SPACE COWBOYS (Drama)
(Hollywood finally got it: older folks can be heroes.) This film stars Clint Eastwood (at age 70) who also directed the film, James Garner (72), Donald Sutherland (65), and Tommy Lee Jones (54). This film came out in summer 2000 (actors' ages given as of year 2000) and is about a team of four former hotshot test pilots recruited to fix a broken Russian satellite in space-42 years after they were passed over by the fledgling U.S. space program. This aging and entertaining quartet of ex-fly boys repair the satellite's damaged guidance system that Eastwood had designed years before.

 
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (Romantic Comedy)
Subway employee, Lucy (Sandra Bullock) is madly in love with a handsome stranger (Peter Gallagher) whom she's only seen from afar. She saves his life after he's been mugged and fallen into a coma. When visiting him in the hospital, his offbeat family (Glynis Johns, Jack Warden, others) mistakes her for his fiancee. Then, as Lucy fabricates a life between herself and a man she's never really met, she falls for his charming brother (Bill Pullman). The "fiancee" comes out of his coma and believes he's engaged to Lucy, and she's forced to make a decision between the two brothers.

 
HOUSESITTER (Romantic Comedy)
When architect Newton Davis (Steve Martin) proposes marriage and is turned down by his long-time girlfriend (Dana Delaney), his newly-built dream country house suddenly becomes an empty monument to her rejection, and Newton decides not to move into it. Back in the big city, he has a chance encounter with Gwen (Goldie Hawn). Intrigued by Newton's story, Gwen (having recently lost her apartment) secretly visits the house and decides to move in on her own, without telling Newton. She passes herself off as Newton's wife to his family and friends in the small village, and lives in Newton's country house without his knowledge while he stays in the city. When he discovers her there, his life is turned upside down in hilarious ways as the truth is stretched, again and again.This is a delightful, warmhearted and intelligent comedy from direector Frank Oz.

 
TWO MUCH (Romantic Comedy)
Art Dodge (handsome Antonio Banderas) would like to break off his engagement with his fiancee Betty (Melanie Griffith) only her mob boss ex-husband makes it impossible for him to say no to the wedding. Then, Art unexpectedly falls in love with Betty's beautiful sister (Daryl Hannah) upon meeting her, and he becomes entangled in an outrageous charade. Art invents "Bart," his own "twin brother" so he can date both women at once. Soon, Art, as the art gallery owner and "Bart," as the "artist brother visiting from Italy" gets into trouble leading this double life as he romances both Betty and her sister who live together.

 
AFTER THE SUNSET (Action Thriller)
Two master thieves, Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan) and his beautiful accomplice Lola (Salma Hayek) have escaped to the Bahamas to relax and enjoy their hard-earned riches. But Stan (Woddy Harrellson), the FBI agent trailing Max, refuses to believe that his nemisis is calling it quits. He suspects Max and Lola of plotting to steal the last Napolean diamond, coincidentally scheduled to arrive on the island as part of a cruise ship exhibition. While Lola is content settling into their new life of leisure, Max contemplates stealing the diamond. "After the Sunset" is a high-stakes, action thrill ride with mile-a-minute twists that will leave you breathless.

 
ELIZABETHTOWN (Romantic Comedy)
This comedy/drama/romance movie is about a family pulling together after a death (of the estranged father) in the family. The movie was mostly about a romance between the son and a woman he met n a plane when going to the town (Elizabethtown) across the country to represent the immediate family (his mother, his sister, and himself) at the funeral. There, he meets a huge clan of family members he hadn't seen since childhood. They all have their ideas about what to do with the body. Susan Sarandon gave a great (funny) performance in this movie; (do NOT go out for popcorn when she gives her remembrances at the funeral services). This was an excellent movie - very funny and often romantic - certainly one I will buy one day.

 
IN HER SHOES (Drama with Comedy)
This movie is about the relationship between two sisters (Cameron Diaz and ??), the relationship between a granddaughter (Cameron Diaz) and her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), and others. Mostly it is about Cameron Diaz's character finally growing up. The movie is both funny and sad. Good acting, including a bunch of funny and lovable senior citizens at the retirement home where the grandmother lives. Nice scenery.

