Friday Movie Review - Inception

Well kitties, once again Mommy and the FD went to a movie without me. But, as you know, this never deters me from my purpose. Once again I donned my disguise: Igor Kittenovsky, the Russian Foreign Exchange Student!

After using the plastic card I stole liberated from my mommy's purse to purchase the movie ticket, popcorn, and Dr. Pepper, I settled down in the cushy theatre seat to watch what I anticipated to be a great movie.

I was not disappointed.

Inception (2010)

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Written By: Christopher Nolan

In case you kitties didn't know, "Inception" stars Leonardo DiCaprio. My mommy is a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. Since marrying mommy, the FD has become a big fan too. As you all may remember from my review of "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet," I am also a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. When I went to see "Inception," I was worried that my love of Leo (he even has a kitty name!) might make me expect too much of him. Maybe I put too much pressure on him to excel. Maybe, in fact, he was so worried about disappointing me, the great kitty movie critic, that he would not be able to deliver his usual steller performance.

I am proud to announce that Leonardo managed to deliver once again.

"Inception" is a movie that combines several genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Mystery, and Thriller. While watching "Inception," you are immersed in a world where the technology to invade dreams exists. Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Cobb, is what is known as an "Extractor." He invades dreams to steal information that people want to keep secret. In order to get help to return back to the United States where he is a wanted man, Cobb takes a highly dangerous case where he is asked to actually implant an idea in a person's brain using his skills as an Extractor.

The story is about much more than the mission, however. "Inception" explores the relationship that Cobb has with each of his team members, especially his newest recruit to become the "Architect," Ariadne, who is played by Ellen Page. While watching the current events unfold, you also get clues to Cobb's past, and why he is tormented by the memory of his wife, Mal, and why her "ghost" is a constant threat to the success of their mission. The special effects are incredible, and appear seamless - they do not detract from the story, rather they are an enhancement. It seems natural for streets to fold over, for people to walk up walls, and for zero gravity to exist in hotels. Unraveling the mystery of Cobb's past keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat just as much, if not more, than the action scenes do.

I give "Inception" two paws up and a tail poof!

Friday Movie Review- Star Trek

First off, I would like to apologize for how VERY VERY LATE this movie review is. Mommy and the FD and Uncle Sean and his girlfriend (and me as a stowaway) all went to see this movie the day before the FD and Mommy got married . . . which is almost a month ago.

I guess Mommy has been busy.

Whatever.

Star Trek (2009)
Directed By: J.J. Abrams
Written By: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman

Yes, kitties, it is another one of those blockbuster sorts of movies that my mommy and the FD adore so . . . one that is in some way related to a nerdy interest they have. I, of course, am a professional movie reviewer, so I HAVE to go watch these sorts of things. I mean, it isn't like I practice my Vulcan Nerve Pinch on Ivy or anything . . .

Now you discriminating furries out there may be wondering "Why would I want to go see yet another "Star Trek" movie? Haven't there already been like a hundred of them? What else could they do with it? What would make this one so great?"

I am here to tell you, kitties, that this one is most definitely worth the 127 minutes you will spend sitting watching it.


"Star Trek" successfully pulls off a "what if" plotline by making events in the future change the events of the past for James T. Kirk and Spock. In this version, Kirk loses his father at the moment of his birth, and Spock's entire home planet of Vulcan is destroyed. This changes pretty much everything.

Kirk is even more wreckless than before.
Spock struggles with his human side, and is even more emotional.
Kirk and Spock don't like each other at all, with Spock doing his best to have Kirk kicked out of the Starfleet Academy.

"Star Trek" successfully updates the usual Star Trek storyline, all the while paying homage to the original. Classic lines are interspersed throughout the movie, to the thrill of such moviegoers as my mommy who squealed everytime she heard one, including Scotty's "I'm giving her all she's got, Captain!"






I give this movie two paws up, and a "Live Long and Prosper" (which is pretty tricky for a kitty to do) for being full of action, humor, and managing to be a great tribute to the original Star Trek series. . . and let us not forget Leonard Nimoy!

And for your viewing pleasure, here is the trailer.

Friday Movie Review - Watchmen

I blame this movie review on my mommy and Almost Dad's nerdiness. Well, really, this movie was pretty much entirely Almost Dad's nerdiness . . . but my mommy went with him to see it (and I pulled the "kitty in the purse" trick again.)

