Dinner for Schmucks is brought to us by Meet the Parents' director Jay Roach. I've seen funnier. Not really my cup of tea. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd team up to make us laugh, but not like their other films.

Rudd is up for a promotion at his job and is invited byt he head honcho to a party of sorts. The only catch...you have to invite and idiot and the biggest idiot wins, resulting in a promotion. He literally runs into Carell's character and soon realizes that he could possibly win this competition. This accidental meeting of these two brings about some funny and unfortunate mishaps.

Zach Galifianakis plays Carell's boss that is also invited to the dinner and hold some pretty stiff competition for him. Stephanie Szostak plays Rudd's unlucky girlfriend and a hot one at that.

The thing I love most about this movie is that it's not just about the dinner. yes, the dinner is the climax of the film but you really get a back ground story of the characters. It's not just the movie and that's all. You actually feel kind of bad for Carell at parts. But you also understand Rudd and why he does what he does. But it wasn't the funniest thing I've seen. There were funny parts but not all through out the movie.

3 out of 5 STARS

The Expendables, 2010

The Expendables...what can I say. I had great expectations. They were reached. Sylvester Stallone can do no wrong in my eyes. LOVE HIM!

Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed and starred in this movie, along with a slew of action stars (past, present and future). I'm not even going to bore you with the character names, because frankly, I can't remember them all. Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Terry Crews are the Expendables. They are mercenaries that are hired to so to South America to over throw a dictator that has started to kill and abuse his people. Statham kicks ass the entire movie, I'd never pay to see a movie that he doesn't. That's what he does and I thank him for that. Li is a tiny mite and kicks the crap out of Lundgren. Lundgren, is borish, gigantic, totally what I expected. Couture, cauliflower ear and all he wasn't a terrible actor. Crews what can I say? P-P-P-P-Power!

Now, the bad guys. I love Eric Roberts, where have you been since Best of the Best? Steve Austin, that WWE can produce some not so terrible actors (i.e.-Dwayne Johnson and well that's the only other one). David Zayas is the dictator, but after his stint on Oz his talent has diminished a bit. Giselle Itié is a new comer to me, but she's done some acting in Spanish films. She really made you believe her character.

Mickey Rourke, why are you in this movie. You're not needed. I assume that they needed one more "bad-ass" and they thought, "Why not Mickey Rourke? He's unstable and scary." Whatever.

Ok, this movie was exactly what it was meant to be. A shoot 'em up, blood and gore movie. They're in, they're out and a trail of blood is all that's left behind. It won't win any awards, that's for damn sure. The only thing I'd change...the fact the truck got shot to hell. I love you Sly. For what it's worth, it's exactly what i expected.

4 out of 5 STARS

Hero Wanted, 2008

Hero Wanted was ok. I laughed during most of the movie due to unoriginality. Evenything was very predictable. I'd scream "I knew it!" and then laugh.

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Liam Case, a man very distraught over the loss of his wife. After saving a young victim from a fiery car crash, he is up held in the community as a hero. He is searching for meaning and purpose in life. Soon he witnesses a shooting and seeking revenge on the shooter and all involved. Detective Terry Subcott (Ray Liotta) is the detective assigned to the case of several homicides in the area. He soon realizes that something isn't setting right with the mysterious connection between Case and the victims.

The movie also stars Norman Reedus, Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagan and Christa Campbell. Reedus is an ok actor but he always plays the same character. Angry at life and blames everyone else for what he will never be or never accomplish. Predictable.

First and only movie director Brian Smrz has ever done. If this is a promise of things to come...than please don't make anymore films. Written by Chad Law and Evan Law. They've written a few things. No more, please.

Don't waste your time.

1 out of 5 STARS

The Amityville Horror, 2005

I've never seen The Amityville Horror and my husband acted like I had just cursed everything that he believes. I own this movie and still have never watched it. It was awesome. I am a huge horror movie fan. The blood, the guts, the screams, and the demonic nature of things...I'm all about that.

Ryan Reynolds plays George Lutz, a contractor that buys a house with his new wife Kathy (Melissa George). Kathy has widowed and left with three children that George is still trying to win over. They come across this "once in a lifetime opportunity" fixer up home. Everything seems to be going right for the couple, but things aren't as perfect as they seem.

