You can't take the country out of the girl

I am so bad about posting about my vacations. Remember how it took me four months to post about my cruise last year? This time, I’m going to try not to let a month go by before posting about my trip to Nashville. Instead of sharing my entire itinerary, I’ll just point out the highlights and post some pictures.

To preface everything, I met up with Froggie, my BFF of 30 years, to celebrate our friendship and see another New Kids on the Block concert, since we did that in 1989. We picked Nashville as it was a new town for both of us to visit and a good in-between spot where we could catch the concert together.

Reunited at the airport!

Highlights:

*Our Airbnb: I’ve never stayed at an Airbnb before, so this was a different experience than staying at a hotel. Our host, Jennie, was very nice and accommodating. She did her own thing, so we only saw her every so often, but when we did, we had fun chatting with her. She has the cutest little dog who shares a name with my favorite dog from my youth. If you are ever looking for an Airbnb in Nashville, check out the ones in Donelson and perhaps you’ll find her. The price was great and the space was comfortable and large enough that we weren’t breathing down each other’s necks. We could come and go as we pleased, as she had a keypad with a code for us to let ourselves in. (That worked well, since we stayed out pretty late!) Funny story….when we first arrived, GPS changed the address on me, so we almost went to the wrong house. Oops!

*Broadway Street: There’s really nothing like it. Every bar has loud, live country music coming out of the doors and windows. There are tons of people all over the place. Everyone has their own way of dressing, so it doesn’t matter if you wear a dress or a T-shirt and jeans. You just fit in anyway. I love the idea that people are performing in the bars for a chance to get discovered and potentially become famous. There’s so much energy and enthusiasm all around.

*Grand Ole Opry: This was my favorite part of the trip. I loved learning about the history of the GOO and all the love that surrounds it. Country singers seem like one big family. There’s no pretense…they show up in their cars and walk up to a side door to access the building. There are dressing rooms for every type of performer and they all have different themes. Everyone just seems to get along and support one another. They showed a video where people were told they were invited to be members of the GOO. I was getting teary-eyed seeing their reactions. They were all so genuine and appreciative. The tour guide was a lot of fun and got so excited over the smallest details at the venue.

At night, we saw a concert at the GOO. While our seats were up high, it was cool to be there and see the performers standing on the famous circle where we all got to stand and take pictures on earlier that day. The performers were The Whites, Smithfield, Jamie Lynn Spears (yes, Britney’s sister, who has an incredible voice and country vibe), Maddie and Tae (Tae looked like Tatiana Maslany when I saw her and Maddie’s super thin high heels made me trip just looking at them!), Lee Brice (whose wife just had a baby girl recently), Montgomery Gentry (whom I thought was just one person’s name and not a band), and Ricky Skaggs (classic country). They each sang three songs. This was all playing on air, as it was being broadcasted to an XM station. They even had commercial breaks. Before the show, the emcee was asking where everyone was from and it was cool to see representation from all around the US. The emcee was kind of annoying, but she kept things entertaining.

The circle where all singers stand when they perform

A few of the dressing rooms:

*The NKOTB concert: The main reason we were there, of course! Not only was it NKOTB, but also Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men. B2M kicked off the concert. I almost forgot all the songs they did back in the 80s and 90s, but then they came back to me as soon as I heard the opening notes. The guys looked like they had a lot of fun performing. They even put lyrics up on the screen behind them so we could sing along. Paula’s performance was more artsy with a lot of dancing and interactive videos. There was even a video with the cat from “Opposites Attract.” She did all her classics, but her show was shorter than B2M. Then, finally, the New Kids took the stage! They performed for over two hours, playing their classics and tossing in some new ones. I like the “Dirty Dancing” song, which was new to me at the time. It was fun to sing along with the songs I listened to all the time in the 80s, especially “The Right Stuff.” Of course, Froggie and I were screaming for our favorite New Kids the whole time (hers is Donnie, mine is Joey). As an extra only-in-Nashville treat, they had Big and Rich perform. Then later, they brought Carrie Underwood onto the stage. That was so cool! They even performed songs from their earlier albums. If you were a die-hard NKOTB fan, you would know them. And, of course, they ended the concert with “Hangin’ Tough.”

