Lindy West says that she wants her new book of essays "to make you feel like you were at a movie night with your best friend."

West's commentary reads like a scene-by-scene commentary, which worked best for me when I was familiar with the movie she's commenting on. (West seemingly intends for the essays to resonate regardless of whether the reader has seen the movie, as indicated by phrases like "In case you haven't seen The Fugitive…”).

The two stand-out essays were West’s essays on Love Actually (from which the book gets its title) and The Notebook, two movies with which I’m very familiar, at one point loved, and now view with a more critical eye (as does West). These essays made me laugh out loud.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC.

Lindy West is queen of the snark. If you are looking to laugh at the absurdity of your favorite movies, you need to read this ASAP!

I like snark and I’d rather read about movies than watch them, so this collection of snarky, spoiler-filled movie reviews was right up my alley. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

What a true delight to make fun of nostalgic movies right now. In 23 comedy film-critique essays, West presents thoughtful social takes and delivers them through bold and endearing wit. How deeply the reader connects to each essay will likely depend on their personal history with that movie. I particularly enjoyed the essays about films that had an impact on my coming-of-age--Titanic, American Pie, T2 (don't ask)--and was less connected to those which don't hold special meaning for me. If you're a pop culture lover who dreams of sitting on a couch next to Lindy West and giggling for hours, this is your next read.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected release date October 20, 2020.***

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I love watching shows and movies purely for entertainment; more often than not, I end up watching and listening for inconsistencies instead of the main story. After finishing this book, I found myself wishing that I was half as clever and snarky as the author with my own commentaries.

This was fun and made me laugh out loud. Felt like a good distraction from the world. I love movies, and I loved reliving them through Lindy's hilarious recaps.

Lindy West reviews classic movies from the last several decades in Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema. These are her favorites, meaning she likes to pick them apart and point out all the plot holes, weird characters, and clunky dialogue. So, if you’re looking for a serious cinematic analysis, look elsewhere.

West is a writer, blogger, and tweeter. This style informs her writing style in Shit, Actually, with copious exclamation points. She never shies away from the opportunity to use all caps for single words, sentences, and even entire paragraphs. If you’re a language purist, again, this may not be for you.

What West delivers is a lot of hearty laughs and incisive commentary. Looking back at these movies from the perspective of 2020 colors everything. She also draws on other current social movements like #MeToo and anti-racism, not to mention the pandemic. So in between the funny attitude and heartfelt critiques are many, many laugh out loud moments. And, be warned, she drops spoilers all over the place. (I will as well.)

The Fugitive
Everything West reviews is judged against The Fugitive, with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. According to West it’s the perfect movie. Although women barely figure in it, West loves Dr. Richard Kimble and his pursuit of the truth behind his wife’s murder. Jones comes in a dogged FBI agent, and they both end up grudgingly appreciating each other. Perfect suspense and so much more, right?

Action Movies
I’ll admit I’m not a fan of Honey I Shrunk the Kids, but I love how West makes this kid-friendly action pic into a marital cautionary tale. But West’s best reviews in this genre are Terminator 2 and Face / Off. Maybe that’s just because I loved both movies. Unfortunately, West kind of hates Face / Off, which is a Nicholas Cage and John Travolta picture. And she really tears the surgical face switching conceit to pieces. Not to mention the men’s relationships with women. Terminator 2 made us all feel that technology in the future would be craaazy. But, as West tells it, reality hasn’t kept up with movie fantasy. And ooof, those time travel plot holes are ginormous.

Feminist Attitudes
West is a post-modern feminist. Thus, another big part of her critiques is how women get treated in the various pictures. For example, West believes Hermione should’ve been the focus of any Hogwarts movies. She’s way smarter and the guys depend on her anyway. Many of the movies West chooses are pretty male-centric. And she never fails to point out why there’s only one female character. Or why that love interest just lets the guy take charge of all romantic / sexual decisions. (The Notebook and Love, Actually, I’m looking at you.)

Drama Schrama
Forrest Gump is a classic, feel-good drama in most people’s minds. In West’s it’s the combination of bunches of weird characters and this guy named Forrest who gets bamboozled. Over and over, he just doesn’t know how to deal with his mother’s axioms, his girl’s flakiness, and his army buddies’ strange predilections.

And then there’s Twilight, the 2000s multi-volume vampire story. Not a favorite of mine, even though I love vampires in general. Here, West only dissects the first movie. And, like me, she finds it wanting. So if Bella and Edward are going to be a couple, then West is going to shoot holes in the structure of the relationship. Like, why would a 180-year-old vampire be so hot to go to prom? Or maybe we should say cold because, you know, he’s cold like the dead.

My conclusions
I enjoyed reading one review at a time. That kept it funny for me. When I tried to read a few in a row the obsessive snark, all caps, and exclamation points tired me out. Still, it’s a fun diversion in the middle of the other, darker aspects of life in 2020.

