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Chorizo Burrito and the British Film

       After a failed attempt to go to Peninsula Park in North Portland, I ended up taking Prim to the Portland Rose Garden. Everyone else had the same idea so it was super busy. But it was a really nice day and even without any actual roses it was pretty. Afterwards I went to get lunch at a food truck called El Coyote on N Fessenden. There is neighborhood parking. The cart has a shed like structure in the front with picnic tables and plenty of covering for all weather. It was a little run down but not too bad. The service was good for the most part. I got a chorizo burrito. I asked for no pico de gallo or lettuce, which somehow ended up meaning no sour cream or cheese either. So it was just meat, rice and beans. It was still good though. One of the best burritos I've had in a while actually. I would go back. Although it is a long drive just for a burrito. 

Sunday: The House (2022)

         This movie has three different stories. The first one is about a young girl, Mabel, and her family. They are getting pressure from their family to sell their home. They are reluctant to do so. Then one night Mabel's father meets their strange neighbor from up on the hill. The neighbor says he will buy their house, rebuild it, and let them move back in. All they have to do is live at his mansion while it's being built. Her father accepts. From the beginning there is something not right about the situation. The second story is about a humanoid rat who is redoing a house. He ends up doing all the work himself. Then he notices there is an insect problem. He tries to get rid of them, but they keep coming back.  His open house goes horribly wrong. The third story is about a humanoid cat named Rosa. She owns an apartment building. After massive flooding most of her tenants leave. Only two stay. She's doing her best to remodel the building, but limited resources and the water levels rising does not bode well for her. I thought this movie was alright. It was stop motion animation, which I love. The characters in the first story are made from wool which was interesting.

Tuesday: The Cross of Lorraine (1943)

      During WWII Paul and his group of French soldiers are captured by Nazis. There are taken to a prison camp. The men suffer. They are given little food and are constantly mistreated. Some try to work with the Nazis. Most resist even when it means more punishment. Paul and the other men try to find a way to escape. This movie was alright. Gene Kelly was in it. It was one of his few dramatic roles. He did fine.

Friday: Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

       Violet finds out she has inherited a villa in the south of France from a man she spent a week with in her youth. The family plans to visit it and agree to terms with the man's son and unhappy widow. An offer comes to shoot a movie at Downton. Mary accepts knowing they need the money. Many are reluctant for a movie to be shot in the house. Mary gets very involved in the filmmaking as well as other members of the household. I thought this movie was really good. There is something so relaxing about Downton Abbey, even with all the drama. There was some similarities in this movie to Singin' in the Rain.

Saturday: Double Feature- Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and To Olivia (2021)

        Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers is about (you guessed it) Chip and Dale. They met in school and became best friends who like to preform. They get their big break in Hollywood with their own TV show. They are a hit. But then Dale decides to do his own show. Both shows tank. Years later Dale has had CGI surgery and is trying to make money promoting the show. Chip is an insurance salesman. Chip gets a call from Monterey Jack. Jack is in trouble. He owes money to a gang. If he can't pay he'll be edited and forced to make boot leg movies. Chip and Dale team up with a human police detective, Ellie, to find their friend. This movie is cute. They show all the different animation styles from anime to claymation. Although I don't think it was actual claymation. There are a lot of great references.

      To Olivia is about Roald Dahl and his wife, actress Patricia Neal. Roald is struggling to write his next book. Patricia is having a hard time balancing family life and her career. When their oldest daughter dies suddenly from illness their world gets turned upside down. They have a hard time dealing with their grief. Their marriage and other children suffer because of it. They do their best to pull themselves together. They are able to start to move on and become big successes. I thought this movie was good. 

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