The Rom Com Catalog

Tag: 2004

  • ‘Shall We Dance?’ (2004) Review

    ‘Shall We Dance?’ (2004) Review

    Shall We Dance? Synopsis: A romantic comedy where a bored, overworked Estate Lawyer, upon first sight of a beautiful instructor, signs up for ballroom dancing lessons.

    John is an estate lawyer who has a good job, a lovely home, and a devoted wife. Despite all of this, he feels stuck in a rut. On the train home from work one evening, he catches a glimpse of a woman looking out the window from a dance studio. This intrigues John, and he impulsively decides to sign up for dance lessons. There, he meets the woman in the window, Paulina, as well as a small handful of other wannabe dancers. John finds he’s pretty good at ballroom dancing but keeps it a secret from his wife Beverly, who begins to suspect he’s having an affair.

    Shall We Dance was initially marketed as a romantic comedy, which is why I added it to my watchlist! However, I’m not sure calling it a pure romantic comedy can be accurate. While Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) and John have a connection, it’s not romantic.

    John’s desire to break free of his routine outweighs any attraction he may have to the dance instructor. Paulina’s one true love is dance, and she doesn’t get involved with her students, which is good, seeing as how John is married. Susan Sarandon plays Beverly, John’s wife. There’s nothing wrong with her. In fact, she’s a very supportive wife.

    Once she discovers John is secretly taking dance lessons, she desperately wants to be a part of it – maybe not to dance, but you can tell she wants to be included- yet John goes out of his way to keep her in the dark. Why? Who knows. Maybe he’s embarrassed. Maybe he’s attracted to Paulina. Maybe he wants to keep something for himself.

    While learning to dance, John surrounds himself with new people, including Chic (Bobby Cannavale), who signed up for dance lessons to impress women, Vern (Omar Miller), who wants to surprise his fiance at their wedding; and Bobbie (Lisa Ann Walter), a spirited regular at Miss Mitzi’s. John also discovers that a colleague of his, Link (Stanley Tucci, who makes every film 10x better), loves ballroom dance, though he hides behind a terrible wig and fake teeth to try to appear younger. Everyone has their own way of bringing John out of his shell, and his scenes with his new friends are far more interesting than those alone with Paulina.

    Jennifer Lopez is a fantastic dancer, but I felt she was miscast in the role of Paulina. It could just be that she was so crushed and mopey through most of it, like someone had killed her cat, or she had experienced some tragic loss… but no, she simply lost a dance competition, which somehow derailed her entire life. It was a bit overdramatic for my taste.

    As a whole, Shall We Dance? was an entertaining watch. Again, I don’t know that I can define this as a romantic comedy—it’s very mild on the romance, and the comedy comes and goes. But still, I enjoyed the dancing quite a bit, especially Stanley Tucci’s passion for it.

    Watched: 06/02/2023
    Notable Song: The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel

    Rating:

  • ‘Little Black Book’ (2004) Review

    ‘Little Black Book’ (2004) Review

    Stacy (Brittany Murphy) is an associate producer on a successful talk show. She’s also living with her boyfriend, Derek, who is reluctant to discuss his past relationships… or commit fully to Stacy. While Derek is out of town, Stacy confides in two co-workers, Barb and Ira, about her misgivings, especially when a potential guest on the talk show is revealed to have been Derek’s ex-girlfriend. Barb and Ira encourage Stacy to look through Derek’s Palm Pilot, the modern-era version of a little black book.

    In an effort to uncover Derek’s secrets, Stacy does just that… and much, much more. Things get out of hand to the point where Stacy begins questioning if Derek is really the one for her… or if she’s the right one for him.

    I have never seen Little Black Book, but an Instagram post recommended it to me, so here I am! I’m reluctant to call Little Black Book a romantic comedy because Derek (Ron Livingston) has very little screen time, and most of Stacy’s interactions are with her co-workers and Derek’s exes. But I will let that slide because Stacy spends most of the movie attempting to uncover Derek’s past to determine whether they’re right for each other.

