When our local theater was still open, movie-going was pretty much a weekly event.  Even if there was a movie playing we knew little about or had gotten mixed reviews, we’d go to see it.  Mostly, we went because the venue also served food, so even if the movie was marginal, we still got to enjoy a meal and get out of the house.  Sadly, the theater has closed, and although there has been some talk about resurrecting it, I suspect it will never happen.  Unfortunately, the audiences just aren’t there, money is tight for a lot of people, and for this particular theater, there’s practically no parking in the area.  I expect that this place will go the way of my old hometown theater.  The building will sit empty for years and deteriorate over time until it reaches a point where too much money would be required to restore it.  It’s sad to see all these old places close down, but times change.

Anyway, back to the movie.  

I had listened to the Project Hail Mary audiobook when it first came out, and I loved it.  It’s a really special book with a strong, engaging story, great narration, and sound effects that bring the story to life.  I liked the book so much that I just didn’t see any way that the movie could live up to it.  And I was right.  The movie wasn’t quite as good as the book, but it’s really close.

Project Hail Mary is a hard story to bring to the screen.  It’s a complex story, filled with technical puzzles and intricate details.  Since film is mostly a visual medium, the story isn’t really a good fit for the screen, yet somehow the director pulled it off.  The movie does a good job telling the story; it’s suspenseful, holds the viewer’s interest as the backstory unfolds alongside the main story, and it’s visually beautiful.  It’s very much worth seeing.

Before we saw it, I was somewhat concerned that the story’s complexity would make it hard for someone who hadn’t read the book to fully understand it, but if my wife is any indication, that’s not the case.  Outside of missing one detail in the plot, she pretty much understood everything that was going on and really enjoyed the movie.

So go out and see the movie, and while you’re at it, get the audiobook.  As good as the movie is, the audiobook is even better, and I think you’ll find both very enjoyable.

My wife and I started watching ‘According to Jim’ a little over a year ago. She bailed out after about ten episodes because she found the title character so repulsive. She had a point. Jim, the lead character, is an obnoxious, spoiled brat who’s loud, overbearing, egotistical, and always needs to get his way. However, he’s also very funny, which is why I stuck with the show to the end.

The show revolves around Jim, his wife Cheryl, their two, three, five kids (depending on which season you’re watching), and his brother-in-law Andy and sister-in-law Dana.

Cheryl, the wife who is out of his league, puts up with just about everything Jim does because, even though he’s obnoxious, she loves him dearly. Dana, the sister-in-law, is not a big fan and is constantly trading barbs with Jim, although in one very funny episode, we find out she’s having sex dreams about Jim. Finally, Andy, Jim’s brother-in-law, is his sidekick and best friend throughout all his antics.

Every episode pretty much has the same plot: Jim, with Andy’s assistance, does something selfish, stupid or crazy, Cheryl gets angry with him about it, but eventually she realizes she loves him even though he’s a horse’s ass. It sounds boring and repetitive, but because of the great scripts and comedic talents of the actors it isn’t.

While the whole cast does a great job, Jim Belushi and Larry Joe Campbell are standouts. They’re funny and will do anything for a laugh. A lot of the episodes involved physical stunts, and both men, although very large, do a great job pulling them off.

I really recommend this show, but like the ‘Three Stooges’, it’s probably more for men than for women. It’s also not a good show to binge-watch. The characters are funny but can be grating, and watching them one after another, for a lot of people, could be stressful. So watch it, enjoy it, but take your time with it.