WHY HIM? (Rated R)

The holiday spirit always lingers for a while right into the start of January. Some of the films capture the festive mood better than others. “Why Him?” might not be one of them.

In fact, the closest this James Franco film gets into the spirit of Christmas is when he discovers that his misguided attempt to have a tattoo of his girlfriend’s family on his back is actually a portrait image complete with the “Happy Holidays” greeting.

But then you’ve probably already seen this bit from the ubiquitous trailers that pretty much string the best comedic scenes into one incomprehensible package of random acts of lunacy and mayhem.

Franco’s Laird Mayhew is a socially awkward Silicon Valley tech billionaire who is on the opposite end of the spectrum, at least culturally, of his girlfriend’s Midwestern family.

Bryan Cranston’s Ned Fleming is the straight-laced owner of a printing company in Michigan that’s struggling to complete in the digital age.

At Ned’s birthday party, his daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) joins the event via Skype to send well wishes to her dad from her Stanford dorm room.

The Flemings, including Ned’s wife Barb (Megan Mullally) and son Scotty (Griffin Gluck), and their party guests are surprised by the unexpected introduction of her new boyfriend in the buff in the background.

Distraught that his daughter has been hiding a boyfriend, Ned begrudgingly agrees to travel with the family to the West Coast in order to meet her first serious boyfriend during the Christmas holiday.

Ned is mostly shocked to find that Laird is not only about ten years older but is heavily tattooed and wildly inappropriate in his coarse, vulgar manner of casual conversation liberally sprinkled with profanity.

But much worse is to come when Ned faces the meltdown of his life when finding out that the wacky, unfiltered Laird wants to propose to his daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) on Christmas day.

“Why Him?” turns, as you expect from watching the trailers, into a generational battle between Midwestern rectitude and stereotypical California oddball weirdness when Ned and Laird go mano a mano, at least metaphorically.

This cultural divide is understandable given that Ned treats his loyal employees like family, while Laird lives on a “smart home” estate where farm animals roam free and has an eccentric houseboy named Gustav who acts like Cato from the “Pink Panther” films.

Most of the other characters get lost in the shuffle, and in the end, “Why Him?” does have its moments of inspired lunacy, but the gratuitous nature of crude jokes begin to wear thin long before the film ends on an incompatible saccharine note.

TV Corner: 'The Mick' on FOX Network

The same production team that brought the long-running FX network comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to fruition performs similar functions for another primetime comedy, “The Mick,” on the parent network of FOX.

Not surprisingly, Kaitlin Olson, who held her own with the three guys running an Irish tavern in Philly, seems the perfect fit for the degenerate, two-bit hustler from Rhode Island who has spent her entire life shirking any semblance of dependability.

Olson’s Mackenzie, or Mickey to her friends, is introduced wandering through a supermarket, sampling packaged goods from chips and whipped cream to underarm shavers and talcum powder before dropping off a six-pack to a bum with a shopping cart.

Her so-called boyfriend Jimmy (Scott MacArthur), referred to by Mickey only as “my guy,” tags along on a road trip to the rarefied atmosphere of upscale Greenwich, Connecticut.

The occasion is for Mickey to unexpectedly drop in at a fancy lawn party hosted by her estranged sister at the mansion shared with her billionaire husband and three spoiled kids.

In a surprising turn of events, the FBI raids the high-society function to arrest the high profile couple for tax evasion, and Mickey suddenly becomes the unwilling guardian for the high-maintenance children who quickly assess that their aunt is not up to the task.

The oldest is 17-year-old Sabrina (Sofia Black D’Elia), a snooty brat who flaunts her sexuality with a hunky twentysomething carpenter who goes shirtless while working around the house.

Then, there’s the annoying middle child Chip (Thomas Barbusca), an arrogant, entitled 13-year-old nerd who does not know how to make friends at school, let alone to connect with girls even on a platonic level.

Third child Ben (Jack Stanton) is only 7-years-old but he seems keenly interested in whatever the adults are talking about. He also swipes Mickey’s birth control pills because he overhead that they were magical.

What Mickey, an unsuitable parental figure, is asked to do reminds one of a similar role once played by John Candy in a feature film, but unfortunately Mickey doesn’t quite have the same mix of empathy and humor required to make the central character anything more than predictable.