Watchmen (2009)
Directed By: Zack Snyder
Written By: Alan Moore (Comic)
David Hayter and Alex Tse (Screenplay)

A lot of people who don't know the backstory of "Watchmen" just assume that this is another typical superhero story. Well, it isn't. All of the heroes in "Watchmen" are really just costumed crime fighters . . . none of them have super powers, except for Dr. Manhattan, who pretty much seems to have come back from the dead as a super-powered blue manbean after a nuclear accident in a lab. So, instead of a lot of Green Lanterns and Supermen, you have more of a Batman vibe going on . . . and the bad guys aren't colorful and crazy characters like The Joker or The Riddler . . . they are the type of average criminals you hear about on the news every night.

The story begins with the death of this manbean, The Comedian, which mommy found a shame since he was the one who interested her the most.

"Watchmen" takes place in an alternate history where costumed heroes emerged in the 1940s as an effective crime fighting force. Their role broadened as the years went on, until they were also instrumental in winning the Vietnam War and aiding the United States government in the escalating Cold War. This is especially so with Dr. Manhattan, who the United States uses as a threat against the Soviet Union, keeping them in check. Their usefulness aside, costumed crimefighters become increasingly unpopular with the public, leading to legislation in the late 1970s to outlaw them entirely. However, Dr. Manahattan and The Comedian continue working for the government, while the rest either stop crime fighting entirely or go underground.

The movie opens with the murder of The Comedian in 1985, and the investigation of his death by Rorschach, a costumed crimefighter who has gone rogue and continued his work even while it is against the law. Rorschach believes that all of the former crimefighters are being targeted, and contacts his old comrades. At first met with skepticism, the others soon come to believe him as other attacks are made and the evidence piles up. The tension mounts as not only the mystery behind The Comedian's murder deepens, but the Doomsday Clock toward a disastrous nuclear war also ticks away as the United States and the Soviet Union come to a stalemate. Who is targeting them, and why? Will anyone be able to save the world from the impending nuclear crisis? Just who can save the world now?


There is ONE kitty in this movie, and you only get to see him near the end. He looks pretty cool. I think the movie would have been much better if they had let us see him more.


Now, I have to warn all of you beans and kitties . . . this is DEFINITELY not a movie for smallbeans or kittens. It is violent and graphic and has themes and language that you are not going to want to show little ones. Also, it helps if you have either read the graphic novel or are familiar with the storyline, otherwise you will probably sit hopelessly confused through the entire movie. On the other paw, if you share the same nerdy interests as my mommy and Almost Dad, you will probably enjoy this movie. It does have incredible use of photography, color, and lighting. The special effects are amazing to watch . . . and I did enjoy how they pointed out that anyone who was drawn to the life of a costumed crimefighter probably wasn't all that sane anyway, as illustrated very well by both The Comedian and Rorschach, who were both very complex and pretty much sociopathic characters - who happened to be fighting on the side of "good." I give this movie two paws up for being well executed, and for being a pretty faithful adaptation of the graphic novel. Oh, and the soundtrack was fun, too!

In case anykitty or bean is interested, here is a trailer for you to watch.

Friday Movie Review - Coraline

It's been a long time, hasn't it, kitties? But yes, the Friday Movie Review has returned! And I have discovered something new! As most of you know, when I want to see a movie that is just out in theatres, I usually have to wait until mommy is asleep, dress up in my Igor Kittenovsky disguise, take mommy's plastic card, and have my doggie brother Loki drive me to the theatre in mommy's big red metal machine.

I have found a way around all that trouble.

Kitties, if your mommy goes to a matinee performance of a movie that has already been out for awhile, then the likelihood that your mommy will be the only one in the theatre watching that movie (or at least one of the very few people watching that movie) is MUCH higher . . . and if, say, a certain enterprising kitty stowed away in their Mommy's already heavy and overly large purse . . . then there is less likelihood that a certain kitty will be caught.

I admit that the experience is a bit lacking . . . after all, you don't get your own straw to play with and you have to swipe pieces of popcorn out of the tub when no one is looking, but still, I was able to see a movie with mommy. (Even if she didn't know I was there.)

So, without further ado, here is the movie!

