BUTTER
CAROLINE: I was so excited to catch a screening of Butter, which was originally supposed to come out last year. I was wondering when we’d finally get to see it!
RYAN: It stars Jennifer Garner, who’s one of our faves. That almost makes it a must-see for moi, despite her recent not-so-hot performance in The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
CAROLINE: Jenny G was great, and I also adore Ty Burrell, the dad from TV’s Modern Family. It co-stars Olivia Wilde, who’s beyond hi-lar as a stripper, as well as Twilight‘s Ashely Greene, Alicia Silverstone who I haven’t seen in a movie in forever, and last but not least, Hugh Jackman.
RYAN: And his Huge Ackman?
CAROLINE: Yes! I had totally forgotten he was in the movie, so it was quite a pleasant surprise when he showed up.
RYAN: So how was the movie?
CAROLINE: It’s pretty good. Very funny and exactly what I figured it would be, which is to say indie-ish and small.
RYAN: How was Jenny?
CAROLINE: She’s great. She plays a small-town, conservative, Midwestern step-mom who lives and dies by her husband’s winning the butter carving contest every year. So when they threaten to end his 15-year run of winning, she enters the contest herself.
RYAN: So it’s all about… butter carving?
CAROLINE: I know, it doesn’t sound that great; but trust me, it’s funny. The tone reminded me of an early Alexander Payne movie like Election or Citizen Ruth. Kind of a satire, but mostly just funny watching Jenny Garner as this ruthless woman with Sarah Palinesque qualities.
RYAN: I can’t really picture Hugh Jackman in a movie like this! He’s such a superstar.
CAROLINE: Totally, but he was great. Really funny, and they tried to make him less drop-dead gorgeous than he is, which is, of course, hard to do. But mostly I seriously couldn’t get over how funny Olivia Wilde was. Her performance was so surprising and funny.
RYAN: I guess I like her and her big eyes. What made her so great?
CAROLINE: It’s not the kind of role you’d expect from her. I really haven’t seen her in that many things, but I know she was on House and she tends to play the pretty mom or whatever in movies. But here, she’s a stone-cold bitch and a trashy stripper and she just played it so well.
RYAN: Sounds fun. And welcome back to the big screen, Alicia Sliverstone!
CAROLINE: Yes, I’ve always liked her. She’s very cute and still sort of talks out of the side of her mouth like she did in Clueless.
RYAN: [laughs’ I’m dying to see her new Amy Heckerling film Vamps but it’s direct to DVD soon. This Butter has a pretty impressive cast for a small movie like this.
CAROLINE: I know, right? I really enjoyed it overall. It’s not a must-see on the big screen by any means, but it’s entertaining. It’s kind of a movie with a message, but it doesn’t hit you over the head with it. Stick around for bloopers during the credits; though they weren’t as funny as they should have been.
RYAN: I hate that! Note to all directors: if you’re gonna do a gag reel, it better be hilarious!
CAROLINE: Yeah, only one blooper made me LOL, and it was from Olivia Wilde. All in all though, this is a fun little movie that you’d be happy to catch on demand sometime. I’m so glad it’s finally getting released!
— RATING —
