Family Movie Night
By Karyn Bowman
I am on a quest to lose weight.
With a family history of diabetes, I am working to build better habits now to ensure that I will have them later.
One tool I used to record my workouts is the Noom app I found on my smart phone.
Gratuitous picture of Hugh Jackman from IMDb.com
For the workout portion of the program, I can see how many steps I took, my distance, time and rate of speed. It will also map my route using the gps device. During the walk, it even talks to me in an English accent.
I call this voice ‘Hugh” because it reminds me of Hugh Laurie from the TV show “House” and Hugh Jackman. I set the volume for Hugh at the loudest rate possible so that I can hear it, especially if Storm decides to chase a squirrel or bird or another dog.
So when it came to this week’s column, I thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if we watched the latest Hugh Jackman movie, Real Steal, and tie this all together. But luck or fate was not with us. While I kept the dog outside (there is no way Larry wants my dog running around his store and I am not paying the outrageous food bill that dog will amass), my daughter went in to get the movie.
Poster Image from IMDb.com
“The bad news is Real Steal was out,” she said upon coming out of the store. “But I got The Smurfs instead.” There was excitement in her face and I was feeling so disappointed. I did not want to watch tiny blue people on my relaxing Friday night, I wanted Hugh Jackman.
The thing is, once the movie came into the house and the other members heard that the movie of the night was The Smurfs, they were pretty happy. Then friends showed up to watch the movie. I made four pizzas and the husband was lucky to get one piece. I was lucky to get two pieces and I was in the house from the beginning.
The movie is about how Gargamel (Hank Azaria) brings the Smurfs to New York City in order to steal their power. It is a long drawn out plan that involves leaf blowers and a castle in Central Park .
Somehow, the smurfs connect with Patrick and Grace Winslow (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays). Well, sooner or later, everyone figures out what needs to happen to get the smurfs back to their own world and take care of business in New York . Papa Smurf, as voiced by Jonathon Winters, gives sage advice to the expectant father and Smurfette (Katy Perry) bonds with Grace, the only other girl she has ever met.
The kids loved it. They had a good time watching this movie while I wondered how many times Neil Patrick Harris called his agent and screamed. OK, the sequence in which he went off on the continual use of the word ‘smurf’ was good but the hugs at the end were unnecessary.
All I can say is that it is a safe movie for kids to watch alone and they will enjoy it. It is not something I am planning to ever watch again.
Until next week, see you in the rental aisle.
I want that app! anything to get me to walk that bit further each day!!! c
It is free!!!!!!
I would like for an englishman to talk to me while I exercise!
Too bad I do not have a smartphone.
Would it be rude towards the husband if I said I look forward to my time with Hugh?
We’ve got loads of the Studio Ghibli ones, including Totoro and Arietty. They are fabulous, and I love that the kids will actually see that so much of what we take for granted visually has its roots in other cultures. Look at all the anime inspired material we watch – Ben 10 included!
I have been a Studio Ghibli fan for nearly 20 years. They are like Pixar movies, beautiful animation that supports great storytelling.