Soon George starts to feel ill and begins to hear things. Many things lead to the drastic turn of events. The couple is aware of the murder that happened 1 year earlier in the house but refuses to let this deter them. George begins to act peculiar and threatens the oldest child. Kathy digs a little deeper into the murders when she begins to fear for her life as well as her children.

Director Andrew Douglas did an amazing job in this remake of the 1979 version of The Amityville Horror. I've never seen the original so I really can't compare. The story was sick, the effects were outstanding and, well, all around kick-ass. Wouldn't change a thing. Except maybe have every scene with Ryan Reynolds shirtless, instead of the 50% that he was.

5 out of 5 STARS

The Crazies, 2010

The Crazies was freaking amazing. It was not your typical zombie story. Other than Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell the cast consisted of little known actors. Not that these names shouldn't be considered great actors, they made every aspect very believable.

Timothy Olyphant is the sheriff of the small town. Everyone that lives inside its safe boundaries is about to have their entire world turn upside-down. Radha Mitchell is Timothy Olyphant's wife and the small town's doctor. She is one of the first to notice its residence acting a little off. After the Sheriff uncovers a possible cause for the disturbance, men in bio-hazard suits tear the town apart and take in all of the people living there.

Along with Danielle Panabaker and Joe Anderson (Sheriff's Deputy), the couple sets out of foot to uncover the cause. They are trying to stay out of sight of those looking to place them in quarantine and others that are looking to kill them. It's a extreme roller coaster ride right from the GET GO!

First of all director Breck Eisner is freaking sick, in a good way. He took this re-make of a 1973 movie and completely did it justice. The screenplay was written by Scott Kosar (one of the masterminds behind The Machinist, the remake of 2005's The Amityville Horror and the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Ray Wright. These guys are freaking awesome. The story was good, the fear was real and the effects and make-up were FREAKING AWESOME.

Last, but definitely not least, Robert Hall is the brilliant man behind the make-up and visual effects in this movie. He has worked on so many films that I cannot even begin to list them. He's amazingly talented. He shocks and terrifies me in every movie. Unless its not suppose to, but it still amazes me.

Check this movie out. I loved every minute of it. And I usually mock some aspect of every movie, not this one.

5 out of 5 STARS

Jimmy and Judy, 2006

I'm hot and cold about this movie. There are parts of it that are interesting and others that are now right disturbing. Jimmy and Judy is a story of two young lovers that go on a killing rampage and is shot completely with a hand held video camera. Writers/directors Randall Rubin and Jon Schroder have only this movie under their belt, with good reason. Please don't make anymore movies.

Edward Furlong (known for better films such as T2 and American History X) plays Jimmy, a disturbed 21 year old guy that has had troubles his entire life. He carries around a video camera and films everything. We are introduced to 18 year old Judy (Rachael Bella) very soon in the movie. I felt sorry for her in the beginning, then I realized that she was completely insane and dependant on Jimmy for reassurance. She's constantly asking, "Do you think I'm pretty?". AHH, give me a break. Her acting sucks, unless this character is suppose to be as dense as she portrays her to be, then the acting is right on.

So many things I would've changed. First...don't shoot the entire movie with a hand held. Have some sequences with the hand held, but not all. I'd like to see the reactions of the person behind the camera. You only see one of them the entire time. Second...the box said "The movie Natural Born Killers wanted to be". I freaking love Natural Born Killers and Oliver Stone is a way better director than these two weirdoes. And third...you never see the couple charge the camera. I refuse to believe that this tirade goes on for days (possibly weeks) and they never pause for charging or mention the battery dying.

The movie just ends. Yes, everything is tied up and concluded, but it just ends. It was ok, but disturbing. You must have a tough stomach for some of the movie. Not for the weak.

2 out of 5 STARS

The Groomsmen, 2006

The Groomsmen was sure to disappoint seeing as how it was written, directed and starred Edward Burns. The only project of his that I've enjoyed was Flight of the Phoenix and he had help with that one.

