045. Vamps

045. (30 Jan) Vamps (2012, Amy Heckerling) 51



I guess not everything can be Clueless. Anyway, Amy Heckerling and Alicia Silverstone reteam for a competent enough comedy about the hardships of aging. Silverstone is particularly good here, giving this a dramatic heft it would otherwise lack. Sigourney Weaver is fun in a scene-stealing role.

036. The Crush

036. (28 Jan) The Crush (1993, Alan Shapiro) 39



I'm not sure how Alan Shapiro got away with a pitch meeting that surely involved the phrase "Lolita meets Fatal Attraction," but the resulting film is about as icky as it should be. Awkwardly sexualizing a pubescent Alicia Silverstone, The Crush can only go so far in its attempt to pass an erotic thriller. To her credit, Silverstone is awesome playing crazy. She single-handedly does more for the film than all other elements combined. Cary Elwes, with a terrible American accent and a flat butt Silverstone glimpses once, isn't a convincing target for obsession. The coy, playful first act doesn't give away how far-fetched and stupid the rest of the film will be.