Coraline (2009)
Written By: Henry Selick (screenplay)
Neil Gaiman (novel)
Directed By: Henry Selick

Coraline Jones and her family have just moved into the Pink Palace Apartments, and already Coraline finds herself bored and lonely. Her parents always seem to be too busy to pay her any attention, and she misses her friends. The only other kidbean she encounters is a strange nerdy boybean by the name of Wybie. She also meets Wybie's stray black kitty friend, who has no name, but somehow irritates Coraline all the same.

Coraline wishes for a better and more interesting life. And then, she discovers the tiny door, that has been locked and covered with wallpaper. Why is the door there? And why was someone so anxious to keep it hidden and undisturbed?

Coraline soon finds herself traveling through the mysterious door to another world - a world that is parallel to her own, only better in every way. Her parents have all the time in the world for her, her mother cooks delicious meals, the house is new and clean and beautiful, the neighbors are interesting and entertaining, and her father has planted a gorgeous garden just for her.

Even Wybie is better . . . . he's silent!



At first Coraline is excited and thrilled with the new world she has discovered, and after being uncertain at first, she soon wishes to leave the real world and live in this perfect world she has found forever. Disregarding the cat's advice (who can talk in this other world!), Coraline continues to visit . . . until one day she can no longer return to her own world, and she discovers the darker side of the perfect world on the other side of the door.

Coraline is a beautifully animated movie, with gorgeous music and incredible colors and imagery. Purrsonally, I enjoyed the cat the most. He was graceful, sinuous, wise, and clever. Coraline would never have been able to find her happy ending without him. While this movie may have some parts that are a bit too intense for very young beans, I highly recommend this as a great movie for families and furries to watch together. I give "Coraline" two paws up and a tail poof!

For those of you interested, here is one of the official trailers.

Friday Movie Review - Made of Honor

Made of Honor (2008)

Directed By: Paul Weiland
Written By: Adam Sztykiel and Deborah Kaplan

Yes, this movie stars McDreamy himself: Patrick Dempsey. For some reason, that always seems to excite the ladybeans.


In this movie, McDreamy plays Tom Bailey, a manbean who likes women a lot, but doesn't like them enough to keep them around all the time. The only exception is the friend he made in college, Hannah. To him Hannah is different - she's a wonderful friend, and he has refused to ever make their relationship romantic, out of fear of losing her. When Hannah leaves for Europe for a short while, Tom realizes how much he misses her and that he may actually love her as more than a friend. Just as he is willing to make a change in their relationship, Hannah returns engaged to a Scottish Duke . . . and asks Tom to be her maid of honor. Tom decides to use the opportunities that being her maid of honor will present him with to prove to Hannah that he is the perfect man for her, not the Duke.



"Made of Honor" is a lot of silly fun. Some of the best parts are when Tom is with his group of buddies, and they are all discussing the upcoming wedding, his romance with Hannah, and most especially when they are over at his apartment helping him pack gift baskets. Tom being the maid of honor gives not only him but his friends a chance to get in touch with their more "feminine" side. Also, once the setting moves to Scotland, there is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking scenery. I give "Made of Honor" two paws up for being a fun and romantic movie that both mancats and ladycats can enjoy watching.

Friday Movie Review - 27 Dresses

This month is February, and the season for love, so this month I am reviewing Romance! This next movie is one I recently watched with mommy while we were snuggled on the bed during one of our freak super cold snaps.

27 Dresses (2008)

Directed By: Anne Fletcher

Written By: Aline Brosh McKenna

Jane (Katherine Heigl) is an amazingly organized and helpful ladybean who has managed to be a wonderful Maid of Honor to countless brides . . . well, to be exact, 27 brides. As the film opens, we see Jane rushing back and forth between two weddings that are being held on the same night . . . with her as Maid of Honor for both. This catches the eye of a man in the audience, Kevin, who happens to be the writer of the "Commitments" column in the New York Journal, and he sees Jane and her unique hobby as a way to further his career.

At the same time, Jane's sister Tess comes back to town to stay with her, and manages to catch the eye of Jane's boss, who Jane has been in love with for a long time. Soon Tess is engaged to marry Jane's crush, and is expecting Jane to be her perfect Maid of Honor. Jane finds herself planning the wedding of her sister to the man that SHE is in love with, while Kevin insinutates himself into her life by covering the wedding for his column. Despite herself, Jane begins opening up to Kevin and seeing him as more than the cynical and bitter man she first perceived him to be. Likewise, Kevin sees the warmth and generosity in Jane, and how it is expressed through her role of eternal bridesmaid.