    Watching Stacy spiral out of control was mildly uncomfortable and amusing. I’m not sure she would have gone to such extremes without Barb (Holly Hunter) and Ira (Kevin Sussman) egging her on, but alas. What kind of movie would this have been if Stacy hadn’t violated her boyfriend’s privacy and roped his exes into her insecure, crazy shenanigans??

    Despite that, I can see how the movie attempted to satirize reality television and its lack of boundaries, but it’s clumsy in its approach. The big “reveal” at the film’s end comes across as a disjointed mess, leaving Stacy looking and sounding like a hysterical woman with a hundred red flags warning others to stay away. This is not what we’re usually looking for in our rom-com heroines.

    I cannot comment too much on Stacy and Derek as a couple because we don’t see much of them in that stage of their lives before Derek is gone and Stacy goes nuts. Ron Livingston is wasted both in his screen time and his dud of a character. Brittany Murphy was a very promising leading lady, and I know that if she had the proper script and director, she could have been right up there with someone like Sandy B. in terms of romantic comedies. It’s a real shame to lose such talent so soon. The rest of the cast was also great, but again, a mediocre script lets them all down.

    The good things? Carly Simon-filled soundtrack!

    Watched: 03/24/2023
    Notable Song: Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon

    Rating:

  • ‘Along Came Polly’ (2004) Review

    ‘Along Came Polly’ (2004) Review

    After his wife leaves him for another man on their honeymoon, Reuben runs into Polly, an old classmate who pulls him firmly out of his comfort zone.

    This was not my first watch of Along Came Polly, but it’s been a long time since I last saw it, so I went into it semi-fresh. I had wholly forgotten Philip Seymour Hoffman was in this, playing Ruben’s best friend and former child star, Sandy Lyle. Hoffman was a brilliant dramatic actor, but god, he was funny as hell, too. What a loss that he’s no longer with us.

    Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston are delightful together. Reuben is a risk analyst who, yes, has trouble taking risks. Polly is a free spirit, aimless in life but content with it. As they spend time together, Polly and Reuben are both changed by the other. Reuben learns to take more risks while Polly begins to understand that some order to her life wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

    Of course, complications arise from Reuben’s estranged wife, Lisa, as well as Polly’s fear of commitment. Ruben and Polly clearly connect, but are they ready for something more? I enjoyed Along Came Polly quite a bit, mostly because it was very focused on Reuben and Polly’s growth. There are some mild gross-out moments, but nothing too intolerable – it’s rated PG-13, after all.

    I miss seeing Ben Stiller in these silly comedic roles. Both he and Jennifer Aniston seemed to have moved into more dramatic roles, which I can appreciate, but they definitely hold a place in my rom-com heart for these lighter comedies. And it’s a shame they never did another together because they have the right kind of chemistry to make a movie like Along Came Polly work. It’s extremely silly but also fun and romantic. And you get a hilarious supporting turn by Philip Seymour Hoffman, so yes, it’s worth a watch.

    Watched: 01/19/2023
    Notable Song: Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townshend

    Rating:

  • ‘Laws of Attraction’ (2004) Review

    ‘Laws of Attraction’ (2004) Review

    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

    Rating:
  • ‘Wimbledon’ (2004) Review

    ‘Wimbledon’ (2004) Review

    Pro tennis player Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) arrives at Wimbledon ranked 119th and is ready to retire as soon as he is beaten during the tournament. There, he meets a tenacious new star in the tennis world, Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), who is instantly intrigued by Peter. As the two spend more time together, Peter’s game improves, and he embarks on an unlikely journey to the finals.

    Wimbledon is undoubtedly a romantic comedy, but it’s also an underdog story. Peter is at the end of his career, quickly overshadowed by the younger competition, at least when it comes to fans and the media. His parents are going through a rough patch in their marriage (his father has moved into the treehouse outside), and his younger brother, played by a very young, fresh-faced James McAvoy, has a gambling problem with a habit of betting against Peter in every match he faces.