I could be wrong about this, but “The Mick” does not seem likely to have the longevity that was afforded to Kaitlin Olson’s previous TV comedy set in Philadelphia.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Dec. 3, staff members from Tuleyome and the Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance (REMBA) teamed up to lead mountain bikers on an excursion across the top of the Blue Ridge on the border of the Cache Creek Wilderness.

Among the leaders was Andrew Fulks, board president of Tuleyome, and a long-time lover of the outdoors.

Along with his duties at Tuleyome, Fulks is the assistant director of UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden and has been a constant advocate for appreciation of the Putah and Cache Creek watersheds. 

On this outing, Fulks led bikers on a nine-mile ride from the Judge Davis trailhead in Lake County and continued toward Lynch Canyon, to the Three Ponds Trail and along the High Bridge Trail to Highway 16.

REMBA’s mission is to build community among mountain bikers of the Redwood Empire – the region in northern California that lies on the Pacific coast between San Francisco Bay and the Oregon border – through communication, education, trail work, and stewardship of regional parks and open spaces, and it invests resources to build partnerships with organizations that have similar goals like Tuleyome.

This outing was the latest in a series of events hosted by Tuleyome in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.

For more information about Tuleyome and upcoming events, visit www.tuleyome.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, Jan. 20, the Soper Reese Theatre Third Friday Live series features Bill Noteman and the Rockets.

The show starts at 7 p.m. The dance floor will be open.

In 1983 Bill Noteman, Larry Platz, David Neft and Dave Falco got together for an impromptu jam in an old movie theater in Lower Lake.

What emerged that night was Bill Noteman and the Rockets, a band that soon took over Lake, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties with a unique high energy blend of Chicago blues and rock and roll known as West Coast Jump.

Today Noteman, harmonica virtuoso and entertaining front man, is skillfully supported by original members and local legends "Mojo" Larry Platz on guitar, David “Rockin 88’s" Neft on keyboards, bassist Dave “Fingers” Falco and new member, drummer Steve "The Shuffler" DuBois.

One critic recently described the group in this way: "Raw expressive vocals, searing harmonica, sizzling guitar, and cooking keys dipped in the sauce of a smoldering rhythm section. This is the original music and feeling of Bill Noteman and the Rockets."

Tickets are $15 for all seats and are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Not long ago, I had dinner with a group of friends from college.

One of the big topics of conversation was Medicare, for which we’ll all be eligible in the next several years. (Farewell, callow youth!) And one of the biggest questions about Medicare was, “How much is it going to cost me?”

Like private health insurance, Medicare has premiums, deductibles and co-pays. These costs can – and often do – change from year to year. What you actually pay depends on your work history, income and inflation.

Only about 1 percent of people with Medicare pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospitalization, skilled nursing care and some home health services. That’s because they paid Medicare paycheck deductions for 40 quarters or longer during their working lives.

Most people do, however, pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor fees, outpatient treatment, durable medical equipment and other items. Part B premiums are rising for next year, but for most people, the increase won’t be very much.

The law protects most seniors from Part B premium hikes if the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security benefit doesn’t go up in a given year. Since the Social Security COLA for 2017 will be 0.3 percent, about 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries will pay an average Part B premium of $109 per month in 2017. That’s up from $104.90 for the past four years.

The remaining 30 percent of Medicare’s 58 million beneficiaries will pay the standard Part B premium of $134 for 2017, a 10 percent increase over the 2016 premium of $121.80.

This smaller group is not protected under the statutory “hold harmless” provision linked to the Social Security COLA. It includes people who don’t receive Social Security benefits; enroll in Part B for the first time in 2017; are directly billed for their Part B premium; are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid and have their premiums paid by a state agency; and pay higher premiums based on their higher incomes.

This year, as in the past, the government has worked to lessen projected premium increases for these beneficiaries, while maintaining a prudent level of reserves to protect against unexpected costs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will work with Congress as it explores budget-neutral solutions to challenges created by the “hold harmless” provision.

Part B also has an annual deductible, which will rise to $183 in 2017 (compared with $166 in 2016). After your deductible is met, you typically pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services (including most doctor services while you're a hospital inpatient), outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment.

The Part A deductible, which you pay when admitted to the hospital, will be $1,316 per benefit period in 2017, up from $1,288 in 2016. This deductible covers your share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period.

People with Medicare pay coinsurance of $329 per day for the 61st through 90th day of hospitalization ($322 in 2016) in a benefit period, and $658 per day for lifetime reserve days ($644 in in 2016).

For beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the coinsurance for days 21 through 100 in a benefit period will be $164.50 in 2017 (versus $161 in 2016).

Since 2007, higher-income people with Medicare have paid higher Part B premiums. These income-indexed rates affect about five percent of people with Medicare. So, for example, a person with Medicare who files an individual tax return showing an income between $85,000 and $107,000 will pay a Part B premium of $187.50 per month next year.

Some people choose to get their benefits through privately-operated Medicare Advantage health plans, or purchase a Medicare Part D plan to help cover their prescription drug costs. Many of these plans carry their own monthly premiums.

For more information about 2017 premiums and deductibles, go to www.medicare.gov , or call Medicare any time of day or night, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Cate Kortzeborn is Medicare’s acting regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories.

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has been named as chairman of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León.

Sen. Dodd assumed office representing California's Third Senate District – which includes all or portions of Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties – at the start of December.

Dodd previously served as the representative for the Fourth Assembly District, which includes Lake County. He has pledged to continue to help Lake County in his new role.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to chair the Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. As chair, I will focus on building strong consumer protections, while ensuring the economic vitality of California,” said Sen. Dodd. “I would like to thank Sen. de León for appointing me to key committee assignments that represent crucial policy areas for our district and for our entire state."

Dodd's committee could help California serve as a counterpoint to inaction or rollbacks of consumer financial protections at the federal level.

Dodd already has shown leadership on banking and consumer protection issues, recently introducing a bill in response to the recent Wells Fargo fake account scandal.

His bill would help victims of fraud by eliminating the use of forced arbitration clauses in contracts that were fraudulently created. Such contracts prevent consumers from having their day in court to recover damages.

“It’s unacceptable for consumers to be blocked from our public courts to recover damages for fraud and identity theft. Allowing victims their day in court not only allows them to recover, it can prevent more victims by putting an end illegal business practices,” said Dodd. “With quick federal action on this issue unlikely, it’s critical that California lead the nation to prevent these abuses.”

The president pro tem of the Senate appoints senators to committees at the start of each two-year session.

Dodd also was appointed to serve as a member of the Senate committees on Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Governmental Organization, and Business, Professions and Economic Development.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will hold its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lower Lake United Methodist Church Social Hall, 16255 Second St.

The agenda will include setting up officers, committees and priorities for 2017.

Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in Lower Lake. All meetings are open to the public. Membership is open to registered Democrats.

The Lake County Democratic Club is an officially chartered club of the Democratic Party of Lake County.

Visit www.lakecountydemocraticclub.org or contact the group at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local business owner Shannon Gunier has completed her first children’s book, “The Story of Charlie Mousie.”

The book features 16 brightly colored illustrations of Charlie Mousie and all of his friends in the jungle that stresses, to children, the importance of a good attitude, how to get along with all types of personalities, and the importance of  helping others.

It is the first in a series of “Charlie Mousie” books that will be published over the next few months.

As the oldest of 6 girls, Gunier used to listen to her dad tell the stories to her younger sisters at bed time each night.

Before he passed away Gunier, with her father, committed the stories to paper and she promised him she would illustrate each one of them and get them published. 

“The Story of Charlie Mousie” makes an excellent gift and can be purchased on www.smile.Amazon.com as well as directly from the author (please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

Some of the proceeds from the book are being donated to World Wide Healing Hands, an organization started by local Lake County physician Dr. Paula Dhanda.

WWHH volunteers have saved thousands of women and babies by traveling to Third World Countries with skilled medical training, modern equipment and healing medicine.

Dr. Dhanda is well known for her many years of service to the citizens of Lake County and Shannon currently serves on her Board of Directors.

Designed for preschool children and beginning readers, “The Story of Charlie Mousie,” is a lovely story that is perfectly illustrated to keep young kids minds wandering with imagination and excitement.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

In observance of the New Year’s holiday, Caltrans crews and contractors will not be performing any activity on state highways that would include lane closures Saturday, Dec. 31, through Monday, Jan. 2. However, Caltrans will respond to emergency situations with traffic control as required.

The agency wishes Californians a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to Glenhaven Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29
 
– Valley fire recovery work from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Valley fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to Road 260 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency slide removal work will continue. A full highway closure will be in effect with a detour onto State Route 271. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays as they navigate the detour.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).