However, the stress between the two of them begins to build as Kevin realizes the real reason Jane is upset about her sister's wedding, and as Jane finds out that Kevin pursued their relationship just to use her for an article. Can their relationship ever be healed? Will Jane's sister really marry? Does Jane even care anymore? Will Jane forever be a bridesmaid, and never be a bride?

This movie is well done. Katherine Heigl does a brilliant performance as Jane. Often, a kitty can tell exactly what she is thinking solely by her body language alone. Her expressive face and movements say more than any amount of words can. The story is painful, touching, and funny all at the same time. I give "27 Dresses" two paws up and a chirp!

Friday Movie Review - Love Actually

Today I am reviewing another holiday movie that is a wonderful mix of drama, romance, and comedy. It is one of my very favorites: Love Actually.

Love Actually (2003)
Directed By: Richard Curtis
Written By: Richard Curtis

"Love Actually" follows the storylines of several characters, and their search for romance over the holiday season. One lonely young man wants to leave England and spend the season in America, where he is sure he can seduce beautiful women with his accent. A writer visits Portugal and falls in love with his Portuguese maid, who speaks no English. A widowed father watches his son strive to attract the attention of the girl he likes (my mommy's favorite storyline!). These stories and several more (including the new Prime Minister's unexpected romance) are all included in this movie.


Now, this movie is too mature for young kitties, pups, and beans. There are several instances of language and adult situations.

But the stories are funny and heartwarming . . . and sometimes heartbreaking as well. And in what other movie can you see Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, and Liam Neeson all in one place? Not to mention Alan Rickman and Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson.

And of course, one of the best scenes of all . . . the Christmas play at the local school, with a wonderful performance of "All I Want For Christmas Is You."



If your bean is a true romantic at heart, and has a taste for naughty british humor, then you should both snuggle up on the couch this holiday season and give "Love Actually" a try! I give it two paws up and a rumbly purr!

Friday Movie Review: The Golden Compass

This week I am reviewing a wonderful film that is based on a book that my mommy loves, Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass," which is the first book in his trilogy "His Dark Materials." This is a good holiday movie because it has a lot of adventuring in snow with talking polar bears!

The Golden Compass (2007)
Directed By: Chris Weitz
Written By: Chris Weitz (Screenplay)
Philip Pullman (Novel)

In "The Golden Compass," we meet Lyra Belacqua, a little girl who is being raised by the scholars of Jordan College, at the request of her uncle, Lord Asriel. Lyra refuses to become a proper and educated lady, instead preferring to run wild with her best friend Roger who works in the kitchens, and the Gypsies who travel up and down the river outside the college. After a bet she places with the gypsy children, Lyra finds herself in the dressing room of the college . . . and sees someone put poison in her Uncle Asriel's wine. After coming out of her hiding place and warning him, her uncle tells her to hide again . . . and to keep her eyes open and her mouth shut. Hiding in the wardrobe again, Lyra watches her uncle's presentation to the scholars, and first hears about the thing that will change her life forever: dust.

Lyra's world is a world parallel to the one we beans and furries live in now. The major difference between our worlds is that in Lyra's world, bean's souls walk beside them in the form of animals. These soul animals are known as daemons. Lyra's daemon's name is Pantalaimon, or Pan for short, and since Lyra is still a child Pan can change shape depending on his mood . . . but once a bean grows up, their daemon chooses one form and never changes again. For example, Uncle Asriel's daemon is a beautiful and dangerous snow leopard named Stelmaria.

And it appears that, according to what Lyra learns from her uncle's presentation, that daemons settling into one shape, and other parts of maturing and becoming an adult, all have to do with the mysterious particles known as "dust" that filter into her world from ours and a million other worlds . . . and which can be seen in the far north, in the northern lights.

Soon after Lyra makes this discovery, a strange and beautiful woman, Mrs. Coulter, comes to the college to take Lyra away with her on an expedition to the far north. Before she leaves, Lyra is entrusted with a golden compass by the scholars of Jordan College, but is warned that Mrs. Coulter must never know that she has it. Who is Mrs. Coulter, what does she want with Lyra, and can Lyra trust her?