 
THE MASK OF ZORRO (Action-Comedy-Romance)
This movie stars Anthony Hopkins (an old Zorro) who molds and trains a younger man, Antonio Bandares, to take his place as the new Zorro. Catherine Zeta-Jones, unknown as the daughter of Anthony Hopkins' character (because she was stolen when a baby by the main bad guy who thought he'd killed the old Zorro) plays a romantic interest for Antonio. This movie has good action, lots of comedy, and great romance. All three main actors are excellent in their parts. The plot and writing is good.

 
LEGEND OF ZORRO (Action-Comedy)
This movie stars (sexy) Antonio Bandares as Zorro and (beautiful) Catherine Zeta-Jones as his (divorced) wife. This is a sequel to their "Mask of Zorro" movie, and takes place about 10 years later (since they have a son about 9 years old). In this sequel, Zorro is still fighting the bad guys, but in a way that reminded me of the old black and white Zorro serials that we saw as kids - it just went on and on and on, with one cliff-hanger after another. (Maybe that explains the movie's title.) Antonio and Catherine were great in their acting, as always, but I hated Antonio and Catherine's characters being divorced throughout the movie; don't worry, they finally get back together at the end. The actor that played their son was great in his part. He and Antonio were the real stars (i.e., in the most scenes) throughout this movie; Catherine wasn't in nearly enough scenes with Antonio. The plot or writing of the "Legend of Zorro" could have been improved; it needed more laughs and more romance between Antonio and Catherine. I'll buy it later - to add to my "Antonio" collection, but I liked the "Mask of Zorro" movie much better.

 
ZORRO, THE GAY BLADE (Comedy-action)
This older (1981) Zorro movie is a funny spoof that you must see (if you can still find it). George Hamilton stars in the dual role of the legendary Zorro, a surprise inheritance from his late father. As Don Diego Vega, Hamilton inherits the black mask, black cape, and sword of Zorro and a plea that he continue to fight against injustice. However, the new Zorro is soon flat on his back with a broken ankle and until his recovery, Ramon (Don Diego Vega's long lost twin brother), must assume the secret identity. Ramon agrees, giving birth to another legend - that of a daring rider with a diferent costume (each one more outrageous than the former) - who prefers a bullwhip to a sword. This is a zany and sensational comedy. Hamilton is great playing both twin brother parts. Copyright in 1981, this video is well worth searching for in used video stores. You won't stop laughing.

 
FIRST WIVES CLUB (Comedy-Drama)
Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton portray mid-life Manhattanites who have more than a longtime friendship in common. After years of helping their hubbies climb the ladder of success, each has been dumped for a newer, curvier model. The trio come up with a cleverly devious plan to hit their exes where it really hurts - in the wallet. The wives get mad, get even, and get it all. Seldom has justice been so sweet, or so much fun.

 
AMERICAN DREAMER (Comedy)
JoBeth Williams, Tom Conti, and Giancarlo Giannini start in this briskly-paced, clever (almost slapstick) comedy set in Paris. It is a tongue-in-cheek, cloak and daggar adventure about dreams coming true. JoBeth Williams plays Cathy, a neglected American housewife whose only excitement comes from reading sizzling romantic thrillers solved by the renowned "Rebecca Ryan" character in romance novels written by a French author. After entering a "Rebecca Ryan Writing Contest," Cathy wins a trip to Paris, where she gets knocked on the head in an accident. When she awakens in the hospital, she believes she IS Rebecca Ryan, and she begins living all the glamor, suspense and romance of her favorite novel character. Tom Conti is engaging as the attractive man who tries to convince her that she's living in a dream world, but he gets dragged into all the crazziness himself, and the delightful Giancarlo Giannini adds enough mystery to make it all very real indeed. This bright comedy is for the romantic and dreamer in all of us. (Copyright in 1984, this is another "oldie but goodie" movie, but well worth searching old video stores for, if you want a lot of laughs and beautiful Paris scenery.)