Carrie joined them on stage!

My New Kid crush!

*Meeting Darwin Shrugged: While Froggie and DS had previously met in person, this was my first time meeting her. Honestly, it was like we had known each other our whole lives and were just friends reuniting after a long period of time. While I’ve only known her online up until now, she is the same in person. I was instantly comfortable around her. We all had a great time chatting and hung out for about two hours. I hope we’ll get to meet again one of these days.

*Manis and pedis: After we arrived in Nashville, we had to do something we always do together…get manicures and pedicures! We found this place called Sation Nails. They were really nice and the pedicure was fantastic. My nail tech had her three year-old daughter there at the time. So cute!

*Going to Target: It became a joke after a while, since Froggie had to go there a couple of times prior to us meeting up and then twice when we were together. The layout was the same as one I go to a lot. We also went to Kroger a couple of times.

Overall, it was a wonderful and unforgettable trip. I had such a fun time hanging out with Froggie and we got even more inside jokes, as well. Next time, we’re doing Vegas!

Favorite Disney Movies

Since I love so many Disney movies (I'm a Disney Dork, after all), I am just going to list my top 10 favorites here. What films are on your list?

1. Beauty and the Beast (original animated version, even though the live action one is amazing too): I fell in love with it from the opening number. And Belle is my Disney soul sister!



2. Aladdin: I love how the story was re-imagined by Disney. Robin Williams stole the show as the iconic Genie.



3. Wreck-It Ralph: Incredibly creative, funny, and even emotional. I love the rapport between Ralph and Vanellope. It's one of those movies I can never tire of.



4. Monsters Inc. (Pixar): So clever and imaginative. I love the way the monsters turn scaring kids into a business and way to power the town. And Boo is just adorable! I also enjoyed the prequel, Monsters University.



5. The Parent Trap (original version with Hayley Mills): I watched this for the first time in forever (pardon the Disney song reference) and found myself crying during "Let's Get Together." I watched this countless times as a kid and acted it out with my sister. (I was Sharon.)



6. The Lion King: This says it all!



7. Enchanted: I love the way they turn an animated princess into human form and put her into the modern world. So much fun, while also being sweet and creative.



8. Tangled: Definitely tissue-worthy. It had a similar feel to Beauty and the Beast. Mandy Moore was great as Rapunzel's voice. I also love how Mother Gothel was so easy to hate.



9. The Little Mermaid: Such a classic Disney flick. You can't not smile when Sebastian sings "Under the Sea." And "Part of Your World" is such a great princess ballad.



10. Hercules: It has a similar feel to The Little Mermaid. I love Megara and how she won't say she's in love. There are some great songs and a lot of fun energy. And, of course, I cry at the end.



Runner up:
Cinderella (live action): This was so beautifully done. I enjoyed the animated version as a kid, but the live action version took it to a whole new level. Lily James was such a sweet Cinderella. There were some funny moments, as well as really heartbreaking emotional ones.



Warning: I will be posting a list of my least favorites soon. If you've been keeping up with my blog for the past few years, you will know at least one of the movies going on the list!

The Goldbergs, Season 4--with SPOILERS

Since I watched the season as it was going, I didn't have the benefit of binge-watching. This meant I had to wait weeks between episodes sometimes. Oh, the travesty! And when is Adam going to pair up with the Duffers to make a Stranger Things crossover? It would totally work!

I enjoyed most of season four, as you can tell from my extensive list of favorite episodes. My sons and I even joke around about some of the things that happened on the show. We do this thing that Evie and Erica do to each other in one of the episodes, where they shush each other at the same time. And the swear/geek/attitude jar scene is always a classic to act out. And, of course, we call each other "shmoopie."