Burns plays Paulie, a man about to get married to Brittany Murphy's Sue and has a baby on the way. Paulie has the added stress of his friends getting along for sake of the wedding. Jay Mohr (Cousin Mike) is working on getting over his past relationship, Donal Logue (Jimbo) is dealing with his current relationship, Matthew Lillard (Dez) is having trouble accepting the fact that he's not in high school anymore and finally John Leguizamo (TC) is battling his own demons.Brittany Murphy isn't really in this movie a lot, but she does add to the tension that is already at a high due to "The Groomsmen".

Didn't enjoy this one, it was boring. A little excitement, maybe have one of the groomsmen murder someone, like Very Bad Things, but no, nothing, nada. I wanted to press fast forward several times. There are times in this movie that I hated each character. Especially Jay Mohr, he's the same guy in everything that he does. Seriously, get someone with SOME acting talent. However, John Leguizamo pleases me every time. From The Pest to Righteous Kill, I love everything that he's done.

I recommend John Leguizamo, but that's about it. Not this movie.

1 out of 5 STARS

Deadline, 2009

Deadline is one of the last movies in which late actress Brittany Murphy starred. Murphy plays Alice, a screenplay writer, in addition to suffering from past domestic violence. She relocates to a old home to finish her latest project on time. Shortly after her arrival, things start to get creepy. Alice fears that she's not alone in the house. She uncovers a video camera with tapes of the previous occupants and the contents soon lead her to investigate their disappearance.

Lucy (Thora Birch) and David (Marc Blucas) are the young married couple that lived in the house before Alice's visit. Lucy is obviously mentally and physically abused by her husband David. Alice soon finds herself enthralled in what happened to this couple.

I, personally, didn't enjoy this movie. Whoever was in charge of continuity should never work in film again. The special effects weren't fantastic, but acceptable for a low budget film. I think Thora Birch's acting has gotten tremendously more terrible since American Beauty. By the end of the movie, I thought I got it. Then, right before the credits...I realized that I was lost and so was the writer. I don't think that he knew what he wanted the movie to be.

Brittany Murphy was a good actress, not amazing talented but good. I had high hopes for this film because I have recently seen The Dead Girl and it was really good, even though she wasn't in it much. I don't know much about Marc Blucas, but he seems like an alright actor. He's done bigger things since this movie. A crazy abusive husband he can play well.

Don't waste your time if you're critical about movies, but if you don't notice obvious inconsistencies, than go for it.

2 out of 5 STARS

Lords Of Dogtown

Usually not a fan of director Catherine Hardwicke, but this movie was pretty good. Lords of Dogtown was inspired by a true story. It's set in 1975 and is centered around four friends growing up and skating in Venice, CA. Stacy

John Robinson, Emile Hirsch (always the bad boy), Victor Rasuk and Michael Angarano are the main characters that are competing on a skate team. They are trying to impress skate/surf shop owner Heath Ledger (I LOVE YOU!) and prove something to themselves. These mere boys have to cope with family problems and teenage rivalry. The movie follows the kids as they skate in competitions and ultimately become famous as the skating craze hits southern California. There are "highs and lows", and (just when you think things can't get lower) even "lowers".

I can't stand Catherine Hardwicke and her films are even worse, usually. Unfortunately, I can't say that anymore. It started off slow and I didn't really follow it. Are they friends, are they not? Are they mad at each other, are they not? Wait...they are famous now? How'd that happen? The ending was great, I wouldn't change it. It's based on true events, so changing the end isn't really a choice. Whatev!

4 out of 5 STARS

Henry Poole Is Here, 2008

Henry Poole Is Here is a film about a man that has lost all hope and ultimately witnesses a miracle, even though he fights to admit it. Luke Wilson plays Henry Poole that moves back to his old neighborhood to be alone. His wishes of solitude are immediately disrupted by his nosy neighbors. Esperanza (Adriana Barraza) refuses to take "no" for an answer. Curious little Millie (Morgan Lily) and her mother Dawn (Radha Mitchell ) look to Henry for security and hope that he just can't seem to give them. George Lopez (Father Salazar) is in it too, but he's not funny so...I don't see the point.

This movie is a complete tear jerker, but not a "chick flick". I hate "chick flicks" with all of the silly reason to be sad. This movie is heart wrenching (seriously!). You feel for each character. Henry is conflicted with a yearning for contact with Dawn and her daughter, and yet he's Apprehensive about getting too close and hurting them both.

