learningrichard Reviews

Are We There Yet? (2010–2012)

canceled already (as of October 2011)? bummer.

[30 September 2011]

Well so far all I've seen is a couple of silly trailers for the show. I don't see a listing on tbs or anywhere else for that matter. That is really too bad because my daughter and I wanted to give it a chance. We are both fans of Terry Crews from his superb performance on "Everybody Hates Chris" and other internet appearances such as a series of Old Spice deodorant commercials which can be found quite easily on YouTube at http:// www.youtube.com.

His reviews on the YouTube spots and everywhere else are overwhelmingly positive. As a comedic actor Mr. Crews has a great range. We want to be entertained, tbs, so bring this show back for another season and give my 9 yr old daughter and myself a chance to judge (and review online for your perusal) ourselves.

It's late so this non-review may not be as coherent as it is in my head... Something perhaps lost on the 3:30 AM red-eye from my brain to my thumbs (yes, I am typing this non-review on my 4.3" screen HTC EVO). So one more time, we implore you to please promote the show and give us a second chance to see if we like it, simply because Terry Crews is a funny guy and I hope he will start getting the exposure he deserves.

Naturally Native (1998)

Excellent Sentiment, Bad Movie

[2/10 · 26 May 2010]

This movie had a great basis... three Native American sisters who want to start their own business, and in the process learn much about their past, their people, and discover themselves in a ... well, touching way.

Unfortunately, the writer / director / star, Valerie Red-Horse, was completely out of control in her efforts. The movie suffers badly from a disjoint plot (must they deal with every issue confronting Native Americans?), typically conspicuous product placement (I recoil at such an otherwise brave idea being tarnished by name-dropping companies such as Walmart -- pay the bills a little more subtly please), boring dialog which is far too transparently forwarding some sort of political agenda (I really dislike the reciting of facts and figures in movie, a la the meeting with the agent from the Bureau of Indian Affairs), as well dated plot devices (I was already very tired the "new-age" concept of self-actualization by 1998, and this movie serves it up in very liberal amounts).

It is as if the directing of the movie simply spiraled out of control as production went on and no one had the courage to reign things back into control. I wonder where the co-director, Jennifer Wynne Farmer, was during the directing of the movie? I assume that Ms. Red-Horse had most of the control of the movie. I could be wrong.

The bottom line is that this is a movie that has a very noble sentiment, wonderful efforts by most of the cast, but a very sophomoric sheen and a lot of ridiculous scenes and dialog which disappoint greatly.

I hope that in the future, as we grow farther away in time from the greatness and power of the Native American nations, more efforts will be made by indigenous Americans to portray Native Americans in film. Indeed, I hope that the makers of this very movie have matured and honed their craft in the years since this movie was released (1998), and that they do something else which shows this maturity. I'm sure Ms. Red-Horse has heard the criticism loud and clear and I hope she has taken it to heart, and the movie itself had just enough good to it that I expect something much better next time.

I personally want my children to love, respect, honor, and revere American Indians. Americans often look to Hollywood for enlightenment and education on such topics as Native Americans. I hope that Hollywood can do a better job of making a movie that actually entertains and educates the public on this venerable, important, and far too overlooked topic.

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

If you Like Lionel Barrymore You'll Love This

[7/10 · 27 February 2010]

I found this movie to be very charming and funny. I give it a lot of leeway for the fact that many of its plot devices, etc. are somewhat silly or sophomoric, after all it is a pioneering movie. The movie itself is one of perhaps hundreds from the era (1930s) that plot rich against poor, and make the poor look like innocent victims. The comparisons between the social and economic conditions in this movie and those of the 2000s and early 2010s are quite remarkable.

Contrary to many reviews of Lionel Barrymore (who played Grandpa Martin Vanderhof) that I've read, I find Mr. Barrymore to be a man of the world and very charming in this movie, as he is in many movies in which I've seen him (a notable example is Key Largo, the classic Humphrey Bogart movie and another truly great film in which Mr. Barrymore plays a supporting role).

Indeed I would love to escape to Grandpa Vanderhof's eccentric household and do as I pleased with my days for a while... I am a big fan of Jean Arthur (Grandpa Vanderhof's granddaughter) and Jimmy Stewart (Mr. Kirby's silver-spoon fed son and love interest of Ms. Vanderhof) as well and their chemistry in this movie was very good. Also, Edward Arnold did fabulously as Anthony P. Kirby, the antagonist to the lovable Grandpa Vanderhof.

All of the acting in the movie was very strong. This is a truly underrated movie. It was a very pleasant discovery for me. This is one I can watch over and over.