Episode 1-Breakfast Club
As a new school year begins, the Goldberg kids end up in Saturday detention.
How could you NOT love such a fun tribute to a classic '80s flick?!?



Episode 5-Stefan King
Adam tries to be a horror writer in the vein of Stephen King. However, his efforts get him grounded on Halloween when Beverly discovers that she's the basis for the monster in his story. Meanwhile, a desperate Erica forces Barry to be her "date" at the school's costume dance.
Two words: Suddenly. Seymour.



Episode 8-The Greatest Musical Ever Written
A school musical production creates strife between Adam and Barry while substitute teacher Beverly creates havoc in Erica's class.
Perfect episode for musical theater geeks like myself! See the trailer here.

Episode 11-O Captain! My Captain!
Barry tries to prove Beverly wrong in his chemistry class while Adam needs Erica's advice for his friendship with Emmy.
I cried from this one.

Episode 14-The Spencer's Gift
Erica and Barry get jobs at Spencer's Gifts, then Murray insists that Adam get a job as well, but Beverly is adamant that Adam focus on filmmaking.
I love how Barry turned out to be the better employee.

Episode 15-So Swayze It's Crazy
Beverly's on a mission to make Adam a film star.
One part made me think of the season one finale of FRIENDS, but with a better ending. That totally made the episode for me.

Episode 16-The Kara-te Kid
The ultimate karate battle between the Adams.
BEST episode of the season, hands down! Sooooo many funny moments. I even made my husband watch it. And there's a special treat at the way end...



Episode 17-Deadheads
Barry's JTP membership is in jeopardy while a family swear jar is introduced.
I love the multiple jar scene. (Or should we call it Jar Jar? That wouldn't make sense in the '80s though!)

Episode 19-A Night to Remember
Prom night at school.
Lots of sweet moments. This is also the episode where Adam and Jackie first meet. One part reminded me of SAVED BY THE BELL.



Episode 21-Fonzie Scheme
Beverly's attempts to find Murray a hobby backfire; Erica comes to the rescue when Barry's scheme to steal golf carts goes awry.
The golf cart scenes were so funny. 



Episode 23-Jedi Master Adam Skywalker
Erica and Barry's curiosity with the yearbook's best goes awry.
However, I love how they make it up to Adam. I also loved Adam's power trip.



Episode 24-Graduation Day
Erica's graduation, Barry's summer plans and Adam's relationship go awry.
It was nice to see Dana again, even though she and Adam were out of sync. The graduation scene was funny too.

If you're a fan, tell me your favorite episodes from season four!

The show that leaves me speechless....with laughter!

I was going to give up on Speechless after watching the first episode. It had some funny moments, but I worried that Minnie Driver's character was the British Beverly Goldberg. As much as I love Beverly, that's just too much for me in one sitting. So I took a break. Then I decided to give it another chance and I'm so glad I did. Speechless is one of the funniest sitcoms I've seen in a long time. I love everything about it from the characters to the acting to the story lines to the way they tackle sensitive issues relating to disabilities. Minnie Driver's Maya is really just a Mama Bear standing up for the rights of her son who has physical disabilities. She's fighting for inclusion and making sure he is treated fairly by his school.

I honestly don't have a favorite character. I love them all. Even Kenneth! John Ross Bowie plays Jimmy, the father. His character is way more likable than Kripke from Big Bang Theory. I can't believe they are played by the same person! He is more subdued than Maya, but has his own ways of being funny and quirky. I love the connection he has with Dylan, played by Kyla Kenedy. I like Dylan because she marches to her own beat. Ray, played by Mason Cook, is one of the most hilarious characters on the show. He reminds me of my younger son in some ways. (Maybe it's a middle child thing.) I love watching his relationships with both J.J. and Dylan. And J.J., of course, who is the heart and soul of the series. I love that they cast someone who is physically disabled in real life to play him. While he can talk outside of the show, his character can't. Each episode gets its title from the way people read J.J.'s messages from his speech board. They'll spell out the first few letters from a word before they say the whole word. I love how J.J. is fighting for independence and we can see that stuff really bothers him. Like when people talk about him like he's not in the room or try to help him with something he wants to do by himself. He's not happy all the time and the show has addressed some heavier issues that go along with having a family member who has disabilities. And yes, he has his share of really funny moments on the show, such as the clever ways he gets around the city by himself.

