I know people are very ‘sniffy’ about chick flicks – I even know a book shop where they’d rather not stock the genre in book form at all, but I tell you what, a little bit of silly romantic comedy can really cure the January blues.
Having an evening to kill, Daughter and I took advantage of the man-free time and went to see Love and Other Drugs last night.
As is often the case, the trailer doesn’t do justice to this film. It’s much better than it appears, funnier and less cheesy. Of course it’s not an intelligent commentary on society’s ills, but at the same time, it’s not totally empty-headed romantic nonsense either.
Briefly the film is about a successful pharmaceutical salesman who falls for a girl with an incurable illness. Sounds rather bad, doesn’t it? And I’ll let you guess whether there is a happy ending or not…
But, but. Both Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal give strong performances, as the ‘will they, won’t they’ couple. The supporting cast are good too, I especially liked Oliver Platt as Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘mentor’, as the older, cynical salesman.
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| Oliver Platt |
The film is based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir ‘Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman’, a book I haven’t read. This may be the reason why I liked it so much, since usually if I love the book I hate the film. I might seek the book out, especially if it is a true memoir.
Both Daughter and I came away from the cinema with not so small crushes on Jake Gyllenhaal, though Daughter pointed out, ‘He’s far too young for you, anyway.’ I didn’t want to mention the word cougar…
this really made me laugh- a girlfriend and I went along to this on Friday because we are trying to drink and spend a bit less in January- and for fun of course! and both came out obsessed with Jake Gyllenhall- he's great in this *daydreams*
I described to people as a rom com that becomes a rom drama- I really enjoyed and wasn't really expecting to love it if I'm honest- so was a good surprise
I love chick flicks, and I really want to see this film!
I like a good romantic comedy as well, but I would only go and see this one if someone could reassure me at the start that the girl makes a miraculous recovery. I hate it when they die at the end. Makes me feel cheated.
I love a good Rom Com, I've always got some on the planner. x
I adore Jake.. Have you been watching "Zen" with Rufus Sewell ? Just caught it tonight on iplayer … God ..there are no words to describe the man's sex appeal xx
Ruby,
I did watch Zen and loved it. Even though the plot was a bit so-so and the dialogue at times laughably bad, it just somehow really worked. (Nothing to do with Rufus Sewell…!) I also absolutely loved Rome, and love Italy in general, so it's win-win for me.
Helena xx
Dear Helena, I must check this out. Everyone said they were pleasantly surprised. I have recorded Zen but not watched it yet. There's one thing that's good about living in London – you can walk to the cinema now xx