Lyra has many adventures, all of them thrilling and dangerous, and she makes many brave and wonderful friends along the way, including Iorek Byrnison, one of the armored bears of Svalgard in the far north, and Serafina Pekkala, a witch of the far north.

While the books have been classified as young adult, and the movie itself marketed for an even younger crowd, it has to be said that in truth both are more adult in terms of the concepts that are introduced. While young beans will enjoy the talking animals, grown beans will be intrigued by the story itself. "The Golden Compass" takes on physics, religion, philosophy, and spirituality and questions them all. While this is done more so in the books, it is definitely touched upon in the movie. "The Golden Compass" is a visually stunning and thought-provoking movie, all presented in the guise of a children's fantasy. I give "The Golden Compass" two paws up and a whisker spread. I also suggest that if you love to read well-written fantasy, and have not yet read the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, then you should definitely give it a try. Philip Pullman is a totally pawsome author!

Friday Movie Review: Holiday Television

Yep, kitties! It's that most wonderful time of year again . . . which means holiday tv programming.

The ABC Family channel has their 25 Days of Christmas from December 1 through Christmas Day. However, the programming seems lighter on Rankin-Bass classics this year, and heavier on the family movies. You can click here to see the schedule. This weekend is "Harry Potter Weekend," starting at 7:30 est tonight with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

The Lifetime channel is also showcasing a lot of romantic and heart-warming holiday movies this month as well. One of mommy's favorites is "Borrowed Hearts," which stars Roma Downey and Eric McCormick . . . in his pre "Will and Grace" years. It was on earlier this week and mommy stayed up way too late to watch it. You can see Lifetime's movie page here. According to their schedule, "Borrowed Hearts" will be on again on Sunday, December 14 at 3:00PM if anykitty or bean is interested.

AMC will be showing holiday movies starting the afternoon of Christmas Eve, beginning with George C. Scott in the 1984 version of "A Christmas Carol."

On Fridays and during the holidays of December, Turner Classic Movies is showcasing Yuletide movies, such as "Scrooge" and "Christmas in Connecticut." Tonight at 8:00 est TCM is showing "Meet Me in St. Louis" starring Judy Garland, and featuring her performance of the wonderful classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."



Judy is right, everykitty . . . we should all have ourselves a wonderful holiday season! So curl up with your beans on the couch and watch some holiday cheer!

Friday Movie Review - Quantum of Solace

As you know, mommy and grandmama went to see the new James Bond movie without me. That did not deter me from my purpose in the slightest. I know how you kitties depend on me to bring you the latest and greatest movie reviews and recommendations! Therefore after mommy fell asleep last night, I prowled through the bottomless black hole she calls her purse and borrowed her plastic card thingy, donned my disguise, and had Loki drive me to the nearest theatre.

As Igor Kittenovsky, Russian Foreign Exchange Student, I bought my ticket, popcorn, Dr Pepper, and some gummy bears and settled down to watch. (I also took a few extra straws. A kitty can never have enough, and I mean, that dispenser was RIGHT THERE next to the napkins and I could HEAR it calling my name.)

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Directed By: Marc Forster

Written By: Paul Haggis and Neil Purvis

"Quantum of Solace" takes place shortly after "Casino Royale" ends . . . so if you plan to see this film and haven't seen "Casino Royale" yet, make sure you do so. Knowing what happened previously will make sure you enjoy this movie much more.

James Bond is trying to uncover the truth about the organization that blackmailed his love interest Vesper, and ultimately lead to her death. Struggling against his own grief and sense of betrayal, Bond is as much driven by his need for vengeance as he is by a sense of duty or justice in this film. Traveling from Italy to Haiti, Bond meets Camille and through her discovers Dominic Greene, an environmentalist who seems to have connections to Quantum, the evil organization that Bond was up against in Casino Royale.

Bond discovers that Greene is only using his environmentalist company as a cover for much more greedy and non-environmentally friendly ends. Greene has promised both England and the United States large oil shares in Bolivia, if they will ignore the junta his organization is supporting there. While making such promises, he is hoarding all of the water in an underground dam, and forcing the new government to pay him an exorbitant amount of money for using his now monopolized natural resource. Also, the General who Greene is working with in Bolivia is the one who murdered Camille's family when she was just a child. Camille's association with Greene is just a way to get closer to the General. Bond and Camille understand each other well, since they are both ultimately after the same thing: vengeance.

