Ypulse Best And Worst Of 2009: Movies

Today we kick off our Year In Review coverage with Ypulse Youth Advisory Board members Amber Gibson and Nathaniel Lewis (with double the YAB this year, several of these will be team efforts) who call out some of the hits and misses they’ve seen in movies this year. Look for more of the Best and Worst in youth media and marketing from 2009 along with more in-depth reflections on this past year up through the start of 2010!

Keep in mind, folks, these picks are personal (sorry, Twihards!). For a more scientific look at teens and college students’ favorite movies, check out the November Ypulse Report!

Best: Amber’s Picks

An Education. Sophisticated yet endearing, this coming-of-age tale offers an excellent sociological perspective on gender roles in 1960s England, but more importantly, it’s entertaining. 16-year-old Jenny is both wise beyond her years and stubbornly foolish, and her escapades with David, an older man, whisk her away to auctions, concerts, and even Paris. The film is sure to garner multiple oscar nominations, most notably a best actress nod for Carey Mulligan’s mesmerizing performance.

Up. More than just a kids movie, Up manages to appeal to literally everyone with its bittersweet, whimsical, and hopeful story. After the death of his wife, a grumpy old man floats his entire house off to South America with a bevy of helium balloons, inadvertently bringing a boy scout along for the ride. Disney/Pixar collaborations have always been well-received, but Up raises the bar yet again, as one of the rare critically acclaimed box-office winners this year.

(500) Days of Summer. A romantic comedy for males, this story of lost love defies cultural expectations. Flashbacks are used artfully and this film also wins honors for best soundtrack of the year. While brutally honest, making you simultaneously laugh and cringe, the film maintains quirky feel-good undertones that will leave you smiling as you leave.

Best: Nathaniel’s Picks

The Hangover. Hands-down - best comedy of 2009! This film is funny, classy, witty and down to earth. The bond between the buddies is real and the story was very well written. What would you do if you woke up to find you have a random baby, a missing tooth, a rooster and a tiger in the bathroom- and no recollection of how it all exactly happened?  Beginning at the end and guiding you through to the beginning with offbeat clues and hilarious encounters, this film is sure to keep you laughing and guessing till the very end!

Saw 6. Known for its excessive display of violence, but powerful ending themes of respect, forgiveness and compassion, Saw 6 is no exception and once again meets expectations. Keeping up with its bizarre twist on relevancy to the year it’s released, this installment of the Saw brand is themed around health care and an insurance company manager that literally gets to experience a real, live “death panel”. It was an excellent Halloween thriller for the older teens with a very compelling ending.

Worst: Amber’s Picks

All About Steve. Somebody clearly ran out of romantic comedy ideas here. This is Sandra Bullock at her worst, but playing a crossword puzzler writer turned stalker does not give one much acting inspiration. The premise of the film is too bizarre, even by Hollywood standards, and viewers will roll their eyes at the ridiculous, but somehow unfunny antics meant to garner laughs.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The sequel has even less of an ostensible plot than the original, and a testament to Hollywood’s addiction to shoddy sequels. Fast action sequences, loud noises and Megan Fox are the carrots dangled to attract teenage boys, who proved to be just as superficial as movie producers hoped, judging by this film’s box office success.

Miss March. Hands-down the worst movie of the year, this unbelievably crass and sexist attempt at comedy is degrading to audiences. Without an ounce of wit for guidance, the sex and gross-out aspects of this movie snowball into a disaster of epic proportions and misses its adult comedy mark completely. Directors and actors Trevor Moore and Zach Cregger should have their First Amendment rights revoked to prevent them from ever subjugating the public to their work again.

Worst: Nathaniel’s Pick

Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Corny and silly. It was meant to be a comedy about your average overweight underdog’s journey to becoming a hero, but simply ends up as a big bore. The story was very predictable and the acting was - ok. Overrated, plain and simple.

About Amber

World traveller, model, librarian, foodie, yogi and Northwestern journalism student are just a few of Amber’s many hats. Nevertheless, her favorite hat is still her big floppy straw hat that protects her from getting skin cancer. When she is not eating dark chocolate and watching figure-skating, Amber does love reading and writing and imagining that she is in far more exciting places than she really is.

About Nathaniel

Nathaniel is a young man virtually always on the go. Currently living between two countries—The Bahamas, which he calls home, and Canada, for University—he is living life to it’s fullest and is determined to experience the best of both worlds—not to mention both climates as well. He is very passionate about media, travel, the arts, politics and business. When not at school or working on the next big entrepreneurial adventure, he enjoys experiencing nightlife, culture shows, cooking and writing poetry and listening to music. Filled with energy and enthusiasm, he is ready to embrace all that the world has to offe