Guilty Pleasure : Madea

Madea/Mabel Simmons is elderly, overweight and poor. She is loud, ladling out advice and opinions all day, often unsolicited. She has no qualms about reaching for the nearest switch to whack the daylights out of mouthy kids, threaten improperly attired, ill mannered teenagers into submission and deliver sharp retorts to anyone that sasses her.  She will not hesitate to drive her car INTO a drive-through to get back at an attendant that won’t attend to her. She handles a machine-gun with ease. You don’t want to mess with her unless you want a pan of hot grits in your face. Even the police tremble when they need to bring her in for questioning.

But trust Madea to find her way out of a sticky situation. She stands by her family, friends and generally anyone in need of some hearty support and outlook on life. You know that she will sell her soul to the devil before letting you down. She quotes the Bible (or at least her own cheerful version of it) yet her firm belief lies more in the ability of the human soul to fix its own problems and less in appealing to God to ‘give me a break’. Madea is a supremely paradoxical character, an unlikely crusader for faith and right against wrong, yet when she stands for the umpteenth time in court before an increasingly despairing judge, we are rooting for her, because her heart is in the right place.

Tyler Perry knows that this is one of his most enduring creations. This is why he has a permanent smile playing on his lips when in character, as his sheer enjoyment bubbles through.

In an insane world that increasingly doesn’t make much sense, a spirited woman who stands up for her beliefs come hail, come sunshine and unconditionally opens her heart and home to those in need is someone we all could use more of. So give us more of this no-nonsense, outlandish, ex-stripper-hooker-criminal granny Tyler Perry. I sure don’t watch your movies to follow pretty people as they travel down paths of self destruction and then tearfully seek to make amends.

Guilty Pleasure: Double Dhamaal

Dhamaal was an amusing, Indianised version of Rat Race. It was a good way to kill time on a flight. But I fail to recall any part of it except the ending.

Double Dhamaal on the other hand was a laugh riot. I am always surprised at Sanjay Dutt’s flair for comedy. The first time I truly appreciated his comic timing was in “All the Best”. He is just as good here. Arshad Warsi and Javed Jaffrey are in solid form while Ritesh Deshmukh is another pleasant surprise. Ashish Choudhary is getting there.

I watched the movie twice, the second time with The Mater. She wasn’t as amused as I was though. I understand most people found the first film to be a vastly superior product.

But how can you NOT laugh at “Main sardar hoon....aur asardar bhi” ??

Stop judging me.

Guilty Pleasure : Madonna, Holiday

What is it about pop culture that beckons me to worship at its altar and continually consume it’s cheesiest of offerings? For your classic-gold-pop cravings we have today that super awesome cant-get-it-out-of-my-head wonder that is Madonna’s Holiday. 

I can never tire of this song though. When I found this glorious music video, it went straight to loop playback. The routine is mesmerizing and Madonna gives it her all (for the 1980s at least). The male backup dancer is her brother Christopher – they had a fallout a couple of years ago when he passed a few snide comments about her.

There is another version where they perform this beside a swimming pool – in fluorescent clothing!

I prefer the studio version as its easier to watch.  She isn’t a recent fitness-freak convert, she has always been as is evident from those toned, muscular arms and shoulders. 

We need a holidayyyy!!!! Watch and enjoy.  

And please excuse me as I head off to learn that entire routine. 

Guilty Pleasure : Luke Bryan - Country Girl

Have you had your heart broken? Are you burning up in anger at the increasingly chaotic situation of our country? Are you facing an existential crisis? Do you seek some intellectual stimulation that may move you closer towards answering your doubts and overcoming your fears?

Well this is not a solution for those problems. Nope, this is an unabashed, feel-good, country rock-pop, crossover confection for the good times. Slip it into your car's CD player or your mp3 player and you wont regret it. I only did regret it after listening to it for about 50 times over 2 days.

The video is rather underwhelming.  An imaginative choreographer/director wouldn't have let the beats go waste. The editing and light department perk things up a little bit.

"Shake it for the birds, shake it for the bees
Shake it for the catfish swimmin' down deep in the creek
For the crickets and the critters and the squirrels
Shake it to the moon, shake it for me girl"

The sheer inanity and cheekiness brings a smile on the face. Everybody listening to the song BETTER have their feet tapping to the beats or line-dancing.