
I really appreciated the delivery of these two, and the timing is everything. Perfection!
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Can this high-flying sequel surpass the original film that opened over 30 years ago? Can its star ascend new heights in popularity? Can the draw of pleasant nostalgia combined with unrelenting action get folks back in the theater?
“Life. Style. Live!” Entertainment Contributor Patty Spitler joined us Friday with some answers during “Patty’s Picks” as she talks Tom Cruise’s new movie, “Top Gun: Maverick.”
It’s an action/drama film that cost 170 million to make. It was supposed to be released two years ago, but that Covid thing shut it down. Tom Cruise put his foot down and said, “No.” to streaming. He insists, “I make movies for the big screen.”
Some items of note: Cruise did all his own stunts, except for one. They also wouldn’t let him fly a 70-million-dollar jet fighter in one scene.
Marverick returns as a top naval aviation test pilot who turns down advancement in rank because that would ground him.
The movie is wild, warm and always totally wonderful. I loved the nostalgia, but even if you haven’t seen the first one, they do some flashbacks to enlighten. Maverick the man, has some flaws and some ego issues. There is a love interest Jennifer Connelly, and that’s the only negative press he’s getting, for not including Kelly McGillis in this sequel. Val Kilmer appears in a brief scene, but his presence is felt throughout. The stunts and fly sequences are totally amazing.
Patty gives it 5 out of 5 jet fighters!
Rated PG 13, action/drama, runs 2 hours and 11 minutes
Fun Fact: Patty has spoke to Cruise many times during his career. Even in 1986 with the first “Top Gun” launched him into the acting stratosphere. Watch the video above to see part of that interview.
For more from Patty, visit GreatDayTV.com.
Friday means it’s movie day, and Great Day TV’s Patty Spitler is back this week with her picks! These are fresh films that were just released today.
Liam Neeson’s new action-thriller, Memory,” is up first.
“Memory”
It’s a bloody mess, but also a well-crafted film about a lone wolf assassin. Known for his discreet killing skills, Liam Neeson as Alex now finds himself a target as he refuses to complete a job, so now the crime syndication and the FBI are on his tail.
Plus, this is all complicated because his character is in the starting stages of Alzheimer’s and he struggles with severe memory loss.
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Rating: R for violence
Availability: In theaters nationally
Patty’s score: 4 out of 5 guns
“Fortress: Sniper’s Eye”
Speaking of cognitive issues, Bruce Willis recently announced he was retiring from acting due to his aphasia diagnosis, affecting his memory, language skills and even reading.
But he was busy working up until his retirement, so there are about a dozen of his movies yet to be released. “Fortress: Sniper’s Eye” is one of them, and it’s a cyber-thriller who a retired CIA agent, Willis is living in the forest in a secret high-tech bunker and his enemies are closing in.
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hour 40 min.
Availability: Select theaters and digital platforms
Patty, interviewed Bruce Willis many times over the years including for his action movie debut in “Die Hart.” Watch the video above for a lookback at their conversation.
For more from Patty, visit GreatDayTV.com.
This week’s Patty’s Picks are two of the most talked about newly released movies.
Patty Spitler of Great Day TV joined us today with a preview and her reviews for “Turning Red,” “The Adam Project” and “Belfast.” Here’s more from her:
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”
First, we’re talking wizards in “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”
Complex wizardry abounds in this third JK Rowling franchise and offshoot of the Harry Potter franchise.
This movie was supposed to come out in 2020, but we all know what happened with the world on hold during the pandemic.
Set several years after the events of its predecessor, the film follows Dumbledore following Newt and his allies on a mission that takes them into the depths of a dark wizard army.
Very complicated but if you’re a fan, you’ll get it.
Rated PG-13, 2 hours and 22 minutes, in theaters today
“Father Stud”
Next up, based on a true story, Mark Wahlberg stars in ‘Father Stu’. It centers on the redemption of the late Stuart Long. A ‘salvation bio-pic’ about a washed-up boxer who finds redemption and feels his calling is to become a priest. Mel Gibson co-stars as his abusive father.
Mark Wahlberg worked for 6 years to get this film made and he privately financed it, too. He also had to gain a bunch of weight and says that really took a toll on him and his health…he even said he ate a lot of chicken nuggets and swallowed tons of olive oil to pack on 30 pounds. I give it 3 out of 5 praying hands.
Rated R, opened in theaters on Wednesday
For more from Patty, visit GreatDayTV.com.
It’s Friday! This means it’s time for “Patty’s Picks,” and our entertainment contributor Patty Spitler joined us today with a look at three movies opening today.
“Moribus”
A Marvel Comics character is brought to blood thirsty life, as a pseudo-vampire and tragically flawed anti-hero. Jared Leto stars as one of Spider-Man’s horror adversaries. Moribus’s true identity is a former award-winning biochemist. He was trying to find a cure for his rare blood disease which backfired and turned him into a supernatural nightmare who is confused by his lust for blood.
Rating: PG 13
Runtime: 104 minutes
“The Contractor”:
Chris Pine stars in “The Contractor.” Like many movies out now, this has been put on hold several times since 2019. Pine’s character is a serviceman who is involuntarily discharged form the US Special Forces. So now he needs a job to support his family back home. He joins a private contracting organization, led by Keifer Southerland, all the while trying to shake some enemies who’d like to kill him. Original title was “Violence of Action.”