"Quantum of Solace," while very good, does not quite live up to the excellence of "Casino Royale." However, when taken as the sequel to and continuation of the "Casino Royale" story, it is excellent. Daniel Craig's Bond is a much more well-fleshed out character. You understand more what drives and motivates him throughout the entire film. Just seeing his expression can let you know what he is thinking; words aren't necessary for him to explain his thoughts. "Quantum of Solace" is less dramatically violent than "Casino Royale," and is much shorter. Apparently, "Casino Royale" is the longest Bond movie ever made, while "Quantum of Solace" is the shortest!

I give "Quantum of Solace" two paws up and a whisker spread, for being full of action, drama, and even some wonderful and dry British humor. . . not to mention the latest installment in the Bond franchise!

Friday Movie Review - Addams Family Values

This choice may surprise you . . . but even if the Addams Family seems more Halloweeny than Thanksgivingy, they are after all a very close family. And there is a wonderful Thanksgiving play scene in the film.

Addams Family Values (1993)
Directed By:Barry Sonnenfeld
Written By: Paul Rudnick

In the opening scene of "Addams Family Values," we find out that Morticia Addams is expecting a baby . . . now. The new arrival is a little boy, Pubert Addams. Having a new sibling is disturbing to Wednesday and Pugsley, and their dangerous antics with their new brother is driving their parents up the wall. Morticia and Gomez decide to hire a nanny for the children in order to give Morticia more time to pursue her own interests. The nanny they hire is Debbie, a cheerful blonde who wears pastels and seems to have an eye for Fester - or at least for the Addams fortune. Soon Debbie manages to convince Gomez and Morticia that Wednesday and Pugsley want to go to summer camp, all the while managing to win Fester's odd and lonely heart.

Summer camp is a horrific experience for Wednesday and Pugsley, who are often relegated to the Harmony Hut to suffer hour upon torturous hour of Family Musicals and Disney films. Even worse for the children is knowing that their Uncle Fester is about to marry the cleverly fiendish Debbie. How Wednesday and Pugsley manage to escape from camp, and how little Pubert is the one to ultimately save the day, makes for a wonderfully fun and quirky film.

The highlight of the entire movie, however, is the "Thanksgiving" play the campers put on for their parents, starring Pugsley as the Turkey, and Wednesday as Pocahontas.





I give "Addams Family Values" two paws up and a chirp for being well-acted, quirky, full of dark humor, and great quotable lines!

Friday Movie Review - By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Happy November, kitties! A lot of great things happen in November. My mommy's birthday is in November, and TURKEY DAY is in November, too! That's right, everyfurry! November is definitely a month for being thankful. That's why this November I am doing movies about family togetherness . . . because I am most thankful for my family!

Today's movie is an oldie but a goodie, "By the Light of the Silvery Moon."

By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953)
Directed By: David Butler
Written By: Irving Elinson
Robert O'Brien

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is based on Booth Tarkington's "Penrod" stories. The story is set in a small town in the early part of the twentieth century (around World War I, to be exact). This movie and it's predecessor "On Moonlight Bay"(1951) both center around the daily lives of the Winfield family, especially the daughter Marjorie (Doris Day) and her relationship with her boyfriend Bill Sherman (Gordon MacRae). Marjorie, once a tomboy uninterested in boys or girliness, becomes all woman when she meets Bill, much to the mixed feelings of her father (Leon Ames). Marjorie and Bill's relationship is amusing, if you can stand a lot of mushy singing. Mommy finds as she grows older she has less tolerance for some older musicals and sappy singing, no matter how good the singers are.

As amusing as the whole movie is, the real star of the show is Marjorie's little brother, Wesley (Billy Gray). Really, once you've seen this movie, you watch it again, if only for Wesley.

Wesley is a very smart, very funny, very imaginative little boy.

Why is this movie perfect not only for family togetherness but also for the month of November?

My furry friends, the answer is one word: Turkey.

Young Wesley has the wonderful idea of raising a turkey for Thanksgiving. Wesley, being the sensitive soul he is, of course bonds with the turkey . . . which leads to a lot of amusing incidents when it comes time for Thanksgiving.

One of the best quotes from the movie comes from young Wesley:

"Well, if he's good enough to be on the table, he's good enough to walk around it."

I give this movie two paws up and a chirp for being a true classic, and full of family fun!