    Lizzie’s competitive nature has made her a somewhat polarizing figure in the media, but she refuses to let anything distract her from her goal of winning Wimbledon. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to have a little fun and maybe blow off steam, and that’s where Peter comes in.

    Dunst and Bettany have charming chemistry, but ultimately, this movie belongs to Bettany. He’s an incredibly appealing lead with an aw-shucks likability that reminded me a lot of Hugh Grant. While I enjoyed his scenes with Dunst, the movie was still just as enjoyable without her. It’s Peter Colt’s last hurrah in the sports world, and watching him play and win his way through the competition is the kind of feel-good storyline I love to see in my sporty, romantic comedies.

    Yes, the final game is predictably against a young, arrogant American who is expected to win with little effort. However, despite knowing how it’s likely to end, it’s still satisfying to watch Peter pull himself together with the help of Lizzie and not go down without a fight.

    I felt like Wimbledon struck a good balance between the sports angle and the romance. It was essential to execute it properly because it’s clear that a lot of Peter’s motivation and inspiration came from his blossoming relationship with Lizzie. The conflict they faced in their relationship was believable. Is there room for love when one’s ambition is to win at all costs? Lizzie was headstrong and occasionally irrational, but she was never entirely wrong, nor was Peter.

    Their “dark moment” was not caused by miscommunication or jealousy but by relatable, understandable circumstances. I always appreciate a romantic comedy that doesn’t take the easy route to a breakup by tossing in a vicious ex or a text or voicemail taken out of context.

    I’m not a massive fan of the sport, but I found the tennis sequences fascinating. I knew it was a movie, but I was still on the edge of my seat while watching the matches. It helps that Jon Favreau (playing Peter’s agent) was in the stands, supplying comedic relief during the more intense moments.

    I have to add that the supporting cast was also marvelous, especially McAvoy and Bernard Hill, who plays Peter’s father. I would love to see McAvoy in more comedic roles. He has the talent for it.

    Wimbledon’s fresh, funny script doesn’t skimp on character development. The romance feels natural, and the scenery is quite gorgeous. I was glad to watch this one again, and it’s one I will no doubt revisit.

    Watched: 08/26/2020
    Notable Song: This Year’s Love by David Gray

    Rating:
  • ‘Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!’ (2004) Review

    ‘Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!’ (2004) Review

    After a rowdy night ends up on the tabloids, famous actor Tad Hamilton (Josh Duhamel) finds out that the director of a movie he is desperate to be cast in is not entirely sure Tad is the right kind of actor for the part. In a desperate move to clean up his image, his agent suggests holding a contest to benefit charity, so Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! is born.

    In West Virginia, Tad’s fangirl, Rosalee (Kate Bosworth), and her friend, Cathy (Ginnifer Goodwin), raise the $100 required for the charity donation to enter the contest. While Rosalee is busy daydreaming about Tad Hamilton, her best friend Pete (Topher Grace) is getting ready to move to Richmond for school and preparing to finally reveal to Rosalee that he’s in love with her.

    But of course, things go astray when Rosalee wins the contest and is swept away to Los Angeles for her date with Tad. Expecting a bumpkin, Tad is a bit resistant to the date until he meets Rosalee. Despite a shaky start, Rosalee and Tad hit it off, and Tad is so charmed by the down-to-earth Rosalee that he follows her back to West Virginia to spend more time with her and try to find more simplicity in his own life, thus derailing Pete’s confession of love all over again.

    The issue with Win A Date With Tad Hamilton is that Rosalee had much more chemistry with Tad than with Pete. Tad seemed to be searching for more than an endless parade of beautiful women and a good time. He had flaws, sure, but he wasn’t an entitled douche.

    The movie focused much more on Rosalee and her blossoming romance with Tad than on her relationship with Pete. Not to mention Pete’s behavior towards Tad and Rosalee was borderline creepy and stalkerish. Instead of trying to sabotage their dates, he could have just been honest with Rosalee from the get-go, yes?