Lindy West is definitely the anti-Roger Ebert. She’s a movie critic for millennials and Gen Y, complete with lots of excited yelling. She’s smart, funny, and knows how to turn a sarcastic phrase. If you love movies and like her writing style this could be for you.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Books, and the author for a digital advanced readers’ copy in exchange for this honest review.

I am a BIG fan of Lindy West. I will recommend The Witches are Coming and Shrill to just about anyone, having finished the former in basically one sitting. Shit, Actually's writing style is no different - if you've liked her previous work, you'll likely enjoy this, too, regardless of whether or not you're a movie buff. Her writing style is as snappy as ever, with jokes that are sometimes so utterly unexpected in their execution you'll find yourself laughing out loud every few pages if not more.

That said, you'll get the most out of the book if you've seen all the movies she takes down, which is why it's likely better recommended for those with a deep love of pop culture... or at least those who have seen a large number of films from the 90s. Having only seen about 1/3, I found myself glazing over at some of the longer essays about the ones I hadn't, which is the only reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as her others. On the whole, though, the book is breezy and reads quickly, especially if you're looking for bite-sized essays to act as a bit of a balm for the current state of the world.

My inner monologue is particularly snarky. It is, frankly, one of the few ways that I get through my day (especially in these COVID times). The only respite for this is The Great British Bake Off, which is too wholesome to snark. Knowing this about me, imagine my delight when I found out that Lindy West has written a series of essays about popular/ridiculous movies of the 80's/90's/00's.

If you've read either of West's past two books, you know the type of humor to expect. She is sarcastic, she is funny, and her feminist approach is much appreciated right now. At times, it feels more like an ongoing text conversation with a friend who is giving you permission to pick apart movies that might only be good because of nostalgia. Portions of this were written during the pandemic, and these references continue to be (unfortunately) relevant.

Each essay focuses on a specific movie, in which she recaps and then compares them to The Fugitive, the greatest movie of all time (her assessment). It actually made me reflect on how my opinions of movies have changed as I have aged. What I loved as a teen (Love, Actually), I sort of low-key hate now. Yes, I said it, and Lindy will support me...probably. Plus, as a fat woman, I just need to say it...Natalie is not fat!

Portions of this book had me laughing and nodding. A few times I had to stop to give backstory to my partner and read him quotes, like the following about Jamie the writer from Love, Actually:

"Also, who writes a novel on loose pages on a typewriter in an open-air shack next to a pond? Amelia Bedelia?"

Or an important realization about aging past the characters in the film (Reality Bites):

"At this point in the rewatch, you realize that you are nearly a decade older than the characters, and what you're watching is a movie about children yelling nonsense at each other."

That doesn't mean she hates all these moves, in fact some rate quite high on the scale of 'Dvd's of The Fugitive'. That's fair, we can accept plot holes and inconsistencies in movies and still enjoy them. I mean, Warner from Legally Blonde is trash, but as a white man from a rich family, he'll be fine. That doesn't take away from my excitement that Elle found something that she is passionate about, and has a promising law career.

Some movies that we read about: The Santa Clause, Titanic, and Twilight. Now, we may differ on some of our ratings (I would give Twilight a firm 2/10 DVD's of The Fugitive), she does still manage to say the things that I have been thinking. For example, why the hell are those beautiful and aged vampires still pretending to be high school? They all look like they're 30, and they could just...not be in school. Thank you, Lindy. Thank you!

I will be picking up a hard copy when it's released later this month!

Thanks to Hachette Books who provided a free review copy via Netgalley for this review.

Lindy West uses her signature humor to summarize and review movies in this hilarious essay collection. West loves movies, especially The Fugitive. In fact, all the movies here are rated on scale of Fugitives. In this book, she dissects elements of beloved movies including Forest Gump and Love Actually. Those who like West's signature wit and sarcasm will love her lengthy and sometimes brutal movie reviews.

Lindy, Lindy, Lindy. When I first read Shrill, I knew I liked you. I went back and read several of your columns, including the reviews on Jezebel, and it solidified that you were on my list of 'people I want to be friends with'.

Shit, Actually is a collection of movie reviews of "Modern Cinema" if you consider "The Rock" and "Bad Boys II" modern. Lindy writes with full honesty and full snark - because REALLY how OLD is Tommy Lee Jones supposed to be in The Fugitive?

Her takedown of "Love, Actually" is famous - because SHE'S RIGHT! It's a terrible movie - it's not romantic! It's full on male gaze.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West from Hachette Books via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

If you are the person who has to provide snarky running commentary while watching a movie, Lindy West gets you. Lindy West rewatched some of the most popular films and provides a hilarious recap of each, rating them against the "best movie ever," The Fugitive. I've seen most of the movies she covers and yet, she points out things that I don't even remember. It almost made me want to rewatch them, but I've already got enough to watch. Thanks, Lindy, for doing the work so I don't have to. Lindy does an excellent job of capturing that love/hate feeling you can have with movies. "This is so implausible, and yet, I LOVE it!" Want to have a laugh over some of the most popular films of all time? Get this book!

This book was written so recently it includes commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic and current American politics. If you want to avoid those topics, this is not a good book for you.

