My most-hated movie of the year, without question, was Parental Guidance.

To be fair, I didn’t sit through the whole thing.  I saw maybe forty minutes in the middle, while waiting for another, far superior, movie.  Which movie?  It doesn’t matter:  they’re all far superior.

I seem to remember a time that Billy Crystal was funny.  When Marisa Tomei was allowed to be in a good movie.  This is not that time.

The audience laughted at the so-called jokes, and every time that happened, I felt shame for my peers.

I could go on about how bad this movie made me feel, or give specific details about what was wrong, but I feel my brain melting.  Avoid.

Some other movies in 2012 that were pretty bad: Taken 2 (Moviegoers 0), Dark Shadows, Trouble With the Curve, The Campaign, and Chernoybl Diaries.

A friend asked if it should be “have a ball” or “have a bawl.” Good one!   I never thought about it.  It always seems to be used in the context of “have fun,” and I think of bawling as loud crying, which doesn’t seem appropriate.  However, it could mean any loud outburst, which makes more sense.  And once I think about it, any sense is better than “have a ball” referring to a toy ball.  Does it really refer to a dance ball?  Seems unlikely.

Google hits:

• Have a ball: 1,160,000
• Have a bawl: 22,900 (largely as a pun off “have a ball.”)

The common usage is certainly “have a ball.”  The origin seems puzzling.  I’ll give it some thought.  Anybody?