    Win A Date With Tad Hamilton‘s script is flimsy and lacks originality. I adore the best friends-to-lovers trope, and I love the rich-and-famous-fall-for-the-small-town-girl/guy… this movie has both, but fails to execute either well. I don’t think Rosalee ended up with the right person, so the ending fell flat and seemed entirely out of place compared to the rest of the movie.

    Honestly? Pete should have realized what a gem he had in Angelica, the “wise” bartender in love with him (played by the always reliable Kathryn Hahn). This is just another cookie-cutter rom-com. It has a fun premise, but is sadly a huge disappointment.

    I’ve been in a movie slump for a couple of months (thanks to COVID and all the other crappy things happening in the world), but I finally sat my butt down to watch a rom-com. Win A Date With Tad Hamilton was not the right choice to jump back into things, but I’m just happy my desire to watch movies again has returned. I hope you’re all healthy and staying safe!

    Watched: 07/23/2020
    Notable Song: Shining by Kristian Leontiou

    Rating:
  • ’13 Going on 30′ (2004) Review

    ’13 Going on 30′ (2004) Review

    Thirteen-year-old Jenna Rink has had it with adolescence. Despite having a loyal but nerdy best friend named Matt, Jenna is desperate to befriend “The Six Chicks,” a group of popular girls at school. She invites them to her birthday party, but instead of being accepted, she suffers a Seven Minutes in Heaven humiliation and fervently wishes she were a grown-up. Thanks to some magic dust that she got from Matt, her wish is granted, and a 30-year-old Jenna (Jennifer Garner) wakes up in New York City.

    After the shock of what has happened begins to wear off, she discovers she’s a successful editor of the kind of beauty magazines she read as a teenager. Her best friend and colleague is Lucy Wyman (Judy Greer), one of The Six Chicks. But her success didn’t come easy, as Jenna soon finds out. She and Matt (Mark Ruffalo) are no longer friends and haven’t been for quite some time. It also becomes clear to Jenna that her adult self is conniving and self-serving, obsessed with having it all and indifferent to those she hurts in the process of achieving her dreams.

    13 Going on 30 is a romance, but also about Jenna’s redemption. She realizes she’s gotten everything she wanted in life, but is increasingly appalled at what her future self did to get there. Jennifer Garner is excellent as a thirteen-year-old in a thirty-year-old body. Jenna’s naiveté and childlike wonder could have so easily been cringy and annoying in the hands of a less capable actor. Still, Garner comes across as sweet while maintaining a sense of confidence and determination that is hard to find in many insecure thirteen-year-olds.

    Mark Ruffalo plays Matt with a laid-back coolness perfectly balanced with lingering vulnerability at being ditched by his best friend and crush at thirteen. His resistance to Jenna re-entering his life in such a confusing way is understandable, but also incredibly endearing because you can see how easily he’s charmed by her. The two have some pretty fantastic chemistry, and I’m willing to forgive the fact that Matt has a fiancée, given that we see her two or three times. She’s essentially the catalyst for Jenna realizing she can’t turn back time to right her wrongs. She has to start from the beginning to make things right.

    I dislike nothing about this film except Jenna’s hockey-player boyfriend. He was a doofus; I just didn’t understand what a power-hungry diva boss like Jenna would ever see in him, other than his “celebrity” status. The horrible striptease to Ice Ice Baby was humorous, if only for Jenna’s horrified reaction.

    Yes, there are a dozen-and-one questions about how the magic dust worked, the plot’s plausibility, and blah, blah, blah, but I don’t care. I wanted to be entertained, laugh, and watch a sweet romance blossom, and I got all those things from 13 Going on 30. I also got a fantastic dance sequence to Thriller, which will always make a Top 10 (maybe Top 20) list of the best rom-com moments.

    13 Going on 30 touches upon what we can and can’t achieve without a moral compass. Obviously, it’s better to be a good person than a back-stabbing bitch, even if the latter makes the path to success much more straightforward. Jenna was able to see who she turned out to be and, with a second chance, become who she really wanted instead. 13 Going on 30 doesn’t break any new ground in terms of the genre, but it’s a sweet, funny movie with a captivating performance by Garner and a swoon-worthy leading man in Ruffalo.

    And I won’t lie, I believe the scene between Jenna and Matt on the swings in the park is one of the most romantic scenes in rom-com history.

    Watched: 07/31/2019
    Notable Song: Crazy For You by Madonna

    Rating:
  • ‘Chasing Liberty’ (2004) Review

    ‘Chasing Liberty’ (2004) Review

    Chasing Liberty is not to be confused with First Daughter, which was also released in 2004 and starred Katie Holmes. No. Chasing Liberty is the other movie about a President’s daughter falling in love, except this time it’s Mandy Moore.

    Tired and frustrated with her lack of freedom and privacy after a botched date, the First Daughter, Anna (Mandy Moore), makes a deal with her father, President Foster (Mark Harmon), that she’ll be able to attend a concert while they’re in Prague with only two agents watching her instead of the dozen that always seems to be around. During the concert, Anna realizes her father broke his promise and, with help from a friend, manages to escape on the back of a handsome stranger’s motorcycle.

    His name is Ben (Matthew Goode), and unbeknownst to Anna, he is a Secret Service agent. Ben tips off the two agents assigned to Anna (Jeremy Piven and Annabella Sciorra), but the President decides to let Anna “explore her freedom” since she is unaware of who Ben really is, and he orders Ben to stay with his daughter.

    Things begin to go sideways as Anna defines “freedom ” as skinny-dipping in full view of people with cameras. Incensed, the President orders her back to their hotel, but Anna rebels by jumping on a train to Berlin and taking Ben with her. Thus begins a journey around Europe with Weiss and Morales close on their heels.

    Chasing Liberty has two and a half good things going for it. Matthew Goode, the gorgeous scenery of Prague and Venice, and the subplot of Weiss and Morales’s blossoming romance as they try to find Anna and Ben. I have nothing against Mandy Moore, and I think she’s grown quite a bit as an actress since this movie was made in 2004, but she’s a bit one-dimensional in this. Her character did nothing for me but make me roll my eyes repeatedly.

    There wasn’t much depth to her, and she ticks off so many rebellious teen tropes in her attempt to experience freedom for the first time, the first of which is to shriek with giddiness that she manages to shake her Secret Service followed by impulsive choices that include stripping her clothes off in public, drinking excessively, and trying to lose her virginity to Ben in the bed of a stranger’s home. She’s also annoyingly offended when he initially declines the invitation like she was entitled to his….well, you know… and then jumps into the back of a truck of two stoic, creepy-looking dudes to escape him.

    Goode does his best in his role as Ben, but he’s not given much more than babysitting Moore, the adult to her petulant teen (okay, she’s eighteen, but she’s nowhere near mature enough to be considered an adult). I didn’t sense much chemistry between the two and wished he would leave her alone in the middle of Venice after one of her tantrums. Piven and Sciorra made a stronger connection than the two leads.

    There’s some really terrible editing that makes Chasing Liberty feel like it was made for television commercial breaks, and it felt longer than it needed to be, given how minimal the plot actually is. It’s predictably predictable, and Goode and Moore don’t have the chemistry to make the expected ending satisfying. Goode is a delight to watch, but I would opt for Leap Year if you want to see him in a decent rom-com where he’s following a beautiful woman around a gorgeous, foreign countryside.

    Watched: 04/27/2019
    Notable Song: Life Will Go On by Chris Isaak

    Rating:

  • ‘Before Sunset’ (2004) Review

    ‘Before Sunset’ (2004) Review

    Before Sunset picks up nine years after Before Sunrise, where Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is a published author on a book tour to promote the novel he wrote inspired by the night he shared with Celine (Julie Delpy) in Vienna. His book tour stops in France, where Celine shows up at Jesse’s author Q&A. Jesse has a couple of hours before he has to be at the airport to catch a flight home to the States, and the two take advantage of what little time they have to catch up.