Shit, Actually had me laughing out loud. Reading Lindy’s take on popular movies was a lot of fun. I feel like I need to rewatch a lot of movies from my youth. Except The Lion King, watched it many times with my kids recently and it is still amazing - sorry Lindy.
Thank you NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love book collections of movie reviews. I'm pretty sure I've read all of the ones that already exist in this world, and this one is a new favorite. I was already a fan of Lindy West, and now I love her even more. This collection was hilarious and exactly what I needed during this crazy time. The reviews of the first Harry Potter made me snort laugh. Definitely reccomend.

I've read a few things by Lindy West, but they were all pretty serious subjects. This audiobook, narrated by West, had my cracking up at my desk. Of course it's perfect for movies you've already seen — I'll admit to liking Love Actually, but her scathing review was still enjoyable. Even movies I have never seen before and barely know the premise, her rundown lets me picture it in my mind with ease, yet still want to rush home and watch it. This is a great pandemic listen.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for an early e-copy of this book.

This was a very fun essay collection!! In her intro, she correctly predicts that this will serve as a much needed respite during COVID-19. Sam Irby got me through the first few months, and this got me through my next existential crisis. In the collection, Lindy rewatches a variety of movies and takes readers through the highs and lows, analyzing old favorites to see how they hold up in 2020 and providing a lot of hilarious commentary. Her criticisms of these movies include the many awful stereotypes about women and BIPOC, lack of diversity altogether, and the ridiculous plots. She also ties these issues into current problems with our administration, capitalism, etc., though sometimes I wish she’d gone a little bit farther in her critiques.

Since each essay is formatted in a very similar style, things did start to feel repetitive by the end, especially since quite a few 90s action movie sequels were discussed. I typically preferred the recaps of larger blockbusters, like The Lion King, Twilight, Love, Actually, The Notebook, since I had actually seen the movies and didn’t need to depend on her recap to understand what had happened in the film. I also enjoyed when she mixed things up by giving us a long introduction before revealing the movie she was talking about.

In addition to her ratings, I would have appreciated a small concluding paragraph or bullet points at the end of each essay where she could wrap up her current emotions about the movie, since most of that commentary is just interspersed as she recaps the plot.

I’d recommend this book to many people, including longtime Lindy West fans and people who just want to laugh and think about older movies through a semi-critical lens.

✨MINI REVIEW✨ [ @hachettebooks #partner ]
New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West was once the in-house movie critic for Seattle's alternative newsweekly The Stranger, where she covered film with brutal honesty and giddy irreverence. In Shit, Actually, Lindy West returns to those roots, re-examining beloved and iconic movies from the past 40 years. (via Goodreads) 📚
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Things I liked:
📚 I haven't thought about some of these movies in a long time and it was fun to revisit them as an adult with critical thinking skills
📚 This book is great for getting out of your brain for 20 minutes at a time as you read each essay
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Things I didn't like:
📚 Not a ton of new insights about many of the movies
📚 The essays about movies I hadn't seen were kind of hard to follow
📚 I hope there are some additional notes or something around the Harry Potter essay by the time this publishes
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Content warnings: mentions of COVID-19 and Harry Potter, all the various examples of misogyny, racism, etc. in movies from 10-30 years ago. 📚

Full disclosure: I have watched many less movies than I let on. I don't know why, but I always pick books over tv and tv over movies. I guess I just like my entertainment in more bite-sized chunks. I still rule at movie trivia though, because I love trivia, so I end up reading a lot of Wikipedia summaries of movie plots. I don't really care about spoilers and I just like knowing things. Therefore, this book was perfect for me. Imagine your funniest, kind of snarky friend recapping all of her favorite movies for you. That's what this book is. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea and if you haven't seen the movies and really care about spoilers, you may not want to read this. But I found it incredibly fun. I recommend this book if you love movies or just funny pop culture commentary.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided a free review copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this book was a pure joy. Lindy West is one of my all-time favorite authors, and humans in general. I've read both of her previous works and gave them both 5 ⭐s. While her third book does have some of the classic, poignantly incisive political commentary that I've come to know and love from Ms. West, mostly it's just a good a$$ time. I have NEVER laughed harder while reading a book than I did reading this one. My husband had to put on his headphones while I was reading because I was cackling so loudly. Some of the movies discussed I haven't seen, and I still truly enjoyed reading her off-the-wall, profanity-filled synopses. Others, I definitely have seen (cough Harry Potter cough), and my enjoyment was only enhanced by a new (highly entertaining and on the nose) perspective. Chef's kiss. Not recommended for anyone who doesn't like swears. Like seriously.

With everything happening around the world right now, I needed a lighter read. This book took twice as long to read because I was laughing so much!! It is hilarious! Even with the movies that I hadn't seen or don't remember, I couldn't stop laughing! Very well written. I'm a fan of Shrill on Hulu but wasn't aware it was Lindy West who created the series or wrote the original book. I'm thankful I stumbled into this genius piece of work! Go out and read it! You won't be disappointed!!