''So, you know in horror movies, when the girl's like 'Oh my god, there's something in the basement, let me just run down there, in my underwear, and see what's going on in the dark' and you're like, 'What is your problem? Call the police!' and she's like 'Okay!' but it's too late because she's already getting murdered?
Well, my story is kinda like that.''
New Girl is the comedy that just about everyone around me has been talking about and telling me to watch. It's created by Elizabeth Meriweather and stars Zooey Deschanel as the eccentric Jessica Day, a schoolteacher who moves into a loft with three guys after breaking up with boyfriend Spencer. Madness, confusion and hilarity ensues as she gets to know her room mates and tries to move on.
I had heard a ton of great things about New Girl, and ordered the first series from Amazon in a moment of extreme procrastination so as to avoid writing an assignment! Such a good student, not.
The show is refreshing and not ashamed to be a little bit weird, especially with the character of Jess. In fact, she did start to grate on me when I first started watching, as though they were trying too hard to make her funny...but by the end of the series when we get to know her better, I found her really warm and likeable. Zooey Deschanel is gorgeous and brilliant and shows off her skills in physical comedy, as well as pulling off an amazing script each episode with really snappy and imaginative dialogue.
My favourite character, however, has GOT to be Schmidt. He is played by Max Greenfield, someone I watched years ago in a sorority/fraternity drama called Greek. Schmidt is an utterly cringeworthy, egotistical obsessive-compulsive who is required to donate money to a 'Douchebag Jar' every time he pulls some embarrassing stunt, which is preeetty much all the time. The way Greenfield plays him as completely ridiculous but with a straight face the whole time makes just about everything he says hilarious.
The whole ensemble works really well, because each is so different. Winston is probably the one we know least about and seems to be used more as someone for the other characters' jokes to bounce off, so there is plenty more room for him to be developed. Hannah Simone is also good as the beautiful best friend Cece.
The best thing about it is the underlying chemistry between Nick (the rather hot Jake Johnson) and Jess. I haven't seen any of the second series so I don't know if anything actually happens with them yet (and am desperately trying to avoid seeing any spoilers!), but there's some really nicely done, emotional moments as well as great comedic moments. It's made all the more interesting in that you don't know for sure if they're going to get together; there's no Rachel-and-Ross on again/off again, which keeps the audience intrigued and waiting for answers.
New Girl is a brilliantly awkward comedy that works hard to win you over, and though I could understand if someone found it a bit irritating, by the end of the series I was totally invested in the characters. It manages to combine classic sitcom while still feeling modern and fresh, and it only took me three days to watch all 24 eps so it's pretty addictive!
A great watch I would definitely recommend getting in to if you like shows such as The Big Bang Theory, etc., and I can't wait to catch up on series 2! Also, once the catchy theme tune is stuck in your head, you cannot get it out.
Rating: 4/5
Are you a New Girl fan?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie.
(pictures are from Google images)
.....this is going to be a bumpy ride.'
Apologies for it having been so long since a new post; I've been busy starting my second year at uni, and wanted to work on redesigning the layout of my blog (though it is still a working progress), so I hope you like it!
I've seen a lot of great films recently, so wanted to write a few reviews. First up is:
Zombieland
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156398/
Zombieland is the tale of Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), a slightly awkward sociopath with a phobia of everything who is one of the few humans left in a zombie-infested world due to a list of rules for survival. He begins a journey to discover the fate of his parents and comes across a lively gang along the way, consisting of Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and sister act Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin).
Rule No. 18: Limber Up
For starters, the acting is simply brilliant. There is no weak link in the foursome; each is witty and excellent, and they gel together perfectly considering their only other co stars (with the exception of Bill Murray) are blood-crazed zombies.
Rule No. 17: Don't Be A Hero
Jesse Eisenberg is one of my favourite actors; his subtle yet remarkable performances in films like The Social Network and Adventureland are full of smartly spoken dialogue and dripping with sarcasm. He does well at making Columbus nervous and lonely, but incredibly likeable.
Rule No. 8: Get A Kick-Ass Partner
The first companion Columbus acquires is the steely, hot-headed Tallahassee, a man who thoroughly enjoys ripping zombies to shreds and is unstoppable in his quest for his favourite snack, the illusive Twinkie. I love Woody Harrelson in just about everything; he's quirky, gritty, and an amazing presence on the screen.
'When Tallahassee goes Hulk on a zombie, he sets the standard for 'not to be fucked with"
Columbus and Tallahassee set off on their travels, and everything goes well until they meet their match in sisters Wichita and Little Rock. Both Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin are naturals and make for some of the best moments in the film, not least how they fool the two boys. Twice.
Rule No. 31: Check The Back Seat
Emma Stone, I believe, is one the best comic actresses in film at the moment. She has a way of bringing a script into reality, and has an ease in front of the camera that always makes her so enjoyable to watch (her performance in Easy A is outstanding).
'It's amazing how fast the world can go from bad to total shit storm.'
Zombieland is short (only around 80 minutes), snappy, and seriously smart. There are genuinely hilarious moments throughout, full of fantastic one liners delivered by a superb cast. The story is simple but well executed, and there is a comic book feel to it (especially in the theme park section) that really suits the genre and enhances the zombie-killing action. Eisenberg's deadpan narration really makes the film, as does the idea of the survival rules appearing on screen when relevant (again adding to the sense of the characters living in a comic book, or even a virtual game-world). The tentative relationship between Columbus and Wichita does seem almost like a generic required romantic element, but makes for some nice scenes and brings the group together.
It's a whole lot of funny with just the right amount of emotion, and will definitely become one of my favourites.
Rule No. 32: Enjoy The Little Things.
Verdict: The American equivalent of the excellent Shaun of the Dead.
Rating: 5/5
Watch this film!
Thanks for reading!
Sophie.
