‘License To Wed’ Is ‘Moore’ Than You’d Expect

Mandy Moore is good in whatever movie she’s in, plain and simple. I happen to like her, and enjoy her work. ‘License To Wed’ has recently opened up in theatres, and was number 4 at the box office last weekend. It’s holding up pretty well considering its current competition, which includes Bruce Willis’s ’Live Free Or Die Hard,’ and Daniel Radcliffe’s new installment of the Harry Potter franchise. ‘License’ deals with a lot of laughs, and different ordeals when it comes to marrying someone, and planning a wedding with a limited time-frame. Moore, who plays Sadie, is proposed to by her live in boyfriend Ben, played by John Krasinski, at her parent’s 3oth wedding anniversary. And so the story unfolds. The happy couple calls upon Father Frank, played by the always delightful and upbeat Robin Williams. Father Frank then enrolls them in his marriage course which puts their relationship to the test. Things begin to take a turn when Father Frank puts Sadie and Ben in different scenarios and role playing situations which end up compromising the stability of their relationship. Sadie begins to question Ben’s love for her, and needs time to think things through before they go through with the marriage. 

Some may compare this film to other romantic comedies, but it’s very different in its own right. It’s not as typical and cliche, or as predictable as other films. William’s character does throw you off a bit with certain actions and underlying motivations in the film towards the couple. At one point it seemed as if Father Frank was actually after Sadie in a romantic way, and had an alterior motive for trying to ‘help out.’ Certain things he would say and do made me question and wonder what was ultimitely going to happen. So yes, ‘License’ has some surprises too. So no, this isn’t your typical chick flick, although it does have its sappy moments. I consider it a perfect combination of satire and romance all tied into one.

3 weeks and a wedding.

Demanding Diva

Recently, Madonna, who was fearured on Live Earth’s concert bill, had some pretty outlandish demands on interviewers. While the star was in her adopted ‘home’ of London, she was performing for Al Gore’s global warming awareness concert series. But what one may not know is the dwindling diva made some pretty harsh demands on those who were to come anywhere near her. She also made it clear that she wasn’t to be asked any questions regarding her current adoption of baby David, as well as her marriage to Guy Richie. She also informed the press that while speaking to her, they needed to make direct eye contact. If not, the interview would be over. Sounds pretty over the top. But when reps for Madonna were questioned, they had no idea of these demands. Issues, issues, issues. All that money obviously doesn’t mean that it’s all THERE. Hopefully Madonna really isn’t THAT shallow.

Don’t look away from me.

The ‘Face’ Behind New Web Success

Since Facebook, a social networking site, switched over from solely allowing college students and alum to be a part of the network, it has taken off significantly. Founder Mark Zuckerburg, 22, has a huge success on his hands. I’m sure he never thought 3 years ago, as he created the site in his dorm room at Harvard, that it would have the impact that it has. Advertisers are now flocking to get their names featured on the site. What was once a MySpace fad has turned into a Facebook craze. Facebook offers many different features that don’t even come close its rival MySpace. On Facebook, for instance, you’re able to add many different applications. One of them being Fluff Friends. You can acquire these little virtual ‘pets’ by allowing the application on your page. All you have to do is choose a Fluff Friend, and voila! It appears on your page for others to pet and feed. You can earn ‘munny’ by petting other people’s Fluff Friends. It has become so popular, that groups have started up on the site, where you can add people to become your Facebook friend just so that you can earn points to buy food and habitats for the creatures. They also have My Heritage applications, Fortune Cookie, Horoscope features, My Garden, My Aquarium, a graffiti wall where friends can draw a picture for you to find on your page, and much more. You can also write on friend’s ‘walls.’ This feature allows you to leave notes or comments. MySpace allows users to do the same, write notes and leave comments to friends on the page. They also offer a music feature, which allows music to be played on your page, which Facebook doesn’t. Facebook does allow for more privacy, though. You can select areas of your page that you don’t even want friends to see. And those who aren’t friends with you can’t view your profile at all. MySpace has also become very commercialized, and plagued with advertisements. Since being bought by Rupert Murdoch for 580 million dollars, founder Tom Anderson, 29, is a very wealthy man. Zuckerburg will also be in the running for a big payday. Google, as well as other internet conglomerates, have shown interest in the site. Yahoo has offered him an easy 900 million. He won’t budge as of yet. As Facebook fame continues to grow, he wouldn’t want to opt out now. At this point, he’d like to oversee the site, and not have it run by others who really don’t understand the concept of it all.  He wants the site to remain as independent as possible, so that he can keep building on it.  And judging from its success, that’s a smart move.

Zuckerburg puts on a happy ‘Face.’