The only thing that I might have changed about this movie is probably the ending, but I'm not going to explain why and ruin the film. Check it out, it's truly worth every cent and every minute you will spend with it.

5 out of 5 STARS

Thumbsucker, 2005

I was afraid with a cast consisting of Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Keanu Reeves and Benjamin Bratt, that Thumbsucker would leave something to be desired. Most movies that I've been subjected to watching with a large cast of big named actors have always been poorly written and badly received. This movie, however, is incredible. Justin (Lou Pucci) is the main character and hasn't really done anything else since. The other of the main characters, Rebecca (Kelli Garner), has done several other things, many of which I am a fan. She deserves more credit, and should do more things.

Thumbsucker is about Justin and his inability to stop sucking his thumb. Dumb storyline right? NOT, it's the basis of a much larger underlying problem. This young man grows throughout this film, though I'm not sure the time span of the movie (probably a year). He deals with way bigger problems than any 17-year-old should ever have to go through. His love interest, Kelli Garner, is sending mixed signals. His orthodontist, Keanu Reeves, is crazy. School teacher, Vince Vaughn, demands too much and his parents, Tilda Swinton and Vincent D'Onofrio, are no help at all. Benjamin Bratt is thrown in the mix to just spice things up, I think that his part could've been cut and it wouldn't have made a bit of difference (I'm glad they didn't--he's fun to look at).

The movie starts slow, but with a lot of information coming on quickly, it's pretty easy to keep up. Lou Pucci has a sad puppy aura about him that would make anyone empathize with his character. You feel bad for him. I don't feel that I would change anything about this movie. Well, except maybe the scene that made me clasp my mouth shut with my hand. All I'll say is that it includes someone's butt, a spoon and a lot of blood.

4 out of 5 STARS

Mean Girls, 2004

Mean Girls is on ABC Family tonight and so I decided that it should be my movie. Lindsay Lohan (before she went nuts), Rachel McAdams (the character you love to hate) and Tina Fey (love her, she wrote this movie as well) all bring a certain something to the screen. I loved this movie. It takes any girl right back to high school, or in my case middle school, to all of those girls that you could just scratch their eyes out. Side Note: I'm still a little bitter to a few of those girls.

Lindsay Lohan's Caty enters a public high school after being home schooled for her entire life. She soon finds out that not everyone is as welcoming as her new friend Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan). The two vow to take down McAdams' Regina George and "The Plastics", the mean girls that rule to school. Throughout the film Lohan and Caplan conjure up plans to disarm, discredit and disband this nasty group of girls. Tina Fey knows how to write a mean girl and never fails to deliver a comedic adventure.

Another treat to this film is seeing one of the first things that Amanda Seyfried has done. She plays Karen Smith, a ditsy blonde. She plays this role so well, who'd thought that she be such an amazing actress with so much talent and drive.

I recommend this movie to every girl that has ever had to deal with bitches in middle school or high school. However, if you were the mean girl, no wish of entertainment for you, but you'll still probably enjoy it. Guys will think its funny but won't admit it. Check it out, well worth it. Definitely delivers what its intentions were.

5 out of 5 STARS

Sleepers, 1996

With an all-star cast consisting of Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crudup, Jason Patric, Minnie Driver and Brad Renfro(RIP), this film was sure to thrill. Sleepers is a movie about four boys growing up in Hell's Kitchen, summer 1967. After the boys almost kill a man with a hot dog wagon, they are sentenced to one year at Wilkinson Home for Boys. At the home, all four boys are beaten and raped by the guards.

Skip ahead...1981, two of the boys are arrested for murdering a man at a restaurant. The victim, Sean Nokes Kevin Bacon, one of the guards from the home. Brad Pitt plays Michael Sullivan, assisting New York district attorney that is assigned the case of finding his two childhood friends guilty of murder. Robert De Niro plays a priest (a role I'd never seen him play before, a bit of a stretch) that has always looked out for the group of boys. Although he cares for the boys, he must decide whether to say the right thing or do the right thing. Jason Patric narrates this film and can be arguably the main character as he tries pulling strings to help free his friends. Each character plays their roles with the movie. Lies and suspected betrayals are packed into this film.

This movie was based on a book written by Lorenzo Carcaterra. Although the book caused quite a scandal when it came out that it was not based on true events like author claimed, the film never disappoints. I enjoyed the fast paced story line. Director Barry Levinson wasted no time in getting to the point. The actors held each frame individually. The audience cares for each character, except the pedophile guards. I've never loved to hate Kevin Bacon so much.

5 out of 5 STARS

Demolition Man, 1993

Sandra Bullock, Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Benjamin Bratt and Denis Leary . What's not to love about Demolition Man? Seriously? Everyone I know makes fun of me because of my obsession with Sly, but I justify it as Rocky can do no wrong.

Demolition Man starts out with John Spartan (Stallone), a 1996 L.A. cop capturing Simon Phoenix (Snipes) after his deadly rampage. Along side Phoenix, Spartan is sentenced to be cryogenically frozen for a crime he did not commit.

When Phoenix escapes at his parole hearing, Spartan is released to help with the search to recapture his enemy. With the aid of some 21st century police officers, Bullock and Bratt, Spartan is reinstated. However, the world of 2032 is different from the 1996 that this Stallone's character is used to. There is no crime, everything is peaceful and everyone gets along.

I can't help but enjoy this movie. The puns are bad and the future is unrealistic. Maybe that's why it's so funny. The images are beautiful, cinematically speaking. Design and effects were thought through and well executed. The acting is half bad either. I know critics rip apart Stallone, but he proves he can do comedy, as well as drama.

Only one thing remains confusing to me...How the hell do the three seashells work?

3 out of 5 STARS

Capote, 2005

Capote is about how Breakfast At Tiffany's author Truman Capote develops a relationship with suspected murderer Perry Smith while investigating a homicide in Holcomb, Kansas.

Capote travels to Kansas with friend and fellow author Nelle Harper Lee, Catherine Keener, to the small town of Holcomb that has been rocked by the horrific murder of a farming family. Capote soon finds himself connected to the suspects and feels that it is his responsibility to help them with their case. The entire film Truman is torn between what he wants to believe in his heart and what the facts inevitably prove to be true. Even though this movie is based on true events, one can't help but be sympathetic to the murderers.

It takes a little bit to get started. The movie moved kind of slow at first, Capote's on the phone with his editor, Capote is asking for more money, Capote is annoying the town-folk. Then it kicks into a higher gear, two men are arrested for the murder. Capote weasels his way into the holding cell and attempts to get information from the perps. Soon he begins to truly fell sympathy for Perry Smith and unexpectedly becomes friends with him. The two form a bound that inevitably becomes unhealthy and ends tragically.

Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays this character with a certain je ne sais quoi. It's mesmerizing to look at him. He plays this character like no other ever could, like no other part I have ever seen him depict. He is Capote and feels what Capote felt. He suffers over the lies told and the truths revealed.

Although it was highly depressing, this is a great film and I recommend it to anyone.

4 out of 5 STARS

Taken, 2008

First of all...has you have seen a Liam Neeson movie that wasn't good? I didn't think so. He is amazingly talented and sexy. It only makes things better that he's kicking ass, too.

Taken is a fast paced movie about Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson whose daughter travels to Paris and is taken hostage.

From the very beginning, the audience knows that Bryan used to work for a "secret service" and he "knows things". While on the phone with him, is daughter Kim, Maggie Grace, witnesses her friend being abducted and attempts to hide. Neeson then tells her that she will be taken. He then travels to Paris to track down the bad guys. Immediately people start dyign that get in his way. He possesses a "particular set of skills" and swears that he will find them and kill them.

The entire time Neeson is looking for vengeance. Whether he finds his daughter or not, he will make these people pay. No matter how many people must die. And take it from me, tons-o-people die. You're rooting for death the entire time.

Watch it. It's incredible, but again, is there any other kind of film with Liam Neeson in it? I think not.

5 out of 5 STARS

Little Ashes, 2008

Alright, I like Robert Pattinson for the obvious reasons, none of which include his acting talent. The fact of the matter is I don't think he has any. It's true. All over the world Twilight fans' heads' are exploding. He's a nice piece of eye candy, but it truly is only skin deep.

