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Justin Timberlake

Stephen Colbert’s 3 Favourite Things

There is “so much [comedic] talent out there and not enough time to show it all,” Sandra Bullock astutely said during the People’s Choice Awards. The award-winning star of The Heat and Gravity took home four trophies on Wednesday night, while I sat at home wishing I had her brown wavy locks.

Kat Dennings, my other favourite brunette Hollywood star, dazzled in her role as co-host. When she quoted fans’ tweets and introduced which song Beth Behrs would sing next, she quickly made that segment a highlight of the 40th People’s Choice Awards. I promised my Facebook friends that I won’t blog more about the dance move Miley popularized last year, so let’s just say Beth’s rendition of Wrecking Ball was epic. Matt LeBlanc joked about singing a song too, but claimed that he couldn’t due to time constraints. The former Friends star then announced that The Big Bang Theory (the show with a Barenaked Ladies theme song) was named Favourite Network TV Comedy.

Kaley Cuoco AKA television’s sweetest newlywed accepted the award for Favourite Comedic TV Actress. She started the year with a bang by wearing a pink Vera Wang dress to her wedding, which she decorated with an upside-down cake hanging from a chandelier. Watching her in the opening sequence on the set of 2 Broke Girls was amusing. Remember, stars are just like us. They’re busy people who care about loyalty programs at Jamba Juice.

Whereas Justin Timberlake spoke about his team in the context of how they’re obligated to deal with his neuroses, Jennifer Hudson brought her sister into the spotlight to emphasize the importance of teamwork and family. “My mother always taught us that without family, you have nothing,” she said. Cover girl material right there. Sponsorship-related pun intended. 

Photo: Billboard

Photo: Billboard

Surprisingly, last night marked the first time Britney Spears won her a People’s Choice Award. Britney celebrated her prize and comeback in a dress that screamed Las Vegas style and reminded me how much I want to return to the west coast.

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January 9, 2014 by

No Strings Attached

In Canadian director Ivan Reitman’s latest romantic comedy, No Strings Attached, Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman play Adam and Emma, two young and naive professionals who try having a casual relationship.

All relationships have rules, both explicit and unspoken, and friends with benefits are no exception. Adam’s neighbour reinforces this in passing, knowing very well that it’s foolish of Adam to think his friendship with childhood crush Emma is any different. Even Pinnocchio knows that there are always strings, but these two stubborn lovers would rather explore the benefits of their friendship. As if their fate wasn’t predictable from the trailer, Emma and Adam quickly realize that having “no strings attached” is unachievable.

Furthermore, its use of symbolic moments and holidays support critics’ motives for passing it off as another formulaic chick flick. Must there always be a wedding or Valentine’s Day to motivate the characters to make a move or realize they’ve made a mistake? Then there’s the Hugh Hefner like age gap between Adam’s famous father and his girlfriend, as well as the romance between Adam’s roommate and Emma’s best friend. Kudos to them for being entertaining while doing what several supporting actors have done before them.

Nevertheless, there are several witty lines, including a metaphor about an 8-track. Among its humorous scenes are one in which Adam makes Emma a mix CD and lists a number of song titles that can be construed to have a subtext about menstruating. Like many modern movies, there is also Adam’s debate with his friends about the best way to respond to a late night text. As for what first resembled Britney Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time’ music video’, Reitman’s parody of Glee was clever and amusing. Finally, while it may be surprising that a Jewish widowed mother would date a boorish man nicknamed Bones, Reitman subtly references his and Portman’s Jewish heritage a few times throughout.

Most romantic comedies leave room for criticism, but this one is definitely worth renting. If its plot is a topic of interest, then stay tuned for the upcoming summer blockbuster, Friends with Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake. I wonder if there will be any references in it to Nsync’s ‘No Strings Attached’ album.

Update: Re-watched the film, this time recognizing New Girl actor Jake Johnson who plays Adam’s roommate! [January 2013]

January 23, 2011 by