Rating: R
Runtime: 103 minutes
“You Won’t Be Alone”
Which is witch? Oh boy, you want to feel horror, empathy, disgust, understanding, revulsion and hope all in one movie? Out today, it’s “You Won’t Be Alone.” A mother begs a nasty, scarred “Wolf-Eateress” not to kill her baby and bargains that the witch can take the young girl when she turns 16. The witch returns and takes the girl. The young lady is curious and accidentally kills a peasant in a village. She then takes her form as she tries to understand what it’s like to be human. Set in 19th Century Macedonia, the film is closed captioned. Take a look, dare you!
Rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
Patty’s Review:
“You Won’t Be Alone” is a gory and artsy and bloody yet bold and images will stick in your brain forever. Oh, and the most disgusting, long and painful looking fingernails you have ever seen.
I give it 3 out of 5 witches. If you’re looking for a summer, fun and one dimensional movie, this is not it!
For more from Patty visit, greatdaytv.com.
“Patty’s Picks” this week have a little something for everyone!
Patty Spitler of Great Day TV joined us today with a preview and her reviews for “Turning Red,” “The Adam Project” and “Belfast.” Here’s more from her:
“Turning Red”
“Turning Red” is a Disney animation at its finest with a lesson to learn. Meet Mi, a young gal with an overprotective mother. The problem the young lady has is that she is very very sensitive and when she gets too excited, poof! She turns into a giant red panda! This coming-of-age film is streaming now on Disney+ streaming today.
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes Rating: PG.
“The Adam Project”
“The Adam Project” is a big-budget film that is witty, entertaining and fun.
It stars Ryan Reynolds as a time-traveling fighter pilot who accidentally crash-lands in 2022. There he discovers his 12-year-old self and together they are on a mission to save the world in the future. This movie is now streaming on Netflix.
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes Rating: PG-13
“Belfast”
“Belfast” is already winning awards and is a critical favorite. Director Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical take on growing up in Northern Ireland in the war-torn, tough late ’60s. This film was released last November to get it out in time for award season, but there will be a special showing on St. Patrick’s Day at the Living Room Theaters.
Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
For more from Patty visit, GreatDayTV.com.
We have a special “Patty’s Picks” segment today where she’s not just previewing one movie, but three!
Two of them are released on Friday, February 25, and the biggest one is released on Friday, March 4.
“Big Gold Brick”
It’s the story of a fledgling writer and his experiences with a feisty middle-aged father of two. This man enlists write Samuel Liston to write his biography.
Star names you recognize are Megan Fox and Andy Garcia. Let’s take a look.
This dark comedy is “Not Rated,” playing in theaters and available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Google Play and other streaming services.
“Studio 666”
The band ‘The Foo Fighters’ star in this horror/comedy about that finds the band under pressure to deliver a new album and they are trapped in a rundown, haunted mansion. Leading man David Grohl stars, and the film is based on one of his stories. It’s showing in theaters now, rated R and runs 106 minutes.
“The Batman”
Spitler also gave us a preview of the upcoming ‘Batman’ movie which she will review next Friday, March 4.
It’s rated PG-13 and stars Robert Pattinson as Batman and Zoe Kravitz as the Cat creature. It Runs 2 hrs and 55 minutes.
For more from Spitler visit, greatdaytv.com.
Two unknown actors carry the comedy-drama coming of age movie, “Licorice Pizza.”
Patty Spitler of Great Dav TV says this week’s Patty’s Pick is an emotional, offbeat and entertaining film.
In “Licorice Pizza” a soon-to-be washed-up 15-year-old child actor played by Cooper Hoffman falls for a 20-year-old Jewish girl with attitude, Alana Haim. The film takes us back to the ’70s and shows how finding true love is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Notable names, Bradley Cooper and Sean Penn are also in the movie, but not the stars. The film takes us back to the ’70s and shows how finding true love is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.
Patty says while watching this movie you forget it’s a film, and it’s like watching real life. It’s full of flawed characters you love, the performance is subtle yet revealing with a few unexpected storylines that give us humor and romance with heart and soul.
Set in the San Fernando Valley, “Licorice Pizza” is out in theaters now.
“Licorice Pizza” Runs 2 hrs 13 min, it’s rated R and Patty gives it 4 1/2 pizza slices out of 5.
This week’s “Patty’s Pick” is “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Today, she gave her review and also looked back at one of last week’s picks and shared what may have caused “West Side Story” to not perform well at the box office.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home.” is the latest installment of the series. Patty says critics are loving it, and audiences are craving it. Here’s more from her:
Tom Holland returns as the web-swinging star.
Plenty of villains and plots in this one, too.
With Spider man’s identity revealed and a spell that has gone wrong, Peter has to fight foes from other worlds.
Jon Watts is the director who also was behind the previous two Spider-Man installments.
It’s too bad that Spider-Man co-creator and original Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stan Lee has passed and won’t see his creation applauded yet again.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” is rated PG-13 and is coming to theaters on Friday, December 17.
For more from Patty visit:
GreatDayTV.com and PetPalsTV.com.
This week’s “Patty’s Pick” is “Spencer.” She gives it three out of four crowns. Watch the video above to see why.
Here’s more about the movie:
The rumors are running rampant. But in December of 1991, it was official. Princess Diana was going to divorce Prince Charles.
Kristen Stewart puts her stamp on the iconic British figure.
What really happened in the days leading up to the split? Here’s one reflection on the events in the movie, “Spencer.”
“Spencer” is rated R for language throughout, and it opens in theaters on Friday, November 5.
For more from Patty visit: