Laws of Attraction Synopsis: Amidst a sea of litigation, two New York City divorce lawyers find love.
Successful divorce attorney Audrey Woods meets her match with an unkempt newcomer, Daniel Rafferty. The two go head to head often but find the ultimate battle in a messy divorce between a womanizing rock star and his wife. Without spoiling too much, a work trip to Ireland complicates matters between the two personally and professionally.
Laws of Attraction has been compared to Adam’s Rib, though not favorably. The Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy classic also found a married couple as opposing counsel during a trial. Sadly, I have not seen Adam’s Rib (yet), but I do have high expectations for it. I went into this movie without any, which was probably a good thing. (ETA: I finally saw Adam’s Rib!)
Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan certainly have the star power and talent to carry a movie, but unfortunately, they lacked the chemistry to make this movie interesting. The opposites attract trope is delicious when done correctly, but it misses the mark here. It’s the typical career woman, pushed by ambition after having sworn off love. And the laid-back, intriguing man who is there to save her from herself.
There are definitely some highlights, though – Frances Fisher as Audrey’s salacious mother, Sara, and Michael Sheen and Parker Posey as divorcing rock star couple, Torne and Serena. They added much-needed color and fun to the film. As a punkish rock star, Sheen was pretty darn hot, I have to say! And I think Posey is great in everything she does. Watching those at each other’s throats was a thrill, and I enjoyed the movie a lot more when they were on screen.
I also enjoyed the Irish scenery because who wouldn’t fall in love while in Ireland? At the same time, the whole work trip to a romantic country seemed more filler than anything. Given their professional rivalry, I felt like there was plenty to work with, but the Ireland trip shifts the film’s tone to something else, with less at stake emotionally.
Laws of Attraction is not a terrible rom-com by any means, but it is forgettable, missing that spark that makes an otherwise blah rom-com a pretty good rom-com.
Watched: 01/18/2022
Notable Song: Follow Through by Gavin Degraw