    Like Before Sunrise, Before Sunset revolves around Jesse and Celine’s discussions about life, sex, and love, deeply profound and sometimes silly; it’s obvious that the chemistry between the two has not dulled one bit since that fateful night in Vienna nine years before. They have more to discuss now, of course. Where their career paths have taken them, the relationships they’ve experienced, and how their one night together has affected them, for better and for worse.

    Despite the positive reviews I had seen, I was a little nervous to watch this. Before Sunrise was magical, so I was worried that a sequel would be a pale rehash of it, or perhaps the characters and chemistry would feel forced. Thankfully, my concerns were unfounded. It was like Hawke and Delpy slipped effortlessly back into character without missing a beat, and incredibly, the dialogue felt natural and improvised (Hawke and Delpy received writing credits on this film).

    While Celine and Jesse have grown up, they still harbor a spark of their idyllic younger selves from that night in Vienna, though it seems hidden beneath a thin layer of cynicism and unhappiness. There are a lot of questions, a lot of “what if” and “why didn’t we,” and you can tell they’re thinking about those same regrets as they get closer and closer to Jesse’s departure for the airport.

    As with Before Sunrise, Before Sunset has no need for supporting characters as Jesse and Celine make their way through Paris, lost in each other’s company. It’s so challenging to have a movie revolve solely around two people, with the main focus being dialogue rather than any real action. However, with Linklater’s patient direction, Delpy and Hawke remain intriguing and romantic enough to make such a simple premise captivating.

    As they change their transportation methods, their conversations deepen, and their frustrations over the past nine years surface. They’re flawed people who can’t seem to take that leap, perhaps too worried about what it would mean if they finally did jump into a real relationship. What if they ended up hating each other? What if these brief, passionate moments in time are worth more than a lifetime together?

    The last thirty minutes of the film are the most engaging, wherein, on the car ride back to her apartment, Celine’s emotions get the better of her, and she finally explains to Jesse how their one night together has ruined her. It’s a brutally honest scene, and Delpy’s performance mesmerizes as her anger and sadness overwhelm her.

    As Jesse continues to push back the time he needs to get to the airport to spend a few more minutes with Celine, Celine continually reminds him that he’ll miss his flight. He knows it, but the question lingers: Does he care? I couldn’t wait to find out the answer. Before Sunset is such a romantic, engaging movie about second chances. It somehow manages to maintain the charm and magic of Before Sunrise, making it a worthy sequel that comes exceptionally close to being even better than the first film.

    Watched: 03/25/2019
    Notable Song: A Waltz by Julie Delpy

    Rating:

  • ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’ (2004) Review

    ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’ (2004) Review

    When I saw this movie in 2004, I recall not enjoying it as much as the first film. Yes, I still adored Renee Zellweger’s performance, and I will always swoon over Colin Firth as Mark Darcy, but something was missing from Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. I remember feeling the same way when I read the novel, and while I appreciated the changes they made from novel to screen in Bridget Jones’s Diary, the changes in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason didn’t work for me the same way.

    The Edge of Reason picks up where the original film left us, with Bridget and Mark engrossed in the blissful first weeks of their new relationship. It’s clear they’re in love, but doubts soon creep in as Bridget realizes she’s not as worldly or sophisticated as Mark’s posh friends and colleagues.

    Not to mention that he’s a (gasp) conservative voter and has a beautiful young intern named Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett) constantly on his arm, sparking jealousy and insecurity within Bridget. She has difficulty communicating this to Mark, who also has difficulty communicating much of anything to Bridget. After a few predictable misunderstandings and a pregnancy scare that reveals their different ideas for the future, Bridget breaks up with Mark.

    From there, the movie abruptly changes course, sending Bridget to Thailand with Daniel Cleaver (devilishly smarmy Hugh Grant), where the exotic beaches and romantic moon tempt Bridget into giving Daniel another chance. Then we get some sluggish nonsense where Bridget is framed for drug smuggling, and that’s when I began to remember why I hadn’t liked this movie in 2004.

