My Best Friend's Wedding

With one of my best friends getting married today, I thought this was a pretty good movie to include as a great Popcorn Movie Night suggestion. It's weird to think this was released 15 years ago because it stands up pretty well. Julia Roberts was in dire need of a hit movie after a number of pretty ordinary efforts and this movie signalled a return to form for the Pretty Woman. She plays the rather neurotic Jules who just happens to be in love with her best friend Michael (Dermott Mulroney in one of his first major roles).

However, like most romantic comedies, the stand out performances come from the support cast. In the case of this film Rupert Everett as George absolutely steals the show with one of the first roles I can remember that poked fun at gay people while also making them ultra-cool at the same time.

Cameron Diaz is also very impressive as Kimberley, the girl that Michael is going to marry. Before this role she had never done anything more than just be a pretty face, but her turn as the ditzy but loveable Kimmy was the first time we saw her comic ability.

Like most romantic comedies, this movie is highly predictable but a lot of fun, and will keep most guys happy as well. The real thing that sets this movie apart from the crowd is the inspired move to use exclusively Burt Bacharat songs on the soundtrack. And including "I Say A Little Prayer" and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" as live performances during the movie provide to of the more memorable moments, with Cameron Diaz's karaoke effort a fantastic Popcorn Movie Moment.

Bring It On

One of my favourite popcorn movies is Bring It On. I mean, how can anyone not like this movie? Cheerleading is not usually the sort of thing that makes for fantastic entertainment, but when you're looking for something as light and fluffy as a marshmallow, this fits the bill perfectly.
The script is predictable but fast-paced and contains plenty of laughs thanks to some over the top characters and walking cliches. This movie also contains some fantastic one-liners which have made their way into our society's everyday vernacular (spirit fingers anyone?)

The movie is also memorable for being one of Kirsten Dunst's first movies after her childhood roles in Interview With A Vampire and Jumanji. Dunst is pretty average in this movie to be honest but there were better performances to come, and her stereotypical acting suited the tone of the movie well. She has a pretty predictable love story with Cliff (Jesse Bradford) and their theme music in actually amongst my favourites in any movie... strange but true.

For me, there's more fun to be had with the characters of Missy, Whitney and Darcy. Missy is played by the delectable Eliza Dushku who I always liked in Buffy, and she parades her trademark scowl and tough-girl image proudly throughout the first half of this movie.
However, the standout performance and scene of this classic popcorn movie belongs to Ian Roberts. He did very little before this film and has done very little since, but his turn as choreographer Sparky Polastri is legend-dairy and thoroughly deserves our Popcorn Movie Night Scene of the Week.

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