And let's not forget about Kenneth, played by Cedric Yarbrough. I've seen Cedric on The Goldbergs and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but this role is perfect for him. He is J.J.'s "voice," meaning he sits by him and reads aloud from his speech board. He's also J.J.'s physical aide and driver. Kenneth somehow manages to make a role for himself in the DiMeo family and tends to annoy Maya, even though they do get along sometimes. The show really needs to win an Emmy for best ensemble cast, if such an award exists. Best writing too!

I want to share about some of my favorite episodes. This is one of those shows that doesn't have to be watched in order, even though it does help. Each episode has it's own arc and doesn't really continue into the next all that much. However, you might miss some inside jokes by watching out of order. All the episodes I've chosen below were just really funny and clever, standing out from the rest of the episodes in the series. I think you just need to watch the show to see why I love it so much. I'm glad to hear that it's been renewed for a second season. You have the whole summer to catch up, so I hope you'll give it a chance! If you already watch, I'd love to hear which episodes stand out the most for you!

Before I share my list of favorites, here is a trailer for the first episode:


I-N-S--INSPIRATIONS
Exploring the city on their own, J.J. and Kenneth realize strangers see them as inspirational. The two push their luck, receiving free food and admission to baseball games and things soon fall apart. Meanwhile, as the family usually can't do anything without having to worry about wheelchair accessibility, Dylan and Ray convince Maya to take them paint-balling while J.J. is out. But can Maya let herself have fun without J.J.?

H-A-L-- HALLOWEEN
Jimmy is upset the kids no longer want to participate in the family tradition of dressing up for Halloween. Maya tries to cheer up Jimmy by allowing him to do things he loves by taking things off the family "Dead to Me" list. Meanwhile, Ray recruits Dylan to help work the school's haunted mansion while Kenneth is scared of losing his job when JJ gets drunk at a party. Even though Maya is furious, she is thrilled to see JJ having a "normal" life.

T-H-A-- THANKSGIVING
The DiMeos are forced to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jimmy's brother and family.

C-H-O-CHOIR
Ray and JJ join the school choir to enhance their resumes for college. The family has thier van stolen which leads to a Christmas miracle. Julianna Hough guest stars.

R-O--ROAD T-R--TRIP
The Dimeos go on their annual family road trip.

S-I - SICK D-A-- DAY
Sick bay claims Maya and Kenneth, forcing Jimmy to take the reins of the DiMeo household as Dylan looks after JJ, who returns the favor by running interference between her and a boy she likes.

V-A-L-- VALENTINE'S D-A-- DAY
Maya attempts to give Jimmy a Valentine's Day gift, with the help of his old roommate and her ex-fiance while Ray is elated to find out he has a secret admirer, but will he learn the truth of who it is? Meanwhile, JJ is in charge of distributing candy-grams, which proves challenging for both him and Kenneth

S-U-R-- SURPRISE!
Maia throws a Birthday Party for Dylan against her wishes. Jimmy and Kenneth try and find something in common

D-I - DING
After leaving a note behind Maya's back, Ray takes sides against the family when Maya dings a nearby car. Following through on a promise, Jimmy and Dylan share a moment, as father and daughter are on a search in the back room at the local supermarket while JJ teaches a rude customer a lesson, and a moonlighting Kenneth hides his side job from the DiMeos.