    To be fair, I did enjoy it more during this rewatch, but only in the first half, where we were dealing with Bridget and Mark’s growing pains. In romantic comedies, we always wonder what happens after the ‘happily ever after’, and The Edge of Reason had the potential to show us, even if it meant veering away from the novel completely. Instead, we get a silly second half that goes from mildly silly to just plain ridiculous.

    The performances are still fantastic, which made the movie tolerable. Even with a shaky script, Zellweger still perfectly embodies Bridget’s charm. Firth and Grant stay true to their characters, and while not as iconic as in the first film, Mark and Daniel’s second fight in a water fountain is still as fun, probably because it’s a delight to see Mark show some real emotion, even if it’s pent-up anger and resentment.

    If you’re a fan of Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is undoubtedly worth watching, but it simply lacks the heart that made the first film so successful. I’m not sure whether this is because of the script or because the movie was directed by a different director. I know that Sharon Maguire did return to the director’s chair for Bridget Jones’s Baby, so I’m hoping that the conclusion to the trilogy will be a much more enjoyable one than this was.

    Watched: 03/09/2019
    Notable Song: Crazy In Love by Beyoncé

    Rating:
  • ’50 First Dates’ (2004) Review

    ’50 First Dates’ (2004) Review

    Veterinarian Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is a playboy afraid of commitment. But when he meets Lucy (Drew Barrymore) in a local diner, he finds himself drawn to her sweet, off-beat personality. Unfortunately, he soon discovers Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss due to a car accident the year before, and he finds himself having to win her heart all over again, day after day.

    While The Wedding Singer remains my favorite rom-com collaboration between Barrymore and Sandler, I realized during my rewatch of 50 First Dates that I enjoy it much more now than I did when I saw it years ago. The weak link in the movie is the first half-hour or so. 50 First Dates opens with a ridiculous montage of various beautiful women lamenting wistfully about their brief but amazing interludes with local Hawaiian stud Henry Roth, which may have worked had the leading man been anyone but Adam Sandler (although perhaps that was a part of the joke).

    We get to know more about Henry, who is quite clearly a commitment phobe with little to no respect for women. There is some abundant gross-out humor (yay, projectile vomiting!) and a few juvenile, problematic jokes that fall flat. But once Henry meets Lucy, the movie finally shifts tone, and we get to the story’s heart.

    What begins as Henry merely trying to prove that he can get any girl he wants turns into a genuine connection between him and Lucy. Even when he’s told the truth about her condition, he can’t seem to back away despite warnings from her friends and family. It’s amusing in a Groundhog Day-esque way to watch him devise various ways to catch her attention as the days pass. Despite how ridiculous it is, I thoroughly enjoyed the sequence where Drew Barrymore beat Rob Schneider’s silly Ula with a baseball bat.

    Sandler and Barrymore share such sweet and quirky chemistry that watching Henry try to win over Lucy for most of 50 First Dates never gets old. You want her to remember their love, to somehow magically cure her memory loss (spoiler: it doesn’t, but that’s also part of the magic of their relationship), and for them to find a happy ever after.

    We get a heartbreaking kiss in the rain, and even though Lucy will never be able to remember Henry in the long term, meeting him has changed her own life for good, making her condition a bit easier not only on herself but on her father Marlin (an excellent Blake Clark) and brother Doug (a mildly amusing Sean Astin).

    Barrymore has such a shining presence on screen, and she takes what could have been a one-note character. She gives Lucy life, creating a joyful and devastatingly vulnerable character in the face of her tragic circumstances. Henry probably doesn’t deserve her, but Sandler projects the emotional depth needed to make us root for him through the character’s growth and determination to win Lucy’s heart and help her.

    50 First Dates has plenty of gross-out moments, and it wouldn’t be a Happy Madison production without the sophomoric humor. Ultimately, it’s a warm, romantic movie that starts slightly bumpy but finishes strong.

    Watched: 01/05/2019
    Notable Song: Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys

    Rating: