Bride Wars (2009, U.S.)

I have to say that I was underwhelmed by this one. I really think that Kate Hudson is the queen of romantic comedy (although this wasn't really a rom-com, strictly speaking) and I have developed a new appreciation for Anne Hathaway, plus the concept looked good. I thought this was going to be a really cute, really funny little chick flick, but it just wasn't that great.

Sure, there were some funny moments, but they could have been funnier. They also had great set-ups for potential jokes that were left hanging. It's even possible that Hudson is losing her touch. On top of all this, I just didn't think it was that well written. Neither of the relationships, much less both, seem strong enough to lead to marriage. On the other hand, the girls' friendship seemed strong enough that it wouldn't fall apart with the slightest tension as it did. A lot of pieces didn't mesh. Also, I saw the "twist" ending coming from about 20 or 30 minutes into the flick, which doesn't say much for the writing/plotting.

A good word to characterize this one is weak. Weak characters, weak writing, even weak acting. For a Hudson rom-com fix, see How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. For a Hathaway rom-com fix, see Love and Other Drugs.

Rating: 2.5

Leap Year (2010, U.S.)

This was one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a long while, probably because there was more wit... even the slapstick parts were witty.

Basically, Anna (Amy Adams) has a perfect little life. She stages apartments for a living and her boyfriend is a successful cardiologist. However, it seems like they're never going to get married. So she takes the initiative and flies to meet him at a conference in Ireland, the land of her ancestors, where there is a tradition that a woman can propose to her man on one day only—Leap Day. A series of things goes wrong, and somehow she ends up stranded in the middle of nowhere on the coast of Ireland, where she enlists the help of pub owner Declan.

Hilarious antics ensue, and Declan and Anna inevitably fall in love. Duh! I was surprised to find that critics tore this apart, calling its plot recycled and other horrible things. There was great situational comedy, lots of witty jokes, and wow was Matthew Goode fabulous. I've always found Amy Adams hilarious, but Goode stole the show. His performance was so subtle but he had my friend and I giggling out loud the whole time. You have to believe that he's a coastal Irish lad, though he's really from Devon!

Irish scenery speaks for itself. Beautiful.

The only thing I really didn't like about it was how conveniently-ever-after it all ended. Of course, that's not unusual for a romantic comedy, but really. An upscale American girl and a down-on-his-luck Irish guy? We end with them starring dreamily into each other's eyes as the sun sets, but where will they live? How will they make their money? What happens when the credits roll? Anyhow.

Rating: 4.0

Rachel Getting Married (2008, U.S.)

I only went to see this one because two of my friends wanted to see it. I never thought I would live to see the day when the following sentence would pour from my brain to the page, but here it goes: The best part of this movie was Anne Hathaway.

I know. Turns out that when she's not playing a flake, she does have the ability to play a character who's... not a fake. (To be fair, I did also think she was pretty good in Brokeback Mountain.) She plays a girl fresh out of rehab, reunited with her family in her childhood home for her sister's wedding. Hathaway portrays the myriad of emotions and reactions in an overwhelmingly convincing manner. Her interactions with her sister, parents, various friends and family members, and another former junkie are wrought with complexity. You can really get in her head.

Other than that, the film was one long snooze-fest. The family Rachel is marrying into is just too weird. As is the wedding. And the other guests. It seems to me that if you want your audience to relate to a character, you should make her surroundings and the other characters more familiar to the average viewer. There should be more "everyman" types and fewer of the unique crazies that overrun this one.

Really, that's all I can remember to say about this one. It was way too drawn out for what it was. A character study can only go on for so long. I was dying to leave the theater and go to bed by end, which hasn't happened to me in years. I doubt I would recommend this to anybody. (Although my two friends seemed to quite like it. So who knows, you may want to try it.)

Rating: 2.0