P-R-- PROM
It's prom night, and all three DiMeo kids are going, which leaves Maya and Jimmy with a rare night to themselves. Kenneth is shocked to learn that they like to spend their nights without the kids to bring up past arguments they have bottled up or ignored in the past. Later at school, Ray thinks he is finally about to have his first make-out session with a girl, but learns differently when she uses the "R" word. Meanwhile, a wary JJ bonds with someone who is sick of being the center of attention at school functions.

C-A-- CAMP
As the family readies for their flight to JJ's camp, Maya gets a surprise at the airport. Ray sees the summer as an opportunity to reinvent himself while Jimmy and Dylan turn the trip to camp into a father/daughter bonding moment.

Fun Home: A review

After hearing that my friends enjoyed Fun Home, and also knowing that it won the Tony for Best Musical in 2015, I knew I had to see it when it came out my way. I went into it not really knowing what to expect. I had only sort of heard one song when the show first came to Broadway, but that was about it. I also saw a portrait of Alison Bechdel at the National Portrait Gallery in DC. And I've heard a lot of good things about the book, as well. After seeing the show, I am definitely curious to check out the book!

The one thing that surprised me was that the story was not told in a linear fashion. There were multiple flashbacks to Alison's childhood and her college years. I also didn't know that the adult version of Alison would be on stage almost the entire time, observing her past.  She only sang a little bit, but had some powerful songs toward the end. Small Alison and Medium Alison (yes, that's what they were called) carried most of the show. So we didn't really get to know adult Alison as much as I was expecting to. Her story was told through her past personas. I didn't know much about Alison's father or her relationship with him either. I just went into the show knowing that it was about a family that worked at a funeral home (or at least that's how it sounded) and the main character became a lesbian.

I wouldn't do the musical any justice by describing it. There isn't really a full synopsis, other than to just see how the entire story plays out, courtesy of Wikipedia. (That did help me after the fact, as I was confused about some more abstract parts.) This is the synopsis for the book, from Goodreads:

Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the Fun Home. It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

In terms of music, I don't know that the songs were as memorable as songs from musicals I know like the back of my hand. I didn't really come out of the theater singing them. However, I could probably listen to the soundtrack and pick up a few tunes over time. Also, not having a list of songs in the Playbill made it hard for me to know which was which. The songs I liked best were: "Come to the Fun Home" (the one I heard a while back),  "Changing My Major," "Raincoat of Love," and "Ring of Keys." That's not to say I didn't like the others, but these four stood out the most. The singing was strong and powerful on all songs and they carried the feel of the story really well.

As for the acting, everyone did a great job. I thought it was cool that Kate Shindle, the actress who played adult Alison was in the Original Broadway Cast of Legally Blonde (Vivienne). Also, Susan Moniz, who played Helen (Alison's mother), had performed in Chicago theater for a long time. I know I saw her in a show at a professional theater in the suburbs. Possibly Into the Woods? The performer I liked the most in this production was Abby Corrigan, who played Medium Alison (the one in college). She had such vulnerability in her role and an amazing voice to boot. Plus, I have to give kudos to anyone who will sing on stage while wearing a shirt, underpants, and knee socks!

As for the set, it was pretty diverse. There was a lot happening on stage at various times, which the set allowed for when the show first started. Later, there was just a brick wall with two doors and simulated windows. Then the home changed and looked more complete, but also seemed to take over the stage even when they were supposed to be outside the home. Afterward, it went back to the way it was at the beginning. I wasn't sure what the vertical "Luncheonette" sign behind the on-stage orchestra was about, and it just made me think of Parenthood.

The set at the beginning

The costumes were okay. I get why Alison wore mostly masculine looking clothes. There weren't a lot of costume changes per character. They just rotated between the same shirts and pants. Only the guy who played multiple parts wore a variety of costumes. I liked Joan's outfit the best. It reminded me of something a character from Rent would have worn, even though the timing didn't match up. She had cool hair too.

Overall, it was an impressive production. There were moments that just felt painful, and others where I laughed out loud. The cast had a strong dynamic on stage and worked well together. I would have liked to know more about Alison as an adult, but maybe that just wasn't the point. Now I'm off to listen to the soundtrack...

