Goodbye, Lucas

My favourite movie from Grade 10, when I discovered it, to early university when I discovered Princess Bride, was a little feel-good movie called Lucas. It's the story of a Grade 9 boy named Lucas who is picked on; a screaming nerd that becomes friends with the most popular girl in school. He falls in love with her, she falls in love with a football player (Charlie Sheen) and that sets him on a path of almost self-destruction as he tries to prove himself as strong and cool as the rest of the football team. It's a wonderful story of being yourself, of defending the underdog, of accepting people for who they are.



The movie starred Corey Haim as Lucas. I loved, loved, loved Corey Haim. I watched his performance as Lucas on my VHS tape, taped off our local Fox station by a friend (Adam Ingrao) for me, and he became my favourite star of the 1980s.

When the news reported this week that Corey Haim died at the age of 38 (I'll be 38 this May), my memories of him (to me he'll always be Lucas) stayed with me for the week. He had a tragic life but it seemed he had the heart that I suspected - he was taking care of his mother when he died. I also learned he was Canadian.

Lucas was a big part of my teenage years and I'm sorry that Corey Haim's story ended this way but however corny it sounds (and it sounds very corny), he'll stay a part of my growing up and the lessons of Lucas did indeed round out what for me as a typical teenager was the most selfish part of my life.

Thanks, Lucas.

Family movie night a bust

We had planned to have a family movie night tonight. We decided to watch a favourite movie, Elf. That movies makes me laugh so hard. John, too. And last year, Emily as well.

I should have seen the signs that things weren't going to work out tonight. First, we went swimming this morning and the kids have been dragging ever since. Second, there was little enthusiasm for our choice. Third, Hope laid down, face first, on my lap right after the movie started and Emily had covered her ears with pillows.

After about 10 minutes, right when things were getting good in the movie, Emily declared, teary-eyed, that she didn't want to watch this movie. Hope agreed. And that's when John and I ended movie night for tonight and promised to try again soon another night when the kids weren't so tired, I wasn't so irritated with them after a good but long week, and after we'd gone to the video store to choose something they would we all like.

These things don't always work out. At least now John and I can watch whatever we want. It might even be the rest of Elf!

Two nights, two movies

Being the social animals we are, living the high life here in Canada's capital, frequenting all the hippest, coolest parties, rubbing shoulders with Canada's political elite, you KNOW that we had to turn down all kinds of invitations for last night in order to stay home, put the kids to bed and watch a movie. And that the movie must have been GREAT in order for us to say no to so many great chances to ring in the new year. And so, I must tell you about the movie we saw last night as well as the one we watched tonight (which we watched right after getting home from a great family-style party at our friend's, Pete and Julie's.)

Last night we watched Run, Fat Boy, Run. It was lighthearted and hilarious but had a great heart. A perfect New Year's movie. And, to make it that much better, it had that guy in it whose name John always has to tell me and that I could find on IMDB for you but really, who wants to do that? He's that guy from Hot Fuzz and Spaced. Not the fat guy. The other guy. You know. He's realized that the girl he left pregnant at the alter ten years earlier was the ONE and to prove to her that he has changed and is responsible he decides to run a marathon. Cue hilarity.

The movie we saw tonight was Ghosttown. It had one huge thing going for it: Ricky Gervais. He plays a similar character to the one he played in Extras. Almost as big a dink and just as funny. Maybe funnier. No, that's not possible. Anyway, he's a guy who undergoes surgery, dies for a few minutes and wakes up to find that he can see all the ghosts of Manhattan. The ghosts figure it out quickly too and start asking him to get closure for him. It's absolutely hilarious and sweet. Very sweet.

So, there are two great movie recommendations for you for the next time you have to come up with an excuse not to attend all those parties that I know you too have all over your calendars.

A movie to see

Graeme and Beth recommended Lars and the Real Girl to us. If you haven't heard of this movie, if you haven't seen this movie, rent it. You won't be sorry. It is so, so, so great.

And thus concludes my post of this evening.