The New Year's spinoffs

I've been skimming the papers and it's come to my attention that in their wisdom the studios may already be developing a "sequel" to Valentine's Day (the blatantly financially motivated rom-com from New Line cinema). I know what you're going to say, "Siobhan, not only have you already ranted about this movie, are you not aware of the basic reason for EVERY Rom-com ever made?"

I know, I know.

But the least you can do if you're going to lie to me is pretend to hide it...at the very least. Plus, you know this is going to start a craze. What's next?

LENT: three couples make an abstinence pact over the stressful season of Lent, and come to realize there may be more to their relationships than they every dreamed.

Kill me now.

Someone, somewhere...just lost a bet to me

The first teaser trailer for Valentine's Day is has finally arrived and as I theorized they would in July, they provide a cast list at the end of the trailer. Judging by this first look I would say I will probably go see it against my better judgment. I'll probably also vault between loving certain things (Shirley McLaine and Hector Elizondo, Topher Grace and Anne Hathaway) and hating others (Jessica Biel and Jessica Biel).

I have to say though...I am pretty miffed that Shirley, Hector, Queen Latifa and Eric Dane weren't mentioned. Then again, they might be saving it for the full length trailer. Do you think that they're upset about not being featured?

Hmmm...

Too many actors in one film? Add a holiday!

According to BuzzSugar.com the already celeb packed cast of Gary Marshall's new rom-com Valentine's Day is getting two additional members. With stars like Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper and Ashton Kutcher already on the roster, Marshall has now added "McDoctors" Dempsey and Dane to the lineup.

Checking out the film's basic premise (a collection of famous people play characters who are all somehow interconnected in which all the action takes place around Valentine's Day) and I have to say, it sounds like another attempt to re-create the intrigue of Love Actually. Marshall's last film, He's Just Not That Into You, tried to remodel the "famous ensemble cast" idea based on the beloved instructional booklet for empowered women of the same name. The result is what I like to call oatmeal...and plain oatmeal to boot. It's pleasant yes, but in the end it's not all that satisfying. It sort of fills you up without actually giving you the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy it. It's just sort of there.

I suppose we will see how it fares when the film comes out and believe me, you'll know when it's almost time to feel neutral about the release of this film. There will be a crap-load of trailers floating around that all end in a comprehensive list of the famous actors that appear in the film.

And it will look crowded.