Aaaaaalvin!!!!!

The characters in The Hudsucker Proxy were all such giddily deliberate caricatures of '50s film: they really do up the voices and phrases in particular. That was really awsome.

The story itself could have used some help, though. Aside from all the anachronisms (which you take in stride because the whole spirit of the movie is more about fun and invention and fighting greed, not the precise years the hula hoop and bendable straw were patented), the characters weren't very well developed. For instance, who exactly was the kind, grandfatherly, guardian angel-like black dude who lived in some timeless factory behind the ticking clock? I know they're all supposed to be stock types straight from black and white movies, but the film also purports to be an all-American portrait of greed and fat cats and corporations and the little guy. If it didn't pretend, it would have been a hearty all-in-good-fun movie.

I like scenes of snow falling in cities. As mentioned before, I am also obsessed with clocks and the concept of time. The opening scenes of Hudsucker had snow falling on empty city streets, and slowly moved towards the building with the giant clock. It was a kind of magical moment, but after that, it all went downhill. It was a fun ride downhill, though. Just one I couldn't take too seriously because at time it took itself too seriously.

But speaking of corporations...

One way self-admitted nerds and their friends can celebrate the holidays: a blind eggnog tasting. With six different brands of eggnog, six people tasted them all without knowing which was which, then ranked them on several characteristics. Darigold won. Horizon was a close second (and my personal favorite, though the Darigold was my second-favorite). And the really expensive brand came in last.

And I have to atone at the gym for a while...