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Sarah

Retro is Always in Style

Pepsi

Get ready for a blast from the past, Canadians. Pepsi Throwback is heading north, so you may want to cut back a bit on your sugar intake in preparation.

Forget corn syrup, or ingredients you can’t pronounce; this drink is made with real sugar and it has the same packaging your parents and grandparents enjoyed in the 70’s. Vintage is in, folks. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that high waisted wide leg jeans are coming back in style too.

“Our brand is all about bringing joy and enjoyment to our consumers, and we know this was an era of a lot of fun,” says Pepsi marketing manager Neetu Godara.

So have a drink. Have a Pepsi.

(Just keep in mind that it’s going to be available for a limited time only.)

You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not it’s cooler than drinking Coke from a glass bottle.

January 28, 2011 by

Come Laugh, It’s For Charity!

Several Western students and their families from Toronto bundled up for a great night of comedy on Sunday to support hungry, underprivileged children. Thanks to the UWO chapter of Canadian Feed the Children, comics Arthur Simeon, Marty Adams, Jeff Leeson, Lars Classington, and host Al Val offered patrons plenty of reasons to laugh and forget about the shivering temperature outside, until Arthur joked about Canadian winters, that is.

Opening acts Jeff Leeson and Lars Classington, from late night comedy talk show London Tonight with Jeff Leeson, both enjoyed poking fun at the elderly. Jeff shared an amusing anecdote about a man who mistook a portable phone for a cell phone and brought it on a road trip, then acted out an old woman counting her change at a grocery store checkout. Lars entertained the crowd by sharing his “million dollar idea” for a new poutine diet, whereby cheese and gravy shall be added to every meal. The Poutine Zero diet is his solution to making weight loss a new year’s resolution.

Second City alum Marty Adams offered the most interactive performance, by asking audience members to write down pet peeves and things that annoy them. Chewing loudly is clearly something that gets on everyone’s nerves, but almost nothing compares to the frustration of watching someone text while you’re in the middle of a conversation. I’ve read books and heard songs about nut allergies, but I have never heard someone put such a hysterical twist on them before Marty. One can only imagine what Letterman would say in a top ten list about people like the girl in the front row who are allergic to fruit.

While Lars concluded his time on stage by conducting a symphony of sex noises, thus distinguishing who was shy in the audience, Arthur sure knew how to end the show. With his candid discussion about racist stereotypes, including a funny story about a late night on the TTC, among other tales about dating, living in Africa, and celebrating Christmas, Arthur ensured that it was a memorable evening for everyone at London Music Hall.

January 24, 2011 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

Katy Perry Announces California Dreams Tour Dates

It turns out all that hype about the pop star’s visit to Facebook’s headquarters this afternoon was leading up to this announcement to promote her summer tour.

I suspect plenty of girls will be wearing red lipstick to the show’s 8 stops in Canada and her performances elsewhere. If this tour is anything like the last, then perhaps fans will be tossing around beach balls in the general admission area too.

Canadian dates:

June 30 | Toronto | Air Canada Centre

July 2 | Montreal | Bell Centre

July 3 | Ottawa | ScotiaBank Place

July 13 | Regina | Brandt Centre

July 14 | Winnipeg | MTS Centre

July 16 | Calgary | Saddledome

July 17 | Edmonton | Rexall Place

July 19 | Vancouver | Rogers Arena

Tickets go on sale on Saturday. I recommend visiting Ticketmaster here for more details, as Katy’s website is very slow.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In other news, cast members of Glee just performed “Teenage Dream”. Nicely done, boys.

January 19, 2011 by

Cher Makes Music History

As the only musician with #1 hits on the Billboard charts in the last six decades, Cher clearly knows what she’s doing. Her most recent hit, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, from Burlesque, won a Golden Globe for best original song on Sunday.

Regardless of what Ricky Gervais thinks, Cher is an incredible performer. Seeing her the night before my last birthday made it a magical and memorable evening.

Whether they’re songs suitable for a couple’s first dance at a wedding, breakup, or something sassier for the dance club, I hope she continues recording more hits.

The plot may be thin, but Burlesque offers a great opportunity to see her if you can’t make it to Las Vegas. With supporting performances by The OC’s Peter Gallagher and Twilight’s Cam Gigandet, as well as the always entertaining Stanley Tucci, be sure to check it out if your’re a fan of Christina or Cher. The movie will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 1.

January 19, 2011 by