What's Wrong with Hollywood?

Movies! Maybe I should warn you, I’m feeling a bit cranky about this summers movies. Normally, I’m a very happy go lucky person who enjoys a good tale. Last year my favorite movie was Whiplash, an emotional story about a young man who wanted to be the best drummer and be successful professionally. It’s about his RELATIONSHIP (not sexual) with his teacher. A must see if you haven’t already watched this powerful film. Let me warn you it is a dark movie, but emotionally gripping. I also enjoyed The Imitation Game, Gone Girl, The Judge (Robert Downey Jr. you were excellent in this film) and The Theory of Everything. All great films about PEOPLE overcoming some struggle that changes them.  Emotional dramas.

Hollywood is definitely run by men because frankly I don’t know of a single romantic comedy or a romantic drama coming out this summer. Already the men in my household are planning on going to see the Avengers this weekend. They don’t know it yet, but I’m having a Marvel boycott. I’m tired of superhero action movies. I could be the only one, but I like my movies to have some internal, emotional conflict. Not be all save the world from the bad guys. I don’t care if Thor is gorgeous. And fight scenes…five minutes of them punching each other, doing unbelievable stunts is frankly boring. Yawn.
I also like to laugh. I’m looking forward to seeing the comedy Hot Pursuit. I hope that it has some credible story telling. Not just two women trash talking, but an actual laugh out loud, funny movie with maybe a small message? We saw Furious 7. I’ll miss Paul Walker, but really the movie was nothing but one unbelievable stunt action after another. Yawn.  Even when you throw in scantily clad women it still ranks a big yawn from me. There was a pinch of emotional drama/conflict, but the rest was fight or flight or cars crashing or some other action scene. Yawn. Even Van Diesel’s sexy voice was not enough to keep me interested.

I’m curious about The Age of Adaline – The synopsis from Fandango says, “After miraculously remaining 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret.” Sounds interesting. Will there be any emotional romantic conflict?

Lately, it seems that Hollywood puts out movies without any emotional conflict, unless it’s a tear jerker. Nicholas Sparks is a good writer, but can we have a happy ever after ending occasionally? A love story does not have to be a tear jerker. Last I checked, I feel more emotions than sadness. I’d really like to see a romantic comedy, but I don’t think today's screenwriters know how to create one that’s not slapstick. And does every drama have to end with someone dying? I know I’m a Happily Ever After kind of girl, but occasionally you could have them smiling at the end. Here is what just opened:
Avengers – NO!!!!! I refuse!
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed – Bucket List movie – No!
Far From Men – War movie – No!
Far From The Madding Crowd – Literary remake. I may go to this one!
Gerontophilia – Man finding his sexuality. No!
Hyena – No! Undercover cop drug traffic movie!
Iris – Documentary about New York fashion maven. Looks at least interesting.
Ride – Helen Hunt director. Finding yourself movie. This one I’m going to! Love Helen Hunt.
Welcome To Me – Woman wins lottery and goes off her meds and buys time on an infomercial channel. This one looks interesting. Dark comedy.

Later this summer: Pitch Perfect 2 – LOVED the first one and this is a Must Go!
Mission Impossible – NO!!!! Enough already! You lost the mission years ago.
Poltergeist – I liked the first one, but I’ve been there, done that. Probably No!  Renter.
Tomorrowland – Possible. I have to see the reviews first. Is there story plus action?

Sigh…we go to the movies a couple of times a month. Sometimes 3-4 times a month, but this year…we may be sitting at home watching old movies that we enjoy. Wake up Hollywood. You’re not just producing movies for young, adolescent boys who don’t know what an emotion is.
Tell me, am I just a cranky, old woman who is stuck back in time enjoying Pretty Woman, or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? What kind of movies do you enjoy?   Note: Whiplash poster is from Wikipedia. "The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the film, the publisher of the film or the graphic artist."