If you have seen Fun Home, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it! 

Book Review: Splinters of Light

Since this book was already reviewed over at Chick Lit Central, I'm sharing my thoughts about it here.

Ten years ago, Nora Glass started writing essays about being a single mother of a six-year-old daughter. Her weekly column made her a household name, and over the years, her fans have watched Ellie grow from a toddler to a teenager.

But now Nora is facing a problem that can’t be overcome. Diagnosed with a devastating disease that will eventually take away who she is, she is scared for herself, but even more frightened about what this will mean for her sixteen-year-old daughter.

Now Nora has no choice but to let go of her hard-won image as a competent, self-assured woman, and turn to the one person who has always relied on her: her twin sister, Mariana. Nora and Mariana couldn’t be more different from one another, and they’ve always had a complicated relationship. But now the two sisters will have to summon the strength to help them all get through a future none of them could have ever imagined, while uncovering the joy and beauty that was always underneath. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I received Splinters of Light as a prize from a book giveaway over at The Book Sage. I was told by Lloyd that I could choose one of his favorite books to be sent to me. He had been recommending Splinters for quite some time, so I was curious to check it out. As soon as it arrived, it went into my five-book pile. I recently had the chance to devour it over my holiday break, and devour it I did! I have recommended several authors to Lloyd and he adds all their books to his TBR once he likes one. I feel like doing this with Rachael Herron now, as well.

While the reviewer at my book blog didn’t like the interludes where excerpts from Nora’s book were featured, I happened to really enjoy those parts. I liked how Nora and Ellie had certain holiday traditions and rituals and then seeing how they changed in the present, whether it was due to age or Nora’s diagnosis (or a mix of both), or even some other factors. What also worked well for me was the genuine and honest dialogue. The characters didn’t hold back in what they needed to say. I felt like I was right in the middle of an argument sometimes.

I really liked Ellie best from all the characters, but I tend to flock to teenagers in books. Even if the novels are intended for adults, if there is a strong teen protagonist, it totally enhances the story. Ellie had a strong voice and a compelling narrative.

What drew me in the most was imagining the unimaginable (pardon the Hamilton reference). I know I forget things a lot of the time, especially if I don’t write it down right away. However, I still remember where I live, how to read, what day it is, etc. Seeing Nora’s memory gradually deteriorate just over the span of a year was unsettling in a “watching a train wreck” sort of way. I didn’t like that it was happening to her, but I couldn’t abandon her either. I had to know what was going to happen. However, the story ended at the end of that tumultuous year, and now I need to know what happens after the end of the story. I’m hoping Rachael will someday give us another year with the characters. Maybe five years down the road, when Ellie is on the cusp of finishing college and becoming an adult herself. Is she going to ever find out if she’s a carrier of the gene that causes Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease? What is Mariana up to now? Has Nora completely succumbed to her memory loss, or was she able to hold on a few years longer? The book needs a sequel!

However, what I wouldn’t want to see in a sequel (should there ever be one) is all the sentimentality and symbolism. I felt like the sea glass and even the computer game analogies were used way too much. And while I love my children (and sister), I don’t wrap my affections into a pretty package every time I tell them so. I felt like I was reading a Hallmark card at times. Also, I would ask that Rachael stays consistent within the narratives of each character. There were many times, especially during Ellie’s narrations, that Nora would go from “her mother” to “Mom” or Mariana would go from “her aunt” to “Auntie.” (Ex. “She was mad at her mother” and then “she wanted to give Mom a hug”.)

Overall, I was very impressed with this novel and still can’t stop thinking about it!