The appeal of this movie was simple...Salvador Dali was an artistic genius. When Dali, played by Robert Pattinson, decides to attend school in Madrid he soon is welcomed into a group of social elites. While trying to earn the respect of his peers, Pattinson gains the unwarranted attention of poet Federico García Lorca played by Javier Beltrán. The two begin to travel all over Spain with one another and develop an unhealthy bond.

Once Dali decides to travel to Paris with a mutual friend, he abandons his relationship with Lorca, leaving him lost, confused and heartbroken. A short lived departure has Dali return and leave again for good, only to damage Lorca once more. While trying to reunited, intimatly, the two are interrupted by Magdalena(Marina Gatell) who pretty much seduces Lorca and has sex with him in front of Pattinson.

Eventually Dali returns to Madrid and has become a total douche bag and is married to, get this, a chick? Some many things unfold in the last 20 minutes of this film, I'm still not sure what the hell was going on.

Javier Beltrán has only acted in two films and should totally continue to do so. He is extremely talented and believable. However, I will never look at Robert Pattinson the same. The one image of him standing nude in front of a too tall mirror is burned into my brain forever.

The story idea was good and the images were beautiful, but the writing leaves something to be desired. I wish writer Philippa Goslett wouldn't have lingered so much on the insignificant details like the students drinking and talking about useless topics and focused more on the relationship between the two main characters.

Wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone else. I could read a biography about Salvador Dali and get the same story. No need to waste my time and money on this film.

2 out of 5 STARS

London, 2005

I had never heard of this film and wasn't particularly excited to watch it. However, when I saw Jason Statham's name in the opening credits, I couldn't wait for him to show up on screen. Granted, it has Jason Statham in it and he is fun to look at, but it also has Jessica Biel. In my opinion, acting is not one of her strong points.

Chris Evans plays the obsessed Syd who has had his heart ripped out by Jessica Biel's London. She played this role well, a bitchy yet strong and independent woman that has finally had enough with her relationship down falls. So she decides to move to Los Angeles. Syd decides to crash her going away party with Statham in tow. Throughout the movie, the audience plays witness to flash backs to the couple's goods times and the bad times of a doomed relationship. When the two finally meet in present time, excitement gets to be too much and the past comes into the present. Fist fights, sex and cocaine play the major roles in this love/hate tale of what's next for the broken hearted.


Chris Evans shows a side of him that I've never seen. He is heartbroken and a drug addict. He can't help but hate the girl for tearing his heart out, and for still having a hold on him so tight that he doesn't function properly. He has been driven to drug abuse and self loathing. He plays it increditably well.

Jessica Biel didn't do such a terrible job in this movie, and it probably had a little something to with the fact that she really wasn't on screen that much.

Mostly my only complaint with Director Hunter Richards was that Jason Statham didn't beat enough people up. And when he finally starting throwing punches and screaming, I blinked and it was over.

I definitely recommend this movie. It was funny at the most outrageous times and sad in other spots.

4 our of 5 STARS

Twin Town, 1997

OK, I had absolutely no expectations for this film. I had never heard of it and a co-worker loaned it to me due to my love for British films. It was outrageous, lude and sometimes hard to watch.

It stars real life brothers, Llyr Ifans and Rhys Ifans as fun loving, drug abusing teenage miscreants. After their father is hurt while working for a wealthy club owner, the brothers reek havoc on his family and incidently, his dog. While following the boys, two drug peddling cops uncover more than they bargained for.

I have to hand it to Director Kevin Allen (who co-wrote the film with Paul Durden). He did an amazing job. The cimetography aspect was about the same to every other British film. Nothing special. No unusual camera angles, no filters to express the characters continuing emotional roller coaster. But the content was what kept me watching.

There were points that I questioned why I was watching and then something would happen that made me laugh or cringe in horror.

I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys obscene gestures and raw material. Trust me, you might be confused through the first 20 minutes. But by the end of the movie, you will thank me!

4 out of 5 STARS

Starting this blog.

This is my first blog and my first entry. The raison d'être (reason): I will watch one movie each day and review it. I will then type up my review and post it on this blog. Please, if you have any movie suggestions...send them to me. Get ready for this interesting joy ride!