‘Sprint’ On Outta Here

Sprint PCS/Nextel has announced that it will be canceling subscriptions of customers (even LONGTIME customers) who have called customer service too much. I kid you not, they are sending out notices, giving subscribers a July 30th deadline. But as a consolation, they’re waiving the 150 dollar termination fee that would have been required had the customers backed out of a contract WILLINGLY. Oh, how nice of them. This whole fiasco is due to the cost of customer service, because each time someone calls, Sprint gets charged. And due to the fact that higher ups in the company feel that complaints towards the service, as well as people constantly calling in, were an indication that something wasn’t right. They feel that if they’re not satisfying customers, that they should just plain and simply go elsewhere for service. This is a move that will potentially hurt a company who is hurting for business. Sprint has changed they’re slogan more than Liz Taylor has changed husbands. The new slogan is : ‘Sprint…Power Up.’ This is an attempt to draw in a younger, more diverse crowd, who are internet saavy and who would want to subscribe to a company that’s becoming more web based in their phones and marketing ploys. One way they’re doing it, is to offer phones that have MP3 capabilities, as well as full web browsing (which is offered in the Mogul and Q, for instance). The UpStage music phone, by Samsung, is a step in the right direction. The phone is nearly as thin as a stick of gum, and has 2 sides. One is to play MP3s and music on, the other side is a keypad that’s used to dial out. Nice concept, and very appealing. But if Sprint wants to survive, they need to come out with better phones, and more of a variety. I happend to stop into a random store in New York not too long ago, and was dissapointed to see that they only had 8 phones along the wall being showcased. I didn’t have much to choose from, and indeed, I walked out unsatisfied. It seems they offer no incentives or great deals and discounts to existing customers. It seems that once they reel you in with the initial cheap phone, they’ve got you.  And you also have to resign with them for a 2 year contract in order to get the rebate on a new phone. Yes, I feel the love, um, I mean hate. Almost feels like knowingly walking into a bad marriage. Wait, is that wrong of me? OK, didn’t think so.

I ‘UpStage’ all the other phones.

 

We don’t like you either.

Young, ‘Rich’, And Pregnant

It’s official…Nicole Richie is pregnant! This was confirmed as I read the cover story in US Weekly last week. Richie, who still suffers from significant weight loss issues, is about 12 weeks pregnant or so. She has been seen in the past few weeks trying to shield herself from the media by covering her face with different objects (she used to be a media whore), by wearing larger clothing, and by covering her ‘bump’ with a pillow at an airport earlier in the month. Speculation first started when a mysterious ‘bump’ appeared in papparazzi photos of the starlet. Some thought it was due to malnutrition, others thought she might be pregnant. Now that it’s confirmed, Joel Madden (boyfriend, Good Charlotte frontman and former Hilary Duff flame) might be ready to tie the knot. He was seen ring shopping with friends in Los Angeles recently. Richie’s friends say she’s in no rush to get married, but Richie has said she’s always wanted a family and kids.

Sucking it up. The proud parents.

Moose Is ‘Maine’ Attraction

I just got back from vacationing in Maine, and I vowed not to leave until I saw an actual LIVE moose. You know, the ones that breathe, not the ones that are on numerous restaurant signs, tourist atrractions, or roadway signs. My girlfriend was determined to find me a moose, no matter what. So the day before we departed to go back home, we went to Maine Wildlife Park, in Gray, and guess what? I saw my moose! Now, it may have been laying in the grass and eating when we approached, but nonetheless, it was up close, and quite a site to see. These animals aren’t very good looking, but they’re big, and their antlers are fuzzy. Something I found to be quite interesting. After waiting what seemed to be a half hour, we got tired of hanging over the fence waiting for Mr. Moose to do something. So we finished walking around the park, and ended up back in the moose territory. To my surprise, as we turned around the bend, the moose was up and walking around, munching on some grass. I couldn’t even contain my childlike excitement. They’re amazing to watch, and observe in their natural habitat. Some locals informed me and my girlfriend that they’re pretty friendly, but to watch out during mating season. If confronted in the wild during mating season, which begins sometime in September, they will charge at you. Moose have also been known to cause many a highway accident, killing multiple people at times. I also learned that male moose are called bulls, and females, cows. Only the males have the huge antlers on their heads. 

I was pleased to be able to view my Maine moose, and all the other animals at Maine Wildlife Park. I suggest that anyone who visits Maine, stop by the park, and check out the different types of birds (Eagles, Owls, Hawks, Vulchers), mammals (Bobcat, Foxes, Porcupines, Cougers, Lynx, Bears), and other animals that are available for viewing. Coming soon is a state of the art American Bald Eagle exhibit. Visit www.mainewildlifepark.com for more information about the facility.

 Maine men. The moose, and bear.

Beware of the big, bad ‘bull.’