This would make for an incredible movie, and here's who I would cast.
Nora: Rosemarie DeWitt
Mariana: Carla Gugino
Ellie: Hana Hayes
Luke: Michael Trucco
Harrison: Brian d'Arcy James

More by Rachael Herron:



Disclosure of Material Connection:
Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tale as Old as Time...My thoughts on Beauty and the Beast (with SPOILERS)

Beauty and the Beast came to theaters when I was 15 and I instantly fell in love with it. I felt a kinship with Belle because of her love for reading. The music was memorable and I listened to the soundtrack countless times. I lost track of how many times I've seen the movie, but definitely three when it first came out. And, of course, a couple times on stage! I also felt it was cheated out of the Best Picture Oscar in 1992 and didn't see what was so great about Silence of the Lambs in comparison. So I was definitely looking forward to the live action version, as soon as I heard it was in the works!

I finally got to see that version of Beauty and the Beast today. It was everything I was expecting, and more!

If you haven't seen the movie yet, watch the trailer and then go see it in the theater and come back afterward, so that I don't spoil things for you. (There are some differences from the animated version.) :) If you have seen the movie, scroll down and then let me know what you thought too!



There is so much to say about this version. At first, I wasn't sure if Emma "Hermione Granger" Watson could pull it off. Then I saw the pictures of her, along with the various trailers. After that, I was sold. She did a wonderful job portraying Belle and even brought me to tears several times. She has this natural look where she doesn't have to try so hard to be beautiful. Similar to the animated version.

I liked that there was more to the story than what we get from the animated version. We learn some of the Beast's back story, as well as what happened to Belle's mother. It was also interesting that they showed what happened to the objects when the last petal fell, before the spell was reversed. That was remarkably haunting and sad.

The costumes, make-up, scenery, and computer animation were incredible. That really added so much to the movie. I especially loved seeing all the objects in action. The combination of these items brought the story to life in ways I never thought would be possible in a live action re-telling.

I've always been a fan of the songs that were originally written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, which were now given some new lyrics and a bit of a different feel. They left out the "Gaston" reprise though. I wish they would have fit in some of the songs from the Broadway version (I kept expecting to hear "Home," which is one of my favorites, because the tune played a few times.) However, the new songs felt less memorable to me. Maybe if I hear the soundtrack a few times, that will change, but I am not sure. I felt the movie could have been fine even if they hadn't been included. (Honestly, that's the only thing that I have a criticism about.)

To address the elephant in the room...I did not feel there was much to worry about in terms of a gay story line. People were making this huge deal out of it, and really LeFou was just being himself. I was expecting him to have some monologue where he talks about his love for Gaston. All he did was subtly (or maybe obviously) flirt with Gaston by touching him. Even in the animated version, LeFou is Gaston's number one fan. He fawns over him just as much as in this version. The only part that even felt remotely gay was when he danced with a guy at the end. And that was fine by me too. I really liked Josh Gad as LeFou. That part was meant for him as soon as I heard he was cast. He played it so perfectly. What I didn't like was Gaston taking advantage of LeFou's unconditional adoration for him to manipulate him whenever it suited his needs (or ego). I was glad when LeFou wised up at the end and said that they were in a bad place. It was nice to see him become a good guy after taking whatever "love kernels" Gaston gave him in the past. (Despite Gaston being a bad guy, Luke Evans was much more attractive than the animated version. Definitely more subtle, even though still egotistical.)

There was just so much to love about this new version. I need to see it again when my daughter isn't talking the entire time. I got distracted quite a bit because of that. However, I shed my share of tears and felt my breath catch quite a few times. I also laughed a lot. I loved the objects attacking the villagers. And Cogsworth's line toward the end is hilarious. I loved the addition of Maestro Cadenza (the harpsichord) as one of the objects (as well as his relationship with Madame Garderobe). I also liked how the timing issue was fixed (by not addressing any age or amount of years). Really, all the casting was perfect for this film. One of my other favorites was Ewan McGregor as Lumiere. He paid homage to the late Jerry Orbach in his portrayal.

Definitely one of the best movies I've seen in 2017 so far!

If you saw it, what did you think? Here's a fun video about Easter Eggs in the film.